(A/N: PLEASE DON'T KILL ME! Yes I know I'm two days late, give or take a few minutes since its just past midnight, but having to register for school and work unexpectedly throws a person off! But I tried to make it up to you guys with an extra long chapter! Hopefully, more will be longer like this as the story goes on, but only time to tell. I see there are still no reviews, but I meant what I said and I said what I meant, so I'm not going to pester you nice people reading my story for reviews. I appreciate the story traffic, and that's enough for me {although if people did review me I would know the names of people to thank, but thats beside the point}. Anyway, on with chapter 3! Enjoy!)
Chapter 3: Second time's the charm
A few days after the twins amazing discovery, Rio was determined to make one of his own. He was currently gathering supplies for a day trip to the ruins, hopefully without his mother knowing. Packing some rope, a bottle of water, some dried goods like crackers and beef jerky, and some extra shoes (he had lost more than one pair to the ruins), he felt ready. Double checking everything, he headed out the door, but not before bumping into someone. Stepping back, his face lit up.
"Ichiro! Nice to see you!" He held out his hand to shake.
"Hey Rio, looks like your planning for a trip." The long haired blonde eyed his friends backpack.
"Just a little excursion in the ruins, wanna come?" Rio raised an eyebrow tauntingly, knowing Ichiro Yamamura of all people wouldn't be able to resist the offer.
"Wouldn't miss it." He shot back, knowing exactly what the red head was getting at. The duo had always been...a bit overly competitive when it came to finding treasures in their cherished ruins. Rio because it was a passion of his since he was a young child, Ichiro because he secretly one upping Rio and giving the treasures to his father, a scientist at the research outpost ten miles from town. As they headed down the main street, they greeted various neighbors on their way, trying to keep conversation to a minimum. The artificial sun was high in the cloudless domed sky, indicating they had started late and couldn't stay too long. Once the edge of town was achieved, each boy looked to the other, faces solemn and serious. "What are we looking for this time?" Ichiro asked.
"The remains of Zero." Rio answered singly, knowing it would spark up an interest in his blue eyed rival. And it did indeed, the other boy lost his serious stare just for a moment to shock.
"How can you be sure there are still remains to be found, Rio?"
"That's for me to know and for you to find out. See ya there, slowpoke." Rio winked playfully, taking off at his top speed toward the ruins. The race had commenced: who would be the first to find the second greatest discovery in history.
...
Ichiro didn't know how Rio had found out the location of Zero's remains, but he couldn't lose to him, the unprofessional looter that he was. So, in the interest of science, he had to win. The near edge of the decrepit city came quickly on the horizon, and soon both boys were in the thick of it, twisting and turning through the metal jungle (which was turning more into a natural jungle every day) towards their destination. Ichiro followed close behind Rio, but stayed out of sight, figuring he might as well let the clueless boy lead him right to the prize. As he shadowed him, the blonde took note when his rival pulled out a piece of paper as he hopped over an old girder. There was writing on it, but being at the distance he was, Ichiro couldn't make it out. Studying it intensely, Rio seemingly decided on a direction and continued on through the maze. After about another fifteen minutes of trekking, Ichiro began to feel a little wary of the intended destination of this trip, as it seemed like Rio was heading straight for the Edge, bypassing the ruins altogther. He had never liked the Edge, it spread a little shiver through his body just thinking about it. All the children that lived on the continent learned when they were very young that the artifical gravity acted differently there, malfunctioned because of the unsymmetrical shape of their home. Anyone who imched too close could get pulled over the Edge and slingshot out into space, having no way back in to the safety of the domed forcefield. Snapping himself out of the unpleasant thought, he felt his stomach drop as he watched Rio pass the last building of the ruins, the Edge a mere hundred yards away.
'Is he some sort of suicidal idiot!?' Ichiro questioned in his mind as he stood at a safe distance, near one of the buildings on the outskirts, watching Rio blindly follow the directions on his piece of paper. The boys eyes widened as he saw the red head had no intention of changing course whatsoever. The gap between him and the Edge slowly closed; fifty, forty-five, forty...
"RIO!" Ichiro finally opened his mouth, not wanting to be the person responsible for Rio's death.
"Oh! You found me I see!" Rio whirled around and called back, still competitive.
"Rio do you have a death wish!? Get away from there before you hurt yourself!" Ichiro cut to the chase, sending the message that he was done playing games.
"Ah hah! I finally know something the great Ichiro doesn't! What, your dad didn't tell you about what he's been hiding lately?" Rio taunted him as he inched ever closer to certain doom.
"What does my dad have to do with you being suicidal!?" Ichiro was beginning to get frantic, Rio had gone off the deep end, and was about to do so literally!
"Follow me and you'll find out!" Rio offered, now walking backward, but destination never changing.
"What are you talking about!? Rio get back over here before-!" He stopped as he watched Rio disappear as his foot touched the Edge. Ichiro stood there, dumbfounded at Rio's own stupidity. He imagined having to tell Gina and Gerry, Rio's mother about what he had let happen, what he could have prevented.
'What have I done...?' And just as Ichiro was about to break down (though he would deny it later), he heard a voice:
"Dude, you coming or what?" Looking back to the spot where his friend had disappeared, the blonde saw A disembodied Rio head staring at him, as if he were the crazy one. "Its a hologram Ichiro, don't be so surprised."
