Chapter 5— No Use for Tears

Then, Sai started to whisper, something so—dim, “Ryo… Ryo… help… It hurts…”

Ryo immediately asked, “Where? Which side? How do you feel?”

Sai murmured, in low tones that even a bass can’t reach, “Lousy… water.”

Ryo figured that he could just dump Sai in, clothes and all… for he was only wearing the plastic-doctor ‘robe.’

Sai complained, “I can’t move.”

Ryo encouraged Sai, “You CAN. I’ll help you. Just put a leg over there and get in. It’s cold.”
While Sai slowly got in, Sai really had to use Ryo to stand and move. Ryo was like a cane to him at that point. But accidentally, he slipped and Ryo used his reflex to catch him before the fall. Sai’s face turned red; he was blushing.

Ryo argued, “It wasn’t your fault. It’s slippery.” They stood, facing each other. Ryo suddenly beamed. A red glow appeared for the first time those two weeks. His attribute rose… Virtue. Sai’s forehead lightened too, Trust/Faith. And from out of nowhere, Ryo’s orb came down to them, toward Sai, then Sage’s orb, Wisdom. They, at first, landed on Sai’s hand, then penetrated into Sai’s body.
Ryo and Sai knew he was back. But quietly, Rowen oversaw everything.

---------- Mutant’s Palace----

Captain: “Master, I knew it. Sai’s power was underestimated. He has back Ryo and Sage’s orbs, and Ryo himself.”

Mutant: “Impossible. Sai is the WEAKEST out of them.”

Captain Leigh replied, “I was waiting for an opportunity to kill him easily… rather than watch him, hilariously, fight me. But he’s now ill and will die. One of his arteries will be infected and the medicine will kill off his DNA special features.”

The Mutant stared at Mar, “I want YOU to make sure Strata and Hardrock don’t get loose, okay? And keep them in your sight.”
Mar: “Of course we will, Your Majesty. And I want to have permission to ask you something.”

The Mutant suddenly looked curious and nodded, “Yes, you’ve the permission to speak.” The Lieutenant bowed, “I wish to have control of Strata. Please, I’ve a plan.”

“Yes, Uncle. No… No, Sai isn’t well,” Kento answered quickly over the phone, “Right now he’s with Ryo and Rowen. The doctor? Well, Mrs. Date is his doc. Yeah, a slight fever. We’re dumping him into an icy, cold tub. How he got hurt? It’s a long story but I’ll tell you later when I got the time… *laugh* Yeah, thanks! Call you later!” Kento hung up when Sage was halfway up the stairs with ice. “Need some help?”

Sage grinned, “You bet it! GAH, it’s cold!”
“ACK! OW!” Sai hollered. His wounds were starting over him. Ryo rolled Sai’s sleeves up. A small… but spurting hole was there. But when Ryo looked further, he saw that a needle… two… had punctured right through one of his major arteries. Mrs. Date came in, and Ryo immediately told her about it. Ro disappeared out of sight, to the living room, as if he didn’t care.
“MOM! *GRUNT* I’ve brought some ice up! Kento helped…” Sage panted and dropped the ice, accidentally, on Ryo’s toe. “GAH! Sage!” Ryo echoed but then smiled, lightly. Sage became surprised and by Sai’s encouraged look, they knew Ryo was all right then. Sage felt his forehead brighten with “Wisdom.”
Dr. Date checked and tried to be gentle as she was always to Sage. Taking his pulse and studying Sai’s ‘injuries,’ she suddenly had a face that meant I-cannot-say-it face. Sage’s mom whispered, “I cannot say if he’ll be all right, Mrs. Mori. Please, I need to speak to you alone."

Mrs. Mori had a shocked face but hiding it, she led Dr. Date out and they talked, lowly. Sage started to dump a lot of ice in, to keep Sai’s temperature from rising. Kento, softly, put a bag of ice under Sai’s head, pillowing it.
Ryo sank to the floor, rather depressed and sad for Sai. Sage patted Ryo on the left shoulder saying, “We forgive you , Ryo.”

Kento bellowed, “Well I, Kento of Hardrock, don’t. Look how much you hurt him! LOOK!”

Ryo then was on his knees. “I’m dreadfully sorry, Kento-san. I know what I did was wrong. I now know something else… I was stupid enough to believe my dream. A demon told me, ‘You cannot live unless you get Torrent out of your hands…”
Kento stared at Ryo but then shook his head, “Ryo… I now know what you’re trying to get at me. Get up off the floor and stop making me feel like I’m a King or something. Sai has change now though… he should be the leader.”

Ryo nodded but then overheard a reply from the door “… he will not live.”
Sage and Kento heard this too and had a face that looked like a ghost was there.

Kento squeaked, “Sai… will not live?”

Sage had enough guts to protect Sai from this knowledge and said, “SHHH, Kento. We cannot tell Sai this.”

Mrs. Mori came in and said, “I’ll bring you guys some stools so you don’t get yourself moped-wet.” Bringing out five stools, they sat near Ryo. Rowen didn’t appear though. He just stood on the carpet downstairs, his face down.
Mrs. Mori replied, “He’s not going to make it to his practice. But he will go to the Aquarium and tour though tomorrow, right?”

Sage’s mom agreed, “Yep, just keep a good eye on him and he’ll be all right.”

Kento, trying to be cheerful, yelped, “YIPPEE! SAI WILL BE… okay.” Ryo patted Kento… though really to try to keep Kento his normal standards. Sai suddenly became fully conscious, and then sat up, staring weakly at his Mother, but then Ryo; Ryo tilted himself closer to Sai and felt his forehead again. His temperature dropped down to 103 F. well, it was better at least. He didn’t even cared if he caught something from Sai for he promised himself that he’ll always be with Sai… wherever he may go, he will.
Cushioning Sai’s head, he gave a slight pat on him, affectionately. Sai asked, “When will I get out of this cold ice? And what was the big idea to bump my head against the ice anyhow?” They all looked at each other and started to laugh. Sage blushed and started to smile.
After two full fluster hours in the icy water, Sai was taken out and put into some clean clothes. Sai could now walk on his own, but he still used Ryo as his little cane and guidance. Stumbling downstairs, he sat on a creaking rocking chair.

Rowen still sat on the sofa, but then he finally was able to say, “Are you… feeling better…?” Sai looked at him and grinned, “Sure, Rowen! You certainly made my tongue turn brown though!” They giggled, and Rowen managed to smile.
Sai decided to get more active and took out the remote control. Kento snapped it out of Sai’s hand and pressed it, toward the television. Sai’s eyebrow rose and looked confused. “Uh… Kento…”

Kento scorned, “Your remote doesn’t work…” He pushed it directing to the rec. room where the stereo stood this time and music boomed. They all covered their ears, and Mrs. Mori shouted, "Press that music OFF!”
Kento rapidly did and his ears kept ringing. Sai started to laugh his head off. “KENTO! You had the stereo remote and pushed it up LOUD!” Everyone was laughing at Kento. Kento felt stupid, but then manage to laugh too. Ryo had the remote for the television and started to flip. They laughed, chatted, watched and even played as the TV kept being on.
Silently, Sai asked, “Any of you guys thirsty?”

Kento, Ryo, and Sage immediately stopped what they’re doing and all answered, exaggerated, “YEAH!” Sai was about to get up, until Rowen stopped him, “I’ll go get it, Sai. What you guys want?” It was normally unusual Rowen would do such a thing, but they all figured that Ro didn’t want Sai hurt.

Kento called, “A Pepsi!”

Sage added, “A Sprite will be fine otherwise water.”

Ryo just replied plainly, “Any soda.”

Sai shook his head and simply said, “Water.”
Rowen shook Sai a bit and asked again, “Are you sure?” Sai kept saying he was sure. Ro rushed into the kitchen, preparing the drinks.

Kento suddenly invited, “Anyone want to play a board game?”

Sage relaxed, “What shall it be? Something not too roughhousing I hope.”

Ryo then turned to Sai, “What games you got?”

Sai smiled, a tiny one, “Clue, Scrabble, any card games, Majung, Monopoly…”

Kento interrupted, “Monopoly? Great! How about Monopoly, guys?”

Sai answered, “Whatever. I don’t mind what game.”
Taking their pieces, Sage chose first since he won the toss; he took the shoe. Ryo was second and decided to pick the cowboy; Kento then took the hat. Since Ro didn’t arrive then, Sai took what he always took… the wheelbarrow. When Rowen came, he acted like a waiter. “Who had Pepsi?” Kento took it and immediately started to drink it. Ryo decided to take the Coca-Cola, and Sage received his Sprite. Sai was the only to not be thirsty and didn’t drink. He just disdainfully held the cup of water Rowen brought and thanked him silently.
Shuffling the Chest cards and arranging the paper money, so it looked like a bank, Rowen said he won’t play and will just be a bank clerk. “I bet you’ll be bankrupted before me!” Kento challenged the rest. Ryo, shuffling the cards, countered, “We’ll see who goes to jail first!”

Sage simply snickered and chatted with Sai a bit. Taking their ‘money,’ the game started.
Sage rolled and got a 6. He was safe. When they all took their turns and Kento was first to hit to get more money from landing on Bank Chest. But as the game continued, they all were heading good luck. Sai had already owned almost all the blues (very expensive), and had gone past ‘Go’ only once! Ryo owned a couple of misc. ones and already started to build houses. Sage had caught many of the often-landed areas and started to rent himself. Kento, on the other hand, just earned money and more money.
Then, luck changed as the poor boys started to get tired for no reason, except Sai. Kento was sent to jail, Sage forgot to collect his money totally, and Ryo even did couple of foolish mistakes, turning toward bankruptcy.

Rowen instantly took action, “You guys are probably tired. Why don’t you go to sleep? I’ll play some card games or something with Sai.”
They disagreed till they fell asleep right on the table! Sage and Kento were turning green for some odd reason too. Sai’s mind went to action. Could Rowen had… put sleeping powder in their drinks and ‘poison?’