A/N: Alright, I am back with another loving chapter, trying to get the other boys in here more. So far it's focused around Sage and Rowen a lot, which I didn't mean to do. But it happened. So here is where everyone else squeezes in. Hopefully this chapter can be a little bit longer? I don't own the Ronin Warriors. I wish I did. Carry on then!

XOXOXO! (my dividers are cute. hehe.)

The champions of the world, defenders of the mortal realm, an unstoppable force of elements sat quietly, eating their breakfast, behaving like, well... angsty teenagers.

They were all moody, Rowen especially, and this seem to make it more tense. Everyone chewed in silence, staring at their plates, wanting to be the one to break the silence, but not having the words to fill in the gaps. Not really understanding why they all felt the way they did.

They chewed on in silence, occassionally sipping orange juice or water.

Kento didn't like it when they were divided like this. He hated it more knowing there wasn't anything truly dividing them, other then Rowen's recent attitude and bitter comments.

He studied them all, taking in their appearances and moods.

Cye was looking at his plate, forlorn and lost, like he was losing something dear to him, and in a way, he was. His lips were drawn tightly shut and he stared at his plate debating words that wanted to come out.

Ryo was confused and withdrawn, as usual. He seemed edgey and perturbed, probably going over a thousand reasons in his head why this was all his fault and how he could fix it.

Sage was stoic and quiet, but having the vantage point of being angled from him, Kento could see both eyes were lowered and half slitted. He seem to be at war with himself and... worried? Kento wasn't sure what he saw there, but he knew that Sage was running something over and over in his head, pondering and peicing it together. Something they didn't know, which he usually did.

Rowen was quiet, head resting on his hand, chewing as if someone had a gun to his head, forcing him to eat. Each bite he would stare at his fork like it was a snake, trying to bite his tongue off. Knowing Rowen he was probably thinking something along those lines, his brain was on a different level then theirs.

Kento wondered how he looked to the others. Sitting there, staring around at each of them, wondering what they were thinking. He knew in a way he could feel what they were thinking, four different pulls and feelings through his armor, but he couldn't settle the storm of emotions and peice them to which warrior it was. He knew they were probably waiting for him to make some comment, be the jester, the clown, but Kento bit his tongue. For once he had nothing to say, nothing to make anyone feel any better.

Cye seem to catch the feeling that Kento was putting out and looked at him in understanding. He knew the bearer of Torrent felt as badly as he did.

The look Cye gave him did it. He was tired of his friends being withdrawn, upset, and fatigued. It was up to him.

He stood and looked around at the four of them. "You know, I'd love to stay and finish this little chat with you guys, but I gotta start packing for the trip."

Four pairs of eyes turned to him, suprised. Sage and Cye seemed to catch on to this, playing a long with the charade.

"Ah yes, I guess I better start packing, too. Get some food prepared, how long do you think we'll be?" Cye asked, smiling at Kento's plan.

"Atleast a week, if the weather permits." Sage added, seeing the blank expression Kento got on his face.

At this Ryo's eyes started to light up. "Ah yes! I forgot about that. We should probably head out today, since we're not too busy."

Rowen gave the four of them a sour look and rolled his eyes, a smile started playing onto his face. "You guys are terrible actors. But I'm game. Where are we going?"

"The beach." Sage replied, sensing the feeling of relief flooding through Cye.

XOXOXO!

Sage insisted he drive, one because it was a passion of his, two being that the others terrified him with their driving, even Cye, who drove like a grandmother, but had road rage that no one could touch.

Rowen had been irritable and cranky, as per his usual lately, so he sat up front, arms crossed staring out his window, watching scenery, glancing at his own reflection occassionally.

The three ronins in the back were ansty and excited, poking and elbowing trying to get more room. Cye was swatting his hands, pushing both boys off him, being the unfortunate one trapped in the middle. That is what gave Kento the greatest idea in the world.

"Ryo... ever made a peanut butter sandwich?" Kento smiled over Cye's head as a light clicked on in the other teen's face.

"What?" Cye looked back and forth, not realizing the fate he was about to receive. Both boys turned their backs to him and begin pushing towards each other as hard as they could, effectively trapping and crushing Cye in the middle.

"OOF! C...Can't.. b-brea-thee.." He choked, arms flailing and smacking. Both boys eased up on him, earning a string of words that were harsh as Cye shook his fist.

Sage smirked in the front seat and glanced at Rowen. The other boy was staring into the sky, fingertips pressed to the glass in a expression Sage had never seen before, he then crossed his arms again and sat back in the seat, closing his eyes. In the back Sage could still hear the other three arguing and fighting, but not with as much humor as before.

XOXOXO!

They had a litte trouble finding a hotel that would except five teenage boys with a gleam of mischief in their eyes, but they did eventually find something. It had two queen beds and a pull out cot that Ryo, being leader, felt he should take for the team. No one argued or questioned, because once Ryo made up his mind, that was it.

It was still cold, but there was no snow on the ground here, just a crisp wind. Cye excused himself from the room anyway, desperation showing on his face as he went to the beach. Kento followed, but not closely, distracting himself with food, allowing the other his moment of peace with the element calling to him.

Rowen was lounged lazily on the bed he would be sharing with Sage, reading a book with his legs tucked up behind him. Sage appeared to be mediating quietly and Ryo was clipping his nails.

"So.." Ryo said.

Click. A nail popped off.

"So." Rowen repeated.

Click.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Click.

"I think the book is beyond your click comprehension, Ryo."

Blue eyes bore down on him, the clicking silencing a moment.

Click.

"You know what I'm talking about Rowen. I can feel it at night. This horrible empty feeling, tugging at me. It's coming from your armor. What happened, Touma?"

Rowen's blue eyes met Ryo's and locked. There was no friendly expression, no connection. It was as if he was staring into dark, empty eyes of a stranger. "Nothing. I have things to do. That is, if you'll graciously excuse me, oh wise leader."

Rowen stood up and stomped from the room, slamming the door and leaving the book were he had been, moments before.

One crystal violet eye opened. "You or me?"

"You better go, he doesn't talk to us any more." Ryo looked helplessly at his hands and tried to ignore the chill that had crept into his soul, his feelings hurt at the truth. He felt Sage's presence leave the room as the door gently closed. He glared at the clippers in his hands before throwing them violently to the floor and sitting back, anger rising up in him.

Rowen was still one of them, wasn't he? They were all best friends and could talk about anything. What had happened? What had changed his friend so drastically under his nose with no warning? This was his fault. If he had spent more time with Rowen, kept a better watch, anything! How could he protect anyone if he couldn't even protect his own?

"Ryo, please don't get angsty on me, too."

It was Sage. He must've picked up his feelings through the armor. "Sorry Sage, heh." He scratched the back of his head sheepishly. Sometimes having an empathetic psychic in the group sucked for self loathing moments.

"I heard that."

Ryo sighed. "It's true."

"Then don't think so hard. You're like glass. Easy to see through." Cye added, amusement in his voice.

"Yeah, even I got that." Kento chuckled.

Ryo rolled his eyes. Never a private thought. Never.

XOXOXO!

A/N: This chapter was actually rather boring to me. LOL. I was wanting more to happen. But I haven't gotten that far yet. More in the next chapther. And they will start to get longer. Hehe. Please leave some more reviews! The two I've received so far really motivated me to get stuff out faster.