Well.. here it was. Moving day.

How pretentious.

At least I didn't have much to move. I've never been a materialistic person. Just the essentials.

I only had to make one trip and I was moved in. Thankfully the apartment came furnished thanks to my scholarship giving me a housing budget.

As I was straightening things up around the new place, I heard steps above my head.

"Great," I thought, "The only bad thing about being on the second floor... upstairs neighbors."

I guess I'd have to adjust to my new surroundings.

~~~

I had to get some groceries to fill the fridge so that afternoon I had to go run by the market to grab a few things.

I glanced over my grocery list.

" Milk, eggs, bread, water bottles, protein bars, instant ramen"

Geez.. pretty depressing diet that's for sure. Maybe I should've learned to cook.

After filling my basket, I made my way to the checker. I had just started staring off when a voice caught me off guard, "Hmm looks like someone's got a big night planned. All the essentials."

"Huh?" I asked confused. I looked up and a girl stood there on the other side of the register.

She had her long light brunette hair pulled up in a ponytail. She had streaks of platinum blonde at the ends of her curls. She wore a green checker uniform apron. And her smile, that damn smile..

"I mean I'm no five star chef, but this looks like a hot date waiting to happen.. Protein bars, instant ramen and 2%. Lucky lady must be thrilled," she teased.

I groaned, "Uhhh does it look like I have time for stupid things like dates?"

She giggled, "With that attitude, you must be soo popular with the ladies."

I stammered, "W-what's that supposed to mean?"

"Hehe nevermind. Just teasing." She insisted, "Your total is 19.48"

I rummaged for my wallet and handed her a twenty dollar bill, "K-keep the change."

"Thanks," she laughed, "Fifty-two cents for the keep retail workers sane fund."

She handed me my receipt. I looked to read the listed cashier name, Emiko.

"Emiko huh?" I inquired.

"O-oh.. I forgot our names print off on the receipts. Y-ya," she smiled brightly, "I'm Emiko. And you are?"

"Tsukishima," I grinned, "Tsukishima, Kei."

"Well Tsukishima, welcome to the neighborhood." She beamed

~~~

Later that night, I couldn't get Emiko out of my head. Her dumb laugh. That goofy grin. That.. that spitfire attitude. She was perfect. Too damn perfect. Almost unreal.

During my own little daydream, I had barely realized the microwave had gone off.

I stood and walked over to grab the hot water I'd nuked for my cup of noodles.

"Hot date huh?" I chuckled.

I heard those footsteps again above me. Except this time, I heard a crash of the shattering of glass. And a scream?

I set my mug down and walked over to where the sound was coming through. I barely had to stretch forward towards the ceiling to hear the sobs of.. a woman. And shouting coming from a male voice.

I heard the clear sound of a clap of a smack across the face and the woman's cries went silent.

Is that guy seriously beating down on someone? Let alone a girl.

The thought really pissed me off. Without even thinking, I'd run out the door. I went up the corridor stairwell and listened around to see if I could find the exact location of the sound.

A little old woman wandered up to me, "Oh thank goodness, a strong young man. You're just what we need. I've been worried sick over that poor girl. She's in unit 3-E. She's always getting hit on by that brute of a man of hers. She never reports him or goes to the hospital. I worry for the poor dear.."

"Sounds like this has been ongoing.." I gritted my teeth.

"Oh yes," she continued, "The poor dear doesn't ever reach out. Maybe if a man like yourself knocked she may be able to feel a little safer to talk. Would you be a dear and check in on her?"

I nodded. I felt a pat on my shoulder and the old woman was nodding approvingly and smiling, "Such a nice young man." She hobbled away.

"Keh.. nah lady.." I muttered under my breath, "Far from it."

I walked over the the door labeled "3-E" and knocked. There was no sound. No response at all.

I knocked again, a little more firmly.

I looked at the base of the door and could see the dim light of a television coming from under the crack. Then I saw a shadow of footsteps.

The door cracked a few inches wide and I saw a familiar pair of icy gray eyes.

"E-Emiko?"

~~~

"O-oh.. gosh.. h-hey Tsukishima!" Her eyes widened, I couldn't tell out of shock or elation, "What are you doing here?"

"I.. I um.. live in the complex." I fumbled through my words, "Downstairs actually."

"Oh how funny." She laughed quietly, "Small world huh?"

When I finally took a good look at her, I realized she was wearing a cream turtleneck that had messily been pulled up to cover her neck and stretched to block the lower half of her face. Covering her lips.

"I heard some noise coming from upstairs and figured I'd check it out. I wasn't expecting to see you. Are.. you ok?" I asked carefully.

"Oh me?? Y-yeah." She forced what looked like a grin through the fabric of her sweater.

"I heard.. crying. And screams."

"Oh that??" She hastily answered, "The television.. y-yeah. Action movie. Sorry I must've had it too loud."

I looked behind her and saw remnants of a shattered bottle of booze.. and a knocked over lamp.

"And.. that?" I pointed to the evidence.

"Oh um.. must have been the wind." She stammered.

But, her sliding glass door wasn't open.

"Well.. I better be going back inside. Thanks for checking on me Tsukishima. Very neighborly of you."

Her eyes.. they looked. So empty. Her hidden smile.. so void of life.

She began to shut the door but I managed to catch it with my hand.

"H-hey.." she jumped.

"If there's anything you need, anything at all. Just.. come by. I'm in 2-B." I offered.

I saw it, barely, but I saw it. The real thing. A genuine outline of a smile.

"Thanks Tsukishima." She whispered, "Goodnight."

~~~

It had been a few weeks since my interaction with Emiko. School had started and practices kept me tied up throughout most of the week.

But, I never stopped thinking about her. The two sides I had seen of her. The quick-witted cashier and the trembling little mouse of a girl.

I hated that image. She looked so petrified, like she'd break underneath my gaze. I hadn't gotten the courage to go and visit her after I'd overstepped my bound that night.

How would I face her? I mean, what if it all was just a big misunderstanding? No, I couldn't tell myself that. I saw the look on her face. All the classic signs of a battered woman. I had to confront her. Or at the very least, check in on her.

Plus, my groceries were beginning to run a little low with my avoiding the market in fear of facing Emiko again.

I walked into the store and looked to the cash register. She wasn't there. I decided maybe she was off shift and started searching for my selections. I figured I'd try something a little different and grabbed some more fresh selection groceries. Chicken, pasta noodles, marinara sauce and breadcrumbs. I had been craving pasta for some odd reason lately.

I felt a tap on my shoulder.

"Well well.. Mr Tsukishima gracing the Shop-Mart with his presence."

I chuckled. This was the voice I was looking for.

I turned and froze. Emiko had freshly healing bruise on her left cheek and was sporting a bandage over what could only be a busted lip. Her arms had red spots littered across them. More bruises.

"Emiko," I gasped.

"Oh.. these." She looked over herself, "Just a bad tumble down the corridor stairs. Heh, I'm such a klutz."

She giggled and rubbed the back of her head.

"And a terrible liar.." I grumbled.

"W-what do you mean?" She asked.

"You expect me to believe that's from a fall down the stairs?" I growled.

"Tsukishima, I don't know what you're talking about." She insisted.

"I'm not an idiot. Your neighbor told me about that boyfriend of yours. How he beats on you.." I was seething at this point.

"He doesn't-" she trembled.

"Don't lie to me!" I shouted.

There it was. The knee-jerk reaction. Without even realizing, she had proven my theory. She had instantly flinched and cowered at my voice raising.

"Geez, look at what that fucker has done to you," I moved closer to inspect her.

"T-Tsukishima.." she trembled .

I looked closely. Handprints bruised around her arms and neck. They had mostly healed but the yellow indentations were a telltale sign this wasn't the first time. He bottom lip was red and swollen. A small scab poked under the bandage.

"Okay, come on." I grabbed her by the hand.

"W-where are we going?" Emiko asked.

"Dinner. My place." I stated bluntly.

"Dinner? I've got work. I can't just leave in the middle of my shift." She rambled on.

"Then," I stopped walking, "What time do you get off?"

"F-five." She whispered.

"Then it's settled. After you get off and get changed, you come downstairs and I'm cooking you dinner." I demanded.

"But.." she resisted.

"I don't think you've got a choice," I winked, "Plus, I don't see you pushing me away."

That made her blush and start pouting, like a defeated child. She stomped her foot and looked up at me with a grumpy look on her face, "F-fine."

"Great!" I grinned smugly, "It's a date."

I gave her a two finger salute and she huffed and turned away.

That's right. Keep on fighting with me.