“What? What in the whole wide world you lost?” Kento asked, seeing Sai’s eyes go enormously huge.

“Ryo’s orb… Ryo took it.”

Sage: “What’s so important about keeping…”

Sai, for the first time, interrupted, abruptly: “Because now he has it all but mine! The Evil Dynasty Mutant and his henchmen! I’m going to go and find out what’s going on and piece this all together. It makes no sense…”
Kento stopped him: “No Sai. Not now. Look, we’ll go once we go and visit our parents, collect some more knowledge and items, then go! We’re not… equipped!”

Sai joked, lively, “I didn’t know you were homesick, Kento!”

Kento laughed: “No, we go to YOUR place Sai! YOURS!”

Sai went blank: “Mine? MINE? You want me kicked, do you?”

Sage admitted: “Yeah, both our folks are pretty strict. Uh-huh, especially my Mom, Dr. Date. Worried about everything.”
Kento countered: “My people are out of town. And plus, MY place is way farther than yours or Sai’s!”

Sage looked, hopelessly, and gave Sai those big eyes.

Sai groaned: “Okay, okay. I’ll ask my family. Let’s get to a pay phone.” Sai turned but then dunked Sage into the peaceful, cold ocean.

Sage hollered: “GAH!” Kento, playfully, grasped Sai around the waist and lifted Sai. Sai was the lightest out of the Ronins and was really easy to lift up. But if he could actually be the hardest at some times.
They all started to go wild. It was so good that Sai started this. Otherwise they couldn’t get the confusion off of their heads. While they played, they headed toward the phone booth near them. Sai was pushed into the phone booth and they wouldn’t let Sai out till he called. Sai got out of his pocket the Mori Phone Card and called that number first. But before he could finish a voice said: “Your friends hate you!” and the voice clicked off. Sai’s eyes were startled, but then he shook his head and called again… which finally worked. Punching in the numbers, the Mori’s phone rang.
Sai’s mother, who was sweeping, answered it. Sai swallowed hard and squeaked: “Mom?”

Sai’s mother dropped her broom, sat on the couch, and exclaimed: “Sai! You called! How was it at your trip? Your friends okay? Everything fine?”

Sai felt so embarrassed that he wanted to shut off the phone. Though he managed to ask: “Could I… come home now?”

She heard the unusual quiver in his voice and replied: “Yes. You always can. I told you. Are you sick?”
Sai, helplessly, looked over at Kento and Sage. They were giggling… trying not to. He answered without hearing the question: “Yeah…”

Sai’s mother suddenly felt really concern: “Look, I’ll go pick you up. Where are you?”

Sai answered, solemnly: “Sage, Kento, and I are at the beach… over where the forest meets and it looks like there’s a crystal ball in the middle.”

His mother nodded and told him: “In 5 minutes I’ll be there, okay? Lit up a light, so I could see where you are. Don’t worry my sweet. You’ll be okay.”
Kento couldn’t help for asking: “So how was the mother and son talk Sai?”

Sai murmured: “She said she’ll be here in five minutes and told use to lit a light. That fire should do it.”

Kento: “And?”

Sai smirked: “She thinks I’m sick.”
Sage laughed and packed up again: “Well, thanks Sai. I am so glad I don’t have to call my parents.”

Sai saw a big figure, ready to strike Sage: “SAGE~! Look out!” Sai did a slide-turn kick that tripped the figure completely over. The person gasped and ran away before Sai could do anything else. That was when Sai’s mom arrived and signaled them to get in. Kento blew out the fire, and they ran into the Toyota car.
Sai’s mother was surprised: “Where’s Ryo and Rowen? Were they here?”

Sage: “No, Mrs. Mori. They weren’t here…”

Sai’s mom looked at Sai with tell-me-or-you-know-what face. Sai mumbled: “It’s true.” She nodded in approval and Sai was relieved.

Kento: “Umm… could we stay over with Sai?”

She smiled, affectionately: “Sure. I’m bored so why not. You people could go to the Aquarium and State Park tour tomorrow. I bought a little too many tickets.”
Kento cried: “Oh really? Sai, isn’t that something?”

Sai grinned and his mom added: “He just loves aquariums. Whenever I take him to the ocean, he will always try to get away from me and swim away like a dolphin…” she stopped then asked: “You finished with your homework right?”
Sai nodded; he was certainly glad that wasn’t a lie. If it was and she finds out, he’s in bad trouble. When the car was parked into the garage, they all piled out with their stuff. Being polite, they wiped their feet and followed Sai’s ways. When she noticed that Sai was going to take all their stuff up, she waved her hand: “No. You boys go eat while I get these stuff up.”
The very first person to the table was Kento; he sniffed all the good cooking and smacked his lips.

Sai warned: “Kento…” They sat down and served the food. Sai waited till one of his friends started to eat. But none of them two did. They were waiting for HIM! Sai became small then stabbed a little piece of steak. Kento and Sage watched, hungrily, waiting for Sai to take a bite. Sai was really nervous. It came to him that he was the man of the house. Finally, he nimble a bite and grin. “DIG IN!” That was when Kento stuffed all the food he could, eating everything happily. Sage tried to be polite and ate formally… not really.
After eating, Kento asked after swallowing down his milk: “Your mom does the best cooking Sai! No wonder you know how to cook so good! You never cook fish or squids though or octopi…” He saw Sai turning green as if ready to puke. Unfortunately, that was when Sai’s mother came in: “Sai! You DO look sick! Sage, could you fetch my thermometer from the cupboard and that green bag?” Sai now was really blushing and whined, “Mom… I’m not sick…” Sage did as he was commanded and fetched it. Mrs. Mori pushed the thermometer into his mouth.

Kento tried to cover up: “Mrs. Mori… he’s not sick. I just…”

She interrupted: “Just what?” He finished: “Made him green. I…”
The thermometer beeped and she took it out of Sai’s mouth. Sai was spluttering, thinking: “Disgusting!” Sage and Kento thought there wouldn’t be a result of sickness but it happened so. “100 degrees? I’m afraid we’ll have to cancel the Aquarium tour…” Sai shook his head and pleaded: “MOM! I not sick! I wasn’t! I just sneaked a drink of your tea…” then he stopped. He knew he was in really awful trouble. She tapped her foot: “Sai, you know what I told you… and you did it.” Sai turned bright red; she took Sai by the ears: “You’re going into the bathroom, young man! Now Sage, you and Kento call your parents and let them know you’re here and going to the aquarium. Otherwise, you’re not going to the aquarium even if Sai gets better.”
Sage nodded, slowly, starting to blush. He hated calling his parents… especially his mom, Mrs. Date. Even just some minor cut, Sage always had his mom there to treat his wounds with most concern.

Kento saluted “Yes, madam! I salute you!” and started to giggle. It was no problem to Kento to call his Uncle. His Uncle was never concerned with Kento and was never treated bad.
The bang of the closed door of the bathroom’s shut, and they heard squeals, whines, and firm shouts. Sage whispered to Kento: “We can’t lie for long Kento. They will know something is wrong and will blame us. You know how our parents are!”

Kento answered plainly: “SO. We just didn’t say everything. How could we lie? Plus, we DID say we’ll make plans along the way.”

The phone rang and Sage quickly received it, “Hello? This is Sage speaking.”
Mrs. Mori’s voice came from the other end of the phone: “SAGE. CALL your parents this minute. I’ll know if didn’t.” And then the phone clicked off. Sage gulped and immediately started to dial.
“Yes?” went the other end “Yes, who is it?” It was surely Mrs. Date.

Sage began his voice a little unusually high, “Mom? I’m at Sai’s house and going to spend the night over… maybe a couple of days. We’re going to the aquarium tomorrow too.”

Mrs. Date became stern, “Date, Sage! You know you can’t make it! You’ve racquetball practice! And a check-up! Remember you’re going to have your school ‘Olympics?”

Sage whined, “BUT MOM! Mrs. Mori asked me to! And Sai and Kento will be truly disappointed! The Olympics are in about two weeks and I’ve plenty of time to practice! Please Mom…”

Sage’s mother plotted her answer with a “no.” Sage heard another voice on the line. “Please, Mrs. Date, madam?” Who was this voice? Sage could barely tell who was it, until he remembered how Sai’s mommy called and knew it had to be Sai.
Sai whispered in a low voice, “Could you let Sage come? I know the Olympics… are soon and you want Sage to practice… and get everything done, but sometime people have to relax and have… fun. Could you just this once?”

Mrs. Date answered, sweetly, “Sai, I’m sorry but Sage can’t make it. He has a lot of stuff to finish. I can’t spoil him too much (Like if he already is)…”

Sage became quite embarrassed and disappointed, “MOM--! How could you say that?”
His mom repeated, “NO, Sage Date. The answer is no and don’t ask again.” Sai’s mother came on the phone and started to speak to Sage’s mom. “…Yes, of course he could come the day after tomorrow… it’s a Friday. Did the kids have fun over at Ryo’s? You don’t know? Well… they must have. Okay… I’ll make sure Sage’s activities aren’t on that day. Good day, Mrs. Mori.”
Sage hung up the phone and slid onto the floor; he looked like he took off to outer space. Mrs. Mori came down the stairs and told Kento that Mrs. Date and her rescheduled it to the day after tomorrow. Kento said that his Uncle will be out of town and said he could do anything. Kento asked, cheerfully, “So… where’s Sai?”

Sai’s mom answered, nicely, “He’s taking a bath… well actually, I made him. In cold water.” Sage thought, privately, “No wonder I heard so many whines. Well, Sai is Sai and could stand any water.”
Kento peered into the bathroom, seeing Sai with those BIG streaking eyes. His eyes were so blue and green that it looked like if he cried, the whole world would. He softly spoke in an undertone: “You all right?” Sai nodded his head, having that big pout frown. Kento came closer, close enough to not disturb Sai’s privacy. Sai mumbled: “You could come closer. I’m not gonna bite you and have you as pork chop with some pepper for seasoning.”
“With you all…?” Kento started but then stopped. He started to beam, ready to explode to laughter. “SAI! WHAT are you doing in a swimming trunk?”

Sai fiddled with a squeaky duck and murmured, quietly, as if he didn’t know what was so funny: “Wha? There’s nothing wrong with it, is there?”

Kento contradicted, “No, no. There’s nothing wrong.”

Sai asked, plaintively, “Well, I hafta find some way to use it. My granddad gave it to me.” Kento could now see how Sai could be such a good sport. He never gets angry when you tease him and knew it was a joke… unlike Kento, himself.
“So… I heard the aquarium is cancelled to the day after tomorrow,” Sai sighed. Kento added, “And that tomorrow day you’ll be in bed probably.”

Sai confirmed, “No. I’ve track and field practice. I kinda forgot that too. Mom will let me. I know she will.”

Kento hissed, “Practice with ROWEN?” Sai shrugged and replied, “Yeah, I guess.” His friend began to explode, “What? If you do who knows what Rowen will do next! Probably straggle you till you’re only flesh.”
Sai splashed some water around, “So? This will be a good chance for me to see if Rowen IS Rowen. You get the point? I’ve a suggestion to make. Could you get Sage?”

Sage was already at the door; he teased, “You rang?” Sai giggled and splashed water onto Sage, “SAGE!”
Kento was too frantic to let Sai have a chat with Sage. He quickly asked, “What is this suggestion?” Sai got his act together and used a pole to shove the door close [behind Sage]. Then, he took his time and said, “My suggestion is that we watch out on Rowen and Ryo. I could watch after Ro since I do track with him. Ryo is doing soccer tomorrow and I believe they will be there. Sage is best to watch Ryo… for that he does racquetball and that event is close to the soccer event.”

Sage asked, “What other events are they in, Sai? How about you?”
Sai told him, “I’m in track and field, basketball, and also wrestling. We are allowed to do three right?”

Sage remembered, “Yeah. Actually, since there are about 50 different events/tournaments, I assume that you could pick five the maximum… SAI!”

Sai exclaimed, “WHAT?”
“You know. I see some sort of pattern. Ryo and Ro are trying to win the gold medal! But somehow I suspect there’s something really strange about that.” Sage quickly spoke how come he thought of that and it was agreeable that that was right. Sai cut the conversation and uttered, “Lemme first get some clothes on since my time is out. I’ll meet you in my room.”
Kento joked, “I really would of liked to stay here and watch you take a bath!” “KENTO!” Sai howled and squeezed a rubber angelfish toy that spattered out cold, freezing water out of the mouth, at Kento and streamed out to Sage. Kento put his hand in the benumbed water and made a wave that soaked Sai. But surprisingly, Sai took Sage (before he recovered from the cold water that splattered at him) and dunked him into the chilly water. Sage then poked Sai at his ticklish side and was bunted.
Mrs. Mori shook her head watching from the door. Finally, she called, “Could you have playtime in his room? The bathroom is already a puddled mess!” She threw Sai a towel and went away, smiling.

Sai winked, “At least my sister isn’t here otherwise I’ll be having a long lecture! Now let me change.”
Gently, he shoved them out and locked the door. He changed into a clean white T-shirt and boxers and went out to his room where he met them. Sai made sure the water drained and the floor wasn’t wet for he didn’t want an argument to come too soon.