~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.

~*~

Sage sighed. "What is Rowen doing to me?" He grabbed a lock of hair from his head and tugged at it, looking down at his bed. "I can't deal with this anymore..." Sage mumbled as he took a sigh, almost losing himself. He looked up at the ceiling and blinked a couple of times, trying not to let his tears fall. With a heavy exhale, he stood from his bed and walked over to the window.

Ryo was standing out in the middle of the yard, his arms crossed over his chest. Sage could tell there was a light breeze in the air by how Ryo's thick locks of black hair floated and waved around his head. He never moved, looking like one cold statue. Sage suddenly felt some emotion for him.

"What the hell?" he asked himself, ripping his eyes away from Ryo. He felt almost guilty for Ryo. And at the same time, he wanted to give something in return for his kindness. For he was the only one who, Sage thought, cared.

Sage grabbed his forehead, a sudden sting slapping him in the back of his head. He heard something and turned around, locking eyes with Rowen.

"Rowen... wha-what?"

Rowen stared hard into Sage's purple eyes, "What are you doing...?"

"What are YOU doing? You're supposed to be DEAD!"

"That's what everyone said I was."

"But Rowen..." Sage fumbled for words, "I.. I do-"

"You what, Sage?"

Sage glared at Rowen, carrying his eyes over his almost translucent body, his white, white wings, and his icy stare. Sage stared hard into Rowen's clear eyes, a sudden mix of emotions screaming to be let loose.

"I can't do this anymore! It's taking way too much out of me!" Sage stuttered, pausing for a brief second to take in what came out of his mouth. Realizing that Rowen had nothing to say, Sage continued, "I've realized that I can't move one with you. I need time... time to figure out what I want to do..." Sage mumbled the last part, keeping his eyes glued to the floor.

Rowen chewed on the inside of his cheek. "What you're saying is that you don't want to be with me anymore."

Sage sighed, "Rowen, how can I be with you?"

Rowen looked away from Sage's cold stare. "Sage...."

"Rowen. I can't. All this.... the doctor, the dream, the guys... how am I supposed to move on?"

Rowen licked his lips, sighing almost peacefully. "Sage. I've been waiting for this."

Sage's mouth dropped to the floor, "You what? Nani?"

Rowen's pink lips twitched into a smile, "You had to come to this conclusion by yourself. Now that things are... well, normal, I can return to my rightful place."

Sage couldn't see anything but blotches of color through his teary eyes, "But, Rowen... I didn't mean it like that! I still love you! I want you to stay..."

Rowen pressed his lips together, "Sage, I know that you'll move on. You're strong. That's what I loved you for."

Sage shook his head, "No, Rowen, no!"

"Sage, stop it. You-"

"But what about Ryo? Ryo said that he saw you! How are you going to deal with that?"

Rowen sighed, chuckling a little, "Ryo needed an extra push. I felt that if I didn't do anything about it, he was going to forget about you."

Sage tilted his head to the side, "I'm confused, Ro."

Rowen took a step towards Sage, "Just trust me, okay?"

Sage reluctantly nodded his head, blinking a tear away. He sighed and whispered, "Rowen... I'll miss you."

Rowen bit his bottom lip to hold back his emotion, "Sage, don't say that. I'll always be with you. You should know that."

"But how will I know when you're with me and when you're not?"

Rowen outstretched his arms and embraced Sage, tightly, "...You'll know."

Sage buried his face into Rowen's shoulder. He felt like crying his eyes out but something calmed him. Something comforted him. Maybe because now he knew that Rowen was going to be with him... forever. He didn't need to be told, he felt it in his heart.

"Sage..." Rowen started, locking his dark blues with Sage's, "I love you. Never ever forget that." He leaned in, brushing his nose with Sage's and gave him one last departing kiss.

Sage felt a chill race down his spine, like something touched his soul. He was finally content.

"I love you, Rowen." Sage whispered as their kiss broke.

Rowen started to fade with each passing second.

"Goodbye-" Sage mumbled.

"No, not goodbye," Rowen said, "See you around."

Sage smiled with satisfaction, "See you around."

-~-~*~-~-

Ryo sighed, finally letting the cold get to him. He shivered and turned around, heading back to the house. 'Why did Sage say that? Is he finally over it?' Ryo thought to himself as he walked back inside. He glanced up the stairwell, his clear blue eyes full of questions. 'Maybe if we talk we can work something out,' Ryo said to himself as he started to drag his feet up the stairs. He got to Sage's room and knocked on the door, being a little surprised to see it open.

Sage was standing next to the window, slouching a little. His body shifted up and down as he inhaled and exhaled very deeply. His blonde hair was messy and his clothes looked bigger on his body, like he had lost weight that he wasn't supposed to lose.

Ryo helped himself into the bedroom, scuffing his feet on the ground as he walked, and sat down on Sage's bed.

Sage didn't move or even seem to acknowledge that Ryo was in the room.

Ryo sighed to himself and sat his eyes on Sage's exposed shoulders due to his oversized shirt. He opened his mouth slowly, wanted to extend the time that Ryo had to gather his thoughts, "Sage?" he asked softly, his voice cracking.

Sage turned his head quickly, his glazed lilac eyes finding Ryo's indigo ones immediately. That one look of sorrow from Sage made Ryo weak in the knees.

"Ryo?" Sage asked, not any louder than a whisper.

Ryo sat there for a few moments, trying to interpret Sage's mood, but, as always, it was close to impossible. "A-are you alright, Sage?" Ryo finally made out, worry creasing his forehead. "You look... upset."

Sage sighed, a small smile slipping onto his mouth, "Ryo, I'm sorry if I upset you earlier...." he waited for a response, but the only one he got was a pair of worried eyes. "Ryo, I've just come to realize that even though Rowen isn't here anymore... he's still inside of me."

"Well, even you said yourself that you saw Rowen... how do you explain that? Because I saw him too."

"I think the only explanation for that is what Dr. Murphy said to me. Love is powerful. Love can make you see things and experience things with a part of ourselves that we never use." Sage paused to sit down next to Ryo. "And maybe we did see him... but maybe it was just a fragment of our imagination. But that doesn't matter anymore..." Sage got quiet and looked at the floor.

"Sage..." Ryo quickly extended his arms and hugged him. He hugged Sage for so long so tightly that Sage could feel him arms go numb. When Ryo finally released him, he sat back and stared into Sage's eyes. Something strong stared back at him. Stared through him. Ryo caught himself trying to lose himself in Sage's eyes.

"Are you finally going to be okay then?" Ryo asked softly, licking his lips.

Sage nodded, firmly, "Yes."

~*~

Author's Note: Sorry this chapter was a little boring, but more action an drama to be in the next one! r&r