A/N: What a plain title wouldn't you say?


The Train

It was morning back at the homeless shelter, and JP and Tommy were waking up to the smell of breakfast. The kitchen was full with men and women serving breakfast items in the cafeteria. If anything, both Tommy and JP were perhaps the last people to accept a meal.

"I would say we should leave but, my stomachs telling me to stay." His stomach grumbled loudly with a mind of its own. Tommy's belly responded with a growl of its own.

"That does it," JP marched in to the cafeteria, Tommy following behind.

After they received their tray of food they found an opening seat with other homeless people as well.

One man had gray hair and fingerless gloves. He was chomping away as if he had not seen a meal in weeks, which would probably be the truth. With a quick break from shoving food in his mouth, he noticed the two young teens sitting next to him which was a shock.

"What brings you two here? You guys look new."

JP was caught off guard. "Oh we don't usually come here. It was just for last night. We needed a place to stay when we were separated from out friends."

The stranger nodded his head with comprehension I see.

"So how long have you been here?" Tommy asked. JP was not sure if it was polite for him to ask that.

"Hm lets see…" the man counted on his fingers as he recalled events that took place for him to remember." I'd say about five years."

Both JP and Tommy's eyes widened. "That's a long time."

"Yeah but you get us use to it.' He shrugged and then shoved a mouthful of cereal into his mouth, thus ending the conversation.

JP faced his food and ate what he could to sustain him.

"So Tommy, here's the plan. I've been thinking long and hard…"

The man next to them giggled, nearly choking on a biscuit.

Neither JP nor Tommy saw what was funny.

"Like I was saying, I've been think, and the only way to get to Cedar, would be to take plenty of hitch rides from here to there. Tommy nodded his head.

"No you wouldn't…" the man interrupted again. This was becoming a habit, as JP and Tommy faced him again.

"I don't know why you need to go to Cedar Valley, but all you have to do is take the train."

"I know but the train station has been under construction recently. That's why we are here."

"No no, it was on the tv this morning. They fixed it and public transportation is on a rise again."

JP shot up from his seat. "Really, thanks so much for the info."

"Yeah thanks a bunches!" Tommy added.

The stranger nodded his head and continued eating, "No need."

Both of them sprinted out the door to find out for themselves. If it were true then they would be at Grandma's house in no time.

-xxx-

It was true after all, the trains were back online, business booming as usual. JP jammed his fingers into his pocket to see if he had enough change to get two train tickets. To his fortune he did and now was his chance as the train was coming in for another stop.

"Quick, come on Tommy!" he grabbed the young mans hand and ran to the nearest ticket dispenser. He jammed the coins in the slot and watched as lights flicker like casino lights. Low and behold two tickets popped out as JP's hand swiped them from the opening.

Meanwhile, the train that had come to a stop earlier was about move on to its next destination. The sound of steel against steel grinding was heard throughout the station as the train maneuvered forward.

"Come on the train is leaving us!" JP jet off faster than anytime he had ever ran before.

"Wait for me!" Tommy shrieked, holding on to his hat as he struggled to keep up, which was a shocker.

The doors the train were closing, but JP managed to slither his way inbetween and Tommy the same. He was panting heavier than JP was as if he had asthma.

"Don't… do… that again."

"Do…what?"

"You… nearly… left me… back there!"

"Sorry buddy." Those words reminded JP about the others. How were they doing and were they still ok. He flipped his phone out and called Zoe, whom he knew had connection to him.

"Come on pick up already." JP tapped the phone with his finger while he looked for a seat to sit down. The phone call never went through as the phone went dead. "Dang it! What could she have happened to her phone?" He dialed Kouichi's number, hoping he would pick up also. There was no luck with him either.

"Dammit." He cursed. What was up with the disconnection? The people around him looked up from their phones and gave him a peculiar look.

"You should watch your language, around your brother, young man." One lady said to him, to be quite frank.

JP could only shake his head. Tommy was not his brother, but people could not tell for whatever reason. Not only that, but he could not get a hold of his friends… or were they his friends after all to begin with?

TO BE CONTINUED…


A/N: So yeah, the train is working again. I just hope I haven't developed any plot holes… every storytellers worst nightmare. I hate continuity.