Chapter Six

Old Friends

Little Rena sat rubbing her eyes and sobbing. Kento and Rowen sat on each side of her. "I don't want to go."

"It's ok, Re Re," Boy Rowen said.

"We'll still be friends," Kento added. "Nothing can change that."

"But the states are so far away. We'll never see each other again," Rena cried.

"Sure we will," Rowen replied.

"That's right! Soon we will be all grown up and we will find each other again!" Kento added with his boyish smile.

"If you don't come back to us in Japan by the time you are at least eighteen years old, both me and Kento will come to the states to find you," Rowen promised.

"You won't forget about me?" Rena asked.

"We could never forget you, Rena," Kento said. "We were brought together to be friends and nothing is going to break us apart. Not miles, countries or even all the magic in the world. Right?"

"Right!" Rena and Rowen nodded. The three linked their pinkies in a promise to find each other again one day.

Rena laid staring up at the unfamiliar ceiling of the spare bedroom of Kento's house. Memories of her past with Kento and Rowen rushed through her head. Not miles, countries or even all the magic in the world can break us apart. And, yet, it seems to have.

Getting Kento's parents to agree to let Rena spend the night there until Friday was easy. Kento's mom already considered her part of the family. Rena's family, however, need more convincing. It took several minutes of convincing and promises that she and Kento weren't wanting something more from this sleep over to get them to agree with letting her go.

Having an old time sleep over with Kento would have been usually more on the fun side. But with the events that got her here, this wasn't usual. Kento was still ticked off with her and Rowen hasn't even looked at her since the incident at the library let alone talk to her. She felt horrible having the two most important people in her life mad at her. And what's even worse, she got them mad at Sage too. Rena sighed then pushed herself off the bed.

Kento was lying on his bed. He was staring out in space. His mind kept replying the day's events. Rena was a close friend from his past and Sage was a close friend that went through the tortures of the Dynasty with him. How could they both keep this a secret from him? Part of him was still so mad at Rena and Sage for keeping this a secret, then the other part of him kind of understood why they did and wanted to forgive them. After all, they didn't exactly tell her about their armors either.

Kento sat up just as someone knocked on his door. "It's open."

The doorknob slowly turned and Rena stepped in. "Rena."

She closed the door behind her and stood there, staring at the floor looking like a scolded child. Kento watched her for a few minutes before leaping off the bed and embracing her in a hug. Rena was shocked for a few seconds before wrapping her arms around his waist. "I'm sorry. I don't know why I got so mad at you. I'm just...well, with the danger that comes with our armors...I just...I don't know."

Rena pulled away from him. - It's ok, Ken. I understand. And, I'm sorry too. -

"Come here," Kento took her hand and led her to his bed. They sat down, facing each other.

- I understand why you are so upset with me. I didn't want to tell you about my powers, him or my fantasy world because...well, I kind of felt abandon when my parents moved me to the states. When he came to me and gave me that gifted I felt better. In a way, it was like you two were still with me because I could recreate you in my fantasies. -

"I think I understand," Kento nodded. He patted the bed beside him. Rena crawled up to him. He put his arm around her as she leaned against his side. "It's kind of the same as our armors. We didn't want to tell you about them because who ever knows about them is in serious danger. Mia and Yule were in danger all the time when Talpa was here. Don't get me wrong, we are so glad that you are back in our live, it's just things are so..."

- Complicated? -

"Yeah. But, you should know that we, all of us, will do anything we have to to protect you. We won't let anything happen to you. Whatever it is you have to do in this magic world, we'll be there for you. All of us."

- Thanks, Kento. Thanks for understanding. Now, I just wish Rowen was as understanding as you are. He's so mad at me. -

"Don't worry about him. He cares a lot for you and doesn't want to see you hurt either. He feels a bit betrayed that you shared this secret with Sage and not him. He'll get over it."

- I guess. I still feel bad. He's important to me and it really was just an accident that Sage got teleported to my fantasy world. -

"Yeah," Kento nodded. Rena leaned her head on his shoulder and took a deep breath. She felt a little better now that she had talked to Kento. Only if Rowen was that easy. Maybe she should go talk to him now and get it over with. "Wanna go talk to Rowen?"

Rena smiled. Of course he would sense that. Kento took his arm back then took her hand in his. "Come on. Let's get it over with. No point in being mad at each other. We're gonna need all of us talking if we're going to pull this off."

Rena nodded. Kento might be just a big lug with his brains in his stomach, but once in a while he would show some real insight to his friends problems and help out. Kento lead Rena downstairs. "Ma! We're going to see Rowen!"

"How long are you going to be gone?" Mrs. Faun questioned.

"I don't know," Kento replied. "It might take a while. Rena and Rowen kinda got in a fight."

"Oh. Alright then," Mrs. Faun replied as she watched her two teens head out the door.

"Teenagers and their silly little fights," Mr. Faun huffed behind his paper.

"You're one to talk," Mrs. Faun whipped, referring to all the fights he got in at school. Mr. Faun's hands tightened around the paper as she chuckled at him. He cleared his throat with dignity and continued reading.

Rena felt nervous as she rode quietly in Kento's jeep. She really wanted to see Rowen and patch things up. But the closer they got the more she didn't want to see him. If he was really that mad at her then maybe he needed more time to himself. But then, they would see each other at school then this weekend at Mia's. So not much room there. Kento parked his jeep. "You ready?"

Rena nodded then got out with him. She stood behind him as he knocked on the door. A muffled voice came from behind the door. "Yeah. I'm coming."

"Kento? What are you doing here? Aren't you suppose to be watching Rena?" The door opened revealing a shirtless Rowen with a towel around his shoulders.

"I am," Kento stepped aside to reveal the timid girl behind him.

"Rena," Rowen whispered her name. She gave him a small smile and wave. Rowen looked at Kento. He just shrugged and smiled. Rowen rubbed the towel on his hair and walked back in the apartment. "Come in."

Kento gave Rena a small shove to get her moving then followed in after her. Rena stood quietly, as did the boys. No one really knew what to say. Rowen scratched his hair and was about to leave the room when Rena threw her arms around his waists. He was caught off guard and blinked at her. "Rena?"

She looked up at him with tears in her eyes and gave him a silent. "I'm sorry."

Rowen's chest tightened. He felt like such an idiot making her cry. Rowen took a glance at Kento. The little orange ronin was smirking at them. Kento knew Rena had tugged on Rowen's heart strings and he felt like dirt about it. Rowen shot him a glare. Kento just shrugged and sat down in the arm chair. Rowen turned his attention back to Rena and wiped her tears then put his arms around her. "I'm sorry, too. I shouldn't have gotten so mad at you."

Rena shook her head and pulled away from him. - No. You had every right to be mad at me. -

"No. I didn't," Rowen replied. "I...we did the same thing. We kept our armors a secret from you."

Rena shook her head again then proceeded to tell him the same thing as she told Kento. Rowen patiently waited as she explained. After she was done he sighed and sat down on the couch. "I understand, Rena. It's just that...with our armors, there's no telling what kind of danger we might be facing. Danger that won't hesitate pulling you right into the middle of our battles."

Rena sat down on the couch, She curled up her right leg and sat on it so she was facing Rowen. Rowen was leaning over with his arms resting on his knees. Rena cupped his face and forced him to look at her. She then reached up and took off her choker, revealing her scar to them for the first time. Both Kento and Rowen flinched. The scar was worse than they thought. Rowen's eyes were filled with regret and pain as he reached up and lightly touched the scar.

- Rowen, I'm in danger just by getting in a car. I was almost killed by this. Does it really matter if I know about your armors or not? -

"Maybe it doesn't," Rowen whispered. Rena then pulled her other foot upon the couch and leaned against Rowen's bare chest. Rowen put his arm around her and leaned his cheek on her head. "I just want you to be safe."

Rena nodded. She wanted the same with him, Kento and the other guys. Kento smiled as he watched the two. He lightly chuckled. Kids.

A couple hours later, Kento was talking to his dad on the phone. "Yeah. I think it's better if we just stayed the night here. Yeah. Everything is just fine with them. Alright. Night, dad."

Just as Kento was saying goodbye to his dad, he heard the apartment door open. He expected to see Sage, but not him, Ryo and Cye. "What are you guys doing here?"

"We came to check on Rowen. But it looks like we weren't the only ones with that idea," Cye replied as he looked at the two sleeping teens on the couch.

"So, they made up after all?" Ryo questioned even though the answer was obvious.

"Yup," Kento grinned. The boys started to chat while Sage walked over to Rowen and Rena. He grabbed a throw blanket and laid it over them. He brushed Rena's bans out of her face and gave a light smile. She seemed like such an angel. He bit his bottom lip when he saw the scar she wore on her neck.

He instinctively reached out and touched the scar. Rena shifted at the touch of his cold hand at the same time Sage's head started hurting again. Sage pulled back his hand and stumbled backward. The back of his legs hit the coffee table, causing him to sit down on it. He held his head as the others rushed over to him.

"Sage, are you alright?" Ryo asked.

"Hn," Sage gave them a weak smile. "I'm fine. Just another headache."

"You sure that's all it is?" Kento asked with worry in his voice. They looked at him. "The last time you had a headache Rena was in trouble."

"Well, she's not in trouble now," Cye said as he looked at her, safe in Rowen's arms.

"Maybe she is," Ryo quietly said. "Just not in the present future."

The ronins exchanged looks. A bad feeling passed through all of them. They weren't sure if they were just being paranoid or what, but, for her safety and theirs, they decided to stay with Rowen and Rena until they could get out to Mia's.

Notes: Here's chapter 6. It's a bit on the short side but there wasn't much to say with getting them three to make up. It was mentioned that Chapter 5, I believe, that it was a bit confusing. Let me know what confused you about it and I'll try to clear it up for you. Chapter 7 coming as soon as possible. It might not be up till next week some time. It just depends. Enjoy!