Disclaimer: I do not own S-Cry-ed… and never will… how sad?

Note: OMG! I got so many reviews for the last chapter! I'm so touched sniff… Thank you! Thank you all so much for liking my fan-fic! I'll work hard on this story wipes out tears… I don't know how to express my gratitude to all of you!

It's been one month since I last updated this story. Time passes so fast… I can't resist reading some books I borrowed, and I can't resist typing up my other fan-fic… That's why I haven't been updating this story… Sorry about that! Sometimes, it's hard to resist the temptation, so please forgive me… But, I'm back!

Yea, well, there will be more mysteries about the evil Mainland government and their wicked plans in this chapter. Their "project" will be some surprising stuff, but I hope it's not too bizarre though, you'll find out more about their project later on. It might not be too clear what they tried to do yet, but it will be explained more in the future chapters. In fact, the Mainland government is an important role in the story. And, of course, Mimori is saved. Find out where she is!

Hope you'll enjoy this new chapter!

The Lonely Hearts

Chapter 7

The Mainland Government

In a spacious room, with wall as white as snow, and a bed in the middle of the room, lay a beautiful but pale young lady on the soft white bed. The room was pretty vacant, with only one chair next to the bed, one small table to the right of the bed, and one sofa. The strong smell of medicine slinked into the room through the crevice of the white door. This was clearly a hospital.

The young lady with long, silky ebony hair lay unconsciously on the soft bed. Her face was very pale. There was a frown between her eye brows, as if she was suffering physically or emotionally, even though she was still unconscious at the moment. She was Mimori Kiryu.

Three men with white robe were standing in the corner of the room. They were discussing something, whispering to one another. They were the doctors from the hospitals. More importantly, they were also the scientists from the Mainland government. This hospital was under the governmental control.

Mimori's eye lashes stirred lightly, about to gain back her consciousness. She slowly opened her eyes, but all she saw was a bright light and some blurry stuff. She knew her surrounding was mostly colored white. She felt dizzy, like everything around her was spinning. The strong smell of the medicine made her frown. However, she quickly closed her eyes, feeling like her energy had been all drained out. She was tired, and desperately needed some rest.

Half awaked, she heard some mumbling coming from the corners. She wanted to shut them up so she can get some rest, but she felt so energy-deprived. She couldn't even open her eyes at the moment, since even a small movement such as blinking would use up all her energy. The three men were still whispering, didn't notice that she had awaken.

"It was so unexpected of us to save her from the sea." One man with glasses said softly.

"Yes." The oldest of the three men said sarcastically. "She can be of great use to us."

"Of course, after all, she's from the Kiryu family." The third man with beard said, somewhat wickedly.

Mimori frowned at those conversations. She didn't understand what they were talking about. Were they talking about her? They saved her from the sea? Why? Why was she on the sea? Mimori searched through her brain, trying to remember what happened to her. She could tell this is a hospital… But, nothing came to her mind. Her mind was all blank… She couldn't remember anything that happened before. She couldn't remember why she would be on the sea, and then saved by these men… Before she could think more, those men continued…

"Mr. Kiryu and his wife died in a car accident. This is a great news to us, ha ha ha." The man in glasses said coldly.

"I'm afraid it's not as simple as an accident." The oldest man announced.

"Anyway, they will no longer try to prevent our project to develop normally." The man with beard said excitedly.

"Hmph. Even if they were alive, our project is still working out just fine. In fact, it's been going quite well these two years." The oldest man arrogantly.

"Now that we have Miss Kiryu in our hands, mu ha ha ha…" The man with beard laughed uncontrollably without finishing his sentence.

"We can use her fully. After all, she is the daughter of a powerful family here." The man with glasses said, finishing the other man's sentence.

"Not just that. She has much more use to us." The oldest man said mysteriously.

"Right, how can I forget?" The man with glasses slapped his forehead.

"According to our investigation, she had been in the Lost Ground for the past six years." The man with beard said.

"And, most important of all, she was quite close with one of the two subjects we really want to get our hands on." The man with glasses continued. "But she also knows the other subject, of course, just not as close."

"We can use her to lure in those two alter-users. Especially the one called Ryuho, the past HOLY member." The oldest man declared their plans.

"The other alter-user named Kazuma might also be lure into our hands by using her." The man with beard suggested. "But the chance is slimmer."

"With those two alter-users, our government can dominate the world. Ha ha ha." The oldest man uttered egotistically.

"Plus we get to refine them too, if needed, just like all those alter-users HOLD caught years ago. It's so fun refining their power and watch them suffer." The man with glasses said nastily.

"Not to forget those alter-users we 're-created' from our projects. They are currently under our control. We have great power that other nations don't. Ha ha ha." The oldest man laughed wickedly again.

Mimori listened silently to their conversations. She didn't understand much about what they were saying. All she knew was that they wanted to catch two people, and they wanted to dominate the world… How sick, she thought disgustedly. She didn't understand what the so called "alter-users" are… So how could catching those two alter-users help them? Refining powers? She didn't get that at all. However, those vocabularies they used sounded familiar… Either she had heard it before or she should know what they were saying…

But, they mentioned someone called Ryuho… That name, it sounded so familiar… And Kazuma too, where had she heard those names before? Did she know them? Oh, and did they mentioned her as well? Was Miss Kiryu that they referred to means her? Did they want to use her to lure those two people in? Mr. Kiryu and his wife died in a car accident? And one man said it wasn't as simple as an accident? What was going on? Mimori's heart ached suddenly at the thought of the death of Mr. Kiryu and his wife, but she didn't know why she would feel pain in her heart?

Mimori was suddenly seized by fear! She just realized something, something horrible! She couldn't remember anything! Her name! What was her name? Why was she in the hospital? Why was she on the sea and then saved by these despicable people?

She started to panic that she had no more energy to ponder on what those three men had said. She had no more attention to analyze what their "project" was all about. All that's on her mind was her blank memory! How could this have happened?

The three men opened the door and walked out, still didn't notice Mimori had awakened. They had no idea their evil plans had been heard. As they walked out, they were still laughing proudly that they found Mimori by accident while they were out at sea last night.

Now that the room was quiet, Mimori tried to remember. She tried to think really hard about her name and who she really was. But when she seemed to be about to thought of something, her head hurt suddenly, as if her brain has a mind of its own, refusing to let her touch her old memories. She raised her hands and messaged her forehead, trying to ease the pain.

"This can't be happening…" Mimori mumbled. "I can't be having amnesia… This is just a nightmare! It has to be!"

She gathered enough strength to open her eyes. When she finally opened her eyes and looked around. Her vision had finally focused. It was clearly a typical hospital room. She saw nurses walking past her window in the hallway, they looked so cold and so unfamiliar… She didn't know who they were!

Tears started to swell up in her eyes. It was so frightening to wake up in a hospital without any memory! She didn't know where she was, didn't know the people around her, and most important of all, she didn't know anything about her past! She felt so lonely and helpless surrounded by unfamiliar people… She felt so vulnerable…

How come no one was beside her when she needs them now? Even if she didn't recognize them, at least they would know who she was, and they could help her out. Then, she wouldn't feel as lonely and as helpless as she was at this moment! The hospital was so cold, everything was white. She didn't want to be here!

Mimori tried to remember something again; she couldn't give up, not just yet. Silently searching through her memories, a blurred figure popped up in her mind. She couldn't see clearly his face, but he had green hair… Who could this person be? Her friend? Her family? Or just someone she happened to see randomly on the street but had a deep impression of? Other than this blurred figure, she couldn't remember anything else.

Her head started to hurt more. Mimori shook her head slightly. She couldn't think anymore, she felt like all her energy had been drained out. She needed some rest… "I'll try to think more after a nap…" Mimori whispered to herself.

Slowly, she drifted into a deep sleep. Images raced through her dreams, but she couldn't see clearly what those images were… While dreaming, a name crept out of her pale lips. "Ryuho…" Mimori called out softly in her sleep, without realizing it…

The sun was setting, dying the sky and the sea into orangish color. People on the road were rushing home, and the day was coming to an end.

Near the beach, Kanami and Kazuma walked back towards the hotel slowly. They had spent the whole day running around in the Mainland, from beaches to the streets to the hospitals, trying to find any trace of Mimori…

Kanami's eyes were watery. She was terribly afraid! She tried to be calm this morning, telling Ryuho to be strong for Mimori. Yet, after one day of search, even she started to feel scared. They searched on the beaches, no trace of Mimori… They asked people on the street, but no one knows anything about her… They checked with the hospitals, except the governmental hospital that wouldn't say anything, but still, no records of Mimori in those hospitals…

"I'm scared…" Kanami said, stopping outside of the hotel. Tears were threatening to fall out of her eyes.

Kazuma stopped as well. He looked at Kanami in silence. He, too, was worried about the kind woman who helped him and Kanami out in the past. Mimori was a kind person… He hoped she will be saved. Kazuma didn't say anything, what else could he say? Any kinds of consolation would only sound stupid…

"What if… What if Mimori…" Kanami mumbled but couldn't finish her sentence. After one whole day of searching, the hope of Mimori still alive would be as slim as a thread… "I can't imagine… Mimori is such a kind person, such a good friend… She always takes care of me… She is just like a big sister… I don't want her to leave…" Kanami sobbed.

Kazuma grabbed Kanami's hand and pulled her into his arms. He patted her head to comfort her. She was shivering in his arms, and her shaking shoulders indicated she was crying. "I hope Mimori is fine…" That was all he could say. He didn't want to give Kanami too much hope, that would only make her more depress if Mimori really… leave this world, let's just say…

"Let's go in, the others are waiting." Kazuma said to Kanami as he wiped off her tears with his fingers. Kanami nodded slightly and followed Kazuma into the hotel. When they got back to the room, they saw Asuka already sitting on the sofa with lowered head. His purple hair was still wet. There was a disappointed and miserable look on his face.

Seeing the expressions on Asuka's face, and no signs of Mimori in the room, Kanami's eyes started to get watery again. The fear in her heart grew more intense… This was not a good sign… In fact, this was really, really, really bad!

"Asuka… Did you…" Kanami asked with trembling voice, even though she already knew the answer.

"No…" Asuka shook his head slightly. "She's not under the sea…" He had looked under the ocean for the whole day, using his treasure balls to lighten up the ocean, but he found nothing.

"This can be a good news and a bad news." Analyzed Kazuma. He led Kanami to the sofa and sat down with her, with his hand wrapping around her shoulder and letting her head rest on his shoulder.

"Why?" Kanami asked, she could no longer think. Her mind was all blank, seized by fear.

"The good news is… we didn't find Mimori's… body… under the sea…" Asuka said bitterly. "However, it doesn't mean the current didn't wash her somewhere else…"

"And the bad news is, we didn't find her, so we still can't be sure if she's all right." Kazuma finished what Asuka was about to say.

Kanami nodded lightly. No one said anything else. The room quickly became silent. Everyone had their own thoughts, but the atmosphere was saturated with gloominess. They were waiting, there was one more person not yet returned. They hoped Ryuho could bring back some good news…

Time passed slowly. One hour of waiting seemed like an eternity. They felt like they were in hell, suffering about the lost of a close friend, yet they didn't want to think of it that way. They'd rather believe that Mimori was saved, they just need to find her.

While waiting, Kanami fell asleep in Kazuma's arms. She had been tired after the day's search. They all had been tired. The sky was already darkened, but Ryuho still didn't return.

"I'll go make a call to Cammy." Asuka said, breaking the silence. He missed his girlfriend so much.

"Cammy?" Kazuma asked. He had no idea who that might be. Actually, he had been bad with names, he hardly remembers anyone other than his close friends, or enemies, like Ryuho in the past.

"My girl friend." Asuka said concisely. He had a satisfied smile when mentioning Cammy. Then, he went towards the phone and started dialing back to the Lost Ground.

Kazuma scooped Kanami up and put her into the bed. He wondered when could he send Kanami back to the Lost Ground and then resume his act of revenge towards the Mainland Government. Kanami would be much safer back in the Lost Ground.

"WHAT? What did you say?" Asuka suddenly yelled out into the phone. Kanami stirred a little, but didn't wake up.

"Keep it down, Tachibana!" Kazuma said irritated. "You're waking Kanami up!"

"Where? Yes… Uh-huh… Okay, I'll be right back!" Asuka said into the phone. He hung up the phone hurriedly and grabbed his brown coat. He was about to rush out the hotel room when Kazuma stopped him abruptly.

"Would you mind telling me what's wrong?" Kazuma stared at Asuka. How could he just rush out and left them behind like that? Shouldn't he at least explain his actions? "What did you hear from the phone?"

"Cammy fainted in the house! The neighbor found her after not seeing her the whole day…" Asuka said worriedly. He must go back to see her right now!

"So you're going back to the Lost Ground?" Kazuma asked with an unreadable expression on his face.

"Of course!" Asuka yelled at him. "Um… not that I don't care about Mimori… but I need to go back and see Cammy… Ryuho is here still, and you're here too. I'll rush back and help find her after Cammy is feeling better." He said guiltily. He didn't want to give up on Mimori, but he was much more worried about Cammy.

Just when Asuka thought he could leave, Kazuma stopped him again.

"What is it this time?" Asuka growled. He was in a hurry to go back! Just let him leave already!

"Take Kanami with you." Kazuma said calmly. Asuka suddenly stopped and stared at Kazuma strangely. He heard what Kazuma said, but didn't understand what he meant.

"Why?" He asked confusedly.

"I have things to take care of here." Kazuma said, hatred appeared in his brown eyes once again.

"But… Shouldn't we tell Kanami first?" Asuka questioned him. Did Kanami even want to go back right now?

Kazuma didn't answer him. He just stuffed Kanami into Asuka's arms. She seemed to be still sleeping soundly. "It's for her own safety." Kazuma said succinctly. He didn't want to explain too much.

Asuka stood there staring at Kazuma for a while, deciding whether or not to bring Kanami back with him. It was true that the Lost Ground was much safer, but if Kazuma was with her, then she would also be safe too. Just when Asuka was pondering on his own, a sobbed came out of Kanami's mouth suddenly. Kazuma and Asuka jumped, not expecting Kanami to be awake.

"Why? Are you leaving me again?" Kanami mumbled. She had awakened when Kazuma stuffed her into Asuka's arms. She couldn't believe him! She just found him, and now he wanted to get rid of her?

"I have things to take care of, Kanami." Kazuma said, avoiding Kanami's stares. He had mentioned to her when he first found her on the street that he wanted to avenge his friends first, but she didn't seem to hear him that time. He decided not to tell her what he planned to do now.

"But I can stay with you! You'll protect me, right?" Kanami asked naively. She got onto the ground and rushed towards Kazuma.

"It's much dangerous here! Go back with Asuka!" Kazuma ordered firmly. Sometimes, it was hard to protect someone… What if Kanami got caught again? He couldn't imagine if he might go crazy if that happens.

"But we still have to find Mimori." Kanami continued to persuade him with watery eyes. The tears made her eyes looked so beautiful, brightening up her emerald orbs.

"No. Ryuho and I will continue here. Tachibana needs to go back to see Cammy, is that her name?" Kazuma explained patiently to Kanami, even though he would miss her dearly too after she leaves.

"Cammy?" Kanami turned and looked at Asuka. He looked so worried. Something must be wrong with Cammy.

"She's not feeling well, and is now in a hospital." Asuka said briefly.

After seeing the determination in Kazuma's eyes, she knew he would never allow her to stay here. Kanami dropped her shoulder disappointedly. Her emerald eyes looked at Kazuma's face accusingly, not so happy about him forcing her to go back. Kazuma just simply avoided her glares, that made him feel like being stabbed by her glares. It would hurt badly.

Kanami walked slowly towards the bed and picked up the teddy bear Kazuma gave her. She walked back towards Asuka, ready to leave. Refused to look at Kazuma once more, otherwise she wouldn't be able to leave.

"Come back… after you took care of whatever you need to take care of…" Kanami said softly before going out the door with Asuka. "I'll still be… waiting…"

"I will." Kazuma finally looked at Kanami. She looked so sad, so disappointed, and it was all because of him. He felt bad, but it was only for the good of her.

"Don't make me wait too long again…" Kanami said, and then she went out the door, leaving Kazuma alone in the room.

"Take care, Kanami." Kazuma whispered lightly. Revenge, it was his burden, he had to take care of it before he could truly go back and be with Kanami. Kazuma sighed slightly, while waiting for Ryuho to come back. He could only approach with his plans after Ryuho come back, so he could tell him their search result for Mimori. Ryuho would be disappointed…

In a laboratory, many scientists were walking around busily. Men, women, old, young, they were all wearing the white coat standard scientists wore. Futuristic technologies occupied the large experiment room.

There were large tubes large enough to hold an adult. The tubes were connected from the floor to the ceilings, and filled with clear but slightly greenish fluids. Computers were filled with data, and scientists were analyzing these statistics.

Some scientists were walking around with stacks of printed data, and recording new data with a pen. The large experimental room was quiet, except for the sounds of computers and machines operating, and the sounds of footsteps.

"How's the project going?" An old scientist asked augustly. He seemed to be the head of the project.

"Sir, it's going quite well." A young scientist reported while scanning through the data in his hands.

"It was a miracle to be able to re-create them." Another scientist said, impressed with their technologies. This was their secret, the secret of Mainland Government. No other nations in the world knew about how innovative their technologies had been for the past two years.

"Look at them, just like they used to be." The old scientist said with a smirk, observing the 'objects', or rather humans, in the large tubes. They were floating in the liquids.

"But their powers had been refined." Said one scientist, following the old scientist. "They are much stronger than before."

"All they need is their soul. Without a soul, their body cannot function. And more importantly, they don't have to re-learn these powers." The old scientist said fervently.

"Yes, sir. All we need to do is re-import their soul as data back into their brains. If needed, we can brain-wash them, so they would obey our orders." Another scientist said evilly.

"All this can be done through our technologies, how sweet." The old scientist said with a wicked smile.

"And what is the order given about Miss Kiryu?" A scientist with glasses asked. They, too, were only a branch of the government, and they had to obey orders as well.

"The higher officials wanted to see her. They have their plans for her. But surely, she is a good bait for those two alter-users we want." The old scientist answered. His smile grew more impious.

Several scientists followed the old scientist around the room, inspecting on the progress of this project. Staring into the tubes, they saw a man with orange hair and some white hair, a woman with short blue hair, a woman with long brown hair, and many other former alter-users. Smirks appeared on all their faces. Their dreams of dominating the world would begin as soon as their projects are complete, and as soon as the other two, who were labeled "strongest alter-users", were caught!

The scientists continued their busy routines in the large experimental room. The project that they had been working on for two years was about to be completed within a few days! Everyone was so excited and they worked even harder…

Note: Okay, so here's chapter 7. I hope it's not too boring…

Yay, so now you know where Mimori is and what happened to poor Mimori… And Kanami and Asuka are going back to the Lost Ground…

Like I said, the evil Mainland Government was planning to take over the world, and was already working on their projects. Is it too confusing what the project was? I don't know if it makes sense, but if it doesn't, tell me, and I might change it! Also, is it obvious who those scientists tried to "re-create"? If this whole evil project seems too bizarre, please please tell me! This idea just popped up one day, so if it truly doesn't make sense, and you don't like it, I will consider changing it.

Good. Please review! I need to know what you think about the Mainland Government and the projects! Is it a good idea? Or is it terrible?