Later that night, I couldn't concentrate on anything. I wasn't focused and it was causing me to take forever to do the chores mom had assigned me. Riku was buzzing through hers quickly and I was still on one of my firsts tasks. It's sad that in the two hours I've been working, I've only gotten two things done. I've still got several things left to do.

"Hey, Riku, you're getting things done really fast today, you think you can help me get this stuff done?"

"Risa, you got the same amount of chores I did, how are you not almost done by now?"

"I can't focus and it's causing me to move slowly."

I heard her let out an irritated sigh. Mom made sure that we both had a good sized list of chores to do and I know that Riku doesn't want to do both mine and hers, but I just can't help this.

"Please, Riku, I'm not trying to get out of my chores, but I have so many left to do and there's no way I'm going to get them done before mom comes home."

"What's wrong with you, why are you so distracted?"

"I don't know. I've got this weird, heavy feeling in my chest and it's really bringing me down."

"What do you think it's from?"

"I honestly have no idea."

"Is it just because you know we have to come home to this much work everyday for a while?"

"No, that's not it. It actually doesn't bother me. I could really care less."

"Do you feel sick?"

"No, I feel fine. I think this is that feeling you get when you know something's wrong."

"Something's wrong?"

"Yeah, when you know something bad is going to happen."

"Oh, I see. Well what bad thing is going to happen?"

"I don't know."

Riku had stopped working and now she was just standing there with the vacuum, staring off into space.

"Does this feeling have anything to do with Hiwatari?"

"I don't know, maybe. I'm not sure what I have to worry about, though. He was fine in class this morning and we're close to solving the riddle, so I shouldn't be worrying about that either."

"Why don't you check on him then?"

"How am I supposed to do that?"

"Well even though we're not supposed to, you can use the phone and call him to make sure he's O.K."

"I don't have his phone number."

"After all that time you spent with him, you don't have his phone number?"

"Well it's not like we're best friends or anything. He's not exactly a chatterbox, why would he just hand out his number to me?"

"Because he likes you."

"You can't prove that."

"It's so obvious, Risa."

"You. Can't. Prove. It."

"Whatever. Look, I'll call Daisuke and have him talk to Hiwatari. I know he has his number."

"But Daisuke's in trouble too."

"Yeah, but he wasn't grounded from the phone and stuff like that. He just can't hang out with friends."

That was true. I had forgotten all about that.

"Oh, yeah. O.K. then, give him a call."

Riku left the vacuum in the middle of the living room and went to make the phone call. I'm really hoping that this feeling has nothing to do with Hiwatari and that I'm just feeling off right now.

"Hello, Daisuke?"

I could hear Riku talking with Daisuke. I walked over to the kitchen opening and listened to her talk with him.

"Could you please do me a favor and call up Hiwatari and make sure he's O.K.? Risa has a weird vibe that something's happened to him."

Way to make me sound paranoid, sis.

"Thank you, Daisuke. Let me know what you find out. Bye."

She hung up the phone and turned around to see me standing in the opening.

"He'll call back after he talks to Hiwatari. In the mean time, try and get some more of your chores done. Mom's going to be really mad at us if they aren't all done by the time she gets home."

She sounded just like mom does when she's not completely furious at us. Always saying things like that and thinking that it'll motivate me more to do something.

I went back and tried to finish up the dishes. Even though I still had that heavy feeling, I was starting to get stuff done. I guess the anticipation was giving me the energy I needed to get these chores done.

By seven o'clock I had finally finished my chores. Riku was done long before me and she went upstairs to do her homework. I was really happy that I didn't have any because the last thing I wanted to do right now was more work. I was about to go upstairs when the phone rang. Mom wasn't home yet, so I answered it.

"Hello?"

"Miss Harada?"

"Yes, Daisuke?"

"Sorry it took so long to call back, but I can't get a hold of Hiwatari. I've called and left him a message three different times now. I got on my computer and it says that he's online on my IM list, but he hasn't responded to me there either."

"Do you think that means something's wrong?"

"Maybe. It's been two hours. If he had to go do something or suddenly became busy, he would have signed out. It's not like to him to stay logged in if he has something else to do. He's very orderly and what-not when it comes to that stuff."

I really did not want to hear that. That heavy feeling in my chest just got heavier and I felt like I was being pulled down to the floor.

"What should we do?"

"I don't know, Miss Harada. Something might have happened, but it could also be nothing. This is your call. I'll follow your lead."

I really didn't want to make this decision. If I decide to go and nothing's wrong, then I've just gotten Riku, Daisuke and I into even more trouble than before. If I don't go and something is wrong, then Hiwatari could get hurt. This just sucked.

"I don't know what to do, Daisuke. If I act and nothing's wrong, then we all get into even more trouble. If I don't and something is wrong, then Hiwatari could get hurt."

"I know this is a tough decision but you really shouldn't worry about us getting into more trouble. Worst case scenario is that I get grounded for a little longer and have the TV and phone taken away. I think the only other thing your parents could do to you guys is extend your punishment and give you more chores. Miss Riku and I are willing to take the consequences if you are."

That actually made me feel a lot better. It was comforting to know that I had Daisuke and Riku to back me up with whatever decision I make. I felt very loved and confident at that moment.

"I think we should go check him."

"Alright then. Go tell Miss Riku and I'll meet you two down by the school in twenty minutes."

"Thank you, Daisuke."

Twenty minutes later all of us were standing outside of Azumno High School.

"So what's the plan, Risa?"

"Well, first we should check his apartment. That's the only place I can think that he would be at this hour."

Riku and Daisuke nodded at me and we started to head out to the main road. It would be quicker to get there by going that way.

"We went on bike last time we all came up there. It took us almost an hour to get there. How long do you think it'll take us on foot?"

"About an hour and twenty minutes. It's actually not that bad. You also have to remember that we went up just after that storm had hit and everything was still flooded and destroyed. That's all cleared up now, so it should be a lot easier to get there."

"How can he stand walking back and forth to school everyday if it takes him over and hour to get here?"

"Well, Miss Harada, I think he just likes the fresh air."

"Even in the winter?"

"Well, yeah. It gives him time to think and clear his mind. With everything going on his life, I imagine it's only peaceful time he has."

"Doesn't Krad bug him during that time?"

"Well he can, but Hiwatari doesn't think about Krad or things that would make Krad want to come out. He just enjoys the scenery and tranquility. Krad doesn't see that as a reason to hurt him, so he just remains dormant."

"How do you know all of this stuff, Daisuke?"

"I've walked home with him before. Whenever we have to do a research project together we always go to his apartment because he has all of the right resources. We get to talking on the way up there and he told me some of this stuff. I just kind of pieced the rest of it together."

It made sense the way Daisuke said it. It kind of made me happy, too, knowing that he had at least some time of peace before he had to deal with all of the bad stuff.

The rest of the walk, we just remained quiet. We made small talk every now and again, but it was mostly silent. It wasn't awkward or anything, it was actually very nice. Riku and Daisuke got to enjoy each others company and with the silence it gave them a sense of alone time. I felt kind of bad for getting in the way of that for them, but I knew they understood why I was doing what I was doing.

I think I'm finally coming to the conclusion that I have a romantic interest in Hiwatari. In my opinion, nothing else could explain the feelings I've been having lately. It also doesn't explain my actions. Nothing else would make me act the way I have been these past few weeks and so I've come to the conclusion that it has to be love.

Well, maybe love's to strong a word for this. But calling this a crush seems to be too much of an understatement. It's something, though; I just can't really put it into words.

By the time I wrapped my head around that thought we were walking up the steps to his apartment building. We walked inside and the same mean lady from last time was there. She looked over at me and I could tell that she remembered me. She just tilted her head towards the stairs and continued to read the newspaper. I motioned for Daisuke and Riku to follow me.

We walked upstairs and I immediately recognized Hiwatari's door. It wasn't because I remember which number apartment he lives in, but it was because I saw the crack that I had left in the door from when I busted in to save him the last time I was here. It was pretty funny to think about and it was weird how long ago that felt.

"This is it."

I knocked on the door and took a step back. We waited a few seconds and then I knocked again, only this time a little harder. We waited again and still nothing. This time I pounded on his door with my fist and firmly stated that it was me making all the noise outside his door and that if he wanted it to stop he should open up. Still nothing.

"He's not answering."

Daisuke stepped forward and turned his door knob. It wasn't locked. He pushed the door in and took a peek inside. There were papers scattered all across the floor.

I walked in followed by Riku and then Daisuke. When I got into the living room my heart nearly stopped. It was completely trashed and one of his windows was broken. I ran over to it and looked outside. The broken glass was on the ground, but I didn't see a body or any blood, so that was a pretty good sign that he at least wasn't dead.

"Daisuke!"

"This has Krad written all over it. Hiwatari must have had another attack and Krad must have won it this time. He took Hiwatari somewhere."

"Where could he go?"

"I'm not sure. The only place I can think of Krad going to, is that old church a few blocks away. It was the same place where he and Dark fought over my painting. The last place both of them fought at before Dark disappeared."

"Wasn't their last fight at that storage building, though? That's where Krad was supposed to be sealed to the Black Wings."

"Yes, but that failed. It weakened Krad and then Dark was gone. The church was where Krad was close to victory and it's the only place that no one goes to anymore. That storage building has been cleaned up and is in constant use now. The church is under construction to be made into a soup kitchen, but the workers haven't set foot on the property in weeks because of the storm. It's the only logical place for him to be right now."

"Then it looks like that's where we're going."

"A/N: Gah! I've only got two more chapters left. The very last chapter will be posted ON the 24th. I can't believe it's almost over. So sad. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter and I thank God that it wasn't as short and my last few chapters have been lately. Well, until next time, please review!"