The next chapter is up (: I wrote this chapter three different times and this is the best one I think. Please read and review.

Disclaimer: Still don't own CL.

Odd awoke to find Kasey beside him. He smiled, but soon his heart broke, he remembered why Kasey was there. It wasn't like the other times when they had fallen asleep together talking or kissing, it had been a night of fear and mourning. Odd gently slipped out of bed, being careful not to wake Kasey and stepped into the hall.

"What the hell?" Odd said as he saw most of the residents of the dorms in the process of moving out. Odd saw Jim standing farther down the hall and walked over to him.

"Jim, what's going on?"

Jim turned and sighed, "Most of the younger kids' parents have withdrawn them from the school...after everything that happened yesterday, and I really don't blame them."

"So does that mean the school is closing?"

"Not immediately, the government has been kind enough to offer some aid after the attack, but truthfully I don't see much of a point."

"What do you mean?"

Jim broke down and started to sob, Odd who had never seen Jim cry was shocked and rested a hand on the older man's shoulders. "What is it Jim?"

Jim wiped away the tears and looked Odd in the eyes, "I just got the final death toll."

Odd swallowed hard, "How bad is it sir?"

"They killed half of the students Odd, half of us, most of the teachers are dead too."

Odd's emotions were running wild; he had never felt such grief mixed with such infuriating hatred. "Jim we can't let these kind of people exist." Odd growled.

Jim nodded, "I don't know what we can do right now, but our time will come, our time will come."

Odd started to walk back to his room, but he stopped and walked back to Jim.

"Jim, I want to say thank you."

Jim looked confused, "What for?"

"If it wasn't for you asking us to help chaperone the trip we would probably be dead. We owe you a lot."

Jim smiled weakly, "It's just fate Odd, I'm glad it chose to keep you alive. I could use the company and well the help if you and your friends want to stay for a while, I mean, you all could have a job of sorts for a few months at least."

"Thanks Jim, I'll talk to them when they wake up, I'll see you later."

Jim watched Odd leave, and smiled, 'that boy sure has grown up over the years.'

Odd walked in to find Ulrich, Kasey and Yumi just waking up. He tried to give an encouraging smile, but they all read his body language.

"What is it Odd?" Kasey asked.

"A lot of the others are leaving, their parents are taking them away after the shooting. I…I don't blame them, but…what are we doing, are we staying?"

Kasey looked up sadly, "Odd, I have no home other than here, I'll go wherever you go."

Ulrich and Yumi nodded, and Yumi spoke up, "Odd, all we have left right now, is each other we can't lose that."

A knock at the door made them jump. Ulrich got up and opened the door. Jeremy and Aelita stood wearily in the doorway.

"Come on in you two." Ulrich said stepping aside.

The little room became crowded, but the friends didn't mind, for once the closeness made them feel safe.

"Well gang, we came to tell you that Aelita and I have decided to stay here for a while, we came to see about the rest of you?"

"We're all staying." Kasey said and the two smiled in relief.

"Actually, I have some good news," Odd said, "Jim said that we could work here, get paid and still live here, while things are sorted out."

Ulrich gave him a weird look and Odd just shook his head letting Ulrich know their plan was still on.

The others, no noticing the little dance of the eyes between the two, agreed to work and Odd ran to get Jim. A few minutes later the large man came bursting through the door with a smile on his face and tears in his eyes.

"Thank you, this means a lot, and…" Jim trailed off and the group just smiled and told Jim to grab a seat. Jim plopped down on the edge of the bed and looked at the others.

"Never thought I'd be in one of these planning meetings you always seemed to have."

The others smiled and for a moment the pain of yesterday wasn't so harsh.

"So how bad is it Jim?" Ulrich asked.

"It's bad my young friends," Jim sighed, "Half of the students were killed in the shooting, along with three fourths of the teaching staff. Half of the students that weren't killed have packed up or are packing up as we speak."

"So what do you need us to do?" Jeremy asked in his usual thoughtful manner.

"I need you to help me keep the younger kids in line, teach a little, and help them move on. I've been told that we can pay you teachers salaries for the job you do, and room and board, as well as food will be free ."

The friends all looked around and nodded; that's when Odd asked what was on everyone's mind.

"Jim, what teacher's did survive?"

Jim paused for a moment to gather his emotions again. "Not many I'm afraid, it's me, Mrs. Hertz didn't go to the assembly, apparently she was in the school office calling the police. Rosa the cook never goes to assembly's so she was fine, very heartbroken, but she's ok."

"What about Principal Delmas and the nurse?"

"The were both gunned down trying to save students…they…they died trying to save…" Jim couldn't go on and the questions stopped for the day.

They all agreed to meet for dinner in the cafeteria later that night. For now all of them would take time to collect their thoughts and prepare for the waves of grief the upcoming funerals were sure to bring.

Jeremy and Aelita left for Jeremy's room to talk and rest. Ulrich stepped into the hall to talk to Yumi and Kasey stayed in the room with Odd. Jim left to tell Rosa of the upcoming meal and to check on the forty or so remaining students.

"Kasey, I need to ask you something?"

"What is it Odd?"

Odd couldn't look his love in the eyes and this worried Kasey. "I…I think I'm going to join the army, and fight in this war."

"What!" Kasey screamed, "You can't, I mean what about me and the others, are you just going to…what if you got…no I can't think of it." She cried.

Hearing Kasey's outburst, Ulrich and Yumi came back into the room.

"Kasey? Odd? What's going on?" Ulrich asked.

Odd looked at his friend, "Have you told Yumi yet?"

"Told me what Ulrich?" Yumi asked abruptly.

Ulrich looked at Yumi with sad, lonely eyes, "Yumi, know that I love you."

"I know that, but what are you two going to do?"

"I'm going to join the army with Odd, we can't stand by after what happened and just sit around, we have to…we have to fight."

Yumi stared at her boyfriend in shock. "Do you know what could happen to you? Do you know what would happen to me if you were killed, think about it!"

"I have, and I'm going to prevent another attack from happening, another one that could kill you and all we cherish."

"But you are all I cherish." Yumi cried.

"That's why I must go, I love you too much to wait for the next attack that could rip you from my life."

The two girls looked at each other, both knowing that they'd never sway the minds of their lovers.

Kasey stood and wrapped Odd in a hug, "When will you leave?"

"I've been told that a military truck will pick us up in three days, that way we can attend the funerals."

The two girls, sat back down on the bed together, both looking at the man they loved. "Just be careful." Yumi said.

The boys sat down next to the girls and spent the rest of the afternoon comforting them.

Everyone was gathered for dinner that night. Odd and Ulrich were the last to come in, and instead of sitting down, they remained standing at the end of the table.

"Everyone, Jim, Rosa… Odd and I have an announcement to make."

All eyes turned towards the boys, and Kasey held on tightly to Yumi's hand, both trying to keep their emotions in check.

Odd spoke next, "Ulrich and I've come to the conclusion that we can't stand by and let the people that attack the innocent live unpunished. We are going to enlist in the army."

Aelita gasped and she looked up at Jeremy and Jeremy nodded to her. "I also have an announcement to make," the computer whiz said standing up and walking over to Odd and Ulrich. "I've been requested by the military to join one of their computer support and surveillance teams. I will be leaving in three days on the same truck as Odd and Ulrich."

Everyone sat in silence for a few minutes until Jim spoke up. "I think that you are going into a very dangerous world. I'm going to pass some wisdom on to you that father told me before I joined the army. He said that when all hope seems lost, it is the courageous who step up to fight. I'm proud of you boys, just be careful alright?"

The boys nodded and the dinner was continued with little conversation. The students all went to their dorm rooms, all except Yumi and Ulrich. Ulrich was walking Yumi home.

"Ulrich, I…I don't know how I feel about you leaving, I mean what will happen to us?"

Ulrich stopped walking and took a hold of Yumi's hands, "Yumi, I will always love you, no matter what, just know that no matter what happens I love you."

"I love you too." Yumi cried and Ulrich wrapped her into a hug and kissed her long and hard. They broke for air and continued walking to Yumi's house.

"Do you want me to pick you up, before the funerals tomorrow?"

"I'd like that," she sighed.

The two soon came to Yumi's house and Ulrich walked her to the door.

"I love you, I'll see you tomorrow." He kissed her again and then headed down the steps and back to the school, just like he'd done hundreds of times before.

Like always, Yumi stood on the steps until Ulrich was out of sight and then went into the house, unlike the other times, she went to her room, buried her face in her pillow and cried.

The morning came sooner than anyone would have liked. Funerals were never pleasant to go too, but it also meant that the boys were another day closer to leaving. Kasey dressed herself and walked to Odd's room. She met Ulrich and Odd and they went to the car to go pick up Yumi.

"So Jeremy and Aelita are meeting us there?" Odd asked.

Kasey nodded, and the car soon slowed to a stop and Yumi got in the front seat to sit by Ulrich.

The day was overcast and threatening of rain. 'A fitting companion for the mood here' thought Jeremy. He gave Aelita's hand a reassuring squeeze and she rewarded him with a small smile. The others soon came and once again they were all gathered at a funeral.

"We are here today to remember those who had their lives cut short in the tragic…."

Yumi's mind began to wonder, she couldn't help but wonder if one day the casket would be filled by Ulrich's broken body. She looked away to try to clear her mind and her eyes caught Kasey's. 'She's thinking the same thing about Odd' Yumi thought.

Aelita looked around. 'I hope this is never me mourning Jeremy or the others' Aelita thought and she wiped away a tear.

The funeral ended and the friends passed by the families to offer their condolences. They came to Sissy who stared up at them with such sad eyes. Odd stepped forward and gave her a hug.

"Sissy, if you need anything, we're here for you."

Sissy mumbled a thanks and they left.

The next two days went quickly and it was time for everyone to head off to boot camp. It came too quickly for everyone and the morning was filled with emotional goodbyes. The biggest surprise of the morning was seeing Nicolas jump aboard the truck as well. The truck had rolled away, the boys waving their farewells to their loved ones. Now they sat in the back waiting out the long drive to the base.

"So do you think we'll see any action?" Odd asked the other three.

"I'm sure we'll see more than we want to." Ulrich replied.

The boys were silent for a while until Odd finally broke the somber mood.

"No matter what, we are family now, we are a brotherhood guys, we all come from the same place for the same reason. Let's do this together, put all differences aside, let's fight this war side by side."

Nicolas smiled, "I really wish I was joining your group for another reason, but I'm glad to have you as friends."

The all expressed their concerns and their hopes and for the few hours that they were on the road, a strong brotherhood formed between the four. The truck eventually came to a stop and the driver ordered the boys out. They jumped out to find themselves at the main training grounds.

"Wow, this is huge!" Odd said.

"You said it." Jeremy chimed in.

"Shut up! I'm Drill Sergeant Tinzo! Now gather your stuff and head to barracks 32!"

"Yes sir!" All four answered at once, and they rushed to gather their stuff.

"Umm….Sir?" Odd asked.

"What?" Tinzo yelled.

"Where is Barrack 32?"

The drill sergeant gave a rare smile, "Over there," He said pointing to a row of buildings, "And soldier."

"Yes Sir?"

"All of you! welcome to the army!"

With that the four took off in a light run to their barrack without a clue for what was to come next.

Yumi, Kasey, Aelita, and Sissy all sat in the living room of Yumi's house talking. They ,like the boys, shared their fears and their hopes. They were so worried about the boys, even Sissy was worried for Nicolas. They knew that all they could do was hope and pray.

Yeah I didn't realize how long it was until I looked at the word count. Anyways I hope you liked it, and to those ofyou who are hoping for more violent action and such instead of all this emotion stuff, well that will come in large amounts in a few chapters, still have emotional moments, just more action, so if there is anyone out there wandering what happened, justhang in there. LOL, now please review, I like reviews :