AN: Wow, it's been a looong time since I've written anything for Ronin Warriors. Anyway, as you probably figured out, I will be using the American names for this fic. However, the two OCs that will show up later in the fic will have Japanese names. This is because the boys are still in Japan /anyway, so it fits. Since I am not able to use underscores, thoughts will be in -these-.

It had been a good day of shopping and Cye returned to the house he shared with his four friends. He couldn't wait to show them the one item he picked up that wasn't in some way associated with the ocean. It had been a bargain, too; almost like the shopkeeper was anxious to get rid of it. Oh well. he thought, His loss is my gain.

He stepped inside and called out, "I'm home!"

"Welcome home, Cye!" Ryo had ventured out from the kitchen to greet him. "Come on, we're in the living room."

Cye removed his shoes and followed Ryo into the room. The black haired boy was in the process of passing out drink from the tray that he had seen in his hands. After setting his bags on an empty chair, he turned to his friends who were watching him.

"What'd you get, Cye?"

"Well, I bought a set of fish salt and pepper shakers, an old captain's log and…" He turned back around and lifted a paper wrapped object out of one of the bags. Discarding the brown paper, the teen help up the item for the others to see. "This."

Rowen, Sage, Ryo, and Kento stared at the somewhat large painting. It was about the size of a normal car window; large enough for a person to pull themselves through head first. The other thing they noted was that the subject matter was a room in shades of gray. This room was decorated richly, although in varying degrees of decay. Up against the wall, in the center of the picture, sat a sad looking chair; the faded and frayed light pink and white striped fabric the only thing that was actually colored.

Sage looked back at Cye after having studied the painting. "It's a very… interesting painting, Cye. Though, I wasn't aware you liked such depressing looking scenes."

"I don't, normally. But something about this one caught my eye and I just found myself really attracted to it."

"It looks like it cost a lot. How much did you pay for that?" Rowen took a sip of his drink and arched an eyebrow at the picture.

"I thought it was going to cost a lot, too. The price wasn't listed, so I went and asked the shopkeeper about it. He was rather surprised and told me I was the first to actually express an interest in it." He paused to set the painting against the chair.

"So? What does that have to do with it?"

"Since he kept trying to, unsuccessfully, get someone to buy it--something about people finding it creepy--he said I could just take it, free of charge. I didn't feel right not having to pay, so I insisted on giving him twenty for it."

Kento stood up and stretched, his sports drink having been finished a while ago. "So," he said, "Where are you planning on hanging that?"

"Hmm… I think that empty spot in the hallway would be a perfect place for it."

"You mean that spot right before the bathroom?"

"Yeah. It's about the only place that'll fit it." He started to pick up the painting. "Is that a problem for you, Ryo?"

"I haven't decided yet." He watched as Kento helped Cye carry the painting to the hall, then turned and addressed Sage. "What do you make of it, Sage?"

The blond tapped a finger against his chin in thought. "It's… depressing. That's the feeling it seems to be giving off. If that is what the artist was going for, I do believe he succeeded." He shook his hair out of his face, though it only went back to its original position. "Other than that, I do find it beautifully done."

"It's creepy, is what it is." Rowen looked back and forth between his two companions. "When I was looking at it, there seemed to be someone sitting in that chair."

Ryo waved his hand dismissively. "It was probably just your imagination."

"Either that," Sage interjected, "Or the artist painted it that way on purpose."

Both ignored Rowen's small pout. He knew what he had seen, though part of his mind agreed with Ryo. It probably WAS just his mind playing tricks on him. -I'll go back and check it later, though. Just to be safe.-

By that time, Cye and Kento had returned; the picture hanging a success. Cye retrieved his bags, and then excused himself to put them away and start on dinner.