Shiro: This is the second half of what Hachi and I call the "poison chapter". Spiral characters talk too much if you ask me. Please enjoy the chapter. Hachi wrote Kousuke's P.O.V. and I wrote the rest.

Kairi's P.O.V.

"Wait!" Ayumu said.

Rio moved the glass away from her lips.

"Do you think this little charade of yours is going to fool me? The ability to decipher strategy is what'll decide the outcome of your game. Not the ability to believe, or whatever." He paused and closed his eyes. "You really are something. You know, you're a lot smarter than you look and you've got guts."

He started to walk away from the cart and toward the window. "To be honest with you, I wasn't sure what to think. I was trying to understand the psychology of a girl who was stupid enough to blow up her own chest just to hide a missing rib." He was still looking away from Rio. "You were intuitive and knew my perspective had changed. You switched from evasion to attack. So you devised this little challenge to ensure that I would have a crushing defeat." He paused. "Would you seriously put yourself in a position where you had a fifty percent chance of dying?"

He looked back at Rio. "You know, I really wouldn't put it past you to do something so crazy. After all, you did blow yourself up on purpose back at the school. But, of course, at that point, the web we laid out was rapidly closing in, and your only option was to walk the tightrope of death. So, now we find ourselves here. You've called my bluff and, at the moment, you certainly have the upper hand. It would seem that you have me right where you want me. So, why would you find it necessary to bet your life again?" Ayumu closed his eyes. "Common sense would dictate that you wouldn't." He looked Rio again. "This game is rigged so you would have one hundred percent chance of winning."

"But, I gave you the first move. You chose your glass first. How could I have rigged the game? You saw everything I did." Rio said.

"That's right, I did see, and that's where you gave it away." He pointed to Rio with his hand that held the glass. "You were going to drink first, if you didn't die, then by process of elimination my cup would have the poison. Why would anyone in their right mind actually drink water they knew was poisoned? There never was any poison to begin with. Both packets had sugar in them. You started this scheme by blowing yourself up, making me believe you were willing to risk your own life." He paused.

"So, all you had to do was drink the water, not die, and you'd win. I'd be too afraid to drink what I thought was a glass of strychnine. You'd have your victory over me and I would walk away in shame." His voice carried more confidence now than it did before. "You said earlier that you called my bluff, Rio? Well, now I'm calling yours." He paused for a moment.

"You did make a bad miscalculation, though. If one of us had actually died of strychnine poisoning what were you planning to do with the body? What would you have told the police? They would run tests and discover that the death was a homicide." He held out his glass. "You wouldn't take that chance. These glasses are only sugar water."

I smiled at Ayumu as he moved the glass closer to him and tilted it so he could drink it. My smile faded as he stopped and his eyes went wide. He slammed the glass down on the table and fell to his knees. His hand was covering his mouth. I gasped. The water must have really been poisoned.

"Ayumu!" Hiyono bent down next to Ayumu.

Rio smirked, "That's just what I expected. You talk big, but when it came down to it, you hardly touched the water to your lips before you gave way to caution. You didn't drink nearly enough to kill yourself. That's no way to go about changing your fate."

She said fate again. And what she said before was bugging me. It was almost like she had wanted him to drink the water despite it tasting bitter. That would mean that it's not poisoned, and Ayumu needed to believe in his deductions and keep drinking the water even though it tasted like strychnine. I was right; this was all just a test.

Ayumu looked up at her in shock as she drank her water. She put the glass down on the cart and turned to him, "You believe me now? I promised a fair game."

Ayumu looked from Rio to the cups. As soon as he looked away Rio's expression changed. She almost looked like she was surprised at his reaction. She looked at Kousuke, who shook his head.

I couldn't take this anymore. I started to say something, but was interrupted by Hiyono. "Hold it right there!" She said, gaining everyone's attention, "I'm sorry, but I refuse to believe that Ayumu's reasoning was wrong."

Rio looked at her, "But the results are in. Just look at him. It's obvious his reasoning was flawed."

"Not a chance, Rio! I believe in Ayumu!" She picked up the glass Ayumu had, "There is no poison in this glass and I'll prove it!"

Hiyono handed the glass to me. I understood her intentions. She knew I felt the same as her. I held the glass up to my lips, and started to drink the water. I was with Hiyono on this one. I wouldn't die from poison today. It was really bitter, but I kept drinking. Rio gasped and Kousuke stood up, a look of disbelief on his face. Ayumu had the same look. Hiyono, however, smiled at me. When I finished the water I grimaced. It did not taste good. I looked up at Rio with a smile, "See? It was nothing more than really bitter tasting water." I set the glass down.

Hiyono pointed at Rio, "Too bad for you, this isn't over!"

Rio glared at Hiyono and I.

"Regardless of what you think, Ayumu hasn't lost to you." Hiyono said. "You owe us another match."

Rio chuckled slightly and closed her eyes, "I admit it, I did use a little trickery. But," she looked up at us again, "whether you like it or not, he did lose the challenge. Look at him. He knows he has failed horribly."

I looked at Ayumu. He was looking down at the ground, so I couldn't see his face.

"He thought he had it all figured out, but he didn't. And, now he sits there, a cowardly looser, ashamed of himself, as he should be."

"Oh, get over yourself already!" Hiyono stepped forward, "Ayumu had you by the throat and you were lucky you were able to slither your way out. You cheated rather than face a real challenge. Why didn't you go through with it for real? Why didn't you use real poison? Because you're the coward, that's why. You should be the one hanging your head in shame. You set up a rigged game and depended on a cheap trick to save your skin! You didn't have the guts to face him fairly! If you truly wanted to settle things, you should have put faith in your luck and risked your life. Instead, all you did was trick him!"

This was where Hiyono and I disagreed. I don't think she used that trick to save herself. I still think she was testing Ayumu's self-confidence; which means he did fail. Rio needs Ayumu to be confident in himself for some reason, but what? I didn't get a chance to voice my thoughts as Hiyono kept talking.

Hiyono crossed her arms. "You knew that fate and luck were on Ayumu's side and not yours. You knew you would lose to him unless the game was rigged. You feared Ayumu from the beginning. You weren't afraid of a bomb, but you were afraid of Ayumu's ability to figure you out. You couldn't put your life in the hands of fate." She put her hands on her hips. "You were the one who ran away first. So you can take your pompous, self-righteous attitude and shove it!"

I then realized why Hiyono was saying all of this. She was saying it so Ayumu could regain his confidence in himself quicker. All of it was for Ayumu.

"You frighten me, really." Rio said with her eyes closed. She paused and almost looked as if she was secretly agreeing with Hiyono. She opened her eyes and looked Hiyono in the eyes, dismissing all signs of emotion, "Sorry. Today's just not your lucky day. Understand, we made a promise with Kiyotaka regarding Ayumu. He insisted that we treat him with a certain respect. He never said anything about you. If you're going to insist on being a problem, I won't hesitate to eliminate you and the red head."

Meaning me.

Hiyono gestured to herself and me, "So you're just going to kill us, too? Like you killed Mr. Imazato?"

"Yes. Murder is just so easy, and honestly, life can be a whole lot less risky once you've removed your enemies."

I glanced at Hiyono and noticed that one of her hands was in her pocket.

"Killing Imazato was easy," Rio continued, "and killing you will be easier."

I heard a click. "I've been waiting for you to say that!" Hiyono pulled a tape recorder out of her pocket. "I've been recording everything you've said. The cops are going to love this."

Rio and Kousuke both gasped in unison. Ayumu did, too. I smiled. I figured Hiyono would do something like that.

"You've admitted to murdering Mr. Imazato, plus you've threatened to kill me. Anything else you'd like to add to your statement? This is a pretty compelling piece of evidence, wouldn't you say?" She walked past Ayumu to the window, "I started recording when we came into the room, so I've got everything. I had a hard time getting you to talk about it, but a good reporter knows how to lead her subject." She put a finger to her chin and looked at the ceiling, "You were being cautious and that's understandable," she turned to Rio, "but in the end, like so many others, you let your guard down." She held the tape in front of her. "I think the police will find just enough evidence here to bring a solid case against you."

Kousuke laughed slightly and held his head in his hand, "You sneaky little vixen!"

Hiyono smiled, "I always save the trump card for the end of the game. Don't you?"

"Okay, Hiyono. What is it that you want from us?" Rio said, "I don't think you'd be telling us this if you were just going to give the tape to the cops."

Hiyono turned to Rio, "Yeah. I do want something. A fair rematch between you and Ayumu."

Rio and Kousuke stared at Hiyono with unbelieving expressions. I stepped forward, "And I want you to tell me how to contact Eyes Rutherford."

Kousuke looked at me, "Rutherford? What do you want with him?"

Ayumu stood up, "Hiyono! What are you thinking?"

Hiyono smiled at him, "I'm thinking about you, silly! Don't you like my idea?"

Ayumu stared at Hiyono. Kousuke took advantage of the pause and ran past Ayumu and pushed me out of the way of the cart. He picked up a glass and threw it at Hiyono. Hiyono gasped, and the glass hit her hand, knocking the tape to the ground. The glass shattered at her feet. Ayumu gasped as Kousuke jumped over the bed and dove for the tape.

"Ayumu!" Hiyono shouted and kicked the tape over to Ayumu. Kousuke hit the ground with a groan and rolled to his feet. Ayumu put his hand on the tape.

"Hey, let go of her!" I shouted at Kousuke who had grabbed Hiyono's wrists. She struggled to get free, but Kousuke was stronger than her.

"You crossed the line, little girl." Kousuke said with a smirk.

"Oh, it can get much worse, I assure you." Hiyono smiled, which made Kousuke's smirk vanish. She looked at Ayumu, "Ayumu, you have to hurry! Run! Get the tape out of here!"

Ayumu stood up with the tape in his hands.

"I wouldn't if I were you!" Kousuke said as he opened the window he was standing in front of. Hiyono gasped as he pushed her head out the window so she was leaning over the railing. Kousuke looked at Ayumu, "Give the tape to Rio, or watch your little friend here make like the pretty birdies and fly."

"Ayumu! Don't do it. As long as you have the tape they won't hurt me." Hiyono shouted, "You know it won't don them any good to kill me until they get ahold of that tape! Think about it. They are not going to be satisfied if they have to end this challenge with brute force!" Hiyono turned her head so she could see Ayumu, "Go, Ayumu! I'll be fine. You will face them another day and you'll win! Believe in your strength!"

"She's right, Ayumu!" I said, "You have to get out! Go!"

Ayumu closed his eyes, turned around, and ran past me out the door.

Kousuke watched him leave, and then looked back at Hiyono. "Damn," he looked back at me, "And what about you? Why didn't you run?"

"Like I said, I want you to tell me how to contact Eyes. I'm not leaving until you do."

Kousuke lifted Hiyono from the windowsill, "Well, I guess we should just hold onto them for a while."

Rio smiled slightly and closed her eyes, "Kousuke, you might want to consider letting go of her."

Kousuke looked at Rio with a puzzled look. Hiyono held something up, which made Kousuke look back at her. She pressed a button, activating the taser she held in her hand. Kousuke's expression turned to fear and he immediately released her and fell back onto the floor by the bed.

Hiyono looked at her taser, "Do you like it? My special stun-gun packs a hundred thousand volts! Enough to bring a bear to its knees!"

Kousuke pointed at her, "Be careful with that thing! You could hurt someone."

Hiyono turned her back to him, still holding up her stun-gun, "That's the point, Kousuke. Maybe you'll think twice the next time you try and push me out a window."

Rio turned to Hiyono, "So, you could have gotten away any time you wanted to. Isn't that right?"

Hiyono put her hand down and smiled, "Yeah. Well, I like to plan ahead."

"Then why didn't you just leave with him?" Rio asked.

Hiyono turned around, holding up a finger, "You guys having me and Kairi as hostages is just the kind of motivation Ayumu needs right now."

"Come again?" Kousuke asked, confused.

"I'm interested in the degree to which you want Ayumu and I to have a rematch. You're very passionate." Rio said. "But I'm not sure that your hostage plan was such a good idea, given the circumstances." She opened her eyes, looking at me still and not Hiyono, "It might give him the feeling that he failed you two and himself. Maybe this is the worst thing you could've done. No, this won't sit well with him, that's for sure. When he's had a chance to think it through he'll see." She looked at Hiyono, "The poor boy is finished, Hiyono."

"You know," Hiyono moved her hand under her chin, "they say when you fall, it's best to fall straight to the bottom. And the farther you have to crawl back up," she turned to Rio, "the stronger and greater you will become as a result."

Rio stared at Hiyono in silence.

After that, Kousuke took Hiyono and I to the place where we were going to be held prisoner. It was a simple, gray room with a small green couch, a coffee table, and a barred window. It looked like a storage room. After he led us to the room, he asked us to hand over our bags and whatever we had in our pockets. Hiyono handed over her school bag as well as her stun-gun. I handed over my bag, but as I pulled my good luck charm out of my pocket I asked Kousuke if I could hang onto it. He said it was fine considering it was just a charm. I was glad.

As I figured, Kousuke wouldn't answer any of my questions about Eyes. I would have to be patient. I thought about what Hiyono had said back at the hospital. When you fall, it's best to fall straight to the bottom. And the farther you have to crawl back up the stronger and greater you will become as a result. I hoped the same could be said about Sora and Riku. I pulled out my charm and looked at it, "Please be safe, you two…"

Outside the window, Kira kira kira ki, A shooting star streaks, Kira kira kira ki, Hiyono sang as we watched the moon through the little window, The moon glows brightly, Yura yura yura ri, Napping so peacefully, In the ocean of the stars.

Kousuke's P.O.V.

I had just finished locking those two annoying girls up, thankfully without that loud-mouthed girl using her taser on me. I had taken all of their stuff from them, minus the taser, and left them locked into a room with only a window that was impossible to pen. I was now with Rutherford in his apartment watching him as he wrote music.

"So Little Narumi escaped with the tape?" Rutherford asked after I finished explaining what had happened at the hospital.

"Yeah, but we got his two friends captive." I replied.

"We don't want those two getting involved." He stated.

"We're only using them to get Little Narumi to come to us." I stated.

"Did you at least take all their belongings?" He asked.

"Of course. The red haired girl asked to only keep a charm she had. I figured that was okay." I stated.

"It should be fine." He stated with a bored tone.

I started looking through both the girls' bags. In The pigtailed girl's bag was just a notebook, a set of pens, her cell phone, two puppets, and her wallet. In the red haired girl's bag were a journal, her wallet, a cell phone, a small bag which held strange coins inside, and also a small photograph case. I pulled it out and looked at the picture.

In the picture were three kids, a girl and two boys, all about age twelve or so. They were huddled close together as they hung onto each other in the picture. The red haired girl was turned sideways and had a finger pointed at the spiky brown haired boy. The girl wore a white tank top, with purple shorts and purple sandals. The boy in the middle had light brown hair spiked in every direction like mine with ocean blue eyes. He wore a white shirt with red lining and red shorts along with red sandals. Around his neck was a silver crown necklace.

The last boy shocked me a bit. He looked like a miniature Eyes, same silver hair but his eyes were an ocean green color. He wore a yellow sleeveless shirt and blue jeans with black shoes. His left arm was wrapped around the brown haired boy and he was turned sideways. He was the only one not smiling. The kids seemed to be standing on a beach of sorts and in the background was an island that looked like it had trees on it.

"Hey Rutherford, I didn't know you knew the red-headed girl." I said.

"What do you mean?" He asked.

"You're in this picture with her and a boy with spiky brown hair." I stated.

"What?" He asked.

"Yeah." I said as I handed it to him. "The three of you are standing on the beach. Looks nice." I added as he took it. I saw his eyes widen for a moment as if the picture surprised him, but then his expression returned to normal.

"That is not me." He stated firmly.

"It has to be, though." I argued.

"I've never seen those two before." He answered crossly.

"Well, can I have it back then?" I asked as I held my hand out.

"No." He stated plainly.

"Why not?" I asked.

"Because." He stated.

"Fine, be that way." I said as I took the bags.

I didn't get a response.

"Well, bye." I said as I left.

Eyes' P.O.V.

As soon as Kousuke left, I looked back at the picture he handed me. There was no doubt who the two boys were. Riku and Sora. But…why would someone in this world have a picture of them? No, it can't be them...could it? I noticed in the background was an island. Our…I mean…their island… I looked at the third person in the picture, the red-headed girl. Was it possible that she knew them? That she, too, was from Destiny Islands?

I shook my head and put the picture down, "No, I left Riku to protect him. He's no longer a part of my life…" I held my side as the pain in my chest caused by my missing rib returned, "…Riku…"

Shiro: I hope you liked this chapter! The next chapter with Sora and Riku will be a very interesting one. Let's just say Riku goes a little bit to far, and Sora isn't ready. Please keep reading and reviewing!

Also, I've noticed that the site isn't recording our hits/visitors anymore. I'm positive that someone has read chapter 10, but it hasn't recorded that. Is anyone else having this problem? Nothing has been recorded for the past 5 days.