They all laughed at the boy's antics, his big form stumbling as he tried to keep his valance over the rock. It had been a little game they just made up. Whoever could stay longer over the rock in one leg won. It had been Benkei's third try in a row, he just couldn't last more than five seconds. Once again, he fell to the floor, everyone laughing good-heartedly at their friend.

"Give up Benkei, you're not going to make it." Said Hikaru with a playful smile. She was in third place with one of the best times; Yu in first and Kyoya in second. It had been a surprise for them all to see that Tsubasa didn't have a lot o balance but had ended up in fourth place after some long time of wobbling in the rock. Madoka was fifth and Kenta was sixth place. Benkei was obviously last place.

"Hell no!" He screamed with exasperation "I'm not giving up in this stupid game! Bull! Bull!" The charged over the rock once again.

"Yeah. So stupid you can't last more than five seconds." Smirked Kyoya and not a second after, watching the other eating grass (Literally).

Madoka giggled as the beybladers argued.

"I'm going to check on Hyoma. It's been some time now." Said the brunet walking to the house "I won't be long." She announced.

"We'll be here." Hikaru answered as she proved once again how much better she was Benkei than, standing over the rock and jumping a bit, having the laugh of her life at the tomato face of the boy.

The beyblade mechanic went silently through the house, crossing the living room and the other quarters.

"Poor Hyoma." She thought "He must be so bored… staying so long in his room, all on his own." She knocked lightly the door of the back room. "Hyoma? Can I come in?" She asked silently. "… Maybe he's still asleep." She said to herself. "Hyoma." She opened the door. "Hyoma…" Her eyes went wide open "Oh God…" She whispered.

She dashed out of the room, leaving the place all alone.

There; a lonely bed lying unmade, a window wild open with flapping curtains, a black sky that promised to cry. And not a single trace of the ill boy they where entrusted to care.

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

He was running. Running fast. Running like a wild animal. He was running free. Finally free. But he couldn't bring himself to smile at his accomplishment, oh no, he was way too gone in his hysterical thoughts for that. And as he ran, his body trembled with short shocks though he didn't notice.

He was swiftly shifting in the shadows, like he was one himself, between the alleys and behind the houses. Careful, so very careful that none of the villagers saw him. Though it really wouldn't have matter, no one would question him for being out and about, he was after all the village protector. Maybe they'd just ask if he was better, if he felt good. But no, paranoia had filled his brain and embraced his soul.

Thunder rumbled in the sky, making Hyoma's heart jump out of his chest.

"Calm down, for heavens sake… it's just thunder." He scolded himself at his silly reaction; his hands trembling, still a bit shaken. "Now…" He said thoughtfully "Where to go? Where to go?" It really didn't matter to him, anywhere would be better than where he currently was. Actually… the nearest entrance to the village would do just fine.

Pressing himself against the back-wall of a house, he took a quick pick to the streets, making sure it was all clear. With a nod, he shoot out of his hiding spot, running in the dark alleys of the village.

One turn, then another, two left, one right, straight, straight al the way.

"There!" He thought with excitement, his heart beating fast like the ones of the rabbits.

Even though that wasn't his favorite passage, it had been the first he had thought of.

It was a tree, a simple beautiful tree with a big rabbit hole at its feet… well roots. He felt strangely like Alice in wonderland every time he used it, but could you blame him? It was a damned rabbit hole. The other end of the passage was really similar to this one; it just ended out in by forest's borders, those that where closest to the village.

He took a deep breath as he stood before the tree. The main reason he didn't like it was because it was way too uncomfortable and he always got his clothes and hair messed up with dirt and twigs. He sighted. And with that last thought, he jumped down the rabbit hole.

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

"GUYS!"

Yu fell of the rock as a breathless Madoka crashed through the front door. Everyone stared at her wide-eyed, the eyes of the girl about to tear up.

"Madoka, what's wr…" Hikaru said in a soft voice, hiding her growing worry, trying to calm he friend. But the brunet didn't let her speak.

"It's Hyoma!" She shouted desperately. Everyone was silent. "He's gone!"

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

"What are we supposed to do?" Asked Kenta distraught. The others just barely keeping their emotions down. "How are we supposed to find him?"

They had been searching for Hokuto for the last minutes, guilt lingering in their minds. How could this have happened? How could they have been so careless? Their friend was close to having little to no health, he was so ill… They had lost him so easily.

"I don't know." Answered Hikaru, casting her eyes down.

"It's just… I don't understand," Tsubasa said, frowning in thought "he could barely stand up… How could've he done it? And as I heard from Ginga, his window was locked."

"It doesn't matter… right now we have to find Hokuto and fast." Interrupted Kyoya as the kept running up the village streets. "If anyone can tell us where Hyoma could have gone, it's him.

"Let's just hope we don't lose a lot of time in the scolding he's goanna give us…" Mumbled Hikaru. Everyone nodding at the thought.

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

"This is not good…" The dog said quietly.

Contrary to their beliefs, the little white anima hadn't lashed out at them. No, he had been a bit angery, but more than anything, understanding. 'I should've known better' He had said.

"We have to find him." He stated.

"We know that, but where?" Asked Hikaru nervously. "This places is so big. For all that we know he could be anywhere. Out in the woods even, or up in the mountain."

"He's not in the village." The dog assured "It's way to close to his memories for him…" He thought. "And I really don't think he would've run up to the mountain. At least I hope so, or he will be in grave danger… I don't think he would last much longer if he'd followed that path… It's way to cold."

"And what if he did?" Asked Yu in a small, frightened voice.

"He wouldn't have. No I know he wouldn't. He is, with out question, in love with the growing trees, the leaving things… the beating earth under his feet. He would've gone to the woods. I have no doubt about it…"

The sky rumbled again, making them look up at the playing cannons.

"It'll rain soon." Said Tsubasa quietly "We have to hurry."

Hokuto gave a sharp node.

"For Hyoma's sake, we have." Said the dog.

"But the forest is so big… How are we going to find him?" The green-haired kid asked, his fingers twitching anxiously.

"Let's just hope that in his condition he hadn't got far." Hokuto answered.

"Hokuto!" Shouted a voice, making everyone turn "Guys?" It was Ginga, his white scarf dangling in the air "What are you doing here? Never mind. Hokuto I've been looking for you everywhere, I just finished my shift. I was going to take a brake before the next one but couldn't find you…" He looked at his friends and teacher, wary of their grim expressions. "What's going on?" He asked cautiously.

The dog sighed "It Hyoma, Ginga…"

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

Far away from the Bladers and the dog, Hyoma walked beneath the earth. The tunnel was dark and damp, there where no torches he could use, but long nights by the stars light had shaped the boy's sight as sharp as a falcon's. Anyway he didn't have to know where he was going; he knew every pat to the village like the back of his hand, backward and forward. Though… the state he was in didn't help much. His fever made his brow radiate heat and pound with a headache; his sight wasn't much better, everything was fuzzy and his sense of direction was all but dead.

He wobbled over his feet, keeping a hand on the dirt wall for valance. It was a mystery to him where he got this renewed straight, but he thanked the lord for it. Maybe it had been the loving cares of his friends; though little they had been they had surely done something for his spirit.

He sighed, thinking about them would only make him feel worse… He had to get out, and fast. He really didn't think he could handle another minute trapped down the earth.

"God, just a few more minute." He begged silently as a stab o pain hit his heart with the thoughts he longed to forget. If he didn't get out of the tunnel he doubted he could keep his tears from falling any longer. Fear dug sharp nails around his heart, tugging at it painfully. "Please, just a few more minutes, just a few more minutes." He preyed with shaking breath, closing his eyes tightly. With new found straight he rushed at the way, his shoes making soft echo's as they tramped the floor.

There it was… soft light coming from a hole in the sealing. The lilac-gray haired boy stopped dead. It was dim and gray from the clouds outside, but so beautiful to the boy that it instantly filled him with relief.

Jumping and closing his hands on the first metal bar that was embedded on the hole, he climbed skillfully inside the earth. His breath came in short gasps as his back collided with the wall behind.

It was so closed. So closed. He couldn't breath. God have mercy. He couldn't breath. The walls where too close. His hands shot up the gap, grasping the roots to put himself out.

He was finally out.

The young boy took countless gasps of fresh air, fresher now that the sky was filled with rain clouds. He breathed the air until his lungs hurt so badly they where about to explode. It felt so good to breathe…

Now he remembered the main reason why he didn't use that entrance often…

Hyoma looked at the tall trees from his sit on the ground. His eyes widened for he had never seen anything more beautiful as the open space. And just like that, his cobalt eyes filled with water and Hyoma cried.

He let his body fall down to the ground where soft patches of grass grew, and with his arms covering his faces, he cried. His body shook in uncontrollable gasps and his cheeks where wet and dirty from the earth.

And he let himself crumble beside the rabbit hole and the trees as his only company.

He cried and cried and cried for his eyes seemed to have never-ending reserves of tears.

He was never again letting himself be trapped, never-again.

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

Abril: Pff… I'm really proud of this chapter, you know guys? But I'll leave that to you readers to judge, okay? Tell me what you think ( :

But seriously I think I felt the pain Hyoma was feeling as I wrote /:

But hey! Look at this! I didn't take so long (A pat for myself in the back.)

I'm happy right now n-n (And there is a hurricane over my country o-o No school tomorrow!)

Love and hugs to everyone.