The Power of Friendship

Cye stayed in the hospital for one week straight. During that time his mother and his sister, and his friends visited him. Yulie visited him as well. When he had first heard about Cye, the young boy was upset and angry that no one had told him what had happened. But when he saw Cye he got over it. That had been about four days ago. Now Cye was being released from the hospital.

Shianne had thought it was best if Cye continued to stay with his friends. With her job she would not have the time to take care of him. And Sayoke was busy with college.

Cye did not mind though. He knew they would visit.

Ryo looked down at Cye with a smile on his face. Today was the day Cye was leaving the hospital. "You ready to go, Cye?"

Cye frowned. "I thought Kento was going to be here too."

Ryo paused for a moment. Ever since the accident, Kento had been acting strangely. He hardly ate anymore, and had already lost weight. When he had asked Kento earlier if he would like to go with him, Rowen, and Sage to pick up Cye, Kento had shook his head no and had disappeared into his and Cye's room. That had been about a half hour ago.

"I don't know what's wrong with him, Cye," Ryo answered. "He's been acting this way ever since your accident."

Cye drew in a deep breath and slowly let it out. He stared down at his cast , then let his eyes fall on his cast. He looked down at the floor, wanting to forget about his injuries. His thoughts turned to Kento.

"You ready, Cye?" Ryo asked again. When Cye nodded, Ryo pushed him out of the room, and met up with Sage and Rowen.

A nurse took over pushing Cye's wheelchair. The boys led them to Mia's white and red jeep. The nurse was about to instruct them how to properly help an injured person out of a wheelchair and into a vehicle, but Rowen and Sage were already helping Cye into the backseat as gently as they could.

"How?" the nurse began.

Sage just smiled at her. "We've been through this before, ma'am."

She just shrugged and took the wheelchair back into the hospital.

Rowen was hopping into the driver's seat. "Come on, you guys, let's go!"

Sage climbed into the passenger's seat while Ryo climbed in the back next to Cye. The jeep was started up, and Cye silently said good-bye to the hospital.

Kento stared down at his armor orb. His face was expressionless, but those constant memories kept on nagging him. He had gotten little sleep during the past week, and food did not seem to agree with him. Yesterday he had gotten into an argument with Ryo because he was acting so strangely. And even Sage and Rowen were concerned. But none of that mattered. Cye was coming home soon, and then he would have to face Cye. Something he wasn't sure he wanted to do.

He heard someone knocking at the door. At first he thought they were home, but when he heard Mia say, "Dais!", his eyes narrowed. Great! Although the Warlords had long switched sides, Kento still had trouble trusting Dais. He stood up and stuck his orb into his pants pocket. He heard Mia talking to Dais, Cale, Sekhmet, Anubis, and Kayura. Well, might as well go on down and face the music.

Mia was busy pouring tea into mugs for her guests. They were all in the living room. "So what's brings you guys here?" she asked.

"We just thought we drop on by and bother the Ronins today," Cale said with a smirk. He took a sip of his tea.

Mia sat down. "Well, the only one you'd be able to bug would be Kento. The others aren't here."

"Where are they?" Sekhmet asked.

Mia frowned and sighed. "They went to pick up Cye from the hospital," she answered.

"Hospital?" Kayura repeated. She and the ex-Warlords stared at her in concern.

"What happened to Cye?" Anubis asked, his face etched with worry.

"Cye was hit by a car last week," Mia said. "We don't know how it happen, but he was pretty messed up. Kento's been real torn up about this. I think he blames himself for it."

"Why would he do something like that?" Sekhmet asked.

Kento was hiding upstairs behind the balcony. Tears ran down his face. Because if it wasn't for me, then Cye would have never have gotten upset and ran into the street. I am such an idiot! He dried his eyes and decided it was just best if he went downstairs before one of them decided to come up here looking for him.

Dais heard someone coming down the stairs and looked up at Kento. "So, he joins us!"

Kento rolled his eyes. He still didn't trust Dais after what the Warlord of Illusion had done to him. He looked at the others, and mumbled, "Hi."

Mia looked at Kento in concern. "Kento, are you...?"

"I'm fine, Mia," Kento said absently, and then said no more. He went into the kitchen.

"Something is bothering him," Kayura said as she watched Kento.

Dais rolled his eyes. "If he's eating I doubt that!"

Kayura glared at him. "He's sitting at the table, baka!"

Dais sweatdropped and suddenly decided that his tea was much more interesting. They soon heard a vehicle pull in. Cale looked out the window and saw Mia's jeep.

"They're back," he informed.

Mia rose to her feet. She looked at her guests with concern in her eyes. "Please, whatever you do, don't ask Cye how it happened. I think it will disturb him if you do."

Everyone nodded as the front door opened. Rowen walked in, followed by Sage, and then Ryo who was helping Cye.

"Welcome home, Torrent."

All four Ronins paused and looked startled. Cye stared at Sekhmet, his former enemy. He was leaning on one crutch and was supported by Ryo. Ryo looked questionably at Mia, and then decided he would ask later.

"Welcome home, Cye," Mia said.

"Arigatou," Cye replied as he looked around. "When did you all get here?"

"Not too long ago," Anubis answered as he took a sip of his tea. "We were in the area, and thought we'd stop by and visit. I'm sorry that we didn't visit you in the hospital, but we didn't know you had been injured."

Cye nodded. He really didn't want to remember his accident. "Where's Kento?" he asked.

"In the kitchen, sitting at the table," Kayura replied.

Kento froze. Cye was home now, but could he face him? He was afraid to. Cye would never forgive him! Maybe he could sneak out the backdoor. But then what about tonight when he went to bed? He would still have to face Cye. Now that hurt. He and Cye were best buds!

No, we're not. At least I'm not. I let my greed take over my senses. Cye will never talk to me now. And I wouldn't blame him either.

"Kento?"

Kento jumped, startled. The other person stared down at him with one blond brow raised. Kento sighed in relief. "Oh, it's just you, Sage."

Sage rolled his eyes. "Geeze, I feel so loved," he said, sarcastically.

Kento bit his lip. "Gomen ne, Sage."

Sage pulled out a chair and sat down. He gazed at Kento with concern. "What's eating you, Kento? You've been acting this way ever since Cye got hurt. And you keep saying it's your fault. Why are you blaming yourself?"

Kento's fists clenched. He knew he could never lie to Sage, because Sage could see right through them. And yet he couldn't tell him what happened. It was far too painful. He looked into Sage's one violet eye.

"Because, if it wasn't for me, Cye would have never run into the street!" He got up and walked out the back door, closing it behind him.

Sage stared through the window at Kento's fleeing form. He was in deep thought. OK, obviously Kento and Cye had an argument. But what about? It had to be something that would case Cye to bolt. And he had a feeling that Kento wouldn't be explaining further any time sooner.

Sage got up just as Ryo came into the kitchen with White Blaze. Ryo looked questionably at Sage.

"If you're looking for Kento, he just took off out the door," Sage explained. Ryo let out a sigh as he went to the fridge.

"I sure wish he would talk to us," Ryo said as he poured himself a glass of cold milk. "He's been acting bummed by this all week."

Sage watched as he returned the jug to the fridge and shut the door. "He said if it wasn't for him, then Cye would never have run into the road. That's all he said before he took off."

Ryo wiped his mouth and sighed. "I know what you said about forcing him, but this is getting ridiculous. I can't stand to see him moping around anymore like this."

"Where's Cye now?" Sage asked, deliberately changing the subject.

"He went upstairs to sleep," Ryo explained as he finished off the rest of his milk. He rinsed his glass out and set it in the sink. He pat White Blaze on the head, getting a happy rumble in return. He sighed. "Maybe Cye will tell us what happened when he's better."

Sage only nodded, watching as Ryo and White Blaze walked out of the kitchen. He looked back toward the window. Kento, I hope you're going to be all right. I'm beginning to miss your attitude.

Kento ran on and on, trying to flee from the repeating images that ran through his mind. He had to get away from all of this! But the more he ran, the more intense they became!

Tears clouded his vision, and he could hardly see. He ran through the woods, the branches slapping and scratching at his face and his arms, and ripping his clothes. He didn't care about that. He only wanted to get away. Finally he tripped over a half buried stone, and fell face down onto the ground.

Kento did not get up. His body shook terribly as he laid there on the ground and sobbed out loud. Time passed, but he did not notice. It grew darker, but he didn't notice that either. Eventually, his crying put him to sleep.

Sometime later, Kento awoke, hearing his name being called by several voices.

"KENTO!" Ryo's voice.

"KENTO! WHERE ARE YOU?!" That was Rowen.

"COME ON, HARDROCK! TELL US WHERE YOU ARE?!" Dais? He was searching too? Kento struggled to his feet. He heard his name several more times. He slowly followed the voices until he found three figures searching in different directions.

"Guys," Kento called softly.

Ryo whirled around. His tiger blue eyes flashed fire. "Just where the hell have you been?!" he scolded. "We were worried sick! Cye woke up asking for you, and you don't even have the heart to..."

Rowen placed a hand on Ryo's shoulder and shook his head. "Ryo, don't make things worse than they are already."

Ryo let out a deep sigh and looked back at Kento. The Warrior of Justice's head was down, and Ryo could see tears streaming down his face. That surprised him. Ryo suddenly felt bad.

"Hey, Kento, I'm sorry. We were just..."

"Worried about me. I know," Kento said. "I'm sorry I worried you guys. I think I'll just go back to the manor now."

Ryo, Rowen, and Dais watched him walk back alone.

"You weren't kidding when you said that Hardrock has been acting strange," Dais said with a shake of his head. "That's the first time I ever saw him cry."

Rowen sighed. "It's been like this since Cye got hit by that car. I just hope things will get patched up soon, otherwise we're all in trouble."