Flee From Our Troubles

Singing From the Heart

Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts. It's sooo sad, isn't it? Oh, and I don't own the song, either. Avril Lavigne does, and it's the song that inspired this fic..

Author's Nonsense:
Okay, so here it is! The next chapter to this story! Thanks for all of the reviews that you guys gave me! They made me all happy inside. This chapter is dedicated to DieChan, urufu-misora, starryskydragon, Shizuka-Yuki, Sai-ryo Aura Feana, and labrat-seph. Thanks, you guys inspire me. Enjoy the chapter! Read and Review!

Edit 4/30/06 - Chapter revised.

Staring dumbly at the floor, I didn't want to believe what I had just heard. I had to sing? But I could barely talk! Did I even know how to sing? Well of course I knew how to sing. But could I sing well? I was still staring at the floor when I heard clapping outside. Apparently the first two had already gone. Snapping back into what little sense I had, I paid attention to the people ahead of me. Some of them were really good, not just at writing, but at singing as well. And as the contest continued, I could feel the knot in my stomach growing tighter and tighter.

And as the contest went on and on, I started praying that I had at least inherited my mother's singing voice, if nothing else. I knew that I had her eyes, but did I have her voice, too?

"Hey, are you okay, kid?" I heard a lady next to me ask. Well, do I look okay? I just nodded and she left me alone.

"And last but not least, Sora!" the lady announced, and I felt all the color drain from my face. Oh crap! It's my turn! Too late to run now! I walked on to the stage. Why am I doing this? Oh yeah, two hundred dollars. I felt my cheeks turn bright red. "Sora will be singing his song Nobody's Home," the lady said, and then walked off stage. I picked up the microphone, and the lights went off. A spotlight was shown on me, and I felt some relief at not being able to see the crowd. Well, at least it's better than a strip bar. Here goes nothing.

"Hi, um, this song is dedicated to my mother," I said, and I heard a very audible "Awww" coming from the audience. I don't need your pity!

Well I couldn't tell you why she felt that way
She felt it every day
And I couldn't help her
I just watched her make the same mistakes again
What's wrong what's wrong now?
Too many too many problems
Don't know where she belongs
Where she belongs

She wants to go home
But nobody's home
That's where she lies broken inside
No place to go, no place to go
To dry her eyes, broken inside

My heart was beating fast! At least I didn't sound too bad … I swear I kept expecting someone to ask what a singing tomato was doing on stage ...

Open your eyes
And look outside
Find the reasons why
You've been rejected
And now you can't find what you've left behind
Be strong be strong now
Too many too many problems
Don't know where she belongs
Where she belongs

The crowd seems to like it. At least they aren't booing me off the stage like that one guy who sounded horrible before me. I felt sorry for him.

She wants to go home
But nobody's home
That's where she lies, broken inside
To place to go, no place to go
To dry her eyes broken inside

Her feelings she hides
Her dreams she can't find
She's losing her mind
She's falling behind
She can't find her place
She's losing her faith
She's falling from grace
She's all over the place
Yeah

Almost done! I might actually win!

Oh oh oh
She wants to go home
But nobody's home
That's where she lies broken inside
No place to go, no place to go
To dry her eyes broken inside

She's lost inside, lost inside
Oh, oh …
She's lost inside, lost inside
Oh, oh, yeah

The lights turned back on, and the crowd started to cheer and clap. I guess I wasn't too bad. I just hope it was enough to win the money. Then at least I can be sure that I won't starve. Well, at least not for awhile anyways. As I scanned the crowd to see if anybody liked it and they seemed to. As I searched I saw a glint of sliver in the corner. There, in the corner, was the silver haired boy, a mischievous gleam in his aquamarine eyes. I felt my eyes widen as I saw the handsome boy smile at me, and I had to resist the urge to just run out of there. I want my money, damn it!

"Okay, once again that was Sora Malcite singing Nobody's Home. Vote now at the station in the back, and we will have a fifteen minute break as we tally up the votes. The polls are open!" she said, and she led me backstage as the entire coffeehouse stood up and went over to the polls. It was a simple process; you go over and press a button on the label next to each name.

I waited patiently in back, along with the other anxious musicians. Now it was more important than ever that he get out as soon as he got the money. I didn't want to get caught by that silver haired boy. Why did he follow me, anyways? No one has ever followed me before.

"We are now finished tallying up the votes, and the winner is … By five votes … Sora Malcite! Give it up for him, folks. The winner of the two hundred dollar prize!" I walked timidly to the stage, and accepted the prize money that the lady held. I took it and smiled as everyone clapped.

"Heh–heh, thanks," I said, spotting the silver haired boy closer to the stage than he was the first time. "Uh … bye," I said, taking the money and leaving the stage. I gathered up my things and asked a nearby employee where the back exit was. He pointed to a door, and I went over to it before that boy could find me. Besides; I had to get out of town soon, in case somebody recognizes me and turns me in. I opened the door and started walking through the back alley. It was dark out now. I heard a voice inside asking where the cute boy that had just won went, and it sounded suspiciously like the boy. I hurried through the streets as I heard a door open somewhere behind me. Something told me that he had recognized me and was going to turn me in.

As I turned the corner, I saw the city gate, and I dashed for it. But just as I was about to reach the gate, I saw a gang up ahead. I stopped dead in my tracks as they started after me. I started to run away, but they were much faster than me. They grabbed me after I had gotten just a couple blocks, and put a gag in my mouth. They started dragging me away, me struggling the entire time.

I struggled violently against the older boy holding me, and I soon started to wonder if being found by the silver haired boy was really that much worse. I kicked one where it hurt the most, and he swore loudly and dropped me hard on the ground. I scrapped my knee, but nonetheless I ran as fast as I could out the city limits, the boys following after me. I got outside, and I could hear the group yelling strings of curses and threats after me. But there was one voice that sounded kinder than the others following, but I didn't dare stop to find out why.

I ran past the gate and into the nearby woods, not stopping once I ran into some bushes, and then jumped up to a nearby branch. I clambered up a couple and stayed there, hugging the trunk of the tree. The leaves provided cover, and I watched as the gang ran past. I recognized them as the gang from before, the ones who had killed that man. I hugged the trunk tighter and looked down. I saw the silver haired boy run past, and I waited a couple of moments before I came down. I quietly crawled down the tree, and landed in the bushes. I ran out of the forest, and back to the city.

After a bit of searching, I found a cheap two dollar a night hotel and checked in, deciding that it would be much safer to just rent a hotel room for a night instead of sleeping outside where they might find me. I opened the room and went in, and collapsed on top the bed. I glanced at the clock on the bedside table, and it read 9:30. 'Wow, I've been really busy tonight, haven't I?' I used the bathroom and washed up, then went over to my bag. I grabbed the knife inside it. I examined it for awhile and realized that the blade could be pushed down into the handle, so it would be safe for pocket travel. I stuffed it in my pocket, and laid down for some sleep.

In the morning I awoke to the sounds of loud voices outside, and it sounded like the gang that was after me. Why wouldn't they just leave me alone? It's wasn't like I was going to turn them in or anything. I was not going to get caught by the police and then turned in. I gathered up my belongings, and walked over to the window. I opened it, and had one foot out the window by the time the boys started banging on the door. I got all the way outside and on to the fire escape. I shut the window and started down the fire escape. I was about halfway down when I heard the door to my room burst open, and I jumped a little before continuing down. I jumped the last remaining steps, and ran out of the alley. I ran out of the city gate and down the path, and only stopped when I couldn't breathe anymore.

How in the world did they find me? It's not like I left a trail! They either wanted to get me because I saw them kill that guy, or they know that I have money. I continued down the path slowly, waiting for myself to catch my breath. I kept walking, and started thinking at the same time. I was so caught up in my thoughts that I nearly jumped sky high when I felt a cool hand on my shoulder. I screamed in surprise, and turned around to see the silver haired boy right there.

"What?" I asked tiredly. Well I was tired! It couldn't be more than 5:00 am, and I felt like I had just run a marathon. I looked into aquamarine eyes that held a flicker of concern before returning back to their monotonous look.

"I heard those kids in the park talking about you. They will hurt you. You need help," he said.

"I can defend myself," I muttered, as the older boy looked down at me.

"Not against these guys. I would know, I used to be one of them," he said, walking past me. I just stood there in shock, until the boy said, "Are you coming?" I snapped back into reality and followed him.

"So what's your name?" I asked, as I heard my voice cracking.

He didn't say anything for a minute, as if considering whether to tell me. Finally he said, "Riku."

"Hi, Riku," I said, looking at him. "So, where are you going?" I questioned.

"I don't know. Wherever I feel like it, I guess," he answered. Okay, he doesn't seem very talkative, does he?

I tried again. "So why did you leave?" This time he just didn't answer. He just kept walking. I watched him, and his distant eyes. I wonder what he's thinking about. He just acts so distant. I wonder if he's ever had a friend … or a girlfriend …

"You're falling behind," he said, not looking away from what was ahead of him. I sighed and jogged to catch up with him. Well, this is going to be an interesting time, isn't it?

We continued walking until nightfall, and Riku hasn't said much except to tell me that I'm falling behind. He never seems irritated when he says it, but always like he's just lost in thought. It's always in the same monotone voice. I wonder what he thinks about, just staring ahead of him, his eyes seeming distant and lost.

When we finally lay down to sleep, I was exhausted. Who knew running away was so tiring? I collapsed on the ground, I was so tired that I just wanted to lie there and never get up. But tired as I was, I just couldn't get to sleep. I lay on the ground for the longest time, just staring at the sky. I guess this the first time I ever really appreciated being able to work until collapsing, because then at least I never had to worry about trying to fall asleep. I close my eyes to sleep, but an hour later, I was still wide awake.

I opened my eyes and looked over at the sleeping Riku, and the way his hair glistened in the moonlight. I snuck a quick glance at his watch, and saw that it was about 10:45. Why couldn't I get to sleep? I watched the boy's sleeping figure, and the way his hair was spread out around his face. I started to reach out to pet it, but stopped myself before I got there. If he woke up and saw me, I'd have a heck of time trying to explain why I was doing that. I drew my arm back, and watched him for the longest time.

With a sigh I rolled back over, and gaze at the star strewn sky, the moon shining like a crystal orb. It was beautiful, with the stars against the black sky, similar to the way glitter shines on a cloak of ebony. I felt a slight breeze blow across my face, and my cinnamon locks swayed in the soft wind. I sighed again and closed my eyes, but not after a quick glance at Riku. What are these emotions that I'm feeling? I've felt it before, but not like this. It was a strange tightening on my heart every time I realize that Riku's a guy, and probably not into other men. Then the answer hit me, but I was too frightened to say what it might be. I rolled over, and eventually fell into a fitful sleep.

Author's Rantings:
Okay, so did you like this chapter? Please Review and tell me. Wow ... for once, I don't have anything to say!
Riku: ((gasps))
Me: Ya, I know.