"Rowen! Stop trying to blow up the building!" Sage scolded to his azure haired companion, who ignored the blonde

HI again everyone! Yes, another thing from my deranged little mind. But we're all used to that by now, right? /*Smiles*/ Well, This is another one of my odd ones, and yes, they all have powers that are very weird, and yes, this is another on of my AU's. I really shouldn't be doing this, because I still have "The Others", the sequel to the Mage's Tale "Son of the Elves", the sequel to "Through Thick and Thin", and a crapload of others (Shadow can vouch for that one!) But, I figure, I'm up for it! It's my challenge! Must update stories that are posted, and work enough on the other stories so that I can post them! Well, ta ta! Enjoy!

Never moon a werewolf.
-Mike Binder

The Outcasts

"Rowen! Stop trying to blow up the building!" Sage scolded to his azure haired companion, who ignored the blonde until a throaty growl was heard.
"Sage! Will you stop intimidating me by turning into a bloodthirsty tiger?" Rowen turned to the tiger behind him and sighed softly, before setting down the potion.
"Man, Sage, you take your leader role WAY to seriously." Rowen muttered as Sage turned back into the tall, lean, striking young man, born with the grace of the animals he could turn into by only seeing a mere picture.
"And you say that as a bad thing. But think about it this way, when Ryo can't find food and is weak, would you rather he suck your blood or mine?" Rowen nodded.
"Yours." Sage smiled.
"I thought so. Now why don't you go get the hamburgers for Kento. I know that they're not a favorite of werewolves, but until we get another job, he'll have to live on that."
"Or he could eat you." Rowen pointed out.
"True, but without me, you'd all still be on the streets because your differences from the world." Rowen sighed, but couldn't disagree. He hadn't meant to, but he had said he hated someone, and wished they were cursed with their worst fear. The next day, the boy had died in a freak accident with a shotgun. His parents, ever the superstitious fools, had shunned him, believing that he was the reincarnation of the devil. They had cast him out on the streets as a reject, and outcast. It was on those very streets that he met Sage. Sage was Rowen's age, maybe a bit older, but none the less, sage had taken Rowen in. Sage was only 15, but he did odd jobs to keep himself occupied and to get enough for food and rent. He taught Rowen the art of fighting with a certain weapon. A bow and arrow to be exact. And he had helped Rowen learn how to control his powers. They had been inseparable ever since.
It was later that same year that they found Ryo. Ryo was an orphan on the streets that was trying to live on the blood of others. He wasn't a very good hunter, so he was starving and on his deathbed when they found him. Sage had nearly died then and there, when he willingly let Ryo drink his blood. Ryo hadn't been able to stop drinking the sweet, coppery taste of the other boy. It had taken Rowen casting a spell on him and putting him to sleep, to save the leader of their rag tag group. Sage had helped Ryo like he had Rowen, by teaching him how to hunt animals as opposed to humans, and how not to kill the people or things that he bit. Sage also taught Ryo the use of his favorite weapon. The sword. And after awhile, Ryo was even better with the weapon then Sage himself was, though they wielded different types.
Kento was found only a few months after Ryo joined. He had nearly killed Ryo when he was out hunting for food. Thankfully, you can't kill vampires that easily, and all that Ryo had were sores and bruises. It had taken Sage becoming a wolf to get close to Kento, and luring him to their hideout, to find out exactly what Kento was. After Kento turned back, Sage had offered that they helped him. He had accepted, giving little of his past, preferring to stay alone and secretive. That was where Rowen had done the first thing RIGHT with his powers, after nearly staking Ryo, burning Sage's arm so bad that they had to put it in a cast, burned down the apartment so they had to find another, among other things, He made a necklace for Kento. The tiny jewel in the center allowed him to have his mind when he turned to the werewolf, so that he wouldn't harm them accidentally and unaware.

No one knew exactly where Sage was from, if he had a family like Rowen had, or what had happened. He preferred, much like Kento, to stay away from that topic in a conversation. Rowen couldn't help but wonder where the blonde came from. Where they lived, blondes were as rare (when not tourists) as a blue moon. Rowen thoughts were interrupted thought, by the shrill shriek of Sage's celephone. He waited patiently as Sage spoke, filling out a slip of paper as he did so. Finally, Sage put down the phone, leaving a very eager Rowen wondering what had just happened.
"Well, are you gonna tell me, or do I have to guess?"
"No matter how amusing it would be to watch you attempt to guess, I think it would be better if I just told. We have job tomorrow." Sage handed the paper to Rowen and continued explaining.
"There is an apartment building that is housing a hard core criminal. He stole 2 million dollars from the green peace organization. Odd that the green peace would ask, meaning their point, but none the less, they want us to destroy the building." Rowen looked up.
"And the innocents that live there as well?" sage nodded.
"You, Ryo, and Kento get them out. Give me the bomb, I'll set it up. Got it?" Rowen nodded.
"I'll go tell he others. Sure you're gonna be able to do it? We can't afford to lose our leader." Sage smiled.
"Have I ever failed yet? I'll set the bomb for ten seconds after you guys give the clear, and then I'll get out."
"Ten seconds? Sure you can make it?" Sage grinned.
"Don't underestimate me. I'm not a shape shifter for nothing, witchy boy. Now get moving and tell the others." Rowen nodded and scampered out of the room, carrying the folder clenched in his hand.
~~~~~
"So, this is the building." Kento muttered as everyone looked at the Ritzy apartment building standing tall and erect in front of them. Rowen turned to Ryo and Kento, presenting them with small gold beads.
"These will make it look like you're a cop to the view of innocent bystanders. When you get into the building, just say that terrorists have threatened this building, and they say a bomb is planted and that we have to evacuate quickly." The two others nodded.
"What about Sage?" Ryo pointed out as Sage shook his head.
"I'm a shape shifter, I could make myself into any animal, I highly doubt I need it." Rowen nodded in agreement.
"When you guys get out, call on the celephone. Ill set the bomb, got it?" the others nodded as they ran into the building. Sage turned to the gutter and smiled.
"Why, a heavy human can't climb this. But a tiny monkey may be able to." Sage chuckled to himself as he shifted into a tiny spider monkey and began climbing the gutter. This is the way we climb the gutter, climb the gutter, climb the gutter... he hummed in his mind as he scaled the metal, then, slipped into the window of the terrorist as he glanced around, seeing the man on the bed, counting piles of bills with a gleam in his eyes. Sage slowly crept up behind the man, and shifted into himself, sitting cross-legged behind the man.
"Ignoring me. Is this the way you treat a guest?" The man turned around to face the grinning blonde, with shock written on his face.
"How did you? When? Who?"
"Who am I? Well, I'm your worst nightmare. I'm the man taking you to your grave." Sage lunged at the man, yanking a rope from his belt buckle and tying it around the struggling form. Sage then pulled the bomb out of his pocket, and waited patiently for the call from his friends. The phone rang abruptly as Sage pulled it out.
"Sure you got everyone?" He asked quietly.
"We think so. Just do it." Rowen warned as Sage sighed.
"OK, I will. Later." Sage quickly grabbed the money and set the timer on the floor, before turning into a cheetah. He hit the button with his paw and bursted out of the door at full speed, until he noticed that a boy, a few years younger then himself. He came to a halt and changed back.
"Kid! Get on my back, NOW!" He turned back and the boy did so, as Sage bolted off again. Were not gonna make it, were not gonna make it, oh shit... Sage repeated in his head as he burst through the hall window of
the fourth floor, the boy clutching him to the point that he couldn't breath. He landed hard on his left paw, as he limped away from the gathering crowd and turned to the rest of his friends, the boy still on his back.
"Come on Sage, lets go home and get that err.... paw checked up. You did good boy." Rowen patted him on the head as he glared with deep violet cat eyes but continued to walk on three paws.
"He's not a cat..."The boy muttered as he turned to face the crowd.
"My mother... I don't see her. Where is she? Where is my mother?" sage glanced up to the boy and began into a sprint on his weak, aching legs, followed by the others. After they were a safe distance away from the scene, the auburn boy with the soft British accent climbed off and Sage shifter back to his human form. Sage grabbed his pain filled arm and turn to the others.
"It's broken..." He said softly as Rowen examined it.
"I'll cast a spell on it later."

"Cast a spell on it? Do you all have powers?" The boy asked in curiosity, turning to look at them all. Ryo glanced at the boy with a sly, almost devilish look in his eyes.

"Yes, we all have powers. And as a vampire, I am in dire need of some innocent blood." Ryo approached the green-eyed boy, who yelped as Sage rolled his eyes and stepped between the two.

" Ryo, no eating the kid." Ryo grumbled as he turned away from the two.

"Don't mind him. Vampires aren't the nicest people." Ryo glared at Sage who grinned mischievously back.

"Well, Its not like I'm lying or something." Ryo said nothing as Sage laughed, still clutching his broken arm.

"You're hungry Ryo, you eat me, not him."

"Where is my mother?" the boy asked as Sage looked at the ashes remaining of the building that once stood tall and proud.

"I... I don't think we got her out. I'm.... I'm sorry." He looked at Sage with wide, angered eyes.

"If its any consultation, I guess you can live with us. We don't mind."

"Speak for yourself...." Ryo muttered, but shut up after receiving a warning glance from Sage.

"You kill my mother, then you want me to join you! You people are sick!" The boy turned and began to stalk away, when the navy haired boy who had yet to speak, stood in front of him.

"Either join us, or die. And I don't think Ryo would mind if you chose the latter." The boy trembled in fear, as he turned to Sage. Sage hung his head in shame, then lifted it up once more.

"He's not lying. I'm sorry, but we can't risk you telling someone about our secret. Please, join us. I don't want to see you die." Sage gave the young boy a hopeful glance, and finally, tears streaming down his cheeks like shards of liquid glass, the boy nodded.

"Thank you. We didn't want to have to kill you."

"I di..."

"RYO!" Sage yelled as Ryo shut his mouth. Sage turned to the boy and knelt next to him, as if asking for forgiveness.

"I'm sorry about your mother. I'm Sage Date. The witch is Rowen Hashiba. The one that tried to eat you is Ryo Sanada..." Ryo smiled innocently.

"And the one that stopped you is Kento Lei Faun, and a werewolf." The boy nodded.

"I'm Cye. Cye Mouri." Sage nodded as he rose to his feet with much grace.

"Cye, may we go home, to your new home, so that Rowen can heal me?" Cye nodded as Sage began to lead him in the direction of the apartment.

~~~~~~

" I know it's not that great, but it's a blessing to we street rats to have a home." Cye glanced up at the building. It was slightly run down, yellow paint pealing, rusty door hinges, but that could all be fixed if time permitted. Sage pulled the key out of his pocket with his good hand, and managed, with slight struggling, to unlock and open the heavy door. He then proceeded to lead everyone to the apartment, and open the door. Cye glanced in, and realized that the place looked better inside.

"I'm sorry, its not the best place, but we make due with what we have." Cye shook his head.

"Of course not! This is fine." Cye peered around the room. The walls were an extremely pale blue. There was a small backroom leading to a kitchen, and a room leading to a mainly green room, with a small twin bed in the center. There was one couch and a small, color TV in the Living room where they stood at the moment. Rowen quickly dashed into the kitchen, zig zagging through the kitchen trying to prepare a potion to heal his friend. Cye walked in after him, watching him mix an assortment of different, unknown substances into a bottle. Finally, he capped it, and ran out into the living room once more, handing it to Sage, who was lying on the couch.

"Thank you Rowen." Sage said with a slight nod, as he pulled off the lid. It steamed slightly, for no real reason meaning that the drink was cold. Quickly, he gulped down the drink, and sat still for about five minutes. Finally, he stood; Stretching out his arms and legs. Cye looked on in shock, the potion having worked, Sage's bones completely healed.

"Thanks again Ro. Hey, I've got to go turn this file in to Mia, kay? Make sure that the other two are nice to Cye, got it?" Rowen nodded. Cye glanced first at Ryo, who was bearing his fangs, then at Kento, who was licking his lips slightly, a hungry look in his eyes.

"Sage! May I come with you, please?" Sage looked at the fear in Cye's eyes and laughed.

"Sure, you can meet Mia this way. You'll like her. She's a little, umm... forgetful, but she's really nice." Cye nodded as Sage led him out of the building.

~~~~~

Cye observed the scenery, not really that much, considering that they were in an office.

"Mia?" Sage asked as auburn haired girl ran into the room from the back.

"Sage! How are you?" Sage smiled faintly.

"I'm fine Mia. We did it." Sage handed her the bag of money.

"Did you get all the civilians out as requested?" she asked as Sage hung his head in shame of his failure.

"All but one." Cye looked up, and suddenly began to cry, trying to hide his tears and failing. Sage walked over and wrapped strong arms around Cye's trembling body. Mia looked on in confusion.

"His mother is the only one we didn't get out." Mia nodded.

"Why is he still with you then?"

"He knows what we are, and either he joins us, or he dies. He doesn't have a father." She nodded as she approached Sage and Cye.

"Well, what does it feel like to be the newest member of Azul Lunaluz?" Cye looked at her in confusion.

"Wait, umm.... let me think. In English that would be, umm, umm, I don't remember." Sage laughed.

"Blue Moonlight, Mia." Mia's green eyes lit up.

"Oh yeah!" She exclaimed as Sage shook his head and gave Cye the look that said, " I told you she was like this".

"Well boys, here's your next mission." She handed Sage a manila envelope, which he took gingerly.

"Thank you. Good bye Mia."

"Bye Sage!" She exclaimed as she went back to what she had been doing before, and slid on the floor, barely catching herself on the desk.

"I'm OK!" she exclaimed as Sage laughed to himself and walked away with Cye still wrapped in his arms.

~~~~~

When Sage and Cye arrived back at the house, the only person left was Rowen, who was sprawled on the couch, watching the TV with much boredom.

"Where are the others?" Sage asked as Rowen turned to look at them.

"Vampires and Werewolves gotta eat. They're out hunting." Sage nodded as he let go off Cye and walked into the kitchen.

"That's good, less food I have to cook." Cye glanced at Rowen before entering the kitchen.

"Sage, May I help you cook?" Sage shrugged as Cye grinned.

"Its just about my favorite thing to do." Sage nodded as He and Cye began to prepare dinner. Later that evening, after Ryo and Kento returned, Cye stood in the kitchen, hand drying the dishes in the sink left over from dinner. Sage had offered to do it, but Cye had said no, wanting to help around his new home. But after he was done with the dishes, and he walked back into the living room, he was greeted with an interesting site. Ryo was sprawled across the couch, Kento as a wolf in a ball on the floor. The TV was still on, the volume set low and barely audible. Cye walked up to the screen and turned it off. He walked over to the back room and peered in, seeing Sage lying awake on the bed, Rowen asleep next to him.

"Hey Cye, want to join us? It'll be tight, but we can manage." Cye shook his head rapidly.

"It's your house, I don't want to invade your privacy." Sage shook his head in disagreement.

"That's nonsense. Cye, get in the bed." Timidly Cye walked over to Sage.

"I'm warning you, if you value your life and your privacy without Rowen groping you, you'll sleep on my other side, away from him." Cye looked at Rowen's sleeping form and smiled. Rowen's head was resting comfortably on Sage's stomach.

"I've shared a bed with this guy for a year, and no two nights are the same." Cye laughed as Sage gestured for him to crawl into the bed. Slowly Cye obeyed, crawling into the bed and hugging one of the pillows.

"Sage, what is the mission you guys have tomorrow about?" Sage turned to face the auburn boy.

" There was a conference between Green Peace and another organization not long ago. One of the men at the conference was a man by the name of Brett Mitchell, who was there to represent Green Peace. During this meeting, Brett Mitchell was assassinated, and we don't know who. Our mission is to infiltrate the building, and retrieve the recording of the conference, so that the assassin can be trialed." Cye nodded.

"Sp how do you plan to get it? And why are you getting so many Green Peace jobs?" Sage smiled at the boy's questions.

"Well, Mia works for Green Peace, and she recommended us to them. The thing is, this mission has an award of 1 million dollars." Sage watched as Cye's eyes widened into saucers.

"There's one catch though. We weren't the only group of mercenaries hired. We have to be the first to get it, so that we can get to money. And so we plan to enter the building as employees and find it." Cye nodded as he rested his head near Sage's.

"Be careful." Sage smiled.

"We will. And Cye?" Cye turned to face Sage.

"I'm sorry about your mother. I truly am. We've never made a mistake before. We're not harden criminals, though it seems that way." Cye nodded, tears soaking his cheeks. Sage used one arm to wrap around Cye and pull him near. After what seemed like an eternity, Cye's crying ceased, and he snuggled up to Sage, resting against the blonde.

~~~~~

Cye stood in a room, void of anything but a tiny blonde curled in a tight ball, crying softly. His long, golden hair fell down in curls, un-groomed and un-kept around his face. His violet eyes were red and swollen, yet remaining wide in the child's fright. Cye tried to move, to go over and comfort the child, but no part of his body would move, not even his lips. He watched as a tall man, clad in a white lab coat, entered the room and walked straight over to the blonde.

"Seiji, get up." The blonde child scrambled to his feet as fast as his tiny, 6 year old limbs would allow. He was actually quite fast for his age, but obviously not fast enough for the scientist, who struck him across his face the moment he rose. The boy fell to the ground with a bang, but leapt to his feet anyways, staring with wide, frightened eyes.

"S-128457, you are far to slow. Why can't you be as fast as the other children?" The boy looked up with sadness, trying to hide the pain in his flushed cheek, as he was grabbed by the arm, and forcefully dragged out of the room. Cye was surprised at the lack of struggle in the blond boy, as if this was nothing out of the ordinary. Cye stood, horrified at the scene that had just presented itself.

~~~~~

Cye's eyes flew open, but he stayed silent, feeling Sage jerk up at the same moment Cye had. Sage ran slender fingers through damp golden locks, his breathing slightly irregular.

"Why is this haunting my dreams? That was years ago. I got away, and I swore they'd never hurt me again." Cye listened intently to Sage talk to himself.

"And they won't hurt me again. Or my friends. Never, ever, will I go through that again, or let my friends." Cye felt Sage's eyes on him, then the blonde's gaze fixate on Rowen, Finally, with a angered sigh, the tall boy rested his head on his pillow once more, his arm still wrapped around Cye.

"Never." He murmured softly.

~~~~~

"So you mean that all we have to do is go get a tape from a building? That's it? This is too easy." Sage glared at the onyx haired boy.

" Don't get cocky Ryo. This is a high security building, and for all we know, they destroyed the evidence." Ryo sighed.

"Ok, Ryo is to knock guards out, same as Kento. Rowen, you cover locks, and Cye, you come with me. We're getting the disk, got it?" The group nodded.

"And no killing." Sage ignored the groans of protest from the others.

"No Killing. Got it?" with groans, the others nodded.

"Then lets get going!" Sage exclaimed as he led the group towards there building.

~~~~~

Sage and Cye scrambled into the crowded elevator, and pressed the button leading to the top floor.

"How many people work here?" Sage murmured as Cye shrugged.

"A lot." Cye replied as Sage nodded in agreement. Finally, they managed to reach their floor and tumble out of the elevator.

"Air...." Sage murmured as Cye laughed.

"Which way is it?" Cye asked as Sage pointed down the hallway.

"That way I think." Sage stated as he led Cye to the office.

"Cye, you watch the doors, I'll see if I can use this computer to locate where the files are in the building that contain the tape." Cye nodded as he watched Sage begin to type rapidly. Cye stood at the door, a bored look across his face.

"Umm... Cye?" Cye glanced over to Sage, and gasped at the sight. There were two guards surrounding Sage, one holding the blonde captive, with a knife to his throat, the other holding a gun to his head.

"Next time Cye, be a dear, watch both doors. Now RUN!" Cye stayed where he was. He was not going to leave Sage. He watched as the man pricked Sage's throat, pressing the blade's tip deeper and deeper into the flesh, red liquid trickling down the blonde's throat.

"Let him go." Cye warned, his voice quiet and demanding. Sage gasped as the metal dug even deeper into him.

"Cye, run, any day now." Sage muttered through clenched teeth.

"I didn't say that you could hurt him further." The men erupted into laughter.

"Ha... fast tongue for a little boy."

"Slow reflexes for a grown man." Cye retorted as one of the desks in the room lifted into the air, nothing keeping it up, and slammed into the man with the gun. The other table rose as well, slamming roughly into the man holding Sage captive. Sage kept hid head high as the man released the knife, and it slowly slid from Sage's throat. The man ended up slamming into Sage from the impact of the desk, causing the blonde to slam into the desk. Sage gasped as his ribs connected with the corner of the desk, crushing beneath him. He collapsed to the ground, clutching his shattered ribs.

"Sage!" Cye exclaimed as he ran over to the blonde, pulling Sage's hands away from his ribs so that he could inspect the damage.

"I'm so sorry Sage! I didn't mean to hurt you. I'll go get Rowen and he can heal you and...." Sage's eyes opened slowly, a pained expression in them that he tried to hide.

"Telekinesis. I guess you're worth more then we thought kid."

"Sage!"

"Cye, get the tape..." Sage murmured before he faded into unconsciousness.

~~~~~

Sage rested in the darkness, this place, void of all pain and hurt. He didn't want to leave this calm, serene place, where he had no problems, he had no suffering, he faced no pain. But though his body wanted to stay in the soothing place, his mind knew that he could not. That he was needed elsewhere. So he struggled to awaken, the first thing washing over him was utter pain. He gasped as his eyes flung open, and he was gazing into a sea of jade.

"Sage! Thank goodness your awake!" Sage groaned in pain as Cye hugged him gently.

"We were all so worried that Rowen's potion didn't work all the way. I'm so glad you're awake and alive!" Sage nodded and yawned, a wave of tiredness hitting him head on.

"So.... tired..." He murmured as Cye nodded.

"Rowen accidentally mixed an extra herb in there that makes you tired. So why don't you rest?" Sage nodded numbly, closing his eyes and drifting into sleep.

~~~~~

Once again, Cye stood in the shadows of a room, where the young boy was, now about a year older, his hair reaching mid thigh. He stood alone, as if waiting for something or someone. Cye glanced around the room that was void of most light, squinting to see if there was anything else in the room. After his eyes adjusted to the lack of light, he noticed that the boy was far from alone in the room. In fact, there were about 10 other people in the room, children, about 4-5 years older then the blonde. The instruments around the room were plentiful, and half Cye had no idea how to use, and frankly, he didn't want to. Finally, there was movement in the doorway, as a man approached the golden boy.

"Seiji! Get over here!" The boy jerked his head up and dashed over to the man, tripping and landing flat on his face when he reached his destination.

"Stupid S-128457, always the clumsy fool." Reaching down, he grabbed the child, and lifted him into the air. Finally, he roughly threw the child to a metal table, latching the little boy down. He walked away, returning a moment later with a syringe in hand.

"Well Seiji, it sucks to be you. Not only are you the youngest here by a considerable amount, you're also the only shape shifter we have, so you get all the testing. Don't you feel special?" Seiji said nothing as the metal needle was roughly inserted into his elbow. In fact, the boy didn't move at all, much to Cye's surprise. The child acted as if this was a daily routine, and under further thought, Cye realized that it might indeed be just that. Cye watched for about a moment, before he felt someone shaking him. Cye blinked as he awoke from his dreamlike state, and turned, slightly dazed, to face the person that had awoken him.

"Earth to Cye! Are you there Cye?" Rowen asked as Cye nodded.

"Yeah, I'm sorry. I was just, umm.... lost in thought." Rowen nodded as Sage's left eye opened.

"Woah, Cye, that was weird. The moment you looked up at me, Sage woke up." Cye looked down at Sage and smiled.

"You feeling OK?" Sage nodded softly as Cye turned back to Rowen.

"Well, I need to go give this to Mia, and I was wondering if you wanted to come Cye, because Sage doesn't seem to be in the condition to do anything." Sage glared at Rowen, who laughed and playfully grabbed Sage's cheek.

"You are just so tired and weak, all bruised up...." Sage growled as Rowen pulled away.

"No need to get testy, I was just teasing." Rowen pointed out as he again turned to Cye.

"So, you wanna come?" Cye nodded.

"I'd love to see Mia again." Rowen grinned.

"Yeah, she's quite something." Cye nodded.

"Guys, be careful." Sage warned as Rowen rolled his eyes.

"Were big boys, we can take care of ourselves Sagey." Sage nodded faintly, not truly believing that that was the case.

"Guys, go straight to Mia, then straight back, alright?" the two boys nodded at their orders given by Sage.

"Well, bye Sage. And get some rest. You're going to need as much of it as you can get." Cye warned as Rowen nodded in agreement. Sage smiled faintly as they walked away, the curve on his lips fading as they left view.

"I have a bad feeling about this. And I don't like it at all. I hope they're OK." He murmured as he struggled to keep his eyes open. Eventually he gave in to the darkness, falling into the depths of slumber.

~~~~~

"Hey, Cye, question." Cye turned to face Rowen.

"Yes?" He asked as Rowen's eyes met his.

"What were you, I mean, why were you out of it when I came in to get you? And how did Sage get so beat up?" Cye hung his head in shame, knowing that he had caused his friends pain.

" Well, I got really mad because these two guards were holding Sage at knife and gun point. And then, I didn't mean to, but I kinda lifted a desk... With only my mind. And I hit the one guy, but then I hit the other guy with another desk, and he dropped the knife, but slammed into Sage, making Sage shatter his ribs on the impact of a table edge." Rowen nodded slightly in understanding.

"And when you were out of it?" Cye gave Rowen a surprised look. Rowen didn't seem to think of anything shocking when he had found to about Cye.

"Well, the day that I came here, I mean, joined you, I started crying about my mother because well, you killed her. Well, Sage was awake, and he held me till I fell asleep. And I guess my mind is also telepathic, because when Sage dreamed, I shared them with him. I saw all his dreams. And when he was sleeping, and you walked in, I had been watching him dream once more." Rowen nodded, and suddenly a wicked grin appeared on his face.

"So, Cye, what does Sage dream about that makes you keep coming back for more?" Cye turned to Rowen, hands on hips.

"Rowen! It's not porn, though you seem to think it is!" Rowen hung his head in disappointment.

"That's no fun...." He grumbled as Cye sighed.

" For your information, he had nightmares about his past!" Rowen's eyes lit up as his face perked up.

"His past? You know what happened to him? Do tell. He never told us anything." Cye hung his head.

"I don't know, I think he'd get really mad if I told you."

Aww! Come on Cye! Don't be a party pooper!"

"Well..." Cye never got to finish his words as something hard and metal slammed down on his head.

"Sage!" He yelled out in mind as everything went dark.

~~~~~

"Cye!" Sage bolted up in his bed, as he leapt to his feet, barely able to keep himself from falling to the floor in pain. Stumbling, he ran over to his dresser, pulling out a pair of clean clothes, and mentally scolding Cye for being kind enough to put him in the flannel pajama's he occasionally wore. After struggling to cloth himself, and yanking on his boots, he dashed out to the living room to see Ryo sprawled haphazardly across the couch, Kento on the floor eating a bag of Doritos. Slowly, Ryo glanced up at Sage, who was definitely a sight for sore eyes. His hair was mussed, his buttons on his shirt only half done, his face pale.

"Shouldn't you be in bed?" Ryo pointed out as Sage's eyes raged.

"Two of our friends are in trouble. They are somewhere, hurt, and I'll be damned if we leave them there! So get your lazy asses up, put on your damn shoes, and help me find them!" Ryo and Kento looked up at their tousled leader in elevated shock. Sage walked over to the door, grabbing their shoes and throwing them at the boys.

"Put those on, and help me find Cye and Rowen, NOW!" Both boys scrambled to do as they were told, at the same time Sage shifted into the form of a golden dog. His nose would come in handy at tracking the location of his comrades. He waited impatiently for the others to hurry up, and open the door for him. Finally, Kento stood up and yanked open the door, as Sage bolted out of the house. Sage hauled tail to where Cye had screamed his name, hoping that his noise could pick up the trace. He wasn't let down by his dog form, as he picked up each of their scents, along with a few others. Sage's eyes widened, as he smelt the familiar scents that he had known so long ago. Shit he thought to himself, as he followed their traces. He had told himself that they wouldn't hurt him or his friends. He was a fool.

~~~~~

Sage bolted into the building where he had been kept as a prisoner not long ago. The first thing to catch his eye, that sent fiery anger through his mind, was Cye's small body chained to a metal table that he had been in many times himself. Cye's eyes were tearful, scared liquid crystals.

"Cye...." He murmured as he shifted back into a human.

"My my my. If it isn't S-128457. My, you have grown into a fine looking young man. No longer the thin, scared child you once were." Hatred bore into the man, as Sage glanced once more at the chained up Cye.

"Where the hell is the other boy? Where is the witch?" The man ceased in a reply.

"Where the Hell is the witch! If you don't tell me right now, I am going to turn into a tiger and eat you alive!" Laughter rang in Sage's ears.

"Why, Seiji, all the sudden you've become so violent. But no matter, this wouldn't be the first time that you have threatened up, and never carried out your plans."

"Why you..." Sage lunged at the man, shifting into a tiger in mid air. He landed with a thump, knocking the terrified man to the ground. Slowly, Sage shifted back.

"Where is the Witch?" The man gulped as he began to speak.

"You should know, you spent your whole life there." Sage's eyes widened as he slapped the man across the face.

"Bastards. You did this on purpose." Sage climbed off the man, and approached Cye, grabbing the chains and snapping them with his bare hands, anger fueling him.

"Come on Cye, let's go get Rowen." Cye nodded as he slid from the table and tried to stand, but failed, and fell to the floor, clutching his head. Sage looked down at Cye in surprise.

"Are you OK?" He asked as he knelt down next to the younger boy, concern riding his face. Cye moaned soft in pain, as Sage waited patiently for a response.

"Hit me on the head 's all." Cye murmured as Sage sighed. There was no doubt in his mind that Cye had a concussion. Gently, he reached his arms around Cye, pulling the tiny boy into his arms, and then running off in the direction where he hoped to find Rowen. After dashing down the winding hallways carrying a now unconscious Cye, he finally came upon the room that he had been held captive in, the one he had lost his entire childhood in. Taking a deep breath and pushing aside any fear and memories of the room, he kicked harshly on the door, and watched as it squeaked open. The sight that presented itself was one Sage rather he had not see. Rowen was curled up in a thin sheet, trembling slightly in the coldness of the room. The room was empty but the boy and the blanket, and Sage knew exactly how it felt to be Rowen.

"Rowen, are you OK? If they did anything to you, anything at all, I'll kill them all." Rowen shook his head.

"Nah. They didn't realize that I was a witch. All they wanted was Cye, and they wanted to lure you here. Said something 'bout putting you in a room with only your memories to stay along with you. Can't remember exactly." Sage nodded as he glanced around the room nervously. Slowly, a hand snaked around his shoulders in a soothing gesture. Sage followed the hand to Cye, slightly surprised.

"Sage, I know it's scary to be here again, and I know it must hurt to see all these memories and see this pain once more. But don't worry, we're your friends, and were here for you." Sage gave Cye a quizzical look, not understanding how Cye knew this about him. He was about to ask Cye that very question, when he realized Cye was asleep once more, a serene look on his face, arms having slid from Sage's shoulders to his waist in the time given.

"Come on Rowen, let's go. They aren't going to let Cye and I get away that easily." Rowen nodded as he struggled to his feet on numb legs. Sage nodded to Rowen in determination to escape, as they ran out the door and bolted down the hallway. And strait into a bunch of guards.

"Shit...." Sage muttered as he turned around.

"Rowen, all they really want are Cye and me. I want you to go get Ryo and Kento, OK?" Rowen nodded.

"Be careful." He said solemnly as He bolted off in the other direction. Sage took a deep breath as he turned to the guards.

"I'm not in the mood to fight, so why don't I strike up a deal. You can hurt me as much as you want, you can do anything to me, just as long as you don't hurt the kid." The laughter that erupted in front of him was immense, but only succeeded in fueling his anger. Gently, he set Cye down, and to the shock of the guards, shape shifted into a bear, growling deeply. He shifted back to enable him to talk, as he turned to the amazed men.

"Now will you listen to me?" The leader was about to say something, when another voice stepped forward.

"It seems that you have mastered your abilities quite well, Seiji. Boys, do as he says. Its not as if we need to harm the other boy. His powers are mental, not physical." Sage nodded as he knelt next to Cye and picked the boy up.

"Dr. Jennesan, where will I be staying?" the man smiled.

"Well, that's a thinker. Follow me, boys." Sage nodded as he followed after the man, and was led to the room Rowen had been prisoner in only moments before. Sage took a deep gulp as Dr. Jennesan led him into the room. He sat down on the ground, room totally empty but the blanket, pulling Cye near for warmth, then pulling the blanket over them both.

"Welcome back... Seiji." Sage watched as the door shut behind the man, leaving himself and Cye alone.

~~~~~

"Where are they, where are they, where are they..." Rowen repeated over and over again in his head as he tried to locate his other two comrades.

"Where could they be? How hard is it to find a werewolf, and a vampire, in the middle of the day?" Rowen muttered as he ran to the apartment. Unfortunately, there was no one there, and with an un-enthusiastic groan, he ran back out of the door, once again, to try to find his friends.

~~~~~

"Lion! Gorilla! Horse!" Sage panted as he shifted into a horse. This brought back not to fond memories to the blonde, as he filled out their next request. First the short legs, then the long, slender tail, large snout, Sharp teeth, rough scales.......... he pictured these things, as he felt himself change into a large crocodile.

"That's enough S-128457. For now." Panting and on the brink of exhaustion, Sage nodded and allowed himself to slip silently to the floor.

"You've gotten very good and quick, Seiji." Sage said nothing as he tried to regain his breath. He glanced up at Cye, who stood, tied up, watching the entire thing. Sage couldn't help but wince at the anger and fierceness in Cye's eyes, replacing the normal tranquility that lied in their depths.

/Can I kill them? Please please please.../ Cye begged as Sage shook his head. It was a shame that he couldn't talk back to Cye in mind, but what can you do? Cye groaned out loud, getting an odd look from the Scientists. He smiled sweetly at them, and said nothing as Sage laughed.

"Cye, you are just asking for it aren't you?" Sage asked as Cye laughed.

"You better believe it! I'm bored, I've got nothing else to do." Sage sighed.

"Cye, the more you annoy them, the more they take it out on me." Cye closed his lips.

"I'll be good." Sage nodded slightly.

"Take them to their cell." Dr. Jennesan commanded, as two men walked over to Cye, grabbing him.

"Come on Seiji." Sage nodded and followed the doctor out. Oh how he prayed that Rowen would find them soon.

~~~~~

"The only time I ever needed the help of those two idiots, they're not here. Typical." Rowen grumbled. His legs were sore from running; his breathes becoming flames in his throat.

"Oh well, they asked for it, I'm too tired to run anymore." He stopped in the middle of the sidewalk, and closed his eyes.

"Heaven's angels sought me out,

Bring my friends here right now,

Let them come to help me please,

To save my companions from their miseries."

Rowen opened his eyes as the two appeared in front of him.

"God I love being a witch!" He exclaimed.

"Guys, The other's are being held prisoner by some messed up scientists that know about our powers." Ryo said nothing as Kento turned forward.

"A bunch of people?" He licked his lips.

"Lots of food, he he he. I haven't fed in awhile." Rowen looked at him oddly.

"Kento?" The larger boy gave him an odd look.

"No, Ryo." Rowen's eyes went wide.

"So you're Ryo, and Your Kento?" He pointed to the bodies of the different person, reciting the others name.

"Crap!!!!!!"

"ROWEN!!!!!!!!"

To be continued…………