Author's Note: Chapter 2 right away, like I promised! SEE, Alba? I told you I wouldn't leave you hanging for too long.

Alba: Yeah, whatever...

Shima: Warning time!

WARNING WARNING WARNING: This fanfic WILL make you cry. You will scream. You will hate my guts. You will throw bricks and rocks and tables and whatever else is convenient to you. This is NOT for the lighthearted. I may have to bump it up to an M rating if things get too bad. I AM WARNING YOU. You will not be happy with me. This story starts out nice but it only gets worse. It never, EVER gets better. Nope. SO! It contains dark themes like suicide, death, depression, ANGST ANGST ANGST, torture, and even more fun stuff. So, if that's not your cuppa tea, and if you hate seeing your favorite characters spiral into insanity, I suggest you turn back now, because I may end up scarring you for life, and I don't want to be responsible for that. DON'T SAY I DIDN'T WARN YOU. 'Kay? :)

It's just here to remind you what you're getting into.

Alba: I'm scared...

Shima: GOOD! You should be! I don't have that much to say this time around, except, REVIEW, guys! It's kinda like an early Xmas gift for me! I'd really appreciate it! But no flames, okay? Those aren't nice. Alrighty, Alba-kun, disclaimer?

Alba: No! Where's Ros? Make him do it!

Shima: -rolls eyes- Ugh, fine! ROOSSSS!

Ros: What?

Shima: Do the disclaimer, pretty please.

Ros: -sighs- Shima doesn't own Senyuu...

Shima: If I did, Ros and Alba would've been a couple since the first chapter.

Alba: 0\\\\\0 Wh-wh-WHAT?!

Ros: ...Heh.

Shima: Let's get this show on the road! ROLL THE CHAPPY!

Chapter 2

Disappearing Without A Trace

Alba rushed towards that special intersection the next day, a piece of toast in his mouth. Of course he'd overslept! Just his luck.

He reached the intersection not too much later, panting heavily. It was a special place to him, at least in the mornings. He always had conflicting feelings about it—in the morning, it was a good place to go, because that's where he'd meet up with Ros everyday, but in the evening, he disliked it because that's where he'd always say goodbye. It was strange, to say the least.

"Ros, I'm sorry I'm late, did I keep you waiting too lo—" He stopped when he realized that the crimson-eyed teen was nowhere to be found.

Alba tried to ignore the feeling of his heart dropping to the pit of his stomach. Well, of course he wouldn't be here. Alba did sleep in late, after all.

Fighting off the sense of dread he'd been feeling since the night before, Alba started off towards school.

I guess he must've gotten tired of waiting for me, he thought, stepping along. I'll have to apologize to him when I see him...

With a grunt he picked up his pace, his feet clapping against the sidewalk. Hopefully he'd make it in time before first period.

"He isn't here?"

Rchi shook her head, frowning. "I didn't see him come in this morning."

Alba gained a frown of his own. Worry gnawed at him. "I-I see...maybe he's sick? He was acting kinda weird yesterday..."

Rchi tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Now that you mention it, he was a little off. Before he left school he gave me a stuffed animal and told me to look out for you."

Alba looked at her in surprise. "He did?"

"Yeah...I thought it was a little strange..."

"Are you guys talking about Ros?"

The pair looked up when Foyfoy came sauntering over. "He gave me some weird dating tips yesterday, clapped me on the back, and left. Did you guys notice him being wacky too?"

"So it isn't just us..." Alba mused. He pulled out his phone. "Maybe we should try texting him."

Rchi nodded. "Okay. Maybe you were right, and he is sick."

Alba typed out a quick message and clicked send.

Me: Hey, where are you? Are you okay?

Message failed to send.

"Huh?" Alba murmured. "Failed to send?"

Foyfoy leaned over his shoulder, lips pursed. "Try again."

Alba shrugged and clicked the resend button. Again, the same message from before popped up: "Message failed to send."

"It's not working," Alba whined. "Why isn't it working?"

"Is something wrong with his phone?" Foyfoy asked.

Alba shook his head. "No, not that I know of."

"And your phone?"

"Perfectly fine last time I checked..."

Rchi peered over at the screen. "Maybe try calling instead?"

"Alright, might as well give it a shot." He quickly changed apps and found Ros' number before clicking the call button. He held it up to his ear, waiting. It rang once...twice...three times, four...

"We are sorry. The number you are trying to reach no longer exists. We apologize for the inconvenience."

Alba's face drained of all color.

"Did he answer?" Rchi asked, gazing up at him.

Foyfoy noticed his expression and frowned worriedly. "Alba? You okay?"

Rchi realized what was going on too, and she started rubbing Alba's back in a comforting manner. "Alba-san?"

"Th...there's something wrong," he choked. "I-it says his number no longer exists. Why? It worked just fine when I texted him a few days ago, so why is this...happening n-now?"

"Let me see," Foyfoy demanded, snatching his phone away. He redialed Ros' number and waited while Rchi patted a pale Alba's back.

"I'm sure he's fine, Alba. Maybe he got a new number?"

"He wouldn't do that without telling me!" Alba cried, shaking. "Where is he? Is he home? I want to go see him..."

"Alba-san, please," Rchi pleaded. "You're overreacting. I'm sure everything's just fine. Why don't we go stop by Ros-san's house after school and pay him a visit?"

Alba visibly relaxed at this. He nodded slowly. "...Okay."

Foyfoy walked back over to them, shaking his head. "Yeah, something must be wrong with his phone. I'm thinking he got a new number or something."

"That's just what I was telling Alba-san," Rchi said with a smile.

The three of them jumped when the classroom door opened and the teacher walked in.

"Good morning, class. Please take your seats."

Everyone sat down, chatting quietly. Alba looked to his left, frowning. It was weird not having Ros there.

"Excuse me, sensei?" He raised his hand.

She arched an eyebrow at him. "Yes, Fruhling-kun?"

"Um, I was wondering if you know where Ros is? I mean, he's not answering his phone, so...d-did he, uh, call in sick today?"

The teacher stared at him for a few moments, looking highly uncomfortable. Alba felt a rush of panic overtake him. Just what was going on?

"O-oh...well, actually...I received a message yesterday regarding his absence..." She straightened her glasses with a small sigh. "It seems that he's, um...moved away."

Alba froze.

What...?

Message failed to send.

"No!"

Message failed to send.

"Why, why...?"

"We are sorry. The number you are trying to reach no longer exists. We apologize for the inconvenience."

"Dammit...!"

"We are sorry. The number you are trying to reach no longer exists. We apologize for th—"

Alba slammed his phone down on the table. The screen cracked in two, but he didn't care. He buried his head in his arms and let out a quiet cry of anger.

"Why is this happening...?"

"I'm sorry, Fruhling-kun. But he no longer attends this school."

"C-can't you contact him for me?! Please! I just need to talk to him!"

"I'm afraid he's left no way of getting in touch with him. I'm very sorry..."

"No...no, that can't...that can't be..."

This couldn't be happening.

"Alba-san..."

"Are you okay?"

"I heard about your friend."

"Did Ros really leave?"

"Wow...so, he's really gone, then..."

"What should we do?"

"He's not answering us..."

"Alba-san, Alba-san..."

"Alba?"

"Hey, Alba!"

"Are you okay?"

"Do you need to go to the nurse?"

"He's not answering..."

"Alba..."

"Alba-san, please..."

"Al—"

"Hero?"

Alba shot up from his position, tears rolling down his cheeks.

He stared at the clock on the wall, unmoving.

Why? Why is this happening to me?

Why?

Ros...Ros, Ros, Ros...where are you? Why did you leave so suddenly? Why didn't you say goodbye?

Why did you leave me, Ros?