Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts, its characters, etc, etc...

Warnings: implied shounen-ai as the story progresses, language, and violence

If none of the above offend or irk you, read on, and please review once you've finished; if they do, please find another fanfiction that suits your tastes. Thank you.

My Immortal
One: Stranger

Smack.

"..." His head snapped painfully to the side, the impact leaving a stinging sensation in his left cheek.

"Get out."

"..." He balled his hands into tight fists, resisting the urge to fight back. 'You know it won't work,' he thought to himself, 'it won't...'

Smack!

"You heard me! Out!"

And so he left. Head lowered, he ran out the door and into the rain. He closed it with a slam, with no intention of ever coming back.

----------

Rain. Endless rain. He couldn't see anything else past the wet bangs of silver. Endless rain, endless running... His eyes were filled with anger, as was his heart. What kind of parents were they? How could they do this to him? What right did they –!

'...Huh..?' The young boy slowed to a stop as he neared the beach. Taking a closer look, there, near the wooden docks. There was a boy in the sand. Forgetting about what had happened, he jumped off the sidewalk and onto the sand below, eyes focused on the thin, frail body in the distance. "Hello...?"

The boy didn't move. His eyes were closed as if he was in a peaceful – or pained? – slumber, his limbs sprawled out, embracing the sky, the late evening rain. His dark brown hair was matted down and soaked, as if he had been laying here for hours on end. Up close, he looked like he was around the same age as Riku, maybe a year younger, or even two.

"H-hey..are you okay?" Riku kneeled down beside him, feeling a little bit concerned.

His chest wasn't moving. No rise or fall, no intake of air...

Drip, drip, drip went the rain, splashing onto the boy's pale face, then sliding off onto the damp sand. He looked so lifeless, so cold... Was he...?

He frowned, panic creeping up on him slowly. "Come on, man! Answer me!" He put out his hand and tried to touch the boy's face –

' ---?!'

– His eyelids began to flutter. Surprised, the silver-haired youth pulled his hand back and gasped. Slowly, the boy began to open his eyes, revealing a pair of intense sapphire blue orbs. The boy blinked once, twice, then turned his head to Riku, staring up at him in curiosity as if saying, "What are you looking at?"

'Phew. He was breathing. He was alive. You were just seeing things...' Riku sighed in relief, his lips forming a stern frown. "Jesus. I thought you were dead."

"Sorry," he said simply. The boy's voice was quiet, gentle.

He jumped up suddenly, eyes narrowed down at the other. "I'm serious!" he exclaimed loudly, clenching his hands into fists once more. "Don't fucking do that!"

"..." Silence. The boy just continued to stare up at him, not frowning, nor smiling, almost as if he was staring right through him; it sent a chill down Riku's spine. The apathetic look in those eyes was so eerie. He felt a pang in his stomach, regretting yelling at him like that. It was rude; he should've apologised. The brunette didn't look hurt or anything, and Riku never liked saying sorry, so he decided to initiate some sort of friendly conversation instead.

"...Why exactly are you out here?"

"I was wondering the same thing about you." He pulled himself into a sitting position, very slowly, brushing sand and water off his red jumpsuit and jacket. It didn't do much, as it continued to rain, and his clothes were already soaked through completely. He then wrapped his arms around the legs brought up to his chest, and rested his head on his knees. "Everyone's at home, sleeping. Shouldn't you be home?"

Home? Where he lived was no home. He blinked, unclenching his fists and averting his gaze. "I...can't go back to the house." It was a house, not a home. An empty, empty, house. In a home you're supposed to feel safe, comfortable...

...loved...

... wanted.

Riku sighed inwardly. It was a sad sigh, gloomy and downcast.

"Did someone at your house give you that?" A gloved hand was pointed at the other's face, which was still red on that one side.

'Oh... I forgot about that.'

He felt like he could trust this person...but, why? Strange. They had only just met. Before he could think things through he sat down beside the boy, taking a similar position, and told him, "It was...my dad. He got mad at me when I gave him attitude during dinner – we eat late, see? – and then things kinda snowballed from there." He touched his face gingerly, wincing as he felt the sting. Yep...that was gonna leave a mark.

"Oh." He tilted his head to the side, never taking his eyes off the silver-haired teen. "You should respect your parents more, you know."

"I didn't ask for your advice," Riku retorted.

"Heh. Sorry." The boy turned his head away from Riku and towards the ocean, watching the distant waves gently lapping at the shore. Still there was no definite emotion in his face. Was he being cold, or was he always this quiet? "But, still, you should. They may get mad at you sometimes, but they'll always love you. That's how parents are."

His lips twisted into a bitter smile as he lowered his head, silver hair concealing his eyes in shadow. "Bullshit. If they love me, then why did they kick me out?"

"They what?" Sapphire tried to meet with aquamarine once again. This time he looked a little bit shocked. A little.

"See? They don't 'love me'." The smile was followed by an equally bitter laugh. "My parents never wanna see me again, and I, them. It all works out just fine."

"What's your name?"

'Eh? Why the sudden change of subject?' Riku raised his head so he was at eye level with the younger teen. "...It's Riku."

A faint smile graced the boy's gentle face, concern glinting in his deep blue eyes. "Go home, Riku." His voice seemed to be getting quieter. It was almost at a whisper now, hardly audible over the pounding rain and splashing waves.

"W-why should I?" There was a defiant tone in him. "Why should I listen to you?" He stood up.

"You'll see your parents don't really want you gone. They'll ask for your forgiveness, and your father will apologise for hitting you. "Go home. Please? For me?"

Riku arched a brow at the odd request. "What? Whatever, weirdo..." He turned his back on him and began to walk away. 'Hmph. I'm only going back because you're weird, and I don't feel like talking to you anymore. –'

"The name's Sora! Not weirdo!" The boy called over his shoulder, waving an arm at the one leaving. Sora smiled.

'– Not because you asked me to...Sora.'

Posted on: August 15, 2004

Edited on: January 2, 2005