Note: The following next installment is a Daichi, Io and Hibiki story. It takes place after Hibiki's run in with Yamato.


Hibiki's mind was numb after what had happened. He followed the guards back to the room where Io and Daichi were without a word. His feet carried him, but he was paying little attention to where he was actually going. The scene of before played over and over within his head. He could still feel Yamato's body close to his, his hands and more. He closed his eyes tightly, trying to push the images out of his mind, almost running into the guard in front of him in the process.

"We're here" he said.

The door was open, and no sooner had he stepped inside, then a pair of arms flung themselves around his neck.

"Kuze-Kun!" Io hugged him tightly, shaking slightly against his body.

"I-Io..." he looked at her for a moment, then over towards the window where a familiar face smiled at him.

"Ah Hibiki! We were worried, stupid JP's, locking us in here" he crossed his arms and gave a slight look towards the door like he knew the guards could here.

Hibiki smiled slightly, it was good to see the two of them again, but his mind was still reeling. Daichi seemed to notice, walking over and lightly tapping on his head as Io stepped back.

"Hello...Earth to Hibiki...you ok?" he asked, a slight worried look crossed over his expression.

Hibiki nodded slightly, but could not bring himself to say much at the moment. The door opened soon, and the guard from before stepped inside.

"You're being released now" he said.

Io smiled, clapping her hands together lightly.

"Alright! Lets get the heck out of here" Daichi stepped out of the room and into the hall, followed by Io.

Hibiki moved to the door slowly, but the guard took ahold of his arm.

"The Beuro Chief wants you to remember your place" he whispers, before releasing his arm and walking away.

Hibiki froze, his eyes widening slightly at the comment. Daichi was talking with Io and laughing, saying what he was going to get to eat as soon as they got out of there. Hibiki's head lowered slightly, his hair falling in front of his eyes a bit. His hands clenched slightly.

"Kuze...kun..?"

He looked up to see both Io and Daichi staring at him. Io looked concerned, while Daichi was giving a look that said he knew something was going on. The hall was silent for a moment, just the three of them there. Only the far off sounds of people being ordered around and machinery were heard. Hibiki wondered what the two of them would think if he told them...what would they do? Yamato would not hesitate to do something if they got in his way or interfered with his plans. That much he knew for sure. No, he couldn't tell them. It was better to spare them anyways from this right? He gave a smile, a sort of mask forming in place.

"Sorry, just slightly bummed about all of this" he said.

Io moved over, taking his hand, "lets get out of here...the fresh air will help."

Hibiki got the feeling that a few of the members of JP's were watching him as the three of them got closer to the exit. Did they know? He wondered if anyone had heard anything coming from the office, perhaps Yamato had said something. He wouldn't put it past him now, to claim him by spreading word or attempting to make an example of him. Truth was, Hibiki no longer knew what Yamato was capable of.

"Tch...look who's come to see us off" Daichi whispered with a slight edge to his voice.

Hibiki looked up a bit. On the walkway above them, Yamato stood staring down at them. A chill found its way up Hibiki's spine. The two of their eyes met for a brief moment. That cold, expressionless look boring right into him. Yamato turned away without saying a word, walking off down the walkway.

"Man, do you really think it's true?" Daichi asked as they watched, "could he really wish to rule the world after hes saved it?"

Hibiki thought for a moment of a world like that. A world under Yamato Hotsuin. That made his skin crawl. He turned on his heel and walked away. Io and Daichi shared a bit of a glance.

"I'll go get some water..." Io took off towards the inner workings of the base.

Daichi followed Hibiki out the doors to the world outside...or what was left of it anyways. A sigh passed from Hibiki's lips.

"What's gotten into you man?" Daichi asked, looking at his friend.

Hibiki glanced at him, there was no way he could tell him about the run in with Yamato.

"I need some time to think" he turned to go.

"Hibiki!" Daichi reached out grabbing his hand to turn him.

In the process however, he accidentally slipped. As Hibiki turned, Daichi fell forward onto him. The two crashed to the ground.

"Nnn...ow..." Daichi opened his eyes, freezing, as a pair of blue ones were noted an inch from his face.

Hibiki's heart skipped a beat, neither moved for a moment. Why was Daichi looking at him like that? Hibiki felt a blush threatening to surface on his face. He attempted to pull away, unfortunately, Daichi's knee was positioned between his legs at the moment. The movement reminded him a bit that his body was still recovering from the previous encounter. He clenched his jaw, shuddering a bit. Daichi seemed to catch this.

"Hibiki..." his voice was quieter and calmer, as he stared at him.

Hibiki found his eyes drawn back up to his friend's for a moment, before the impossible seemed to happen. Daichi had leaned forward, their mouths connecting in a kiss that made Hibiki's heart skip a beat altogether. He froze, his body refusing to work right now. The world seemed to fade around them, and only one thought seemed to catch in his mind. Why? A gasp caught their attention, as well as a thud. Both broke the kiss, looking up to see Io standing there, covering her mouth. Tears looked like they were beginning to well up into her eyes, as a dropped bottle of water rolled away.

"I-Io" Hibiki sat up more, flinching a bit at Daichi's knee still where it had been before.

Io shook her head, before she took off down the street. Hibiki pushed Daichi away, standing.

"Io!" he started to go after her.

"Hibiki" Daichi stood, his voice making the other freeze.

His hands clenched, "I...I need to see if she is alright..." He took off.

"Hibiki!" Daichi called after him, before sighing as the other took off.


Hibiki looked all over the place for his female friend, but everywhere he seemed to go, she was not. He was out of breath, running all over the place. He finally stopped outside 104.

"Io!" he called, looking around.

He heard sounds of faint crying coming from nearby, following them to see the girl in question sitting upon a bench.

"Io" Hibiki moved over.

"Don't" Io turned her face away.

Hibiki paused a few steps away, looking down, "Io...that kiss..."

"It's alright..." Io said, her hands lightly clenching her skirt. "I mean...we just met not to long ago right? And you have known Daichi for...years?" her shoulders seemed to droup a bit, "I shouldn't feel upset at seeing that but..."

Hibiki moved over, sitting next to her. His hand moved to rest over hers. Io wiped her eyes, looking over at him.

"I wasn't expecting it...and you are allowed to feel however you like" he gave a light smile.

"Do you like Daichi?" She asked, catching him off guard.

Hibiki had never given it much thought before, he had always been friends with Daichi. The other had been the opposite of the kind of influence Hibiki's parents had wanted for him, but Hibiki hadn't listened. He looked up to the sky, thinking about it now.

"I...do not know...and right now...I do not think I am ready for that" he sighed, his mind back on Yamato.

"Hibiki?" Io gave him a slightly worried look, as if knowing something was on his mind.

"Io! Hibiki!" the two turned their heads to see Daichi run up out of breath.

Io looked away, but Hibiki kept his eyes on Daichi. Taking a breath, the other male looked at the two of them.

"I'm sorry" he said, "I did not mean to cause trouble...it just kind of happened...spur of the moment.." His eyes moved to Io, "Don't be mad at Hibiki...be mad at me if you like, but he did not do anything."

Io's eyes slowly moved to Daichi, "I...I'm not mad, more...confused."

"Then we can all be confused together" Daichi teased with a big smile.

Hibiki shook his head, but could not keep a small smile from his lips. Typical Daichi. Io giggled slightly from his side, he was glad to see she had gotten it to.

"What if we wanna be alone?" She asked.

"Well then we can be alone together to" Daichi countered, "Point is...we're still friends...this changes little right now, and we can't afford to spazz out."

"Daichi is right...odd way of putting it...but right" Hibiki said, "we have no idea what the future holds...but fighting each other is only going to make it harder, we're stronger together. Whatever happens, we will figure it out together."

Io and Daichi nodded. Hibiki looked down, he could not have them fully trust him...if he could not do the same.

"I need to tell you something.." he said not looking up, and he slowly began.