Chapter 9.
The Words "I Cannot"

Sai kept on hitting and twisting around until those words went into his head. But still, those words couldn't go through his mind completely. He was exasperated with everything… what everyone was talking about, what he overheard earlier, why Ryo won't let him go, and for the most hurtful one, was that he was weaker and had no one to count on. He couldn't trust Sage nor Kento after hearing what he heard; but he couldn't depend on Ryo since he didn't know what was going on the first place.
With all the frustration and pressure of do-so was so harsh and unbearable for him now. He would rather jump off a cliff and get killed! But now he couldn't ever do it… the way he was injured… the way he can't even defend or attack for himself… the way everything was being treated and threatened. It felt evil to him. This entire running in him, he suddenly burst out and cried hard, especially when Ryo threw him on a nearby sofa. Normally, Ryo couldn't do that to him and this was the first time.
He wailed in a sobbing tone, "I cannot let them do this… I can't! I CAN'T! I CAN'T…!" Sai was really physical and emotional. Tears, for the first time, couldn't stop rolling down his cheeks. Why did they pick him? WHY was he chosen to do this mission? Why was all he dreaded for. Sai closed his eyes, thinking that Ryo would hit him since he… after all… hit Ryo himself. But though he kept crying without a sound.
Without any warning, Ryo was combing Sai's hair (Well, it was a long-tangled mess). But Ryo still didn't let Sai go. Sai dreaded for him to but every moment, he became calmer. At least he did. Ryo started, "Sai, is it really Rowen who is hurting you so much? Or is it… all of us? I mean, I'm really (terribly) sorry I didn't come to you when you asked. I… I felt like you weren't appreciating my company. But now… I understand it more. Why do you…? Sai… you're like a brother to me, Sai. I want to understand. I know you need someone to talk to… someone who will understand. You tried me, but I failed. I want you to try me again. Please?"
By these answers and questions, he took it to his heart to decide, especially when Ryo said those words. Sai felt a little more sensation of this question… more comfort. Before he could speak, he spied Sage on the stairs, with a worried face. Ryo turned too, to see what Sai was looking at and saw the same.

Sage came down, speaking to Sai quietly, "I'm sorry I scared you like that. It was my Mom who called and was speaking to me so quickly I guess I forgot you were listening."
Sage swallowed and continued, rather depressed, "I knew you wouldn't have liked it, so I told her you won't want to and it'll hurt you more than it'll help you. You have to get this thing that's bothering you, though, out of your mind. It's injuring you… and it's worrying us. If you… still don't want to say… then it's best to say little and do what you must now… before you wait and it's too late… you know?"
Sai could tell that Sage was being logical and spatial with this problem and it's solutions. Thinking, he instantly made up his mind on what to do. He was going to go to the place… location… itself to save the REAL Rowen. Sai, in no doubt, knew the Rowen was not the Ro they knew but was a pure duplicate! It now cleared to him that the 'Mutant' and barbarian had cleverly doubled all eight, leaving only Torrent himself to finish the process. Once that Mutant had all DNA and source, the horror of the world would appear and never be the same again in peace.
So, he, smartly, announced, "I'm going to the Ocean tomorrow when the light first rises on top of the forest canopy (which is 1:30 am). If you guys want to go suits me. Bring what you need then as if going camping. Here's the deal, you cannot call any of your parents, got it? I MEAN it. This is the only thing I want for a Birthday present wish."
They all, unwillingly, agreed with what he said. After all, they had to since this was the only thing he wanted at his birthday… or a death wish to them at a prospect.

Sage again, speaking to his knowledge, informed, "Well, we 'cannot' really just leave and go. The police department all over the state will be looking for us! We should leave them something to know not to find us."

Taking this information to their minds, Kento who was coming down to actually get something to drink, suggested, "How about a simple note?"

Ryo shook his head, "That would only work if they come here… or someone comes here."

Sai susurrus, "I'll take charge of that. Don't worry. They WON'T find us."
Sai, now in the small room, at night, packed a few things into many groups of boxes, having a certain number. Ryo, Kento, and even Sage were puzzled by the fact what he was doing. Though Kento had another thought and quickly slipped away. When Sai hit the light off (well, he can't exactly walk there to turn the light off), he laid in the darkness, in planning and taxing his mind. Wisely, he was going to NOT go and jump into the water as he first planned. He was going to where the ocean and mountain scene met… and that was where he would find the entrance to the disaster. While he was finally into sleep… well at least looked like it, Kento crept open the door, with a big kitchen knife in his hand.
Kento saw the sleeping, innocent body, sleeping in the bed. Grasping and sweating, he took his chance and rose the knife. He couldn't stand watching this person suffer and also couldn't stand to have this feeling in him for long. Then, Kento again made another attempt, making it go down to him. No… he hit the bed, making Sai wake up, obviously shocked. Kento, collapsing to the floor, choked, "I can't do it. I can't. Sai… I'm so… irritated to repeat this to you that now you won't trust nor have faith in me, but I'm sorry. I couldn't do it. I don't like to watch you suffer in pain, Sai. I know I've said it once but I wish for you to…"
"Why? WHY?" Sai asked, so softly that not even a mouse could hear. "

Oh! I can't say… I don't know…" Kento blubbered but then touched hand to hand with Sai, practically on the floor. A glow of orange light appeared in his hand and penetrated to Sai's! Sai watched in awe as Kento's character sign, Justice, appeared in front of him finally.
Sai, after the keen light had dimmed, he said, "Don't worry. Don't worry." And indeed it was a 'Don't Worry.' But he knew that this time, he wouldn't fail to win against what he had… he had to win.
It was morn, the sun had rose, the blossoms have woken, and everything was clean and fresh again. Sai taking his very swollen monk bag that held all of what he needed. Everyone else were worried what Sai had in his mind, but everyone were afraid to ask… though it would've been better if they did. Before they left, Sai, last night, had called the dialer of Dr. Date and his mom, leaving a different message that had two connections. Then, he slipped a note under Ryo's telephone while he was carefully brought down.
Ryo, being considerate, asked him, "Are you sure to do this? Your foot is still not all right… the place we're going is… don't have to walk right?"

Sai gave a patient glance and nodded, "We'll take AB Transportation and take the fifth stop; that's where we go enough near the sidelines."

Ryo immediately knew where that was. But WHY was Sai going THERE right then so early? There was something Ryo knew that he was bound to find out soon. Too soon for his taste of opinion.
And again, Ryo pondered about it, trying to figure it out ahead of time, but he was very sure about one thing. Sai was going to defeat the thing that was bothering him. And this looked like it wasn't going to be so simple. Ryo, tucking his katanas on his back, crossed-wised. Sag, coming down with about the same kind of sack with a sword hanging along with a hilt, ran to them, his hair all wet (Well, he took a shower).
Sage excitedly explained in Japanese, "There's a grand opening at the AS Contour and will be shooting fireworks at midnight!"

Sai, though he was very much British and, has an accent, knew what Sage was anxious about. But another thing gave him the hint of another meaning… it was the time when it was chose to which side of the battle will win. Kento came down, too, his naginata around his neck, grinning, "Well, isn't that such a surprise! Well, I hope that's where Sai's taking us."
Sai thought sarcastically, "And that's where you wanna go at this time? Give me a break. I wish you were in my shoes." Using a pole, he stumbled out the door, rather slowly. Though his legs were so weak that it hurt tremendously. This day was going to be a day of all challenge and war.
The transportation was late, almost as if it were on purpose, and the minute they were about to get in, a fatso, smelly guy came and pushed poor Sai backwards, making him loose almost all balance. Sai embarrassed that he was easily defeated by only a human, thought it was going to be 'impossible' to defeat the Nasty Mutant that was waiting. Without any word, he took a seat inside and made up his mind what to do.
Suddenly, that car (last car connected in the B Train) jerked to a mid-way stop and disconnected from all the other cars and hit the front car, making it go to a fall down the water which it was crossing. Everyone was screaming, alerts were flying, and every person who was there, saw it happen. Though it wasn't by accident, but purposely by the Mutant's plan. Only that… Sai, who was a victim to this fall, knew about this and had it all ready when it came.
Sage, Kento, and Ryo were part of it too, but they couldn't escape. Water poured in so soon that no one had time to breathe or escape. Sai, taking his element, had already swum out of the small falling exit and had pulled his friends (all of them) with him the best he could… one on his shoulder, the other two in his hand. He gave them one small bag of 'air' in it, so in case if they ran out of breath, they could breathe out of that.
Luckily, there was only three people left down there, and Sai easily glided down to them, catching them as if they fell from the sky. Giving them another oxygen bag, he sent them up and noticed the woman was pointing to something. It was a sea creature stuck! Signaling them to go on, he dropped down lower, but knew it meant trouble for his breath was slightly out since he didn't hold much air to begin with.
Knowing that he didn't have much time, he went to retrieve and help this helpless critter. Making out his last source of power and strength, he summoned the water's force toward his hands. When he got close enough, he threw this tremendous force at the sunken car and made it as if to 'rock tilt' it off the poor thing. Though this force took a whole lot of his strength; and he was could barely breathe for he needed the hair that the water only contained little... at least that part of it did. He fainted… in the water, sinking slowly and guiding to fewer than two twin geysers that were asleep that moment for now.
Among the shore, the police cops were there to take in the cold and scared people along with nurses and ambulances.

A woman, the same one who Sai had found that creature by, was talking to the news reporters about the person who saved all of them.

Ryo, Sage, and Kento were too shocked and exasperated that they were all talking in gasps. When they all calmed and their breath leveled, Ryo gasped, "Will… Sai… Sai be… okay?"
"Sure…" began Kento, "Ryo, Sai IS the water person down there, he could handle anything that troubles in the sea… sea." Kento wasn't sure of himself, but they were so lucky to have Sai there at the right time. All of them might've been shark bait down there! Sage was concern still, "But he wouldn't be staying that long underwater… right? I mean, he would've came right up with us after getting them (Pointing)."
Sage's wisdom was this time hard to believe, but Ryo knew something else,

"He knew this all along, guys. He knew."

Kento, using a towel to brush the water off his hair, clenched, "How could he? He's not a fortuneteller, ya know. Not one of those people with crystal balls."

A bond of silence came around them as the lady spoke in intelligent and good words about him, "This boy is totally amazing. He must have already known this or something! He's directly 'related' to Sai of the Torrent! He has his heart in the sea and God… I thank him so. He saved my whole family's life in that horrible wreck. I just wished I could thank him and know his name."
Ryo got up to the lady in the big group and answered, simply, "That person who saved you IS Sai of the Torrent. He's my friend. Correction but BEST friend."

The lady had her full attention to Ryo now and asked, curiously, "How do you know? Everyone knows that Sai is injured from the trip to the Aquarium and is in serious care." Sage got up, "But you see, lady… we are…"

Kento finished, briefly, "We ARE the Ronin Warriors."

Ryo continued, "I'm Ryo Sanada of the Wildfire. These are my pals. Sage of the Halo and Kento of Hardrock."
The reporters became interest and quietly listened to what they had to say. But they couldn't say much… for they were all worried if Sai would appear or not…