• The shadow was creeping behind him as he blindly ran for his life. His short, dark brown hair whipping every which way, his trench coat floating on the wind behind him. Sweat beaded down his forehead.

    He was running for so long, he supposed his past was finally catching up with him. The trees were zooming past, dirt was being kicked up from his shoes, and he fell.

    He struggled to stand, as the shadow came closer. it was almost right on top of him.

    "Stay away!" He screamed as he shot awake in his bed.

    The apartment was quiet as Riku Tomonare scrambled up and out of bed. He walked over to the balcony, sliding open the glass door, and leaned against the frame, staring out into the night sky.

    'Why does this nightmare haunt me? Aren't I tortured enough?' He thought.

    "If there's a God out there, then tell me why you do this?" He said into the cool air.

    "Tell you why who does what?" Said a female voice behind him, and he smiled.

    "Good morning, Chi." Riku said not looking at her.

    "Well," she said wrapping her arms around his waist. "you gonna tell me or what?"

    "Or what." He replied putting his hands over hers.

    "Oh!" She groaned. "C'mon, Riku! Can't you at least tell me your dreams?"

    "No."

    "Why not?" She whined.

    "I don't want to burden you." He said.

    "Oh, not that again, Riku! You won't burden me. I love you, and I just want to understand you more."

    Riku didn't look at her. He didn't want to see her pain ed eyes or expression. "Isn't this enough though?" He asked. "You know who I am, what I like, what I do...Why aren't you satisfied?"

    "I want to know everything about you! Can't you understand that?"

    "I do understand, I do. It's just..." He hesitated and turned to face her. "There's things about me you...wouldn't like. Things...that are frightening for you to know... and I don't want to drive or scare you away."

    She stared at him confused.

    "Look, Chi,...if I want to tell you, I will. Just give me time. Don't push me, let me tell you on my own. Okay?"

    She nodded. "Okay."

    "Promise?"

    "Promise."

    He sighed. "I'm going back to bed."

    She nodded. "I'll join you in a bit."

    "Alright."

    She smiled and kissed him.

    This time, he smiled. He walked to the bedroom and crawled under the blankets, burying his face into the pillow, then slowly, he closed his eyes.

    Riku awoke to the sound of singing birds, the feel of Chi's arms around his waist, and for a moment, he was at peace.

    He snuck out of Chi's arms and tip-toed into the living room, and stood in front of the window to gaze over the green meadow in their backyard. He heaved a long sigh and kept a content expression on his face.

    "How long has it been, Yuki? 10, 15 years? How time flies..." His voice trailed off.

    The sun had been shining through the leaves in the trees. The cars in the distance had been unheard. A group of people stood in front of the big Redwood tree, two with guns in their hands.

    "Drop it, Tomonare. You know I won't hesitate to do it." Said one man with his gun pointed at the head of the girl he was holding hostage.

    Riku stood his ground, keeping the gun aimed at his head. He was an ace gunman. There was no way he would miss.

    "Say your prayers dirtbag." He said aiming at the man's head. He'd shot the gun, and instead hit the girl. The color had drained from his face, and he screamed.

    "YUKI!"

    He shut his eyes against the urge to scream out and cry. He missed her so much. Why did he do that? Didn't he realize how much danger he had put her in?

    Today was the same day that that dreadful incident happened. He killed his one and only true love. He didn't mean to. He tried to tell himself that it wasn't his fault, but deep within his heart, he knew it was.

    Without warning, a tear slid from his eye down his cheek and he quickly wiped it away. No! He told himself. Crying won't do you any good! It won't bring her back!

    "If only it could..." He whispered.

    He wished he could tell Chi, but he didn't want to lose her too. His shoulder jerked a little. He wished he could just free himself from the world. If only he could...

    Suddenly, everything began to shake. The windows and vases began to rattle. He ran to the other room where Chi slept and protected her with his body from the soon-to-fall porcelain vases and knick-knacks. They shatter as they made contact with his bare back. He winced and grit his teeth against the pain. Chi awoke when the first one fell. She screamed as she watched the man above her.

    "Wh-what's happening?!" She yelled.

    "Don't..." SHATTER. "worry. I'll be..." SHATTER. "fine. It'll..." SHATTER. "only be..." SHATTER. "a little longer..." More shatters.

    As predicted, the rattling finally stopped.

    The two panted out their fear, which was replaced with relief. Chi finally spoke.

    "R-Riku? Are you alright?" She asked.

    He gave her a weak smile. Somehow, he felt exposed, vulnerable. He didn't like that word. Vulnerable. It made him feel weak. "Yeah...I'll be fine..."

    As he shifted himself off of her, the glass and bloody porcelain fell off his back. He laughed weakly. "That wasn't very fun."

    She giggled at him, and smiled. Slowly, her smile faded. "Sweetie, let me see your back. You look kind of pale."

    He nodded and did his best to sit on his haunches. Chi got up and helped him lay down on his stomach. She gasped at the sight. "Oh my-Stay down sweetheart. I have to clean this up!" She said running to the other room.

    His back was cover with bloody cuts, the glass stuck to the exposed blood like glue.

    Chi returned with antibiotics and a few wet rags. She shifted herself so she was sitting just below his lower back.

    "Honey, this may hurt, but bear with me." She said, and carefully removed the glass.

    His reaction to this was to cry out and he jumped from the agony. "That hurts!" He yelled.

    "I know, but bear with me it's almost over."

    Still he cried out and the neighbors started coming in to complain.

    "Can't you see he's hurt?!" She yelled at them. All of them froze.

    "Now, someone pass me a rag!" Everytime she put the medicine on, Riku yelled louder.

    When she finished cleaning him up, she wrapped the wounds in bandages to stop the blood from flowing, and it helped.

    After a time, everyone left. Chi went to work, but Riku stayed at home, and he fell asleep.

    Riku stretched out his muscles under the blazing sun, and he let out a sigh as he laid down on the soft green grass.

    A girl with long, light brown hair approached him and quietly sat down next to him.

    "Hi," Her soft voice whispered.

    He looked at her and in a split second, he was in shock. "Yuki!" He exclaimed and he shot over to her, holding her tightly in his trembling arms. Tears stung the back of his eyes. "Yuki!" He whispered, and the tears flowed. "God, I've missed you!"

    Yuki smiled gently. "My dear Riku," She said wrapping her arms around him. "I know you still love me. I love you too, but-"

    "How can you still love me after what I did to you?" He whispered sobbing.

    "Honey..." She said cupping his face in her hands. "It was an accident. I know you didn't mean to."

    "But I put you in danger without thinking it through!"

    "Riku, even the best of the best make mistakes. I know you love me, and that's enough."

    He stared at her through tears.

    "Look, I know you're still in love with me, and I still love you, but you have to move on. You have to let it go...Let me go."

    He stared at her, hurt.

    "Please, my Riku, I want you to be happy. Don't grieve over me while you're with Chi or anyone else. I want you to continue your path.

    Will you do that for me Riku? Will you, for your sake, be happy with Chi? You love her as much as you loved me."

    "I still love you!..." He sobbed. "I could never love anyone as much as I love you."

    She smiled again and place her hand on his cheek again. "I know. But do me this favor, will you? Please?"

    Finally, Riku nodded. "Alright, Yuki. If that's truly what you want, then I will treat and love Chi the way I do and did you."

    She smiled and gave him a gentle kiss on the lips. "Thank you. I'm afraid I must leave now. My time is up. I love you, Riku. Take care of Chi."

    He nodded. "I will. I'll always love you, Yuki."

    Riku knew Chi could never replace Yuki. No one could, but he wanted to love her as if she was. He wasn't sure if he could, but he would try. For Yuki.

    When Chi returned from work that day, Riku told her everything. He told her about his mission and about Yuki including the nightmares he'd been having. She, of course, was shocked, but she was glad he could finally be honest with her.

    That night, Riku took Chi out for a romantic dinner, and proposed. She said yes, of course, then they went out to a club because she loved to dance so much.

    Riku wasn't sure if it would work out with Chi, but he would cherished every moment with her as if it were his last, with the dark silhouette of his first love guiding him.