**Author's Note: Hey, sorry for taking so long with this. I just couldn't figure out what I wanted to do next, lol. This chapter is very long, and I think the next chapter may be longer. I have already started on it. I almost thought I could finish that one and put them both up today in fact....but Chapter 8 won't be ready until sometime mid-next week. I hope you guys like this chapter, please read and review. Thank you for everyone who's been consistent in reviewing me, I appreciate every one of your critiques :) Take care and enjoy!**

iDISCLAIMER: I wish I had come up with freakin' Gundams...I'd be rich! I mean think about it, everything that uses big fighting robots came from the original Gundam idea and has to pay royalties. I would be getting paid by Transformers, Power Rangers, Exosquad, Techno Man, Escaflowne, Mighty Max, I could go on. Now I did come up with Ronin Warriors, but these evil people stole the idea from me while I was still drawing out the cartoon... **You guys ain't buying this are you?** (I'll shut up now). i



Chapter 7



Quatre lie awake in bed that night listening to Trowa's even breathing replaying Ryo's reaction out in his head. Surely he hadn't been expecting for all of them to accept them openly right away. He did prepare himself for rejection...but perhaps he didn't prepare himself enough. It stung.

Being who he was, Quatre was not used to being denied by people. He always got what he wanted. Someone needed to inform Ryo of that, and soon. The door to the room opened with a slight creak, and closed. He frowned slightly as he heard no noise at all, but suddenly felt a small depression on the bed. He pulled back the comforter a bit so Duo could crawl in beside him, between he and Trowa. "Duo," he hissed softly, "you're not supposed to be moving around!"

"Yeah I know..."

"Did you and Heero...?"

"No," Duo said.

Quatre felt Duo shift onto his stomach, and reached to stroke the back of his head, the braid was tight and freshly knotted, still damp from the shower. "You're thinking about Ryo, aren't you?"

"Aren't you?"

"Yeah."

"And I want to talk, but Hee-chan's sleeping, and he's...snoring. I used to think it was cute, but when I'm trying to think, it's not!"

"Heero snores?" Quatre mused.

"Just a little, it's really soft, and he only does it sometimes. I think it's when he sleeps on his back, and he's too heavy to turn him without waking him."

"Are you going to stay in here for the night?"

"No, Heero would be hurt if he caught me creeping out of here in the morning. I mean he knows what I do it for sometimes, when we're not mad at each other, but it still makes him insecure. It's... he..."

"..wants you to come to him when you can't sleep, and you're worried."

"Yeah. He just can't get over the fact that I can crawl into bed with you and Trowa easy, but can't crawl into bed with him without getting fidgety after 15 minutes and begging out. I just can't Quat, it doesn't feel right yet. I really like Heero, a lot, I think I may even be in love with him...but I just can't. Not yet."

Quatre nodded continuing to run his hand over Duo's hair, "Have you told him exactly how you feel?"

Duo sighed, "I tried...but it's so hard to put into words, and he can't understand. He thinks...he thinks, I doubt him, that I think he'll hurt me like...like all the other people I've dated. He understands that I've never been in love before, and that he was the first person I uttered the words to... but...I'm not as sure as he is about this, and he knows. He's getting scared again Quat, and I don't know what else to do to reassure him. I try to confide in him more, like tell him things about my past. He really likes that...but it's little things like...like this, that make him unsure. I just..I can't help it Quat. Sister Helen, Father Maxwell... always taught me it was wrong to share a bed with another whom you feel romantically about until...well marriage. I personally don't see what's wrong with waiting for such a beautiful ceremony as that, but so many others do. In fact, none of my old significant others cared much for my righteous ideals. Heero's different, I know he is. He has to be, Quat. I really, really like him. I...love him. I've told him this, but I never really....You know how you say things. I've always liked him better than anyone I've dated, I've never felt a connection with any of my partners, and with him I do. I told him I love you, because I thought that was what love was...but now I know, it's this. It's what I'm feeling right now. I...I feel...like I'd die if he decided he didn't want to put up with me anymore. He's it Quatre, no more after Heero, so he'd better be the right one."

"Duo, you're being silly. You're not even 17 yet, you can't give up on relationships now. Giving up is for the old and defeated."

"I feel old..." Duo grumbled. "Quat?"

"Hmm?"

"You think Trowa's the one, you know, for you? You think there will be no more after him?"

Quatre started, he'd never thought about that. He loved Trowa so much, but they were still so young, and so many things could still happen. "I.... I'd like to believe so, yes."

"You'd go on after him, to find another?"

"If...if the break up was mutual. Trowa wouldn't want me to be unhappy and alone, and I wouldn't want him to be either. Human beings are comfort seeking creatures, we weren't meant to be alone."

"But how could you move on, if you love him? Love is.... you can't just turn it on and off, can you?"

"No Duo, you can't," Quatre acknowledged.

"Well after he leaves, what if you still love him? You can't love someone else, if you still love him."

"Oh Duo, hearts are large incredible things. You'll be astounded at how many people you can love at once, in so many different ways."

Duo sighed, "It... what if, some hearts are different. Quat, you didn't grow up like me. I don't love and trust easy. There has only been a handful of people I've let in, and most have died. They will never be replaced in my heart, and my heart's only so big. I can't fit much more in here....and when Heero's breaks my heart..."

"Duo, Heero won't break you heart."

"You don't know that Quat, no one does. I'm a real piece of work, and Heero, after what he's gone through, deserves someone easier. Someone like Relena Darlian, she loves him so openly, and she's just awestruck by him. Her love is open book devotion. She'll never make him worry, or fear his feelings."

"Duo, Heero doesn't like Relena, he likes you. Heero is a big strong man, and he can take whatever you got for him, and he's ready to. He loves you, Duo, he has for a long time. I've seen it, Trowa has seen it. I bet you don't know this," Quatre giggled devilishly then, "Heck, Heero doesn't even know this, but aboard the Peacemillion, when he and Wufei first joined us... he, of course, ran a diagnostic on Wing Zero, but I saw him do one on Deathscythe Hell too, and he spent more time checking on your systems than his own. Then there was the little issue of Hilde... I kept thinking he was going to throw her out one of the port holes when she arrived on the ship, hospital bed and all, he was so jealous. Then when you dated her for that little bit, you weren't with us then... but when he heard about it... Lets just say he was very happy when you broke up. Your relationship with Hilde seemed to be the only one he really worried about. I think, he believes her to be the only other person worthy of you. Needless to say, the fact that she has a steady boyfriend now pleases him immensely, but you can't tell me you've never seen the look on his face when she calls for you."

Duo chuckled, "I have....but geez, I didn't know it went back that far!"

"Face it Duo, Heero is crazy about you, and he's crazy enough to still be there for you in the long run."

"You really, really think so Quat?"

"Yeah, I really, really think so, my friend," Quatre smirked. "You feel better now?"

"Mmhmm," Duo purred.

"Good, then maybe you'll both shut up so I can get some sleep," came Trowa's groggy voice.

"Tro-man!" Duo cheered. "Now we don't have to be quiet Quat, he's awake!"

"Hmm, Duo, I don't think he wants to be. Sorry, Trowa."

"Oi!" Duo exclaimed, ignoring Quatre, "Guys! We have to go to mall tomorrow!"

"Why?" Quatre rolled his eyes. Trowa rolled onto his side to face Duo and Quatre, "Cye has been wearing the same thing for two days! Heero told me not to buy too much in case they didn't like it, but he seems to be ok with what I bought. Hey, maybe Sally will let him out, and we can take him to the mall with us! That would be so much fun! Then... we could get ice cream, and..."

"You can't have ice cream," Quatre reminded him.

"Eh... I can have it in moderation, can't I? Like say Heero gets some, and we all know he doesn't like ice cream, so to keep him from wasting a perfectly good delectable frozen delight..."

"No."

"Oh come on, a few bites couldn't hurt!"

"Duo, you're not getting any ice cream, get over it already."

"You guy suck worse than that sour puss, Ryo!" Duo sulked, snuggling further under the covers. "Hey Tro, pass me one of those pillows you got under your head. Oh come on, you got like 3 of them!"

"Duo, don't you have your own bed to sleep in?"

"Yours is more comfortable," Duo murmured. "Move over Quat, you're such a bed hog. If your butt wasn't so big there would be more room for me!"

Quatre kindly refrained from reminding Duo that the bed was made for two people, and seeing that he wasn't one of the original two occupants of the bed, perhaps he should leave.

After several more strenuous minutes of rustling, tossing, turning, and twisting, "Are you quite comfortable now, Duo-chan?"

"Aa," Duo said.

"Good, now I can finally get back to sleep," Trowa grumbled. "Goodnight."

"Geez, grouchy!" Duo huffed. "I don't see how you sleep with him Quat."

"Goodnight Duo," Quatre said fighting back a snicker.

The room was silent for exactly 2 minutes, then, "Oi! It sure is dark in here!"

"Duo go to sleep!"

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How could you Mia, how could you? How could you think that it was your mistake? Ryo was pacing around the small hospital quarters. He'd found the jeans and t-shirt, and sneakers, left for him in the small closet and put them on.

Mia had lived out her life believing she was the one that had led them to their deaths...she even died trying to correct the mistake that hadn't been hers, but his. He was the one. Sage had warned him... Cye had warned him...

They'd all died, and he had been the last...the one to see all of their lifeless bodies. He'd been the one to close Cye's eyes, to clear the rubble away from Kento so his body could be found later. He'd watched Rowen's dead form fall from Sage's arms, he'd carried Sage and watched him take his last breath.

And now here he was again, alive and probably going to have to make the same decisions he'd had to make in his previous life. In fact according to his friends, the life he'd lead before wasn't to be thought of as a previous life for this new life was simply an extension of the other. It did really seem as if someone pressed pause on his life, and had just then returned to their television set. It was uncanny, and scary, and Ryo didn't want to have to deal with it. Why did he have to return?

He supposed the new world may have been more captivating to him, if he didn't know he would have to lead his friends into battle again. He sighed as he tried to ignore the continuous pull of the Armor of Wildfire. Reach out to me, it called, I'm here.

He wondered if the pull was as strong with the others as it was with him. Were their armors calling out to them as well to be found. Ryo knew the moment he answer the call, the yoroi of Wildfire would appear to him. He didn't want it. He would let it drive him insane with its hails before he accepted that damn thing again. The warrior in him had died along with his old body. If witchcraft wanted to keep him around, fine, but it would not dictate his life as it had in the past.

He plopped down on the bed, and stared out of the window he'd opened to let in fresh air from outdoors. It was a beautiful day, the sun shining brightly, the lush green scenery inviting. He was tempted to simply climb out the window and swing down the ledge into the tree not too far from his window. He could escape this place so easily, but his better sense, that he ignored a lot of the time, told him to stay put. He was in a new body, one that had been asleep for a very long time, and never used. He needed to know if it was functioning properly before he stepped into his new world. For right now, he needed the hospital with its doctors, and he.... he shut his eyes briefly, guilt gnawing at his insides, he needed his friends. He needed to be sure they were all ok.

He'd been horrible to Cye, and well...Rowen got what he asked for. He was always baiting Ryo, and trying to say things to upset him. Like when he asked a simple question about Sage. Ryo chewed on his lower lip as he thought of the gorgeous grey-eyed blond. He imagined him outdoors, sitting in the middle of a circle of trees, the brook nearby, playing his bamboo flute, or meditating, or simply lying flat on his back staring up at the clouds. Sometimes, Ryo had joined him on his morning outings. Rowen was too lazy to awaken before noon, and missed out on the part of the day Sage treasured most. How could Rowen claim to care for Sage, to love him so much, and had never even seen the Sage of morning. Rowen couldn't know or fully appreciate how beautiful he was, until he'd seen the shimmer in his hair in the first rays of dawn, or until he'd seen the peace and serenity of his expression as he sat in lotus position deep in thought set aglow by the beginning of the new day. Rowen didn't deserve what he was too lazy to study, to know, to be enchanted by.

Thinking of Sage had made the false life spawned by magic and science worth living to Ryo. He had another chance to walk with him, to touch him, to have him. This time around, he would get to Sage before Rowen. This time, Sage would love him, and look at him with the amour he bestowed upon Rowen. Rowen didn't deserve that, he never deserved it. He had taken advantage of Sage when he'd needed a shoulder to cry on, a true friend to take care of him. Instead of counseling him, and talking to the others and getting their support, he'd seduced him. Before Ryo knew it, Rowen and Sage were an item...giving it a try, they said. He'd been outraged when Kento and Cye had applauded them happily and encouraged them to pursue each other. Could only he see the deceit that had went on behind their backs? Sage was confused, he didn't know what he wanted or needed, and Rowen manipulated that! He'd... poisoned him. Sage was so good, so pure, still so innocent, having been raised by such a traditional old fashioned family where morals, ethics, and manners were key elements in their upbringing. He was trusting of his friends, and so naive when it came to relationships. Ryo remembered shielding him more than once from unwanted advances from girls in their high school class. He'd giggled at how the blond grew nervous in the presence of the opposite sex. How could Rowen abuse him in that way? And if he had his way...Ryo thought back to the argument they'd begun when he'd first woken up and Rowen had come in and sat on his bed, he'd do it all over again. Arrogant prick, still smug as ever. He thought he was so smart...well he'd find out this time it was going to take more than that big brain of his to get the best of Ryo.

Of course that meant he would have to stay. If Cye stayed and Rowen stayed, Kento would stay, as would Sage... so he would have to apologize to those... people who'd come in. He frowned again as guilt bit down on his gut, hard. He recalled the looks on the faces of the 3 boys who'd come to see him, and told him about how much they'd helped him. He'd been horrible to them. He'd taken his anger at his unending destiny of violence out on them. He wouldn't be surprised if they hated him, and refused to help him any further. He'd seen the hateful look in the dark eyes of the boy who'd yelled at him for insulting his friends' hospitality. He'd seen the hurt in the angel-faced blond's eyes. The tall one with the green eyes looked impassive, so he couldn't tell what he'd been thinking.

He couldn't imagine any of them ever coming back to his room to speak with him, so he knew he'd have to see them again through Cye... or Rowen. He moved from the window, perhaps he'd go find Cye right then. He had nothing better to do. The doctor, Dr. Po, had told him he wouldn't be released until he demonstrated he could handle solid food. He was still on a liquid diet as of late. Cye had been awake a few days, he wondered if he would be leaving them soon.

He was just about to open the door to his room to step into the corridor when he felt a minor disturbance in the web. It was a slight ripple that came from neither Cye, nor Rowen. He frowned as the rippling stopped.

*Sage? Kento?* He tried, but received nothing from the two sleepers.

What in the hell had that been?

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Rowen jumped. He'd moved again. "Dreamer?" He questioned, setting down the hairbrush he was using to smooth Sage's hair. He lie a hand on the side of the blond's face, "It's Rowen, Galileo." He sighed as he felt nothing but a small tremor in the web. "I can feel you trying Sage... please wake up, I need you."

He and Cye had been feeling light stirring from Sage all morning, and he'd readjust his position occasionally, but his eyelids never flickered. If anything, he seemed to slide back into a deeper sleep.

Rowen placed a gentle kiss on his forehead, *Can you feel that?* he asked him. He slouched back in his chair vaguely expecting an answer. He played with the ponytail holder he'd pulled from his own long hair. Trowa had brought 5 packages of multicolored hair bands when he'd visited earlier that morning. Rowen smiled, their benefactors came around in shifts checking on them all, talking to the ones still asleep, and making sure Cye and Rowen had all that they needed while they stayed in the hospital. Cye was a day away from being released from the hospital actually. He was keeping down solid foods and using the lavatory properly. He was actually contemplating venturing out with the 5 other boys, and seeing their home before the rest of them. Rowen felt a little wary about that...living with 5 strangers...in an even stranger place. He had no where else to go, though, and he did want to learn more about their situation from a scientific vantage point. The pretty little one with the long hair trailing past his butt, Duo, would be most helpful and could get him access to a laboratory his late father would have drooled over. He smirked thinking about his dear old Dad. He would be positively green with envy if he could see where his son was now. He thought about his forgetful parents then, and realized he felt nothing along the lines of grief, just curiosity. How had they reacted when they found out he was dead? Did they care? Did they take off work to come and see his remains? Had they given him a funeral, or had Mia made the arrangements for him? He hoped they came, he hoped they grieved, and wished they were miserable and dreaded not spending time with their son; he hoped guilt ate at their souls for ignoring him. He had been a good child, smart, always receiving academic achievement awards, but always bringing them home to an empty apartment. He never received any encouragement, hugs, kisses, or just plain looks of acknowledgment from his parents because they were never around to give them. He remembered spending time with Sage's family and marveling at how the Date's doted on their children, with Cye's family, and envied the way Cye's mother called him pet names and cooed over everything he did, he even wanted the swats at the behind Kento would get for swiping cooling sweets off of Mama Fuan's window sill. In a way, he was an orphan... just like Ryo, even though at one point in time in Ryo's life, he'd had people to love him too.

He stiffened thinking about Ryo, he loved the boy like a brother, but he really knew how to piss a body off. He'd behaved heinously in front of their new friends, been awful to Cye and himself, and on top of it all... He still planned to pursue his Sage, even after it was made clear to him that the blond was STILL marked territory.

It still burned to remember how flavorlessly Ryo had tried to put himself between he and Sage. He couldn't respect Sage's choice, he'd rather assume Rowen had put some sort of a spell on him. He remembered their last argument like it was yesterday, mainly because it felt like he had been yesterday... his last memories. He shuddered, though he hadn't acted like it before, it did bother him to be hundreds of years in the future after dying a violent death at the wrong time. It scared him to think that he was going to have to fight again, and maybe even die again. Would the Fates, he wondered, keep bringing them back if they died without killing whatever it was they needed to? He didn't want to live lifetime, after lifetime to fight battles, while still caught in the throes of memories full of death and destruction from a previous life. Why couldn't this new life be an apology for making their lives so miserable before?

Because, nothing worked that way for him. He'd never have such good luck. The best thing he had was lying right there, sleeping peacefully while he watched over him.

*Please Sage, it's time to wake up. I need you.*

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"I really appreciate this Wuffie," Duo placed another shopping bag under one of Wufei's arms. Wufei nodded, bending a bit under the weight of yet another bag of pants and shirts.

"You think I'd be going too far if I got them some belts?" Duo rubbed his chin, and Wufei couldn't help but chuckle at how cute he looked with his sunglasses barely balancing on the top of his head threatening to fall into his face, and his lips pouting as he speculated what else he should buy. "Hm..." he whirled around, long braid swiveling around his compact body in a seductive dance that Wufei swayed to. He set a finely shaped hand on one hip and tilted his head to stare up at the belts dangling from the racks, "Rowen and Sage look like the type to wear belts... and then Rowen said he wanted sunglasses, and it would be cool to have the sunglasses match the belt...and even the shoes. But I'll leave getting shoes to Quatre...unless I just buy something special to complete Rowen's outfit. But Cye might feel left out... Wu-bear? Should I get Cye a whole outfit too?"

Wufei blinked at the mention of his name. He hadn't been listening to a word the long haired boy had said.... he'd been looking at his.... he blushed. "Wu?"

"Um yeah, yeah you should."

"I should what?" Duo tossed a glance over his shoulder.

"Uh..."

Duo huffed slightly, "Oh never mind, I swear you're just as bad as Heero! All you have to do is start grunting!" He pulled down two belts, and marched to the nearest salesperson. The woman was thrilled to say the least to help Duo pick belts against the sample jeans he'd chosen.

Wufei set the bags down for a bit to rest his arms, and watched Duo in action. He just didn't know how picturesque he was, the saleswoman didn't stand a chance, and spoke to Duo, nodding at his choices, with stars in her eyes. Fifteen minutes later, Duo held a plastic bag with his new purchases inside. "On to the Sunglass Hut, Wu-man, then we can grab some lunch."

They had been in the mall all morning. Wufei's morning classes were all canceled, and Duo had been excused for the day on the account of his back problems. Wufei smirked, the boy walking beside him stopping to peer into every store window they passed did not look to be suffering in anyway. Though Wufei was sure to hold all of the large bags of clothing Duo had, and had the boy sit and rest after standing for long periods of time. "Hm, you know Wu... sunglasses are kind of a personal thing. Think Rowen might wanna pick out his own shades?"

"He might."

Duo swung the bag of belts over one shoulder, "You're not just saying that cause you're bored of following me around through shops are you?"

"No, Maxwell," Wufei said. I'd follow you to Hell and back, Duo.

Duo stopped walking to stare at Wufei curiously, "You know... Heero wouldn't have followed me around half as long as you have today. I think you've become my new designated shopping buddy! We should celebrate!" His purple eyes danced, and a large grin decorated his face, "Lets get ice cream!"

"Maxwell, you heard Po, no sweets."

"But the ice cream will be for you!"

"I don't like ice cream, I'm lactose intolerant."

"Wuffie..." Duo pleaded making his eyes large and watery. He brought his hands under his chin with his knuckles clasped together. Wufei was lost the moment he batted those long lashes, he sighed deeply, "Fine, Maxwell, fine, just stop making that face."

"Sugoi!" Duo exclaimed, grabbing one of Wufei's wrist and dragging him towards the food court as he chirped about the different types of ice cream sundaes they could choose.

It was degrading what was happening to him. There he was in a mall, a place full of disgustingly overpriced consumer goods, crowded with mindless superficial twits, being a slave carrying heavy bags for no monetary profit, and being dragged along like a naughty puppy... Nataku would shriek, his clan would disown him...

"Taste this flavor Wuffie, it's my favorite...well, so's this other kind too, oh and that one, but hey it's still good!" A spoon of caramel colored ice cream was held to his lips, and gazing into the large purple eyes beaming at him he opened his mouth and let the spoon slide in. He stared as the beautiful brunette smiled at him enchantingly, and slowly pulled the spoon from his mouth, "You like it?"

"I love it."

Oh, how he was enjoying himself.

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"Quatre, eat," Heero nudged his solemn friend as they ate lunch together in the hospital cafeteria.

The worried blond poked at his cooling meal with his fork. He didn't have much of an appetite...hadn't had one since the previous night. He gazed up into Heero's serious blue eyes and tried to smile, "Sorry Heero." He tucked a small bite of food into his mouth and chewed it slowly. Cye had already eaten lunch, so he and Heero were grabbing a quick bite before running upstairs. Quatre was anxious to see Cye, and Rowen again, but he was petrified about his next encounter with Ryo. Would he still feel as if Quatre and the others were trying to extort him?

"Quatre, starving yourself isn't going to make him be any less stubborn. He'll come around, and apologize eventually, and if he doesn't; then he misses out."

Quatre blinked at Heero, "But Heero... if...if.... What if he does leave? Then the others...they'll go with him!"

"Cye and Rowen said they would stay..."

"They said that last night because they were angry, but Ryo's their leader. If he really wants to go, they're going to follow. Heero, they'll be all alone!"

"That will be their problem then. We can only offer them help and a place to stay, we can't force them to do anything. We all knew that this might happen. That's why Trowa and I have been trying to tell you and Duo not to get so attached."

"Duo and I? Oh Heero, you cannot tell me you're not attached too? Or Trowa, Trowa got a ticket the other day racing to get here right at 10 to play cards with Cye. Heero, you bought them underwear! You don't even buy us underwear!"

Heero flushed, "You never looked as if you needed anymore..."

Quatre actually chuckled then. He sipped his tea still watching his friend, his demeanor lighter. "Believe me, I'm not holding it against you, that you haven't bought me any Hanes."

"Hanes? I don't buy Hanes. I buy Jockey. Hanes always manage to rip at the..." he flushed darker yet, and was quiet.

Quatre nearly choked on his tea as laughed out loud. A few heads turned to stare at the Winner heir, astounded at his lack of manners. Quatre ignored them, and wiped his mouth, his mouth stretched in a wide grin, "Too much information, Heero! Does Duo know all this?"

Heero ducked his head, and Quatre began to cackle again, "Need I ask how?"

"We....were playing. Duo decided to make a game of seeing how many uses we could find for briefs and boxers. We used mine of course, cause his are silk... But we, um, created a new ride for an amusement park...the uh... Hanenator... and you see, we took a pair of my boxers and put Duo inside. He's really small see, and we made a rope out of the briefs, and tied them to the boxers. Then we got on the bed, and I was gonna sling the Hanes rope and we were gonna see if Duo could make it across to his bed.... and uh... well... while he was making it, the rope kinda snapped. We lined the floor all over with pillows, so he was ok when he cleared the bed, but the boxers weren't. Ripped right down the seam...and so did it seem, did the briefs. All in the same place!"

Tears rolled from Quatre's eyes as he imagined Duo fastened into a large pair of white boxers being launched from a chain of tighty-whities that ripped in midair. He saw the wide butt of the white boxers completely airborne with a long brown braid flapping after it. He heard the next rip as Duo crash landed, looking dazed in a pair of freshly made leggings. "What...what possessed you two to do that?"

Heero shrugged, cheeks still flaming, as Quatre didn't even wait for an answer before he started laughing again. Heero was about to shut himself off, he didn't like being laughed at it made him uncomfortable, until Quatre caught his arm. Heero gazed into warm aquamarine eyes, "He brings out the best in you, Heero. Don't scare each other away."

Looking grave, Heero nodded his head at Quatre's words.

"We should go upstairs now."

"Yeah."

The two boys put away their trays and left the cafeteria.

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Ryo waited in his room until the petite blond and serious looking Japanese teen left, before he ventured into the room Cye was currently occupying. "Cye," he spoke entering, and halted at seeing that the room Cye was in belonged to a sleeping Kento, and he not only had Cye's attention, but Rowen's as well.

"Ryo, long time no see," Rowen smirked, he had his hair pulled back in a low neat ponytail, and had trimmed his hair in front to let one long lock fall over his forehead.

"Rowen, hi, I wasn't expecting to meet with you both...at once."

"Hey, look at it this way, if you've come to apologize, now you only have to do it once," Rowen shrugged easily. Ryo forced a smile to appear on his face, he was still peeved at Rowen, but he didn't want it to show. Rowen was after all, his friend... they weren't on great terms, but he'd still push him out of the way of oncoming traffic.

"Did you come to apologize to us Ryo?" Cye asked folding his hands over his knees. "I wish you had come to do it earlier while Quatre was still here, if you are. You really hurt his feelings with your ugly attitude yesterday Ryo. He's the type to find a reason to blame himself for everything gone wrong."

Rowen chuckled, "I kind of picked up on that too. He's a really nice guy. I, on the other hand, do find Heero to be a little...unnerving, he's so...intense. He almost seemed to be forcing himself to, well, act normal. What is he, like some sort of a machine outside of our rooms?"

"I could hardly see someone like Duo dating a machine, Ro," Cye rolled his eyes.

Rowen laughed at that, "I couldn't either, he's too upbeat to be with someone boring, like that. You know, I actually see Duo more with somebody like Kento."

"Isn't it funny how you just met them, and you already feel like you know them?" Cye smiled. "That's how I feel... well about everyone, but Wufei."

"Hmm, he is a little standoff-ish," Rowen agreed. Ryo stood in the doorway frowning at his friends, who seemed to have forgotten he was there.

"Last night is like the second time I've seen him, in fact," Cye said. "And the others come around everyday, like Trowa, Quatre, and Heero have today?"

Cye nodded, "Duo usually comes with Quatre in the morning, but I guess Quatre switched shifts with Trowa, and came with Heero. I don't know if Duo's going to make it, with his back and all. Can you believe that little thing fought in a war, much less been shot twice?"

Rowen shook his head, "I can't see Duo or Quatre fighting anything. Duo's too little, and Quatre's too...sweet. Could you imagine fighting Quatre? All he'd have to do is squeeze out a few tears and I'd drop my bow."

"Now Heero, Trowa, and Wufei I can see being in the military," Cye tapped his chair. "I just can't believe...oh hello, Ryo. Sorry about that. Why don't you come and say hello to Kento?"

"I'm forgiven?" Ryo raised an eyebrow, he had been quite comfortable sitting on the outskirts of the conversation listening to the interesting tidbits of information floating his way. So the three people he'd met yesterday were fighters... he frowned as he too tried to imagine Quatre being aggressive.

"By us, yes," Rowen nodded. "We're used to your pissy moods by now, but you're lucky Heero wasn't here to hear what you said last night. He looks the type to shoot before asking questions."

"He wouldn't bring a weapon to a hospital."

"Hey, this is a hospital run by that organization they're in. If he's an agent, I believe he could carry in a bazooka if he wanted. That is, if they still make them..." Rowen looked thoughtful. "Books, libraries, once I get out of here, I'm going to drown myself in this century."

"Duo will help you," Cye chuckled. "He seems to be your perfect match for this generation."

Ryo perked to that...Rowen's perfect match, huh?

"Yeah, I think his IQ might rival mine. You hear the way he could answer ALL of my questions in words with more than 4 syllables? I can't wait to play Scrabble...if they still make that," he looked deeper in thought.

The wheels in Ryo's head began to turn."So, I take it, Duo is one of the five I haven't met. I don't really recall everyone's name and face, but Quatre's because he was the one that spoke to me..."

"No, you didn't meet Duo or Heero," Cye shook his head, "You only met Quatre, and Wufei was the one that got in your face, and then Trowa was the tall quiet one."

Ryo nodded, he had thought so. "You just missed Heero, actually."

"Well, I'll catch him when he comes back. Maybe you could call all of them together, so I can apologize to them." Ok, he really did want to apologize, he really did feel like the scum of the Earth for going off on them like that, but gods please don't strike him down for having an ulterior motive as well. He wanted to see this Duo. Rowen sounded interested in him, and Cye had said they were a perfect match. If Rowen could like someone else, and what he and Sage had was just experimental after all, maybe Ryo could use that to his advantage. Rowen was attractive, Ryo assessed the blue haired boy briefly, and usually had no problems appealing to members of any sex.

"We could do that," Cye smiled. "Show them you're not really a jerk, just a hot head." Ouch, the jerk line hit home... how could he use people who were trying to help him, to win a relationship for himself? He sighed mentally, nothing could ever be easy for him. Perhaps it'd be best if he took his mind off of his lust, and put it to business. The pull of Wildfire was growing stronger...

"What are we going to do about the armor?" Ryo asked suddenly. He moved toward the bed to see Kento. Kento lie flat on his back, same stubborn face, same ash colored hair, albeit much longer than Ryo had ever seen it, but he was so skinny. It looked odd, because his bones were so large. He touched his arm, hoping to arouse the sleeper, but the boy didn't move.

"It's calling me," Rowen said flatly, "Strata, you know. We're gonna have to answer it soon. I have a feeling this thing we missed out on fighting before, has been waiting for our return, spoiling for a fight."

"It can't fight us, unless we claim our armors," Ryo said softly. "If we don't become Ronin Warriors again, then the battle still can't be fought."

"And this world will continue to be ruled by shadow," Cye said simply. "We can't allow that to happen."

"Ruled by shadow? What do you mean Cye? Have you looked outside at how beautiful it is out there? And the ones who found us, their hearts are kind and pure, and this hospital..."

"Ryo, you didn't listen to their story did you, when Quatre told it to you, and you didn't hear the more in depth story they told us. Those boys with the golden hearts, are hardened warriors, terrorists even. They've had to kill many in the name of peace, Ryo, peace. They've lived under oppression, poverty, abuse, and have seen death and chaos firsthand all of their lives. This beauty you see, is just now coming underfoot, because they won it for us...but it's tentative. This hospital is owned by the organization they work for, that organization is designed to help hold onto what you think is a world without shadow. Everyday their lives are in danger, at any minute they could be called to fight for those who can't. This isn't how the future is supposed to be Ryo. These kids shouldn't have to deal with this, and I think....I think that if we had done what we were supposed to back in our time, none of this would have ever happened. There would be no war, kids wouldn't have to kill, and agencies like this one wouldn't have to exist. I don't think it's any coincidence at all we met these particular 5 people... We need to see our jobs before we take them again. They can show us the violence and evil still in the hearts of man, we have access to everything we need to learn about this century. Ryo, Fate planned this the day we died, it made sure we could come back, and be fully prepared. There are exactly 5 of them Ryo, warriors just like us, with the means to open doors... they were put here for our return, I just know it...and if we couldn't return...how much do you want to bet the Ancients would let the armors select new masters, and how much would you wager those new masters might be the very same people who come to visit us daily?"

Rowen and Ryo blinked at Cye, "You've really thought about this, Cye," Rowen whispered, his eyes large. "Do you really think that's possible?"

"We're here, aren't we? And don't you think it's a bit odd, that five strangers, just like ourselves, meet under the circumstances of war to form a team that ended up saving the Earth? And don't you find it even stranger that we're all the same age? Quatre is an empath, Heero is a no nonsense leader, Trowa is the calm cool head, Wufei is muscle if nothing else, and Duo is a genius, and I bet they all have different specialties besides their characteristic attributes that they use in battle. Who do they sound like to you?"

Ryo went cold and tightened his grip on Kento's arm, his gods...they sounded like...

"Us," Rowen uttered, he ran a hand though his hair, pulling out his ponytail on accident, "they freaking sound like us, a fail safe for the Fates! They used them to fight the other wars, the physical ones to prepare the spiritual battlefield for us. They got the world to lay down their weapons, and are still doing so, so that no one could interfere with what we have to do. Like in New York, with Sage, remember the police got in the way then, and started shooting at us. Bet that wouldn't happen today, now we've got back up, and if we're killed again..."

"The armor will go to them. We'll be here to explain it to them, and everything. Guys.... I don't think there will be another lifetime for us after this. It sounds like the Powers That Be are tying all lose ends this time. They needed us to call the armors back into being, but they also chose people they knew stood a chance against the monsters in case we fail, to take over for us."

"My gods, we're all puppets," Ryo groaned. "Everything we do is guided."

"We're not puppets, Ryo, we're the chosen," Cye said. "We've been entrusted with the future of mankind, and I think now is the time that we have to decide what it's going to be. Fate can't wait any longer for us. We have to call our armor."

"Now?" Ryo asked.

"We're not a full team yet, Kento and Sage have to wake up, and reorient themselves. Then we'll do it, and we'll do it in front of the others. We'll wait until we're all in one place, and more comfortable with one another, and we'll tell them what we suspect. They can't possible thing we're batty, when they see us summon the five armors."

"What if we don't want to fight?" Ryo looked to Cye. "Can't we just reject the armor, and let it pass on?"

Cye's light blue eyes brightened, he was tempted, he never liked fighting...but if it meant cursing Quatre or someone else with his burden, "We can't just do that Ryo, it wouldn't be fair to anyone."

"It's not fair to us...why should we worry about it being fair to them?"

"Ryo, we can't only think about ourselves here. Do you really want someone else to have to suffer as we did? We end this ourselves, Ryo. We put an end to all fighting with our final battle, just like we were supposed to all those years ago. Wait until you get to know them Ryo, once you do, you'll regret ever thinking that."

Ryo shut his eyes and inhaled deeply, twice screwed by Fate to be a warrior, and Cye wanted him to have a conscience... what killed him, was the fact that he did. He didn't wish the curse of the yoroi on any other human being, but he also did not wish to see his friends fall in battle again. Could he watch them die all over again? He put both hands over his eyes as he tried to erase the vision of each of his warriors lying lifeless on stone floor. "Gods...why us?"

No one answered his question, it was deemed rhetorical. He leaned over the bed to rest his head on Kento's chest as he began to sob. He would have to fight again, he would have to be strong and lead again, but gods he didn't want to.

He felt a hand on his back, and looked up to see Rowen's pale face looming over his, "We'll follow you again, Ryo, all of us."

He let his head fall back onto Kento's chest as he began to sob harder.

*********************************************************************************************************************************************

"Duo! What did you do, buy the mall?" Quatre exclaimed over Duo's purchases. Duo sat back on the recliner chair looking drained, but pleased, "I tried to, but your credit card had a limit, Quat. You should check on that."

Quatre narrowed his eyes, "I see you've even bought shoes."

"Hey! They're for Rowen's new look, I had to get the shoes that matched with the belt I bought...and then I got Sage some stuff too. I mean, if his beau's all studded out, then he has to be too. But you know, I couldn't leave Cye out, so I got him some more stuff. I mean, he HAS been wearing the same thing for days! He must be so embarrassed."

Quatre frowned, "I hadn't thought about him being embarrassed."

"Duo, what is all of this?" Heero stepped into the living room to see it overrun with shopping bags. He looked at Duo crossly, "You didn't carry all of these yourself did you?"

"No, Wuffles did, but phew, I'm pooped."

Heero raised an eyebrow, "Wufei spent all day with you in the mall?" Wufei chose that moment to appear, and he looked with apprehension at the expression on Heero's face.

"Yup, sure did, said he didn't mind it at all. He has the best attitude."

Wufei stared at Heero, trying to gauge his odd expression, "Well..."

Gods, is he going to figure it out, and come kill me?

"...good. Now I won't have to go anymore!" Heero sounded relieved, "What are you going to do with all of this junk in the meantime. I know you're not going to leave it out here to clutter the living room."

"It'll be gone in the morning. I'm going to take it to them."

"Why don't we just put them away for when they come?" Trowa suggested entering the room, and looking slightly stunned at the amount of shopping bags in the room.

"Good idea..but Cye needs at least one pair of new threads taken to him in the morning, and Rowen does too. He's undoubtably worn his clothes today. How did the jeans fit, anyway?"

"They looked good," Quatre nodded.

"You were checking out his ass?"

"No!" Quatre blushed, and Duo roared with laughter. "Ah, don't be shy Quat, he's got a nice ass. Not quite as nice as Heero's, but you know, it can be worked with."

"Well Duo, you sound as if you've been studying it."

"Well, I am kind of low to ground here, and can't help but constantly notice things like the size of feet, and the shapes of butts."

"Well, have you been studying my behind, at all?" Trowa wanted to know.

Duo grinned deviously, "You want me to rate your ass?"

"Uh..."

"I have to let you know, I rate all asses on a scale based on the perfection of Heero's. I mean, stand up Heero, turn around and show the people what you got."

Heero turned red as a tomato, and Duo cackled, "No need to be bashful! You see, he used to be all scrawny, but then he started getting taller and working out, and eating more protein, and now he's got a muscle butt. And it would figure that now that he has a muscle butt, he stops wearing the spandex shorts."

"Duo! You're horrible!" Quatre was trying to contain his laughter, unlike Trowa who was leaning on the wall for support as he cracked up.

"Yup, yup, yup, that's me. So...how was everyone today? I was going to get off my lazy butt, and go, but alas."

"Did you take a pain killer?" Heero asked sitting on the floor in front of Duo. Duo nodded, "I'll be ok in an hour, right now, I can't move."

"You overdid it, didn't you?"

"No, not with Fei around! He made me sit down every 15 minutes! I think I'm just getting old."

"From 16 to 80," Quatre rolled his eyes, "Cye and Rowen are fine. We didn't see Ryo today though, Cye says he's still moping."

"Jerk," Wufei snorted. He moved towards the group and sat on the couch. "He'll come around," Duo yawned. "They miss me?"

"Yes, Duo," Quatre chuckled, "everyone misses you."

"See Heero, everybody loves me," Duo purred as Heero had moved to sit on the arm of the recliner and stroked his long mane. "Yes they do," Heero agreed, "including me."

"You're a given."

"Oh, I am, am I?"

Trowa and Quatre exchanged glances, while Wufei rolled his eyes, "Would anyone like anything to drink? Duo, I'm sure you'd like something."

Both Duo and Heero turned to Wufei, faces flushed, "N...no thank you Wuffs, I think we'll just... go upstairs now."

Heero nodded quickly sliding off the arm of the chair, and helping Duo up, "Homework," Heero said, slinging Duo over one shoulder, and smirking wickedly when Duo yelped in surprise. They left rather swiftly.

"Homework? But Heero and Duo never have any home....oh! Oh!" Quatre turned red again, and buried his face in Trowa's sleeve to muffle his giggles, as Trowa lowered his face into the blond's hair to snicker. Wufei stared in horror... NO!

"This behavior is unacceptable, Duo is..."

"Duo."

Wufei narrowed his eyes in Quatre and Trowa's direction, "You've been calling him 'Duo' all afternoon Wufei? Why the sudden change? You still call us by our surnames."

Wufei blinked, he'd slipped, but surely they couldn't know...

"Did you two have that much fun at the mall?" Trowa smirked, but before Wufei could answer, "Careful, you might make Heero jealous."

"As if he'd ever have anything to worry about," Quatre said cheekily.

Wufei frowned at that statement, one day Heero would have plenty to worry about when it came to HIS Duo. He'd see about that. He gazed upward at the ceiling feeling anger rising in him... "Maxwell is injured, and Yuy should know better," Wufei rose from his seat and made his way to the stairs. "You two should be backing me up on this, you know."

"Let them have their fun, if anyone knows how to be gentle with Duo, it's Heero."

Wufei gave them both brief glances of disgust before continuing his venture up the stairs to stop what should have never been. If he could go back to that day, the day his hands were the only thing stopping Duo from bleeding to death, he'd make sure he was first. He'd be the one to say, 'I love you.' Heero would never have stepped forward to address his emotions then, and Duo...would have learned to love him. He stopped just outside of Heero and Duo's door, hand poised to knock. He put his ear to the wood first, stilling as he heard Duo's voice, "...if I fall asleep, don't wake me for dinner?"

"Alright... where does it hurt, here....here....right here..?"

"There, you got it..."

"Let me know if I apply too much pressure."

"You Heero, Mr. Perfect? Never... Heero?"

"Hn?"

"Love you..."

There was a slight pause, and Wufei listened closely to what was said next, "Do you mean that? Do you really mean it?"

The answer was so soft Wufei couldn't catch it. He wanted to open the door so he could hear better, so he could see just what Heero could do, that he couldn't. What had Duo's answer been? The room was silent. Wufei slowly lowered his hand from the door, and walked on to his own room. He shut his door and lie down on his stomach on the bed to brood.

*You should have interrupted them.*

What good would it have done? You heard him, he loves Heero.

*He THINKS he loves Heero. He won't know real love until you show it to him.*

He seems happy.

*He doesn't know what happiness is, yet. You have to teach him.*

But I'm not happy.

*Then you'll learn together.*

Yes... yes, that would be nice. They would learn together, how fun.

*********************************************************************************************************************************************

(Dream sequence).

"Kento, you're doing it all wrong! Look, the instructions say...."

"Instructions, smuctions, my manly instinct informs me on how to build, and work with my hands. Only females must use guide books and flimsy sheets of paper called instructions. Now watch me work..."

He watched in horror as the model ship collapsed inside the bottle, and raised glue covered hands behind his head sheepishly, "The model must have been defective."

"The only thing defective here, is you," Cye said smartly, gazing at the mess. "I hope you have another 22.50 to get a new model kit for Yulie."

"Uh..."

"Hey! How about we tell him it's a model of what happens to a ship, after it's been attacked by a vicious water spout! The kid's gullible, he might buy it!"

"Kento, you're horrible."

"Am not!"

(End dream sequence).

Cye? Cye it's dark.... Cye? Why don't you answer me? Can you hear me? He heard Cye's voice then, shaky with fear and fatigue, he was saying something about hanging on... that he'd bring something... Cye? It's so dark, Cye?

Are my eyes closed? Am I dreaming? I want to wake up, please, I want to wake up! It's so dark...I want to wake up!

CYE!!!



Cye sat up in bed abruptly, "Kento," he breathed heavily. He climbed out of bed quickly, pulling on a pair of jeans near the bed.

Kento was awake.



**Author's Note: Well, that's it. I know you guys were expecting to see both Sage and Kento, but there's a reason why I'm not getting to Sage yet...MUHAHAHAHA!! I hope you enjoyed it, and please, please review :)!**