~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.

~*~

Ryo didn't sleep all night. He kept thinking about Rowen. He couldn't believe anything that had happened. His mind raced with his new thoughts of Rowen; his unnatural eyes, his wings... he couldn't believe that Sage was actually right.

"Ryo? Ryo!" Anne yelled shaking me. "What happened?! Are you okay?"

I didn't know what was going on anymore. Rowen had suddenly appeared and disappeared in the same way. Was I going insane? "I don't know, Anne. I don't know."

"Well, please. Let me help you. Mia is worried about you."

Anne took my hand and helped me up off the floor. I knew that she had helped me outside and exchanged phone number's with Mia, for what reason I didn't know. I don't remember the ride home much... a few clips of Mia and Cye talking, Kento mumbling jibberish.

"Now, I'm here.... what the hell," Ryo pressed his fingers against his temples, groaning. Deciding he couldn't sleep no matter how hard he tried, he got up, and headed towards Sage's bedroom.

Silently, he opened the door and peeked inside.

Sage was bundled into a tight ball, his face pressed hard into the pillow. Tuffs of blonde hair stuck out from underneath the blankets, making Ryo smile.

'He looks... so peaceful.' Ryo thought to himself as the smile faded away. 'Why am I here? I can't wake him up.'

Sage rustled in his sleep, moaning a little as he shifted to his back.

Ryo sighed as his last glance over Sage passed. He silently closed the door behind him and walked back up to his room. Ryo sucked his teeth as he laid down in his bed, wondering if he could be able to fall back asleep.

:~*~*~*~:

"Rowen, what are you doing?" Sage asked, chuckles sliding through his lips as Rowen poured peppermint vodka on Sage's throat, then presumed to lick it off.

"Teasing you," Rowen replied, his warm tongue gracing the side of Sage's neck.

Sage shivered with arousal, "Ro, you better stop doing that if you know what's good for you."

Rowen stopped and locked his deep blue eyes with Sage's violet ones, "Oh really?"

Sage bit his lip, suppressing the laugh that wanted to come out, "Rowen, you know that if you keep doing that, we'll both be upstairs in a matter of seconds.'

Rowen licked his bottom lip, chuckling. "So? What would you say if I said I wanted it to be like that?"

Sage smirked. "Then-"

Kento licked the rim of the empty vodka bottle, interrupting Sage's comment, "Dudes! We need more!"

Ryo looked across the room at all his friends, "How many did all you have?"

Rowen shrugged, "I only had 2."

Kento jumped up, "Go to the store and get some more!" He jerked back, "Hey, that rhymes! Go to the store and get some more! Go to the store and get some more!"

Ryo laughed. "You're a dumb-ass."

Cye chuckled but then paused to bite his lip, "That's not really a good idea, Kent. On a serious note anyways."

"Why not? He'ss the most sober-est of us all."

Ryo nodded, "Yesh."

Rowen nodded, "I'll go as long as I get first dibs on it when I get back!"

A round of cheers replied.

Sage grabbed the car keys and met Rowen at the door. "Ro," Sage started softly, "Please be careful."

Rowen nodded, "I promise, Sage." Rowen smiled in a reassuring way, giving Sage's hand a gentle squeeze.

Sage smirked and leaned forward quickly, catching Rowen off-guard in a lip-locking kiss. After a moment, Rowen pulled away and reached for the door handle.

"I see you in a little bit, love."

Sage watched Rowen pull out of the driveway and down the road. Then, in a weird twist, Sage was placed in the passenger seat. He looked around, confused for a little bit, but a smile crawled on his lips when he heard Rowen singing to his favorite song.

"Rowen," Sage asked, "Be careful on this road, its icy."

Rowen kept humming and singing to his song.

Sage noticed that 35 MPH soon reached 45 MPH. "Rowen!"

Rowen didn't pay the slightest attention.

Sage, now getting frustrated, tried to grab Rowen's shoulder. His hand went straight through him. "Damn it!" he cursed, watching the speed gauge go up, floating around 55 MPH.

"ROWEN!" Sage screamed at the top of his lungs, trying his best to reach his attention somehow. But no use.

Sage watched as Rowen lost control of the car going around a turn. He felt the car as it rolled down the hill, roll after roll, hitting small trees and rocks on the way down. The car came to a rough stop as it hit a huge tree.

Sage had tears in his eyes. Rowen was dead. Blood was everywhere. He didn't even get to say goodbye to him. Sage started to cry.

In the midst of Sage's soundless sobs, there was a noise. Sage stopped to listen. He strained his ears so much, that he felt a little bit of blood trickle out of them. But he heard it.

Heartbeat.

"Rowen?" Sage whispered.

Rowen groaned and put a weary hand up to his forehead, "Oh.... my gods...." Rowen whispered, his eyes finally focusing on all that was around him. "What.... happened?"

"Rowen!" Sage cried, "You're alive, Rowen!" He reached forward to hug him, but Sage forgot. He didn't do so much as make Rowen's muscles twitch.

Rowen looked around again, looking for anything that would get him attention. His eyes set on the car horn. Rowen pressed the horn with all his might, holding it for as long as his broken hand could. When he couldn't hold it any longer, he pulled away, crying out in pain for his hands.

He looked up, letting out a sigh of relief that he could get out. He forced the door open and crawled out.

Sage tried to grab him, "Rowen, don't go! It's too cold!" But failing in all his attempts, Sage could only watch as Rowen exhaustedly pulled himself along, step after step.

Rowen collapsed. "Sage! I'm sorry!"

Sage got out of the car and ran up to him, wanting to much to hold him.

"Sage... please.... forgive me.... I loved you so so much!" Rowen tried to scream, but wound up sobbing.

Sage started crying, "Rowen, its okay! I love you! I love you!" Sage tried to grab Rowen's hand, but unable to grasp it, he just left it there, hoping it would give Rowen some sort of relief.

Rowen looked at the blood trail he left behind him and started to cry again. "Sage..."

"I'm right here, Rowen! Tell me what you want me to do! Let me help you!"

Rowen licked his blue lips and blinked his blood coated eyes, "I love you."

Sage could feel his heart stop. He watched as Rowen died. He died. Sage got up and ran back to the car, pounding on the horn.

:~*~*~*~:

Sage jolted in his bed, cold sweat tracing his face. He looked at the clock, 2:30. He looked outside the window, noticing that it was day. Sage was confused.

Someone knocked on the door.

"Come in," Sage replied, weakly.

Ryo walked in, closing the door behind him. "Wow, I'm surprised you're up."

Sage just blinked, not knowing what to say.

"Are you okay? Hungry? You haven't eaten in awhile."

Sage softly shook his head, "No... but thanks anyways."

"Are you sure?"

Sage nodded. "Just... I need time to myself. I had a weird dream." Sage's voice trailed off.

Ryo looked hurt. "A-alright." Ryo started to walk out the door, but as he got there, Ryo whispered, "I believe you, Sage."

Sage creased his eyebrows, "You... what?"

"I believe you. I saw Rowen too."

Sage looked confused, "But... but Rowen's dead."

Those words hit Ryo like a ton of bricks, "Wha-What?!"

Sage rubbed his eyes, "What? He is... isn't he?"

"I... I...." Ryo couldn't find the words to say. "well, yes! but..."

Sage locked his confused bright eyes with Ryo's, "But what?"

Ryo blinked a couple of times, then quickly said, "I need to get some fresh air." He walked out of the room and closed the door behind him.