Note: I'm not really sure where this one is going. Hoping to add more chapters because it clearly isn't meant to end here. It was inspired by the song Dead Things by Emiliana Torrini. It's a great song, have a listen.
"Stay away from him!"
They bobbed and bounced, excitedly waving their hands as they each tried to capture his attention.
"The Bad Luck Kid is what they call him, yeah!"
"He's bad news. Bad news!"
"He's like a black cat. He's bad luck--"
"Black Cat Kid!"
They screeched with laughter at the newly crafted nickname, as if it was the epitome of their cruel creativity. They began to chant the three new words, like little pixies who had stolen away in the forms of little children to cause all kinds of mischief. Nixies currently enthralled with some kind of word spell.
He simply stared, unable to develop a taste to join in their tomfoolery.
Yet when he whispered, "Why is he bad luck?" they ceased their antics immediately. All eyes were on him again.
"He brings all kinds of bad luck--"
"Yeah! Bad luck, bad luck! He's the Bad Luck Kid!"
"Makes bad stuff happen."
"Lots of bad stuff--"
"L-Last year..." A boy with wide green eyes finally cut in with a stuttering tone. It was obvious he had mouthful of a story to tell, and the others hushed themselves to dull squeals and hysterical whispers.
"A girl tried to play with him at recess. She told him, 'Let's go play on the tire swing.' So he went. And... and everything was fine and dandy until there was a scream!" His eyes grew wide with fright, and the others complimented appropriately with fearful moans and squawks.
"One of the teachers ran over and she w-was on the ground with a bloody nose and she was dead!"
The group howled and shuddered with horror. Each of them knew the tale quite well, and each had had their fair share of telling it to any who dared to even consider befriending this 'Bad Luck Kid'. The dramatic display that involved nonsensical trembling and sorrowful yelps was free of charge.
"She didn't die."
The whole group froze. Silenced.
"She blacked out but I didn't kill her," A voice corrected from somewhere beyond the group. The new student couldn't make out who due to the other classmates in the way. Not for long, though, because soon they ran from him in a screeching huddle of flailing limbs. Children's brand sneakers slapped against the sidewalk as they rushed for safety, and soon they were nothing but a whisper of a yell here and there.
All that remained was him, and a child with endless blue eyes.
"I really didn't kill her..." He mumbled, the practiced confidence in his voice wavered now that the previous audience that he was so accustomed to had taken flight.
"... are you the Bad Luck Kid?" If he feared this other child at all, his voice didn't hint it.
"That not my name!" The other wailed vehemently, "I have a real name!"
All his carefully built defenses deteriorated in a matter of moments, weakened in the presence of a complete stranger who neither liked nor hated him. Simply because he did not judge.
Such a strange little boy.
"I have a real name, too." He whispered to the child with bottomless sapphire eyes as if it were a well kept secret.
Those mentioned jewels simply stared at him, brimming with confusion and what might be tedium. That is, until he started laughing. With his mouth wide open, he gasped and giggled as if that had to be the funniest thing he had ever heard.
And he found himself smiling back at the brunet with a chuckle tickling his throat.
"My name is Sora!" He finally choked out, cherry pink lips pulled back in a beaming grin.
"Sora..."
"Like the sky!" A finger pointed to the heavens.
"... heh. My name is Riku."
"Riku...?"
"Like the ocean shore."