I felt like being anti-romantic when I saw that picture of Riku again (Bitter Salt). I don't know why they came to me... That expression of his is haunting though... I'm not surprised.

The impact of the words in the first one didn't hit me until after I re-read what I had just done. I couldn't believe that I had just written what I had. To be honest, it stunned me. If it does the same to any other, I'll be ecstatic.

If you can determine her statement, then replay the scene to see how it writhes around his response and her final words...

Dedication: Zanisha. Heh... For some reason, I think of your anti-SasxSak fic when I try and think of dedications...

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You dream about it every night... The hope that your heart is the one that's special to him... Until you realize...he never even considered it...

Forgotten Faith...

He finally turns his head so that his newly exposed aqua vision actually faces mine. The one side is still covered, but the one is enough for me to see the complex explosions of confused emotions within his soul. Our gaze locks and remains as such in a piercing silence. A slight breeze wisps past, pulling his silvered strands and bandanna ends to brush against my cheek gently as his vision seems to shimmer. "You..."

"Yes..." Disbelief floats through his pained aqua sight before losing grip on a solitary sparkling drop.

"Why...?" I break our link and look away. Gently ceasing that light-streaked trail upon his cheek, I cast my eyes into shadow and walk away.

"If you have to ask...then the statement means nothing to you..."

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I turn away, trying viciously not to break down, as the burning upon my cheeks now is almost too much to bear. His confused expression is enough for me to realize that he's never felt the same…and likely never will. But as I start to walk, the soft black fabric of his glove nestles on my wrist, ceasing the completion of my first step. I don't look at him; just stop.

"I've hurt anyone who's ever bothered to get close to me. Don't you understand, no one cares about the one who has betrayed them. Everyone has left…you'll want to, too" I don't answer right away, allowing his words to hover in agony about us both. Two fresh sets of competing drops race each other down my cheeks before I allow my heart to hide itself away from the world.

"I'm not 'everyone', and until you realize that, I've got nothing more to say to you…" If he held on, I would have broke my wrist to make him let go. His grip slips from my wrist and I leave him in the void he's created for himself…