Author's Note: Sorry I took a while! Well, we almost finish the RPG, and it was quite fun ;) Thanks again to Mariata a.k.a. Nakamori Aoko! Oh, and I might change the title, because it didn't turn out the way it was supposed to be :P

PART 2

What's taking Aoko so long? Kaito thought as he glanced at his watch again. He had reached the school at eight sharp (as always) and Aoko was nowhere to be seen. "Looks like she gave up," he sad with a snicker.

"I'm right here, baka!" Aoko slowly came to a halt beside Kaito, panting. She leaned forward at the last step she took, hands on knees.

"I thought you're too scared to show up," Kaito said with a smirk as he took out a hairpin. He picked the lock on the gate skillfully and swung it open. Aoko blinked as he did so. She bit her tongue. Of course...it he's a magician, he has to know these things, right?

Kaito looked around, but saw no one. He guessed the guard was somewhere else. "After you," he said, bowing with his hands pointing towards the gate. Aoko shot him an annoyed look (although she was blushing slightly). She did so, walking into the school ground.

Everything seemed so...quiet. After closing the gate, Kaito made a beeline for the third window on the right. He opened it with ease. "They never fix this," he said, climbing in. He stood in the dark and quiet corridor, looking around. "Now, which way to the science lab? Aoko?"

She climbed in after him. "That way, I think," she replied, pointing down the hall. She silently shuddered. This wasn't the first time she was in school after hours---but the last time she was, it was not pleasant. Pushing that away, she began walking, not checking to see if Kaito was following or not.

This is cool, Kaito thought gleefully as he walked leisurely just behind Aoko. Their footsteps were loud and echoing in the corridor. "Hey, wonder when the howling starts, eh?" he spoke up just to tease Aoko.

And that was when a slam was heard from the first floor.

The wild haired girl nearly jumped out of her soles when she heard it. "Wha---what was that?!"

"Window," Kaito answered simply, already walking ahead of Aoko. "Most likely made by the wind. The weather report said there's going to be a storm tonight."

"Oh. Okay. So, just the wind..." She walked on, her thoughts in step with her feet. Okay, got it. Just the wind, just the wind, just the---

The howling noise came.

"Ehhh?! Tha---that sound...where's it---" She gritted her teeth, cautiously inching forward with wide eyes. She didn't really want to know where it was coming from, even though she was deathly curious.

Kaito looked bored. "Wind," he said with a yawn, "normally makes the howling noise." That's funny though...why would there be a window open upstairs? he suddenly realized. I think it's coming from the science lab...

They came upon the stairs that led up to the first floor. "This way," Kaito said, holding on the railing as he climbed. When he was halfway up, something dropped on his nose. "Water?" he murmured, dabbing his finger on it. His eyes widened.

"What's wrong, Kaito?" Aoko murmured, surprisingly steady for her current situation. She had calmed down slightly during their walk up the stairs. She could hear the faint drip, drop of some fluid falling to the ground. Still feeling edgy, she waited for an answer, hand clinging loosely (though firmly) to the railing.

Kaito wasn't listening. He was too busy staring at the---blood. He put it on his tongue, and immediately spat it out. "Err, okay, I don't think I can explain this now," he muttered. "It's salty, which means---it's real."

Still confused, Aoko followed him out in the hall. "What's salty?" she pressed, her edginess invading her annoyance. "You're talking to yourself, you know."

"Shut up," Kaito muttered, wiping his nose. He looked up and thought he saw a shadow moving. He heard a low growl, and narrowed his eyes in suspicion. "Don't move until I say so," he told Aoko.

"Ka-Kaito?! W-wait a second---" But he had already disappeared out of her view. Aoko pressed herself against the wall, a hand clinging slightly to her coat. She heard the growl that brought him away from her---now wishing that she wasn't left alone.

Kaito put his foot down on the next floor and looked around. The shadow he saw was gone. He saw a small pool of blood near the edge of the stairs when it dripped down. He bent down to inspect it. He heard another growl---and it was coming from the science lab. He glanced at it, his eyes narrowed. Wind doesn't growl, so what is that? he thought suspiciously, walking slowly to the door.

"Kaito..."

"If you're not afraid, come up then," Kaito said, his eyes still on the science lab's door. "It's not like I'm going to leave you alone anyway."

"Who said I was afraid?!" Aoko snapped back, despite her fears. Jaw set, she climbed the stairs after him.

The growl was getting louder. Kaito stood in front of the door that led into the science lab. Definitely here, he thought determinedly. "Shh," he hushed Aoko who had finally come up to him. He grasped the door knob and, after a deep breath...flung it open.

Suddenly, a bright light flashed in the room, blinding them. "W-wha---?!" Aoko let out a shriek, her arms barely shielding her face in time, before the fuzzy after affects of being blinded began taking toll. Her ears rung---it was all she could hear.

Then the flash stopped. Kaito blinked. The science lab was dark, and all the windows were open. Cold wind blew in, making him shiver. Gingerly, he peered into the room. There was nobody around---but he couldn't guarantee it just yet. "Come on, and be quiet," he told Aoko softly as he sauntered into the lab.

Aoko felt slightly disoriented as she edged into the lab, hands against the wall for balance. She stayed near the entrance of the room. She felt the wind against her skin, shuddering. Her eyes were still re-adjusting to the dark when she stepped forward, after in Kaito's direction. The ringing had muted to a low buzzing sound, thankfully.

Kaito walked to the table and examined it. The equipment there looked as if someone had been using them. Chemical bubbled and shook. Someone has been here, he thought, peering at them. But...I still don't get what Akako meant---infested?

"Formulas?" he murmured as he glanced through some papers that were spread all over the table. "It looks like someone's trying to create a monster or something," he said to himself, noting what seemed like drawings of something. He didn't notice the low noise outside in the corridor.

Aoko shivered, arms crossed for warmth. A light flitted faintly in her sight, which caused her to slide closer to her only companion. "K-Kaito..." she murmured. "S-somebody's---"

"Quiet, I'm trying to think," Kaito hissed, his eyes too busy scanning the papers. Alter the chemical this way, and...what is this? He tapped his finger on a little picture that looked like a computer chip, thinking hard.

The flicker of light kept coming closer, and closer---as well as brighter, despite the fact that it was faint, like the light from a candle. Or maybe it was.

However, Aoko kept shifting over. "But, Kaito---!" she hissed, trying to get her wits back about her.

Kaito was getting annoyed. "What?!" he demanded loudly.

Suddenly, the flicker of light stopped. Kaito finally noticed. "Stay low!" he hissed, pushing Aoko under the table quickly and climbing under it himself.

"Ack! What the heck did you do that for?!" Aoko hissed (a bit too loud for comfort, but her mind wasn't concentrating on that at the moment). Kaito placed a finger on his lip, trying to listen. When the reality of the situation finally sunk back in, Aoko fell silent.

"Who's there?" someone with a rough voice snarled. Footsteps started to approach them.

Kaito could see a flicker of light from under the table coming nearer. Aoko's mouth was clamped tight---whether it was from fear or trepidation (or both), she didn't know. But the feeling was boring her, making her starting to feel---annoyed about it all. However, the earlier feeling kept that pressed---making her terribly edgy. Very, very terribly edgy.

I hate this. I don't want to be here. Wish I was home...Otou-san...he's home right now, right? Grumpy, but home...wonder if he's worried?

Kaito's heart almost stopped when he saw a pair of legs appearing just in front of him. Aoko's expression mirrored Kaito's. They heard papers shuffling above him. "...someone was here..." he heard the voice muttering.

More noises can be heard---Kaito guessed that whoever was out there was doing something. "Come on, we have to get out of here while he's preoccupied," he whispered as lowly as possible but still loud enough for Aoko to hear. "Crawl over to that table---" He pointed at a table opposite them at the other side of where the man was. "---and don't make any noise."

Kaito looked towards the legs again. The person seemed to have sat down in the chair. Without anymore hesitation, he slipped himself until his stomach was on the floor, and used his elbows to drag himself towards the nearest table.

"Eh? But---!" Aoko's hand had reached out automatically, just as Kaito slid away from her. "Wait for me!"

She paused slightly, sweat dropping. She bit her tongue. Here...goes nothing. And she slid, shuffling (as quietly as she could) to the table her companion pointed at.

Kaito let out a slow breath when he finally got to the table. Good, now for the door... The table stretched to the door, and if the guy did not notice, they would manage out fine. He looked up towards the table to see who the man was first. His eyes widened.

Aoko breathed out a low sigh as well just as she reached the same temporary safety. "Kaito...?" Then she glanced at the man as well. "Oh...OH, NO."

"Shhh!" Kaito hushed her. "Not a word yet. Just follow me."

He started to crawl towards the door. His elbow bumped something that was covered with a cloth. What's this? he wondered as the cloth slipped off. His eyes popped up wide and a shiver ran down his body. F-F-F---

"AIK!!!" His head hit the table trying to get away.

ACK! "K-KAITO! What the heck are you---?!" Aoko folded under his weight, wondering idly what had gotten into her childhood friend. Sheer annoyance bubbled up to the surface from its confinement. She was about to continue her scolding, when---

"INTRUDERS!"