Disclaimer: oh…c'mon…you can't seriously tell me you don't know by now?

Don't worry, we'll get back to everyone else soon enough. Don't worry RockeandRoll, I will probably end up killing them all off. The way they're going… anyway, ENJOY! =)

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"Ken!"

"Hello Wormon. I'm sorry I had to leave you here."

"That's ok Ken. I understand."

The conversation slowly passes through my pounding head. A weak sunlight dances across my face, sending little warmth to my tortured heart. A child's laugh reaches my ears.

"Kari? Can you hear me?" Ken's voice calls. I open my mouth, but no sound comes out.

"Kari?" Ken asks again, now gently shaking my shoulder. The movement triggers something in my chest, and I cough. As my chest contracts, the wound on my knee I had previously forgotten erupts in pain- stronger than before. I scream, startling Ken and Wormon.

"Kari! What's wrong?" Ken asks, shocked. I feel warm blood slowly trickle down my leg. I open my eyes. A blurry outline of Ken's face comes into view. I wince again as the stabbing pain continues to attack my knee.

"I think it's her knee Ken," came Wormon's deep voice. Ken turns to my knee, and nods. I wipe the tears out of my eyes, and Wormon's head comes into view.

"Hello Kari," he says politely.

"Hello…Wormon," I reply slowly, my vision clearing.

"C'mon Kari," Ken's voice interrupts, "let's get you outta here." I nod. I wrap my arms around his neck as he slowly stands up. But before I can attempt to stand on my own legs, Ken places his left arm beneath my knees, and begins to carry me out of the clearing.

"Thank you Ken," I mumble gratefully.

"It's ok Kari," Ken replies as he picks his way through the trees. "You wouldn't be able to walk anyway. That knee looks sore. I apologise in advance if something hits it."

"That's ok," I reply reassuringly. "I don't care. You can't help these trees having branches. Don't feel bad if one happens to touch it." Ken smiles warmly. A sudden thought strikes my weary mind.

"Ken," I ask, "how did you know where I was? Or where I was going?"  Ken looks to me.

"Well," he began, turning to look ahead, "when I was little, my brother used to bring me here. We really liked it because it was so nice and peaceful here. It was only us and another young boy who knew of this place. I never met the other kid, but my brother said he was really nice, funny and playful. I kinda wish I met him." Ken sighs sadly. I gasp.
Oh my- his brother told him of this place? Then that means…

"So how do you know of this place?" Ken asks, interrupting my thoughts.

"Well," I begin, a giggle hanging in my voice, "my brother showed me this place when I was little. He also knew a boy not much older than him who knew of that place, but I never met him." Ken gasps.

"Then-then that means," he begins incredulously, "that our brothers knew each other!" I smile.

"It's amazing, isn't it," I sigh, closing my eyes. "That of all the boys in Japan, it was our brothers who found that place. Creepy."

Ken smiles disbelievingly, "It's a small world."

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*ducks various objects thrown in my direction* ok already! It wasn't a very constructive chapter, but the next chapter's almost ready, and there's a lot more angst and dark thingies going on, so it'll be better. Let's just hope I finish it in time…*mallet's appear* OK OK!!! I'll finish it!!!