The following characters mentioned in this chapter are from my own imagination: Amai Chisou, Dr. Kadoka and Kiken. And the following characters are from my friend, Georgia's imagination: Makie and Kaida. Most of these characters, though, will be in part 2!

Devi: I have to admit that this is probably going to wide up being my favorite chapters of the entire story! This is where the entire story had actually started when I first created Amai! ((the part where Amai gets kidnapped, that is!))

Pai: But it is indeed QUITE long….

Devi: -gasps- OH, yeah, SORRY GUYS! There was just… A LOT to be said, I guess! But I promise, it is well worth it! I mean YOU'RE in it, Pai! What can be better?

Pai: Nothing really….

Devi: ….except for Ryou…..

Pai: -sweat drop-

Devi: Well, how about I split it, 'cause it DOES take place over 2 days….

Pai: I don't care……

Devi: -smacks Pai, then smiles- WELL, here it is, the first part of chapter 3!

Chapter 3: Good Bye Amai, We Barely Knew Yee Part: I

8 years later

"Another late night, Amai?" asked Dr. Kadoka, one of the many people who rented one of the many offices in the Shirogane Towers. This was just two office buildings that Ryou had bought in order to rent out and raise the rest of the money for the 'secret project' that he and Keiichirou had been working on for years, "Maybe you should head back to that all new apartment you were going on about last week!".

Amai sighed and smiled as she stretched her arms and spun her chair, "Yes, Ryou's working late again… but I don't mind waiting! And my place will still be there, whether I am or not!" She replied with a wink.

She pulled her chair back properly to her desk which read 'Front Desk' on the front. She was given the job of receptionist/ secretary when she refused to let Ryou and Keiichirou work with out any fun or breaks.

Dr. Kadoka smiled as he propped his brief case on the counter, "Oh, that boy genius! I don't think I have even seen him not working… I have only seen him about 2 times as he was running from one of his labs to the other! I have never seen a boy run like that across a parking lot so fast!" He explained, pointing out the door toward the second building across a large parking.

Amai laughed at the thought and sighed, "Well, whatever they've been working on, it's really important to him and is very… well… time consuming… I don't think I've seen him much more then you have!" She said with giggle.

Dr. Kadoka laughed as well, "Oh! Yes! He even leaves his girlfriend in the shadows of his great project!" The doctor said as his laugh calmed down.

Amai gasped and blushed, quickly correcting him, "Oh! No, no, no! I'm not his girlfriend! We just grew up together… just friends…. so, yeah…" She said in a flutter.

Dr. Kadoka smirked as he took his brief case and headed for the door, "Riiiight… GOOD NIGHT AMAI! Don't go home too late!" He shouted from the revolving door.

Amai smiled and rolled her eyes, "I won't, Dr. Kadoka!" She shouted back as she heard the door revolve shut.

Amai sighed again and spun in her chair, stopping as the chair faced her in the direction of the wall behind her. This is where she had hung Ryou's diplomas from NYU, UCLA, and Columbia. At age 15, he graduated from 3 American colleges, and that was only months ago. Ryou had only been in the states for about year when he graduated, leaving him plenty of time to continue working on his ever-lasting project.

She sighed and turned back around, kicking her feet up onto the desk and folding her arms.

Since his parents died, Ryou never stopped working on this BIG, secretive project and yet she felt as if it was her REAL job to just keep him from working himself into an early grave, which is pretty much where he would be headed if she didn't force him to take breaks at LEAST once a week. She then remembered that he had skimped on the last two weeks, that jerk… but on the other hand, she knew that whatever he was doing was going to be big, and help the world, or at least that is what she was told. And she trusted him on that… and yet she was sure that whatever it was could be put on hold, even if it was just for a few hours to go to the street fair! No matter how many times she ran the problem through her mind, she always came up with unlimited amounts of pros and cons and she would find herself at a point of complete helplessness and confusion.

She stood up suddenly, fully frustrated and quickly ran over to the door to Ryou and Keiichirou's lab which was found just past the elevators and before the stair case. Amai stood in front of the door, her anger fading into a nervous and confused feeling as she gently knocked on the door.

It took a few moments before Keiichirou finally slowly swung the door open, "Amai! Hey, whats wrong?" He asked, surprised to see her in the door way.

Amai smiled and giggled nervously, "Yeah… hey! Oh! Nothings wrong, I was just… well… checking in… you know? So… are you guys gonna stay in here all day or what?" She asked, finally getting down to the point.

Keiichirou smiled, "Well… we've got a lot of work to do… and Ryou left to the other lab about an hour ago with a break through…" he tried explaining.

She let out a long, whining sigh, "Oh maaaaan… how long will it be until he comes back? 'Cause I REALLY don't wanna go home late again… maybe you two should just… well… I dunno… NOT work for the rest of the night… just for once, maybe?" She asked, actually jumping up and down in desperation.

Keiichirou laughed and placed his hands on her shoulders, "Sorry Amai… this is just… really important…" he said, giving his kind, caring, apologetic smile.

Amai rolled her eyes, "I know, I know, for the safety of the world and all that… but what about your safety… and RYOU'S safety! You're both driving yourselves into early graves and you wouldn't let me do a thing about it! It's almost like I'm watching Ryou just… SLIP… right through my fingers… and there isn't a thing I can do about it! And… you…" She corrected herself.

Keiichirou tilted his head, "Hmm… well… I'll take a break now, if you really are that desperate…" he exclaimed with a sly smile.

He stepped out into the hallway with her and closed the door behind him.

Amai narrowed her eyes on Keiichirou's sly smile, "What… what's with the face?" she asked as they both started down the hall.

He let out a chuckle, "Well, aren't I 'slipping through your fingers' too?" He asked, looking down at her with his smile still strong.

Amai bit her bottom lip, "I said you… were…" she replied to his accusation.

He just continued to smile as he shook his head slowly.

As they entered the lobby, Amai just plopped down on the black leather couch and kicked her feet up onto the coffee table, pushing magazines near the edges of the table, "I did say you were… I AM worried about Ryou… and you!" She said, again correcting herself.

He sighed with a smile and sat down next to her, "Well, is that the only thing troubling you?" he asked as he folded his hands behind his head.

Amai sat up, placing her feet onto the ground, "Well, yeah! I guess it is… I mean, there isn't much else to bother me… so… how is your project going?" She asked, changing the subject completely.

Keiichirou nodded, "Pretty well, we're nearly finished… it just needs some more work, and then if can be tested, really, then if it works, we can put it into action!" he said with great excitement.

Impressed, Amai nodded her head, still biting her lip.

Keiichirou elbowed her gently, "What's wrong, you're biting your lip… again…" He said, pointing it out to her.

Her jaw dropped, "Would you stop! There is nothing wrong! Just because I feel completely left out of the project and that Ryou has been like a phantom that only pops out of no where sometimes then disappears into thin air in seconds and that makes me feel like we're falling apart, doesn't mean that any of that is bothering me! …….. HEY!" She exclaimed, "How did you do that? No fair!"

Keiichirou looked down at her and quickly wrapped his arms around her as she fell forward, tears streaming from her eyes suddenly, "I don't think I can take it anymore… it hurts so much to just sit here, waiting for him to just come in here and say that he's done and that we can finally…" she cried, cutting herself off. Her throat had become dry and she was unable to talk anymore. She continued to cry into Keiichirou's shoulder as drew her closer.

After a while, she calmed herself and slowly sat up, wiping her red eyes, "I think I'm just gonna go home. I'm tired… and I am sooo sorry for bothering your work!" She finally realized as he stood up.

He smiled in his sweet, understanding way as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders, "It's fine… I'll drive you home!" he volunteered.

They walked for the door and pushed themselves out.

Ryou stood inside, next to the door with his back against the wall. He placed his head in his hands and sighed. Without them seeing him enter, he had heard everything. He dropped is hands as he quickly ran to the lab door to lock it and closed down the rest of the building. He had to go back to the other lab, but tomorrow, he had to do something much more important.