Woah, new story. Finally, eh? Well, I've been having these blank stretches where my mind cannot make up anything at all, but I finally scoured something up. It's a Soriku fanfic.

First thing I wanna say: This story's idea wasn't completely mine. I can't remember who it was, but I was reading a lot of Soriku fanfics and I came across a few, really deep, really good ones. Can't remember the titles or authors, but I'm just giving you a heads-up before I begin.

Well, here's the story data:

Genre: Romance/Drama
Rating: T for swears and stuff like that.
Summary: Sometimes, you have to give up everything to love. Even if that means in the end, you'll be holding your broken heart in your hand.
Pairings: SoraXRiku, NaminéXRoxas (dunno about the second one; I might do KairiXNaminé... X3;;;;)
Setting: Present-day in New York City, NY

Anyways...

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters, though I do own quite a lot of the story plot. XD

Chapter 1: Life of the Ignored

"When you're invisible to the world, no one can hurt you. But then again, no one can catch you when you fall."

...oOo...

Life was perfect before. Laughter was never ending, and it seemed the joy would never stem.

But that was before Daddy died. He was hit by a drunk driver, mortally wounded, and died while being rushed to the hospital. Mum never recovered, and it's been a year now. Hell, I haven't even recovered. He was one of the coolest guys to ever be around, and he showered my brother and me in affection. More than once did I find him making out with Mum like two teenagers drowning in love. But now, there is no kissing, only tears.

Afterwards, Sora – my brother – and I, we never spoke much, except to each other. We understood the pain. He loved our Dad every bit as much as I did. You'd think the average American siblings would get into chaos and conflict, but we had a bond that I can never put in words.

I s'pose we lost our friends that way. Who knows? But the sudden change in personality never helped a friendship. Kairi, a very cute girl with short auburn hair and ocean eyes, used to be my best friend. She was always a tomboy, I guess, while I always dressed in what she considered girly white outfits. It was obvious Sora had this immense crush on her, and she on him. She easily befriended him with her kindness and this giggle that could in turn make you laugh, even surpassing his perpetual shyness upon meeting a new person. Everyone thought they'd become the couple of the century. But she matured in time, and then garbed herself in the latest fashions. She grew rapidly in popularity upon this switch, but we still maintained our strong bond. But she was soon out of Sora's reach. Though she still kept this secret longing for him, she was always swept away out of his grasp, and he could never talk to her in privacy.

I, in a way, am guilty in this. It was just so hard not to hang out with Kairi – she was just plainly fun to be with. But I guess I stuck to her a bit too much, and another one of her popular friends who always seemed glued to her hip; well, by then Sora had no chance whatsoever. Sora, I am sad to say, never stopped liking her. I sometimes wonder whether that developed into love. But it was never meant to be.

And then, the crash, and our friendship began to choke. I could never stop crying, though I tried my best to keep it all in secrecy. Kairi was unbelievably helpful – she aided and comforted me as much as it was in her ability. I even thought that our friendship had grown, as impossible as it seemed. We were never a better pair.

But I was horribly mistaken. Kairi was too popular now; nearing the age of sixteen, she was not only blindingly cute, but growing into a pretty young woman. Normally she wore this pink outfit that heightened her beauty, and had on just the slightest of mascara and this clear, shiny lip-gloss. Boys were falling left, right, and center for her lovable personality, but more importantly for her appearance, and our friendship finally gasped and died. I don't know how it happened; it just did. One moment she was by my side, arms wrapped comfortingly around me as I quietly grieved, and then she was gone, off with her new posse.

Our other friends, they just don't want to hang out with two quiet, emotional kids, I guess. I was okay with that. If my dad was still alive and someone else's whatever was gone, and they were all emo and stuff, I think even after a little bit of comforting, I wouldn't want to stay friends with them either. But then again, I wouldn't know.

Sora and I, we shared a room. It was small and a little cramped, but two beds and a desk in between, with a small TV on the other end of the room; it was really actually cozy for me. It was my sanctuary, and I guess it was Sora's too. Over time, after the death of our dad, we became close friends. Our bond was almost stronger than the one I shared with Kairi. He would comfort me, and me in turn for him. I guess having a twin brother care for you is touching.

Anyway, since he is my twin and all (we're not identical), we actually share a lot of classes. Actually, to tell the truth, we share ALL the same classes. Weird and unnatural, yes, but that means we can help each other with homework. YAY.

And in just one of those classes on one particular Wednesday in late October, we had a new student. New students either fall immediately into the popular group, or into the nerd/ignored section. Few could manage to sneak into the "in-betweens," a group where you were still liked, but your existence wasn't known by everyone.

But one glance told me this guy could have gotten all the fame and glory he wanted out of high school. He had sleek, silver hair that reached down to his collar bone, and these amazing aquamarine eyes that just seemed to glow just slightly in the fluorescent lights of the classroom. He looked a little girly, in my opinion, but he was strikingly handsome and almost pretty in a way. I guess, since I'm a girl, my heart fluttered at the sight of him, and even more so for the little half smile that found a home on his smooth, perfectly-shapen lips.

I dare say all the rest of the girls seemed to have sat bolt upright at his arrival, me included. I felt almost mesmerized.

But it was just goddamned luck that Kairi just had to be in our English class. She sat in front of me, just one seat to the right, but I could see the light and hope that twirled in her beautiful azure eyes, and I knew that Sora stood not even one drop of a chance.

I looked back at the newcomer. I was almost horrified (pleased, though, I'm sad to admit – I didn't fall for boys that easily) to see that detailed muscles hid underneath his outfit of black and grey. He was one of the most perfect boys I had ever laid eyes on, save my crush…

Ahem. Back to the situation. Well, Mr. Homaside (The Homicidal Bastard, everyone calls him.. I mean, really, who has the last name Homaside? And for a thirty-year-old who decided to join a career where he hated every aspect about it.), wheezed out, "Class, this is Riku Hitoshi. Please make him feel welcome. Now, what would you like us to know about you, Mr. Hitoshi?"

"No, nothing at all, except I may need a guide to help me go around the school," Riku said politely. His voice was rich and but not too deep, but manly. I was not the only girl who nearly swooned from the sudden lack of air.

"Oh, yes, a guide, I nearly forgot," Mr. Homaside said, looking around at the class for potential guides. All the girls sat straight up, trying to look good enough for him to pick. A few boys in the back – troublemakers, I thought – snorted derisively. I saw Kairi flip her hair and put on the cutest smile I have ever seen her perform. But it was really just my luck.

The teacher looked me in eye. I'm not saying I'm on good terms with The Homicidal Bastard, but I did pretty well in English, and I was more polite than any other student he said he had ever had. So technically, he thought of me as his favorite student, and let me slip by a few problems on purpose with a wink. But never did I believe…

"You'd much rather prefer a pretty young lady, I'm guessing?" Mr. Homaside chuckled at Riku's embarrassed grin, which I think rendered some of the girls incapable of breathing. "Well, I think this young lady would do well." He indicated me, and my world suddenly felt smaller and darker. He continued, "Her name is Naminé Strife, and I suppose you two share the same schedule?"

At this, Riku pulled out a small card, and handed it to the English teacher. Adjusting his overlarge square glasses, he scanned the card. Then he looked up, motioned for me to join the two in the front, and I obediently same forward. By the time I was in the front, I received stares of incredulity and something that almost seemed like hate. When I connected eyes with Kairi, she didn't seem angry at all, just a little disappointed.

I reached the blackboard, and then handed over my card with a slightly trembling hand. I looked up at Riku, who offered me his half smile, and I felt like I needed to faint. He was even hotter at this angle.

After a few of the longest seconds I have ever endured, Mr. Homaside looked up and smiled his crooked grin.

"Yep, same schedule. Well, almost. At 6th period, you go off to Chemistry, while she take Home Ec., and I right? Well, that's close enough for me." He handed back both our cards. Riku was instructed to take the seat behind me and next to Sora, who sat in the second-to-last row and one seat to my left. We both sat down, and class began. Though I thought Riku would be a bit behind in our studies, he seemed to have been prepared beforehand and didn't look confused at all.

But just because he had the same books and knowledge didn't mean he tried to be a good student. Fifteen minutes into the lesson, with me sneaking looks over my shoulder, I caught him lolling off and looking around at the rest of the class, mainly the girls. Then he caught my gaze and grinned, giving me the thumbs-up sign. Blushing, I immediately swerved my attention back to the teacher, who was blabbering away about some long-dead poet, and saw that many of my other classmates weren't even attempting to grasp the data that was spewing out of Mr. Homaside's mouth. And in a moment, I wasn't either, since Riku tapped my shoulder and deposited a small square of paper on it. I grabbed it from its perch and tore it upon.

Hey, Naminé. I notice you're wearing a cute white sundress. It looks good on you., it read. His writing was slanted but neat.

I turned it over, grabbed my pen, and wrote back messily, What are you talking about? I'm one of the least popular kids in this school. Or, at least, I think I am. I mean, nobody asked me out yet… And besides, I'm an emo. And I don't think you like freaks. I had to work hard to cram it all in, then folded it into a neat little triangle – I didn't do squares – and handed it back when no one was looking.

A few seconds later… Heh, emo, yeah right. You look too cute to be one.

I blushed.

As I wrote back on a new scrap, I saw Sora looking at Riku and me out of the corner of my eye. I think he was suspicious.

Anyway, I wrote back: Me? Cute? Ha! You're just trying to impress me because you know you could get any girl you wanted.

And the response was: You've GOT to be kidding me. You're one of the cutest girls I see in this junkyard, besides a few I've seen today. Got a cell?

I couldn't believe it! He was flirting with me! And either he was a really good liar, or he really thought I was cute… But it wasn't hard for a lady's man to lie.

Me: Yeah, I've got a cell. But why should I tell you?

Riku: Woah, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to. Just wondering. But I was just asking, 'cuz, you know, you're my guide and all. And nice-looking one, at that.

At this point, Sora tossed me a triangle of tightly folded paper. I had trouble opening it. I could see Riku shoot Sora a look, since we hardly looked alike (save the eyes) and it seemed as though he was my angry boyfriend or something.

Sora wrote, Is that guy flirting with you? You're going to start a riot, what with all those girls who'll soon be chasing after him.

Riku soon gave me another as I finished reading Sora's note. Is that guy your boyfriend? As cute as you are, I don't want to start a rivalry with him or anything.

To Sora: Yeah, whatever. But he's… Not my type. Very hot, yes, but…He's not my… I ended my sentence. Sora would know who I was writing about.

To Riku: No, he's my un-identical twin brother. We've got the same eyes, but not the same looks, so it's hard to tell unless you look closely. And what do you mean rivalry! I never said I was going to go out with you!

Thirty minutes had passed as the note-taking continued. Thirty more came and went, with me communicating with both my brother and the one I was supposed to show around. And finally the bell rang, and it was off to 2nd period. It was off to History.

-oOo-

After successive note-passing in each class, we finally reached a time where talking through full mouths was common to see – lunch. I have to admit, I was quite behind in each morning class.

As I showed Riku the lunchroom with Sora at my other side (we usually hung out with each other a lot, even when it was in our leisure time), and Sora and Riku developed some kind of weird friendship. Sora was being more aggressive than usual, being that Riku kept flirting with me in front of him, and Riku kept teasing my twin about it.

"Are you sure you're not her boyfriend? 'Cause you're more protective than any boyfriend I've ever met," Riku smirked. We were now seated not far from the rowdy popular group, which consisted of cheerleaders and football players – there were a few who didn't belong in either but fit in with those popular guys. (Our entire school ate together, since there weren't that many kids – we were small for a New York City high school.)

"Shut up," Sora pouted. Okay, I'm his sis, right? Well, I have a right to say my brother was cute, yes, but when he pouted, one had to have a good reason not to adore him.

"You're really cute when you pout; did you know that?" Riku drawled.

And then, a weird thing happened. Now I'm questioning my brother's sexuality. Because, normally, most boys would shoot back a sharp insult at the sender of sentences such as those from another boy, but Sora blushed. Do most boys blush at a compliment of one's appearance from another boy? Well, I wouldn't know, since I was a girl, and girls can actually compliment each other without regretting it later.

It didn't get better as lunch wore on. Kairi eventually wandered over with one of her popular friends – Rinoa, I think her name was – and smiled at the each of us in turn. However, I noticed she ignored Sora completely, and a pained look flashed across his normally cheerful face.

But Kairi seemed a little nervous, and it seemed that she knew if she asked Riku to join their table, she'd have Sora's feelings to deal with, and I knew she still cared for him but could no longer seek his accompaniment. But Rinoa prodded her on with an smirk, and Kairi put on one of her best incandescent smiles and said without one stammer, "Riku, would you like to join our table? Nami, you can –" she was cut off before I was invited.

"Oh, I think Riku is all right just coming alone, I mean, these two can keep each other company, you know?" Rinoa said quickly but gently.

"I'm quite sorry, I'm enjoying my lunch with these two at the moment," Riku said coolly, not to Kairi, but to Rinoa.

Rinoa looked taken aback, but then shrugged and said, "Suit yourself. Come on, Kairi."

"But-"

"Come on."

I had a feeling Rinoa was used to getting what she wanted; ha, what an airhead. But I almost felt sorry for Kairi as she was almost dragged away, a pleading look in her eyes that quite plainly told me she almost regretted being popular.

I looked over at Sora and I found the most vacant look on his face that I have ever seen in a lifetime.

Riku coughed, then asked, "Are they the popular group in this place?"

"Yeah, but we don't like hanging out with them," I answered, sneaking another look at the group. They were pointing in our general direction and seemed to be whispering about us.

"That's a complete understatement," Sora muttered, finally coming out of his 'OMG-the-girl-I-like-completely-ignored-me' state. Almost as soon as his sentence was finished, the bell rang, and I groaned.

"I wish lunch were longer…"

-oOo-

When I reached the comfort of my bed, I collapsed, literally.

School had not been fun. But then again, when had it ever been fun?

I sighed, and replayed the thoughts over my head.

Okay, which was worst – the girls threatening to stuff an albino alligator in my locker tomorrow unless I fork over Riku, or the fact that I rammed headlong into the guy I adored? I couldn't decide.

And then, there was the fact of the sobs I heard from the other room.

Mom's crying again, I thought painstakingly. It's been a year and she still won't stop.

Did life go in circles, or was it just me?

I guess I wasn't the only one who was miserable, though. I looked across the room, and found Sora lain out on his bed, arms forming a cradle underneath his head, and the same blank stare I saw him use at lunch.

He only used that stare when Kairi was involved.

I wasn't there for all of it, but I remember Riku talking to Kairi enthusiastically during homeroom by the side of the hallway, before the last bell signaled the end of school, and they seemed quite into it. Then, a few feet away, hidden behind a flurry of activity, was Sora, hearing every word. I didn't hear the conversation, but I could tell it didn't carry the best news. And guess what? He still won't tell me what they said.

How can I help him when I don't even know what the conversation was about?

But I'm not dense. I could tell within a week (less, probably), Riku and Kairi would be a couple if this continued. And Sora wouldn't be too pleased about that.

So, I tried, even if I knew I couldn't help. "Sora, look. You know you have know hope of asking Kairi out, because, even if she accepted, you'd be shunned by all the others boys who like her and her entire…er…posse. And then there's the fact of Kairi's own popularity. It might drop. Actually, it would drop, because, um, well, we're two of the possibly most ignored or disliked kids in the school. And even though she's sweet, she wouldn't want that. She'd want you to be happy, and being with her around her 'friends' and her many other admirers wouldn't make you happy – you'd end up with a black eye. So, come on, don't you have another crush or anything…?"

I knew my speech was useless. Sora didn't even reply.

But then, I'm wrong again – he did. "What about the guy you adore?"

I blushed. "I…don't matter."

"Of course you do. But what do you believe he thinks of you?" Sora's voice was taciturn.

"…"

"See, we're like each other. We adore someone, but that person doesn't like us back… Not anymore," he said angrily. "Does Roxas ever pay attention to you? Did he after he entered high school?"

"…Not really," I muttered.

"See? He used to be my best friend. Then he moved, but came back a few years later, when we were starting high school. And even though he still talks to me, he won't face you. Does that bother you?"

"…Yeah…"

"Then you can't tell me to like someone else! Not when you're in the same situation at me!" He was yelling now. It was one of the first times he had raised his voice this way, and this was the very first time it was directed at me. Then he got up, and stormed out of the room.

We never had such a conflict like this before.

I sighed again, much deeper than the last time, and buried my head in my pillow.

Dad was dead, the guy I liked completely ignored my existence, and my brother and I would probably have a rocky friendship for the next several weeks. And I just received the first D I had ever gotten in a long time in the hellhole which they call a school.

Did any of this truly matter, or is the life of the ignored completely futile?

...oOo...

Woo, chapter one done. Let's hope I can make it through the next few without running dry of ideas, like I usually do.

And I'm sorry there wasn't a lot of SoraXRiku in there; they've only just met. :) I'll try and add more later on.

I wonder who the parents of Sora and Naminé are... :0

Review please. (:

-Scarlet-chan