Disclaimer: If I don't take any names, I don't steal anyone! Teehee hee! *sneak sneak*

From the First Floor Bedroom Window

It was a tiny apartment, facing the children's park. Conveniently located close to her university, and far far away from home. She was thankful for both. Home was no more a happy place to be, and she was better off living alone over here. It had cost a fortune to buy this place, but money was after all quickly made. If anyone back home had heard her say this, they would surely flip over in shock, but she had been forced to learn the hard facts that there were things more important than money. Like peace of mind. Which is why she had left home and come here in the first place.

It was a two storied apartment, with the kitchen, the hall and a tiny closet on the ground floor. A bedroom and the bath were on the first floor. She had just moved in; her things still lying unpacked in boxes scattered all over the hall. Aware of the tedious task of settling in looming over her head, she let out a long sigh. Hard work was not a very pleasant prospect to her, and was mostly left to her several lackeys. But this was not Nerima, and she did not have lackeys here, at least not yet. She had no doubts, however, that she would have some pretty soon. Till then… She sighed again.

Casting a dismal look at all the boxes scattered around, she decided to take a breather before delving into the task at hand. Wading through all the clutter, she went up to the stairs and made her way to the first floor. The bedroom was cozy looking, with a huge window letting in an abundance of sunshine. Smiling, she sauntered over to the window and looked out at the children's park.

A small child sat at the top of a slide in the middle of the park. His mother crouched at the bottom, waiting to receive him with open arms. He pushed himself off and whizzed down the slide, a scream of glee ripping from his throat. His pigtail snagged in the wind and blew out behind him. She froze.

"What sacrilege! You DARED to stay in my house and cast your unclean shadow on us?"

"Oh my! I must wash everything now!"

"Dirty blood! Get out of my house! Get out, NOW!"

"Oh my! Thank God we found it out on time, Akane! Stay away from him, come here!"

"Don't touch my daughter!"

The pigtailed child finished his ride and swished down into his mother's arms. She hugged him to her chest and stood up, both mother and child giggling in happiness. The mother carried the little boy back to the top of the slide and hurried back around to crouch at the bottom herself. The child whooshed down again, pigtail flying behind him.

The rain poured down in torrents, distorting the world, as seen through the window pane of a first floor bedroom. A family walked out the little gate in the yard below. The man in the front, his shoulders stooped under the weight of his backpack, his pride hunched under the weight of his ancestors. Beside him, the woman walked stiffly, proudly, her head held high. No stain on Earth could bow that head. They walked out the gate, without looking back.

And he followed – their son. His feet dragged, his head bent. She watched him from the first floor bedroom window. She would never have thought how much difference it made to him when he did not have that cocky smile, his chest puffed out, when his pigtail did not bounce in the wake of his arrogant stride. It seemed to take him forever to cross the two yards to the little gate. And when he did, he stopped, hesitating, afraid. Afraid? Him? It was unthinkable, yet so real.

He had turned then, one last time. Maybe he had sensed the pair of eyes at a first floor bedroom window. But no, he hadn't looked at herself. He had looked at the other window, the one that he usually always looked at.

She did not know if there was anyone at that other window. And if there was someone, the rain would have prevented him from seeing anyone. Did it pain him? To not be able to see for one last time…

He had turned back to the gate and walked out, following after his parents.

She watched as the little boy pumped his tiny fists into the air, full of confidence in himself and the world. The world was yet untainted for him.

As it had been for him as well, until she had hurled reality into his face.

Oh well, no time for reminiscing. She still had to unpack. Turning away from the window, she made a note to herself to buy shades for it; the sunlight was too bright and would disturb her sleep early in the morning.

So this one, much like Meeting a Stranger, started as a drabble for Neriman Days, and ended up as a standalone fic. :D

Also, this started out from the POV of Akane, but midway through (actually at the point where he senses a pair of eyes at the window) I felt it would be more appropriate from Nabiki's viewpoint. So, I went back and changed a few things to match her personality more (although I don't think I did a very good job... =.=" ) and viola~

Ta~daa~

This is kinda emo... o.O" Pretty surprising for me... Am I sinking into depression? o.O" =.="

Ahh! *Dreams of diving in a swimming pool of reviews* Reviewwwwwwww~~ *splish splash*

Do you think the ending was abrupt?