((Shattered Hearts is REALLY dramatic… So if you don't want drama, gtfo. For everyone else, know that I don't claim anything but this fan fiction itself. Enjoy!))

Chapter 1: Memories.

Night turns the world pale. It turns it cold, silver, and dark. It turns warm breath into white mist. It turns red fiery love into soulless emptiness.

In my world, night is everlasting.

I took steps down the pale sidewalk tiredly. I had to get home and wash myself of this night. I had to get home…

That's when I saw it… That large estate that has taken all my sunlight… I wrapped my arms around myself and grimaced at the sight. That place is the bright kingdom from which I am banished. I looked away and continued walking.

It took about an hour to get to the small apartment complex that I live in. I unlocked the door and stepped in. I immediately went to my bathroom and washed myself. My thoughts went down the drain along with that stuff on me. As soon as I was finished, I brushed my teeth and went to sleep in my bed.

It felt like only a few minutes before I heard a pounding on the front door. I opened my eyes to the whole room illuminated by sunlight. I got up and answered the door quickly in only my boxers and pajama pants.

"Sora," greeted my dear red-headed friend, Kairi as she invited herself in. She gave me a quick look up and down then raised an eyebrow. "You did that again?" she asked.

I dropped my eyes to the floor in shame. "Do I have a choice?"

Kairi nodded. "Apply for a job,"

I shook my head. "I have a job. And no-one will hire someone who is known as a gay slut."

Kairi reached over and tilted my head up. "Sora, you're not a slut." She said with sympathetic eyes.

I averted my eyes still. "So why'd you come over?" I asked.

Kairi smiled softly. "Do I have to have a reason to see my best friend?" She giggled before her face went serious again. "I want to ask if you're really not going to my wedding. I really want you to go, Sora."

"I can't." I said before she could say any more. "He's going to be there. I don't want him seeing me. And I don't want to see him."

Kairi frowned. "Why can't you two just be friends again, Sora? You know, like how it was when we were kids…"

"After having dated him for five years? Five. Fucking. Years, Kairi." I said. A lump began to form in my throat. "I still love him."

"I know, but can't you just be okay for one day?" she asked. Her blue eyes begged me silently. "I want both of my best friends at my wedding."

I sighed. "Fine, Kairi, I'll go to your wedding for you. But just because I love you like a sister I've never had." I put on a smile and hugged her.

"Yay!" she squealed and hugged me back. But inside my mind, I screamed in depressive agony. "By the way…" Kairi spoke up again after we separated. "You should find a date sometime. I can set you up with someone."

I shook my head. "I don't think I'm exactly ready for a new relationship right now, Kairi."

She giggled. "I'm sorry, I just want to see you happy."

Those words alone made my eyes avert to the floor…

"Sora, I'm really worried about you."

Before I could say anything, there was a light knock on the door. I answered it to my twin brother, lead singer of the band Triniquity, Roxas. He smiled at me like how he normally does and asked, "Can I take my fiancée? She neglected to remember that today we're working with the wedding planner."

I laughed half-heartedly. "Yeah, sure. I have some things to take care of."

Roxas nodded and grabbed Kairi's hand and lead her out of my apartment. "See you, Sora!" Kairi said with a wave as they went out to the parking lot and got in Roxas' car. I watched them drive off.

That's when I decided to freshen myself up. I put on some sunbathing clothes and did my hair so it looked spiky and gravity defying. I flashed myself one of my very best grins before I went outside. I thought it'd be nice to go to the beach, especially the spot that only me, Kairi, and he knows about. I got on my bike and revved up the engine before I took off toward the street across town.

It took me about an hour to get to the beach, then about a half hour of walking in the sand to get to the secret spot. The surf comes so quickly there in beautiful big waves. Once I got there, I took off my sandals and my shirt and I stood, feet in the water, on the shore. I stared out at the ocean, enjoying the calm, repetitive crash of the waves. I then look along the shore and see him standing next to me.

"Hey, Sora," he said, staring out at the ocean with the brightest smile ever.

"Riku!" I exclaimed and reached my hand out to touch him, but my hand went right through him. Then I realized I'd seen this before. This was that one day in our fourth year of college.

He looked at me. "Will you go out with me?" Then he was gone.

I walked away from the shore and sat in the sand. I cupped some of it in my hand. The light suddenly shifted and it was sunset. I looked around, confused, until I saw another vision of Riku. He was sitting next to me in the sand as he looked me in the eyes.

"Can I tell you something?" he asked. "I think I'm falling for you."

My heart skipped a beat. "Riku…" I mumbled, as this Riku disappeared as well. I got up and shook my head. I walked out to the shore again and waded into the water until it was up to my mid-thigh. Then I felt warm, strong arms encircling me.

"I can't believe how successful I've gotten," said Riku's voice from behind me. "It's all thanks to you, Sora. You're my inspiration for everything."

Feeling as if I was going to cry, the warm arms went away. 'I can't stay here anymore…' I thought. 'These memories are killing me,' I then got out of the water and began to walk back to where I parked my bike. That's when the most horrible memory came to me. I stopped in my tracks as the surroundings around me turned into the large estate Riku and I lived in together.

"The media has found out you're living here, Sora." Riku said, in front of me. We were in the foyer. This was right after I found out that all my stuff was at Roxas' place. "Now that I'm successful, I can't afford to lose my career over having a gay relationship… It's over."

The whole world turned moonlit pale that night. He took my house key and had the maid not-so-nicely escort me out. He didn't even tell me why he'd come to such a solution.

Now the beach is back as I walk across the sand. I needed to get home—to have a security of enclosure. I felt like breaking into a million pieces and crying my guts out. But there was no point, since I've already done so on that night.

It took me a while to get to my motorcycle, which was steaming hot when I went to sit on it. I ignored the pain when my leg touched the hot metal, and I drove home. As I did so, I also remembered that not even a week after Riku and I broke up, he got with some blonde girl who was starring in one of his movies. I couldn't remember her name, though.

As soon as I got home, I went inside and made myself something to eat. I amazed myself with how famished I was. Although I didn't cook very much, it was enough to quiet the impatient growl in my stomach. Afterwards, I just lied down on the sofa and stared up at the ceiling boredly. Then I got to thinking about Riku again. I couldn't lie to myself—I really missed him. I really…

"I miss you, Riku," I said to the total darkness, before I fell into an afternoon nap.