A/N: I'm sorry that it took me awhile to update. The chapter was already done but I've been waiting for my beta reader to mail me the corrected chapter back but I never got a response. So I'm sorry if there are many errors this time.

Here we go again. Thanks to all my lovely readers especially those who took the time to review. I love you all. Clarobell (You want Kenji-kun safe? Well, you'll see what actually happened.), dkAdeena (Hope, you'll check back with me!), Yasei Raiden (Sorry, sorry, sorry! I'll be good from now on!;), ZaKai (Hope you like this chappie as well!), Lady-Frisselle (Nope, he is not. That'd be too dumb, don't ya think!), CuriousDreamWeaver (You are soooooo great! Always sticking around! Thank you!), DaughterofDeath (Good to see you again. Hope you have a good read!), kidishcaresh (Sorry. Guess again!), Raelyn-Mage (Don't worry Kenji. I won't let anything happen to Kenji. I like the little bugger, too. Oh, I just saw you reviewed twice. I'm really sorry for letting you wait for so long.), MysticHeero (How did your AS Biology exam go? I hope you didn't fail!), is bad at creativity (Hey, don't say your not creative. You were the closest to what actually happened with Kenji!), Taki-bi Misuriki (I will finish it. The first part of TIC will be over soon. I don't know if I'll continue with the story then.), cranky-snak (Nah, I won't torture Kenji. That'd be too hard on the kid. Though I cannot exactly say he'll be safe either.), einld (Thx! If you know any good stories to read, tell me!), silverblueenchantress (THX!)

Chapter 16: In the woods

The raindrop rolled slowly down his nose and fell down on the muddy ground. The small body sat holed up in his secret hide out looking gloomily into the darkening sky. He wondered what would happen if he had to stay here all night. It would be getting dark soon. Kenji shuddered at the thought. Sure he was a big boy he could take care of himself but he really wasn't too keen on spending the night outside. Besides the constant dripping of water leaking through the creaks of the old hollow tree was pretty annoying. He quickly got tired of wiping it of his face all the time. Kenji sighed and tried to get more comfortable. He didn't know how long he had been hiding but he sure hoped that Duo would come get him soon. Surely it couldn't take that long to trick the bad guys.

When the older boy had told him to run he had raced on his short legs as fast as he could through the woods. He had found the clearing easily but unfortunately the sky had opened up and rain was pouring down in buckets in mere seconds. Not being fond of rain nor being out in the open he opted for sheltering himself inside that particular tree. Not soon after he heard yelling and gunfire. Kenji didn't dare go looking for Duo now. He just hoped that his older friend and his sensei weren't in trouble. Kenji rubbed his hands again. It did get kind of cold after a while in soggy clothes.

"I hope he'll come soon." He murmured quietly. His stomach started growling again. Kenji frowned. "And he'll better hurry." All this excitement had made him hungry and he started to feel sleepy.

'Pretty optimistic who barely knows his guardians.' It whispered.

Kenji blinked. He could have sworn that he heard someone speak to him but looking around of course there was no one. There was barely enough space for him inside the tree. Did that mean the bad men were back? Kenji's eyes shot open and he pressed himself as far as he could backwards into the old roots of the tree.

'Shhh, don't worry. It's okay. They are long gone.'

Kenji looked around in surprise momentarily his curiosity winning over his fear. "Why can I hear you but not see you? That's not possible."

The voice was silent and the kid started to think it has been his imagination when he heard the quiet voice again. 'I can't prove it but I swear I'm real. I have been with you all the time. I – I have been sleeping, dreaming. So I couldn't talk to you.'

"Cool. Can I talk to you whenever I want? Cuz then I won't be bored or alone." Kenji then seemed to remember something. "Oh wait. That's not really true like that. I have new friends now. They're gonna come pick me up soon. But it's real nice to talk to you. The others don't speak Japanese besides sensei of course. It's funny that you do." Kenji wanted to say some more but quickly shut his mouth. "Oh, I'm sorry. That was very impolite of me. I shouldn't talk so much." He sheepishly scratched the back of his head.

'It's alright. I'm used to it.' Kenji seemed to be relieved to hear that. 'You can tell me whatever you want but first we should get out of this weather. You'll get sick if you stay here. And I'm not sure how long I'll be able to stay around.'

Almost instantly Kenji jumped to attention. "No, you can't leave me. Stay here. You said you would." He said almost accusingly.

'I said that I am always with you but that doesn't mean I can always talk to you. It's tiring to stay conscious enough to talk to you. But be assured I'll try, okay!' Kenji nodded slowly. 'Well, then first let's get back to the safe house. We'll get you some dry clothes, some food and then I'll help you contacting the others.'

Kenji shook his head as soon as he heard this. "Nope, doesn't work for me. I have to stay here. Duo'll come and pick me up. He said he would."

The voice sighed. 'I don't think it's possible to come and get you otherwise he would have been here a long time ago.'

"But what if he comes and I'm not here anymore. He'll be worried.'

"You expect to much, Kenji. Duo has his priorities. I don't think he'll be able to come back."

'You don't know Duo. He will come looking for me.' Kenji shouted worked up enough to break into tears over the matter.

'Okay. Okay. Calm down. There's no point in crying over someone like that person.' The voice sounded almost frustrated by now.

"You know do you have a name?"

Silence.

"I mean you do have a name, right!"

'Well.' The voice faltered.

"Or is it a secret?"

'Yes. You could say that.'

"Maybe I can invent a new name for you."

'NO.' Now the voice was definitely frustrated. 'Listen. You really need to get out of the rain.' Pause. 'Duo will be sad if he knows you haven't been taking care of yourself. I don't think he'll be very happy to find a sick little Kenji when he comes to pick you up.'

"Oh." Kenji's ears perked up. He hadn't though of that and the last thing he wanted was Duo getting mad at him. The older boy already got worked up too easily about small things. Kenji was thinking it over.

'And I can help you contacting the others.'

"Really!" The boys eyes lit up. Now that argument was definitely convincing "Great. Let's go then." He promptly crawled out of his hiding place shielding his eyes against the rain. Remembering the direction he had come from he slowly picked his way back to the safe house. When Kenji seemed to get off track the voice quietly gave him the correct directions and not long and the safe house was in sight. As Kenji came closer he could see that it had been thoroughly searched. Running upstairs into his room he quickly grabbed some of his remaining clothes and changed after towelling himself off. Following a sudden urge he climbed into the bed he and Duo had shared the night before. The longhaired teens scent was still lingering in the pillow and a sudden wave of sadness hit him. The small child quickly curled up under the covers and closed his eyes hoping that when he opened them his new friends would be there. He wanted Duo to be here with him. Kenji stayed there wallowing in his misery until the voice spoke to him again.

'He won't come. If you want something badly you always have to go and get it yourself. It's silly to rely on belief and the good will of others. Only your own strength will get yourself forward in life. Now get up and look for the machine I have told you about.'

Kenji slowly got up but instead of following the voice orders he went in search of food. He knew that the voice wanted to look for that morse code thingy but his stomach told him that food was more important right now. Finally his tummy was happy once more and he dragged himself up the stairs again into the room Quatre-sama and Trowa-san had occupied. To his surprise the morse machine was just were the voice said it would be. He picked it out of the closet and set it onto the floor following the voice instructions. Since he was a bright child he had no trouble tapping the signals the voice ordered. Obviously the voice believed that Duo and the others would come pick him up when they received the signal. He wasn't quite sure how that should work but oh well. He would at least give it a try.

Just as he had repeated the signal for a few times he heard heavy footsteps downstairs and deep gruff voices talking downstairs. Kenji froze. Were the bad men back?

'Quick hide under the bed!' The voice urged him hurriedly. The kid did as he was told and seemingly not too late as a man passed the room only seconds later. From what Kenji could see it wasn't a soldier like the others he had seen in the woods. Those men looked similar in their get up but they had no specific uniforms and all kinds off different weapons. They seemed to be looking for something. Kenji had no time to wonder just what they were looking for when suddenly the morse machine jumped into action. The voice in his head muttered some very inappropriate words as Kenji watched one of the men entering the room and kneeling in front of the machine. He was obviously listening and decoding the signal. Kenji realized that this meant Duo knew he was here. That he would surely come for him now.

Suddenly the man spoke. "Maze. Come here." Another man came and both spoke in hushed voices. Then the Maze guy left the room obviously to take the orders to the other men who all started to look again into each room at least that's what it sounded like.

Suddenly the voice spoke up. 'They know you are here. They are looking for you. If they find you, be still and quiet. I doubt that the others will be here in time.' Kenji's heart was in his throat. He didn't want to be found. He silently prayed that the men couldn't see him. Maybe he could become invisible if he prayed just hard enough. A rough jerk on his foot put an abrupt end to his prayer and he was hanging up side down in front of a badly scarred man.

"Now what do we've got here?"

So guys, what do you think? The story is taking a turn now and actually steering towards its ending. At least what I've been having in mind for the first part. I do not know if I will continue after finishing this part.