The Ultimate Test

Sage Date stared at the letter in his hands. It was still sealed in the envelope, and addressed to him. He was rather nervous about opening it. His brother had written to him, and he could only wonder what his brother had to say. Of course his brother didn't write the letter, that was obvious. *They* probably helped him. His brother hadn't been able to write since...

Sage opened the letter. 'Dear, Sage, I know I
haven't written to you for awhile. I've been busy with therapy, and I know you've been busy as well. I'm interesting. I'm glad you met him. I know you're not happy that Mom and Dad put me in here, but it's doing me a lot of good. The people here are wonderful. But great news! I'm getting out tomorrow at 1:00 P.M., and I'll be coming to stay with you! If that's alright. I'll need you to pick me up though. I'll be waiting, bro. Love you. Caige.'

Sage let out a long sigh. Great, he thought. He's coming here, and I have to pick him up. I hope...

"Sage, did you get the mail already?"

Sage turned and looked at Mia Koji. She had her purse slung over her shoulder and was getting ready to leave. "Yeah, it's right here. Just a letter for me though."

"Oh? Who's it from?"

"My brother."

A big Chinese boy with ashblue hair came into the living room, followed by a coughing, lightbrown haired British boy. Mia frowned at the boy as he coughed several times.

"I never knew you had a brother, Sage!" the big boy said.

"His name is Caige," Sage said. "I never told you guys, but Caige is in the hospital."

"Why is he in the hospital?" the British boy asked before doubling over in hacking coughs.

Sage frowned at him, just as a black haired boy and a blue haired boy came out into the living room, followed by a gigantic white tiger

"You hear from Caige, Sage?" the blue haired boy asked.

"Yeah, Rowen. Like I said, I never told anyone this, but Rowen. Caige is my twin brother."

Everyone seemed surprised, but Rowen. There was more. Sage sighed. "And about six months ago, he was involved in a serious car accident. He was riding with some friends, when the car was struck by an out of control vehicle. My brother's seatbelt came undone, and he flew through the windshield. He's paralyzed from the chest down."

"Oh, Sage," Mia said sadly.

"Must be tough on him," the black haired teen said.

Sage looked down for a moment. "You have no idea, Ryo. This has been tough on me ever since it happened."

"So what does the letter say?"

"He's getting out of the hospital tomorrow, and I'm supposed to pick him up. Um, Mia, he wants to stay with me, so..."

Mia smiled. "Of course he can stay here, Sage. What time does he need to be picked up?"

"1:00 P.M. at the Shiria Therapy Hospital."

Mia nodded, just as the fierce coughing started again. "We'll pick him up then. Come on, Cye. I need to get you to the doctor's."

The British boy nodded and followed the woman out the door.

"Man, Cye's been doing that a lot lately, hasn't he?" the Chinese boy asked.

"Yeah, he has, Kento," Rowen said as he sat down. "But it's probably just a cold. It's not exactly summer out there, and Cye got caught in the rain last week."

"You'd think because he's the Water Ronin, he would be immune to that," Ryo said as he pat the tiger on his head. The tiger purred happily. He looked at Sage. "Do you want to set a room up for your brother, Sage?"

Sage nodded. "Yeah, but we need to rearrange my and Rowen's room around. Caige has to be in there so I can help him when he needs it."

Ryo nodded. "No problem." The two went upstairs.

Kento sat down and began flipping through the TV channels. "I don't get it. Couldn't Sage just heal his brother?"

Rowen shook his head. "Even with the Armor of Halo, some things are best left alone. Sage can't heal everything, Kento, you know that."

"I know, it's just that I feel bad for Caige, and I've never even met the guy!"

Rowen smiled. It was rare occasion when Kento admitted his feelings.

"Say Aw," the doctor told the boy as he took the tongue depressor, and stuck it down his throat. The boy complied, and the doctor peered closely down at his throat. The doctor frowned as he straightened up. He took an otoscope and looked at his ears. He shook his head, then checked the boy's blood pressure, temperature, and heart rate. He turned around.

"I'm going to take a streptest on Cye," he told Mia. "Judging from what I can tell, Cye has a slight case of the flu. His throat and ears are both red and infected, so I'll put him on penicillin right away for those. His temperature is 101 degrees. So that means bed rest, plenty of juice, and medication, and no school until I deem you well."

Both Cye and Mia nodded, and Cye began coughing again. The doctor took a cotton swab, wet it with some kind of liquid and stuck it in the back of Cye's throat and scraped it a little. Cye gagged. The doctor straightened. "I'll send this to the lab right away to be tested."

"Dr. Fuji," Mia began, "you don't think he has strep throat, do you?"

"I can't say for sure. But it has been going around. I just want to make sure though." He turned around and began to write down a prescription. "You'll need to take these three times a day until all medicine is gone."

Cye nodded as he hopped down from the table. Mia took the prescription. "Thank you, Dr. Fuji." The doctor nodded and followed them out so he can mark his chart and check his next patient.

After paying for Cye's visit, and picking up his medicine at the pharmacist, the two went home.

Ryo, Rowen, Kento, and White Blaze looked up when the front door opened. Mia and Cye came in. Cye was coughing.

"So what did the doctor say?" Kento asked.

"Slight case of flu," Cye said as he sneezed four times.

"Bless you," Rowen said.

Cye sniffled. "Thanks."

Mia smiled slightly. "Come on, Cye. Let's get your medicine taken, and get you into bed." Mia turned around. "Where's Sage?"

"Oh, he went to the woods to meditate," Ryo answered. "He left after we rearranged his and Rowen's room."

"Yeah, now it's a little more cramped in there," Rowen said. "But I know why Sage wanted his brother in the room too."

Mia nodded and handed Cye his medicine. "Take these, and get up to bed. Someone can bring you up a glass of orange juice."

Kento stood up. "I will," he volunteered.

Cye smiled as best he could. He took the pills and got a small glass of water. He swallowed the pills, and headed for upstairs.

Kento got Cye his orange juice and took it upstairs. Cye was already asleep. Kento smiled and set the orange juice down on the chair, and placed it near his bed so he could reach it. Then he left, letting Cye rest.

During the ride to Shiria Therapy Hospital, Sage was quiet. Mia had asked him a few questions, which he had answered, then went back into his silent mood. He had been quiet ever since he had returned from his meditation yesterday.

"We're almost there," she told him. Sage nodded but didn't speak. Mia looked at him. "Are you worried that Cye's illness may affect your brother's?"

Sage shook his head. "No, I'm not worried about that. It's just that I'm going to have a more difficult time. If the Dynasty attacks, I'll have to protect him at all costs. I just hope they won't attack while Cye has the flu."

Mia didn't say anything. Lately the Dynasty had been quiet, but that didn't mean they weren't up to something. Talpa was always planning something.

They pulled into the parking lot of the hospital and got out, and went into the building. Mia was surprised when she met Caige. He looked exactly like Sage except his left eye was covered. He was in a wheel chair with his hands lying listlessly across his waist, in a twisted way.

"Sage!" the boy said happily. Sage smiled and bent down to give his brother a hug. Sage pulled away and then introduced Mia. "Caige, this is Mia Koji. I and my friends have been living with her for a year now."

"Nice to meet you, Miss Koji," Caige said. "I'd shake your hand, but..."

Mia smiled. "That's OK, and please, it's Mia."

Caige smiled, and Sage said. "Well, let's you get you checked out, and get your things. The others are waiting to meet you, except for Cye."

"Why not him?" Caige asked.

"He's sick," Sage said. "Touch of the flu."

Caige nodded his head, and then let Sage and Mia gather his things which the nurses had packed. Sage had noticed that his brother was moving a little more than he had before. The therapy had done him some good. After signing him out, the three headed off for home.

Rowen saw the jeep pull in and went outside. Sage and Mia were climbing out. Sage grabbed the wheelchair and pulled it out of the jeep, then set it up.

"Hey, Sage," Rowen said. He looked into the jeep and smiled. "You must be Sage's brother," he said.

Caige smiled. "You must be Rowen." He laughed. "Hey, maybe you can help me with my trigonometry," he said.

Rowen smiled and stepped back so Sage could grab his brother and help him into the wheelchair. "Thanks, bro," Caige said.

"Where is everyone?" Mia asked.

"Ryo is cooking, Kento's pestering him, and Cye's asleep," Rowen explained.

"I can't wait to meet them," Caige said.

The four went into the house. White Blaze stood up and came near them. Caige froze, staring wide eyed at the animal.

"Uh, please tell me, that's just an overgrown housecat."

Sage laughed. "It's a tiger. His name's White Blaze. He won't hurt you. Gentle as lamb. He belongs to Ryo."

"He has weird taste in pets."

Rowen stifled his laugh. Caige stared down at the animal. White Blaze stared back, then licked the boy on his face and nuzzled against him. Caige laughed. "I guess he's not all that bad. I'd pet you boy, but I'm kinda stuck like this."

White Blaze rumbled softly.

"Kento, would you get out of here, damn it!"

"Aw, come on, Ryo, just a bite?"

"NO! Get out!"

Kento came out into the living room with a puppy look. "Sheesh, all I wanted was a little bite," he whined.

Rowen rolled his eyes. "Yeah, right, Kento."

Kento stuck his tongue out at him, and then noticed the blond haired boy in the wheelchair. "Whoa! You look like Sage!"

The boy smiled. "We're identical twins," he said. "Just that our hairs parted different. Makes it easier for people to tell us apart."

"I'm Kento," Kento said.

"Caige."

Kento nodded. He felt bad that Sage's brother had to be in a wheelchair, but didn't want to bring it up. Sage cleared his throat. "Let's get your things upstairs, Caige. You'll be bunking with me and Rowen."

"Oh, that's cool. I didn't get to have a roommate when I was in the hospital. Got pretty lonely there. Can I see the room?"

Sage nodded, and Kento asked, "Um, just how are you going to get him upstairs?"

Sage gave him a look, and rolled his brother over to the stairs. Kento then saw another set of wheels come down, then his eyes widened when the wheelchair began climbing the stairs, with Sage holding onto it.

"Whoa!"

"The wonders of Science," Rowen said with a smile. He grabbed one of Caige's suitcases. "Kento, grab one of those, would ya?"

Kento grabbed two suitcases and followed Rowen upstairs.

Caige liked the room, a lot. And he liked Sage's friends. He couldn't wait to meet Ryo and Cye. Once he was settled in, all the boys went downstairs just as Ryo was coming out of the kitchen.

Ryo stopped and stared down at Caige, and Caige stared back. Ryo smiled. "Hi, I'm Ryo. You're Caige, right?"

"Right."

Ryo smiled again, then looked at everyone. "Supper's ready."

"Yeah, food!" Kento shouted, and took off for the dining room. Caige looked up at his brother. "Is he always like this?"

Sage nodded, and Rowen said, "Don't let anything come between Kento and his food."

Ryo rolled his eyes in Kento's direction. "Well, I'm going upstairs to see if Cye wants to eat." He headed upstairs, while Sage, Caige, and Rowen went into the dining room where Kento and Mia already were.

Ryo managed to get Cye up, and Cye decided it was best if he did eat something. He followed Ryo downstairs and into the dining room. Caige looked up and frowned at the boy.

Cye saw him and managed to smile, even though he still felt partly like crap. Caige smiled back. "Cye, right?"

Cye nodded as he sat down. Mia handed him two pills and a plate of food. Cye thanked her and swallowed the pills. "I'd come over to you to greet you properly, but I'm sick."

Caige nodded. Dinner went along nicely with everyone telling Caige about their families, and Caige telling them all about his treatment, and how kind the doctors and nurses were. And how eager he was to go to school.

"You can go to our school," Sage said. "They have a special place for kids who have disabilities."

Caige nodded, and Ryo said, "But you better be careful! All the girls will try to flock around you, thinking you're Sage."

"Why's that?"

"Eyause, Ige nus, Onasonaba," Kento said.

Mia frowned at him. "Kento, don't talk with your mouth full."

Caige smiled. "What did he say?"

Kento swallowed his food twice. "I said because Sage is Casanova. All the girls love to hang around on him."

Caige smiled again. During the meal, everyone noticed that Sage had to feed his brother. Caige didn't seem to mind, In fact he was quite used to it. But there were times when Caige cursed his life, because he was paralyzed.