~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.

~*~

Cye pulled into the driveway and turned off the ignition. He looked over his shoulder, scanning his eyes over everyone else. Sage looked tired as he sat and stared out the window. Ryo was chewing on his bottom lip, waiting impatiently for Kento to open the door. Mia sighed, shooting Cye an exhausted look before she reached and opened the passenger side door.

Ryo hopped out of the car, waiting for Sage. But he wasn't moving.

"Sage?" Ryo asked, his brows folding over his eyes, "Are you okay? Do you need help?"

Sage looked at Ryo in lament. He shook his head and started to get out of the car. He stepped out and walked slowly towards the front door.

He was limping.

"Sage?! Stop, let me help you!" Ryo almost shouted, running to put an arm underneath Sage's arm.

Sage seemed to hesitate, but he didn't say anything so Ryo continued to help him inside.

~-~*~-~-

Ryo pulled at his face with his hand as he sat in the kitchen later that evening.

"You a'right, Ryo?" Kento asked softly. "What's on your mind?"

Ryo pressed his lips together and shook his head. "Just Sage. I just wish I could help him."

Kento nodded, agreeing. "Yeah, I know how ya feel.

Ryo sighed a little. "I hope he sleeps well."

Kento chuckled, "With that strong dose of sleeping pills, Sage'll be out for awhile."

Ryo smiled, "That's true." Ryo got up and started to head towards the staircase.

"Hey, Ryo?"

Ryo stopped, "Yeah, Kent?"

"Are we all still goin' out tonight?" he asked, a little over a whisper.

Ryo let a sly grin pass over his mouth, "Yeah," he replied, softly. "Yes, we are."

Kento clenched his fists as he shot one in the air, "Yeah!"

"I'll go and get Cye and Mia."

Kento nodded and followed after Ryo, heading towards his room to get ready.

Ryo knocked on Sage's door, opened it and set eyes on Cye. "Is he alright, Cye?"

Cye nodded his head and accompanied it with a warm smile. "He's out cold."

Ryo laughed a little. "Do you think he'll be fine if we all go out for dinner?"

Cye's eyes brightened, "He should be... of course. His prescription required a large dose, so he shouldn't even realize we're gone."

Ryo nodded, "Then let's head out."

Cye smiled and stood up from his chair, then followed Ryo to the door. He clicked the light off and slowly closed the door behind him.

~-~*~-~

"So, where are we going again?" Cye asked curiously as he sat in the passenger seat, watching the road in front of him.

Mia flipped her long hair out of her face, smiling, "One Eights."

Cye's eyebrows arched widely, "Are you serious? On a Friday? Its going to be completely packed!"

Kento laughed, "But Cye... it's the One Eights club! Everyone who is anyone is down there right now!"

Ryo bit his lip to keep his tremendous smile from coming loose. "This will definitely take everything off everyone's mind."

Mia laughed to herself as she pulled into the busy parking lot of the bar. Ryo jumped out of the car, dressed in a dark red sweater and black jeans. He threw his tan hand through his black hair, smiling to himself as he walked towards the entrance. Kento followed, pulling his leather jacket tighter around his body. Cye tried to fix his fly-aways in his ruby brunette hair, his unbuttoned light blue flannel flowing from his body with the wind. Mia grabbed a hold of Ryo's arm as she walked through the entrance, her black skirt and red top giving her interested eyes.

The waiter seated them to a corner bench, loud laughs and lots of talking going in and out through their ears. The place was busy. Really busy.

Mia sighed, sitting down. "I'm so glad I made a reservation."

"Me too!" exclaimed Kento, already grabbing a menu. "Hmm... there is so many choices...."

Ryo glanced over the menu, deciding almost immediately that he was going to get flame broiled steak.

A waitress of about 24 came to their table. She noticed Ryo's eyes almost immediately. "Are you guys ready to order? Or do you want to start off with drinks?"

"Just start me off with Long Island iced tea." Cye replied first, smiling at his order.

"I'm going to have some tomato juice... as I am the designated driver," Mia said after.

"I'll have a..." Ryo paused, glancing over the drink menu. He looked up and met the waitress's eyes again, "Just a strawberry margarita."

The waitress giggled, "That's a good choice."

Kento arched his brow at Ryo, then ordered a beer.

"Alright, I'll have your drinks out in a second!" she responded, winking at Ryo just before she turned on her heel.

"What is up with her, Ryo?" Mia asked in hurt curiosity.

Ryo made a face and shrugged, "I don't know!"

"She's cute though," Kento said, smugly.

Ryo rolled his eyes.

Then a bass kick vibrated the building. Everyone started to yell as they moved to the center of the room. Another loud bass kick hit and the dancing music began to play. All the guys and Mia watched with amusement as everyone started to dance.

The lights flickered and then shut off. But red, pink, green, blue, and yellow lights flipped on and flashed as the music kept playing.

"This is crazy!" Kento cried, a wide smile placed on his lips. "I'm going to join the crowd!" He jumped up from his seat and danced his thing over to the floor.

Cye laughed. "Well, Kento's feeling bold tonight."

Ryo smirked. He was about to get up himself, but the waitress came back over with their drinks.

"Anything else?" She asked, her bright green eyes glued to Ryo's tiger blues.

Ryo couldn't reply.

"Nothing right now, thank you, though." Cye said.

"Oh, okay." The girl got a wide smile on her face and grabbed Ryo's hand as the music faded into a new song. "Come on! I need a little break!" She cried.

Ryo couldn't find any words to say as she dragged him onto to the floor. She grabbed both his hands and placed them around her waist and started to move her hips with the beat, motioning Ryo to do the same.

Not knowing what else to do, he played along with it. His faint smile became a real one as the girl got into it, getting closer to his body and smiling into his eyes.

"So what's your name?" She asked, tapping her finger against Ryo's nose.

"Uh... Ryo." He replied.

She laughed, "Ryo is it? Well, my name's Anne." She flipped her long black hair over her shoulder and took one more step into Ryo. "You're pretty cute."

Ryo couldn't help the chuckle that escaped from his throat. "Okay?"

She rolled her eyes, "What, you can't take a compliment?"

"Well- agh!" Ryo fell forward a step as someone bumped him from behind, "What the hell?!" Ryo whipped around, ready to yell at the person who had knocked him.

A pair of clear blue eyes stared down into his. Blue hair fell into his eyes as he stumbled, but that same terrified look never left his face.

Ryo blinked, "Ro-Rowen?!"

The crowd started getting heavy and everyone was dancing and pushing. Rowen fell back into the crowd and disappeared behind the wall of people.

Ryo cursed loudly.

"What's wrong? Did you know him?" Anne asked, pulling at his arm.

Ryo shoved her off of him, "Yeah... he's supposed to be dead..."

"What?" she asked again, not being able to hear him over the music and people.

Ryo shook his head and shoved his way back through the crowd where Rowen had gone.