As for the song in this chapter, it's from a role playing-game I play :) Although a cut version :) The song is not mine and goes to their rightful owners, only the story and OCs are mine :)


~Syo's POV~

Finding Nanami was harder than I thought, we did get to access some passages, but there's no end to this. Guess I'm all talk and no do, I need to hurry, I'm running out of time.

"Syo, how's your search?" It was Tokiya's voice, who was talking through the communicator, or you could say, walkie-talkie, a rather impressive walkie-talkie that could communicate at a wide range.

"No good, this base is like a labyrinth or something..."

"We're trying our best, if we run out of time, we'll be the ones to blame for it." whimpered Mina.

"It's not your fault, Mina-chan~ It's fate's fault."

"How do you manage saying that with such a cute voice?" I looked around and it seems the signs say we have revolved again, we're just going in turns then. Everyone's waiting, I can't just leave Nanami alone in this dark place, it eeked with creepiness. suddenly, there was another door in front of us.

"Not another key, don't tell me have to search at the neighbouring rooms again."

"But we have just been spinning and we already entered every door, this is stupid. We're going around in circles."

"You don't have to tell me that, Nagi. It's not helping."

"It's bad, our allies inside this base have been eliminated as in the status report, we're alone searching, we have to search ourselves. I guess President Saotome-san is trying to stop us even if he has to do anything to achieve it." Mina was using her cell phone which had some extra software used for emergencies, and now was an emergency, because she knew her brother thought it was an emergency. I guess busting the walls is the best alternative, I'm not exactly the most patient person in this thing.

"This is bad, there are only 15 minutes left..."

"Damn, we're going nowhere doing this." I swore to myself. Perhaps if I do this...

"NANAMI! If you're here, answer me!"

"There's no way that girl would just-" Ootori was interrupted by a response, Nanami's respose."

"Syo-kun? I'm here, I'm here!" Her voice echoed through the whole base, if only I could pinpoint the exact location... I could find her, and tell her everything.

Even to go far as to say... I love her.

~Nanami's POV~

I heard him calling my name. He seemed to be so close, yet so... far away. It made me come to my senses. Let's see... Saotome-san is away for the moment. He must have thought I was still asleep, however I do feel light-headed. At this rate... it's impossible for me to escape on my own. If I remember the password in this door... 4758-... This is bad, still 6 digits left which I don't know. If only I were strong enough to remember... If only I could send my true message to them through some way...

I didn't mean what I said earlier, the truth is I didn't want them to forget about me, it would be too painful. I don't to go back, to the life without them. So if only a bit, just give me a little time, for me to give them my message, my song.

~Syo's POV~

"The voice seems to come from downstairs. This base has 15 floors, she's in the first floor on the second door to the west."

"How exactly do you go down all the way down there?"

"Duh, elevator or stairs. Honestly..."

"The only elevator is accessed by Saotome-san's card, so we can't use it, and there is a trap there as well. As for the stairs, the stairs here are in criss-crosses, the structure may seem simple, but it's actually complex. It would take us a lot of time going through the stairs one by one, step, by step."

"Then... where else can we go?"

"There." Nagi was pointing to what seems like a space where there was a good view of all the floors, it looked high though.

"I have a rope~ We could tie it to that post and climb down, or if anyone wants to jump...~"

"Ain't that dangerous?"

"Nah...~ I'll be fine."

"Fearless?!"

"All in favour, raise your hand."

Everyone did, not me!

"Aw man... n-n-not heights again, AAAAAAH!"

"You seem pale, Syo-san."

"It seems... Syo-san is afraid of heights." Mina didn't say it like a weakness though.

"THAT'S LIKE SO FUNNY! HAHAHAHAHA!"

"Shut up, Mikado Nagi. Why don't you jump down?"

"Well then, out of respect to Syo-san's height phobia, anyone care to go first? Don't expect we delicate ladies to volunteer."

"DELICATE?! WHAT THE?!"

"I'll go first..." Kira held on the rope and supported himself, he then climbed down easily. Before we knew it, he was all the way down there. I gulped just looking at how far down it was.

-5 minutes later- -10 minutes left-

Only Karin and I were left, the walkie talkie was ringing. (Yeah, this is a different kind of walkie-talkie. A unique one.)

"Syo, how's it going there? Good luck with climbing down!"

"You saw how I..."

"Your reaction was priceless!" I hung up, no need to continue.

"Well then~ I'm next..." As Karin-chan was climbing down, I looked down again. I saw Nagi's lips move, saying the word... oh wait.

"WAIT WHAT? Karin-chan, ecchi alert!"

"Huh? Kyah! Waaaaah, don't peek!"

"Don't you dare peek," said Kira with a glare.

"Y-yes sir," squeaked Nagi.

Minutes later...

"Syo-san, you're the only one left."

"Go for it!"

"Seriously, you became an idol with a weakness like that?" I don't think that was necessary... not helping!

"Don't look down... Don't look down." I muttered to myself for encouragement.

"Don't worry, in case you fall, we'll catch you."

"You'll never be able to save that composer when you're like that." That's right, what Ootori said was right. As I am now, I'll never be able to save Nanami.

Overcome the fear, and move on forward.

"Song title: Song 4 U from: Tales of Xillia 2 Sang by: Ayumi Hamasaki

"Mata ashita ne tte (You say 'see you tomorrow')

Yoku kangaetenakute (Without thinking it over very much)

Egao de itta sono sugu ato (Right after you said it with a smile)

Mata ashita ne tte (See you tomorrow)

Ieru kimi ga (The you who can say it)

Ite kureru tte kizuku (I realize that part of you is by my side)

That voice... Nanami!

I felt time stop, and my heart was somehow relieved. The nervousness was gone, and I don't get goosebumps when I look down. Her voice's gentleness, the clarity, the emotions. It wasn't a song of farewell, a song of beginning.

"It seems... Nanami-san's voice reached Syo-san," Mina smiled.

"Her voice, I can tell it's really beautiful, just like her heart. Is this a new song?"

"That gitl is really talented, you really should surrender her to us."

"Not now Ootori, and never will you have her."

"Don't be so stingy... Kurusu Syo."

"Nagi-sama, that isn't really a nice way to put it..."

"She called me Nagi-sama?"

"Quit dreaming."

"Todoku kara, hibiku kara (Because it will reach, because it will echo)

Boku wa boku no mama kimi no (I will stay as I am)

Kanashimi goto dakishimeru yo (And embrace all of your sadness in my arms)

Ima date sonna ni (Even now)

Jishin wa nai yo (I don't have much confidence)

Fumi dasenai toki mo aru yo... (There are times when I can't step forward too)"

"We can't have her waiting for us that long, could we?" I jumped down, and landed on my feet.

"Bravo, Bravo! Hehehehehe~"

We're coming Nanami, we're coming.

-Minutes later- -Room entrance-

"Gee, not another password..."

"It has an option of a key card..."

"But... no other people are in this base aside from us, Nanami-san, and President Saotome. All the other minions are knocked out. We looked for stuff but... no other key cards."

"We'll ask Nanami," Syo banged the door.

"NANAMI! CAN YOU HEAR ME?"

"Yes, but... only 5 minutes left... I feel weak..."

"Nanami, can the door be opened from the inside?"

"Yes, but I don't know the password... The passwords for the inside and outside are both different."

"Then, Mina-chan, please, try to hack the protocols!"

"In 5 minutes?! That's impossible... Well, I'll try." She examined the keypad and opened the system.

"Let's see... if we do this... and this... and connect to the server computer... it should be sent to the control room... but someone needs to accept the opening of the door."

-5 minutes later-

"Oh look, it's open!"

"Oh no, this is bad."

"Mina-chan? Is the door opening bad?"

"No... but it appears that the one who approved of the opening of the door was..."

"YOU DON'T SAY..."

"President Saotome, he's coming for us now."

"Not good, can't we close the door?"

"It can only be closed in the control room, so we need to hurry and try to save Nanami-san..." Nanami was there, lying down at the floor. Her eyes were closed, but otherwise, she seemed fine.

"In case Saotome comes, call for back-up. We need the rest of STARISH and QN here, no, just Satsuki would be enough. You never know what he tricks he might have in his sleeve."

"Sure, I'll make the request right away~" I gave Karin the walkie-talkie and I let her handle it. I went closer to Nanami and touched her face. Her skin was rather cold... as if... Wait, was I too late?

"Nanami, wake up." I whispered. No response, she probably did use all her energy into singing, but... what could have made her fall into this state? I don't even know what I should do... or could do.

There's always this thing in games right? But I'm not that horrible... there's only one choice left that could leave her without harm. I'm sorry Nanami, I'm not taking advantage of the situation but...

I held her face closer to mine, it was hard to actually do it when I saw her lips seem to be out of colour than usual.

"I love you Nanami, these aren't only words. These are my feelings, please accept them. I don't know what you think of me, but I think of you as...a... very special person to me."

1...

2...

3...

And it was done, but some part of me didn't want to let go. It was something special, different from everything, but that was what it was meant to be right?

A glowing symbol appeared like the others, but this one shone brighter, golden sparks were raining everywhere, I don't know why. I saw Nanami slowly opening her eyes, I was relieved.

"Nanami, I'm glad, you're wide awake... Anyway, did you hear everything I said?"

"Only a bit, but I did hear the important things. I can't answer them now, but maybe soon. It's too hard to even decide."

"I'll give you more time, but I'm not sure whether time would allow it."

"This is like, going to the Sleeping Beauty route."

"YOU WERE PEEKING?!"

"Us too."

"These people sure have bold moves," teased Ootori.

"What is this? It feels soft.. like golden fluff."

"It is golden fluff," it was to all of their surprise, Ranmaru Kurosaki-senpai, along with the rest of QUARTET NIGHT. STARISH followed after, spotless.

"Much easier than Satsuki's battle, Shining Saotome wasn't really a problem. We tied him up and left him in a room."

"Satsuki did all the work~" said Natsuki cheerfully, which was creepily creepy.

"Wow, that's nasty..." chuckled Nagi..

"Thank you for saving me everyone... I'm really grateful."

"That kiss seemed really enjoyable Syo, but I'll let it slip. After all, Nanami is awake thanks to you."

"That was a bold confession, I salute you."

"We owe you a lot..."

"Wait, where's the dress?"

"Now that you mention it... aren't Nanami's clothes different?"

"Don't tell me Saotome-san did something to Nanami...!"

"H-He wouldn't possibly do that, he wouldn't dare..."

"Humph, you commoners need to rethink the possibilities."

"Camus, now's not a good time to say that..."

"Wait, Camus-senpai was here?"

"Aijima, isn't my presence so strong? Why can't you feel it?"

"No, I couldn't feel it. All those things about being a count is just..."

"And you being a prince is just atrocious."

"Zip the royal talk. You're making Ittoki imagine stuff." said Tokiya who was looking at Ittoki, who seemed to be in deep thought.

"I changed her clothes, I was also the one who recorded all the recordings." Ringo-sensei appeared without the usual smile he had in his face, he seemed guilty.

"Ringo-sensei! You trait-"

"Now now... I can make up for it... I can give you a way out faster, and of course I'll keep what I saw a secret from Saotome, at least, for now."

"What did he actually think about this? Why did he go so far as to kidnap Nanami?"

"It was sort of a test... Well sort of... but Saotome's resent of love is true. I can't tell you why yet, but you'll soon know. When the time is right, when what they say will happen in the future is true... At least, according to Saotome's prediction. When the time is right."

"Wait, so we have gone through ALL this trouble just because of a test?"

"President Saotome is a fortune teller?! You mean he holds a magic ball everytime where he says stupid stuff about the future?"

"A test of determination, in fact, I think Saotome was testing his own determination."

"Wait, put all that aside. So you're saying you changed Nanami's clothes?"

"Yeah~"

"WELL THEN, WHAT HAPPENED WHEN YOU PERV-"

"Aaaaah... that's enough for today, just tell us the way out."

"Sure... follow me."

Well, all's well that ends well... Or so I thought.

"The problem is that... it's a very high ladder... so..."

"Syo-chan's gonna have a hard time again... hehe~"

"Syo-san, want me to help you climb up?"

"I don't need a girl's help."

"Syo-kun," said Nanami, "Want me to help you up later?"

I considered, it was Nanami after all.

"So it had to be a special girl... Syo... you cheater."

"Don't say it that way! It sounds... disturbing."

-minutes later—ladder-

"Guess that was a punishment for Syo, judging that he was doing all sorts of things while we were gone."

I did think I'd gotten over my height problem but... Still, no. It took me long enough to even get to the top. Nanami gave me her hand and I took it, the warmth in her was back too.

Out of this dark place. Back to the light, to those days with Nanami.


That concludes the captivity arc :) \Out of the serious route, we have another contest by next chapter, and this one will only last for one chapter :)) No spoilers on what it is :) Stay tuned!~ :)

-BerryBliss