Disclaimer: I do not own S-cry-ed! Is that clear?

Author's note: I am really, really, really sorry about not updating this story for four and a half months! After the second term started, I had been overwhelmed by homework, projects, and exams… and the preparation for AP exams! I thought I would have time to type up a new chapter, but my teachers were crazy, they continued to give out lots of work for us. Then, finally at the beginning of June, school work started decreasing… but I had college orientation, final projects, final exams, senior prom, NHS induction dinner, my grandma's birthday party… so… I couldn't find enough time to sit down and simply type…

Okay, enough with my babbling… Thank you very much, everyone who reviewed my story! Recently, I got a lot new reviews, and I was totally stunned! Since when did so many people start reading my stories? But I really appreciate those reviews, they made me want to continue my story strongly! And, I'm touched that some people cried after reading the last chapter… I didn't realize I could make people cry… sorry… But not to worry, I promise Mimori will not die! She will live!

Right, on with the story. Enjoy!

The Lonely Hearts

Chapter 6

Never Give Up

Ryuho slowly opened his eyes… He was in the water. It was really dark, he could barely see anything around him. He looked up, and saw that he seemed to be miles away from the surface of the water. A puzzled look appeared on his face. Why was he under water? How could he breathe in the water?

Just as he was about to use his alter power in order to get out of the water as soon as possible, a 'doll' that was at the deeper part of the water caught his eyes. Ryuho narrowed his crimson eyes, trying to see clearly what was also in the water. It was a little too dark to let see, but the object appeared to be human-like…

Ryuho's eyes suddenly shot opened as he realized that it was… Mimori! Her beautiful eyes were filled with sorrow. Her long ebony hair was billowing in the water. She was beautiful… but she was sinking! She wasn't struggling at all; it was as if she was willing to sink into the abyss of darkness at the bottom of the water. She was looking at him, and she held out her hand to him as she sunk deeper and deeper into the water.

Ryuho panicked! He swam as fast as he could to reach her. He must save her! He tried to activate his alter power, which would allow him to get to Mimori much faster, but for some unknown reason, he couldn't use his alter power. He felt helpless as he watched the distance between Mimori and him got farther and farther…

Mimori was sinking fast! Mimori's eyes seemed to be accusing him; accusing him that he left her all alone for years; accusing him of not being there for her when she needed him; accusing him of not able to save her from falling into the darkness… Ryuho's heart ached, as if stung by thousands of sharp needles.

Ryuho opened his mouth and yelled out "Mimori!" But he was in the water, his voice could not be heard. Silence surrounded them both. He watched at Mimori got engulfed by the darkness while there was nothing he could do. Guilt, pain, sorrow, and many indescribable emotions quickly devastated his heart…

"NO!" Ryuho screamed. His eyes shot opened and he jolted into his sitting position in the bed. Cold sweats soaked his clothes. He panted heavily, still in the terror of losing Mimori. He looked around, still confused about where he was. The room was so unfamiliar, not to mention dark. He sighed in relieve. It was only a nightmare. Only a scary nightmare.

"What's wrong? Huh…" Asuka Tachibana asked, accompanied with a yawn. He was awakened by Ryuho's ear-piercing scream. "Everything okay, Ryuho?"

"… Yeah… I'm fine." Ryuho said, finally calmed down a bit. But he couldn't get rid of the fear in his heart. Yes, the usually fearless mighty Ryuho with strong alter power was in fear, the fear of losing the only woman he truly loved—Mimori.

"Okay…" Asuka said. After another yawn, he flipped to his side and closed his eyes.

Ryuho sat on the bed, his eyes stared out of the window into the ocean. He couldn't go back to sleep, not after having a nightmare of Mimori sinking into the bottomless ocean. He was afraid, afraid of having the same nightmare again. He was even more afraid that what he saw in the nightmare was true.

Shaking his head, Ryuho got off the bed. He didn't feel like sleeping anymore. He needed some fresh air. He grabbed his coat, and walked lightly towards the door, trying not to wake Asuka up, and then quietly walked out of the room. He had no idea where he want to go, but he needed to move around outside. He had to get his mind off the picture of Mimori sinking.

Ryuho made his way to a nearby beach a couple of feet away from the hotel. The sand was not clean, there were some garbage on the sand, but it wasn't too dirty also. Ryuho walked over to a couple of giant rocks, and sat on it. The cool breeze blew passed him, making his emerald hair fly.

He reached for the purple crystal he found on the cliff, the one Mimori always wears, until tonight. Memories of what happened tonight re-played again and again in his mind… He could still clearly feel the panic when he flew above the ocean trying to find Mimori floating on the sea. He failed; there was no one on the surface of the sea. Then, Tachibana and he had been searching for her after they got off the cliff at nearby beaches, hoping that Mimori was washed ashore somewhere, but they found nothing. Then, they went back to the hotel, and found Kanami gone too. Ryuho felt like he was such a failure, bring bad luck to people all around him.

'Where else can I search for you, Mimori?' Ryuho wondered. He could still see the cliff from where he was sitting now. The cliff Mimori fell off. 'Why the hell is the cliff there? Why can't there be no cliff? That way, Mimori wouldn't… wouldn't jump off of the cliff…' Ryuho thought angrily.

Suddenly, he saw Mimori standing really close to the ocean, smiling at him. Ryuho jumped off the rock and rushed towards her. Just when he was about to hugged her, she disappeared. A dazed look appeared on his face, then it turned into disappointment. It was just his imagination, just a trick his mind was playing on him…

Ryuho plopped down on the sand, with his head lowered. He had no idea where to look for her when the sun rises. Where could she be? Where could he start looking? Hopefully, she was saved by someone already, someone kind. He would surely go crazy if Mimori drowned in the ocean. He couldn't loose her; he needed her! And more importantly, he needed to say sorry to her; sorry that he didn't go see her for six years. Then he would be with her, forever, and never let her cry again… But his hope seemed so far away, so unreachable, since he couldn't find her. The longer he couldn't find her, the smaller the chance of Mimori still alive…

The sun slowly rose from the horizon, illuminating the dark sky and the land. A new day usually means new hope for the people.

Kanami opened her eyes as the sunlight seeped into the hotel room onto her face. It was morning already, meaning they would have to get up and go back to the hotel Ryuho rented near the Kiryu mansion. She stretched and yawned, then rubbed her sleepy eyes.

Kanami got out of the bed and went into the bathroom to take a quick shower. She then tied her long, brown hair into a pony tail. She was wide awake when she came out of the bathroom. But not Kazuma. He was still sleeping like a baby.

Kanami tip-toed towards Kazuma. She noticed his hair was messy after a good night sleep. Kanami started shaking Kazuma, but he didn't even budge. She shook him more, with a stronger force, but Kazuma just rolled onto his stomach and continued to sleep.

"Kazu-kun!" Kanami yelled, still trying to shake him. "Wake up, Kazu-kun!"

"What is it?" Kazuma mumbled, still refusing to open his eyes.

"Kazu-kun, you said we would go back to the hotel to find Ryuho this morning. It's morning already. Get up, let's go! Ryuho must be worried that I'm not there!" Kanami said.

"Five more minutes." Kazuma mumbled.

"No, let's go!" Kanami pulled on Kazuma's arm, trying to make him get up. "Come on, Kazu-kun!"

"All right, all right…" Kazuma said with a yawn. He finally opened his eyes and looked around, seemed to be confused about where he was. Kanami giggled at Kazuma's reactions, he was so cute!

"What's so funny, Kanami?" Kazuma mumbled as he got out of the bed and went into the bathroom.

"Nothing…" Kanami blushed. She couldn't tell him that he was so cute when he just woke up, that would be so embarrassing.

She grabbed her orange coat and put it on, waiting for Kazuma to come out, then they could leave immediately. She heard the water being turned on, Kazuma must be taking a shower. How long had it been since she had been so close to Kazuma? Breathing the same air under the same roof… A satisfied smile crept onto Kanami's face.

After ten minutes, Kazuma came out of the bathroom in his usual outfit. He looked awake and fresh now, and his hair was no longer messy.

"Let's go, Kanami." Kazuma said, then grabbed her hand and went down stairs to the lobby. It seemed so natural for Kazuma to held Kanami's hand, as if he had done it for years, as if they had always been holding hands. Kanami blushed again, but Kazuma didn't realize.

They got out of the hotel and started walking towards to Kiryu mansion. According to Kanami, the hotel Ryuho chose was at the base of the hill where the Kiryu mansion located. Kazuma knew where the Kiryu mansion was, everyone knows, since the Kiryu was such a wealthy, well-known, and powerful family on the main-land. He also knew the main-land pretty well since he had been here for years, trying to avenge his friends' deaths, trying to destroy the corrupt government here.

As they walked on the busy streets, Kanami's eyes widened in astonishment. The stores on the sides of the street were huge, and they sold lots of different stuff, stuff that she had never seen in her life! Kanami broke off of Kazuma's grasp and ran up to one of the glass mirrors, putting her hand on the mirror.

"This teddy bear is so cute!" Kanami's eyes glowed, she really liked this brown teddy bear, with a colorful scarf around its neck, and a pair of colorful gloves on its hands.

Kazuma caught up to her. "What are you looking at?" He watched where Kanami was looking, and saw an adorable teddy bear, even he couldn't deny it was so cute.

'Kanami must really like this teddy bear… hmm…' Kazuma pondered. Then, a big smile appeared on his face. He grabbed Kanami's hand again and pulled her into the store without saying anything.

"What are you doing, Kazu-kun?" Kanami was confused. "Aren't we going to the hotel?"

Kazuma didn't answer her, he just smiled at her. Then, he grabbed the teddy bear Kanami seemed to like a lot and paid for it. He stuffed the big teddy bear into Kanami's arms. "Let's go to the hotel now." Kazuma finally said.

"Is it… really for me?" Kanami's eyes grew large and a bit watery. Kazu-kun really bought that cute teddy bear for her? She felt so loved.

"Yup. It's for you, Kanami." Kazuma said happily. Kanami's heart suddenly swelled up with warmth. She saw affection and caring in Kazuma's brown eyes. She was touched deeply. Is her dream coming true? Her dream of being with Kazuma forever? She had waited for years, waiting for this moment, where Kazuma came back for her.

"Aww Kazu-kun!" Kanami suddenly embraced Kazuma tightly. "Thank you…" she mumbled. Tears of joy almost slid off her face.

"Sure, Kanami." Kazuma whispered. A sign of determination for revenge shone in his eyes, but just for a few milliseconds, and he blinked it off. "Hey… why don't you name this teddy bear? … pretend I'm the teddy bear and will always be with you, even if the real me had something important to do… and… might be away for a while… okay?" He could barely look at Kanami's beautiful emerald eyes when he said that.

"… Are you… going to… leave me again…?" Kanami's joy suddenly disappeared. Suddenly, she felt so cold… She tightened her clasp of Kazuma unconsciously; she didn't want to let go… not when she just reunited with Kazuma. She buried her face into his chest.

"No… I'm not going to leave you…" 'not just yet' Kazuma added silently in his heart. He would accompany her for a while, until she goes back to the Lost Ground and he could be certain that she is safe. He just couldn't let go of the hatred he had for the main-land government. "I promise, Kanami, that I will take care of you forever." 'but you have to wait a little longer… that's all… but I will return to you once I avenge my friends… they were your friends too… Kimishima… Ayase…' Kazuma added in his heart again. He would tell her about his plan later on, when the right time comes, just not now.

Kazuma let go of Kanami and held onto her hand. They continued towards the hotel in silent. No one broke the silence. Kanami couldn't help but felt a barrier seemed to be growing between them… She knew something must be going on with Kazuma, otherwise he probably wouldn't say something like that…

Kanami hugged the teddy bear tightly. It was so soft and cuddly. It would be good to hug it at night when she goes to sleep, then she wouldn't be lonely. 'I'll name you… Kazu.' Kanami thought to the teddy bear. No matter what happened, Kazu the teddy bear, the one Kazuma gave her, will be by her side, hopefully he will be by her side as well…

Crimson eyes had been watching as the sun rose slowly from line where the sky and the sea meet. The sky had been turned from dark blue into sky blue. White clouds covered the clear blue sky. It was such a beautiful day. A new beginning…

Still sitting on the white sand beach, Ryuho couldn't feel the rise in temperature even when the sun had risen into the sky. He still felt so cold, from within his heart, as if all hopes were lost. He couldn't congregate any strength to stand up, then to search for Mimori. He was afraid; afraid that he would be disappointed by tonight, if he couldn't find Mimori still.

On the highway not far away from the beach, he saw lots of cars coming and going. People woke up and were on their way to work. He saw a few people walked by him, they all seemed to be smiling.

Ryuho couldn't help but wonder, how could the sky be so blue? Shouldn't it be dark and cloudy and rainy? To match his feelings now? How could the people continued to go to work, continued to smile, continued on with their routines? Can't anyone sense his complicated emotions, his pain, his guilt, for Mimori's "suicidal behavior"? How could the world go on as if nothing happened?

He knew it was kind of selfish for him to want to whole world to mourn with him, but he couldn't help it. She was, after all, one of the most important people in his heart.

Suddenly, memories of her flooded his mind, from their childhood, she went back to the Lost Ground for him, he left her there, to now he couldn't find her… He was lost in his own memories, good and bad…

"Is this the hotel, Kanami?" Kazuma asked with a frown. This place looked so deserted, what was Ryuho thinking leaving Kanami here by herself? He might have to punch some sense into that guy when he sees him.

"Uh-huh, it is." Kanami replied, looking at the hotel and the familiar street.

"Good. Let's go inside. I have to talk to Ryuho! Hmph." Kazuma walked in, pulling Kanami in.

However, he had to stop in the lobby, because Kanami forgot the room number. Without the room number, it was almost impossible to find the room, since all doors looked the same in the hallway.

"I'm so sorry, Kazu-kun…" Kanami apologized with her head lowered, as if a child who knew she did something wrong and might get punish.

"… I guess we'll have to wait here until they come out…" Kazuma was frowning. Just great, now they had to sit around in the lobby, who knows when Ryuho might come out?

Suddenly, a cute purple hair guy walked by the lobby towards the exit. Kanami saw him, and her eyes widened in shock. She jumped up, and quickly chased out of the hotel.

"Hey wait! Where are you going?" Ryuho jumped up and followed her.

"Asuka?" Kanami yelled as she continued to chase that figure. "Is that you?"

The man stopped. He turned around quizzically. Who would know his name around here, let alone a girl? When he saw Kanami, he was first surprised, then a smile of relieve spread across his face. He ran up to Kanami and hugged her, like a big brother hugging a little sister.

"Where were you, Kanami?" Asuka asked in a strict tone. "Ryuho and I were so worried about you when he said you should be in the hotel room but you weren't!"

"I was worried about Mimori, so I-"

"Hey, break it up you two!" Kazuma suddenly popped out of nowhere and pulled Kanami behind his back protectively. "What do you think you…" his voice ebbed, replaced by surprised. "Asuka Tachibana? What are you doing here?"

"Hi Kazuma." Asuka greeted him, they were friends, after that battle where they fell into underground tunnel. But his smile quickly diminished.

"Asuka, if you are here, does it mean that-" Kanami asked, but was cut off by Asuka.

"No… Mimori… she… she fell off the cliff yesterday… we couldn't find her…" Asuka had a lot of difficulty breaking the news to them, especially Kanami, since she and Mimori had been like sisters for years.

"What?" Kanami was totally shocked. Tears started swell up her emerald eyes. "No! That can't be! You must have made a mistake! Did you see it with your own eyes? Why? Why would she fell off the cliff? What cliff? Where? What happened? Tell me!" Kanami grabbed onto Asuka's arm. She shook her head, and droplets of tears were shaken off from her eyes.

"Calm down, Kanami!" Kazuma grabbed her wrist and pulled her into his arms. She just bombarded Asuka with lots of questions, she needed to calm down first.

"It's a long story… I'll tell you guys as soon as we find Ryuho!" Asuka said determinedly, then he continued to walk towards the beach. "He seemed to have a nightmare, woke me up, and then he disappeared in the middle of the night somewhere. Maybe he needed some time alone, but we are supposed to start searching for Mimori again." He continued to walk.

"You know where he is?" Kazuma asked, following Asuka. Kanami was still in his arms, trying not to cry, but her tears were like the rain, unable to stop instantly once it started.

"I have a feeling his somewhere near the hotel, or that cliff." He pointed to the cliff where Mimori fell off. "So I guess I'll start looking at the beach. There is a possibility that Mimori was washed ashore… but we searched the nearby beaches last night…"

Kanami's emerald eyes looked towards the cliff Asuka pointed to. Her vision was still blurry, thin layers of tear were still in her eyes. That was the cliff Mimori fell off? What happened there? Where is Mimori now? She had to be fine, she just had to!

They walked in silence, it was hard for Asuka to explain what happened to Mimori, it would be too painful to re-live that moment where she fell off in front of his own eyes. Kanami was still too depressed to ask further questions. Kazuma, he was worried too even though he wasn't that close to Mimori, but she did saved him that time when he was captured, more like he kidnapped her in order to get away, and the time she saved Kanami from the fever, plus they did live in that small wooden house up the cliff for a while, with Ryuho, Scheris, Cougar, and Kanami.

"There he is!" Kazuma pointed out to a figure slacking on the sand near the ocean. "What is that idiot doing?" He growled. They should be assiduously looking for Mimori, not lamenting on the beach! Kazuma charged off towards Ryuho, and bang! , punched him in the face. Ryuho got thrown a few feet away from where he was sitting, and lay there.

"What are you doing? Wasting your time here? Didn't I tell you to spend some time with Mimori years ago? Why did you just ignore me?" Kazuma yelled at him. "And I'll have to discuss you leaving Kanami alone, resulting in her almost getting hurt or killed!" With that, Kazuma launched towards him.

Ryuho suddenly jumped up. He turned and saw Kanami with Asuka. She looked like she was crying. Ryuho dodged Kazuma's attack and ran towards Kanami. He was so glad at least Kanami was all right, and seemed like she found Kazuma.

"Are you all right, Kanami?" Ryuho asked, eyes observing Kanami from head to toe, then from toe to head again. She seemed fine, but why was she crying? And, what was this that she's holding? "Teddy bear? Since when did you have a habit of hugging a stuffed animal on the street…?"

"I'm fine… oh, and Kazuma gave it to me." Kanami sobbed. "But… Mimori…" She couldn't finish her sentence, and almost chocked on her tears.

"Mimori…" Ryuho quickly lowered his eyes. Right, she was still missing, how could he be wasting time sitting around on the beach? How could he? The more time he wasted, the less chance Mimori could still be alive… he knew that logic, but what was wrong with him this morning?

"Well, quick lamenting and lets go search for her!" Asuka yelled. He couldn't stand watching Ryuho act like a total loser.

"Exactly. If you really care about her, you will never give up on her, no matter how slim the chance of finding her is." Kazuma said.

"Ryuho… please, don't give up! She needs you!" Kanami yelled in her trembling voice, tears were still in her eyes, but they stop flowing down her cheeks. "I… I would never give up on her too… I'll look for her with you guys."

She needs you!

She needs you!

She needs you!

Kanami's words kept on echoing in Ryuho's mind. Strength started to gather, and in no time, he was able to start the search for Mimori.

"So where should we start looking?" Asuka asked. He had no idea where else they can look, even though he didn't want to give up either.

"I'll go look on the ocean. I should have gone into the ocean last night… what if…" Ryuho shook his head, trying to get rid of the image he saw in his nightmare. "I'll also go under the ocean, if that's necessary… No, I will go down there, no matter what happened… just in case…"

"Don't say that! She won't drown!" Kanami yelled, shaking her head. She didn't dare imagine Mimori drowning in the bottom of the ocean. The faint chance of Mimori surviving would be zilch if that were the case. "Besides… last night was probably too dark in the water to see anything…"

"My treasure balls might help… they glow… but… why didn't I think of it?" Now Asuka started to blame himself. If only he thought of it, then he might be able to illuminate their surroundings under the ocean, then perhaps Mimori would have already been saved.

"Don't blame yourself." Kazuma put his hand on Asuka's shoulder.

"All right… I'll go under the water, since my treasure balls can light up the way deep under water. The sun doesn't reach all the way to the bottom, you know right, Ryuho?" Asuka said.

"All right, I'll look on the surface of the ocean. Hopefully she will be floating on the surface of the water somewhere…" Ryuho decided.

"Kanami and I will be looking at nearby beaches, and trying to ask people around. Heck, we'll even go to hospitals just in case she's already been saved by some kind hearted person…" Kazuma said. "although not likely…" he mumbled to himself, just so not to worry anyone.

"So… what are we waiting for? Let's go find her!" Kanami announced.

They spread out. Kazuma and Kanami started looking on the beaches first, while Ryuho flew in the sky towards the ocean and Asuka jumped into the water to start looking for Mimori. The search was on, hopefully, they will not be disappointed by tonight…

Author's note: Okay, so here's a new chapter, finally finished, phew… I hope you enjoy it… I don't know when I'll be able to submit the next chapter, but I'll try my best to do it within two weeks. I want to find a job this summer, so I might be busy later on.

So, like I promised, Mimori will not die. You'll find out what happened to her in the next chapter. As for Kazuma and Kanami… they'll be fine for a while.

P.S. I love that teddy bear Kanami named Kazu, lol. I just think it's so cute.