"No… I did not mean to try to kill him! That is not true! You do not understand!" Rowen said, trying to persuade them. Inside of him, he grew hot. Rowen did not know whether he should tell the truth or not. What should he do?

"Shame on you, Rowen Hashiba!" Sage's voice echoed as he drew out his blade.

Ro was shock and was glued to his place, "Sage… but why?"

He watched as Kento swung his naginata in front of him and Ryo crossing his katanas. This could not be…
Ryo ordered, "Let's get him guys! He is not Rowen at all! He kills Sai… we will kill him!"

Kento rooted, "Way to go, Ryo! Let's get this blue guy out of our sight. Sai will be happy about THAT!"

"He was my best friend… let ME take the honor for the first attack," Sage added, holding his sword in both of his palms. A light glowed on the sword and a rush of energy came into the weapon.
Rowen cried, "PLEASE! Don't make me do this!" He brought his handku up to his face for self-defense. His legs were shaking. What did he do so wrongly to make them unforgiving? The blow scarred and tore at him. Hatred was formed all around him. The attack was, although, stopped by a form in front of him. Ro squinted and then his mouth nearly dropped. The brown hair and blue ribbon already gave away who was it that saved his life once more.
Kento: "But why? Sai! Why do such foolish things! He has destroyed your lifeline!" "Stop talking about my lifeline, Kento!" Sai commanded, in a forceful voice of a leader's. His arms were spanned and blocked Rowen almost completely, "He has done nothing to have his life destroyed! Whether he has done a guilty or innocent thing isn't what I am concerned about! He could live in harmony and with guilt. Whichever he chooses makes no difference. You have no reason to KILL him!"
Everyone looked at Sai as if he was crazy. Rowen then came to his knees in astonishment. He whispered, "Sai…" and then minute he said it Sai had collapsed into his arms. Sai had used the last to save his best friends from killing each other. Sai said something… almost inaudibly, "Ro… why you did that?"

Ro: "Because… because…" Everyone looked at him at once. Rowen took a deep breath and tried again, "Because… I did not want him to die."
Ryo's voice became rasp, "You do not want him… to die?" Their mouths had nearly fell to the ground. Rowen nodded, his eyes becoming blurry, "Yeah… he is my friend… best friend. I knew about his life from this idiotic fortuneteller. I should had never asked her about how my friend's life was going to go… but I did and that is why I… I was trying to do such foolish acts. I spied and tried to stop it from happening… but…" Another boom alerted… it was number 89.
Sai smiled and patted Rowen, "Thanks for telling me this. That is all I wanted to know. Thank you anyway… pals… friends… families… everyone." He clasped hold onto Rowen and Sage's hands. But then… eight hands were over his. The two fireworks lit the sky. There goes numbers 90 and 91.
"I am sorry… I mean… we are. I wish… I want to join you," Sage apologized.

"No," Sai shook, "this is not what you were to find for. Come on… you guys could… forget me…"

There went number 92. Ryo knocked Sai on the head, but rather gently, "You should not say that… Sai…" Now two more fireworks fired. Blue and red streams of light flashed. Kento interrupted, "Sai, I wish this could not happened. Please do not forget us. I hope…" Ryo then hushed Kento, "We don't got time… let's form a circle." The Ronins surrounded Sai in a circle, holding hands. They wanted to give their last try to save him.
Three more were launched in the sky and only three more remained before the time was up and midnight struck. They tried to concentrate but no sense of power came to them. Sage, Kento, and Ryo were scowling and begging to let it work. They were now terribly afraid. So was Rowen… but Rowen wanted to say something to Sai and did not know what.

Rowen began, "Sai…" A firework then burst: #98.

Sai asked in a low tone, "Yeah… what?"

Rowen cried, "I want to…" Another boomed and frightened him. "… thank you." And the last firework faded into the sky.
Sai's breathing stopped that minute and stillness came over them. Everyone became speechless. Rowen's arms had lastly got to tell Sai what he wanted to say. It was hard to say so… and he had to. A fade light of dark blue was over him, blanketing Sai. Sai knew Rowen meant no harm. Sai knew Rowen had a reason. And the reason was… he wanted Sai to live. And… he wanted Sai… to be his and only his best friend. Rowen whispered, "Sai… you will always be my… best friend."

LATER~ Afterwards

A dark mist covered them and then vanished. But no one paid attention to this weird mist. Only few minutes later (after a few silent minutes that dreaded), one of Sai's fingers started to move and then his whole hand. Rowen's grasp and energy had not given in. He had not let go. Sai's eyes opened and saw Rowen, face to face. Rowen started to smile.

Sai: "Thank you… Rowen."
Rowen: "No need to thank me. That is what friends are for."