AUTHOR'S NOTES: Hi, everybody, I'm Scath. If you wanna know more about me visit my profile. I've always wanted to write something for this couple, something that would be a 'hit', so I'm giving my all for this one, I truly want it to be my best fic so far. I'll be updating once every two weeks (I'd do it once a week if my life was any easier at the moment, but...), always on Saturday's so if you're not registered in the site and want to keep track of the fic, that's how I'm gonna work. Have a nice reading and, please, insert a review so that the next chapter can be released. XD

Prologue

When I graduated in 2003, I decided I would depend on my parents no longer, I decided I'd find my own place and make my own money, that was how on a Sunday morning I ended up driving to an address I had taken from an add, according to the woman, Fujino Shizuru, the house had an extra bedroom and even though she wasn't the poorest of people it was getting hard on her to keep it on her own.

The house was located in a good middle class neighborhood and from the outside it looked like a cozy place to live, with many windows, flowers in the garden and a green roof; I knocked twice before an old lady wearing an apron opened.

"May I help you?"

"Yes, are you Ms. Fujino?"

"No, but if you'd like to talk to her I'd first like to know who you are and what you want." I couldn't tell if she was being rude or only cautious, but she did make me feel uncomfortable.

"Pardon me, ma'am. I'm Kuga Natsuki and I came because of the add for lodgers."

"Oh, that! Come in, please, Ms. Fujino's in the living room, the first door to the right."

"Thank you, Mrs. …"

"Marianne Baxter." I made a short reverence to the obviously British lady and walked to the door she'd pointed, I had raised my fist to knock when a calm feminine voice told me to enter.

The living room was smaller than it looked from the outside, there was a sofa and two armchairs by the fireplace, a desk with a computer and a stereo on it, the walls that didn't have windows were covered with bookshelves and over the fireplace a television.

Fujino Shizuru was a 26 years old blonde with wine colored eyes; she was lying on the sofa still on pajamas holding a cup of tea.

"Make yourself at home, Kuga-san." I nodded feeling a little uncomfortable and settled myself in one of the armchairs.

"If it wasn't for your name, Ms. Fujino, I would have never believed you are Japanese too." my comment made her chuckle lightly as she pointed towards the tea. "No, thanks. I've just had my breakfast."

"You live near here I suppose." with delicate white fingers she reached the teapot and filled her cup.

"About thirty minutes. I'm still staying in the university campus but I have to leave until next week."

"And that's why you're here." she finished for me and smiled. "Congratulations on your graduation!"

"Thank you."

"What did you study?" Shizuru shifted on her seat as if to hear me better.

"Chemistry."

"Really? Sounds pretty interesting." I blushed when I realized she was being honest, most of the people told me the same thing but it was obvious they were saying that only because they didn't know what to say or how to react. "Perhaps you can teach me something when you move in."

"Huh… Oh, definitely!" my distraction only made her chuckle again. "Should we start discussing about the conditions, then?"

"I just need you to pay half of Mary's salary and whatever else you spend."

"No rent?" I was stunned.

"Rent? Oh, no, not really." she poured herself another cup of tea.

"Ms. Fujino, I'm sorry but I must say that this is a pretty awkward arrangement."

"Kuga-san," she started barely controlling her laughter. "I don't see the issue… I think it's pretty fair, you'll pay only what you spend."

"That's not what troubles me, what I wonder is—"

"Why I don't want you to pay rent? Keep your money, Kuga-san, do you think I need it that badly?" she gestured to the things around her and I realized that she was right, but still… How different and unique was that woman. "Are we settled, then?"

"Well, I guess this is too good of a chance for me to refuse." I watched as Shizuru's smile widened.

"Do you wanna see the rest of the house now?" she got up with one swift movement and gestured me to follow her even before I had the time to answer.

The door across the living room led us into the dining room which was connected to the kitchen, both rooms were extremely clean and their white walls made even the heaviest of hearts feel light. In the kitchen we also found Marianne, Mary as Shizuru called her, cooking something for lunch which smelled unbelievably good.

"Spaghetti." the old woman said answering my question.

"Do wanna join me for lunch?" the blonde asked as I admired the golden color of the pasta.

"I'm not sure it would be appropriate… I mean, we've only just met." I struggled with the words but I just couldn't admit so readily that I wanted to stay; I was no excited child even when nothing but a salad expected me at home.

"You're moving in here, we're gonna live together. Don't you think it's a good opportunity for us to get to know each other?"

"Yes, you're right. I'll stay." her smile widened as it had when I accepted to move in.

"Can I serve now?" Mary asked always serious.

"After we finish our tour, okay?" before I had even noticed we were going up the stairs to our bedrooms, Shizuru's arm linked on mine. "I'm sorry, it's just that Mary's so moody… When things don't work her way she starts complaining about her whole life and then it goes for hours."

"It's alright, only… Huh… Ms. Fujino, your, your arm…" I tried hard not to be rude but it just didn't make me comfortable to have her so close all of a sudden, I barely knew her.

"Oh! Sorry, I forgot myself." she let go of me and smiled apologetically.

My future bedroom was big and light colored, with a desk, a closet and a bookshelf besides the large bed, it felt cold, empty as it was, but I could imagine how it would look with all my stuff in it and I knew it was perfect.

A small bathroom separated Shizuru's bedroom from mine but they were also connected by the corridor, our rooms had exactly the same furniture the only difference being the flowered wallpaper which gave her bedroom a cheerful feeling of nature and country life that fit her incredibly well.

When our tour ended we found the lunch served and I was delighted to discover that it tasted as good as it looked. Shizuru poured us a very good French wine as we talked about all kinds of trivialities.

"I forgot to ask you, Ms. Fujino, what do you do for living?" I asked as I drove another forkful of pasta into my mouth.

"Me? I'm a lawyer."

"A lawyer?!" I practically choked, the last thing that that smiling lady looked like was a lawyer or maybe my knowledge of lawyers was too limited.

"Surprised?" She smiled behind her glass. "I know I don't sound like one but that's because you're not a client."

"I should have known." we laughed together, at nothing in particular, it was probably the alcohol acting on our systems. "I have to go back now and start packing or I won't be able to move in tomorrow."

"Of course!" she stood up as did I and extended her hand to me over the table. "It was a pleasure to meet you, Natsuki-chan. I can call you that, right?"

"I guess." I chuckled and grabbed her hand. "It was a pleasure meeting you too, Shizuru." she smiled brightly holding my hand for a moment longer than needed.

"Mary, can you escort Natsuki to the door? I should get started on my paperwork."

As I drove back to the campus I felt not like I was going home but like I was leaving home and that made me happy. I had found the right place.