Shattered

Chapter Four: Wish On A Shooting Star

Present; Yuan's Apartment; Later That Night
Later that very night I found myself starring up at the glimmering, radiant stars overheard. My window was open, causing a moderate breeze to wisp across my face. It was around midnight, and all the surroundings buildings had their lights turned off. So basically, it was pitch black besides the night sky, was a rarity for a town like this. And yet, this tranquility was something that flowed through my veins, causing the bitter blood to falter.

Somewhat tensely, I bit down upon my puckered out bottom lip. With the breeze, long strands of my aqua hair began to flap in the slight gust. Glancing downward from my star-gazing, I noticed my wrists and a burning scar upon them. Letting out a troublesome sigh, I extended my left palm and ran t gently across my right wrist. It had been three years, and yet the scar remained. People told me that things never lasted forever, but yet scars do. No matter what you do, a scar will remain. A burden of the painful past.

Earlier this day I had found myself waking up to that stranger. Ever since that moment, my day had completely spun out of control. Memories of Jessica flooded back into me, my former life before the lottery, and my future. As it stood now, I had future. Either way, the toll the man took on me was as strong as ever. Something was different about him. The way his auburn hair swayed as he walked, the gruff but yet soft tone of his voice, and the black leather he wore. He was different, and I liked that. And yet at the same time, I hated the man. For some reason deep down in my heart, I hated that man with a passion unimaginable.

Crossing my arms, I placed them onto the windowsill and placed my head on them. As I sat there, my emerald gaze watched the stars flicker aimlessly in the sky. Stars had but one purpose in life; to die. There they floated, trapped in the dark vortex of the universe, burning for eternity, until their sudden death of explosion. They're only purpose is to provide life, and die. Stars.. in a way they are like humans. The only reason we were put on Earth was to die, right?

It was then when a shooting star had caught my attention. There it flew, with a sparkling tail of comets following it. There goes another life, I thought to myself before raising my head from it's rest. As I did, a surprised gasp escaped my lips as I continued to stare. There was an old legend about stars, wasn't there? That if you saw a falling star, you were to wish upon it and you're greatest desire would come true.

But what could I possibly desire? I had won the lottery, and there was nothing left to gain. Easily, love was unattainable. No matter how hard I tried, I would never acquire the cherished prize. Something that I had dreamed of ever since I was a small boy, caught up in the painful grasp of reality. And just for once, I wanted to love...

"I...wish." I began but closed my eyes instantly. A cold shiver had run down my spine, and the tingles in my toes returned. Usually when I got the shivers, my toes tingled instinctively. Meshing my lips together, I opened my eyes once more and watched the star continue to fall, as if it was awaiting my wish.

"I wish.. that someone will send me a sign... show me what I must do to be happy. Show me what I have to do. Whether it be death.. or love, just show me.."

I was getting tired of life treating me like this. Even when it granted me with unlimited money, I still did not find happiness. I even acted as if I had never won it, and continued to live in the dingy apartment I called home. To be honest, I was afraid of change, afraid of something new like being rich, so I pushed away the reality and continued on. I had a knack for that.

"If there really is a greater life out there, answer me this. Why me? Why does everything always have to happen to me? Do you hate me or something?" Never before had I spoken with such serious-ness. Demands were floating in the tense air, as I arose from my seat about to make my way across the room. However, I found myself glancing over my shoulder back at the star.

"..." As I starred, my ears perked as I heard a knock arise from the entrance of the room.

Heart skipping a beat instantly, I swerved through the room and grabbed my gun instinctively. Shoving it into my pockets, leaving it on safe, I walked forward towards the door. Usually I wasn't one to change, so I wore my usual leather clothing. Letting a gentle sigh escape my lips, I stood before the door, as somber filled my vision.

"Who is it?" I asked gruffly, raising an eyebrow.

"You left your wallet earlier." Came the almost as bitter reply.

Closing my eyes softly, I took a deep breath, bracing myself, as I swung the door open. Standing before me was the man from earlier. Instead of the leather clothes he normally wore, he had clothed in jeans and a black T-shirt. Messy auburn hair clung loosely onto his shoulders as he held my leather wallet in his right hand. Passing a glance onto the wallet, my gaze instantly fell back onto him. Just seeing him made me feel uneasy, so I did the only thing I thought I could do, I played it safe.

"Couldn't you wait till morning? One tends to wonder when you're looming the streets at midnight." I answered, starring at the man with no sympathy. Everything about him I hated, and yet I could not turn away.

"True, but one with such a busy agenda as yourself might leave early in the morning, and then you'll be leaving without this." Kratos replied, holding the leather loosely. Dark garnet eyes watched me as I held my door limply, taking a few shallow breaths.

"What gives you the right to barge into my apartment at night, anyhow? I could have been banging some chic and then you would have-" I began, raising an eyebrow.

"I am not barging, and I do not see anyone else besides you. In fact, you're clothes are still in tact." Kratos replied, glancing at my body. Heart-falling, I felt my pulse rise as he starred at me. That same predator-ish look flashed in his eyes as he watched me from his perch. He was like some rabid animal, stalking his prey, ready to make the kill at any moment.

"And I'd like to keep them that way." I replied harshly, reaching out and taking my wallet from his hand. A yawn mistakably escaped my lips as I ran a free hand over the wallet.

"..." No reply came from the man as he remained standing in the doorway.

"What?" I asked bitterly, holding the door in place.

"May I ask for a glass of water, or is that too much to ask?" He came with just a sarcastic remark as myself. Laughing in the inside, I had to admire his guts. Not many people would stick around to pass rude comments back and forth. Usually they would get offended and flee, but Kratos was different. It almost looked like he enjoyed the quarrel.

"..." I scanned him for a few moments before moving to the side and opening the door fully. "Fine, come in." I sighed, crossing my arms, still clenching the wallet. Kratos nodded gently and walked inside as I closed the door behind me.

In fact, that may have been the biggest mistake of my life. Passing to the kitchen where Kratos sat, I grabbed a glass from the counter. Turning on the silver faucet, I watched as the water dripped into the glass. When it was half-ful, I turned around and walked over to the middle table to where Kratos was. Sliding it across the table towards him, I took the seat across from him.

"Tell me, Yuan. Something seems to be on your mind. Does my presence upset you?" Kratos asked, arching an eyebrow, while taking a slow, long sip of his glass.

"It's none of your business. I don't shed information on my life with strangers." I snapped eagerly, crossing my arms once more and leaning the elbows against the table. Placing his lips to the rim once more, the man took another sip before placing it upon the wood table with a gentle thud.

"I can't blame you for being testy. You seem like you don't get out much," Kratos offered with a fixed glance upon me.

"I don't," I replied harshly, remembering the gun in my pocket that was pushing against my thigh. Clenching my teeth, I pushed up off the chair and passed into the other room while calling back. "Stay there." I told harshly.

Walking to my bed, I dropped the gun on the bureau and turned around to make my way back to the kitchen. However, something in my gut told me to wait for a few minutes before rejoining the man. Somehow and someway, I needed to address my feelings towards him once and for all. This hatred was not the hate I was accustomed to. Usually when I bore hatred, I cussed out the sinner. But this was something different, disguised as hatred. Could it possibly be.. something different?

"Yuan, may I ask you something?" Kratos asked from the other room.

"Go ahead..." I sighed, entering the kitchen.

"Was there any reason you did not tell me that you won the lottery?" Kratos asked casually, glancing over at the plaque that hung in my kitchen, that they had given me when I turned in the ticket. Flinching, I turned away from the man, burning in rage.

"Because it was none of your concern." I replied hoarsely. "You said you were just here for a glass of water. Now if you're quite done, I'd love it if you-" I began but was wheeled around on my feet. My sentence was cut short by Kratos holding me tightly and placing a enticing brush of his lips against mine. Blinking a few times, I felt my heart race.

"What are you-" I began. In the back of my mind I wanted to break away. I kept telling myself this was wrong, and something I should ignore, but yet here I stood, allowing this action.

"It doesn't matter if you're rich or not. In the inside you're the same ass I met last night. Something's different about you, Yuan. And-" Kratos began as a light smile grazed his lips. "And it's been nagging at me." He placed his head against my forehead and paused for a moment.

"There's nothing different about me-" I was about to explain but just the intense stare of him made me melt. Unlike anything Jessica had ever caused. He let go sharply and walked towards the door. Reaching out, wanting to find out just what had happened, I watched as he turned the doorknob to leave the apartment.

"Uh.. wait!' I called eagerly. Kratos paused, but did not turn around. "Usually I'm not one to set up these kind of arrangements" I began gruffly but then shoved my hands into my pant pockets. "If you want tomorrow... we could go somewhere?.." What was I saying?...

"...Yuan." Was all Kratos said before breathing heavily from his spot at the door. "Even now, you continue to amaze me." Furrowing my eyebrows, I tilted my head and crossed my arms.

"What does that mean?" I asked cruelly. Kratos turned around and glanced across at me.

"And for your information... I didn't take advantage of you last night. I let you sleep," Kratos whispered from across the room. Relief washed over me. So I hadn't really, what a relief!

"Oh..." I looked downward, a bit ashamed. "Either way... thanks. And usually I never say that word." I added in harshly.

"I'll see you tomorrow.. I'll come by around noon." Kratos spoke, watching me. Walking over to him I looked downward, trying to make sense of everything.

"Yea..." Was all I could reply with. my mind was racing in all directions and I hadn't a clue on what was right and was wrong.

AN:

It's short, I know. But the next chapter will make up for it, I swear! Basically, it's about their day together, and Yuan realizing abuot his past and that stuff. It was also shed light on the first plot of the story (yes a plot) and more implying of the second plot. ha! Two big old plot twists. Ngh.