"W-what? You've GOT to be kidding me!"

Cye let out a startled sheik. Four pairs of eyes were on him, and yet he felt very alone. After Ryo had suggested they all play games, Cye figured they would be sitting around the table playing Monopoly, or an innocent card game. He never expected he would be sitting on the floor, in the middle of a heavy rainstorm outside, naked from the waist up. But, that's the cost of an inexperienced player participating in a game of strip poker.

Ryo was missing his shoes, his socks, and his jacket, Kento was missing only his shirt, not like he minded anyway. Rowen was sitting in his jean shorts without socks or shoes, but Cye had almost been ridden of all his clothes already. All that remained were his pants and underwear, which he was currently, desperately, trying to keep covering him.

"Come on, Cye, off with them!"

"What? Why?"

"Because that's the game! When you lose a hand, you remove an article of clothing!"

"Yeah, it's a rule!"

"I-I don't like this game! I want out!"

Ryo waved his finger at the boy.

"You can't just quit! Come on, it's not that bad, Cye!"

"Yeah, I'll even help ya if ya need it!"

Rowen reached across the circle they had formed, jokingly, and Cye jumped up and hid behind his best friend, Kento.

"I don't need help!"

"Ha ha… Cye… you know, eventually, they WILL come after you!"

"What? Wont you protect me?"

"Sorry, little buddy, but rules are rules!"

"I hate this game! Why are we even playing it?"

"Ask the guy who suggested it."

Everyone looked at Sage, who was fully clothed, and was drinking a soda. When he noticed he was being stared at, he simply shrugged his shoulders.

"Hey, don't look at me like that. Really, I'm not TRYING to play so well. In fact, I've been trying to lose. It's warm in here…"

"I am starting to think you hate us, Sage… It's like you're not even participating!"

"I can't help it if you guys stink at cards…"

Rowen glared at him with all his fury and embarrassment, both of which Sage simply shrugged off. Ryo was then on his feet, trying to convince Cye to come out from behind Kento, who were both standing, now, also. Cye was a shy person, and they all knew that. But, Ryo was reluctant to reveal himself, too, yet he was willing to participate.

"Come on, Cye! Just finish the hand and you can quit! We wont make you do anymore than that!"

"No! I'm not going to take my pants off!"

"Well, if you're talented, you'd remove your underwear but keep you pants on!" Kento joked.

"This isn't even funny!"

"Cye… it's just a game, and just between us guys!"

Rowen popped his head up behind Ryo.

"Yeah! So, which is it, Cye; boxers or briefs?"

Cye's face went red, and the boy was almost in tears as he ran away, heading up the stairs towards his and Kento's room. Everyone was silent up until they heard the door slam. Then, Ryo sighed. He understood why Cye wasn't willing to undress. Besides the obvious reasons, he had been in a bad fight recently, almost a month before, and he was left with numerous scars. As he was sitting in the circle, before, Ryo could see the ones on his arms and his chest, but most of the damage had been to his legs.

Sure, he wasn't the only one. Kento broke two ribs, Sage got burned on his face, but he healed quickly, though some of the redness still showed, Rowen hurt his back, but he was long since healed. Lucky guy. As for Ryo, himself, he had received very few injuries. A hefty blow to the head knocked him unconscious early into the battle. For that, Ryo felt very guilty. The others got so badly beat up trying to fight AND protect him.

Then, once he woke up, everyone had been in such lousy moods. Cye rarely left his room, Rowen read through his recovery, Sage spent half of his days looking into the mirror, mourning his face, and Kento, well, he was still Kento; at least, on the outside… Kento was worried about everyone. He ran about trying to make everyone happy, but it put a lot of strain on him. When Ryo tried to offer his help, Kento refused it, telling him that he could handle it and that Ryo needed to rest more. He hated that. He was the group leader, and he couldn't help when he was needed. So, suggesting the games was a way to try and pull everyone together after a long period of silence, and it appeared to be working, until after Cye ran off. Ryo heard Rowen sigh behind him.

"Man… now we'll never know!"

"Dude, what does it matter?"

"I don't know, but it does!"

"If you're so obsessed, then go raid his dresser drawers!"

"No! That's just not the same!"

"You are SO weird!"

"Am not, muscle head!"

"Book worm!"

"Am not!"

There seemed like there would be no end to the madness that night, and it was starting to drive Ryo crazy!