Birthday Memories

RYO SANADA

Why did you have to die?

It was that arrow, Rowen's own arrow, that ended your life, wasn't it?

We were fighting the demon warriors. We were so close to actually getting rid of the Demon Lord, that evil that came from what was left of Talpa's Dynasty. We were attacked by seventy, maybe eighty, demons, each with strength comparable to our own.

I watched you out of the corner of my eye, the sickly light of the blocked sun flashing on your blade. I knew that you were weak, because I saw the wound in your side. I knew that you wouldn't stop fighting.

I also knew that Cye was in danger.

You ran to save him, and you blocked the demon's sword. Even as you fought off the rest of Cye's attackers, I could see the Demon Lord and Rowen facing off. A quick slash killed the demon in front of me, so I had an unobstructed shot at the self-proclaimed Demon Lord.

The Demon Lord began taunting Rowen, making him angry. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw you use your energy to heal the wound in Cye's arm and stop the blood that he coughed up. He was dying, and we all knew it, but you used everything you had.

Your armor flickered, and then disappeared, returning back to your body armor. Cye was alive and safe now, for Kento ran up and helped him out of the danger area.

Rowen's Arrow Shock Wave caught you off-guard. You didn't expect Rowen to attack, did you? You thought that he would keep his temper in check. But the Demon Lord must have said something to set him off.

The sure-kill tore through the air, but, somehow, the Demon Lord avoided it. Well, almost avoided it. It brushed his side, giving it the nudge it needed.

I still hear your cry of pain. I can still see the surprise and agony on your face as the energy surrounded you. When the arrow pierced your chest, I prayed that it wasn't true. I forgot about the Demon Lord and ran, trying to get to you.

Rowen's cry of fear and anguish was mixed with the Demon Lord's boisterous laughing. You fell to the ground slowly, one hand touching the golden fletching that was all that still protruded from your cracked, broken chestplate.

As you laid on the ground—

Oh, God.

I can't remember this.

But I have to.

Through the cracks in your chestplate, blood began to flow. As your eyes closed, a trickle of blood ran down your cheek from your mouth and splattered on the rocks. I made it to your side first.

I tried to get you to look at me, but you were already gone. I never even had a chance to say good-bye, to tell you about the surprise birthday party that we had planned for you tomorrow. I didn't have a chance to tell you how you kept us together.

Dammit, Sage, why did you have to die?

Rowen ran up just seconds after I had laid your head back to lie on the rocks. Tears ran down his cheeks, and he kept repeating, 'Sage, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to—I'm so sorry.'

Kento and Cye ran up next. Cye was in his street clothes, a white shirt, blue jeans, and a jacket. He slowly removed his jacket and laid it over you—

Rowen nearly cracked. All he does now is cry, every time he sees that group picture of all of Mia, Yuli, and all of us Ronins, standing outside the house. Kento and Cye made sure that your room stayed exactly how you had left it.

Well, they made your bed.

I remember how, when the attack first began, how you jumped out of bed in your t-shirt and boxers, grabbed your pants, and pulled them on in less then two seconds. You didn't even stop to do your hair or get breakfast. Then again, we didn't either.

Sage…

Why did you die?

Why did you use all your energy on Cye? Couldn't you have kept some back, enough to protect yourself? Did you know that you were going to die? Did you? You seem know what happens before it does, especially when it's this important.

We miss you a lot. Oh, and Sage? If you can somehow hear me…

Happy birthday.