Disclaimer- They're not mine. Yes, I do understand that.



Rowen

When I got to school to find Ryo already there I knew today was going to be interesting. Beside me Sage didn't say a word just raised an eyebrow. "The world is coming to an end," I stated, Ryo's tardies were the stuff of legends. "Funny," Ryo returned.

Kento and Cye arrived together, as they crossed to school yard to reach us Ryo spaced. Sage noticed Ryo's lack of attention and furrowed his eyebrows. By the time Kento and Cye got to us, Ryo had snapped out of it and presumably went back to being Ryo. "You're here early," Cye commented calmly. "I woke up early and couldn't fall back asleep," Ryo said casually. "Bad dreams," Sage spoke up from his place leaning against the wall. "Not bad, just disturbing," the shaken disturbed look on Ryo's face closed the conversation. Kento opened his mouth to speak just as the first bell rang.

**~**

I walked into class to find a young woman sitting on the teachers desk swinging her legs and looking incredibly pleased with herself. The bell rang just as I got into my seat. Since the teacher wasn't in the classroom comments started flying at the young woman about a substitute teacher. The young woman continued swinging her legs never uttering a sound. Just when people started getting angry our teacher practically flew into the room.

"Sorry," she said while calming down. "I was busy being briefed about this one," She pointed at the smug looking young woman still swinging her legs, "ummm, we have a new student. This is Allex a temporary student coming to us from Tokyo," Ms. Adlina explained. "General Hospital," the young woman, Allex, interrupted. The comment earned stares of surprise, disbelief, and confusion. "Don't worry, none of the diseases or disorders I have can be transmitted between people," her expression turned into an amused smile. She bounced off the desk. The teacher shook her head and picked up a text book off her desk, handed it to Allex, and pointed her to the empty seat next to me.

Ms. Adlina blinked, "We didn't have homework last night?" "No," came from multiple place around the room. "Kay then..." She trailed off.

**~**

"Rowen, can I talk to you?" Ms. Adlina called after the lesson was finished and homework assigned. I walked up slowly, ignoring the amused looks of the other students who 'well knew' my discipline record. Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, I never get in trouble, I scoffed, if they only knew half of what I've done in my lifetime. "I'd like you to make sure Allex gets where she needs to be," Ms. Adlina explained. "Kay," I said slowly. "I've been told she has the same schedule you do," she continued. "She's high school?" I interrupted. "Yes, same grade you're in," she beckoned Allex up.

"This is Rowen, he's going to be your student guide," Ms. Adlina put on a motherly tone. Allex's eyebrow raised, but Ms. Adlina didn't notice. The bell rang before Allex could say a word.

"Why is it that people hear the word disease they automatically think I'm a 300 year old china doll," Allex muttered as we walked to our next class. "Cuz if you were a couple centimeters smaller you'd look exactly like one," It took her a second to catch the meaning. She blinked, "I'll take that as a compliment." "What disease?" I asked after a pause. "The main one I have, that keeps me in the hospital, is called Ange-Lynna's disease it's very new and incredibly rare which makes it more dangerous, I'm one of the first 15 to be identified with the disease, of the first 15 only 3 are still alive, of the first 10, I'm the only one left," she looked down, "On top of that I have Asthma. It's a deadly combination. So many Asthma attacks in a short period of time can kill me, and that's on top of the fact that Ange-Lynna's disease is deadly by itself." "Wow," she seemed so strong and enduring to have that kind of death sentence constantly hanging over her, "What is Ange- Lynna's disease?" "It's a genetic disorder that affects the bloods ability to carry oxygen. Death results from lack of oxygen, even when the person seems to be breathing fine," she explained quietly. "Genetic?" came my response. "Certain genes don't quite fit well together, were malformed, or were misinterpreted. Or so the doctors beleive," she glanced up as we reached the science room.

I waved her in first and followed right behind her. "Hello Rowen, and..." Mr. Gantez, the chemistry teacher, looked up as we walked in. Allex looked around confused. "Allex. We're here early the college is on a slightly different time schedule," I explained, "the new student." Mr. Gantez nodded. Allex spaced.