Blood. Flesh. Chaos. Why is that all I remember. I remember it well, but only for a split second, before it dissipates into the air like a soft breeze. Such a cruel memory that shifts off, like it never even happen. Wait… did it happen? Why did it happen? When did it happen. Is any of this real? I don't know; but that's okay.

I guess I'll just have to stay with you.

Chapter 1... The Boy in the Painting


Nothing was worse that missing a class you love. Like a class that just draws you in, pulling you closer. The one class that makes you want to keep going to college because you know it's going to build up to something you love, and Riku missed it.

He sighed as the bell of the clock tower chimed in the distance. It was already a half hour passed the beginning of class. It was not worth it to go and face the wrath of Professor King. He was british, a man shipped to Japan from Britain, and he was a pain in the ass. As much as Prof King was his least favorite professor, his class made his day better. Japanese Cultural Art.

Much to the disappointment, but parental support of his parents, he tried out for an art major. It was his passion. Ever since he was young enough to hold a crayon in his tiny hands, he was a prodigy. Born to draw. Not only was he good at it, it helped him relax after the day. He spread all his emotions into his work. The colors represented his very mood, soul, who he really was.

Riku looked up to the trees, memorizing the views. Not only did he love attending the class, he loved the walk there. Cherry blossom trees lined the pavement. It was the peak of spring, and petals showered like rain, it was something out of a story book that little girls would read.

Another five minutes passed while Riku enjoyed the splendor of the trees. Class was beyond attending, so he sat down by the stone benches beside one of the trees. He took out some paper and pencil and started to draw. Every detail of the leaves, bark, the lines in the pavement, it all found itself on the paper. It was almost like a mirror, or a portal that you could step inside and be there.

Riku's eyes looked up from his work now and then so he could map out what exactly he was drawing. While he was working in the distant trees, he found himself drawing something he thought he didn't see. A shape of a body, by the trees. He looked up and he was drawing exactly what he saw, someone.

A thin body, soft brown hair that floated up into spikes before falling down to brush his shoulders. He couldn't see the colors of his eyes because they were shielded by a thin layer of skin, his eyelids. His lips were relaxed, and his hand was on the soft bark of one of the blossom trees.

Riku was in a trance. The boy wasn't necessarily the most attractive person he's seen, but that's not what made him so luring. It was his stance, his posture, the way he caressed the tree. His aura was attracting, almost seducing.

As Riku watched the boy, his fingers worked vigorously on every detail of his figure, copying them down on the paper. After he was finished, he stopped, his eyes never left the boy. He was still, completely still. He hadn't moved since Riku started to draw. He was like a flawless statue.

"Riku…" He thought he heard the boys lips move. Riku wanted to answer, but he couldn't. "Riku…" the lips moved so softly, teasing him. Riku tried to open his mouth, but it was like his lips were glued shut. "Riku… Riku… Riku."

How do you know my name?

"Riku… Riku…" Eyes slowly opened. They were a crystal blue, unending color brilliantly radiating from them.

"Riku... Riku…"

"Yo! Riku!" Riku snapped out of his state and spun around. A tall redhead grinned at him, piercing cat green eyes staring straight at him.

"Axel." he almost whispered.

"Dude, I've called you for, like, two whole minutes. What's wrong with you?"

Riku was still dazed, "I was… drawing that person over there."

Axel put pack over his shoulder and looked past him. He frowned, "What person? No one's there."

Riku quickly turned his head back to the trees. Axel was right, no one was there. It was all so still that it was like no one was ever there. "He was there a minute ago…" Riku whispered.

Axel raised an eyebrow, then sighed, shaking his head. "Man, you gotta take it inside sometimes. I think your allergies are getting to you in bad ways." he said with a snort.

Riku looked back at him, staring for a few seconds. Then he gave a quick laugh, "Yeah, you're probably right. Let's go, I'm hungry. I missed my class anyway."


Axel took a bit out of the cafeteria's cheese pizza, wiping some of the sauce that landed on his chin. Riku had two fresh pieces on his own plate, but he hadn't touched them. He was at his picture. It was flawless, perfect, like a mirror image of the trees. But he was focussing on the boy in the far left of the picture. Was he really there, or was he imagining it?

"Dude!" Riku eyes grew wide as he went back into reality. Axel looked at him with a grimace. "What's your problem?" Before Riku could answer, he took the drawing away from him and scanned it. Riku started at Axel as he squinted his eyes to make out the body of the young boy, then he grinned. "Awww, does little Riku-kun have crush?"

Riku blushed, frowning. He grabbed the paper out of Axel's hand, putting in back in his bad, careful not to crinkle it. "No, asshole. It's just a drawing."

"Of an angelic boy in a field of blossom trees!" Axel said, wiggling his eyebrows. Riku smirked at him, turning his head away. Axel snorted, "Aw c'mon man, just teasing ya!" he punched Riku playfully on the side, then went back to his pizza.

Riku looked down at his backpack where he carefully placed his art work. "Say Axel," he started. "Was there really… never anyone there?"

Axel swallowed his food before answering, "Not that I saw. I doubt he couldn't just disappear like that, that place it kinda wide-spread." Riku shrugged. Axel looked at him after taking the last bite out of his pizza. "Man, you should really see someone… professional. Hallucinations might be the start of something."

Riku glared, "Shut up, Axel, I'm fine." he took the first bite out of his own food.

"Just… be careful, man. It's been three months since she died."

"I said shut up!" he said a little louder. The cafeteria silenced, craning necks looked towards Riku. They both paused, letting the lookers go back into their own conversations.

Axel sighed. "Dude…"

"You're just making fun of me cause I can't get over my own Grandma's death." Riku smirked, getting up. "I'm going back to the dorm.

"Dude, I'm sorry. That's not what I intended. Riku!" But Riku as already feet away. He marched out of the cafeteria, leaving Axel to tend to his dishes.

Their dorm building was only about a sixth mile away from the dining hall. As he reached his the Misako's tree, a large tree shielding the north side of the dorm, he felt a presence. He closed his eyes tight, almost feeling light-headed, and put his hand on the tree beside him to regain his balance. This happened a lot. As of three months ago, any anger or overwhelming emotion would leave him in a dizzy wreck. He shook his head, then opened his eyes. Just in time to see a boy walking past him. Skinny, short, and blond hair that waved up. Riku stiffened, his eyes. They followed his as the boy walked closer. They were a piercing blue. They looked familiar, a haunting familiarity. Those eyes, where the same one's he saw at the cherry tree path. He stared, but didn't say a word.

The boy kept watching him, before he flicked his sight forward, taking a bite out of a chocolate bar, and walked on.


Axel rubbed his eyes, looking down at Riku's plate. Why did he have to become such a fucking drama queen. Axel was Riku's best friend, he only wanted the best for him. But Riku's 'Nana' was the best thing in his life. Her death was very… unsettling to him.

Axel could understand to some extent. After the death of his own parents he felt a strange detachment of himself, but Riku's was severe. Axel closed his eyes and his head fell into his hands, giving his face a full massage. He looked up back to Riku's plate, and grabbed it. On his way out he threw it into the trash, then pushed the doors open.

He didn't want to go back to the dorm, Riku needed to let off some steam. Axel knew the hard way that he should never bother Riku when he's painting, and that's probably what he was doing. Axel swung his bag over his shoulders and walked the other direction to Suchio Park, where many people studied in the peace of nature's beauty.

It was a very quiet place. Riku enjoyed painting, but Axel loved quiet, even though it wasn't necessarily his character. He walked over to the nearest bench and sat down with a sigh, he back was snug next to him. Looking up, he watched the clouds smoothly float by. His hand snaked into his pocket for his iPod and put the buds into his ears. He smiled and closed his eyes as the soft sound of crackling fire assaulted his ears. One thing he loved more that quiet, was fire.

"I like your hair." a sound came through his ear buds. It startled him and he ripped them out, gasping. He looked up, and a boy was in front of him.

"E-excuse me?" Axel was still a little surprised. The voice almost sounded like it came directly through his headphones.

"Your hair…" the boy said with a smile. "I like it." Axel looked the boy over. He was short, skinny. His hair was blonde and waved to the side. His eyes were a piercing blue.

"T-thanks." Axel almost whispered. The boy smiled in response then skipped off in almost mocking innocence.


Riku painted the delicate trees with a soft pastel pink for the color of the blossoms. They contrasted nicely with the brown of the bark. He gave light strokes to the grey pavement below his mystery boys feet. Then he paused, dipping his brush in the most loud blue he had on his palette, then filled in the boys eyes. After he was done, he sat back in his chair to look. The boy's body was still uncolored, but it made his eyes seem even more brilliant.

He sighed, closing his eyes. In only a few short hours he has become obsessed. He wanted this boy, to hold him, to love him, but who was he? He opened his eyes again, staring at his love. He squinted, the boys eyes were drawn closed. His brows furrowed, but, he'd just painted them blue. He leaned forward to look, the boy was swaying, the picture was moving. The boy slowly turned, gracefully towards Riku, a smile almost came across his lips, but they were too relaxed. Riku stared at him in awe, his heart pounded.

The boys eyes opened. Riku was not greeted with blue, but with pale eyes. They were dead.

A cold sweat woke Riku up, his bed was drenched. The room was dark, he looked around. Axel's soft snoring could be heard from the bed in the corner. He froze, then went slack and sighed. Rubbing his eyes, he got up for and washed his face in the bathroom sink. In the corner of his eye, he thought he saw someone staring at him. He spun around, no one was there. He grunted and left the room.

He passed by his painting. He can to a stop and stared at it, the boy was still as beautiful as ever. Eyes so blue, figure so enticing, he forgot all about his nightmares.


Don't you remember, the promise you made? Now you have to keep it. Take me back to where I belong. You promised, don't leave me here alone. It's too dark in here, I can't breathe. Take me back inside your…

It has begun.


Thank you for reading the first chapter of my story. The next chapter, Dorm 345 , will be posted before a week. In future updates, I will be giving the dates for future chapter posts. Constructive criticism and friendly reviews are appreciated.

- Ms. LLP