~Disclaimer: I don't own these sweet and innocent characters that we've all come to shape and mold like clay... but, as always, they don't belong to me. Just have fun reading and enjoy the moment.

Authors Note: Alright. This chapter gets a little descriptive at the end... not sex, but kinda... um... what's the word... GORE. It's not horribly bad, but to those with really weak stomachs, CHILL.

*muah* I love you guys!

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Cye blinked, not totally comprehending what Ryo said. "You... you love him?"

Ryo nodded softly. "All I can think about is him. I want to be there for him. I want to tell him that everything is okay..." Ryo sighed, bringing a hand through his locks, "But I can't."

Cye bit the inside of his cheek, "Gods, Ryo.... I don't kno-"

"You don't have to say anything... I just... I guess I just needed to tell someone. I can't hold it anymore. If I ever see Sage again like I did tonight... something is going to explode inside of me. And I will not be able to hold it back."

Cye nodded, "I understand, Ryo. But if you even hint to Sage that you're like this.... I don't even know what he will do."

"That's my problem!" Ryo exclaimed, "I don't know what to do anymore. He's even gotten me into believing that Rowen is still... alive. And all I want to do is tell him 'yes, Sage, I believe you. I feel for you'." Ryo sat down in a chair, "But I can't!" he blurted out, unshed tears forming in his eyes.

Cye sat down next to him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Ryo."

Ryo looked into Cye's sea-green eyes, "What?"

"Maybe you should just tell him."

Ryo's brows arched, "What?"

Cye nodded, "Maybe you're the piece that can replace the emptiness inside of him. You can stop him from trying to kill himself." Cye whispered.

Ryo's glare of confusion quickly faded into a look of pain. "But I don't think I'm ready. Mia-"

"Mia... don't worry about her. Unless you have any- and I mean any- feeling of doubt, then don't tell him."

Ryo bit his bottom lip. "Maybe I should just sleep on it." Ryo stood up slowly and headed towards the stairwell.

"If you need anything...."

Ryo nodded, showing he understood. "I'll see you tomorrow, Cye. G'night."

"Night."

Ryo walked towards the bedroom that he and Mia shared, picking his heavy feet up one after the other. He gazed into Kento's open bedroom door, picking up on the light snoring that came from within. He finally reached his closed door and slowly turned the knob, letting himself inside.

Mia was asleep on the bed, her body facing the window and the sheets everywhere - hinting to Ryo that she didn't fall asleep easily. Deciding not to wake her, Ryo slipped out of his clothes and got in the bed beside her, being extra gentle.

He closed his eyes and sighed, grateful to be in bed.

But Mia turned over and put her arm around Ryo's waist.

"Are you okay, honey?" she whispered.

Ryo made a quick "Mmm-hmm," and buried himself deeper into the covers. "You?"

Mia groaned, "My head is still killing me," she mumbled, her face deep in a pillow. "What happened downstairs? I heard a lot of yelling..."

Ryo sighed and turned to face her, "Sage tried to kill himself again." Ryo closed his eyes as Mia took a slight gasp.

"Is he alright? What happened?"

"He's definitely fine... he just attempted what he did last time."

Mia paused for a long minute, "Then how did he end up back here?"

Ryo shrugged, "No one knows. But I'm starting to believe that Sage is right about Rowen."

Mia snorted, "That he's still alive?! Come now, Ryo, be a little more realistic."

Ryo turned his back to her, "Mia, I know you think I'm crazy now, but who else could've rescued him from the lake, twice?! What could of left behind a particularly weird colored feather? And what could've left behind blood if Sage wasn't injured at all?"

Mia didn't reply.

"You see what I mean? Unless one of us is lying, there is no other explanation."

"But, Ryo," Mia started, softly, "If Rowen was alive or whatever, don't you think that he would come back to all of us? And if he wasn't, but Sage is right, why would he bleed?"

Ryo closed his eyes as he took a deep breath. "Mia, I don't have all the answers. But I definitely found a substitute until there is the right one."

Mia rolled onto her side, "Whatever, Ryo. Whatever."

-~-~*~-~-

Sage groaned as he woke up in the middle of the night, feeling sore and stiff all over. Hearing a taping against the windowpane he looked towards it.

Rowen was standing outside.

Sage sighed, somewhat happy, and walked towards it, opening it for Rowen to get through.

"Rowen... why didn't you let me be? Why didn't you let me drown in the lake?" Sage asked in a tone not any higher than a whisper.

Rowen closed his eyes, sitting down on the bed, "Because, Sage. It doesn't matter if you become what I am or not, we will be together, always."

"Why are you so sure on that?" Sage replied, sitting next to him, looking at his wings. Then he noticed the dried blood, "What the hell happened?! What is that from?!"

Rowen pulled his wings closer to himself, feeling ashamed, "Sage, don't worry about that, it's not important."

"It's important to me, Ro! I love you still! What happened?!"

Rowen grabbed his side, looking at the floor, "When I pulled you from the ice, I guess my wing got caught against an edge or something. But it doesn't bother me. It doesn't hurt at all."

"Well, it sure looks painful."

"Sage... you need to talk to Ryo."

Sage shot him a disgusted look, "Why?"

"Because... he's worried about you."

"So?! He sure doesn't show it! And he's been trying to tell me that I'm crazy! If he doesn't believe me, then to hell with him! I. Don't. Need. Him."

"Yes, you do, Sage. I'm not always going to be there to save you from the ice. I can't be here physically 24-7. And with the way you're acting, you NEED him."

"Why are you always so fucking protective?! Even before all this shit..." Sage mumbled the last part, looking at the floor.

"I'm protective because I love you, Sage."

"Then be here with me, forever."

"Sage I cannot do that! How many times do I gotta say that!?"

Sage let out a long groan, grabbing his forehead and walking towards the window. He gazed out, scanning the white atmosphere. "Rowen... I just wish I could go back... keep you from leaving. Or at least become what you are... Rowen I-" Sage turned around, but Rowen wasn't there. "What the-"

Sage heaved a heavy sigh and got back in his bed. He didn't care anymore. He was tired and sore. Sleep sounded wonderful to him.

A few hours later Sage shifted in his sleep, making his body ache all over and ache to be awake. His eyes flickered open to an unusual bright light. Trying to concentrate on anything that was around him, he attempted to sit up.

"Sage..."

Sage squinted his eyes, trying to see anything in the bright light. He finally saw a darkened figure in the corner of his room, looking like it was leaned up against the wall.

"Who's there?" he called out, standing up.

"I'm here, Sage. Come," it replied.

Sage arched a brow, stumbling as he attempted to close the space between them. The closer he got the dimmer the light got. When the person was finally standing in front of him, Sage could barely see through the darkness that separated them.

"Who are you?" Sage asked, trying to see his face. But it was blank.

"I'm Rowen."

Sage squinted his eyes in something next to anger, "No you're not. Rowen doesn't have a deep voice like you do... why won't you just tell me who you are?!"

"I'm Rowen. I told you."

Sage bit his lip to keep from yelling. "No your not! Where's Rowen?!"

The figure took a step into Sage, pressing his nose against his. "You got what you wanted, why are you mad?"

Sage took a step backwards, confused, "What do you mean I got what I wanted?"

The figure laughed. "Look in the mirror."

Sage cautiously turned his head, looking into the mirror that was against his closet door. "No... no, this isn't what I asked for..." Sage kept shaking his head, not wanting to believe the black wings that sprouted from his shoulder blades. He moved them around, creating a mist of black feathers. Sage couldn't stop the tears that flowed from his now dark violet eyes.

"You are now together as one... together as one opposite!" The figure oozed out an evil laugh and finally stepped into a light where Sage could see him. It was, indeed, Rowen. Rowen with dead eyes. Eyes that had no life, no sparkle, and no color.

Sage looked in the mirror again, this time seeing the real Rowen. The new Rowen he had come to love. His white wings, his blue hair, his vibrant eyes.

Rowen pressed his palm against the mirror, one single tear tracing his down his cheek.

"This ISN'T what I wanted!" Sage screamed.

The other Rowen took a step backwards and horrible black wings sprouted from his back like jackknives. Black and red venom dripped off the tips as he got an irate look in his dead eyes.

"You wanted to be what Rowen was, didn't you," he muttered, "Didn't you?!"

"No, no I didn't!" He screamed back. Howling in his tears, he reached his arms over his shoulders and grabbed a hold of his wings. With one long, painful scream, he pulled hard on them, ripping them off.

Rowen pounded on the mirror, moving his mouth like his was screaming, but nothing was heard. Blood red tears flowed down Rowen's face as he cried for his love. He hit the mirror again, breaking it into a thousand pieces.

Breaking through the web of glass, Rowen bolted over to Sage's side and hovered over him. He couldn't touch him. Nothing could stop the tears from Rowen's eyes and nothing, he thought, could save him. All he could do was gaze over Sage laying the ground and wishing that those dark blood trails cascading down his back weren't really there.

With one last laugh, the other Rowen took one wave of his ominous wings and disappeared.