Okay...so the intro is almost a quarter of the drabble, the title is unoriginal (again) and the scene is just a summed up and pathetic version of 'Candle Within the Ice'. Not to mention the intro sounds mental... :Sigh: Hannah, if this is a scam from your rebellious plot bunnies...I'm going to make you pay...

When I wrote this scene, I had Riku in mind, as seen here. However, thefirst draft was really of Kai (Beyblade) and Zeronix (An author friend with a personal request). I went back to my original plan with Riku and Misty when I saved it in my story file. Does this mean anything important? ... Not really, but whatever. You've already read it, so :P

Dedication: This is really starting to get hard, but I'm going to say Astaldotholwen. My last reviews for this collaboration were from her, and apparently, they all really spoke to her when she read through each one. It may have just been the day she was having, but it still meant a lot to me when she wrote in telling me how they made her feel. Hopefully, this scene expresses my appreciation.

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Glistening crimson trails slide undaunting over the heart of a shattered soul. I watch on in pathetic anguish as spiderweb fissures constantly crack the cerise crystal every day, each time revealing more and more openings for that gleaming life to fall. Desperately, my trembling fingers try to embrace the breaking object, the skin staining instantly. The jagged edges tear at my palms, fingers and any other exposed flesh as I pull it close. I pray that my blood will mingle with his and cease those fissures... I pray that I can stop his pain...

Tourniquet

He refused to face her, watching the door in a silent state of stalemated emotions. She couldn't stop the tears that possessed her cheeks at his reaction; she cared about him so much and yet, he would always confuse her on how he really felt. But the constant back and forth was eating away at her resistance...until finally...

It...snapped...

She drifted forwards, moving as though her body had no real will of its own; as though it were almost being controlled. Gently, her arms came around his waist, bent up and rested solemnly on his chest. It was bare, his battle worn shirt being cast off earlier. Her right cheek embraced the nape of his neck as her body came against his. His skin felt clammy, as though he were in pain, and the feeling of her icy tears made his entity jerk in shock.

He cursed at his heart to remain unaffected, but he couldn't ignore the saddened beats that he felt on his shoulder blades. But still he tried.

"Let go."

"Not until you tell me how you truly feel..."

"That's not your concern."

"When it involves me, damn right it's my concern."

"Hmph."

"What am I to you? Do you really care, or are my feelings unrequited?"

"..."

"Answer me! I'm sick of you 'caring' about me and then, shoving me away. If you don't feel the same, then why do you conditionally love me, Riku? Why does your heart hold mine, but your thoughts refuse me? Tell me!" He whipped around so harshly that it was a wonder her arms weren't snapped off. His black-gloved hands clenched upon her shoulders as he slammed her against the wall. His heart was pounding savagely in his chest, but he couldn't quite decipher why.

"What is it you expect from me, huh? I don't care about anyone the way you seem to want me to!"

"You're such a liar! You show that kind of affection all the time, but then, you just get 'scared' and expect me to drop everything I just experienced!"

"Bull."

"Oh yeah! Then why do you kiss me, huh? For kicks? Why do you 'care' about me one second, and hate me the next? Stop treating my heart like it's a toy! I'm not some Heartless that you can manipulate!" The shock that struck his intense features was quickly replaced by flaming anger that tore through his body. It took hold of his right hand as it shot up and struck her across the face.

But he didn't give her time enough to even take in the reality of the hit before that same hand grabbed her chin and yanked it upwards to face him.

"Is that what you want? To be kissed? To be cared for even if I feel nothing at all? Fine! Your choice." She flinched tearfully as he kissed her so roughly that a shot of pain rippled out from the side of her mouth. She could soon taste the metallic tang of blood on her tongue and saw it on his lips when he jerked her away.

"Is that good enough for you! Or are you still not satisfied?"

"R-Riku..." The sound of his name leaving her terrified lips seemed to further his rage and he threw her across the room. She hit the bed and fell onto the mattress, her cheek and mouth throbbing with pain. Before she can even take another breath, he's upon her again.

Shoving her legs onto the bed as he moved, the enraged Islander soon kneeled on either side of her. Possessing her wrists, he slammed them down beside her head, putting a heavy amount of his body weight onto her arms. His body hovered above hers, his knees beside her abdomen and his painful voice shouting directly at her.

"What's the problem? This is what you wanted, isn't it?" Her tears fell harder over her temples as he pushed down on her wrists. An anguished protest almost burst from her lips, but the cold shock of falling water spattering off her cheeks stopped the words dead. Ignoring the sting of her salty tears, she stared through blurred vision to find drowning aquamarine looking back at her. Her lips separated shakily and managed to catch a couple drops upon them. They tasted so sad...

"Riku..."

"You'll never understand! There'll never be anything between us!"

"...Why...?"

"You wouldn't understand... You can't understand!"

"Then make me understand!" Trying to hold back her sobs after her protest outdid even his angriest was torture, but somehow she managed to keep herself controlled. His lips separate in shock and crystalline tears sparkle beneath confused aqua.

"M-Misty..."

"Make me understand, Riku... Don't you get it? I love you... Help me see what I can't decipher so that we can be closer... Please..." Those tears fell sorrowfully onto her reddened cheek and cut lip as though pleading for forgiveness. His hands slipped off her wrists as he silently leaned backwards into a sitting position, a blank and heartbroken look possessing his eyes.

With barely a shred of hesitation, she slid back a little and rose steadily into a similar position, keeping her gaze locked on his. The stalemate lasted for several seconds before her heart betrayed her and asked slightly cold. "Well?"

The captivating feeling of his breath whispering her name brushed over her emotioned cheeks before he took her lips captive in a passionate embrace that he never thought he could. His lips slid a little to the corner of her mouth as his tongue regretfully grazed over the wound his unbelieving heart caused.

As he pulled away, she longingly whispered his name as her caring fingers levitated to his cheeks to free them of their emotional chains.

The sun set seemingly quicker than normal to let the two teenagers enjoy the comfort of the night's shroud. But the cool darkness did nothing to extinguish the finally sheltered flame of the two fated children of Shadow.