A/N: If you're wondering about the non-Japanese names, I posted an explanation in the reviews area. There will also be an explanation in the story in the next chapter or two, so find out however you wish. Thanks!
Previously...
"Chloe!" Her mother called from the front.
"Coming!" Chloe whirled to run, forgetting how close she was to the ladder. She collided with it hard, and the half-full box of peaches came toppling down. She screamed as she saw it coming, then everything was darkness.
Now...
"Chloe, are you all right?"
"Is she all right?"
"Should we call an ambulance?"
"No, no, she seems to be coming round."
Chloe could hear all these voices above her. Her head was hurting like...something painful. She forced her eyelids to separate, flinching as the light hit her brown eyes. "What happened?" She blinked a few times, clearing her vision.
Her mother and some customers were clustered around her, worried looks on all their faces. "Do you remember what happened?"
Chloe still looked a little bewildered, but answered "Yeah...the peaches fell on me..." She pushed herself up into a sitting position, closing her eyes and holding her head as a wave of nausea washed over her. "I'm fine, really." She spoke when the wave passed, smiling a weak but reassuring smile. She was rather disappointed that Shuiichi hadn't come to see if she was all right, but he probably had his own life to get on with.
"Here's the ice."
Chloe's eyes bugged and her face flushed. She'd know that voice if it were surrounded by three hundred others. She didn't dare even look at him, although she could see him in her peripheral.
Something cold was pressed against her head. "Here, keep it up." He took her hand and placed it on the bag to support it. He retracted his hand, still crouching by her. "Look at me Miss Scott."
It took a moment but Chloe slowly turned her head, still blushing, still unable to meet his gaze.
He tapped her hand. "Look at me Miss Scott. We all want to be sure you didn't damage yourself permanently." He smiled encouragingly.
Chloe mustered her courage and met his green eyes, her heart speeding up a bit as she did so.
"Do you remember who I am?" He asked.
She nodded mutely.
"Can you point out your mother?"
She pointed to her mother, still mute.
"Very good." Shuiichi straightened, smiling reassuringly at everyone. "She's all right, just a bump on the head."
Chloe's mother took the hint. "Let's give her some air now. You all came to shop, so please continue with it." When the curious onlookers had cleared out she took Shuiichi to the end of the aisle, speaking quietly with him.
Chloe sat on the floor, still holding the bag of ice to her head, still staring at the floor, and still in shock. He'd brought her ice for her head. He'd taken it upon himself to make sure she was okay. He'd-
"Miss Scott?"
Her head jerked up, and she winced as it throbbed.
"Your mother has asked that I take you home when I finish shopping, since we are next door neighbors. She's going to call the school and tell you can't come today. Would you be agreeable to waiting ten or fifteen minutes before we leave?"
Chloe nodded. "My bag....it's in the back." She managed to find her voice, even if it did squeak a little.
Shuiichi nodded. "That's quite all right. We'll get that before leaving. Let's get you to a chair in the back, alright?"
She nodded again, taking the ice pack from her head as she attempted the awkwardness of getting off the floor in her school's uniform skirt – not an easy task when you were trying to maintain some sort of modesty.
"Please allow me." Shuiichi stepped behind her and lifted her onto her feet gracefully, as if she weighed nothing.
She gasped, more of surprise at the action than of pain.
"Did that hurt your head?" He asked, concerned.
Chloe was about to shake her head, but quickly turned it into a small nod. "Only a little." She clamped the cold pack back on her head, praying that he released her now but also praying that he didn't. She'd spent so many nights dreaming he'd hold her like this! Then again, her dreams had always been a little more romantic than this was...and he'd used her first name...
He let go of her for a moment to retrieve his basket of food. "Do you feel well enough to walk?" He asked.
Chloe nodded and set the ice pack down on the shelf, annoyed with herself for feeling as well as she was. The perfect opportunity here and she had to be feeling pretty okay. "So I'll see you in the back in ten?" She asked, smiling weakly.
He smiled back. "I won't forget about you." He promised.
Chloe smiled much wider when she was out of his sight. Those words had sent tingles up her spine. She sat cross-legged on one of the freezers, wrapped the back-pack in her arms, and leaned her head back against the wall. As the minutes drifted so did her conscious. Her head was throbbing again.
'Darn, I left the cold pack out there...' She thought, her eyelids drifting shut.
"Miss Scott?"
She jerked awake at Shuiichi's voice. "What?" She asked, startled.
Shuiichi held out a hand. "I've completed my business. Shall we depart?"
Chloe looked at his hand for a moment, finally closing her mouth and letting him help her off the appliance. "Thanks." She let go quickly, averting her gaze from his. She slung her back-pack on and submissively followed him.
Silence reigned between them as they walked down the sidewalk, Shuiichi in his own thoughts for a little while and Chloe too shy to speak any of her's. Finally though, the silence was too much. She had the perfect opportunity here, and she was just letting it slip out of her hands!
"So, um, do you still hang out with Kazuma and Urameshi?" She asked timidly.
Shuiichi glanced at her, one eyebrow quirked. "Kuwabara and Yusuke? How did you know I hung out with them?"
Chloe blushed, glancing at a window they passed. "Well, they were always coming to your house. And you talked to them a lot on your phone or walkie talkie. … Back when you were in high school, I mean." She didn't dare look at him to see his expression. She felt like she'd asked something that shouldn't have been asked.
"I still talk to Yusuke on occasion. Kuwabara moved out of town; I haven't had a chance to talk with him in a while."
He didn't seem mad, thankfully, although his comment about Kuwabara had seemed somehow... off. Different than his nonchalance about Yusuke. But Chloe, being Chloe, didn't dare pursue it. She didn't know she should have pressed it in the first place. Instead she searched desperately for another subject.
Shuiichi changed it himself. "How do you like high school?"
Chloe looked at him, surprised, her tongue fumbling for words. "Well, I, uh....it's okay, I guess."
"What's your favorite class?"
"Uhh...chemistry, although biology is pretty interesting too. My chemistry teacher is definitely the most fun though." She smiled softly.
"Science, huh? I didn't know you were interested in that." Shuiichi tugged her elbow to stop her from crossing an intersection.
Chloe pushed some hair behind her ear. "I got into it when I read my older brother's research journals. He was an absolute genius. I guess you could say he inspired me." She started walking again when Shuiichi did, glad he was paying attention to traffic, because she knew she was caught up in the fact that she had him all to herself right now. Occasions for this were rare, so she had to cherish them when she could.
"Your brother's a scientist?" Shuiichi asked.
"Was a scientist." She corrected.
"Oh I see."
"So what degree are you working towards?" Chloe asked, not wanting him to press that further.
Shuiichi smiled slightly. "I'm studying biochemistry."
Chloe looked at him, a smile lighting up her features. "That's great! Are you going to go into the medical field? You'd be so good at helping people!" She instantly flushed and looked away. She missed a look of sadness on his face, but it only lasted moments before it was replaced by his normal demeanor.
"I don't know about that. But, in any case, I'm not sure right now what I want to do with the degree. There are many options available to me."
Chloe nodded, murmuring "There certainly are."
Shuiichi let a moment of silence fall before breaking it again, finding her interesting to talk to. He hadn't really spent any time with her since before her met Yusuke and the rest. She'd certainly changed a lot, turned into quite a young woman. She just seemed so painfully shy he wasn't sure he'd get to know her very well. She seemed as well hidden as he took pains to be. "Do you have any colleges you're looking at?"
Chloe fell silent for a moment, then looked at him sneakily. "Promise you won't tell my mother what I tell you?"
Shuiichi was a little surprised at this show of trust, but assured her of his secrecy if it was nothing illegal.
She giggled a little and shook her head. "Nothing like that. I just...I'm graduating this year, not next year."
Shuiichi looked surprised. "Congratulations. How did you manage that?" He was truly surprised, especially after what her mother had said her daughter's grades. It was a pleasant surprise nonetheless, and earned her a bit of respect in his mind.
Chloe did look a little pleased with herself. "My friend and I both wanted to graduate early, but the only way to do it would be if we did night school as well as regular high school. He didn't want to do night school alone, and I certainly didn't have the money for that, so it worked perfectly. He paid, I attended, we helped each other out and got a year ahead." She giggled. "Nothing too special."
"Why haven't you told your mother?"
"...I just want to surprise her is all."
Shuiichi looked at Chloe, trying to read what her face said. Somehow he got the feeling there was more here than she was letting on, but then again that was none of his business. So he switched the subject. "What college do you want to go to?"
Chloe considered a moment. "Osaka University. They have one of the best medical schools in the nation."
Shuiichi raised an eyebrow: that was also the university he was attending. "Have you appli-"
"I've already been accepted." She interrupted, smiling broadly.
"Congratulations."
She seemed to remember who she was with and her cheeks tinged pink as she quickly ducked her head away from his sight. "Thanks..." She murmured, tugging on her backpack strap. She stepped closer to Shuiichi to avoid colliding into someone, but she didn't quite make it far enough. Her head came up to look at the stranger, but his eyes caused her apologies to die on her lips.
The stranger's eyes were a dark orange, beautiful and terrifying at the same time. "I'm terribly sorry." The well-dressed man purred, lifting her hand and pressing it to his lips. "How rude of me."
Chloe didn't know what this man was doing, but she seemed rooted to the spot, unable to take her gaze off him. "Th-that's okay." She tugged her hand out of his grasp, holding it protectively with her other hand.
Shuiichi put an arm behind her back. "Very sorry about that." He propelled Chloe forward, away from the unnerving stranger.
Chloe went with him, but something in her made her look back. The black-haired stranger was still watching her, a smile quirking his lips. "Creeper..." She muttered, turning her attention forward again. She hesitated, then risked a look at Shuiichi. His face didn't seem any different than normal, but something in his eyes told her his brain was working through something.
"Was that someone you know?" Shuiichi asked quietly, removing his arm.
Chloe was a little disappointed at the lack of contact now, but didn't show it outwardly. "Not at all." She shook her head. "But did you see those eyes? Such an odd orange color. Probably contacts though, huh?"
Shuiichi didn't smile at that, simply replied. "Probably. It seems to be a fad these days. You should probably avoid him if you see him again in the future. He didn't seem very safe."
Chloe could have smiled her heart out – Shuiichi was showing concern for her well-being! But she didn't. Instead she agreed. "Definitely. He seemed...weird. But, in any case, this is a big city. The chances of me bumping into him again are very small. He'll just live forever in my memory as the creeper with entrancing orange eyes." She giggled, hoping it would loosen Shuiichi up some.
He seemed to smile a little, and relax infinitesimally. "Do you remember every stranger you bump into? Or just the weird ones?" He teased.
Chloe stuck her tongue out. "I can't help it if I have a good memory."
Shuiichi chuckled. "Okay, okay." He stopped walking. "This is your stop, I believe." He pointed at her house.
Chloe couldn't believe what ill-luck she had to live so close to the store. "Yeah, I guess so.." She scuffed her foot in the dirt. "Thanks for walking me home." She glanced up at him briefly, flashing a smile and then heading up the walk to her house.
"My pleasure." Shuiichi walked next door to his own house, glancing over as he opened his own door. She'd had to unlock the front door with her key. Did that mean there was no one home? Shuiichi frowned a little. That wasn't safe when she'd just had a bunch of cans fall on her head; she could have a concussion.
'Surely her mother wouldn't send her home to an empty house.' He told himself, entering his own home. "Mother?" He called, slipping off his shoes before entering further into the home.
"Shuiichi?" Shiori came out from the kitchen, smiling at her son. "Did you have a problem at the grocery?"
"Of course not. Mrs. Scott's daughter had a box of canned peaches fall on her head, and I offered to escort her home."
Shiori's eyes widened. "Oh my. Is she alright? She's been a little sick lately."
Shuiichi nodded. "She seems fine. She's staying home today to get some rest."
Shiori seemed shocked. "All by herself all day?" She shook her head, taking the bags and returning to the kitchen. "The Scott's are coming to dinner tonight. I invited them days ago, when I thought you were staying at school for the weekend."
Shuiichi, who had followed his mother, smiled and hugged her from behind. "That's fine mother. I'll do my work before they come over. Will you need any help getting the food ready this afternoon?"
Shiori shook her head, patting his arm. "Not at all. You just focus on getting all your work done."
Shuiichi let her go. "You let me know if you need any help." He took an apple and headed back to his bedroom, setting himself up at his desk. He glanced out his window, catching sight of Chloe also sitting at her desk. She, however, had slumped forward, her head resting on one arm, the other stretched out to the side. Dead asleep it seemed. He frowned. You weren't supposed to sleep when you just had your head hit.
His mother beat him to it. "Shuiichi, dear, what do you say we invite Chloe to come over here for the day? I worry about her, being alone in that house all day by herself."
Shuiichi smiled and stood, glad he had a legitimate excuse to go over there now. "Of course mother. You're quite right. I'll run over." He pulled on a light jacket and slid on his shoes as he headed out the door. He walked up to her window first and tapped on it. She didn't stir.
He knocked a little harder. She still didn't move. Getting a little worried now he went to the front door and rang the doorbell. He waited a little while before trying the knob; it was locker. He glanced at his own house, then went around to the back door, which was unlocked. He slipped inside, padding softly through the hallway, going to the door that should lead him to her bedroom.
The door was open, revealing the same thing he'd seen from his bedroom. He knocked on the door loudly; she only moaned a little in her sleep. Shuiichi stood on the threshold a little while longer, not wanting to trespass on her privacy, but not sure of any other way to wake her. Finally, he walked over to her and placed a hand on her shoulder, shaking her gently. "Miss Scott?"
She jerked awake, heart pounding, blood pumping, eyes. "What? What?!" She whipped her head around to look him, hesitating when she saw Shuiichi. "S-shuiichi?" She stuttered, glad that sleeping on the desk was an excuse for her cheeks to already be red. "Wh-what are you doing here?"
Shuiichi smiled, stepping back a little. "My mother asked me to invite you to come stay at our house for the day, seeing as being here all alone with a head injury isn't very safe."
Chloe's mouth opened, then shut. She blinked, processing his words. "I'm alright here, really.." She looked down at her hands. "She doesn't have to-"
"You're not putting us out of our way, I promise. Please, just come over. You don't want to make her worry, do you?"
Chloe sighed, still not looking up into his gaze. "I suppose not. Let me leave a note for my mother." She stood and walked past him, out into the kitchen. She scribbled a note for her mother and placed it on the dining table. She paused there for a moment, her heart still beating erratically. Shuiichi had come over to wake her up and ask her over. She couldn't help a shy smile to herself before returning to her room. She gathered her books and shoved them in her bag, grabbing a coat and following him out of her house.
"Um, not to be rude, but...what were you doing in my house anyway? You could have rung the doorbell.." She didn't look at him, but she was curious.
Shuiichi didn't seem affronted. "I knocked on your window and rang the doorbell and you still didn't wake up."
Chloe's lips formed a silent 'o'. "How did you know to come in the back door?"
Shuiichi smiled. "You always leave the back door unlocked." He smirked down at her. "You're not the only one with a good memory."
Chloe flushed, looking down at the flowers growing around his house.
"Why do you leave the back door unlocked? I'm just a little curious. Wouldn't you feel safer with it locked? Most people who come through your back door won't have the good intentions I do."
Chloe nodded. "I suppose, but I like having a means of escape."
Shuiichi could honestly say that surprised him. "A means of escape? From what?"
Chloe fell silent, stopping at his front door. "From-...nothing." She shook her head, following him through the front door.
Shuiichi let the subject drop, as she obviously did not want to talk about it. "I'm back Mother."
"Chloe! So good to see you." Shiori smiled warmly.
Chloe smiled back, a little awkwardly. "Thank you for inviting me over Shiori."
Shiori waved her hand dismissively. "Of course dear. I couldn't let you stay in the house all by yourself when you weren't feeling well. Shuiichi can set you up somewhere to do your homework, and your family will be joining us for dinner, so you can just return home with them, no problems."
Chloe nodded. "Sounds fine with me, thanks. I'm feeling alright, please don't worry about me."
Shiori just smiled and looked at Shuiichi. "I'll call you two for lunch."
Shuiichi kissed her cheek lightly. "Thank you mother. Please follow me Miss Scott." He led their visitor up the stairs to his bedroom. "You may take over the desk. I just have reading for now."
Chloe looked surprised. "Are you sure you don't mind?"
Shuiichi shook his head and headed for the bed. "Please, make yourself at home."
Chloe hesitated at first, but slowly took over the surface, spreading her books out so she could study. They studied in silence for a while. Chloe was absorbed in her homework, and Shuiichi just preferred working in quiet.
Chloe lay on her bed that night, arms over her head, an intense satisfied feeling resting in the pit of her stomach. She'd spent all day in Shuiichi's company, had dinner with him and his parents, and gotten all her homework finished. He'd still be home tomorrow, Sunday, as well. Perhaps she'd have a chance to see him again.
She smiled at that thought and closed her eyes, ready to go to sleep. A cool breeze wafted some hair across her cheek. The blood drained from her face and her heart skipped several beats. Something was wrong here. Something was terribly wrong here.
She wasn't alone.