Hello, I'm フェイフェイ or myst-chan whichever you prefer / can read. I know that I should continue the rest of my S.A fic: "When the light burns out" but I'm really interested in writing this part which goes sort of hand-in-hand with it. I'm also very very sad that S.A doesn't have many chapters left at all. Very very sad.

Anyway this is from before "When the light burns out" when Kei is still in mourning.

Fic is dedicated to: Everyone who has read and liked When the Light Burns out but especially Dark Shining Light, icy and love is killing me

Chapter One :: Heartbeat

Kei felt his heart drum in his chest as he experienced the discomfort that came when Hikari wasn't there. It was as if something had happened and she had randomly gone to Kyuushu. That was something that he didn't want. Picking up the cup of tea Akira had just served him, he took a sip, something felt wrong. Something just seemed out of place. He glanced around before checking the time on his computer. Maybe she had gone directly to class because the train had been late, that must be it.

As Kei sat there Tadashi smiled at the snacks before frowning, "Bear Lady I thought you said that you'd put Pocky here. I thought that you wou---"

"You want me to get it you idi---" before Akira could complete her retort there came a buzz from above them. Kei leaned back, attempting to calm himself, as he listened to this surprise announcement. Sumire's voice followed shortly after the buzz.

"Excuse me students of Hakusenkan. I have very saddening news for the academy, today Hikari Hanazono was announced dead."

As those words were heard, the greenhouse plunged into an eerie silence. Kei's fingers slipped off the cup handle and as it hit the table it shattered, hot tea dripping on his clothes. Next to him, Akira started to cry whilst the other members just sat there in this alertness. Kei just sat there, his eyes wide and his mouth open in deeper shock than he had ever been in. The sound of his heartbeat nearly dominated over the announcement but at the same time he had to listen.

"The cause was stated to be a train accident although more information is still needed. Hikari Hanazono was one of our brightest, most promising students and, it's one of the saddest things to have to report something as tragic as this. There is a psychiatrist on campus for anyone who needs to talk. That is all."

There was the sound of crickets through the greenhouse as the members just stayed in their positions. Before too much time had passed five pairs of eyes had zoned in on the first place student who was sitting as if he was broken. Even though Kei Takishima technically looked the same as he had ten minutes ago the person who was in that seat was barely recognizable. It was as if he was a four year old child who had seen his favorite teddy bear get set on fire before his eyes, as if his mother had left him and not returned, as if he was dying without purpose.

"Hey...Kei," Tadashi tried to get the blonde's attention. Akira started to cry again, shaking as she sat on the cold ground. She couldn't handle it anymore but it hurt for him too and she knew this. She knew that it hurt for him more than for anyone else. Tadashi got down next to Akira and held her tightly hoping that he could relieve her from this pain. "You---"

"Where is she!?" Kei asked getting up and looking around the room, "Hikari? Hikari are you here? Is this some kind of challenge?"

"Kei," Ryuu whispered, reaching forward "I...think th---"

"She's not gone!!" Kei yelled with a deep laugh that sounded more insane than evil, "She's here somewhere!" With that said he dashed out trying to look everywhere for her. She had to be here somewhere because how could she be dead. Why would she be dead?

Tadashi watched Kei run out whilst he stroked Akira's arms, she had become so exhausted that she was now laying her head on his chest hoping to gain balance. "Is..." she asked, her voice breaking, "Kei going...to be...alright?"

The puppet master blinked at his girlfriend wondering how she could worry about Kei Takishima rather than concentrate on her own feelings. Yet, at the same time she was right. Kei must have completely snapped over this news and someone had to find him. Looking up at Ryuu he saw the red-head nod as he dashed out after Kei.

Looking around, Ryuu scanned the area. If Kei was running then there was no way of catching up with him unless he went in the opposite direction. With a deep breath he took off at a run before hearing some heavy pounding and took a deep breath in. That sound was a tell-tale sign of where the first place student was.

With a nod of his head he went in the direction towards where Kei was and saw the blonde killing a tree or at least it seemed that way. "Hey," he spoke, putting a hand up trying to get the blonde peaceful again. "Kei, is everything..."

"Did you see her on your way out?" Kei asked grabbing Ryuu's arm in desperation, "I should just wait for her outside th---"

Ryuu's stomach tightened as he saw that saddening, desperation on the first place student's face. It was as if he had cracked. "Kei, I don't think that Hikari's going to come..."

"Because she went to Kyushu right? If that's right then she would have said goodbye, at least..no Hikari would have said it to me." He bowed his head starting to feel extremely light-headed, all the clues were there and yet he wanted to deny all knowledge. There was no way that his precious Hikari had died. No way that his light had burnt out.

"I...think she's gone to...a different place..." Ryuu spoke softly before hearing a loud voice from behind him. It was one of the three voices that he loved the most and yet he didn't get excited over hearing it this time.

"Ryuu!" Finn laughed as she came down and plonked herself in front of him. Slamming him on the back she grinned playfully before her gaze averted to Kei. "What's the stalker doing?"

"Hikari!" Kei yelled looking at Finn with the same need in his eyes as he had held when addressing Ryuu, "Have you seen her? Did she go to another class for..."

"I just came here so I haven't heard an---" Finn stood there staring at the two guys and their depressed expressions before thinking through everything. "Did Hikari go off somewhere?"

"Hikari..." Ryuu spoke softly as he turned to put a hand on Finn's shoulder, "Hikari's passed away. She's...dead." Hearing those words made Kei's stomach lunge again. He felt himself about to throw up but he couldn't do it. He had snapped and he couldn't just accept that what had happened happened.

Finn trembled hearing that before shaking her head, "I don't believe that Ryuu, Hikari's probably doing something for someone else. I don't..."

"She must still be here," Kei whispered closing his eyes and remembering that determined grin that belonged to the girl that he loved more than anything else in the world. "I need to---"

"Kei, I don't think that's such a good idea," Ryuu spoke softly reaching out to take his friend's wrist but without a look back Kei dashed away trying to find which direction he had to go in in order to meet Hikari. "I think that she's really..."

Finn looked down sadly at hearing this, she had loved Hikari as a precious friend to her and without Hikari there...it was much darker. "Why?" she asked Ryuu with her back turned to him, "Why would...why is it Hikari? You think that this is a trap made by someone else to catch us."

"I don't see how it could be," Ryuu sighed before looking down again, the next three things to do were to inform Sakura and Yahiro about this news, go to visit Hikari's family and see if Kei could ever be okay again.

Meanwhile

"This," Kaname stated to the girl as he pointed to a large apartment, "Is the place that my company has set up for you to live in as long as you remain in America without any contact to my grandson or anyone close to him. So," he slipped a key into the girls hand before looking at the uninvited man.

"What are you telling my daughter?" Jiro asked standing with his arms crossed over his chest, "So this," he spoke touching the door, "Is where she's going to live?"

Kaname looked away refusing to talk about this before his eyes drew to Hikari yet again. He passed her a small, white business card "If you need anything then the business associate I have in this area is to be found through this card and you should take the boxes from the...." Hikari nodded before he was able to complete his sentence and Jiro walked behind her. He put one arm around her just staring coldly at Kaname.

"You can trust me that Hikari and the rest of my family will play to your game, we won't tell him. This is what my daughter has decided to do and I'm sure there are other things that she's not told me. All I can say is however you threatened her, it's that which I'm going to find out and after I do you'll understand the consequences. My daughter is---"

"I'm fine," Hikari whispered starting to shake before darting into the plane to grab her case and three of the boxes. She came out, set those on the ground and repeated her actions until all her items were unloaded. Looking at Kaname she shivered whilst bowing, "Thank you very much for everything you've set up for me here and...my favor, is it alright to ask for it now?"

Kaname nodded, "As long as it's no---"

"Take care of him!" Hikari yelled as she remembered his smile. She froze realizing how loud her voice had come out and so softened it, she now spoke slowly, her eyes filled with fresh tears, "Please take care of him. I know he's going to be hurting right now so...make sure he can smile."

"I'll see to him when I can," Kaname spoke harshly before looking at Jiro, "Do you have your own mea---"

"Yeah, I'm going on my own," the carpenter nodded. "I told my wife to say that I'm spending more time at work these days and have a big project if anyone is to ask for me. So don't worry I won't mess up your game." He looked away from Kaname annoyed by his attitude, "So you got everything?" he asked Hikari who nodded.

"I...have everything," Hikari replied slowly as she found the tears in her eyes and she brought her fingers to her lips, remembering those times when he had kissed her, his playful face when he was with her and that back she watched when they were racing. Inside she wasn't sure if she was going to be okay with this but hopefully he would be...in time.

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