I do not own Kingdom Hearts.

It's six o'clock… Now there are only five more hours until I can leave…

Keiya had been taking refuge from the curious stares of the townspeople for an hour, since the beginning of the celebration. They were all so used to seeing her with Riku—the two of them had always been inseparable. People identified them as a pair, not as two separate people. So with her on one side of the square all by herself and Riku on the other, conversing rather distantly with a girl a few years younger than he was, scandal seemed to be in the air. And now that she was actually here, amongst the entire town, she felt more uncomfortable than ever. She had no one to talk to, nothing to do, and nowhere to go. She felt like she didn't even belong there—which she didn't—this wasn't her town, and she wasn't part of the Committee. She was the cause of all their trouble, the reason the town had been set aflame in the first place. And she was confused as to why her attendance was even mandatory. But after a while, with everyone present, the food out, and the music playing, the separated 'couple' was all but forgotten by the majority. For that, Keiya was relieved. And since everyone was busy talking amongst themselves, they didn't notice her off to the side, on the outskirts of the square.

She had been standing there since the start of the party, by herself the entire time except for when Aerith came to check on her and to give her a glass filled with a sugary pink juice. Both Aerith and Leon were busy conversing with group after group of adults interested in the reconstruction plans, and they barely seemed to have any time for themselves the entire night. It exhausted her just to watch them—she didn't think she would ever be able to flit so freely from one group of people to another, by herself, to make friendly, semi-meaningless conversation. She sipped the drink from the glass she had been given once in a while out of boredom, but found it too unbearably sweet to finish all at once.

Riku was all the way on the other side of the plaza with the same girl she had seen him talking to the previous day. She wasn't dressed very elegantly—she wore a short, frilly dress with spaghetti straps and a fake corsage. Her hair was up in a high bun on top of her head, with small curls framing the side of her face. She also wore dark mascara and eye shadow, in an attempt to appear older. Together, it just looked phony and overdone. The girl blushed and giggled each time Riku spoke, and she constantly fidgeted whenever he asked her something, as if speechless by his presence. The whole scene was ridiculous to watch, but Keiya couldn't tear her eyes away. It distressed her, as much as she hated to admit it. She had already broken the promise she had made to herself—that she wouldn't spare him a glance all evening. There was nothing else for her to look at. And seeing him engage in conversation with this young girl, who had nothing more than a trivial crush on him, made her feel more out of place than ever.

Does he have to stand so close to her? she thought sourly.

She had had a hard time trying to imagine why this same girl he had turned down yesterday would agree to go with him, even though Riku had supposedly told her that he already had a date. Didn't she have any self-respect? Any sense of self-worth? It really annoyed her that she would agree to go with him after being rejected. She gave him his way even though it was clear that he didn't like her. It was like this girl couldn't see past his charm; it didn't matter that she was second choice. It was such a blind, shameless infatuation, Keiya thought, a simple, hopeless crush. And yet it still made her sick with envy.

Riku, on the other hand, looked incredible. He wore a pair of black dress slacks with a long sleeve, white button down shirt tucked in, with the top few buttons undone. He had his sleeves rolled up and his silver hair loose but perfectly formed, the way it always was. He looked classy and casual at the same time, and even though he wasn't the best dressed out of all the guys his age there, he certainly drew the most stares. She watched as he took the girl's hand without warning, earning from her a dramatic blush, and asked her a short question. The girl dizzily nodded and he led her out onto the over-crowded dance floor, where they were swept up into the crowd and out of Keiya's sight.

Then again, maybe I'm the hopeless one… to have fallen in love with him…

"Excuse me?"

Keiya turned around sharply when someone touched her lightly on the shoulder. Behind her stood a tall man with boyishly charming light-brown hair, wearing well-tailored dress slacks and a shimmering, satin shirt of pale blue. He also had a freshly-pressed jacket thrown over his shoulders and hands were folded causally in his pockets. He had a simple, carefree smile on his face. She was startled that anyone would approach her—she didn't think anyone could see her, hidden in the shadows of the trees. Especially not a young man, who should stereotypically be out on the dance floor courting different girls with each song.

"U-uh, yeah?" she asked nervously, her voice a little higher than normal.

"I noticed you've been standing alone for a while," he said kindly. "Why so sad?"

"Oh, I'm not sad…"

"Can I join you?" he asked, already relaxing himself next to her. She nodded her head shyly, a little flustered at the attention. She tried not to pay him any mind, although it was hard since he had intruded in her personal corner. Her heart was beating rapidly. She scanned her surroundings, searching for a distraction. But what ended up catching her eye was a quick glance of Riku smiling at the younger girl before disappearing back behind the other couples as they waited for the next song to start. She was hurt that he still hadn't even looked at her—at least, she hadn't noticed if he had. She felt stupid, hoping that he would at least acknowledge her. And seeing him spin this girl around and give her his full focus, she felt her heart well up with uncontrollable emotion. But before she could let her thoughts wander any further, the man next to her shifted a little so that he was still off to the side, but in her field of vision. She turned quickly, meeting his amused smile.

"I-I'm sorry—I wasn't ignoring you," she started, trying to sound pleasant. He waved it away with a nonchalant grin.

"I don't mean to pry, but is something troubling you?"

"Huh? Oh, no, it's nothing…" she answered timidly.

He nodded to her with a pitiful smile, not fully convinced, and motioned to his glass, filled with a clear, fizzy substance. "Can I get you a drink?"

"N-no thanks, I already have," she declined, lifting up the still mostly-full glass of juice from earlier. He nodded, trying to think of some way to get her talking. Her attention shifted back to the dance floor after a few seconds as she caught another glimpse of Riku with the girl. This time she could swear she had locked eyes with him for a moment—he was only about ten yards from where she was standing. She had his hands on his chest, slowly swaying with the music. His soft, silver hair skimmed the top of her head as he led her through the rhythm. When they faded back into the crowd, Keiya snapped out of her trance. They stood in silence for a few moments, listening to the next orchestral piece commence.

"Do you…want to dance?" he asked with humor, seeing how she was focused on the floor. She looked up in surprise and shook her head, embarrassed.

"N-no, I don't dance," she admitted hastily. He nodded, a smile still plastered on his face. She didn't like this—talking to this person she had never met before, acting like fast friends. It put her on edge. And she wasn't accustomed to random people asking about her problems. She didn't want to talk to anyone about them to begin with—she was even still hesitant about that around Riku. She honestly just needed some time to herself. Deciding she had had enough of this awkward conversation, she started to excuse herself to move to a different area, the way most people would in order to send a hint that they didn't want to be bothered.

"Oh, I-I think my friend is calling me over," she made up quickly, picking Aerith out of the crowd. She was talking to a few other people a little ways off, gathered around a small white table. Never in her life had she wanted so badly to get to a group of people—it was better than talking one-on-one with someone like this. She did want to find some way to prove Riku wrong, but she realized now she was much too shy to dive in like that, to start flirting with strangers the way he was, without at least psyching herself up first. The man nodded, but just as she took a step forward, she tripped. He caught her right away without missing a beat, with the kind of suave-ness Riku always seemed to radiate. Both of his large hands were on her bare shoulders instantly, before she could fall face first onto the ground.

"Whoa—you should be more careful. The grass around here is relentless," he said, wearing a joking smile. She stood up straight, her face now flushing scarlet. He let his hands linger and turned his attention to the direction she had been heading in. "Your friend walked away." He informed her, gesturing to the now vacant spot at the table they had standing around. "Guess she didn't need you after all."

"Oh, y-yeah. Thanks…" she murmured, taking a small step back so that his hands would fall from her body. She had goose bumps from his touch. His hands were chilly from the ice-cold drink he was holding.

~…~

Riku walked the girl he had been dancing with over to the large white buffet table, telling her that she should rest, but really so that he could see what Keiya was doing. His 'date' soon wandered off to brag to some of her friends, leaving him alone to fume. He had been perfectly contented, seeing her standing by herself in the corner of the square, and was able to put his plans in motion, to try and prove his point and get her to intervene. He was waiting for her to talk to him—he even danced with the girl, to try and make her admit that she was jealous. And it was easier said than done—his date was too clumsy with infatuation in her dancing that he was even afraid to keep in Keiya's sight, for fear that she might laugh at him. And the girl was so clingy. He couldn't even try and twirl her around or anything—she stayed stuck to his chest. So he had decided to try and bait Keiya this way, away from the floor. But she was no longer alone.

With her stood a taller, older guy wearing a relatively expensive suit. Riku had been so caught up in his own plans to get her to come crying back to him that he hadn't even considered the possibility that someone could—and would—approach her. Especially not someone like the man she was with now, with his fancy clothes and polite disposition. Jerks, he could handle, but someone like this…

Ugh, stupid… of course someone's going to hit on her… she was standing there alone… And she looks… gorgeous… he thought regretfully, his face heating up. She was wearing a slim, floor length, strapless white dress that contrasted her long hair, which was down the way it usually was. On her feet were flat, simple, silver sandals, and a small, white flower-pin adorned her hair, holding some of it up on one side. The dress hugged her body elegantly and ended at her ankles, as opposed to the dress that his date was wearing; frilly and baby-dollish, with a flare, ending above the knees. Keiya seemed to rise above the kind of girl he was now with; she looked like a socialite, even though she was avoiding the crowds, off by herself.

Well, she had been by herself.

What the hell? he thought, watching a scene play out in front of him. She just tripped, but…It looks like he tripped her... Jerk. Probably wanted to help her up or something… He clenched the table cloth when he saw the man with his hands on her shoulders. He doesn't have the right to touch her like that—he doesn't have any business even talking to her. He's messing everything up! He'd better get lost… He felt a million times better when Keiya stepped away from him, but the feelings of loathing and possessiveness remained. He stayed frozen, his arms now crossed, and his mouth shut tight.

Suddenly, his date touched his arm, still talking to her friends. She clung to him like glue, apparently becoming more confident and showy around the other girls and their boyfriends. With an older, more mature guy like Riku, she automatically had status. Her other friends, some of them single, some of them with local boys their age, looked up at him in awe, whining to their friend how jealous they were and how lucky she was. The boys just glared at him, but he was too caught up in watching that man engage his girl in conversation to notice.

"Riku, come on! We have to join in the competition!" she urged, apparently after trying to get his attention for some time. He looked back at her startled, meeting the other girls' curious faces.

"Oh, sure," he said without enthusiasm. "Whenever you're ready."

He looked back at Keiya again, despite his date's protests and groans of impatience. This shy little girl was so much more demanding around her clique. He didn't care, though. The only reason he was taking her here was to get back at the girl he was really interested in—the one who had the ability to drive him insane one moment, then have him on his knees the next. He was caught off guard, however, when he locked eyes with her; a private, awkward moment of surprise, then mutual irritation. His date was tugging at his arm, her high, whiny voice ringing in one of his ears in the background. Keiya was standing with her arms crossed uncomfortably, but after a few dragging seconds, she tore her gaze from him and turned toward the gentleman who was waiting for her response. With a quick flick of her hair, she put on the best smile she could manage and gave him a lengthy response. He seemed satisfied and continued jesting with her, but as he talked, she turned back to Riku, the fake smile disintegrating from her face. It was replaced by self-assured look—one that made him even falter backward for a moment. He retaliated by taking his date roughly by the hand, his eyes still locked with Keiya's, and pulling her onto the dance floor without even answering her pleas first. He shot her a cutting glare of stuck-up indifference, which took all his concentration and energy, seeing her laugh with another man. His plans were beginning to backfire—this guy didn't look like he was getting ready to leave anytime soon; she had his full attention. And the party wasn't even half-way over yet.

"So why are you here, off to the side? Why not join in the fun?" he asked curiously. Keiya racked her brain for some kind of response. She knew Riku was still watching her—she didn't give him another glance, but she could feel his eyes on her. She needed to focus on this man in front of her, try and be pleasant—maybe even charming, so long as he was still watching.

Unfortunately, she didn't know how to do any of that.

"I-I'm not really into parties," she said truthfully, taking a sip of her drink to hide her embarrassment and lack of self-confidence. She had no idea how to act, what to say. It was like a total brain freeze; she had never had to deal with a situation such as this. Her voice kept stuttering. She just wanted to try and keep this guy talking so that it would seem to Riku that she didn't need him. And that she could get along with other people—she couldn't let him feel like he was special or something.

"Hmm…" he started thoughtfully, "Me neither. It gets so tiring."

When Riku and his date crossed from the table to the dance floor, Keiya automatically looked up at them, a blush crossing her face. The girl latched onto Riku's hand and pulled him playfully back onto the floor. Keiya felt powerless. The man next to her eyed her suspiciously, his own gaze shifting to the couple she was fixated on. Her head snapped back toward him when he spoke.

"I know it's not my place to ask, but is there something… with that guy over there?"

She flushed again, completely speechless. She couldn't form words; she was caught between this man she had never met before, asking her the most personal of questions, and the heartbreaking scene a good ten yards away, her beloved beguiling another woman—no, a clingy girl that didn't even qualify as a woman. Her head was hung a little bit in discomfort and sorrow, and she took another, longer, sip of the sweet fruit juice. He turned away from her to give her some privacy.

"An ex-boyfriend...?" he said, more as a statement than a question. Her response was another sip of the drink, as if it would help.

"I had a similar problem about a year ago… my girlfriend ditched me for another guy. Guess she got tired of me," he continued sheepishly as he scratched the back of her head. He stole a glance at her, to see if his words were having any impact. She kept her daze downcast, unsure of how she wanted to answer. Was he implying that Riku was tired of her?

"So I guess… we're both lonely," he observed, trying to draw a similarity for her. He stopped speaking to let his words sink in, and casually checked his watch, then placed his free hand in his pocket. He was still drinking his fizzy soda drink, which bubbled only ever so slightly now that it had been sitting in the glass for a while. Keiya just nodded vaguely, still trying to avoid looking at either of them—him and Riku, but failing terribly at the latter. She looked up again very briefly, just to satisfy her need to see what he was doing now, where he was, how he was acting toward her.

The dance floor was starting clear out as people sat down for dinner, but Riku and the group of kids he was with for the evening were still in the center of the floor, now just chattering away. He didn't exactly socialize with the others, but he did keep his date occupied with conversation. He never once let a dull moment pass between them. Keiya was completely entranced by this scene—how he had immersed himself into another group of people, not even hanging out with Sora and Kairi, and was engaging them with his charm and maturity without even saying a word to them as a party. It would be quite a show, if he weren't so naturally good at it.

"I guess you don't like to talk about it," he stated aloud, seeing as how she was still observing the scene solemnly. "That's alright. Sorry for asking."

She looked up in embarrassment at how a stranger whom she had never met before was trying to decipher her emotions, her situation. "N-no, don't be—it's no big deal," she lied, not wanting to chase him away. If Riku saw him ditch her, then she'd be even more embarrassed. The atmosphere relaxed a little bit, and she turned her body so she was now standing facing the man instead of facing Riku. She didn't want to become distracted again.

"So," he started pleasantly. "I haven't seen you around here before. Are you new in town?"

"Not really. Just visiting friends…"

"Really? Then where are you from?" he asked, a bright, boyish smile on his face. He was a socialite in every way—tall, well-dressed, handsome, and a conversationalist. He appeared to be in his early to mid-twenties-a few years older than she was- but he still had a carefree air about him that made him all the more engaging.

"Oh, u-uh, Destiny Islands," she said hastily, that being the very first place that came to mind. She felt like slapping herself afterward, though, since it was Riku's home. He still had an influence over her, even while she was talking to someone else who was nothing like him. While they were both charming, Riku was more casual while this man was more upper-class. And although Riku had always asked her questions, personal information—from day one, even—she for some reason didn't feel the same trustworthiness or comfort with this guy here. Not that she was surprised—no one could ever replace his spot in her life, even while he was being a total jerk toward her. This man also had a certain tenseness about him, very subtle, but still detectable in the way he continuously smiled. She assumed it was his upbringing that made him a little snobbish, even though he hadn't shown it yet. That was a common conception she heard about these types of people. Riku's smiles had never seemed forced before-not to her.

He shook his head. "Never heard of it."

Afraid that he might start to question her about its climate and culture, she quickly shifted topics. "Are you…" She racked her brain for a subject, "Are you here by yourself? I-I mean, aren't you here with friends?"

"Yeah, I was with them before. They're probably out on the dance floor," he said, scanning the square for a few moments. "They like to hop from girl to girl, and after a while it's just lame. I guess that's why I was drawn over here, to you. You were the only girl not on the dance floor. It was kind of refreshing."

He looked her in the face boldly, his bright smile not wavering. He was at ease, strangely enough. Although Riku always was, too, but then again, he was just cocky like that. He was cocky with everyone, she thought. He never got nervous. (And he knew her well, but that wasn't important.)

"O-oh…"

He laughed, "Guess I'm making you uncomfortable again. People always tell me I come on too strong. Sorry!"

She didn't have any response for that; she didn't want to upset him. If he left, Riku's accusations would be true. His kindness was starting to go overboard, in her opinion. Did all guys act like this, so straight-forward and relaxed around girls they had never met before? It didn't seem like they did, but then again, she wouldn't really know. Her experience was very limited due to her sheltered social life. His presence still made her uneasy, though she was starting to get over it. He seemed nice enough, anyway, and hopefully Riku would at least look over to see that she wasn't as introverted as he thought. She could endure this for a little longer—she would have to. She watched him out of the corner of her eye, now facing the dance floor but still not allowing herself to watch Riku. He checked his watch, she noticed, as if he were in a hurry or expecting something. For a brief second she thought she saw his face twist into a look of frustrated impatience, but as soon as she turned back around he was smiling at her, not a care in the world.

~…~

The dancing had started up again after dinner, and all of the teenagers had flocked back onto the dance floor. Most of the adults were now resting and talking, so the floor was much clearer, giving Riku a better view of the shameless 'polite-flirting' going on only ten yards away. He looked over his date's shoulders constantly throughout the song, missing a few twirls and stepping on the wrong beat every so often. What is she thinking? He's way too old for her—why doesn't he just go away? he thought in aggravation. He probably thinks he's all that, with his designer suit and professionally cut hair… Bet he practices his 'manners' in front of the mirror… When the song ended, his date slipped out of his arms and gravitated toward her friends once more, now starting to get annoyed at Riku's un-enthusiasm. He had all but abandoned the charm he had played up earlier.

Does she… like those kinds of guys? Older guys… he thought insecurely, absentmindedly comparing his outfit and his hair to that of her courtier's. He had thrown on his jacket, since it was starting to get chilly out, but that other guy's coat was a fitted, silk lined work of art. He wore it as part of his outfit, not to stay warm. Riku's was a hand-me-down from Leon, and had only a thin lining and no fancy cut or trim. It was the kind that was easily mass produced.

He shook off the questioning thoughts and instead continued to glare at the duo, wondering what they were talking about, how she was feeling, what she was thinking. She was standing a few feet away from the guy, but he tended to lean inward when he spoke to her, making Riku want to walk over and shove him away. Watching them made him feel as though he were on a sick, twisted, emotional roller-coaster, but he couldn't bear to think of looking away.

~…~

"U-um, is there somewhere you need to be?"

"Hmm?"

"You keep checking the time… I don't want to hold you up," Keiya finally pointed out, seeing him glance down at his watch again. In reality, she dreaded the thought of him leaving her alone here, in plain sight of Riku, but she was curious as to what the hurry was. He hadn't said anything to her about plans or anything. He looked up abruptly, then smiled and shook his head. He put back on the captivating smile he had first approached her with, seemingly reinvigorated with energy. She was taken aback. She thought he was running late; he seemed to be waiting anxiously for something.

"No, it's just that my watch is broken," he informed her lightheartedly.

"O-oh…"

Then why keep checking it…? she thought to herself, mocking him inwardly over how big a deal it seemed to be, if he had to keep trying to fix it. She was so tired of this dance thing—and seeing Riku out of the corner of her eye mingling with this group of young kids dampened her mood further. He was basically telling her that he could replace her—in this case, with a bubbly sixteen year old girl. If she was even that old. She had to wonder whether or not her talking to this man was having any affect on him whatsoever. Was he hurt the way she was? Did he even care that she was giving this guy her attention? This could all be a waste of her time, for all she knew. He had the ability to look unconcerned and collected when he wanted to—she wished that she could do that. She knew that she didn't look happy, which was the way she was trying to make both him and this man perceive her. She was upset, and she wasn't good at hiding it. She sipped at her now almost empty glass. She hadn't even realized how much of it she had drank—she must have been really nervous.

"S-so are you involved in the reconstruction?" she asked, trying to feign curiosity. He looked up from his watch and gave her a brief smile, trying to wipe the troubled look from his face as he continued to examine his watch.

"Oh, yeah," he started hesitantly. "Odd jobs, you know… the usual stuff everyone does."

"Hmm…"

He was still eying his watch curiously, but made an effort to try and talk to her normally despite his obvious confusion. "And… you? How do you like it here?"

"It's nice…" she said slowly, wondering if he was even listening to her. "It's really… friendly."

"When do you go back?" he asked after a moment of silence.

She borrowed Riku's home again. "A few weeks…"

"Oh…"

She laughed to herself at how amazingly entranced he was by his shiny, silver watch. She caught a glimpse of it as he turned his wrist over, and noticed that it was the kind with no numbers—just one dot where the twelve would be. He was now relaxed against a nearby tree, so since he didn't appear to be leaving anytime soon, she let her attention shift to her surroundings again, although she avoided the dance floor altogether. It was still packed, but a lot of people were now at tables en-wrapped in conversation and card-games, and a group of children whom she recognized were playing tag inside the tent that Riku and Sora had set up, on the other side of the square.

As she gazed around, picking out Leon and Aerith at a table with some other adults, she felt herself stumble backward a little bit. She gasped and moved to catch herself, putting her foot out behind her, only to realize that she hadn't been falling at all. It was like the sensation of stepping up to your bed too soon, or not watching the stairs as you climb down and miss one. She brought a hand up to her face to push back some hair and slowly straightened herself up again, hoping that neither the man nor Riku, if he was looking, had noticed her fumble.

She turned around again to see what he was up to—the man she was with—but as she did so, felt the rest of the square spin around her in the opposite direction. She swallowed and brought her hand up to her forehead this time, as if holding it steady would stop the spinning. The man looked up at her awkwardly, and then a portrait of relief swept onto his face. He pushed off from the tree and strode over to her.

"Are you alright?" he offered, with voice tainted with apathy. He was standing only a few inches away. She nodded her head dizzily, feeling a strange sense of haziness wash over her. She heard him talking to her, loud and clear, but she couldn't focus properly. It was like she was falling into a muffled, dim, rotating pit. It took her a moment to answer, to comprehend what he was saying. She couldn't find words to reply with; it felt like her thoughts were being drowned out and slurred with each passing second. She blinked a few times, still holding her head, her eyes dazedly downcast at his feet.

"I-I… I-I don't… know..." she struggled to let out.

The man stepped closer to her and snaked an arm around her waist, then up her back. His other hand rested on her shoulder. She looked up at him, his shape blurring and shifting before her.

"Then maybe we'd better leave…" he said in a low voice. "I'll take you back to my place."

His words came down on her like rain, but she couldn't piece them together all at once—the next thing she knew, she was being led toward a pathway leading out of the square, which she struggled to keep still in her vision. She could feel his arm stretch across her waist, his hand gripping her side. She wasn't even sure how she was walking, but little by little, with each step, it seemed, she felt her mind getting heavier and heavier and more detached. She couldn't even let out a full sentence as the conscious part of her mind fought to protest but was slowly sinking farther and farther away.

~…~

Riku glanced over at Keiya every few seconds as he danced, mechanically, by now; her courtier's sudden withdrawal from her side piqued his interest. He was against a tree now, examining his wrist or watch or whatever. He felt a little better, though—at least this guy wasn't completely on top of her anymore. But Keiya looked a little strange. He saw her stagger backward all of a sudden, and then she held her head like it ached.

Is she alright? There was nothing to trip over…

A few seconds later, the man walked back over to her, earning an unseen glare from Riku. And what worsened his mood was seeing the man plant his arm around her waist, his other on her bare, soft shoulder. He restrained himself with all of his will power not to go over there and shove him away. His date noticed the tension, but was afraid to say anything. She looked over too, to see what was bothering him, but tried to concentrate more on keeping them steady and not in anyone else's way. Riku wasn't really paying attention anymore.

As the man's head lowered to her ear, Riku steamed in hatred. What the hell is she doing? He can't hold her like that! Why doesn't she push him away…?

Finally, the man slid his arm down from her back to her lower waist and began walking her to the square's exit. Keiya stumbled as he led her; her hand was still lightly brushing over her head from before, and it was like he was dragging her there without a fight. Riku's last bit of patience and self-control snapped, and he shoved his date away from him without an explanation, leaving her alone on the dance floor. He strode briskly over to the couple who was step by step making their way to the exit.

Keiya staggered as he directed her toward the exit, keeping her steady and next to him with his arm around her waist. She was vaguely aware of what was going on, but her mind was steeped in some kind of haze. Things blurred and swayed back and forth, creating a sea-sick, nauseous atmosphere. She was still facing downward, just watching her feet skid and trip over loose cobblestones.

She seems almost… drunk. But she wasn't drinking anything alcoholic…

Riku marched over to them and removed his hands from his pockets as he drew nearer. Once he was within reach, he pulled Keiya away harshly by the arm from behind, causing her to falter against his chest. The man turned around sharply, irritated and taken by surprise. He eyed Riku with annoyance and agitation. Keiya was caught between them, Riku now holding her hand tightly. She could barely register what was happening; time seemed warped. All of a sudden she was standing next to Riku, and he was speaking rather flatly with a familiar-looking man. He seemed a different person to her, in this less-then-charming state of anger. And she couldn't understand what Riku was doing there—where had he even come from? He hadn't even looked at her in a while.

"What's your problem?"

"I think she's had enough. I'm taking her home," Riku announced firmly, tightening his grip protectively around Keiya, who was standing next to him, confused. The man straightened himself up and tried calmly to regain his composure.

"Well, I was just doing that myself," he stated icily, staring him down.

"That's alright—I'll do it."

The man laughed to himself-the kind of laugh a person gives off when they're in trouble and are trying to look cool. The 'I can't believe it' kind of laugh. He ran his hand through his hair as if he was bothered. Riku just waited for him to speak, standing unwaveringly. Finally the man turned around again, his hands lazily in his pockets.

"Look, if you want her so bad, why weren't you dancing with her? I think she'd rather someone else take her home… after all, you left her there all by herself," he pointed out in protest, sending a spear right into Riku's heart. "Besides, I spent the whole evening with her. It's the least I can do…"

He moved to take Keiya's arm to pull her away from Riku, but he jerked her back defensively. The man sighed again crossly, his arms now folded across his chest.

"Hey man, you can't pick her up now—that would make this whole night a waste of my time. You have yourself a date. Go hook up with her," he repeated harshly, now more concerned with his time and drugs both going to waste. Riku's eyes narrowed, hearing how the man thought of her. Then he reached forward again to try and grab Keiya's arm, so Riku shoved him away. The man stumbled backward a little, now very annoyed that this younger kid was trying to stand up to him.

Keiya's head was buzzing with different emotions, and also with the exchanges, back and forth, one voice then another. She felt like she was under a blanket, not really part of the whole scene. But once in a while she was pulled one way or another, making her wobble on her feet until someone secured her with an arm. Right now she was leaning slightly against Riku's chest—she could tell it was him from the scent. One thing she could remember, after trying to place what it was throughout this argument, was how angry she was at him. The feelings swarmed her head, and seemed even more painful and mixed up now, with this dizzying spell over her. But she just stayed put. She couldn't move—not without tripping, not on her own. She wasn't even sure if this was all real.

"Look you, I'm not going to play this game. I have connections, okay? So just go back to the dance floor. There's another girl over there waiting for you," he said, motioning toward the girl he had danced with, who was now watching the scene wide-eyed. Riku didn't turn around.

"I don't think you understand. I said I'll take her home. Now get lost," he reiterated. The man rolled his eyes, obviously not taking him seriously.

"Didn't you hear me? She doesn't want to go with you." Before Riku could step in, he stepped forward and hastily forced his arm around her waist. He yanked her backward before Riku could grab her, causing her to gasp in pain at his tight grip.

In alarm, Riku pushed her out of the way, then punched the man in the chest. Keiya skidded to a stop and caught her balance by grasping onto a tree. The man was sent a few steps backward, but he quickly retaliated and hit Riku in the side of the face, his ring leaving a scratch. Another few punches followed, along with some minor grappling. Finally, Riku landed a hard hit dead in the face. The man fell over backward and landed on his bottom on the hard cobblestone walkway. He cringed in pain and clenched his face, which was already swelling up. Around them, people gasped and stared, a silence fell over the nearby crowd, although the party continued behind them. Riku felt like a spot light had hit him, and since he was supposed to be a model—a committee member—that definitely wasn't the right move to make. But he couldn't care less right now. He stepped closer to his opponent and lowered his voice so that no one else would be able to hear the conflict.

"Now… Get. Lost," he said slowly, letting his words sink in. As the crowd slowly dispersed, he wandered over to Keiya and left the man alone to scramble up and escape the humiliation of his bruise. She was holding onto the tree, already facing him. She clutched her stomach with the other arm, which was also still carrying the glass that she hadn't had the chance to dispose of. He placed his hands on her shoulders, standing close to her, and examined her state. She was hazy; she looked back up at him, but he could see she was off-balance and disoriented.

"Are you alright?" he asked with concern. He was still by all means upset with her—more so now that she had allowed herself to reach this condition. And he was angry with himself for not keeping a better eye on her.

She gave a weak, positive reply. He took the near-empty glass from her hand gently, then held it up at eye level. The two substances were beginning to settle and separate, revealing the thin, clear layer of… well, whatever it was. He sighed and dumped the rest of it onto the grass, then tossed the glass onto the ground carelessly.

"He must have slipped you something when he tripped you… damn it, I knew something was off. I should have been there…" he murmured in disgust, more to himself. She pushed away from the tree lightly and instead backed herself into a nearby lamppost for support. She gripped it behind her with one hand, the other still holding her head and trying to stop the rocking feeling.

"What were you thinking, talking to that guy?" Riku demanded.

She felt weak on her feet; her body trembled a little bit from both pressure and the poison she had been slipped. Riku's voice reached her easily, now that all the commotion was over. She slowly and involuntarily slumped down against the post until he walked over and knelt down in front of her, then steadied her with his hands on her arms. He waited for her answer, although he was starting to think that it might be better to let her talk later. She really didn't look so great; it definitely wasn't just normal alcohol that was in that drink.

"You… you were with…" she tried to get out, her eyes welling with frustrated tears. Riku sighed and wiped them away, then pulled her up by the hand. He held her the way the man from before had, around the waist, as he walked her not to the pathway, but to the woods. It wasn't forced, though, and he wasn't rushing. He gently helped her along, going at a slow pace, one foot then the other. She was hunched forward a little, her gait now even more unsteady. She cried silently, tripping and reaching out to grab trees as they neared them to try and stand up straighter. Her mind was also still lagging; it was a mix of dizziness from the drug and despondency from being with Riku again, like this. She may not have known where they were going or what exactly had happened, but she did know that she was pathetically helpless at the moment—the opposite of what she had wanted for that night. All her hopes of appearing independent to him were shot down.

After a while, when she was starting to sink in her walk, Riku stopped and turned her toward him, then lifted her up without a word and began walking again. If walking was nauseating, being carried was far worse. She cried out as soon as he lifted her up—a soft, weak plea, but he ignored her and kept his focus on finding a place where she could rest. He didn't have a key for the house, so he couldn't take her back there yet.

"R-riku…" she stuttered, her voice a cracking whisper from the sobs. "I-I can… put me down… I can walk…"

"Yeah right."

"Riku… please?"

"…"

Her faint sobs won him over, and he slowly set her back on the ground, his hands on her shoulders now to keep her from falling over. She wasn't herself—normally, in a situation like this after a fight, she would be fighting him every step of the way with insults and arguments, not backing down once. But while she was still stubborn and reluctant to let him help her, she was lost and dazed. He wasn't even sure what he'd call it. She wasn't loud or crazy like drunken people usually were. (However, it probably wasn't just alcohol that she was given.) She shook his hands from her body and brushed past him as she tried to continue in the direction they were heading. He walked alongside her, examining her every move to make sure she wouldn't fall.

Of course, though, after a minute or two of using trees as handrails, she just collapsed onto the grass, trembling slightly from the strain. Riku anticipated this and expertly maneuvered himself to catch her by the waist before she completely hit the ground, then he lowered her down gently and sat with her. They were at the very edge of a clearing, beneath a large tree with small, deep green leaves. Keiya clenched the ground in pain with one hand while the other automatically shot to her waist, where the man had grabbed her violently before.

"Sorry," he said hastily, realizing that his catch had hurt her. He touched her arm, but she feebly shook him away again.

"I-I can… take care of myself… you know…"

"Don't give me that—that guy you were with drugged you. You call that taking care of yourself?" he scoffed.

"You didn't have… to…"

"What? Interfere? He had his hands all over you—was I supposed to just stand there and watch him take you back to his room? Listen to me!" he urged, firmly placing a hand on her shoulder. His voice was shaky now, too, with anger and helplessness. "Don't ever let someone flirt with you like that again! People will think that you're easy, and they'll try to take advantage of you, like tonight!"

"You were with… that girl…! So don't…" She started to cry. "Don't tell me…"

"But it's different for a girl to… I mean, ugh…" He ran a hand through his hair in stress. He was so frustrated by all this. Everything about this night was a mistake—he realized now, with her in such a sorry, violated state, just how cruel he had been, flirting with that other girl just to make her jealous, to prove a point. And because he left her there all alone, she had almost been victim to a date-rapist. He hurt her more than he could handle. He dropped his hand and let her calm down for a few more seconds before trying to speak again.

"I didn't want you to end up like this, Keiya," he said firmly. He wasn't even sure if she could understand what he was saying. She seemed to be listening, but then again, she was completely under the influence of some sick bastard's raping drug.

"You were… you just stayed there with her… what was I supposed to…" She whispered hoarsely, pausing along the way to piece together her thoughts. She was still falling and drowning; her head was a mess. It was like she didn't even know herself anymore—she was a different person. But she could hear him now that they were away from the lights and music and curious eyes.

So she was jealous…

"I just…" he started, trying to find the words to express himself, to make her understand. She was sitting in front of him dazedly, a tired, spacey expression on her face, with a few lingering tears rolling down her cheeks. She couldn't even talk to him straight—he wasn't even sure if she knew what was going on or if she would remember this talk later. She was speaking through a different voice; if he was going to try and resolve this, he wanted to talk to her. "You know what? I'll talk to you when you're sober. You need to relax right now."

He slowly moved to help her get up, to take her to a different spot with more grass and less dirt. He stood first, then placed one hand around her waist and took one of her hands with his other, then gently began to hoist her up. She was easy enough to get on her feet, but right away she stumbled forward and landed with her head and both her hands on his chest. She stayed there for a moment, eyes closed, breathing deeply, and trying to steady herself. Riku held her there and scanned over her head for somewhere they could sit with more grass. He settled on a spot near the back of the clearing, beneath a young tree that she could rest against.

"Keiya… we're going to walk over there, okay?" he informed her softly. He brushed back some of the hair that hid her face and tightened his grip around her, then ushered her to his chosen spot very gradually. Her eyes were only half-opened as she walked alongside him. She didn't even think to look up to see where he was taking her. Her heart ached with a burning, heavy sensation. She didn't want him to help her. He had just spent the whole evening with another group of people—another girl—and all of a sudden he had appeared to her rescue, expecting her to just go along with it. Along the way, the tears starting falling again uncontrollably and her breathing sharpened dramatically. Riku just continued guiding her at the pace they were at, although he wished she would consent to being picked up so they could travel faster. He would probably end up doing so eventually; she couldn't walk back to headquarters like this. It'd take all night. When they finally arrived at the young, budding tree, he loosened his hold on her and let her drop to the ground. Her hand automatically grasped onto the thin tree truck for support.

"What's wrong?" he asked, sitting next to her again. He figured it was probably just the drug that was making her so prone to crying. If she were herself, she wouldn't even be speaking to him right now. Not civilly, anyway. But even though he knew she was totally inebriated, or maybe even because she was, his heart melted tenfold.

"You… I don't want you to help me… not you…"

Riku bit his tongue for a moment to try and keep his patience. She was drunk, he thought, wasted. He couldn't argue with her right now. Against her will, he brought a hand up to her face and cupped her cheek gently. "Do me a favor…" he started, clear, but easy. "Shut up. I don't need this now. You're not yourself—I'm sure I'll hear enough from you later on when you can yell at me."

She stayed quiet, surprisingly, and her sobbing slowly but surely ceased. She felt a little more at ease now, sitting on the cool ground, but her body felt strained and was filled with fatigue. Things weren't as loud and busy as in the square, and, even though her vision was still hazy, she was starting to see clearer. Riku was right in front of her, every detail of his face perfectly clear. The background was just a little fuzzy. However, the airy, cloudy sensation in her head remained, and she could barely get her words out at an audible volume. Her thoughts came and went, twisting and turning. Riku stroked the side of her face comfortingly, and was now resting his head against hers. He seemed to be exhausted, but then again, he could just be annoyed. Her view of things was brief and warped.

"Are you tired?" he asked her suddenly, after remaining quiet for what seemed like forever. His voice rang in her ears; there was not another sound in the whole forest. She didn't budge at all, but after a few moments, she murmured a 'yes'. Her eyes were already closed and her body felt heavy and sluggish, like a burden. Without a word, he pulled her into him, slipped off his light dress jacket, and draped it around her shoulders. She stayed perfectly still as he did so; she was ready to drift off into sleep any second now. Then, Riku shifted her, like a doll, and lay her down on her side atop the soft grass, her head resting in his lap. He fixed the jacket again so that it acted as a blanket, then tenderly rested a hand on her head and ran it though her hair. The feeling sent butterflies to her stomach; she loved his touch. He was so careful with her, taking every aspect of her well-being into consideration. She only stayed awake for a few more seconds before curling up beneath his jacket and letting her body fall into a much-needed slumber.

~…~

Author's Note: June sixth, twenty-ten. Fixed up quotation errors here and in a few other chapters. I'm on an editing kick, I guess.

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