Disclaim: I don't own KHII. Trust me.

A/N: A few things before we get rolling:

-There are no yaoi/yuri pairings
-SXIII is a CENTRIC, which is a collection of DRABBLES
-No re-vamping will take place. At All.

And here is the illustrious start of the newest series. And, per usual, it starts with Xemnas and works it's way down.

Enjoi.
-Ethe

.:I Stand Alone:.

Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2006. 7:13 AM.

The entire city is collapsing on itself, and no one tries to do something about it. Sometimes I laugh at it. Sometimes I wonder if it will drag me down with it. Reno may drag us all down with it when it eventually encases itself in it's own drug and crime problems. The neon lights on every corner only attract more attention to those searching for a reprieve from their so called 'daily life'. This is a hick town for the lost, lonely, and those who deny their false hope to strike it rich in the illustrious bright casinos.

And this is usually where I start laughing at it again.

I walk down one of the lonely sidewalks on the east side of town, avoiding a small boy with blonde hair, probably on his way to school. I'm not really going anywhere; just trying to stay on a straight path as long as I can before one of the blinding neon lights catches my eye and I'm drawn to it. Reno's drugs, I have succumbed to them. It's pollution, I can't escape. And it's Reno that forever I think I will be stuck in.

I'm not afraid, nor am I happy with that conclusion. I sigh, still on my single path on the east side. I can hear voices coming from around the bend, in an alley not too far away from me. I slightly increase my pace to see what's going on, curiosity taking a hold on me. I press against the nearby brick wall, and hold my breath as I look deeper into the alley way. Three men stood in a triangle around one other man, apparently a sad attempt to mug him. If they were experts, he'd be on the ground by now, and they'd be gone before I had even gotten there.

"Three against one. Not good odds, old man." One of them said.

"As if! I could take all three of you at the same time." The man in the center of the group stated, lightly flicking of few straying hairs from his face that had failed to cooperate with others that were tied back. He wore an old pullover gray sweatshirt and a seemingly old and torn up pair of jeans. There was no way he could just take on all three of them...and I didn't want to be seen here when the authorities finally decide to show up.

I detached from the wall, completely facing the four in the alley. I wasn't sure, but I think the man in the center noticed me. After a moment's hesitation (from debating whether to help or leave), I continued down my own path down the street on the east side with a sprint. I did hear from behind me yelps of pain and groans and punches being thrown.

Reno was a horrible place. But it's here in which I am stuck. And it is here which I stand alone.

-End-

A/N: Cookies for all those who can determine WHAT BAND does the song title at the top. I Stand Alone By...? Come on. Honestly. Shouldn't be too hard, right? But you can't look it up. That's no fun. Really. XDDD

R+R?