A/N: The document Manager has been fixed! It's high time I updated this story.

THE ILLNESS II

Rowen stayed until she fell asleep. He didn't know how long he was there, but he never moved, holding like stone to his promise. He was ready to move into the hospital room just to stay near her. The suit made it worse. He wanted to touch her skin without a barrier.

The damned to hell suit. It was suffocating him. His face was turning pink and was drenched with his sweat. It was turning into a greenhouse. He needed to take a rest, but he didn't want to leave. When the door opened and Jay Lee's parents came in, he was forced into taking a rest. He was sanitized and guided outside where it had long since turned dark. While he was there, he forgot about Ryo's jeep and knew he would be in major trouble when he got back to the manor.

He drove slowly, taking his precious time as he thought about what the others would say when he walked through the door. Ryo, above all, would be pissed beyond humanity that Rowen "borrowed" their only means of transportation back home. Yeah, he was going to die tonight.

He pulled up into the driveway of the manor and turned off the ignition. He slowly made his way up the walkway to the front door and wasn't the least bit surprised that Ryo threw open the front door and began to harass him.

"What the hell, Rowen!" he said. "You go running down the hall and you steal my jeep? MY jeep! Do you have any idea how long it took us to get home? And hour and a half! Are you even listening to me?"

No, Rowen thought. I'm not. Rowen continued to tune Ryo out as he made his way through the living room where Kento was playing another video game. Sage was sitting in the recliner doing his homework and Cye came in from the kitchen were he was washing the dishes from that night's dinner.

Ryo's verbal assault was getting louder, and Rowen was drowning in his hellish mud pit more and more. Being attacked like this was driving him nuts and there was only one way he thought would help solve it. He turned in the blink of an eye, his closed fist colliding with Ryo's jaw. The force of the impact sent Ryo flying to his side, colliding in turn with Kento as he sailed across the couch.

Cye squeaked with disbelief and dropped the plate he was drying as Sage rushed over to check on the two boys. Ryo was bent over, both of his hands over his mouth as he allowed the massive amount of blood pour onto the floor. Sage did what he could to stop the bleeding, healing Ryo with his powers. He lost a good pint of blood if not more.

Kento was fine, only lightly hitting his head against the carpeted floor. There was nothing serious, except the fact that Ryo was desperately fighting against his grip to get back at the taller blue hair boy. Rowen just stood there, morose and with a distant gaze. Everyone was silent for a few minutes. Nothing but the sound of breathing, then a small whimper before Rowen broke down in front of them all.

He was down on his knees, hands covering his face as he cried out incoherent words. Cye knelt down beside him and wrapped his arms around the trembling boy, he head on his shoulder whispering soothing words of comfort. Ryo forgot everything up until now. He never saw Rowen explode like that. None of them have.

Ryo crawled across the floor and sat himself Indian style in front of Rowen. He looked at the boy with pure concern in his eyes, wondering what had happened to make his friend act so strangely. Ryo moved his mouth, but words could not form. Try as he might, his vocal cords refused to work. Ryo was grateful when Sage asked the question they all wanted answered.

"What happened before you ran out of school?" he asked, also sitting Indian style next to Ryo. All four of them were huddled around Rowen as he continued his crying. Cye had retrieved a box of tissues for his use. Within minutes, half of the box was used and strewn on the floor around him. They all waited patiently for Rowen to calm. Once he did, Sage asked it again.

"What happened before you ran out of school?"

Rowen didn't want to answer that. He just wanted to go back to the hospital, back into the room with Jay Lee. He didn't know how to answer them.

Kento turned off his game and took it out of the game box. The news channel came on and, by some twist the Gods did, the news crew answered Sage's question for him. Rowen pointed towards the TV and broke down into silent tears again as the other four received their answer.

There was a newswoman standing outside of Toyama's General Hospital. It was dark out so they thought that it had to be taping now, live.

"History was made tonight when a case of Ebola Fever made its way into Toyama General. The victim of this unfortunate disease is the seventeen-year-old Jay Lee Yun, formerly of Korea. She moved here to Japan with her mother, father and her little brother due to an advancement in her Father's job. According to what the family of the girl said, the doctors told them she is over the hill with the disease and will either survive or succumb to its deadly hands."

"That… an-answer y-your q-q-ques-tion?"

Kento turned off the annoying contraption and rejoined the huddle on the floor. Cye held on tighter to the crying boy, tears in his eyes as well. Everyone was upset now. Ryo most of all was hit the hardest since he was the one to bombard Rowen when he got home.

"Rowen," he said. "I… I just… I'm sorry. I… I didn't know… about Jay Lee… and why you run off… could you… even forgive me?"

"It's not ya fault," Rowen said, regaining some control. "Ya didn't know cause I neva said anythin ta any of ya. I just… ran off without tellin ya a thing. I'm ta blame. She's gonna die…"

"No, she's not," Cye said, choking back his grief. "You heard the news reporter. She's over the worst. She has to make a choice now. Only she can be the judge of whether she lives or dies."

"He's right," Sage said. "If her will is strong enough, she'll pull through. But it's going to be hard. She's going to need help and you're the one to give it to her."

Rowen lifted his head to look at the blond. He blinked a few times and nodded his head. Getting up with Cye's help, Ryo took the keys from Rowen and escorted him to his jeep. Rowen got in on the passenger side and Ryo got behind the wheel. He started the ignition and they drove back to the hospital.

Ryo left Rowen at the hospital. Rowen got permission from the staff and Jay Lee's parents saying that he could stay the duration of her quarantine. One again, he sat in the chair next to Jay Lee, the rubber suit once again proving a barrier for Rowen to feel her skin.

Her condition was roller coastering. She was strong enough now that she could form coherent sentences, but she would crash every three hours. Rowen shed a million tears already, and her own family did tenfold. He stayed by her side the whole time.

It was now four in the morning. The place was quiet except for the machines that were hooked to Jay Lee. She was stable once again and she clutched the large rubber glove that was Rowen's hand.

"I'm tired," she said.

"Then go ta sleep. It's the logical thing ta do."

"I'm afraid I won't wake up."

"Don't be foolish," Rowen said. "Of course ya will. Ya always wake up." Jay Lee was silent. She turned her head away from him and by the way the machine read by her heart, she was beginning to cry again. He stood from the chair and leaned over her, pulling her head back towards him so he could look into her eyes.

Despite the Ebola's effect, her eyes were still the black orbs he loved at first sight. They still held life, held the goal of getting through this. But with Jay Lee doubting her efforts, she was surely going to loose. Rowen knew she would act this way. He couldn't take it.

Pulling away from her, he pulled off the rubber gloves. Jay Lee gasped as he pulled off the helmet as well, throwing it to the side.

"Rowen!"

he bent down over her again, his bare hand finally touching the paper thin skin of her cheek gently and his other going through her raven black hair.

"You're gonna get through this," he said. "Stop doubting it. If I loose ya, I'd ratha be the one on the bed. Push through this Jay Lee, or I'll die just as harshly."

He covered her lips with his own. It was gentle, but full of love and compassion. She melted in the kiss, completely forgetting about everything. It felt good and she wanted more, like the taste of candy after a year without it. She felt warm inside, like he was actually breathing fire into her, taking the deepening chill away.

When Rowen lifted the kiss, she looked up into his dark eyes. Like a new strength, she lifted her hand and caressed her love's cheek with more affection she had ever shown.

"You baka," she whispered. "Why did you do that? Now you have it. You're condemning yourself to this very bed."

Rowen smiled and rolled his eyes. He got close to her again, whispering so only she would hear.

"Ya read too much Shakespeare," he said. "Don't worry bout me. I'll be fine. Ya jest concentrate on getting outta here, okay?"

Jay Lee watched her love for a few seconds before nodding her head. Rowen placed another kiss on her lips before standing.

"I'm gonna leave ya for a bit," he said. "I promise I'll return in a little while. Ya get better. I love you."

Before he left, he placed the helmet back on his head and the glove on his hand. He pushed the yellow button on the door and a nurse came to sterilize him. He found a pay phone, called the manor and Ryo was there in minutes to pick him up.

When he walked into the living room, he went right up the stairs to Sage's room. He knocked on the door and the blond sleepily opened it and glared at him with his one eye. Sage wasn't happy that he was awoken from his beauty sleep.

"I need ya ta check for a virus," Rowen said simply. "Please?"

"If it'll let me go back to sleep."

Sage placed his hand on Rowen's forehead and closed his eyes as he concentrated his powers into Rowen's body. Sage's body trembled a little when he located the foreign cell.

"Want me to kill it?"

"Yeah."

"Okay, done. Goodnight." Sage slammed the door in Rowen's face and Rowen was grateful for his friend. Now he had to do everything in his power to help Jay Lee.

Days passed by in a blur. Rowen spent five hours every day with Jay Lee. The doctors and nurses all knew him like an old friend. He would go to school, then come straight to the hospital to be with her. He would do his homework there in the room and then read poetry to Jay Lee.

The doctors were stunned and amazed. She was getting stronger every day, and the doctors don't know what was happening. She crashed less and less and it seemed that Rowen being there was having a positive effect on her recuperation. After a while, she was able to get out of the bed and walk around the room.

Rowen was regaining confidence that he was actually doing something that made a difference. He noticed a great change in her. If she continued to get better, all traces of the virus should be gone within weeks. Everyone was happy.

But happiness can be taken away without even knowing it.

Rowen sat bolt upright in bed. He was sweating, but he was chilled to the bone. Something was wrong, he knew it. Looking at his clock, he saw it was two in the morning. He felt like he was going to vomit. He got up from the bed and made his way clumsily to the bathroom, knocking into a few things on the way.

The racket woke up his blond roommate. Sage rubbed his tired eyes and looked at his own clock. Rowen made it to the bathroom that they share and turned on the light. Sage growled and turned around to block the light. It didn't work.

"Dammit Rowen," he said getting up. "It's two o'clock in the fucking morning. Is it your soul purpose to wake everyone up?"

Rowen groaned in pain and fell to his knees. Sage took that as a wake up call and raced into the bathroom where Rowen was. He pushed the taller boy upright against the bath tub and patted his face with the back of his hand.

"Wake up Rowen," he said. He forgot about his anger. "C'mon man, wake up. I didn't mean it." He stopped. "Jeez, I sound like Kento. Wake up Ro!"

Ryo, Kento and Cye made their way sleepily into their room, wondering what all the yelling was about. When they saw Rowen passed out and Sage trying to revive him, they woke up instantly.

"Kento, call an ambulance." Nodding at his leader, the bearer of Hardrock hastily made his way to a phone.

While Sage and Kento rode in the ambulance with Rowen, Ryo followed in his Jeep with Cye. They got him to Toyama General and rushed him to the ER.

The four waited in the waiting room for news on their friend. Sage, getting tired of Kento's whining for food, went for a walk around the hospital. He turned down a hallway when he heard a desperate prayer being cried out.

"NO! WHY? NOT MY BABY!" Sage frowned slightly. He knew that voice somehow. Seems like he should know who that was. He then heard a familiar squeak of sobs he knew to be Dong, Jay Lee's little brother.

He followed the screaming woman and soon came across the area where Jay Lee had to be held in quarentine. Sure enough, there was Dong, huddled in one of the corners of the end of the hallway. Mrs. Yun was collapsed on the ground in front of the window to a large room, Mr. Yun kneeling and clutching his wife.

Oh no.

DREAM

Rowen was floating in the sky. He opened his eyes and looked at his surroundings. There was a faint purple bubble around him, stars and other planets following their orbits on the outside. This was strangely familiar to another situation long ago. He looked down on himself, expecting to see his Strata armor, but he was still in his light blue cotton pajamas.

He watched as the bubble floated away from the earth and land him somewhere on the moon in the center of a large crater. The bubble disappeared and he stood. There was full gravity like on earth, so he knew this couldn't be real.

Gods, he thought. Please don't let this be like the other dream I had.

He looked up when he noticed a blinding light from the corner of his eye. A large pack of shooting stars flew overhead. He watched them for a moment, basking in the beauty of it all. He felt something on the back of his neck and he turned.

He couldn't believe his eyes for a moment. He blinked several times to make sure it had to be real. Jay Lee stood there, only a breath away in a form fitting white silk gown. Her hair fell over her shoulders and her eyes sparkled like he remembered before Ebola. She looked at him with that simple loving smile she always reserved for him. Before Rowen could stop himself, he grasped her and pulled her to him, hugging her and never wanting to let go.

"Thank the stars ya alright," he said. He heard her stifle a cry and felt her body tense. He pulled away and held her arms. He looked at her quzically, worried at the way her eyes gazed into his.

"What is it, Jay?" he asked. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," she said with a half-hearted smile. "Just that I'm going to miss you."

"What do you mean? I'm not goin anywhere."

"I know. But I am." Rowen stared at her with half horror in his heart at what she had to be saying.

"You're scarrin' me Jay. What are ya sayin'?" Jay Lee turned her head to look at the streak of shooting stars. The light they gave caught in her fresh tears. She turned back to Rowen and placed her hand on his cheek.

"You know what I mean," she whispered. "The stars are calling for me to follow them to a place where I could wait. They granted me this wish, to bring you here so I could bid you a farewell."

Rowen felt his own tears build behind his eyes. His body began to shake and his legs gave way beneath him again. Jay Lee knelt in front of him, never letting go of his arms. Rowen weeped now, steady streams of salty tears traced his cheeks. Jay Lee pulled him into her arms as she let her own tears fall. She rocked him back and forth like a little child, running her hand through his azure locks soothingly.

"It doesn't make sense," he said through his tears. "You were getting betta. What happened? How could this happen?"

"It was my time," she whispered.

"You're only seventeen. Ya had ya whole life ahead. It's not fair."

"Life is never fair, Rowen," she said. "Your virtue is Life, you should know that it can be unfair." She cupped his face and forced him to look at her. "I love you, Rowen Hashiba. This is not a goodbye. The stars look after me because they owe you. They promised to take me to a place where I can wait for you. When your time comes, they'll bring you to me and we can go on together."

She placed her lips on his. Rowen held her tightly and deepened the kiss as a promise to come for her. Breaking away, they both stood and embraced each other once more before Jay Lee walked away. Rowen stood where he was and stretched his and to stay connected with her as long as he could. aS soon as they broke the touch, a similar purple bubble surrounded Jay Lee and floated after the stream of stars. Rowen closed his eyes and noticed a pain in his chest…

END DREAM