VampireGirl22- I got a lot of good reviews, and I'm sorry for not acknowledging them till now. I'm forgetful (very…) but id like to thank everyone who reviewed and is still reading now. Arigatou, minna!! And to Gwynhafra and Dreamfreak336 for your help and im always listening to your advice as well as everyone else's (too much for me to sort through to find all the names so far… sorry.)

Please read and review and send suggestions, I take them all into account so your messages will most likely be put into the story.XD

ENJOY MINNA-SAN!!! Diclaimer: all this goes to Konomi Takeshi, not me.

Chapter 6: A Crack inside my heart

When Ryoma woke he rolled over searching for the warmth that he fell asleep to yesterday, but to no avail. Sighing, he stood and stretched before heading downstairs to find the others still sleeping in bundles of blankets and pillows. The only two that were missing were Tezuka and Fuji. Upon hearing the soft voices from outside, Ryoma crept over to the door and listened intently to his senpai talking.

What he heard made his breath come in and get stuck, choking him.

"Saa, Tezuka, how close are you to Echizen?"

Knowing that there was no escape from his question he was forced to answer truthfully. "I want to be much closer, but either he doesn't feel the same way or is extremely dense on such matters." He said with a slight hint of a sigh, proving how he felt by showing emotions, actual human emotions.

"Ehh, I was right then, heh. Maa, you know he looks up to you more than anyone, there's definitely something there." Fuji finished as they turned to head back inside.

Ryoma ran back to the room as fast as he could and locked the door behind him. Panting as he found his breath, Ryoma slid down the door placing his head in his knees.

'Buchou likes me? How could that be... I never told anyone how I feel, not even Karupin and now Fuji gets it out of buchou so easily.' He thought as he began rocking back and forth. Not knowing what to do he slowly rose and shakily landed on the bed before falling into a troubled sleep.

He was running; the hot breath like flames on the nape of his neck, screams could be heard in the distance as he fled from the mountain with his parents. They were being protected by other people fleeing as well, yet slowing to distract the hounds and let them make it out safely.

Everywhere he turned he saw fire and red, a deep penetrating crimson color that transfixed him, rooting him to the spot. His father grabbed him into his arms and continued running until they were at an airport. Once they were on the plane his parents breathed a heavy sigh of relief that they and their son were now safe, though they still felt for those not as fortunate as they. Walking innocently up to the desk his mother bought three tickets back to Japan, and quickly hurried him along to the near departing plane.

During the ride his parents talked in hushed whispers about 'what will we do now' and 'how will we protect him'? Though he wanted to question them he couldn't even remember where he had been before the plane ride, or what he had been doing, all of his previous memories were gone, save the feelings and things from America. Where had he been, with the feeling of fear running through his blood, and the burning on the back of his neck? He could hear the screaming, not able to match any faces… it was hurting him, tearing at the very core of his being, forcing him into an emotionless shell.

A shell that now threatened to break with the return of those once forgotten feelings. A pain that he did not want to remember… or forget…

When he opened his eyes he had nearly forgotten what had made him so upset, or even why… almost. He felt a pain in his chest when he recalled what buchou had said about him. Was he really that dense? No. He just chose to ignore everything around him, he didn't want the feeling of nothingness to come back; being oblivious was better…right?

Shaking his head he stood, only to feel a sharp tug in his head and a flash of light… a face? He stood in an old fashioned building that looked Greek, white pillars holding up the pointed roof. A tall statue stood at one end of the vast room opposite the door. A younger version of himself was seated next to the statue, a man with white hair and a thunder bolt in hand. 'Lord Zeus,' another man spoke to both the statue and Ryoma from the past, 'I would like to introduce you to my son, he is like you but is the bearer of Poseidon, your deity's brother.' With that said a boy with brown hair and oval shaped glasses stepped forward and bowed along with his father. He was a few years older than the young Ryoma who stared at him with interest and something that looked a little like recognition. The man left the two alone and went to speak to the other men outside.

'Why are you here?' the young Ryoma questioned as the older boy straightened and walked alarmingly close to him.

'I just wanted to see you again, is that so wrong?' by now the boy was showing signs of a hidden smile. Something he only showed when they were together.

'Who was that man, we both know he is not your father. Is he the one who raised your current self?'

'Yes, he is the one who did so. Yet he still thinks we need to be introduced and in your temple of course.'

'Well why shouldn't it be in my temple? Yours is all the way by the sea, and my current parents won't let me go so far away from them and the city.'

'Too bad, the others were going to come visit tonight and I'm sure they would love to see you away from this place.' He said with a wave of the hand around to show the temple and the city. 'It does you no good to be stuck in such a place for your entire life, especially an endless one.'

'Aa, but how can we get away from all the people? The others want out too don't they?'

'They do, and I have an idea. We'll meet tonight on the outskirts of town.' That said he bent down and placed a chaste kiss on the younger's soft lips before turning and walking out the solid gold doors inscribed with thunder bolts and clouds atop a mountain.

Ryoma didn't get to find out what happened to the two as the flash ended there, but he felt something in his chest. Pain, loss, guilt, lonely ness, betrayal and fear. Fear for someone else, someone precious, the same person who caused the other unwanted feelings. His heart torn, he looked out the window up at the sky wishing it wasn't contradicting his moods so much, the bright sky was really annoying him now. Just as he thought this the clouds became darkened and a heavy clap could be heard throughout the city.

A scream was heard from downstairs as Ryoma moved to leave the room, and something red come blurring past him shoving itself under the covers on the bed. Turning he saw bright blue eyes full of fear staring out at him. A second later the other regulars were there, Oishi trying to coax Eiji out from his cover to no avail. The others and Nanjirou went to the widow to observe the sudden storm.

Nanjirou sighed and walked over to Tezuka and Fuji motioning for them to follow him out into the hallway. "You two need to be more careful with what you say in front of people."
"What are you talking about Nanjirou-san?" Fuji asked his smile somewhat dwindled with the sudden confrontation.

"Think a little will ya, the only conversation that you two had today, the one that was supposed to be private wasn't; and now you've gone and made him upset enough to cause this annoying storm."

"Who overheard that conversation?" Tezuka asked somewhat scared about the answer, and that weird flash earlier hadn't helped him in any way. If Ryoma found out about it… he couldn't even think of what he would do.

"Isn't it obvious, that gaki of course, and now he's confused, even more so than when he lost all his memories and we brought him to Japan." Nanjirou sighed scratching the back of his head with his hand.

"Wait, when did Echizen lose his memories? And why didn't he show any signs of someone with amnesia when we met, it just isn't normal to be that calm when you cant remember anything." Fuji had his eyes open and plowing into the monk with worry and questions clearly visible in the deep cerulean orbs.

"After the fire and the destruction of his temple, we made it to the airport and here to Japan safely… but all of his memories were gone and no matter what we tried he didn't know anything except America. No recollection of the city of Zeus."

"The city of Zeus and a temple for Echizen? Is that what that place was? That would explain why that man addressed him as Zeus." Tezuka mumbled to himself, but it wasn't unheard by the other two who looked at him incuriosity. "Um… well, I had a sort of flash before the storm started where I was being introduced to Echizen by a man who addressed him and a large statue as Lord Zeus, and we made plans to meet the others at the outskirts of town that night." He confessed without much thought as to what all of it meant.

"That would be the night of the fire, the entire city was set aflame and only a few were able to escape the enemy. You all included. And before you ask, yes you were there and it was the day you were to meet the head of your… 'group'… well whatever it is it was interrupted and we never finished the ceremony. Who would've thought you would all meet on your own eventually, heh really is a coincidence, and I thought I would have to go looking for all of you." He said chuckling lightly to himself.

"Who were we and why were we meeting Echizen as our leader?" Tezuka asked the old man who looked like he was about to leave.

"The gods of course and he is Zeus the ruler of the gods. See ya round… Poseidon, Athena." This was followed by more chuckles as he walked away and disappeared down the stairs.

"Did he call me Athena? How come you get Poseidon and I'm a girl, well at least I'm a genius and some do say I look feminine, I guess I do."

As the day continued Tezuka noticed that Ryoma was avoiding him in particular. He wouldn't even look at him, and it was disheartening to Tezuka. The regulars noticed the tension and went out to eat, Tezuka refusing so they left without him. As he walked around outside he remembered a song he sang to someone along time ago, before he could even think of whom it was the words were playing through his head and he found himself singing along to an invisible tune.

Today is a winding road, it's taking me to places that I didn't want to go, whoa, today in the blink of an eye, I'm holding on to something and I do not know why, I tried. I tried to read in between the lines, I tried to look into your eyes, I want a simple explanation; what I'm feeling inside, I gotta find a way out, maybe there's a way out. Your voice was the soundtrack of my summer, do you know you're unlike any other? You'll always be my thunder, and I said, your eyes are the brightest of the colors, I don't wanna ever love another, you'll always be my thunder, so bring on the rain, and bring on the thunder. Today is a winding road, tell me where to start and tell me something I don't know, whoa. Today I'm on my own, I can't move a muscle and I can't pick up the phone, I don't know, and know I'm itching for the tall grass and longing for the breeze, I need to step outside just to see if I can breathe. I gotta find a way out, maybe there's a way out. Your voice was the soundtrack of my summer; do you know you're unlike any other? You'll always be my thunder, and I said, your eyes are the brightest of all the colors, I don't wanna ever love another, you'll always be my thunder, so bring on the rain, yeah I'm walking on a tightrope, I'm wrapped up in vines, I think I'll make it out, but you just gotta give it time, strike me down with lightning, let me feel you in my veins, I wanna let you know how much I feel your pain. Today is a winding road; it's taking me to places that I didn't want to go, whoa. Your voice was the soundtrack of my summer, do you know you're unlike any other? You'll always be my thunder, and I said, your eyes are the brightest of all the colors, I don't want to ever love another, you'll always be my thunder, and I said, your voice was thesoundtrack of my summer, do you know you're unlike any other? so bring on the rain, oh baby bring on the pain, listen to the thunder. (Thunder by Boys like Girls.)

Finishing the song he realized he had been thinking of Echizen the entire time, and some invisible memories that seemed to taunt him with their existence. Cursing them he turned and walked back into the house. His heart aching to know what was forgotten… and never remember. This is the feeling of the crack inside my heart.

That's the end of chapter 6. yay! Only who knows how many left.

When I was writing I was listening to Boys like Girls and two of their songs kinds matched the story line I'm going for, Thunder and Broken Man (Ryoma). It just seems to work, so Ryoma gets a song soon too, but it's kinda sad and happy, so he also gets to be confused. Tell me how you liked it and if I need to change anything.XD Onegai? Arigatou!!