Author's Note: New chapter! After this, the fun stuff. XD As if this wasn't already fun!

Disclaimer: Refer back to the prologue.

Warnings: Action? Slight. Filler? Yeah.

Fic Note: Kitsune, Rath, and GP- Love you guys! Here's another one for the day! Always appreciate your constant reviews, thoughts, and feelings for each individual chapter, not just after you've read the whole thing!

Oh yeah and…lame title, I know but…It sounded cool when this story was in the planning stage! -Wails-

On the Run

Net Trojans were officially terminated.

This was a huge relief for people everywhere. The end of a small age of terror-the net dependent cities would live in peace once again until the next time some criminal mastermind decided to take over the world, which could happen tomorrow if someone wanted to-that was usually how it went in those cities. One evil power would prevail, lose power, and another one would soon quickly take its place.

Now all the world would have to wait for was to turn on their televisions and watch the trials and hearings for each culprit. Close to two thousand prisoners. A large set of people to prosecute. Some would be receiving the death penalty, without a doubt, for killing SRT soldiers, the scientists, and other innocents.

Thanks to Chaud, no one but the Hikari's knew that Lan had ever been involved. After Lan's initial disappearance, Chaud had made the first move in making sure that everyone believed Lan had gone on special assignment for his company-which everyone believed, since at the time he and Lan were getting very close in their friendship. Chaud's business-like foresight paid off. Lan would be saved from a lot of trouble.

Everything seemed to be falling back into place. Life would be back to the way it was again, before the Trojans. Chaud dutifully watched the different monitors watching over the jail cells as he relaxed, drinking his coffee. Lan had left his office a while ago, promising to return home.

Chaud's eyes fell on Farel's prison, however. Lan had talked to him and asked him to spare Farel from this mess as well. Chaud had reluctantly agreed. Though he wouldn't admit it readily-he was jealous of the shady relationship Lan seemed to hold with Farel. He wasn't quite sure why, but he had a bit of a possession issue where Lan was concerned. Ever since they were kids, the minute Lan finally grew on him was the minute Chaud felt that he had to be one of the most special people in Lan's life.

Chaud tapped the monitor showing Farel's cell with his pencil at a steady beat.

Ring. "Hello?"

"Hi, Dr. Hikari? Is Lan home?"

"Hm…no, Chaud…I'm afraid he never showed up…"

"But he told me-"

"I know Chaud, I believe you…but I guess he's just not ready to come home yet…"

"…"

"Something the matter?"

"No…nothing sir. Have a good day."

"You as well. Oh and Chaud?"

"Yes…sir?"

"Thank you very much for taking care of my son."

"No problem…sir."

Click. End.

"Lan!" Megaman's voice was exasperated, "Where are you going? Chaud said we should be going home!"

Lan ignored Megaman. He felt a bit sadistic, preventing Megaman from seeing their father like this, but he wasn't ready to go back home. He was still having mixed feelings about everything. A part of him was far more relieved, because he had managed to save Farel's life, and Chaud had explained to him that he would never be charged with anything-but Lan was still worried. The leader knew who he was. If he were to ever say anything, Lan would be finished-and on public television. For some reason though, he was so used to sharing his fears with Farel as of late, he didn't really feel comfortable sharing with Chaud or Megaman at this very moment. Though he had known Chaud and Megaman since childhood, Farel had grown on him as a brotherly figure. As he walked aimlessly down the streets heading for the metroline, he hoped inside that Farel would be all right, and that Chaud would keep his promise.

"Where are we going?"

Lan walked up to a booth. "One ticket for Electopia, please. Thank you."

Chaud sighed. He was getting really sick of Lan's recent habit of running away. It was as if the younger boy was unknowingly trying Chaud's patience to the very end. In fact, with his daily morning white hair count with Protoman that morning, his black hair had reduced a significant amount, replaced with whites.

"Protoman?"

"Yes, Chaud?"

"What information did you find?"

"I got in private contact with Megaman. He says Lan is heading for Electopia."

"Ah…great. Ready to go?"

"…"

"What? What's up?"

"Nothing really, just thought maybe I should suggest something."

"What would that be?"

"Perhaps you should leave Lan alone a while?"

Chaud frowned. "He's already had enough lone time!"

"…Not entirely true. Only recently he was let out of the gang. Perhaps he should be allowed some more time to get his thoughts together?"

"…No. The more he thinks, the more likely he'll keep away."

"It was just a suggestion…"

Chaud slid on a jacket. He looked down at Protoman, expression serious. "Good. It'll stay a suggestion."

Heavy breathing. He hides in the shadows and corners of the city as he attempts to hide from his pursuer. His heart thumps rapidly, just like the time his pursuer had chased him down when he was the leader of the Trojans. Fearfully, he looks around the corner, only to revert immediately back to his original position, trying to get his breathing in check and hiding.

The other boy chasing him looks around rapidly, trying not too look too conspicuous. Every once in a while he looks at his PET before making his next move.

He hears footsteps come in his direction and curses inwardly; he wonders how in the hell the other boy seems to know his next move with such accuracy. Wasting no time, he runs quickly, as if hellfire is chasing him from behind. Unfortunately, he ends up at a dead end. Instead of giving up, he decides to go for scaling the wall. Somehow, he manages the feat. Exhausted, he rests on the roof of some unknown building, breathing in and out, staring at the sky.

The other boy looks around confused, then backtracks to the main road-there was no way the brunette could have scaled that wall. Cursing, he tries again.

Meanwhile, the boy on the roof falls asleep, breathing in and out slowly, trying to relax.

It was a peaceful dream.

"Hah! Bet you can't catch me!" Lan stuck out his tongue.

A roll of the eyes. "Right. You know, Lan, I really should be getting back to business."

Lan pouted. "Cha-ud! You're always doing work! That's not healthy for boys our age. We should be out doing something fun!"

Chaud scrunched his nose, "Like this?"

Lan thought about it a moment, then smiled. "Yeah, just like this."

Chaud laughed. "Haha, okay."

The two boys ran in the field of Lan's dreams. Finally, Lan was caught. Lan smiled and turned around. His smile faded. There was no one. He was alone.

He was wide awake; a tear slowly fell from the corner of his eye as he stared blankly up at a dark Electopian sky.

What'd ya'll think? Fun chapters are going to come up left and right here on out! Stay tuned!

-SaiKenYuu-