The Power of Friendship

Kento awoke bright and early. Already he could smell breakfast downstairs and hurried to get dressed. If there was one thing Kento loved besides fighting, it was eating, especially when Cye was cooking.

Cye that was his best buddy. They had been friends since he could remember. He was friends with Ryo Sanada, Sage Date, and Rowen Hashiba. But Cye Mouri was Kento's Rei Faun's best friend. And all five of them were the Ronin Warriors. And they all lived with Mia Koji in a large white mansion.

Kento quickly brushed his hair and ran downstairs. Sage was sitting on the sofa, crossed legged. He was reading. Unusual. That was Rowen's job. Ryo sat on the other couch, petting his tiger White Blaze. He knew that Rowen was sleeping, Cye cooking, and Mia was probably at work. And Yulie Yamatoe was with his parents for summer vacation, So far life could not be better.

"I wouldn't go in the kitchen if I were you," Sage warned, knowing what he was thinking. Kento stopped and looked back at him.

"Why not?" he asked.

"Because Cye has a cast iron skillet with your name on it if you do."

Kento cringed. He knew Cye was serious about his cooking and did not like to be disturbed. But the big warrior couldn't help it. He loved to eat!

Sighing, he plopped down next to Ryo whose eyes were glued to the TV screen, his hand running gently along the black and white tiger's head. The tiger was purring.

"So where's Rowen?" Kento asked.

"That's a stupid question," Ryo said.

Sage turned a page in his book. "Sleeping, Kento. Where else?"

Kento hid a grin. He loved annoying his friends. Cye came out into the living room. "Breakfast is ready everyone! Someone better wake up Rowen."

Kento was the first one in the kitchen. Ryo got up and went upstairs. Sage marked his book, then got up, and went into the kitchen too.

A few minutes later, Rowen and Ryo both came into the kitchen. Rowen was grumbling and casting Ryo dirty looks. If only looks could kill, Ryo would be six feet under.

"Have some breakfast, Rowen," Cye said cheerfully. He had cooked eggs, bacon, sausage, biscuits, omelets, and waffles. A gourmet meal. Well, if you had Kento living with you, you'd understand.

Rowen just grumbled more and sat down.

Cye let out a sigh as he and Kento walked down the main street of Toyoma. Kento looked at him. "Thinking of something?" he asked.

Cye shook his head. "No, not really. I'm just glad that we can have a break from school."

"Me too! I can't stand school!"

Cye let out a wry smile. "Kento, you never liked school since you started going!"

"And how do you know that?"

"I can sense it!"

Kento smiled. Then he saw something, and looked toward a restaurant. His mouth watered. He looked toward the window.

"What are you looking at?" Cye asked.

"Um." Kento knew he couldn't weasel out of this one. But he was so hungry, and he couldn't remember the last time had any of that food. Cye would probably kill him. But still, his stomach was demanding it.

Cye followed his look, and his face went pale with worry.

"You're not thinking about going in there are you?"

"Kento shrugged. "Why not?"

"Because, you know how much it upsets me!"

Kento rolled his eyes. "Come on, Cye! I had to stop eating seafood when I met you! I miss it! Besides it's healthy for you. Any doctor will tell you that, and whether you realize it or not, Chinese and Japanese people eat seafood, and you *are* in Japan!

Cye's face went red. Whether it was from anger or embarrassment who knew. Kento was heading for the doors of the restaurant. "Kento, please!"

Kento looked back. "They're already dead, Cye. They won't feel me eating them!"

Cye narrowed his eyes. "I can't believe you said that! How could you!" He suddenly turned and took off running down the street. Kento watched him go and let out an angry sigh. Why was he so sensitive about that? And why had he come to Japan if he knew most of the people here eat seafood?

Kento scowled and prepared to enter the restaurant.

Cye was running down the sidewalk, passing people quickly. He had to get away from everything. Kento's words ran through his ears. He ran out into the street. Cye heard a car screeching and turned his head. He froze in terror.

The woman driving the car saw the young light brown haired boy run out into the street. She slammed on her brakes.....

Cye prepared to jump out of the way, but it was too late. The car hit him hard, knocking him down and running him right over, causing him to roll twice before he came to rest on his stomach.

Kento heard a car screeching, then a vicious impact. He heard someone shout, "Someone call 911! A kid was just hit!"

Kento froze. He immediately thought of Cye. No.... He turned and ran as fast as he could. He came upon a crowd of people standing in the street. Kento pushed his way through. The first thing he saw was a gold car sitting in the street. A woman stood next to it. She was shaking and crying. A man was beside her. A group of men were surrounding a figure lying in the street. Kento saw a trail of blood. Please...

He edged closer, his heart pounding against his chest. He heard one of the men say, "We shouldn't move him. He could have a serious neck or back injury. Kento stood directly behind the men and looked over them. His heart froze.

"CYE!"

The three men turned around and stared at the boy standing behind him. His face was pale with shock. "Do you know this boy?" one asked.

Kento stared down at his best friend. Cye was in terrible shape. His back had several deep cuts on it, revealing muscle. Some of his muscles were torn. His right arm was twisted crookedly, a bone hanging out. His leg was halfway off. Blood poured from his ears, nose, and mouth. And his head had a deep cut that was about fifteen inches deep. Somehow Kento knew there were more injuries. He could feel it. One of the men had been wrapping up Cye's injuries, doing their best to hold the blood back.

"Son, do you know him?" the same man asked gently.

Kento nodded. "Y.yes," he stuttered as tears streamed down his face. "His name's Cye Mouri. He's...he's my... friend."

The man nodded. Kento quickly put out a silent call.

Ryo felt something strange, but dismissed it. He was reading the newspaper, hoping to look for a job. He needed one. He felt bad that he and the others were freeloading off of Mia. So he would start making money to give her. Of course he was going to keep some himself.

Rowen sat near him, working on a motherboard from an old computer he found. If Rowen said he could get it working again, then he could. Sage was busy looking through Cye's notebook, trying to get an idea. He had invited a date over, and wanted to cook her a meal. Actually Sage was a good cook, it's just that he needed a little help from Cye's cookbook.

All three of them jumped. Kento's voice tore through their minds. And it was upset, very upset.

'What's wrong, Kento?!' Ryo asked.

'What do you mean hurt?' Sage asked, now worried.

That was all it took. They got Kento's whereabouts, and ran for it. White Blaze ran after them. No way was he staying behind!

The ambulance arrived right after Kento had made his silent call. The Police came and immediately began keeping the crowds back. When they tried to push Kento back, he shouted, "That's my friend!"

"OK, you can stay. Someone needs to get a hold of his parents."

Kento nodded mutely watching as the paramedics tended to Cye.

Cye slowly awoke, feeling incredible pain. "KENTO!!"

Kento ran to his side, but didn't get in the paramedics' way. "I'm here, Cye. Don't worry. Everything is going to be all right."

Cye screamed in pain. He started convulsing uncontrollably.

"Let's get him to the hospital now!" one of the paramedics said. They lifted him up on the gurney and loaded him into the back of the ambulance. Kento hated to see his best friend in pain. Tears ran down his cheeks as he watched them fight to keep him still. The doors closed, and the ambulance took off.

Kento buried his face in his hands. "I shouldn't have been so selfish! It's my fault!"

Ryo, Rowen, Sage, and White Blaze found Kento standing alone on the street. He was staring at a pile of blood in the road. White Blaze rubbed against the big warrior, and looked at him worriedly.

"Kento?" Ryo said.

"It's my fault, Ryo," Kento said.

"What do you mean?" Sage asked.

"It doesn't matter right now," Rowen said. "We gotta call Mrs. Mouri and get to the hospital!"

Ryo nodded. "Rowen's right. Kento, which hospital did they take him to?"

Kento swallowed a lump, and answered, "Kiropathio Hospital."

"Alright. Rowen, run to Cye's house and tell his mom what happened. We'll meet them at the hospital."

Rowen nodded and they split up. White Blaze went with Rowen. The whole time they ran to the hospital, Kento beat himself up.

A woman with dark blond hair and seablue eyes ran through the emergency hospital doors with a blue haired teenaged boy. Both were frantic. The woman looked this way and that before she found the large desk and quickly sauntered over to it.

"Can I help you?" the lady behind the desk asked.

"Yes, my son was brought here. Cye Mouri. He was hit by a car."

Rowen placed his hand on her shaking shoulder.

"Yes, he was admitted not long ago. Go down that hall, make a left, you'll come to a set of elevators. Take it up to the third floor. You're going to make a right. Follow it all the way until you come to the main lobby and they'll take it from there."

"Thank you!" They hurried away as fast as they could.

Ryo jumped up when Cye's mom and Rowen came into the waiting room. Sage looked up as well and tapped Kento whose head was down. There were no words to explain what he was feeling right now.

"How is my son?" Shianne demanded.

Ryo shook his head. "We don't know, Mrs. Mouri. They won't let us back there to see him. Sage's mom just went not long ago to find out for us."

Shianne didn't say anything else. She walked right over to the nurse's desk. "Excuse me, I need to see my son. Cye Mouri."

The nurse looked up. "You're Cye Mouri's mother?"

Shianne nodded slowly. She had to get back there to see her child. She had already called his sister and knew she was on her way. Sayoke had flipped when she heard the news.

"Oh, good," the nurse said. "Please sign some forms. A doctor should be out soon to tell you your son's condition." Shianne nodded mutely and took the forms.

"MOM!"

A young woman who looked like a younger version of Shianne ran over to her. Sayoke was nervous and shaking. She barely took notice of her brother's four friends.

Shianne began filling out the forms, trying to desperately keep her hand from shaking.

Sage wished with all his heart he could be back there with Cye. He knew he could help him! Just then a blond haired doctor came out. Sage saw her and stood up. "Mom."

Ryo and the others saw her. Ryo called for Mrs. Mouri. Doctor Date went immediately to the worried stricken mother and her daughter.

"Please, tell me. How is my son?"

Doctor Date gently guided over her to a seat and sat her down. Everyone crowded around. "Mrs. Mouri, your son is in pretty bad shape. His left leg had to be reattached, and his right arm was broken in three places. He's lost a lot of blood. And they need your permission for surgery."