A.N. Wow. Thank you for those that reviewed!



They had to jog back to the car, if they had run, Cloud would have been hurt further.

She was nestled in Ryo's arms carefully as they went back through the passageways full of mist vines and fog. The flowers had turned black, and no longer sang of death. No longer lived, and no longer laughed at them.

They went past the light point and the darkness enveloped them, but they knew the way. Sage, knew the way.

When they finally reached the outside, Mia was waiting just as they had planned.

"Oh My god.." was all she could muster as they changed back into their normal clothes and got into the car.

Blood was already seeping through the blanket, and Cloud's face looked paler than before. But Mia noticed something they didn't. She reached over and grabbed the wastebasket. "Ryo, wake her up."

"Why?" he asked, starting to go into a panic.

"Something is in her system.. look at the stain around her mouth," and then she floored it.

Cye looked over and his eyes became large. "Mud." he said. "Mud and what looks to be antifreeze.." Kento gulped.

"Is that bad?"

"It's poison," Sage said quietly. Ryo gently nudged Cloud, trying to wake her up. Tears were full in his eyes.

"Please.. wake up.." her eyes flickered open. They too were full of tears. Her eyes suddenly got large and Ryo nodded at her. As gently as possible, he sat her up, and she let out a silent scream. "I'm sorry.." he whispered. Cye, skinny enough to get between the seat and them, held the wastebasket to her mouth.

There was a horrid sound, and Ryo felt her muscle recoil and lurch as she heaved. The puke itself was ugly in color and smell. Cye winced and Kento rolled down the window for him.

Cloud was crying, it hurt, and perspiration began to trickle down her brow, mixing with the salty tears. Sage let a tear roll down his cheek.

"I'm so sorry." the violet eyed boy said, quietly. In response to that Cloud locked gaze with him and seemed to say 'please.. don't give up on me' it almost pleaded with him.

When she was done Mia stopped without a word and Cye disposed of the wastebasket. Cloud collapsed into Ryo, her breath coming in heavy, and her crying more frequent and pained.

Ryo whispered gentle words into her ear and she gave a strangled cry as they hit a bump. "I'm sorry," Mia said sympathetically.

Sage, on impulse reached over and expertly pushed a pressure point on her neck, allowing her to dive into the welcome darkness were she would feel no pain. Ryo sent him a look, but then withdrew, knowing how hard that was, and what it did for her.

"Thank you." Kento fished over another blanket.

"I found this in back," Ryo gently exchanged blankets with him. and then put Cloud in a more comfortable position. Her breath was a steady rasp.

"Just hang on.."

"We're almost there," Mia said, hope in her voice.

**

The hospital. At the beginning of the day, they never thought they would be here, let alone twice.

Again. it was no comfort, seeing her being carted away as quickly as they delivered her to the emergency ward. It was like giving her away to death.

There was no good news waiting for them either. Rowen hadn't woken up. They feared he had gone into coma.

The waiting room was as usual; only it was a different one than before. Yet, it held the same meaning.

Few people were there. There was a mother with a softly crying boy in one corner, and then a teenage couple, the girl's stomach had a bulge in the other.

Those people paid no heed to them, and they were glad.

But, there was no silence. Just a steady rhythm. Sniffle sniffle, tick tock, beep beep, whoosh whoosh, clap. Then it repeated, like an endless dance of turmoil and annoyance.

The anxiety in the room was almost unbearable. It smelled of fear and pain..and.. blood.

It seemed like years had gone by, when it was only hours. Many cups of hot chocolate or coffee had been indulged upon, and in that time many questions ran through the air.

Would she be o.k.?

Would Rowen wake up?

Would there be a death today?

What happens next?

Why Cloud?

Why the warlords?

Why Rowen?

The list went on and on, like a never-ending cycle.

That was until the door opened and a different doctor came in. He was young, and had spiked purple hair with one piece stubbornly handing down in his face. "Are you friends of Ms. Krishian?"

"Hai.." Ryo answered, his voice dry and raspy. The doctor looked at them, his face was grave. "D-did s-she..?"

"No, but came close. She's a fighter, but.. come with me," he got up, his actions dull, almost zombie like. He flashed a weak smile at his friends as he followed The doctor to the room.

"sit, please," Ryo did, and so did the doctor did as well. "I am Dr. Kanaido,"

"Ryo Sanada.. is she o.k.?" he demanded. The young doctor folded his hands and rested his chin on them.

"Her stomach was pumped immediately, and the side affects aren't present. Her wounds were patched up. and her arm was put in a cast. It'll be stiff, and I'm not sure if she'll use it again." fear gripped Ryo, and held on as Dr. Kanaido turned out the lights and put up some X-rays. "The shoulder was popped out cleanly, and we had to replace the ball as it was cracked. The arm in general was broken into three pieces, and there were several bone shards we had to remove." Ryo gapped in horror as the X-ray, and he swallowed, trying to get his saliva past the lump in his throat.

The lights turned on. "There's something you're not telling me.."

"She lost a lot of blood. she needs a blood transfusion. I wanted to see if you had the same type.

"O negative," he stated almost mechanically. Dr. Kanaido clapped his hands together.

"Mr. Sanada, would you be willing to give her your blood?"

"Of course! Anything!" And the arrangement was made.

"So.. You'll just ask your friends to get your things.. and tell them what's going on, correct?"

"hai. will I-"

"Hai, she should be stable , and I'll personally get you down there,"

Ryo left the room, a bit happy, and a bit sad. As he entered the waiting room, they looked at him with expectant eyes. And he explained what was wrong.

"I'll go get some of your things, and some of hers too,"

"I'll go with her," Sage said. "Good luck," he added, so only he could hear, and then both left.

"Lets get you checked in, shall we?' Cye smiled a bit; it was a nervous smile, but a smile none-the-less.

"Name?" the nurse at the keyboard smiled.

"Ryo Sanada," her hands flew over the keyboard.

"And you're here for?"

"To give blood to a friend, Cloud Krishian." She smiled up at him.

"Dr. Kanaido is waiting right outside the door, may I see your wrist?" Ryo stretched it out for her, and she snapped one of the hospital bands on it. It held all the info he would need.

She pushed a button that made a buzzing sound, and the door opened, revealing the purple haired doctor. He smiled. "want to see her now?" Ryo's heart fluttered. What if.. what if she was unrecognizable?

"Hai," Kento answered for him, giving him a playful shove.

"Are we aloud in too?"

"sure, I don't see why not," Dr. Kanaido led them down the series of hallways, they paused at Rowen's door. No change, and then they continued on moving.

It turned out it wasn't too far from Rowen's room. Just four or five rooms down.

It too was dimmed, and machines were pilled around the far end. The bed closest to the door was vacant, but the one near the window was not.

Ryo felt queasy, and his courage disappeared. Kento shoved him gently, and he stumbled. He glared, but continued on his way.

Wires ran through her frame, yet she was scrubbed clean. Her arm hung limp at her side, and her chest rose and fell quickly, even with the oxygen mask on.

Her left hand held many I.V.s, and her face was pale. Ryo gulped, and walked closer. He sat down in the chair with a soft whoosh of air.

As he took hold of her hand, he swore she started to blush.

But Cloud did no such thing. Made no movement. Made no move to lighten the mood.

"Cloud.. can you hear me?" Ryo asked softly, his voice pleading. "please.. wake up. wake up and tell me its all a night mare, wake up. so we can live on happily," another tear fell from his tightly clenched eyes.

The beeping of the heart monitor was so slow. It was like she was dieing, dieing now that she has gotten this far. "Don't give up on me now! Come on," he urged, to what seemed like dead ears.

Dead, dead, dead! That's what hospitals were about, right? People came in here to die. they never got better, did they?

Ryo held her small hand in his own larger one. It was a perfect fit. "You know. I read somewhere, that one of the reasons guys like girl is because. their hand fits so well in our hand."

There was no cheeky response to him. No blush, no laugh, not even a squeak from her wheel chair. There was just the mechanical sound. "You have to hang tough, o.k.? Just until I give you some of my blood,"

He got up and walked back, Mia gave him an encouraging smile. "I brought a set of her clothes, and a pair of her pajamas." she handed him a small suitcase. "I brought you a change of clothes, and some pajamas," she smiled a bit. "White Blaze really wanted to come, but I had to leave him home," a smile tugged at the corners of Ryo's mouth.

"Thank you, Mia,"

"No change?"

"no. I'm worried," she put a hand on his shoulder.

"we all are,"

"I'm going to go get changed,"

"Alright, I'll go get a nurse to help me get Cloud in hers. so she'll be more comfortable," Ryo smiled a bit and went into the bathroom.

Once inside he stripped, and put on his pajamas. Then he looked the mirror. He had dirt smudges. Ryo frowned, and turned on the hot water.

Once it was hot enough he scrubbed himself as good as he could, and then washed his face. He looked in the mirror again, he looked more like his old self.

He turned the knob and stepped out. He blushed and turned around, even if she was asleep, Cloud deserved her privacy.

A giggle made him blush more, all the way to his roots. "Your quite the gentleman,"

"Is it safe to turn around?" Mia let out a laugh.

"Yes," she had to stifle another giggle. He turned around just as the small trio of nurses walked past him.

Cloud was dressed in her pajamas, which consisted of a kimono top like shirt and a pair of baggy pants. They had teddy bears on them. She looked peaceful, even with all the bruises and cuts.

"its nine, we have to go now," Mia said suddenly. And then Ryo felt the fear he'd been trying to hold back. What.. what if.. what if she died before. before he could give her his blood?

He put on a brave front. "Alright," his voice sounded weaker than he would have liked.

Mia paused before leaving to give his arm a little squeeze. "We'll be back in the morning," she said softly, tenderness and understanding in her voice as she left, and he vaguely heard Kento, Sage, and Cye also tell him goodbye, as the door closed with a soft click.

He padded his way over to the small closet he shared with Cloud. His other change of clothes was stacked there neatly alongside hers. He carefully placed his clothes he'd take off in the bathroom on another shelf.

Just as he was about to close the door, he noticed a note tapped to his clothes. He took it off and scanned it, the dim moonlight providing just enough light.

'We know your scarred. hold on for us!'

"Guys.." he murmured quietly, clutching the note to his chest. A stray tear fell down his cheek, the moonlight making it seem to sparkle. "Thank you," He turned to go to his bed, but stopped dead in his tracks. His breath quickened. A luminous figure grinned ruefully at him. "Kayo."

"Wildfire."

A.N. I love cliff hangers.. As long as its ME who's dishing them out ^^V