**Author's Note: Hi, it's me again. Sorry for taking so long to get out an update, I've had a rather busy week lol. I hope you enjoy this new chapter, it's sort of long, but I think you will be pleased at the end lol. :) Please review!**

Disclaimer: No, nothing, poor, yadda, yadda.... I wish!





Chapter 5



"Don't you love his accent?" Quatre was still chirping as he climbed out of the passenger side of his Mercedes. "He sounds so distinguished. I wonder how he sounds speaking Japanese..."

"Quatre, I failed to ask you earlier, but do they all speak English, or will some of them need me to be a translator..."

"Translator, Yuy, we all speak Japanese," Wufei removed the keys from the ignition cutting the engine and tossing the keys back to Quatre who caught them in one hand.

"But some of your accents need...improvement..." Heero was leaning inside the car so only his posterior could be seen. Trowa slipped out of the other back door, "They all speak English, as far as I know.... Quatre, didn't you tell me before that..."

"Yes," Quatre nodded. "Some better than others though. Kento is actually Chinese, but he grew up in Japan so he speaks both, and his English is so, so. He might actually like Wufei's help better if we needed a translator... Wufei, you did decide to help out?"

Wufei merely gave Quatre a nod as he watched Heero finally fully emerged from the vehicle with Duo in his arms fast asleep. So that was the reason behind the braided demon's silence. Had he laid his head on Heero's shoulder, or had he laid his head in his lap? He had to shake himself from the fantasy of having the sleeping beauty on his shoulder, or in his lap. He watched Heero adjust Duo for comfort, resting his head against one of his shoulders, and noted how the braid dangled from Heero's arms slapping at the side of his thighs as he moved toward the door.

"I'm really glad you're joining us Wufei. Makes us feel like a team again," Quatre was saying, and Wufei jumped unaware of how close Quatre had gotten. The blond looked at Wufei oddly, "Are you alright Wufei?"

The question caught everyone's attention, for Heero and Trowa had turned their eyes to him as well. Wufei blinked, and had to take his eyes away from Heero, the moonlight was playing against the features of his sleeping bundle's face like a violin, the tune, "Nyah, Nyah, Nyah, Nyah, Nyah, Nyah! You can't have me!"

"I'm fine Winner," he fought to keep his voice steady and to quell his cycling emotions before Quatre became too aware of them and got suspicious. "So they all speak moderate English."

"Cye, Rowen, and Sage speak it the best, Cye for being part English, Sage for being half American, and Rowen for spending some time abroad for a few years when he was much younger in the state of New Jersey. I believe he has an accent too."

Trowa unlocked the front door and stood back to let everyone else inside first. Wufei turned on the lights, and stretched. He gazed at the grandfather clock against the wall, frowning at the late hour. It was past midnight, and he had an early lab science in the morning. He was about to suggest that they all go to bed, but then thought better of it when he saw the stars still in their eyes after their chat with Cye. His companions would not be going to bed for a while yet. He sighed, wondering if they expected him to stay up with them when Heero surprised him, "You look tired Wufei. Why don't you go to bed?"

Wufei frowned, was Heero trying to get rid of him. Then his heart nearly stopped when Heero continued, "On your way, could you tuck Duo in. Quatre, Trowa, and I wish to talk more about Cye and the others about a new approach to explain to them what has happened."

"But now can't Cye just tell them?" asked Wufei, he stood still as a statue as Heero tried to pass Duo off to him.

"We don't want all the pressure to be on Cye. It will be easier if he's in the room to help calm the others, but I don't think it'd be wise to leave it all on his shoulders. He's been through enough."

Wufei nodded, swallowing as he extended his arms to take Duo. Heero gently set Duo in Wufei's hold, not letting go until Wufei nodded that he had him secure. Wufei shuddered with pleasure at the light weight of the faerie in his arms, and at the tickling warmth of his body. He slowly began to move towards the stairs, letting out a pleased sigh as Duo snuggled closer against his chest. "Don't drop him Wufei," Heero's low voice interrupted his voyage to Cloud Nine, reminding him once again that he was only once again glimpsing a product he could never sample. "I'll never hear the end of it if you do, and neither will you."

Wufei forced himself to chuckle, and continued toward the stairs. Why did the gods hate him so?

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"I think he took it well enough," Trowa said simply. "I don't think Quatre made a mistake in telling him the whole story so quickly at all."

Heero nodded, "Cye did take it well... but Cye did not seem to be the typical teenager. I am not saying there is anything wrong with him, but his acceptance of the situation and comprehension of our will to care for them leads me to believe that he may be..."

"An empath?" Quatre questioned. Both Heero and Trowa glanced at him curiously, "Yes, Cye is an empath, as is Sage. He could sense we were telling him no lies, so he had no choice but to accept what we were saying to him."

"But one without the ability..."

"I see the problem, but with Cye beside us it shouldn't be as difficult."

"I agree. We are lucky that it was Cye who chose to awaken first," Quatre said with a sigh. "Kento I fear, might not have believed a word we said...and Ryo...well I'm not sure about him."

"And Rowen?"

"Rowen, I bet Duo could persuade him. Rowen is the resident genius of their outfit, and he'd want to hear Duo's science talk and see genetic equations," Quatre looked heavenward. "I'm suddenly afraid of seeing what those two will do once in contact with each other. Duo is bad enough alone!"

Heero groaned, "As long as he doesn't come to bed at night trying to tell me about the new math theories he's postulated I'll be fine. I honestly do not care about relative energy particles."

Trowa laughed, "Tell him."

"But he's so excited about his discoveries, I don't want to discourage him."

"He'd rather hear the truth from you, Heero," Trowa insisted. "It pleases him when you voice opinions of your own about what you like, and what you don't."

"As long as it doesn't pertain to what he does," Heero rolled his eyes.

Quatre offered him a smile, "One of these days someone will print up a manual on how to handle a Duo, but for right now we've got to play it by ear."

"According to Sally everyone is showing signs of stirring, but which do you think will wake next?"

"Perhaps Ryo, or maybe even Rowen. I'm a little wary about Sage's awakening," Quatre rubbed his chin.

"Why?" Heero and Trowa were looking at the smaller blond again.

"Well... his files are a little sketchy when it comes to just what he can do. We know he's an empath, but he's stronger than Cye, and there are indications that there's more to him than even that. I'm afraid he might not adjust as well, nor as quickly as the others at his wakening; and I wish for the others to be awake and there for him when he opens his eyes."

"And if he is the next to wake..."

Quatre shook his head, "I hope I'm just being silly, perhaps he may take it best of all." He blinked then and gazed back at Trowa, "Do you think Cye will like his new shoes?"

Trowa snorted giving a smirk, and Heero cocked his head to one side, "You wonder about that? Should I wonder if he'll like his new underwear?"

Quatre blushed, while Trowa laughed out loud. Heero frowned, "What? Did I say something funny?"

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Heero and Duo had two beds in their room, Wufei thought with a sigh...of relief. They weren't sleeping together.

*Yet*.

Shut up!

*Touchy.*

He carried Duo to the side he assumed was his. There were thick books strewn everywhere, most open and lying face down. He pulled back the dark comforter, and similarly dark sheets and carefully deposited Duo down on the bed. He watched the boy roll onto his stomach, bringing one arm to rest under his head, and one leg to waist level. Then he shifted, rolling onto his side and bringing both knees to his trunk one hand to finger the end of his braid. His face was a mask of sweet perfection, his dark lashes hoovered above porcelain cheeks. So beautiful... too beautiful to resist, and Wufei couldn't help but stare at the self titled marvel, Duo Maxwell.

*You know you want to.*

I know I want to what?

*Kiss him.*

No! That would be dishonorable, an injustice! One cannot kiss someone without having that someone's permission to do so.

*He'd never know.*

I would know.

*You want to taste him.*

So?

*You know you want to.*

Gods he did! He did.... He tried backing away from the bed, but the temptation was just too great to turn away from it. Duo would be none the wiser, and Heero would be downstairs for at least an hour. No one would have to know, but him. He could live with the knowledge, he was sure of it. He slowly leaned over the bed, hoovering over the small form. Leisurely, prudently, lovingly, he pressed a timid kiss against the soft cheek, then slowly moved to meet the full lips. He hesitated less than a second on their honey touch, before pulling away. The dark eyelashes fluttered, and Wufei felt his heart leap into his throat, "Heero?" His delicate dark haired angel whispered, and his heart fell. He hadn't wanted to be caught, but he hadn't wanted his affection to be attributed to Heero either even if it meant he'd keep his head attached to his shoulders. He sighed lightly, "No, not Heero."

Quickly he slipped from the room shutting off the light before Duo had the chance to fully wake at the strange reply to his question. He ran to his room in a daze his mind laughing at him all the way.

*Coward.*

I know.

*Unjustifiable coward.*

I know!

*But...he sure tasted good, didn't he?*

Absolutely delicious.

No, no! What was he doing? What in the hell was he thinking? Heero was his friend, Duo was his friend... He couldn't have Maxwell, not just then, not while he found his solace in Yuy's arms.

*But wasn't he in your arms tonight?*

Only because Yuy handed him over.

*Hmm...he doesn't sound very responsible does he?*

Hmm.

*He should be more careful with his things.*

Wufei shook the voice from his head, Shut up, he told it tersely. He locked the door to his room and lie down on his back on his bed. When he shut his eyes he found all he could see was himself planting his lips over Duo's...the forbidden kiss. The smile it brought to his lips disgusted him. Chang, you are stronger than that!

He sat up in bed, knowing that sleep would not be an easy commodity to come by right then. He needed something to keep himself occupied, and off of Maxwell. His eyes fell on the stack of disks Duo had copied and given to him that he'd requested. The disks held the files of their mysterious charges, that Wufei had yet to read all of. He'd only read files for Ryo and Kento, and was in the middle of Rowen's. Tonight he would finish them, and maybe his dreams would be of their warriors, instead of dancing long haired fairies with lavender eyes.



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Cye tucked the plain light blue t-shirt into his blue jeans, and studied his reflection in the mirror. He was still the same old skinny Cye...with long hair. He ran his hands over the length in silent contemplation. Should he keep it this way. He'd brushed his hair, letting some of it fall forward into the style he was most familiar with, and had trimmed it a bit so he could see through the bangs he'd given himself. He was still wary about relieving himself of the length. As he studied himself further, and moved his head this way and that, he decided he rather liked the shoulder length spill of autumn flavored hair that floated about his face. He would keep it for the time being.

He went to his bed and perched at its end staring through his open window at the horizon. He saw nothing but trees and hills from his view point, the tranquility of the view helped calm him as he waited for one of the boys he'd met the previous night to appear

After he'd pretty much cried himself to sleep, he'd awoken with a slight headache, and a longing to move about. He'd been freed of his IV and monitors during the night while he'd been asleep. He took a shower and washed his hair, brushed his teeth, and felt his face for stubble. He sighed when he felt none... it was so disappointing to believe that after all of those years he still hadn't managed to grow anything in semblance to a beard. Not that he wanted one, but he wanted to shave. The act of shaving had always intrigued him when he was younger, and his father...when he'd been alive, had always let Cye lather up with him, and had given him a razor with no blade to let him pretend to shave alongside him.

Damn, Cye wanted stubble. He stared at the television mounted on the wall in front of his bed. Did he dare turn it on? He wondered what kind of shows they would have on? He lifted the remote turning on the television. A talk show of some sort was on, and they were discussing cross dressing bar tenders and the women who loved them. He chuckled to himself, TV hadn't changed much. He flipped through the channels with a pleasant sense of familiarity drifting over him. He stopped on a Discovery channel showing a documentary on killer whales. There were still killer whales, how about that!

"Everybody likes donuts Quatre! You're the only weirdo I know that doesn't drool at the sight of a nice sugary glazed donut!"

"They're not healthy! He just got off an IV. He hasn't had solid food...ever. You can't give him donuts!"

"Who said they were for him?"

"What?"

"I got him this.... these are mine."

"ALL of them?"

"Well I was gonna share with you, but you said donuts were an unhealthy..."

"Does Heero know you're stuffing your face with sugar this early in the morning. He may want to hide, you're going to be off the walls!"

"I'm always off the walls Quat!"

Cye turned off the television, the conversation going on outside of his room was much more interesting to listen to anyway. There was a knock, "Come in!"

He smiled at Quatre and Duo as they entered, Duo holding a rectangular white box with a cartoon logo, and a small white paper bag sitting on top of it. "I heard you guys before you knocked."

"Blame Duo, he never learned how to speak softly."

"Oi Quatre! He said he heard 'you guys,' meaning he heard more than one voice... And seeing that I wasn't talking to myself and having myself talk back..."

Quatre grabbed the middle of Duo's braid and gave it a light tug, before turning to Cye with a smile, "Good morning Cye. How are you feeling? I see you're up and dressed." His blue eyes shone as he stared at the light blue tennis shoes on Cye's feet. Cye felt a trifle confused at the elation he felt emitting from the blond.

"Yes, I was feeling a little anxious...and well, you told me I could see the others."

"Yes," Quatre nodded. He gazed at his watch, "Duo and I have an hour to spend with you, and we can go see everyone. I'm not sure how long you'd like to linger in each room, but Duo has an appointment with Dr. Po on the second floor, so after I leave he'll still be around if you need anything. And then Trowa will be here around noon, and Heero shortly after, and oh...I didn't get a chance to talk to Wufei, so I don't know when he'll come. Duo and I will be back in the afternoon, perhaps Wufei will join us."

Cye stared at Quatre, amused at how organized the little blond was, then frowned, "An appointment?" He spied the brown haired pixie that had joined him on his bed once again, and was currently stuffing his face with chocolate iced donuts. He looked the picture of perfect health to Cye.

"Oh..." Quatre for once looked at a loss, and he felt vaguely troubled.

"What is it?" Cye questioned, concerned. He looked at Duo again, trying to see if he'd overlooked something in his assumption that Duo was perfectly healthy.

"Eh...Sally worries too much," Duo grumbled selecting another assorted donut from the box. He gazed up at Cye, his purple eyes widening a bit in surprise to find him studying him. "Oh...Geez... I got you some orange, the real kind. I know they try to pawn off that frozen stuff on people in this place, yuck."

Cye took the small icy carton of juice slowly, "Um..."

"Uh....I kinda dropped the straw in the parking lot. It fell out of the bag, and it was either that straw or my jelly donut..."

Cye blinked, "If I'm not mistaken that is a box of 24 donuts.... I see more than half gone. You ate all of those donuts?"

"And, am planning on eating the rest as well old chap," Duo chuckled licking strawberry icing from his lips. "Hope you didn't want any."

Cye shook his head, "That's ok... thank you for the juice."

"You're welcome. I'd have gotten you coffee, but Quatre said you might not appreciate that as much as a nice healthy carton of juice."

"I don't know how well your stomach will take to coffee...or that juice I'm afraid. It might be too sweet, but you do have to start somewhere. Duo and I didn't tell the nurse we were bringing you anything, so do take it slow. If you get sick we could get into some trouble."

Duo snorted, "Oh like anyone would gripe at you Mr. Winner, they'll just assume I did it. I'm the demon child."

"And you wouldn't have it any other way would you?" Cye glanced at Duo with a light smile of fondness. Duo had made himself comfortable against his pillows and pulled out his tray table for his donuts.

"Nope," Duo agreed, mouth full. "Do those pants fit ok? I kind guessed on the size."

"My pants," Cye was opening the carton of orange juice. He hadn't once thought about food since he'd awakened, and he still wasn't hungry, but the frosty carton was tempting. He sipped at the juice cautiously, eyes widening at the sweet flavor. He grimaced as he forced himself to swallow the concoction and set it on the tray table. "They fit just fine. You bought them for me?"

Duo nodded, "Yeah, figured you'd want some real clothes instead of flashing your ass around the hospital." He gazed at the orange juice, "Too sweet?"

Cye nodded, "Perhaps I should start off with something like milk...or tea?"

"Tea would be excellent, why didn't I think of tea....DUO!"

Cye and Quatre stared as Duo grabbed the discarded orange juice and began to gulp it down. "What? He wasn't going to drink it."

Quatre rolled his eyes, and came to the bed, "Are you ready to see them Cye?"

Cye nodded, yes he was. He wondered what they would look like. He hadn't changed, except for his hair... would they all have long hair? Kento with long hair! He felt his face breaking into a smile, and Quare took both his hands pulling him from the bed. "How do you feel standing? Weak, shaky?"

"No, I'm ok," Cye assured him. "I feel....energized. Is this normal?"

"Well Dr. Mia had muscle stimulants in those capsules with you," Duo said finishing off the last of the orange juice.

Cye shuddered as he realized once again that he had spent all of his life in a cold tube with no human interaction. No, no...he forced himself to remember his old life, that was him. He was Cye Mouri. He had no memories of being in any capsule, so he'd just pretend it never happened. This was another adventure brought on by the armor, and that was all.

"Well come on guys," Quatre said shutting Duo's donut box on his hands. "Hey!"

"You've had enough," Quatre said sternly. "Sally's going to put you on a diet!"

"A diet! Oh come on Quat, that would just be cruelty. I weight 98 pounds."

"And all 98 of those pounds is sugar, grease, and caffeine!"

"So?" Duo quirked, sliding off the bed to stand beside Cye, and Cye blinked at just how short he actually was. Both Quatre and Duo were half a head shorter than he was. He felt like a giant in their wake. "How old are you? I'm sorry, I never asked."

Quatre grinned, "We're 16 like you, but I'll be 17 in a few months."

Duo shrugged, "I don't actually know my birthday, so I'm just gonna say I'm 17 at the end of this year."

"You don't know your birthday? How is that?"

Duo shrugged again, and pulled his braid over his shoulder to play with his hair, "I'm an orphan. Don't know when I was born, or by whom. Didn't even get a name til I was about 8."

Cye raised an eyebrow...Duo felt layered...that was the only word for him. He could tell he was troubled, but it was buried underneath so many other emotions, with pretty wrapping paper and a bow tied over it. "You don't like to talk about yourself much," he stated softly. "I understand."

Duo gave a short laugh, "Well come on, lets go see your friends. I bet they'll be happy to hear your voice, might wake them up faster."

"All you have to do to wake Kento up is wave one of those donuts under his nose," Cye quipped, and was pleased when Quatre and Duo laughed genuinely at his joke.

"Can we try it Quatre?" Duo asked batting his large eyes and laughing when Quatre pushed him playfully and grabbed hold of his shoulders to lead him out of the room, "No, cause you'll end up eating it, and I said no more donuts for you."

"Oh Cye, in case you haven't figured it out already, Quat thinks he's our mommy, so beware. I swear one time he tried to send me to my room without dinner."

Quatre rolled his eyes, "When you live with this guy, and see what he does on a normal basis you will understand."

Cye chuckled, and he stepped into the hallway after Duo and Quatre looking around cautiously. There were a few nurses and orderlies bustling about, two doctors talking amongst themselves. No one seemed to be paying him much attention, but he still felt self conscious. "You know, my friends sometimes refer to me as Mama Cye."

"Oh no..." Duo grumbled, " two of them. Good thing Heero stopped with the Mama bit, or I'd throw myself out a third story window."

"You've thrown yourself out of higher windows than that, is Shinigami losing his edge?" Quatre teased.

Shinigami? Why would Quatre refer to Duo as the God of Death? "No Shinigami is still as sharp as ever, just ask Heero." He grinned wickedly, and cackled at Quatre's blush.

Cye walked beside the two bantering boys silently, they stopped him in front of room 420, "This is Rowen's room."

Cye nodded, and waited for Quatre to open the door and step inside first, before following with Duo on his heels. The wall had star charts on it, and a book set on the table beside the bed with a bookmark wedged a fourth of the way through.

"You and Duo certainly did your homework," Cye moved towards the bed to peer down at his sleeping friend. Rowen looked...the same. His skin was still handsome and smooth, his hair still blue...though it was brushed away from his face, and....and long like his. He slept pacifically, his face relaxed.

"Rowen," he whispered touching his face delicately, "Oh Rowen.." His chest tightened as it hit him just how much he missed the presence of the others. Rowen, I need your cool wit and intelligence.

Duo plopped down in a chair beside the bed next to the book, "I've been reading to him every time I've come in. I read in his personal files that he likes mystery novels, and it just so happens I have a ready supply."

Cye grinned at the braided boy, "He does, he'll stay up late into the night reading them. Drives Sage crazy, cause he likes to go to bed early, and Rowen keeps the lamp on to read. Then he'll sleep all day if you let him, rising by noon on his own. We take turns waking him on school days. On the weekends no one bothers, well except Sage. He hates to see someone sleep all day.

Duo snorted, "Hmm sounds vaguely familiar."

"Heero and Duo, though no one but Heero is brave enough to attempt to wake this brat. He kicks, and one time...he bit me!"

"You tried to take my blankets," Duo defended himself.

"Rowen could sleep through a bombing," Cye snorted now touching his friend's hair, "Does everyone have long hair like this?"

Quatre nodded.

"Oh Kento is going to have kittens," Cye laughed. "I rather like mine though, what do you guys think? Should cut it?"

"No, in fact, you should let me braid it," Duo suggested with an innocent smile that Cye backed away from.

Quatre laughed heartily, "It was all we could do to keep him from braiding your hair in your sleep."

"You act like it's a crime to share keen fashion secrets," Duo turned his nose up in the air managing to look snooty. Both Quatre and Cye chuckled, "Kento and Rowen are gonna love you."

"Only Kento and Rowen?"

"Oh Ryo and Sage will love you too, but Kento and Rowen will fully appreciate your humor."

"Finally I'll have someone who fully appreciates my endeavors," Duo continued to look haughty, then he smacked his lips. "I want the rest of those donuts..."

"You've had enough!" Quatre said. He checked his watch, "Cye did you want to stay a bit longer and speak with him, or did you want to move on?"

"How much longer do you have?" Cye wondered. He looked guiltily at Rowen. He probably should stay and speak with him more, but he was excited to see the others, and he also felt a little nervous at the thought of walking through the corridors without Quatre and Duo.

"We have about 40 minutes," Quatre said, "but don't let us rush you."

Cye chewed at his nails, "I want to see the others. I can come back later to talk with them all. I want to see Kento with long hair!"

The next room they visited was Kento's, then they'd gone on to Ryo. Cye had laughed at the sight of a long haired, skinny Kento, and marveled at how Ryo looked exactly the same...even the hair was the same length as it had been.

Sage was last. The blond, unlike the others, slept on his side, long golden hair partially obscured his face. Quatre frowned at his position, "He moved."

"Yeah, he was on his back before," Duo agreed.

Cye brushed the silken hair behind Sage's ear too fully view his face, "Sage never was one to sleep on his back." If anything the Warrior of Light had become even more beautiful. The sunlight played tricks on his form making him seem like a precious stone polished and set carefully. "He's going to want a hair cut when he wakes up, I already know it."

"Why?" Duo looked disappointed.

"He'll claim he looks like a girl."

Quatre gazed down at Sage, "He is beautiful, and I can see why someone could make the mistake."

"His parents used to dress him as a girl when he was really young."

"What?" Duo laughed, "Why?"

"He was a sickly little boy, and his parents for some odd reason thought society would go easier on a girl. They stopped when he got to be 4, thank goodness. But his sister Yayoi, she used to dress him up and have him be her own personal baby doll. She put the fear of girls into him, and he stutters when approached by teenage girls."

"Poor boy," Duo was chuckling, joined by Quatre.

"My sisters never did anything like that to me," Quatre commented.

"You have sisters?" Cye asked.

"Oh yeah, 29 of them," Duo smirked. "Lets see...there's Fatima, Jaffa..."

"Don't try to name them all, you'll never make it," Quatre warned.

"Twenty-nine?" Cye's eyes bugged out of his head.

"Yes, but I never had the privilege of living with or even knowing most of them," Quatre said sadly. "A lot of them are much older than me, I'm the youngest."

"And the only boy, so he's the heir to the lucrative Winner fortune," Duo said in bravado tones.

"Winner fortune? Quatre?"

"Duo, can you ever be subtle about anything? Perhaps I wanted to tell him myself of my background."

"Eh, he was going to wait until it was time for us to bring you home and have your eyes bug out when you saw the manor."

"Duo..." Quatre complained.

"Mia had a manor," Cye said with a slight shrug. "If you're embarrassed or nervous about how the others or I will react to you being wealthy, don't worry. Mia was heir to a large fortune as well. She spared no expenses on us. It did take some time for some of us to accept her hospitality and lavish gifts, but you won't have to worry about anyone being uncomfortable."

Duo looked at Cye with a small frown, "You know it just occurred to me that we know so much about you from your files and just talking to you now, but you literally know nothing about us. It's not really fair, is it? And yet you trust us, and are willingly accepting that in a few days you will be living in our home."

"I can feel that you are good people, and you care about me. Without you...where would I go?" Cye gave a suspiration, "I need you."

Quatre sighed, "We don't want you to feel trapped Cye. There are plenty of other options for you to look into besides the ones that involve us."

Cye was shaking his head, he'd offended the blond. He could feel hurt radiating from his small frame, "No, I've said that all wrong. I don't mean to tell you I feel like I have no other resort, and that I would go elsewhere if I could. I appreciate you, and what you've done...and right now I need help to get acquainted with my new environment, and I'm grateful that you are going to be the ones to guide me."

He stifled a gasp of surprise as Quatre crushed himself against him in a tight hug, "You mean that? We've been so nervous about how you were all going to take to us. I had nightmares about you finding us horrible, and hating us."

Duo snorted, "Quatre has nightmares about the mailman finding him horrible, and hating him for accidentally not putting up the red flag on the mail box to let him know he has a pick up before he starts putting new mail in."

Cye chuckled, and stroked Quatre's hair...it felt like cat's fur, dainty and soft. Quatre pulled away and smiled up at him, the sparkle in his blue eyes made Cye's stomach leap. Wh...what was this? He stepped back as Quatre released him to try to compose himself. He prayed that his shields were up, and Quatre couldn't feel the odd sensation that had coursed through him. He felt the warmth still on his body where Quatre had touched him, and his vanilla scent lingered under his nose.

Was he attracted to the petite blond? He was certainly handsome with his feathery blond hair, and aquamarine eyes, and his face sculpted as finely as a carved angel. But... He swallowed, he felt like a young girl with a crush, silly and full of giggles.

"Uh, oh, I'm afraid our time is up," Quatre was saying, now gazing at his watch. "I've got a Microbiology lab...and Duo..."

"Yeah, yeah," Duo grumbled pulling himself up from the chair he was slouched in.

"We'll walk you back to your room Cye. If that is where you want to go? Perhaps you want to walk around a bit more, or linger with your friends?"

"Or he can walk me to the second floor, and wait for me to be done. Then we can find out what the hell you can eat, and go to the cafeteria."

"Duo you have class after your appointment. You've only been pardoned for two periods."

Duo lifted an eyebrow, "Organic Chemistry, Quat? I could miss the whole semester, waltz in the class for the final exam and ace it like I've been there everyday taking notes. It's not hard enough, and it's wasting my time. I'm sure Cye would rather have my company."

"Your attendance record looks like Swiss cheese."

Duo beamed proudly.

Quatre sighed loudly at Duo's expression, tossing his hands up into the air, "I give up! Cye, take care today, don't over do anything. I'll be back later in the evening to visit."

The small blond left, leaving Cye alone with the grinning dark haired pixie standing beside him. "So Cye...what do you want to do?"

"I want to see you getting to the doctor, and then getting to class on time, "Cye said raising an eyebrow, a superior expression on his face, that made Duo's grin slide off. His lavender eyes studied Cye's face a moment before his shoulders slumped, "Great...another Quatre."













Cye sat in Kento's room brushing his ash shaded hair humming to himself. He'd had a nice liquid lunch, which was surprisingly tasty with Trowa, played cards with Heero, sat in with Duo as he read from a mystery novel to Rowen, and spent time talking to Quatre. The only person he hadn't seen that day was Wufei. The Chinese teen was a mystery to him, and he had the feeling he wasn't fully supportive of Cye and his friends about to invade his home. Cye absently set the brush down as he recalled Dr. Po's words, she'd told him once they tried him on solid foods and he kept them down ok, and his body went through a normal process of waste disposal, he would be released. He wasn't sure if he wanted to move into Quatre's home without his friends. Was it because he didn't want to leave their sides, or was it simply because he was nervous about entering such a strange inhabited environment alone. Quatre, Duo, Heero, and Trowa were nice, very nice, and Cye liked them all very much, but he still felt uncomfortable in the prospect of living with them...alone. Being a friend, and living with a friend, were two different battlefields. But Cye supposed if he could live with his fellow Warriors for a few years, he could live with Quatre, Heero, Duo, Trowa, and Wufei as well.

He leaned back in the chair he sat in, drifting into a light sleep, when he was startled awake by a strange feeling...it felt like a light behind turned on in his mind, and he felt a strange tingling.... What was....

It was an awakening.... Someone was awake! He felt another tugging.... it wasn't just one person waking up, but two. Gods, it's happening. His eyes flew to Kento who still lay immobile, mind wrapped in the blankets of sleep. Not Kento... he felt around in the web tugging at the delicate strings binding them together to feel...

*Rowen? Rowen is that you?*

Blue, the light was dark blue and vibrant. *Rowen?*

*Cye?*

*Ryo?*

The second active string was ablaze with a passionate red flame.

*What....?*

*Cye? Ryo?*

*Rowen!*

*What...? Where...? Dreamer.... My gods.... Where's...*

Cye bolted from his seat, nearly knocking the chair open as he ran from Kento's room. He pushed passed the doctors moving towards his friends' rooms, and threw himself inside Rowen's room begging Ryo to be ok while he tended to the blue haired samurai. The panic emanating from Rowen in the web was overwhelming, and Cye had to calm him. It appeared Rowen's memory was fully intact, and needed no one to tell as story to jog the last remnants of what had extinguished his life for him.

"Rowen!" The boy was trying to sit up, and gasping at the IV in his arm. His wild eyes locked on Cye, "Cye!.... Sage? Where's my Dreamer? He was...and he.... Are we in a hospital? Is he here? I can't feel him, Cye!"

"Rowen, please calm down..." Cye pleaded rushing to the bed, and helping the boy to sit. He wrapped his arms around Rowen's thin trembling frame and stroked his long hair. "Sage is fine, Ro...he's here. He's in the next room, and he's sleeping."

"Kento?"

"He's sleeping too."

"I feel Ryo...he's....he's nervous... Why?"

"He just woke up. Just like you....but he's all alone. I ran in here to calm you down first," Cye soothed. "You're ok, we're all ok. We're in a hospital...and....some time has passed, since the last time you remember. Why don't you lie back down, and let the doctors take a look at you, while I go talk to Ryo, ok? I'll be right back."

Rowen's dark blue eyes slowly lost their irate look of panic, and sobered greatly. He nodded, and laid back obediently. He frowned at Cye, "Your hair..."

"I know...." Cye fingered Rowen's long tresses, raising a few strands for Rowen's eyes to see. He smiled as his friend's eyes grew large at seeing the length. "I have so much to tell you...and some people you are going to have to meet. I'll be back in a little while, Ro. Just stay cool, as I know you can and will."

Cye stood and backed out of the room, smiling politely at the flabbergasted doctors who stood by. He quickly made his way to Ryo's room. Dr. Po was leaning over Ryo, answering questions in a low voice. "Ryo?"

Ryo's dark head turned to face Cye. He was already sitting up. His tiger blue eyes assessed Cye warmly, "Cye... you're ok."

"Yes, I am, and so is everyone else."

"Rowen?"

"He's calm now. He just panicked a bit at waking up in a hospital."

Ryo nodded, "Always was a chicken when it came to doctors." He frowned at Cye, "The doctor won't tell me how we got here Cye. I don't remember getting hurt. You'll have to tell me what happened. Sage and Kento?"

"Sleeping."

"But they feel so...empty."

Cye approached the bed slowly, "Yes... we have a lot to talk about, and like I told Rowen before, some people you two are going to have to meet."

"People?"

"Yes, you'll like them."

"Cye?" Ryo's face was troubled, "Something really bad happened, didn't it?"

Cye was quiet, and Ryo's mood darkened slightly, his eyes studied Cye further, and quietly he gasped, "Your hair..."

"We've been asleep a long time Ryo."

"How long?"

"You need to let Dr. Po finish checking you over..."

"How long?" Ryo pressed narrowing his eyes at Cye and continuing to ignore the blond woman doctor who looked extremely uncomfortable standing in the midst of the conversation. He watched Cye swallow convulsively, and noticed the defeated slump of his shoulders, "Cye?"

"Over a century Ryo...we've been asleep for over a century."

Ryo only had time to gape dumbly at Cye for a second, before his world turned black.







*Author's Note: So....did you like it, hate it, don't hold any malice toward it but it did nothing for you? Let me know :). Thanks for all the reviews I've been receiving and I would love to hear more! Take care!*