Author's Note: Wow… it's been a long time… four years… I guess you guys never expected this story to continue. Well, I stopped writing for a while… things happened… but figured I should try it again. I don't like leaving things unfinished and I think this was one of my better stories… the style may be a little different now since it's been so long, but I hope you'll still like it. Here now, is the long, long, LONG awaited chapter six. It's not really big, but I have some ideas in my head and I'll see if I can put them into words.

Anyway… enjoy!

Chapter 6

Racing around the corner, Rika dashed through the streets, barely missing pedestrians as she passed by. Adrenaline pumping through her veins, she ran faster and faster… she couldn't believe it… he was out… after all he had done, they were letting him loose…

'This can't be…" Rika thought. 'He'll come after me… I know he will… I can't stay here!'

Running across the street, Rika failed to notice a car speeding towards her… tires screeching, the driver let out a loud honk, startling Rika as it just missed hitting her. Sticking his head out the window of the car, the driver yelled, "Hey! What's the matter with you, girl! You trying to get yourself killed!"

Staring at this angry man, visions of another angry man appeared before her…

"Rika…" the man snarled, evil eyes glaring down at her…

"NO!" Rika screamed, startling the driver…

"Look, kid…" The driver spoke. "I didn't mean to, it's just…"

"STAY AWAY FROM ME!"

And before the driver could respond, Rika took off in a dash once again, not looking back. Running into the back alley of a restaurant, Rika stopped to try and catch her breath… back against the stone brick wall, she inhaled and exhaled, taking deep breaths. After a few minutes or so, Rika finally began to breathe normally, though the fear and shock was still visible in her eyes. She started walking, not knowing where to go… afraid that wherever she would go, he would find her…

Meanwhile, Takato had returned home. Helping his parents bake some bread, the phone started to ring. Throwing off his oven mitts, Takato picked up the phone.

"Matsuda's Bakery, how may I help you?" He asked.

"Oh Takato, this is Rika's grandmother, Seiko…" the woman spoke in a worried voice. "Is Rika over at your place right now?"

Noticing the worried tone her grandmother had, Takato became concerned.

"No… she's not here right now… is something wrong?" He asked.

"Well… there is…" hesitating, she finally spoke, "Rika ran off after she returned home from school. We were hoping that maybe she was your place or one of your other friends'…"

"Oh…" Takato didn't know what to say. His conversation with Henry earlier that day was still fresh in his mind, as was his tense conversation with Rika.

"Well… thank you, Takato… if she comes by, could you please let us know?"

"I will."

"Thank you…" and with that, Seiko hung up.

Placing the receiver back in it's cradle, Takato walked back over to the counter, where his parents where busy rolling out some dough. Seeing the serious look on their son's face, they became concerned.

"Who was that one the phone, sweetie?" His mother asked.

"Rika's grandmother," Takato replied.

"Oh?" His father asked.

"What was it she wanted?" His mother asked once more.

"Rika's run away…" was the only thing he said.

"Run away?" His father asked, worried.

"Oh dear…" was all his mother could say.

"What else did she say?"

"Nothing else really… just to let them know if Rika showed," Takato responded.

"Was there anything that happened today at school, Takato?" his mother asked. "Any reason that would make Rika run off?"

"Well… Takato started, but stopped when he remembered Henry's request not to speak to anyone about what they had talked about earlier. "I don't know… Rika just seemed really tense today."

"Hmm…" His father thought.

"Oh, I hope she's okay," his mother said.

"Yeah… me too," Takato replied.

Henry was walking down the pathway of a park no too far for West Shinjuku High… he needed to clear his thoughts… he felt so disturbed about his earlier encounter with Rika and how she had lashed out at him… he wasn't sure what it was, but something just put a chill down his spine. Hearing a cheerful tune ring from his pocket broke him out of his trance and he quickly reached in and grabbed his cell phone, answering it.

"Hello?"

"Henry…" Henry immediately recognized the voice belonging to his father.

"Dad?"

"Where are you?"

Surprised at the interrogation, Henry responded, "I'm just down at the park right now… is something wrong?"

"Ms. Nonaka called…" Upon hearing this, Henry became concerned.

"Is Rika okay?" Henry asked, worried that something bad had happened to her.

"We don't know, Henry…"

"What do you mean you don't know? What happened?" Henry asked, feeling a knot growing inside his stomach.

"Henry, Rika ran off after returning home from school. Ms. Nonaka called, asking if she was here. She's not… which is why I called to see if she was there with you."

Henry remained silent. Thoughts of his earlier conversation with Rika replayed in his mind. His father, however, quickly broke him out of his thoughts.

"Henry… did something happen today? Was Rika okay?"

Uncertain of what to tell his father, Henry responded, "I… don't know, Dad…"

"You don't know?"

"No…"

"Henry…" Before his father could say anymore, Henry spoke up.

"I'm… going to go look for her, Dad."

"Henry…" his father began, but paused. "…alright."

"Thanks, Dad. Could you make sure someone stays home in case Rika calls or shows?"

"Your mother already knows. She will."

"Thanks…"

"Let me know if you find her."

"I will, Dad… bye."

And with that, Henry hung up and shoving the phone back in his pocket, took off at a sprint, with only one thought in his head… to find Rika.

To be continued…