Isa groaned, he was laying on his back and… everything hurt. Every muscle in his body felt sore, and there was a burning sensation on his face as he groaned.

Then suddenly a familiar voice sounded. "ISA! You're awake! Thank… Thank god!" and the sobs began.

Slowly Isa opened his eyes to true enough, see the familiar sight of his best friend crying his eyes out… It really was becoming a sight way to common these days.

"Isa I..." Lea sobbed. "I'm so sorry! You.. Your face.. It..."

Isa touched his face, and felt the white bandages laid across his nose.

"They… They said there is going to be scarring." Lea swallowed. "I'm sorry I..."

"It doesn't matter." Isa stated in a calm voice as his eyes looked towards the ceiling. "Janan?"

Lea looked up, then he hung his head.

"I see." Isa commented.

"It… It's like with Ven." Lea swallowed. "Our hearts were connected, I know they were! But now… It's gone. I don't understand!" he grabbed his head. "Even when people are far apart, worlds apart even! As long as their hearts are connected, it should be fine. But it's gone!" he swallowed as tears pressed themselves through his squinted eyes.

"Don't tell me you've given up." Isa spoke.

That made Lea look up and Isa turned his head so their eyes met.

"We promised her, didn't we?" Isa asked. "It's not like you to break promises to your friends."

Lea swallowed. "You got hurt." he pointed out.

"It doesn't matter." Isa assured as he lifted his hand, and grabbed Leas "Lea… that silver haired man. It sounded like he took her."

Lea nodded.

"Furthermore..." Isa breathed. "He could have killed us, that much is clear! If he had wanted to kill us we would have been dead! How-ever... He said we had potential, that he had use for us.."

Lea swallowed but nodded seriously, allowing Isa to continue.

"Lea." Isa tightened his hold in Leas hand. "I want you to listen to me, and I want you to think very seriously about this." he stated. "I can think of only one way to find her… We'll allow the silver haired man to use us the way he wants to. In reality though, we will be spying on him."

Lea sucked in a breath.

"How-ever… If we do that." Isa spoke very seriously, his eyes burning themselves into Leas. "Things wont be like they have been, it wont be a game anymore! We wont be able to afford acting like children. That man is dangerous, extremely dangerous. Lea…. If we do it, there wont be any turning back." he stated. "any mistake could be fatal... It will not be like it was."

Lea nodded. "I... understand."

"I want you to think about it!" Isa stated. "And only be honest in what you say! If you don't think you can do it, then don't! Stay here!"

"Heh." Lea smirked amused. "Even if I said I wouldn't do it, you would still do it by yourself." he surmised. "As if I would ever let you do such a thing alone." he stated. "No way, we started it together, we'll stick through it together." he stated, then he closed his eyes. "I just hope I… I know I wont be able to afford acting like this anymore." he swallowed. "I have to stop crying! It's serious this time!" he exclaimed looking up. "I need to grow up!" he stated then silenced. "I don't know how though." he admitted.

Isa smirked, then he reached for his night table with his three hand were he found a sharpie and reached it towards Leas face, drawing two symbols under his eyes.

Lea blinked confused.

"Upside down tears, they will help you with the crying. Now when you cry, people wont be able to tell the difference. As far as they know, the tears are just the markings under your eyes." Isa stated. "Also… Now we both have marks on our faces. So let our new marks be our symbol! That today, we stop being children!"

Lea blinked, then he smiled. "Okay." he stated. "I suppose… Even if it wasn't for Janan, it would be time to grow up anyway." he stated as he glanced towards the window. "The heartless… They are still out there. It's like they are hiding in every street corner… And the sky has grown darker to. It's like..." he swallowed. "Darkness is creeping over radiant garden, it's… Changing Isa." he stated turning to his friend. "I don't think any flowers will be able to grow anymore if this continues. That's no good at all! We promised Janan to take her to the gardens!"

Isa smiled amused as he shook his head. "We wouldn't have had time to take her anyway, we would have had to flee." he pointed out then he exhaled deeply.

Their hands though, were still holding each other.

"Isa..." Lea breathed. "Are you… Scared?" he asked.

"It would be foolish not to be." Isa replied.

"I'm glad you see it like that." Lea smiled lightly, then he smiled faltered. "I'm glad we are sticking together. I hate being alone."

"Oh really?" Isa asked amused.

"You knew already didn't you?" Lea asked.

"Yeah I knew." Isa admitted in a smirk. "It's fine though… I don't really like being alone either."

"What really?" Lea asked deeply surprised. "But you..."

"Even when I am sitting around with my books, I am not really alone." Isa pointed out. "After all, you've always been with me."

Lea smiled as he looked down. "I can't believe you would admit to something like that." he stated.

"After today, we wont be children anymore." Isa stated. "So… What-ever we need to say to each other, we should say it now."

"I see." Lea nodded. "Well, in that case." he took in a deep breath. "Isa… I know you have always been the one looking out for me. I'm the one who gets emotional and act without thinking, I get upset about little things and do stupid things all the time. You're the one making sure I don't get hurt. You always been so cool and so clever, I kind of always wanted to be more like you. I hope… I will be able to return the favor, now I want to help look after you to."

"Heh, funny." Isa stated. "I often wished I were more like you."

"Are you serious?" Lea gaped in pure astonishment.

"Yeah." Isa smiled "In fact… I might have been kind of jealous now and again."

"You gotta be kidding." Lea stated.

Isa smirked as he glanced at Lea. "I hope you have it memorized, I wont ever say this again. Ever." he stated.

"Heh." Lea chuckled amused. "I have it memorized." he assured finally letting go of Isa's hand. "Well, i'm going to go get some ice-cream!" he stated.

"Seriously?" Isa asked.

"Tonight is the last time we'll be children." Lea reminded Isa. "So… seems like a pretty good excuse for ice-cream." he stated.

"Adults also eat ice-cream." Isa pointed out amused.

"Yeah but.." Lea lowered his head. "Where we are going, we might not be able eat ice-cream together for a while."

"True." Isa admitted.

"Sea-salt?" Lea asked.

"Do you even know any other flavors?" Isa asked.

"Nope!" Lea grinned and ran out leaving Isa smiling rather amused, then though, his smile faltered and he glanced down.

He touched the white bandages on his face, remembering the overwhelming power of that man. "I will get her back." he stated. "I swear to you."