"Did I hear what you just said…?" asked Rowen who got up real close to Kento. "Please… don't tell me I heard that word…" Ryo and Sage immediately knew what Rowen was thinking. If Kento was called for the

army, that means that all of the teenage boys were likely to be called.

"Heh, yeah," Kento scoffed and sunk into the sofa. "I guess I won't be seeing you guys as much as I like now." Kento pulled up a huge pillow. Sage turned back around when Mrs. Mori was going to check on him

(to see if he actually was going to call his mother).

"Well, you all will be fine there," Mrs. Mori tried to cheer Kento up, "I mean… you're not going to be completely separated. Hey, it

might be fun." Everyone knew that Mrs. Mori didn't mean it one bit.

"Fun, my foot," Rowen growled. He was already in a bad mood…

but this situation was getting worse. "It is almost definite that if I get called up, I am going to what you call… the Air Force! Wow, I'm going to become a flying birdie in the sky shooting walking stick figures!"

"And then we cannot protect each other," mumbled Ryo. "Who knows what may happen… the Ronin Warriors aren't Ronin Warriors when not together. And not to mention…"

Kento finished for Ryo, "We cannot assume that we will all be back after the years."

"Now I am beginning to hope that I falsely put my status when I enrolled to school," Rowen said under his breath. Everyone then peered at him… Mrs. Mori being the most surprised out of them. "Well… I HAD to when my parents divorced. I kind of went independent after that."

"Same here," Ryo murmured and rested his head in his hands. "But I didn't put a false profile."

"Well good for everyone then!" Kento spoke, sarcastically, "We should send some dummies of us to do the worthless fighting!"

"Get real… they could tell the difference between a dummy and a person," Rowen rolled his eyes. The situation seemed to go to the funny side. But it was not the right time for humor.

"Unless they are just as stupid as dummies," mumbled Kento.

"This is not good, guys," Sage hung up the phone and walked over to them. His eyes seem to be very worried… and his face was very pale.

"Don't have to tell us, Sage," Ryo then questioned, "What section are you sent to?"

"To tell you the truth, I haven't the slightest clue," Sage answered in an almost inaudible tone.

"Well welcome to the To-Be-A-Soldier Club, Sage!" Kento joked in a half-hearted way.

Sage grumbled, "I feel so loved."

"I bet you do," Ryo smirked.

Everyone was uneasy about the subject. Time started to feel so critical. And time was beginning to feel very, very short. They came back to feel relieved and to feel relaxed. But it was almost certain that it wasn't going to be any "Kick back and relax" any time soon… it seemed to be not for a long while yet. They talked more but rather on the complaining side. All of them had no idea what to do just yet.

"I don't feel like going back home now," Sage growled, "The minute I do… the minute I go."

"Same here," Kento rolled his eyes for the millionth time that day, "knowing what Uncle Chu might say. He might go bonkers. In fact, he didn't even sound like he wanted me to go."

"Hey," Ryo said, "I might be next on the list to get that phone call. Uh-uh."

"Well," Mrs. Mori offered, "… you have been wonderful to my son, Sai. He wouldn't mind if you guy stay for awhile. It will be okay for now. Plus, you boys look tired."

"Thank you, Mrs. Mori, but…" Sage started to say.

"It's okay. I know Dr. Date wouldn't mind. I'll just tell her that you're help nursing my son back to health. Now definitely she will

approve."

"Hmm… I don't know…" Rowen rubbed his head and had his full attention toward Sai.

"Something wrong?" Ryo blinked and gave a questioning look at Rowen and Sai.

"You know," Rowen cocked his head, "I don't know if Sai should know this. It doesn't sound like a good idea at all. He has been through too much."

"You have got me thinking, Rowen," Sage spoke in support of Rowen's words. "Sai has to stress off for now. I mean… he has already carried too much of our own burden."

"You boys are really kind," Mrs. Mori told them and gathered their attention towards her. "But I think I cannot keep this secret to Sai.

Not now… not ever. He has to know."

"Mrs. Mori," everyone spoke.

"I know you mean my son well," Mrs. Mori added, "But… that is one thing I cannot promise."

"We can't let him know… not now at least. Let us think of something first," Ryo persuaded.

"Hey!" Rowen snapped his fingers. "We can't just sit here. We are wasting some precious time! Why don't we do something and discuss

this?" Everyone nodded in full agreement.

"That's strange," Sage placed his hand on Sai's forehead. "He hasn't awaken yet."

"Maybe our fish boy really needed the rest," Kento told Sage, "He's just exhausted."

Sage confessed, "I'm not too sure, Kento. I'm not too sure."

"Sage…" Ryo hissed and looked over at Mrs. Mori, "you're worrying us. He'll… he'll be… be just fine. He is the invincible Sai of the Torrent." Ryo led Sage away from the group as Kento kept jabbering with Mrs. Mori about their adventures and talked about his future. Rowen listened attentively and helped Kento keep the conversation going. But also as they prepared for dinner and talked, he knew that there was something that they didn't know… was going totally wrong.

"Okay Sage, I know I rushed us in here but I need to know now," Ryo spoke in a firm voice. "What is going on in your mind up there? I mean… what is cooking you?"

"The house," Sage tried to pass a joke between them. It was a lame attempt. Sage didn't want Ryo to start worrying about what he was thinking about. Plus, couldn't he have some privacy with his thoughts?

Ryo backed Sage up against a well-decorated wall. "There is no time for jokes now. I need to know. Any problems concerning with Sai… I MUST know." His starlight blue eyes stared right into Sage's purplish pupils. There was no way to turn away from those eyes.

"Com' on, Ryo. Don't get so rough up. Ever since Sai fought that incredible superman guy, we have been stressing ourselves on him," Sage protested and pushed Ryo's blocking arm away from him. He walked to the other side of the room, wondering if what he said was true. And he thought most of all was his worries worth worrying about. That lied as an unrevealed answer for the Ronin friends.

Was what he said really true? Yes, it was true. Ever since then the four friends had been protective over Sai and had been keeping good eye upon Sai as he had done for them. And like they were, their armors were sending energy to Torrent (talking about the armor here), so the armor wouldn't have to drain Sai's last resource of energy. His armor had the

ability to heal him, but the armor was at a critical state… a state that needs time to recover. And time they didn't have. The bearers knew… and so did the armors sense.

****************

"Huh?" Sai whispered to himself. He was now alert. He was hearing his friends' voices and his mom's. He couldn't believe it. Man, he was home at last! Sai wanted to wake up and cry up with joy. Maybe give his friends a scare! But none of his senses would let him he realized. It was, as if he were paralyzed by his own self. "Oh gosh, am I dead?" was his first sarcastic remark. But his sarcasm went away when he found out he was not. He knew he was still lying there. He knew what they were saying and could smell the wondrous supper his mom prepared. But he didn't know was why he couldn't see it… and why he couldn't say anything.

"What's going on…" Sai thought desperately. He felt caved in again like a caged bird that didn't know whether or not to sing "Where are the guys? How come I can't do anything?" Sai searched his deeper inner strength... finding his self again. He then saw a reflection of himself from a pool of water. Then he saw the cherry blossoms (sakura) falling and

floating onto the water. Paradise? Nah... it was an image his mind created for him so he would relax and think clearly. His mind knew he needed it... and needed -- the very most-- to draw every ounce of his mind's powers to him.

****************

"Okay Ryo… you win," Sage said finally as if he were surrendering to a policeman. "Only because I think you… too… have the right to know." Ryo listened carefully as Sage started to explain. "Ever since our buddy, Sai, gotten into all that commotion with that Skyant and Rowen thing I cannot help but to worry about him. In fact, I think we are all

really worried about that kid. I never felt this worried in my whole entire life since the death of one of my closest relatives."

"Yeah… I see what you are saying, Sage. I cannot help but to think of that myself," Ryo agreed.

"And never I could take my thoughts off of him completely," Sage added. "I feel like I'm being forced to think of Sai. And that… that kind of force… I've never been jerked so hard in my entire life."

"Maybe it's a message," suggested Ryo who sat down on the carpet with his legs crossed.

"I thought of that myself," Sage cocked his head to the side, "but I don’t know. This may sound kind of strange… but…" He stopped and tried to say it again, but his throat felt knotted.

"Look Sage," Ryo chuckled at him, "none of your ideas and thoughts that wind inside of you haven't been foolish. So try me."

"Haven't you thought that our armors have been strangely…busy?" Sage asked in a stuttering tone. Silence passed between them. Ryo didn't know what to say. Sage didn't know what else to add.

****************

As Sai's Ronin Warrior friends and his mother held their conversations, Sai was singlely

fighting to hold on to his life. It was as if he were at the edge of an unstable cliff and yet if you let go, you will have no way to return. And on and on you will travel down and never will it end unless you end you. Sai not only had his limp self to worry about but his spirit. Each time he passed out, it got harder and even harder for him to awake. His friends didn't know this and he never told them. And now he struggles to fight himself awake. Yet the pain… the agony… the torture… the worry…. the fight… caused him to stop.

"It's no use Sai," Sai thought to himself. "There's no way to fight yourself awake. Even with the help from the other armors and your armor that wouldn't be enough." No one knew exactly what kind of painful state he was in. Under his bandages, his wounds struggled tried to cause as little pain as possible.

Sai knew he was drifting further away. And he knew his body was only doing its best and last resolution. The nervous system knew he couldn't handle anymore pain or stress. But it didn't know when to turn on the switch again. "You have to do something more. You've got your armor to get the other armors to help you." Sai's mind was the strongest out of

all the Ronin Warriors. He was able to interact with almost anything (especially his friends) just using his mind. But his mind's strength was wearing down and draining.

******************

Sage felt his forehead become warm. It was his kanji…Wisdom. A sphere- shape lit glow (that came from his orb) flashed at Sage's chest. Ryo's kanji also lit and so did the orb that was tuck against his chest. The green and red from the orbs light soon surrounded them both. Sage and Ryo watch as the power of the orbs caused their feet to move forward… almost like that time Sai, Kento, Sage, and Rowen made Ryo's feet move. Sage and Ryo looked at each other and turned to the orbs, seeing them dash away. The two chased after their "runaway" orbs.

"HEY! I didn't know orbs sprouted legs!" growled Ryo who was searching for his orb.

"Me neither! I didn't know they had FEELINGS!" Sage groaned and checked outside to make sure the two orbs didn't decide to go with the wind. "This is totally weird…"

"You're not serious, Ryo," Rowen smiled as he stood by the door. "Sprouting legs? Fantasy."

"Having feelings, Sage? Don't tell me that vegetables do too!" Kento came from behind Rowen.

"Feelings," Sage thought for a short moment. That was it.

"Hey guys," Sage spoke out loud, "I think I know where they went!" Sage hurried down the hall with his friends following behind him. He went directly to Sai's bedroom where they had put Sai in just before they went to the dining room.

Yes, there were the two orbs. Sai's kanji, Trust, was flashing unstoppably. Sage's heart was throbbing for no apparent reason (to him that was). Then, he closed his eyes and his kanji again lit. And this time, everyone's kanji did. There they all were… together. Virtue… that was Ryo. Life. That was Rowen. Wisdom. Definitely that was Sage. Justice. Had to be Kento. And lastly, Trust… which was Sai. The other two orbs joined with Sage and Ryo's and looked as if they all entered into Sai's kanji.

"Our orbs are helping Sai recuperate," Rowen observed. He then noticed that Sai did not jerk from the sudden shock of energy or move a single inch. "You know… I have this sneaky feeling that they know something that we don't know." He got to his knees and looked at the "seem-to-be" peaceful Sai sleeping.

"Do you think our armors are hiding something?" Kento questioned in almost a serious tone.

"Maybe you're right Sage," Ryo looked over at Sage and patted him on his back, "the armors are busy. Maybe trying to send a message."

"I think SAI is the one trying to tell us something!" Rowen spoke out in a more hurried tone. "Sai! Can you hear me? WAKE UP! Sai!"

*******

"I can hear you Rowen," Sai thought, "but I don't know if I could wake up. Rowen, I can hear you. I don't know if I'm able to pull it off." His eyes were closed and his mind was at full concentration to talk to Rowen with his mind. It was worth a shot at and Sai didn't intend to miss it.

*******

"Sai?" Rowen whispered and became puzzled with the message he was receiving in his mind. He immediately identified it to be Sai's voice, for it was the only one, which had that sweet, British-accent. "Sai…now hold on. Hey guys… we need to do something. We have to wake him up."

"You cannot be serious, Sai isn't in a coma," Ryo said in a firm, but flat voice. He couldn't imagine something like that was to happen to Sai. They were just talking and he falls into a coma? Good grief… not a good thing. Ryo just denied and dismissed the thought.

Sage almost couldn't believe it himself. He knew for a fact that if you went down to a coma, you will most likely never get out of it. And if you stay at that state for an extended period of time, you would die. "Rowen… come on. Maybe we could just pour a big pail of water on him and everything…"

"Look guys," Kento who knew his best friend was in big trouble snapped, "we can't deny it. We have to think of something fast before Sai's energy dies off and he is done for."

"Oh great, now we need a miracle cure to get him up," Sage frowned and thought for a moment. "I heard that talking would help keep someone to fight for life. But I do not know. What I am worried is that Mrs. Mori would know. I don't want to let her be worried."

"So it is true," Kento mumbled. His heart was about to crack like glass. "What your mom said about Sai, Sage. Remember? Those words of "He will not live…" or "He's going to die…" The thing that we kept hiding away from Sai? I cannot believe this. Why would someone just poke needles into my friend? This is… insane, guys. Insane."

"The world seems to be going insane anyhow," Rowen slammed his fist against the bed. "I don't believe it! Sai! You got to keep trying bud! We cannot live without you!"

"Shhh!" Ryo hissed at Rowen. "We cannot let Mrs. Mori know!"

"Supper, you boys!" Mrs. Mori called out to them from the kitchen.

"Heh, time to eat," Kento grumbled. Even the luscious food didn't bring Kento to the table automatically. They decided they would rotate so that Mrs. Mori wouldn't know what was happening to Sai. And as they rotate, the person would try to find a way to keep Sai active in his mind or in some ways, to awaken him. Rowen was the first to stay in the

bedroom.

"So where is Rowen?" Mrs. Mori immediately asked when she saw that Rowen wasn't coming.

The guys gave quick glances at each other. "Well," Kento scratched his head in an uneasy fashion, "he told us that he wasn't very hungry. He says that he will be here in a bit."

"Yeah," Ryo tried to support Kento's statement, "He's kind of upset with what has happened to your son, Sai. After what has been happening especially."

Sage ended, "He just needs time to think about it and clear his mind. He will be okay… knowing him. He's just that type of person."

Mrs. Mori nodded not seeing anything suspicious with that. "Well… I guess we cannot start with the man of the house eating first… so let's just all start." She started to nibble on a piece of trout.

When the three guys saw trout as part of the menu for dinner, they really started to think of Sai and how he dislikes eating fish and how he calls them to be his friends. For once, all the Ronins ate slowly. None of them talked or pass a glance to one another. They all just ate and thought. Boy, they missed Sai being at the table… especially when it’s a party. He would always try to mess around at the table with his friends and since he is man of the house in his family, it would be even more exciting.

The silence brought attention to Mrs. Mori. She stopped eating for awhile and looked at all of the guys. None of them were close to being finish. She decided to break the uneasy silence. "I thought you guys missed eating fish. Or has our Fish Boy really changed your diet?" The Ronins noticed that as a joke and started to laugh. The laugh wasn't very happy but it was content enough to show to Mrs. Mori that they were okay.

"So you boys, have been thinking about the Tournaments?"

All of them stopped chewing. They nearly forgot. Then they also remember how much Sai wanted to participate in the cycling two-mile race and the swimming tournaments. Then there would be Rowen doing the one-mile run and the Frisbee throw (3 tries). Ryo would be doing the soccer tournament and the skis for four with Kento. Kento was also going to participate in the wrestling tournament but it seemed that it wouldn't happen. They realized how much they needed Sai for that! In fact, Sai helped all of them be prepared for it.

Breaking the silence, Kento chuckled as if to himself, "He, he… yeah. I wonder if Sai will make it. He is very important you know."

Mrs. Mori looked at him thoughtfully and replied, "Hey, if my son really wants to he will. Don't worry about it…" She then placed her chopsticks onto the plate and then continued, "Just I don't know what he will say if he finds out that… we are in trouble."

"I don't know if Sai will live!" Sage thought in a frustrated way. "What do the government think of the Mori family? This is ridiculous…"

"We need to help them," Ryo also thought in a desperate way, "Sai. I wonder how you will make through this Sai. I just hope you will."

"This makes me so mad," Kento groaned and stabbed at the vegetables on his plate. He then thought, "The situation is complicated enough. We can't bring Sai to the hospital knowing what they will try to do to him. We can't find a solution to the whole mess!"

********

Sai's ears were sharp and he could hear that faint conversation. "I don't get it. Their voices are so uneasy. I know they aren't telling Mother my state. What is that two weeks about? What two weeks…? I just don't understand!" Sai felt himself being drifted back even

more. The pain it took... the energy he lost. Everything was now a blob inside his mind. "Like fish out of water..." one of the Warlords told him. The mode to get up was becoming weaker. He was loosing it. He knew it. But he felt like it didn't matter anymore... he was a fish out of water.

"Sai… Sai!" a voice echoed into his ears. He could see a ghostly figure in front of him… a person he never seen for a long, long time. "Sai… long time I haven't seen you."

*********