Okay, well like I said, I wrote another chapter today, so here you go!

Hikaru and Haruhi had been in the cage for days now. They didn't really do much. They just sat there, while people walked by ignoring them. They would get fed twice a day. (Once, if they forgot) Hikaru was glad to have someone to be with, and he never let anybody hurt his friend. If they were going to beat her, then he would offer to take her place. There was no way he was going to let them to to her, what they did to him. So most of the time, Hikaru was covered in scars and bruises, while Haruhi was perfectly fine. The people had never let them shower though. At least, when they were on their own, the rain helped clean them, but now that they were in the tunnels, they were covered with a rotting scent. If he was anybody off of the island, he wouldn't want to be around himself.

Suddenly, the three men that usually did the beating, came to the cage, and with a sigh, Hikaru stood really didn't feel like it today, what with his bruises still burning, and having barely enough energy to stand up, but he still did it for Haruhi. If he didn't want to do it, then they would do it to her instead. In fact, they had offered many times for the switch, because of how bad he was being beat. Well no- not them. Isamu did. Isamu seemed like the only one in the joint with at least a little of a heart. Everyone else was cold, and didn't care what happened to him. If he was beaten to death, so be it. But Isamu cared about his health. Sometimes in the middle of the night, while everyone was sleeping, he would bring the two of them an extra snack. Two meals wasn't quite enough food, and it didn't help that the portions were really small. They were getting skinnier by the day. Kane and Shu clanged on the cage before opening it. Hikaru had no idea why they did that. Were they trying to act tough? To make him think that they were in charge? Either way, Hikaru found it annoying. He stepped out of the cage and started to walk to where they normally went for the punishment, expecting them to be right next to him, but he just felt a hand on his shoulder and saw Isamu shake his head and look back at the others. Curiously, Hikaru stopped. What were they doing? What was the hold up? Then he saw the two men push Haruhi out, and she ran to be next to him. "What are you doing?" he asked harshly, "I take the punishment for her!" He was silenced by a smack to the head and he had to do everything he could to keep from falling over. He gave a look to Haruhi saying 'I'll protect you'. He knew that she knew what the look meant, because he told her all the time. Every day, he would make a promise to protect her, and he meant it too. He wasn't going to let anything happen to her. Even if it meant that hehad to die in the process.

The two of them were lead into the usual place where he was beat, but Hikaru was even more tense than usual with Haruhi there. He kept his eyes on all the men, watching their every move. Isamu walked forward, his eyes on Hikaru with a sorrowful look, "I'm sorry, but we will be having to punish you both today." Hikaru's heart stopped. No! He would not let them do that. He looked over at Haruhi and saw a wide look of fear in her eyes. Nobody was going to make her even more scared. "No I do the punishment for both of us! You know that!" Isamu shook his head,

I'm sorry, but you have been through to much. It affects you enough with your average punishment, but we cannot put twice as much as that on you." He really did look sorry, but Hikaru didn't care. He would do whatever it took to protect Haruhi.

Then, Kane started walking up to Haruhi, who was backing up against the wall. Just when he was about to hit her, Hikaru ran forward and stopped hi hands, and punched him in the gut. Haruhi stared at him with a look of shock as he stood in front of her, giving the others a daring look. He could feel the energy pound in his fists, and his heart was racing. Kane looked at him sharply before coming up to him and swinging his leg around, to kick his back. Hikaru's senses were alert now, and he felt he could do anything. He ducked and the kicking to the air, sent Kane off balance, causing him to fall. Hikaru jumped on top of him, and started pounding his face, even though he could feel his opponent socking him in the stomach. He didn't care. As long as this bastard got what he deserved. Finally with one last blow, he managed to knock him unconscious and looked over to see Shu grab Haruhi's wrists and made her yelp. More rage filtered in Hikaru's heart as he slammed int him, causing him to hit the wall, next to Haruhi. He kneed him in the balls, causing him to fall down in pain, then slammed his face against the rock hard ground. He looked over to Isamu, making sure he wasn't going to try anything, and when seeing him back away a bit, he grabbed Haruhi's arm, being as gentle as he could, but using enough force to get her to go with him. They ran through the tunnel and without hesitation, they darted across the clearing, bumping through people, ignoring the hands that tried to stop him. He was too fast. He dashed into the tunnel that he had seen Haruhi come in days before, and ran through it until he saw light.

"S-slow down Hikaru!" He heard Haruhi gasp for breath. He looked over to her. She really did need to rest to catch her breath, but he knew it was too risky. They had only just gotten outside the tunnel. There was no time. Ignoring Haruhi's protest, he continued to run as far as he could. He knew that they wouldn't give up finding them.

Haruhi felt like she was going to die from air loss. Hikaru was running so fast! If he wasn't holding her arm, then she was sure she would end up being left behind. They had been running for who knows who long, before Hikaru started to slow down. Listening behind them, she couldn't hear anything anymore. With a sigh of relief, she was able to get out of her friend's grasp, and lean against a tree to breath. Looking at Hikaru, she saw that he was just as tired. He was panting, and holding on the branch of a tree, so he wouldn't fall over. "W-we n-need to," Haruhi said between breaths,"F-find somehw-where to s-sleep" Hikaru nodded, and slowly, the two of them dragged themselves to a nearby bush that hid a small, empty clearing. The two of them brushed themselves inside, and sat down. "S-someone needs to keep watch," Hikaru said. Haruhi nodded. He was right. It was too risky to sleep without a guard. Hikaru opened his mouth to offer, but Haruhi had already said, "I will," before he could. He looked at her raising an eyebrow. She looked away, not letting him argue. He had been through so much more than she has. He was the one who had gotten captured first. He was the one who took all the beatings, and those gave him nightmares which really didn't help. He was the one who had beaten the crap out of those two guys, and he ran faster than she had ever seen anybody run before. Sure, she ran too, but she was being dragged, so she wasn't using as much energy. He needed his rest. "H-haruhi?" asked asked, suddenly sounding nervous. She looked back at him. What could he be so nervous about? "I-i wanna tell you something," She pricked her ears, curious of what he was going to say. "I...I...you...we.."

"Come on. Tell me. You know you can tell me anything," she said, trying to persuade him to tell her what was on his mind.

"Mmmrvvoo"

"What?"

Hikaru lowered his head, avoiding eye contact with Haruhi, "I love you."

Hikaru finally said it! What will Haruhi say to this? Will the people find them? What will happen next? BUHM BUHM BUHM. Hehe anyway so yeah. Leave a review!