Well, I didn't make you wait as long as I did last time. That's a good thing I guess ; Anyway, here's chapter 3.

"This line is out of range, please leave a message after the tone," said the annoying, automated, female voice. Henry gritted his teeth and snarled. "THERE'S NO TIME FOR THAT!" he yelled into the phone before smashing the off button. "Damn it Ryo," Henry cursed through gritted teeth "Where are you?"

Henry looked over his shoulder at the others. Takato and Jeri were there, as was Rika's mother and grandmother. Rika's mother was sobbing uncontrollably into her open hands, her make-up seeping through her fingers. Rika's grandmother was trying to comfort her, but was not very convincing; she was sobbing as well. Takato was consoling a weeping Jeri, holding her tightly in a comforting embrace. There was an expression of sadness and strain on his face that showed that he too was close to tears. The only one that wasn't there was Ryo.

Henry took a deep breath and slowly dialed the number again, much more calmly. He winced when some of the blood that had dried on the "1" cracked under his finger. He waited as the phone rang three times before the message he heard far to many times for his liking came on. "This line is out of range, please leave a message after the tone,"

Never before had he hated that voice as much as he did now. However, sighing in assent, Henry finally resigned to the idea that Ryo was not going to pick up. So as the tone went off, he spoke. "Alright Ryo," he said, rubbing his left temple. "It's obvious you aren't going to pick up, so here's the situation…"

Meanwhile, Ryo was in a situation with not nearly as big of a problem. In fact, he had just gotten away from one. He was leaning against one of the windows of the plane, snoring, drool dripping from his mouth. One would actually say he looked rather comical. He was coming back from China, where he had gone to see his grandmother on his father's side. It wouldn't have been so bad, but unfortunately he didn't speak Chinese, and she didn't speak Japanese. Overall, it had been quite the unfavorable time, and he was glad it was over.

He was also very happy to get some sleep, but was unfortunately jolted awake when the captain's voice rang through the coach section, announcing to everyone that the fasten seatbelt sign had been turned on. Grumbling, Ryo buckled his seatbelt and looked out the window, listening to people all around him clicking their belts into place as well. Below, Ryo could see the sun coming up over the ocean and spreading light over his beloved Japan. He heaved a sigh of relief at seeing his home country. It would be nice to get back to a place where everyone spoke Japanese.

He put his hands behind his head and made himself comfortable as the plane landed. He'd defiantly have to share this particular story with Rika.

Not long after, Ryo was on the bus headed for home. The slow-moving bus putted through the street of Tokyo. He sighed out of boredom and looked out the window. He leaned his head against the glass, watching the people and scenery of Tokyo went by. Could this bus go any slower????

With yet another sigh, Ryo pulled out his cellphone in hopes of playing some games to pass the time. However, he quickly forgot that when he saw he had several messages. He set up the answering machine and placed the phone against his ear. "Ryo!" said Henry's voice urgently, "Pick up the phone! This is important!" There was a short pause before an exasperated groan of frustration that ended the message. Ryo raised an eyebrow at this, and continued to the next message.

Again, it was Henry, and again he said basically the same thing. This continued for about four more messages. Rather annoyed by this time, Ryo looked out the window at the city. It seemed to be in good shape, so obviously whatever it was that Henry found so urgent didn't really require Ryo's presence.

Willing the phone not to give him another message from Henry, Ryo played the last message. He groaned in exasperation when Henry's voice yet again came from the receiver. However, this time the message was different.

#Alright Ryo. # Said Henry's voice, #It's obvious you aren't going to pick up, so here's the situation.

# Rika…she's hurt. We don't know for sure what happened to her. I…I found her in a pile of garbage off the main street. She was bleeding pretty badly. The doctors said it looks like a stab wound. I don't know how long she'd been there, but she lost a lot of blood. She… # Henry's voice paused, and a gulping noise came from the phone. It seemed that whatever Henry was going to say next, it wasn't really something he wanted to speak. # She may not live, # Henry finished. # By the time you get this message Ryo, she may be gone, but please try to get here. I think she'd want to see you. # With that, the familiar click of a phone hanging up sounded, and the last message ended.

Ryo sat completely silent in a state of shock. Not surprising, seeing as he just heard one of his best friends was dying and he might not to get see her again. The phone slowly slipped out of his hand and bounced onto the seat, where it came to rest. "Rika," was all Ryo had the sense to say.

Yeah, yeah I know. Crappy ending. And no this is not the end of the fic, just the chapter. Like I'd be stupid enough to end it there.

Anyway, I've already started thinking about the end of the fic. I think I'll probably do alternative endings. A happy one for those of you who like happy endings to sad stories, and a sad one for those of you who enjoy a good weep.

Anyway, as usual, please R&R, even if it's a bad review. Getting a review at all always makes my day. Man I love that face.