((Disclaimer: I don’t own Scryed, S-CRY-ed, .ed, or any other variant spelling of this ridiculously awesome (albeit old) anime. =) This is going to mirror the original storyline in many aspects in the beginning (even dialogue), but there is significant deviation ahead. For example, this first chapter pretty much summarizes the first two anime episodes so we can get the introduction/lingo in there. =) If at all possible, find ‘Good Speed’ by Kotaro Nakagawato listen to in the middle. Those of you that are familiar with the series know how that song totally -makes- that scene. ::grins:: This is first-person POV – Mimori. ))

&3&

Dawn is finally breaking over the horizon, illuminating outlines of cragged rock formations previously forsaken by the moon. As we pass by the steep, ragged cliff sides, I feel a small pang of nostalgia. We’re getting closer to the city.

…Closer to you.

The dull whirr of the plane engine seems to have lulled most of my fellow passengers to sleep. Hushed conversations fade into the background as I press against the glass pane for a better look. As if on cue, the cloud cover breaks and I’m presented with an aerial view of the isolated land known as the Muraji Special Economic District. Well, that’s the technical label that’s been thrust on this area. At one time, it was called the Kanagawa prefecture.

Over twenty-two years ago, there was an unprecedented, inexplicable upheaval of land mass: The Great Uprising. That incident is said to have been the turning point in our society, for it divided us into two groups: normal humans and alter users. Alter is the unique ability to decompose and reconstruct materials using some kind of extrasensory power.

I guess I don’t understand why everyone on the mainland looks at this place with such distain. I know they’re afraid, but if they just took the chance to get know the alter users, I’m sure they would think differently. I’ve always believed that alter users are much closer to true human nature and that is what defines their existence. It will only be a matter of time before I’m able to prove that theory. I mean, that’s the path that I’ve chosen for myself. If everything goes well, I will be a research scientist for HOLD.

HOLD, of course, is the governing entity and police force of the Lost Ground. The organization, in of itself, is nothing more than an extension of the mainland’s power. It acts as a puppet in exchange for economic support and unquestionably executes orders passed down from the mainland. HOLY is a division of HOLD that is entirely composed of alter users. They’re somewhat of a special operations group, called upon to for dangerous missions that require their unique abilities. Many people believe that all of this is some kind of morally ambiguous gray area, but I’m not sure why.

Then again, I suppose I have a certain bias. I am Mimori Kiryu, daughter of the Mainland's top adviser for the Lost Ground: Tadanori Kiryu. Truthfully, that’s how I was able to take advantage of this opportunity to work in the Lost Ground. People treat me like some kind of… princess, when, in reality, I’ve done nothing to merit such a title. So what if my family funds HOLD and HOLY? That doesn’t make me any less qualified as a professional in my field. I would have preferred if my family name held no weight in the decision for my transfer.

Turbulence jolts me away from my musings and back to the present. How many times have I been over all of this without making sense of it? I swear, sometimes I get so caught up in thought that I forget where I am. I lean against back in my seat with a sigh.

The fragmented crystal hanging from my neck seems heavier as I catch a glimpse of the first civilized structures in the distance. Running my fingers over the chilled, etched surface, I struggle to keep my composure. Ryuho… I want to see you.

—“We’re now making our final approach to the Lost Ground…”—

I barely acknowledge the announcement, lifting my gaze for the briefest of moments before returning to the window.

—“The Lost Ground is the first independent domain existing inside Japanese territory. It is also known as the Alter Users’ habitat and special preservation law is in effect throughout the island. Entering any prohibited area will result in---”—

I sigh, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear as I catch a flash of my own reflection in the window. I’ve been described as having a porcelain complexion and, in this faint lighting, I guess it isn’t too much of a stretch. Raven colored bangs frame my face in a permanently lifted state, while the rest of my hair falls just below my shoulders. I had it cut and styled just before I packed to leave the mainland. After all, I don’t want our reunion to be anything less than it should be. It’s been seven years…

Ryuho Tairen and I were only kids when we met, lost in the stifling atmosphere of a social engagement. Adults were laughing and mingling with drinks in hand, hoping to network their way to better wealth and status. As children of such prominent figures, we had no choice but to obediently plaster on polite smiles and endure the evening.

At some point, my father asked that I introduce myself to the Tairen family, as they were, and still are, the most influential family in the Lost Ground. I remember feeling so relieved to find someone my own age at that party. After exchanging pleasantries, Ryuho and I slipped outside to keep each other company on the balcony.

I’ll never forget that night. The stars seemed so close you could almost touch them, twinkling like a whimsical canopy overhead…

---

“It’s so beautiful here!”

His gaze lowered. “It’s not –that- pretty…”

I tilted my head in obvious confusion.

“See that wall over there?” He nodded toward dark figure stretched across the horizon. “My mother once told me that on the other side of that wall, there are thousands of people struggling for their lives. If it had never happened…”

Soft piano music drifted outside from the party. “But if the Great Uprising never happened, humans would never have gotten the alter!”

“Alter,” I recited from memory. “The special ability that only 1% of all children born in the Lost Ground are lucky enough to be born with.” I beamed, spinning around to face the view of the city. “Isn’t it great?”

His panicked voice cut through my enthusiasm like a knife. “Please stop it!”

A sizable piece of the lamppost behind me broke off with a loud crack, disintegrating into a small, pointed shard that clattered across the floor. Wincing, I waited until it came to a stop before I bent to pick it up. Realization dawned on me as I turned it over in my gloved hands, mesmerized by the feeling it gave me. “You… have alter power.”

“I’m sorry…” He averted his gaze shamefully. “I couldn’t hold it anymore. I can’t help it. I’m always causing trouble for people around me. So---”

“I’m sorry,” I cut in, wishing more than anything to ease the evident pain I had caused him. “I always thought that alter users had been blessed with this gift.”

“All it has done is kept me from having a normal life.” He turned away. “If you are ever invited to my home, please don’t come. I might hurt you by accident.”

A bitter wind whipped around me as I stood there, watching him walk away. “It’s so cold tonight…”

---

I didn’t heed his advice back then. We spent more and more time together as the days went by and, somehow, we managed to become close friends despite our differences. He gave me that crystallized shard as a gift and I’ve never been able to get rid of it. It’s like I’ve kept a part of him with me all these years, even though we’ve been separated. I clench the crystal in my hand.

I wouldn’t trade our time together for anything in the world…

I study my face again; this time, with more scrutiny. A listless, amber gaze stares back at me. Why am I so nervous? I’m returning in a professional capacity this time. I’ve worked hard and I went through graduate school seven years early. That’s something to be proud of, right? I can hold my head high when we meet again, because we’ll be colleagues.

Well, colleagues and maybe something more…

A blur of movement below catches my eye, breaking me free of my reverie. There’s a man crouched down on the rooftop of one of these old, dilapidated buildings. He’s reaching out with one arm, like he’s straining to grasp something I can’t see. Is he signaling for help? Blinking, I press my face against the window to make out what’s going on as the plane rocks uneasily in the air.

Suddenly, large slabs of concrete around him disintegrate into particles that arc around his form. Something constructs around his fist and arm as he tilts his chin upward, meeting my uneasy gaze without the slightest trace of apprehension.

My heart leaps up in my throat.

He’s an… an… alter user! Before I can comprehend his movements, he’s already in mid-air. There’s a loud explosion as something is snapped from the wing. My eyes widen as the plane jerks to one side. The others are awake now, screaming and assuming the fetal position. I know I must be stupid, but I’m still plastered to the window, watching everything unfold with morbid fascination.

There’s dust and debris billowing from the wing as the plane wavers in the air, struggling to maintain control. I gasp as something makes impact far behind us. There’s a loud rumble followed by a shaft of blinding light that pierces the early morning sky.

For the first time, I wonder if I really might be in over my head here.

&3&

Sirens cut through the chaos of the emergency landing as I pull my trench coat tighter over my chest. Thankfully, every passenger and member of the crew was able to evacuate safely. I don’t know what reason that alter user had for jeopardizing our flight, but I’m sure acts like that aren’t exactly commonplace. Relations around here aren’t here couldn’t possibly be that strained.

Taking a deep breath, I shrug my bag and walk away from the scene with my head held high. This is it. I’m really here. My heels click against the sidewalk as I make my way to where other passengers are waiting in line to catch the next bus. Before I make it to the crosswalk, a nondescript black vehicle pulls up to the curb and the window rolls down.

“…Are you Miss Kiryu?”

I blink, taken aback by the sudden confrontation. “Yes?”

The driver seems unfazed by this, pausing to remove his sunglasses. If it weren’t for the eccentric pink color, I might have assumed he was some kind of drone without any shred of personality. “HOLD sent me. My name is Straight Cougar.” His voice has a rich, velvety tone to it as the automatic locks tumble back to grant my entry.

“O-Oh.” I open and shut my mouth stupidly without forming words. Sparing a quick, self-conscious glance over my shoulder, I quickly trot around the car, take hold of the door handle, and slip in. I barely have time to buckle my seatbelt before he smoothly angles the car back into the flow of traffic.

I cross my legs uncomfortably, sneaking a peek back at the driver. His uniform radiates a sense of professionalism, stemming from the crisp white, purple, and black materials. Yet, somehow, this man is puzzling to me. While his lack of conversation seems rather uptight and formal, the gravity-defying sweep of orange hair with a silver streak on either side suggests otherwise.

As he hunches over the wheel, his poor posture makes it seem like he would rather be elsewhere. “Seeing as how you’re the daughter of a major investor for HOLD, you can expect this kind of treatment.”

I knit my brows, put off by the reminder. Instead of dwelling on it, I opt to change the subject. “I don’t want to seem rude, but aren’t you awfully young?”

Again, his expression doesn’t change. “Every member of HOLY is about the same age as I am.”

I blink. “HOLY…?” Wait. I lean toward him, eyes wide. “You mean that you’re a---“

“Yep, that’s right.” He replaces his sunglasses with the slightest hint of a smirk. “I’m an alter user.”

I inhale sharply, jerking backward. I didn’t mean to… my body reacted before I could fully process the implications of his statement. Even now, the words of my colleague from the mainland are echoing in my mind:

‘…I don’t get it. Why would you ever want to go to a place like that? I’m sure you know why the Muraji Special Economic Districtis called the Lost Ground. Because of the alter users. Those things are like monsters! They’re not guided by any sense of conscience or morality!’

I had been disappointed in him, at the time, for justifying his argument with silly, childish rumors. Ignorance always stands in the way of progress. So, why now, even though I know better, am I so… afraid?

“The alter name I was given is…” He grins wickedly, showing a completely different side to him than I had witnessed before. The air pressure fluctuates and suddenly the entire backside of the car rips away, dancing in the exhaust as mere fragments of metal. I turn around in horror as the wind tousles my hair.

‘Good Speed’ by Kotaro Nakagawa

“Is,” he continues with a bark of laughter, “RADICAL GOOD SPEED!” The car transforms in every aspect of the word, shifting around us. Straps appear around my chest, pulling me back against my seat. The cabin suddenly feels roomier, like a low-riding sports car. There’s no time to take it all in. Before I can protest, we take off like a bullet down the highway. “LET’S GOOOOO!”

Suddenly, the car is airborne and all the panels are lit up. The engine roars, growling like a feral animal. “Because of my alter ability, I can make anything run faster!” He cackles as the scenery becomes nothing more than a blur around us.

My stomach lurches and I reach for the handkerchief in my pocket. Covering my nose and mouth, I hunker down in my seat. I can’t do this! I barely get through the kiddy rides at amusement parks! Why on earth did they send this guy to retrieve me? Is my life really that disposable?! The tires screech as we spin wildly around a bend in the road, taking a sharp exit.

…I’m going to die.

“The-answers-to-all-the-problems-that-face-mankind-lie-in-speed. If you can do something fast, it gives you that much more time to finish your next task! Anyone can do it slowly. If you spend twenty years, even a fool can write a best-selling novel! The-weekly-cartoon-artist-is-smarter-than-the-monthly-one-and-the-daily-one-is-even-smarter-than-the-weekly! So, the-cultural-law-of---“

I blink. How can he talk that fast and still make sense while driving like a maniac? Pay attention to what you’re doing! We’re fishtailing again, out of control, as we careen toward some blur of a building.

“---Speed-means-talent-and-that’s-my-philosophy! YEAAAAAAH!”

The car lurches, hangs on its side, and then slams to a stop on the pavement. I wince as the straps constrict my chest so forcefully that I can feel the marks they’re leaving. Taking deep breaths into my handkerchief, I manage to unbuckle myself and fall out the now-open door of the vehicle.

I stumble to my feet, following the man as he lifts his arms to the heavens in a gesture of enormous pride and accomplishment. He takes the stairs two at a time as the automatic doors whish open. “Wonderful… two minutes and twenty seconds…”

I scurry to catch up with him, struggling to keep the feeling of nausea in check as we enter a spacious reception area.

“My fastest time ever! I –love- it! Two more seconds to live!”

The doors slam shut behind me and I jump in alarm, feeling the resulting breeze of impact. I hastily wipe the tears from my eyes and tuck the cloth away, following him to the center of the room.

“Hey,” he bellows, grinning up at someone on the balcony as he plants his hands on his hips. “We just saved time and it only cost us a car!”

“Not again!”

I lift my eyes to the young woman leaning over the railing. She’s wearing the same uniform that he is, but she seems several years younger. Instead of pants, she’s wearing a short skirt that leaves little to the imagination. Black, thigh-high stockings cover most of her legs and disappear behind chunky, white boots. Her short hair is a strange color, oddly settling between lavender and periwinkle and swept back on one side with a barrette.

Taking a deep breath, I shift my bag and step forward. “Excuse me,” I call out. “I don’t meant to interrupt, but my name is Mimori Kiryu and I’ve just been assigned to duty at HOLY.” I give a quick bow, glancing up at her for a reaction.

“Oh, sorry!” Her bubbly, apologetic tone echoes around the spacious room. “It’s good to meet you. I’m Scheris Adjani.” She straightens in formal greeting, placing her fist over her heart. “Welcome to HOLY.”

I open my mouth to reply, but find myself silenced by a new arrival on the balcony. The man is tall with broad shoulders and unmistakable emerald hair that falls across his features. He crosses the distance to stand beside Scheris before acknowledging my presence. When he turns, my heart reaches its climax, pounding wildly in my chest. It’s him… it’s Ryuho!

Ecstatic, I lift my hand in a foolish, school-girl wave.

“I apologize for having to greet you from up here.” He regards me with no recognition in the crimson gaze. “I’m Ryuho of HOLY. All of us at HOLY hope that your ability will be a great contribution to the mission of HOLD.”

My face falls and my hand lowers in embarrassment.

“Orientation with the commander will be in thirty minutes.” His voice is so cold… it’s not like him at all. Pivoting on his heel, he makes a hasty exit. “I’ll see you then.”

I stand there, dumbstruck while Scheris runs to catch up with him. As their retreating figures disappear into a hallway on the second floor, I hear her ask him, “Do you know her?”

“…No.”

I can’t breathe. Clutching the crystal around my neck, I force myself to calm down before I make a spectacle of myself. All this time… I’ve waited all this time for our reunion and he doesn’t even remember me? I came here to see you, Ryuho. Why can’t you see that?”

“Thirty minutes, huh?” Cougar flips his sunglasses back on his head and a single, rogue strand springs out. To be honest, I had completely forgotten he was still in the room beside me. “That’s plenty of time to get you acquainted with a few things around here, Miss Minori.”

“It’s Mi-mo-ri.” I sigh in defeat. This guy doesn’t remember my name and Ryuho doesn’t remember …well, anything.

“Oops… sorry.” He grins playfully, rubbing the back of his neck. I guess I didn’t notice before, but this guy is really imposing. Maybe it was because we were sitting in the car before, but I didn’t realize he was so tall. I don’t even come up to his shoulder. “Well?” He tilts his head. “How about a little tour?”

I take a subconscious step backward. “I… uh…” My eyes dart around, looking for an out. It takes a moment, by my gaze finally settles on the restroom sign across the room. “I’m sorry, but I’d rather freshen up a little bit before my meeting with the commander.” I smile awkwardly, giving a small wave. “Thanks for the ride though!”

His eyes soften for the briefest of moments as his brows knit. “Oh… of course.” His carefree grin is back in place so quickly that I’m not positive it ever faltered to begin with. “Maybe another time then?”

“S-Sure…” With that, I take hurried strides toward the ladies’ restroom, shielding my face with the collar of my trench coat. I haven’t even been here for ten minutes and already my face is burning with embarrassment.

I push the swinging door open with both hands, stumbling into the dimly lit area by the sinks. What am I doing here? I lean against the counter, thankful for the silence of the small room. At least I’m finally alone now.

The bag slips from my shoulder, glides down my arm, and falls onto the polished tiles on the floor with a dull thud. I don’t know what’s gotten into me. I’ve never acted this weak before. Why am I allowing myself to be so easily intimidated by alter users now? Is it because of the trouble with the flight?

I shake my head.

No, that wasn’t enough to rattle me. Besides that, it’s not like today was my first encounter with alter users. I’m just feeling insecure right now, that’s all. Ryuho… he must have been distracted by something terribly important. I’m sure, had he not been so busy, he would have come down to meet me and then everything would have clicked perfectly.

I take a deep breath and look in the mirror. There’s no need to feel like an outsider. I have a place in this organization. Or, at least, I will very soon. I’m just a little nervous about my first day.

Twisting the faucet handle, I bend down and splash cool water on my face. I’ll make my real first impression in about twenty minutes.

&3&

((A/N: Here are some things that I’m pretty much aware of at this point:

Nobody reads Scryed fanfiction anymore

If you read my other work, you’re probably mildly irritated that I didn’t update TLE or CTS

This will probably yield little return in the way of reviews and favorites XD

Well, yeah, that’s true… but I really wanted to dabble in this area anyway. XD Sorry, I just can’t muster inspiration for my other stories at the moment. I don’t want to force it and give you sub-standard quality on the next chapters. That would be cheating both of us, right? =)

If you haven’t watched Scryed, I suggest giving it a chance! If you watched it years ago (like I did), it’s time to re-watch it! You’ve probably forgotten most of the storyline anyway, right? Couldn’t hurt. =) Yeah, this is multi-chaptered. We all know that I completely fail at one-shots. XD Well, I guess that’s enough of my rambling. Please review! I’d really appreciate it. Have a great weekend!))