Second chapter done! I hope I didn't introduce the next regular too soon…

Chapter 2

It had taken Ryoma all night to reach the stairs where, above that, was the spot in which he had been searching for and Ryoma could say with certainty that that night was the worst he had ever had.

For hours he had to stay weary of his surroundings, hiding wherever he could if he heard anything suspicious or any sirens and there had been a lot more police cars on duty then usual.

Once he had even almost been caught, but it seemed luck had been on his side as at that moment, a drunken fight had occurred on the other side of the street and in that commotion, Ryoma had managed to slip away.

Now, Ryoma stared at the stairs in front of him, an almost nervous feeling came over him, one which he wasn't quite used to feeling.

Would any of the regulars be up there, waiting? Could he be so close to the others?

Heart pounding, Ryoma slowly walked up the stairs, hopeful and slightly antsy with anticipation.

What would happen if they weren't there?

What if they were?

Ryoma hadn't seen any of his team mates in nearly five years and he had to wonder. How much had they changed? How much had he changed? Could he even trust himself to rely on them?

Ryoma couldn't answer any of these questions but soon found it did not matter.

For Ryoma had just walked up the stairs and his eyes immediately found the empty space where the storage box had been… and no regular to be found.

Off course. Hadn't Eiji and Oishi said something about it being disposed of? Regardless of that, Ryoma tugged his hoodie down and glanced around, searching for any sign of any of the regulars.

Only… it could never be that easy, could it?

Apart from him, there was no sign of life, no sign that any apart from him had come there. Perhaps he had been wrong…

Ryoma's eyes narrowed. Just because they didn't seem to be there yet, didn't mean they wouldn't be. For all he knew, they could be living on the other side of Tokyo and it would take more than a few hours walk to reach this spot.

It was too early to tell if they would come or not, so, unfortunately for Ryoma he needed to stay put.

Yet it made him feel uneasy.

The area in which he was in was too open, easy for people to stumble into him or for eyes to watch him.

In other words, Ryoma didn't like it, not one bit.

Studying the area, Ryoma decided the best way to stay hidden would be in the small area of trees. There, unfriendly people would be less likely to find him, yet he could still have a clear view of the surroundings to look out for any old team mates.

Searching the area, Ryoma was glad there was no other people he had to watch out for and quickly made for the trees where it would give him cover. In any case, it would be harder for people to see him which meant that it would be less people that would notice him and run away, screaming, only recognising him as the murderer they perceived him to be.

'Tch' Ryoma thought in irritation. He would rather they go run and scream for something he did do, instead of something he didn't. Reaching the trees, Ryoma hurried in and then looked around, slightly lost.

Now what should he do?

Perhaps one of the regulars was in here as well, waiting and just didn't see him… or were sleeping, something Ryoma really wouldn't mind doing.

Perhaps he should call out, but his mind immediately rejected that idea. No, no matter what, he had his standards and there was no way he was going to call out the names of the others… it was just too… not him.

It was only then that Ryoma frowned and felt like kicking himself. His hoodie was up. If there was a friend in here, they might not even know it was him and if he was in their position, he would definitely not show himself, not until he was absolutely certain, not with what was at stake.

Giving the surroundings another quick glance, Ryoma pulled down his hoodie, uncovering his face. Ryoma waited… hoping, because, if this didn't work, he had no idea what he was going to do.

Then, there was a sudden noise of leaves rustling against each other and Ryoma was struck with an overwhelming feeling of caution and worry. It was probably a regular, probably, yet it was impossible to not feel the doubt which crawled up inside.

What happened if someone else was here, and they saw him and were startled and horrified… recognizing his face from the news….

A second later, another noise was heard behind him.

Ryoma held his breath, frozen as he hoped that it wouldn't be anything bad. He didn't know what he would do if it was the cops or something like that.

What would he do if it was the cops? Or what if it was a random person? People all around Tokyo would probably recognize his face and then they would call the cops no doubt.

What if… His thoughts were suddenly cut off as there was another small noise before he heard a small thump on the ground. Ryoma shifted, getting ready to spin around and go into a defensive stance.

Until…

"Ochibi… is that you?" A voice, so recognizable, yet so different asked from behind. Ryoma blinked slowly, relief quickly replacing the other emotions.

He knew that voice.

Ryoma darted around and there he was.

Eiji Kikumaru.

Only the Eiji he knew always had a smile on his face, enthusiastic and excited. This one… had the same looks, the same bandage on his cheek, but his tone was much milder… uncertain, fearful.

"Kikumaru-sempai!" Ryoma breathed out, relief flowing over him. Eiji stared dully before his eyes widened with the same relief Ryoma was sure was in his eyes.

"Ochibi…Ochibi!" Eiji cried out, as he ran over to Ryoma and hugged him with all his might. It was not his usual glomping technique though. This one felt more like a hug of desperation, relief and fear all at once. Ryoma stood still, but he didn't have the heart to tell Eiji to get off of him, not with the way Eiji looked at the moment and not with the frantic grip Eiji had on him.

With everything that had happened, Ryoma was sure that Eiji had a similar story of how he had gotten into this situation.

Then Ryoma blinked as he felt his jacket become wet. Eiji was crying, Ryoma realised and now that he knew that, he could hear the suppressed sobs which Eiji let out ever so quietly.

"Kikumaru-Sempai…" Ryoma trailed off. Eiji's grip tightened a fraction. He had always been an emotional and expressive person.

"...Sorry Ochibi…. Could we stay like this for a little longer?" Eiji's muffled voice asked vulnerably. Ryoma put an arm around Eiji and leaned back into the tree behind him, looking up at the sky wistfully.

"Okay," Ryoma's voice was quiet, matching the sadness in Eiji's voice and thought on the next step. He had found Eiji thankfully, the next person they would most likely meet would be Oishi, then at least he wouldn't have to handle Eiji alone.

Question's nagged at him though. What would they do if Oishi didn't turn up? Or if the cops found out where they were? Where would they go? How would they escape? What had happened to all of the others? Were they even safe?

Ryoma inwardly smacked his head for the last question.

None of them were safe.

Not until their names were clear. Not until…

They found out who framed them.

Ryoma supposed he should be glad that he wasn't alone in facing this… but a part of him wished he was alone and with the other regulars going about their daily lives. The other part was so thankful for the support even if he would never ever say that aloud.

Ryoma felt Eiji shift slightly before moving away from him, rubbing his face of the last of the tears, his eyes slightly puffy and red.

"Sorry Ochibi, I'm just so relieved that I was able to finally meet one of us," One of us, Ryoma thought dully. That really was what it was coming down to, wasn't it. All nine of them could only depend on themselves and each other and Ryoma had discovered that the hard way. He could still feel the betrayal of Sakuno sting inside.

"I know," Ryoma said. "Same here," Eiji twitched slightly, his arms grabbing Ryoma and shook him slightly in panic.

"What's going on? I-I don't understand! One moment everything is fine! The next, the cops are after me and I don't… I don't…!" Eiji blurted out frantically. "I'm scared! What's going on Ochibi!?" Eiji pleaded, his voice cracking at the end.

"Kikumaru-Sempai…" Ryoma frowned. "I don't know either," Eiji's look was so dejected that Ryoma sighed, wondering if that was how he looked to Eiji. With a frown, Eiji slid to the floor, despair written all across his face. Ryoma shifted slightly before sitting on the ground as well, a question popping up in his head, one which he really wanted an answer to.

"How did you get framed?" Ryoma asked intently. Eiji's head jerked up before pulling up a leg to his chest and stared at Ryoma with such a hollow expression that Ryoma almost regretted asking.

"It was just a normal day," Eiji whispered his eyes large in remembrance. "I had just gotten off my shift at work and my big sister's baby girl was having her first birthday, so I went to the shopping centre to look for a present. I-I don't…" Eiji shook his head, turning slightly angry.

"Why?! Why didn't I see? I kept feeling as though someone was following me but I shrugged it off! I went into the shops… then I don't remember what happened cause I think I was knocked out… but when I woke, people were screaming, running away, and police were running in…" Eiji's hands shook. Ryoma stared, stunned.

"A bomb had gone off…" Eiji uttered.

"How did you get away?" Ryoma breathed out, feeling horrified for Eiji's sake. He knew that what he had gone through was bad, but this was bad in a completely different way.

"I… was in the corner and they didn't see me. But I heard my name coming from them and that an anonymous tip told them that I.. had set the bomb off. I don't know what I was thinking but I ran out a back exit and don't remember if they followed or not…" Eiji told him.

"Did… anyone die?" Ryoma inquired slowly. Eiji's mouth turned grim but he slowly shook his head.

"I don't think so. Many had injuries though," Eiji said while Ryoma nodded.

"How did you know that the same thing happened to us?" Ryoma asked. For the first time, Eiji gave a little grin as he held up a little device. An mp3.

"It has the radio," Eiji said before staring intently at Ryoma. "There is talk about us everywhere,"

"What's your story?" Eiji asked. Ryoma frowned, ignoring the feeling inside of him which told him to tell Eiji to 'stop prying into his business.' It was only fair to relate his story to Eiji, but now he knew exactly how Eiji felt. Never did he imagine that even thinking about relaying what had happened could make him want to throw up.

"A man came into work, told me he called the cops, then forced me to kill him…" Ryoma forced out, glancing away, a slight green tinge coming onto his face as he remembered all the blood. Eiji stared, horrified.

"W-What? Ochibi? What do you mean he forced you to kill him?" Eiji choked out.

"He grabbed my hand, and put it over his gun, with his hand on top of mine and forced me to shoot," Ryoma ignored the lump in his throat.

"God.. Ochibi…. How could…. I'm so sorry," Eiji stammered, slightly pale.

"Don't be, same thing happened to you after all," Ryoma said with a sigh. Eiji shook his head.

"Not like that though! What happened to you… is a lot worse….!" Eiji said slightly teary.

"Kikumaru-sempai…." Ryoma muttered.

"Eiji, call me Eiji," Eiji interrupted. Ryoma studied Eiji before nodding. He would have his reasons after all. Perhaps his family had betrayed him the same way Sakuno had betrayed him. He hoped not though. It was a horrible thing to go through and for Eiji who had two older brothers, two older sisters, grandparents and parents, if he were to go through that, it would be almost unbearable.

"Sure,"

Ryoma leaned back till he was lying down and covered his eyes with his arm.

"I want ponta," Ryoma grumbled and was surprised to hear Eiji laugh.

"Nya! No matter what, Ochibi will be Ochibi!" Eiji said with a smile before leaning back as well. It looked like Eiji was becoming more Eiji-like as well, something Ryoma was grateful for. At least that Eiji he knew how to handle.

"Tch," Looking up at the sky, Ryoma wondered how late it was getting, not to mention, he was getting quite hungry. Unfortunately, his stomach chose that time to grumble.

"Nya?" Eiji propped his head up. "Your hungry?" Ryoma made another "Tch" Noise, but other than that, chose not to answer as his stomach as Eiji's question raised another to mind.

They needed food.

How were they supposed to get any?

Just walking into a supermarket filled Ryoma with dread and fear, but sometime, they would have to.

"Nya, Oishi should be here soon," Eiji said, his voice saturated with excitement and hope as he changed the subject.

"And if he's not?" Ryoma asked. Eiji's head turned his way, determination and confidence in he's voice.

"He will be," Eiji said with a enthusiastic smile. "He has to be. We're the golden pair! He has to know where I would be waiting for him!"

Ryoma didn't say anything. He didn't want to.

The truth was that Ryoma had seen Oishi around this area a few times in the last few years and that made it more than likely that Oishi lived in this area. If that was true, then Oishi should have already arrived at this spot, but he hadn't and that did not bode well for them.

Ryoma hoped that Oishi was just farther away than he anticipated, because the only other option was that something else had happened since being framed.

"Nya! I can't wait to meet Fujiko again! And Momo, Tezuka and…everyone!" Eiji's voice was like a little kid on a sugar rush. "Aren't you excited Ochibi?" Ryoma stared.

"Yea…" He answered. Eiji frowned, a light, good natured scowl appearing on his face.

"Ochibi's so cold!" Eiji protested as he rolled onto his stomach to get a better look at Ryoma who rolled his eyes, getting into the old familiar routine.

"Your just too hyper," Ryoma argued back without bite as he rubbed his eyes tiredly, something which Eiji immediately picked up on.

"Are you tired? You can sleep if you want Ochibi," Eiji said. Ryoma was about to protest but before he could say anything, Eiji flicked him on the nose. "Sleep, I'll keep watch. I'm not tired yet,"

Ryoma gave in pretty easily. He really was tired, not to mention, he really wanted to fall asleep just so he could forget about everything that had happened.

"Tch, Wake me if you're feeling tired," Ryoma mumbled, already falling asleep. If they both fell asleep, not only was there a chance of missing Oishi, there was a chance that people could find them and they would be completely oblivious to it.

Eiji's faint "Hoi Hoi!" Was the last thing Ryoma heard as he sank into sleep gratefully.

&*&*&Eiji &*& Ryoma&*&*&

Once Ryoma had rested, they had swapped, allowing Eiji to get his much needed rest.

This time though, when both were well rested, there was an air of tenseness around them. It was an uncomfortable feeling and one which both tried to ignore.

As time went by though, this feeling grew even further, leaving Eiji very skittish and Ryoma even less talkative.

Not to mention, by this stage, both were hungry, very hungry.

"Eiji…" Ryoma spoke up. Eiji's head sprang up from his position.

"He'll come!" Eiji spoke, frustrated worry in his voice. "I know he will," This time though, it lacked the confidence it had before.

"And if he doesn't?" Ryoma asked, his voice slightly strained. Oishi wasn't just a friend of Eiji's after all.

"He will… he has too…"

All Ryoma could think was that Eiji was setting himself up for a near certain disappointment. It was worrying though, that Oishi hadn't turned up.

What did that mean? For them and for him?

They couldn't keep waiting much longer. Ryoma doubted that it was a good idea to stay in that place for too much longer, and not to mention that both would have to search for food very soon. Ryoma glanced over at Eiji and although, he wasn't a very caring person, he was reluctant to voice his opinion in this matter. The slight crease around Eiji's eyes, the way his eyes continuously searched the area for any signs, even Even Eiji's posture or the clench of his fists revealed just how much this was bothering him.

"Eiji, does your MP3 have any battery left over?" Ryoma spoke up suddenly. Eiji blinked before regaining his enthusiasm and nodded cheerfully, albeit, less than the usual amount.

"Hoi hoi!" Eiji took his Mp3 out and gave one of the headphones to Ryoma before turning it on.

Both waited in suspense, only to hear static on through the earphones.

Both waited, but no other sound came through and both boys slouched in disappointment.

"Something's interfering with the connection," Eiji grumbled in frustration.

"Eiji, we need to leave," Ryoma said reluctantly. Eiji's head shot up.

"No! We can't! Not without Oishi!" Eiji vehemently argued, his eyes wide.

"We have to! We can't stay here and we need to find some food," Ryoma argued back.

"No! We just have to wait a little longer, you'll see, he'll come…." Eiji's voice was emotional and distressed.

"He's not going to come!" Ryoma shot back and immediately Eiji was struck silent, teary. "Eiji, if you want to find Oishi, staying here isn't the way to do it! If he hasn't come here already, then I doubt he will. You can either stay here and be found or go out there searching for him!" Ryoma locked his eyes onto Eiji who looked like he had been hit, hard in the stomach.

The hope in Eiji's eyes was almost non-existent and as he continued to look at Ryoma, his posture slowly become one with defeat.

"Your right," Eiji eventually said, his voice solemn.

Nothing more was said after that and both looked at one another with trepidation before looking out towards the path, outside the trees they were hiding in.

"Nya… do you feel nervous?" Eiji asked, eying the outside world from their little tree hideout. Ryoma made a noise in his throat, refusing to answer.

"Pull your hood up," Ryoma said instead. Eiji complied before both slowly walked through the trees.

With a few more steps, they reached the end line of the trees and although Ryoma felt better than before he had found Eiji, a new cloud hung over their heads.

What had happened to Oishi?

&*&*&*&*&* Ryoma&*&Eiji &*&*&*&*

Second chapter done! I really wanted to get the characters personalities correct, but I don't know how well I did… it's really hard to tell how they would react in a situation like this.

Now I'm probably not going to introduce the next regular (and I have no idea who it will be either…well, technically I have some idea :P ) for a few more chapters cause I don't want this to be too unrealistic. Plus, this chapter is mostly just Eiji and Ryoma based and them trying to cope with the situation. There will be more happening in the next chapter.

Review if you like please!