Chapter Eight---Till Next Time

Another year passed. Dante managed to swallow some of his pride and tolerate Sade having so much to do with his little brother. However, Cale still adored the older boy, still made sure that he was always near and that Dante knew he loved him. So Dante made an effort to not kill the other girl. It worked for the most part.

Aden stepped off the porch, sadness permiating his enitre being. Dante looked up and saw him, immediately knowing something was wrong. Waving Stone along, they went to invesitgate their best friend's pitiful mood.

"Aden." Dante called but Aden didn't turn to look.

"What's up?" Stone asked. Aden heaved a sigh, looking out at the waves he had once loved so dearly, had pushed Shaineinto so often and was rarely seen out of.

"I'm leaving tomorrow." Dante frowned and Stone went wide-eyed. What?

"What?" Dante hissed. Aden turned to him with sad eyes.

"I'm leaving tomorrow. It's my 13th birthday and a man asked Matron to enroll me at the Trabian Garden so he could train me himself. He's a Master swordsmen. The best for a traditional sword like mine." Stone went forward, hesistated and stepped back. Not yet.

"You're supposed to be with us." Dante near growled, a tone too deep for his 12 years. Aden scowled at him.

"Don't you think I know that! That's what we spent years planning Dante! But this...this Instructor, this opportunity...I can't pass that up! You know if I were to go with you, I'd only slow you two down. This is better...I can catch up...and after school--" Dante cut him off with a swift right hook to the jaw.

"No, Aden. You leave now and there is nothing after school. We're done." Aden rubbed his jaw and stared at Dante. Even for Dante, this was highly unusual behavoir. But Aden knew what Dante was feeling. Betrayed, hurt most of all. Anger was easier to express then pain, though in essence it was the same damn thing.

"Dante, you can't be serious?" Stone turned in wonder at his friend, his voice incredulous. Dante was seething inside. Why was everything changing? Why were they leaving him? First his parents, then Rae and now Aden. God, make it stop!

"I swear to Hyne himself, if you go with that fucking Instructor of yours, your own your own." Aden could feel anger welling up inside of him and tears stinging the back of his eyes. It wasn't supposed to go this way.

"Dante! Come on! We've been best friens since we were 10! You're just throwing it away because I'm going to a different Garden?" Dante narrowed jade orbs, daring Aden to go, to leave them. Aden squared his shoulders.

"Fine. I'm gone." With that, he made for the cave they used to play nights in, oblivious to Dante turning on his heel and running far out of sight. Stone looked in the direction Dante went and then after Aden. Biting his lip, he went after Aden.

"Aden is leaving little one. Your brother's anger is getting the better of him...perhaps you should talk to him." Cale looked up at the figure before him with a sigh. Why didn't she leave him alone? That's all he wanted. With her voices and visions, the poor child was no longer of the innocent.

"Why? I'm just six. Twelve year olds don't listen to me. Not even Dante." Cale turned away from her pleading eyes. Pity welled in his heart whenever she turned those pretty eyes on him, so he didn't like to look at her.

"Please Cale. He loves you. That's the only thing we have in our favor right now." Cale whirled on her. Even at six, his intelligence was far greater then normal children. Of course, he was to far gone to ever be normal.

"What do you mean we?" The woman bit her lip and disappeared into his mind once more, refusing to answer him. Damn her.

"Dante? Dante!" Dante heard his brother calling for him. He didn't want to answer, wanted the boy to go away. But he had made a promise. If his brother ever called for him, he would be there. Always.

"I'm here Cale. I'm here." The boy sat beside him and Dante absently noticed that Eden's french braiding had become much, much better.

"...Don't hate him." Cale said simply, looking out at the waves. They were still for once, and it unnerved him slightly. Dante sighed.

"He's leaving us Cale." Cale shook his head.

"He loves you and Stone. He'd never really leave you. But...I saw this Instructor. He's good for Aden. Then Aden can be good for you and Stone." Dante frowned and buried his head in his arms.

"I know but...he's leaving. Just like everyone else." Cale leaned his head on Dante's shoulder. That's was Dante was truly afraid of. Those he cared about leaving him.

"Aden?" Stone heard the sounds of small, choked sobs and found Aden leaning against the wall, tears dried to his cheeks. It damn near broke his heart.

"Aden, come on. You know he didn't mean it. He'll come around." Aden sighed and nodded. Stone sat beside him, a comforting arm around his shoulders. For a moment the two sat in silence.

It hurt Stone more then either of his friends knew to hear that Aden was leaving. Stone felt a bond with the older boy, one different from the one he had with Dante. Felt for the boy in ways that he didn't feel for anyone else. And he didn't want him to go.

A.n: Weee update. Lots of stuffs going on so the updates will come slower- ducks large objects flung at her head-

To my faithful reviews: ENJOY!

To my Muse: SAVE ME!-hides behind her running from the rabid Idea eating bunnies-