I thought I'd seen it all, but this just takes the cake. My life was pretty messed up, but when I saw this kid, I counted my lucky stars. It all started on that dreaded trip to the market....

"Would you get a move on Riku? I've seen lilies grow faster than your walking!" Mallory teased.

I hated going grocery shopping with my sister, Mallory. Yes, I have a sister, deal with it. Anyways, I was helping her food shop for our monthly "family dinner".

"I'm moving as fast as I can! What's with all these veggies anyway? Going on another diet?" I teased back.
She tossed her long purple braid off her shoulder and waddled over to the meat stand. Wait, did I just see her waddle? I was just about to ask when a small-boned brunette bumped into me. He squeaked as the bags flew from my arms, leaving leeks, onions,cabbage, and more vegetables I didn't know the names of scattered across the ground. I groaned at this before locking with bright blue eyes. They were red and puffy, but still pure - to me anyways-. He started to mumble and move away. I calmly got up and offered him my hand. His face looked so scared as he started to reach out to me, but he suddenly pulled away. I raised my eyebrows at this.

"You okay?" I asked.

His eyes went wide with shock at my words. Was this guy alright in the head? I was drawn from the thought by him scrambling to his bare - bloody? - feet and bolting out of the market. I wanted to give chase and question him, but someone grabbed my shoulder.

"How did this happen? Mallory's looking for you," Marluxia questioned and informed.

I vaguely blinked at my sister's husband and collected our groceries. I was pulled along to where Mallory was attempting to carry a whole pig out to the car without anyone's help. Marly rubbed his forhead in annoyance before helping his wife. I ignored their bickering by putting the groceries I had in the trunk. Who was that boy? And where on earth was he from? I started staring into space when once again someone ran into me. It was the brunette again, but he had barrelled into Marly and Mallory as well.

".....Sssaaaa....ss...." he appeared to hiss.

Mallory steadied herself and placed a pale, gentle hand on the kid's shoulder.

"What's wrong, sweetie?" she asked.

He flinched away and ran off. I started after him, but this time Mallory stopped me by throwing the pig at me. She threw a freaking pig at me! I ended up sprawled out in the dirt with what is going to be dinner pinning me to the ground.

"You don't chase people you moron! I want to help too, but they have to come to us!" she yelled.

I grumbled as I shoved the dead thing off me to put in the car. Why I go shopping with her is beyond me.

"That kid was trying to say something to me...," I spoke softly.

Everyone at the table looked at me strangely. Marly gave an evil smirk before speaking.

"Did Riku develop a heart?"

Snickers broke across the room as I glared at the pink haired man. Fuu quirked an eyebrow at me when Sephiroth stabbed one of his katanas through the roasted pig in the center of the table. All laughter stopped in that instant.

"Now, who was trying to say something to you?" asked Sephiroth.

I cleared my throat to speak but - god help us - Mallory butted in by telling them:

"An adorable brunette ran into Riku and me. I heard him trying to say something, but when I asked what was wrong, his eyes got wide and sprinted. He looked so hurt, I wanted to take him home with us!"

I will never understand that woman, even if she's only a year younger then me. Anyways, Xemnas held a look of concern on his face before looking to me. God, that look always creeps me out.

"Now, how did the he seem to you, Riku?" he asked.

I took a deep breath in as everyone's eyes were on me, including my mom's, Jenova.

"Well he bumped into me while I was carrying some veggies. He was thin and looked sick. He had ran away when I asked if he was ok. I wanted to help the guy, but Mallory stopped me by yelling at me." I informed.

I left out how I saw his pure blue eyes and how he seems to pull at my chest. Mom stated to show stress as she picked at her cut of roasted pig. Xemnas rested a hand on her shoulder as she spoke up,

"Well let's hope he finds a safe place to stay the night."

Dinner was quiet after that with few comments made by a bickering Marly and Zexion. I ended up not eating and excusing myself early to get a shower. I could hear word break out at the table once I walked out the dining room. Sephiroth was making a teasing comment as I locked my bedroom door behind me. Good thing Septhiroth built me my own bathroom attached to my room. I turned the water as hot as it could go and stepped in. My mind started to blur the lines of how the day went as the water made my skin raw. The brunette somehow found his way into my mind and stood there with an innocent expression on his face. his skin was nicely tan with few bruises seen here and there on his limbs. He was much smaller then me and looked extremely fargile as he stood shivering in tattered clothes. Those bright blue eyes quickly looked to me, sparkling slightly. So innocent, yet so fragile...

"Riku, don't drown yourself in there!" Zexion yelled.

I sighed as i snapped out of my daydreaming to turn off the shower and dry off. I put some pajama pants on before unlocking my door. The instant the lock clicked, Zexion shoved open the door and slammed it in my face. Once he was in the room, he settled himself in my Favorite armchair. I looked at him coldly as i snapped,

" Well come on in Zexion, I don't mind having the door shoved in my face!"

His purple-gray eyes looked to be laughing at my words as the rest of him remained motionless. I gave up on glaring at him due to a forming headache. I collasped onto my bed and just stared at the ceiling. I started focusing on the sprial patterns once I heard Zexion take a book from my shelf and started reading it. My mind shifted to auto pilot as the patterns started forming faces. I could clearly see the brunette's face. He appeared to be crying just as a small child would. I lifted my hand out toward his face. HIs cheek was warm to the touch.

"Don't cry, everything's okay." I whispered.

His lips slowly turned up into a smile and the tears went away. I smiled back as he suddenly appearred to be sitting in front of me. HIs clothes were clean and he had no bruises. We were sitting face to face in my room, yet at the same time it didn't appear to be my room. He pulled my hand away from his face and placed it over his heart. I could see his gentle face blush and feel mine heat up. I moved closer to him, my heart pounding like a drum. I tilted his face toward me with my free hand. We both started to lean into one another when a Sudden screeching noise halted us.