Hey, here's another chapter for you all. Sorry it took so long; school and work have been keeping me occupied. Plus also having a case of major writers block. Thanks to those who reviewed, you guys are the best.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything Scryed. Enjoy!

Chapter 3

Mimori was thoroughly enjoying the time that she was spending with Kazuma. While at the farm, she gladly gave her assistance to anyone who needed it. She was at peace here. All of the stress of the city was but a distant memory. She decided to go and rest at a rock formation near the farm. As she was sitting there, she couldn't help but to just gaze at the sky.

"It's been a while since I've been so relaxed," she said to herself as she closed her eyes to relish the passing wind. "If only it could stay like this forever."

"What's on your mind?" Kazuma asked as he sat down next to her.

"I was just thinking about how peaceful it is out here," she implied as she continued to gaze up into the sky. "To be honest, I wish that it could be like this in the city."

"Tch... I don't blame you," Kazuma snorted. "I was only there for a few hours, and I wanted to get the hell out of there as soon as possible."

She couldn't help but just to smile at him. Mimori felt at ease when she was around him. All of the crimes he had done in the past didn't matter to her anymore. To her, she felt as if she was seeing the real Kazuma, not the criminal that is wanted by HOLY.

They continued to gaze at the sky when something in the distance caught their eyes.

"What is that over there?" Kazuma wonderingly asked.

Mimori looked harder and when she saw what it was her eyes went wide. "It's a HOLY transport vehicle."

"How bout that, my day keeps on getting better and better," Kazuma excitingly said. "Hopefully that bastard Ryuho is in there, I've been waiting to get a rematch with him."

"Wait Kazuma, please don't go and fight with them," Mimori pleadingly asked.

"What! Why the hell not?"

At that question Mimori froze. Of course she didn't want him to fight with Ryuho because she didn't like fighting and didn't want any of them to get hurt. But was there another reason behind it? Was she starting to feel differently about the young alter user?

She just shook her head and dismissed those thought. "Please just don't fight him, think about the farmers and Kanami."

"Do you really want to start a fight and risk their safety?"

Kazuma looked at her than at the farm behind them. He wanted to have a rematch with Ryuho, but then again he didn't want to get anyone involved with it. He stood there thinking and watching as the transport vehicle came closer. Kazuma growled with frustration and turned to Mimori.

"Fine I won't go this time, but I'm not going to let you stay here by yourself," he said as he gently but firmly grabbed her wrist.

"No, wait Kazuma," Mimori said as she grabbed is arm with both her hands to stop him.

He turned to her in confusion. "What?"

"Don't worry about me, I can stay here and stall Ryuho while you go and leave with Kanami."

"I'm not leaving you with that bastard."

"Please Kazuma just go, for me," she pleaded with him.

As much as he didn't like the idea of leaving her behind, he nodded to her and left to go and get Kanami. "Why should I care if I leave her with those damn HOLY members?" he thought to himself. "She's with them every single day." He quickly dismissed the thoughts as he came closer to where Kanami was.

"Ryuho do really think believe that alter user is out here?" Tachibana asked. "So far we haven't seen anything that shows that he has been around."

Ryuho paid no attention to the alter user as he continued to watch the monitors for any signs of Kazuma. Even if it was just a rumor heard that he was in the vicinity, he wasn't going to let the opportunity to fight him again slip away.

"Hey Ryuho, there's a signal on the radar," Tachibana said as he accessed the main computer to zoom in on the signal. "It's a person."

Ryuho came to the side of Tachibana within a second. "Is it Kazuma?"

Tachibana zoomed in more for the picture of the person. As the picture became clearer and into full view, the two alter users stood there with their eyes wide open.

"It's Miss Kiryu," Tachibana said disbelievingly. "What is she doing out here?"

Ryuho just stared at the monitor. "She said earlier that she had somewhere to be, but what could she possible do out here," he thought to himself. He wanted answers. He didn't care how he was going to get them, but one way or another he was going to get them.

Mimori stared ahead as the HOLY transport vehicle came closer and closer, until it finally stopped just a few hundred feet in front of her. She saw as both Ryuho and Tachibana came out and started to walk towards her.

What was she going to say? If they found out that she was with the wanted alter user, both she and Kazuma would be in severe trouble. She could just say that she was doing some research on the towns and on any native alter users that she could find.

As the HOLY members came even closer, Mimori became more nervous. She knew that Ryuho would be angry with her for coming all the way out here by herself, without anyone to keep her safe. Mimori's heart fell as she thought that now Ryuho would want her to leave to the mainland even more.

They were now in seeing and hearing distance. Mimori calmed her nerves as she casually waved to them and spoke. "Good evening Ryuho, Tachibana."

Tachibana was the first to reach Mimori when she spoke. "Miss Kiryu, what in the world are you doing out here by yourself." As soon as he finished his sentence Ryuho arrived next to him.

"I was doing some research on the native towns, and if possible, on some of the native alter users that live here," Mimori said with so much calmness that even surprised her.

Ryuho just glared at her. He knew that she was hiding something, but he didn't know what. "And did you come across any native alter users while you were out here?" he asked in a cold tone.

"No, I didn't." Mimori didn't like to lie, especially to Ryuho. But it was the only way to keep both her and Kazuma safe and out of trouble.

"Miss Kiryu, do you realize that if you had come into contact with one of the native alter users, that there was a high possibility that they would have been harmful to you?" Tachibana asked with concern in his voice.

"Yes, I was aware of that possibility Tachibana," she replied. "But I believe that not all of them are as bad as you think, that some maybe quite pleasant to be around."

"Nonsense," retorted Ryuho. "All native alter users are barbaric and give us HOLY member alter users a bad name, just like that Kazuma."

She wanted to tell him that he was wrong, that Kazuma was not barbaric. But she couldn't, she knew they would catch on to why she was defending him. So she just let it pass. As much as she wanted to prove them wrong, she knew she would never get the chance.

"Come, we're taking you back to HOLY headquarters with us," Ryuho commanded as he turned around and started to walk back to the vehicle.

Mimori didn't protest, she obediently followed behind Ryuho.

"Miss Kiryu, next time you want to venture out into the Lost Grounds make sure that you have a HOLY member escort you to make sure that you stay out of harms way," Tachibana requested as he walked beside her.

"I'm sorry if I worried you Tachibana, it just slipped my mind," she said as she smiled at him.

"It's alright, just next time remember to do so."

"I will no need to worry." Mimori slightly hung her head. She knew by the look in Ryuho's eyes that he was not done with her. "Could he have seen through my lie?" she sacredly wondered. Mimori knew that the ride back to HOLY headquarters would be a long one. She just hoped that when she reached HOLY headquarters that Ryuho won't force her to go back to the mainland because of her little venture to the lost grounds.

They finally reached HOLY headquarters just shortly after and hour had past. The ride back was silent. No one dared to make a sound. Mimori decided to go straight to her dormitory so she could avoid being scolded by Ryuho.

She reached her dormitory without speaking to Ryuho. But before she could settle herself there was a knock on the door. Fate must have not been on her side, because the person that was at the door was none other than Ryuho.

"Ryuho, what are you doing here?"

"I need to speak with you."

"Alright." Mimori stepped aside to let him in.

"What were you really doing out there?"

"I told you before that I was doing some research," she calmly responded.

"Tell me the truth, you said before that you had somewhere to be and I highly doubt that it was just to get some research out on the lost grounds," Ryuho said more angrily.

"What reason would I have to lie to you Ryuho?"

"To protect something or someone that doesn't deserve to be protected," he said as he narrowed his eyes at her.

"I have nothing to hide."

He still knew that she was hiding something, but for now he would just let it go. "I do not want you going out into the Lost Grounds from now on."

"What, but why?" she asked disbelievingly.

"There are many dangerous alter users out there, so is that Kazuma character," he sternly said. "We do not need another incident like we had when he took you hostage."

Mimori looked into his eyes and could see that even with their usual cold look; she could tell there was something else in there. Could it be worry? Was he worried about her? She internally smiled at this.

"If I decide to go back out to the Lost Grounds, I will take someone with me," she said with a smile. "Will that be ok with you?"

He stood there contemplating on whether to let her have that or to just forbid her from going at all. He won't lie to himself he was worried when he saw her out there by herself; he doesn't want her to get hurt. But with letting her go out into the Lost Grounds will multiply the possibilities of that happening. Ryuho also knew that if he did forbid her to go she will most likely find a way to go even if he told her not to.

He took one last hard look at her before turning his back to leave. "Do as you wish." With that he left.

Mimori let go of the breath that she didn't know that she was holding. She was happy that he actually was going to let her go out there again. She didn't want to go out there with a HOLY member, but if she ever wanted to see Kazuma or Kanami again she will have to. She will just have to find a way of getting away from that person. She just sighed as she went to take a nice long bath and go to sleep. She was mentally and physically tired from the day.

Ryuho was walking down the halls replaying in his mind of what had just happened. The commander told them of a rumor that Kazuma was near, but instead of finding him they found Mimori. But something was off; to him she was just too calm. And when he went to her dormitory to tell her to never go there again, he actually said to do as she wishes.

"Why did I say to do as she wishes?" he thought to himself. "I should have stuck to what I said about never going there again."

He brushed off the thoughts for now. He needed to clear his head. Inside his head was a mixture of anger, frustration, and worry. So he went to the only place that he knew of where he could relieve and clear his mind, the gym. Tomorrow is when he will think more on the matter.

So what did you guys think? Did you like it? Hope you did. Sorry once again for taking forever to update, I'll try to update the next chapter faster, k. Please R&R. Thanks!