Chapter Thirteen

After making sure that each and every trace of the blood was cleaned from the floor and bathroom of her bedroom, Hali returned to sleep once more even as the others were waking to begin their day. While Sai was making breakfast downstairs in the kitchen, she could hear from her bed, the distinct sounds of Sage reentering the house. It was unlike Sage to be gone so long. Still, no one said anything in his presence considering the dark look in his usually gentle gaze.

But it didn't take long for the others to notice also that Hali was nowhere to be seen as of yet. For reasons only Ryo could understand, they were used to seeing Hali up and about even before Sage. For her to still be asleep was more than a little unusual. Sitting down to eat, they all turned a curious eye on an unnaturally silent Sage who only stared blankly at his plate.

"Hey, Sage, have you seen Hali this morning?" Sai asked his friend lightheartedly.

As if emerging from a trance, Sage brought his eyes to focus dazedly on Sai and the others. "What did you say?"

"We were wondering if you've seen Hali this morning since you were out and around," Ryo reiterated, his brows furrowing at his friend's obvious distraction.

"Oh," Sage stated flatly. "No. Have you checked her bedroom?"

"No," Rowen told Sage hesitantly. "Is everything okay, Sage? You seem kinda dazed."

"Fine," Sage said flatly.

The silence that followed Sage's word seemed to envelope the entire table as the other four passed looks of curiosity and something not unlike surprise at their friend's lack of interest in his own girlfriend. Finally Kento stood reluctantly rose from his seat as he volunteered to check on Hali. Moments later three of the others had nothing better to do than listen as Kento's heavy footsteps ascended the staircase toward Hali's room. Meanwhile Sage only pushed his food around his plate with heavily furrowed brows.

Some seconds later Kento's heavy footsteps were heard once more as he came slowly back down the stairs, alone. Seeing three questioning gazes on him, he took his seat saying, "She says she didn't sleep well last night and wants to rest for a couple more hours."

"Are you sure she's okay? Does she sound ill?" Sai questioned idly, trying to get Sage's attention indirectly.

Digging into his breakfast with gusto, Kento only shrugged. "She just looked tired to me."

"Maybe she just wants to be alone for a little bit," Sai suggested meaningfully, still getting no response from Sage.

The others nodded slowly, catching on to Sai's intention. After a moment Ryo added, "Maybe she had a nightmare or something about her life before. She probably misses her family and friends."

Still Sage only pushed his food around his plate, unwilling to look at his friends, though he had heard every word.

"Hey, Sage. Why don't you go check on her? You know her better than any of us," Rowen finally said bluntly, nudging his friend gently.

Staring fixedly at his plate, Sage only said, "Maybe, but does any of us really know her or who she really is?"

This question surprised everyone, bringing their eyes to focus on Sage in shock. Of all people they had never thought to hear that from him. Out of the five of them, he had been the one that seemed the least concerned with whatever Hali had been in the days before her life with them. And, of all of them, Sai had been the one to best understand the pain it had brought to both of them in discussing it. What would make Sage ask such a blunt, cold question like that now concerned him?

"Is everything okay between you two? Did you have a fight, Sage?" Sai asked softly, his puppy eyes filled with worry.

Finally Sage met their eyes. Heaving a sigh he pushed his plate away from him. "No. No fight. Everything's—"

"Morning," a sleepy, though seemingly cheerful Hali said entering the kitchen. Looking somewhat sleepy, though otherwise her usual cool self, she said, "It seems I couldn't get back to sleep after all."

As if the air had suddenly been cleared of a heavy weight Sai, Ryo, Kento, and Rowen smiled their good mornings to her as she poured herself a cup of coffee. Seeming more cheerful than usual, Hali moved to kiss Sage who seemed to only stare at her blankly, as though seeing something beyond the girl that now stood before him. All eyes were instantly glued to the couple when Sage unexpectedly flinched away from her lips and gentle touch.

Though Hali wore a look of pure confusion, Sage's held unrecognizing for her. Several seconds passed as Hali searched his eyes deeply with a look of curiosity and concern. But only Sage could see the slightest hint of suspicion and frustration that lie beneath those myriad-colored irises.

"What's wrong, Sage?" Hali asked as though hurt.

Snapping out of his reverie, Sage blinked at Hali before smiling warmly. But Hali was not convinced, for the ice in her boyfriend's eyes still remained untouched.

"Morning, Hali. Sleep well?" he asked, kissing her tenderly.

As if breathing a sigh of relief, the others went back to their breakfasts to give the couple their moment. Pulling her chair up to the table, Hali's thin smile remained.

"Sort of," she told them in her whispery voice. "I just had a lot on my mind last night."

"Oh really? Like what?" Sage asked, not without a hint of suspicion.

Sensing Sage's open suspicion, Hali hesitated for the space of a heartbeat, unintentionally drawing the attention of the others at this little exchange. Putting a warm smile on even broader than before, she gazed straight into Sage's eyes saying smoothly, "Just dreaming about when you'll get around to proposing to me, before another pretty girl catches your eye, Mr. I-can-flirt-my-way-out-of-any-relationship."

Sage's wide-eyed look of surprise and shock combined by Hali's sly look smile and wink brought grins all around that bordered on chuckles.

"Hey, that is not true!" Sage denied hotly.

"Oh, I'm sorry. That's just how you get into the relationships," Hali tossed casually, sipping on her coffee.

The laughter from his friends incited Sage to go from a sulky glare to grabbing Hali playfully around the waste. Amidst the laughter of his friends and Hali's playful batting at his perfected hair, he bent her over backward for a deep and passionate kiss. Laughter quickly turned into cheers from all present as Hali blushed deeply at such a public display of obvious affection.

"Score ten points for Sage, my man," Kento announced, slapping Sage on the back. Just then Kento's face grew serious as he cocked his head to the side, "Wait a minute. Do you guys hear that?"

"Hear what?" Ryo asked a moment later as everyone grew tense.

"Nothing," Kento finally said. "Just thought I heard wedding bells ringing and babies crying."

"Not in this life apparently," Hali tossed, sulkily.

"Pushy, today, aren't we?" Sage crooned caressing Hali's cheek.

"Well, I should be with your reputation," she whispered in his ear.

"Once upon a time and nothing more," he whispered just as tenderly, gazing intensely into her enchanting eyes.

Feeling the renewed warmth of the moment Hali melted in his embrace as he ever so slowly moved to kiss her. For just a moment in time nothing else existed for her but Sage's tender touch that tingled like tiny electrical shocks as his hand moved down the line of her cheek to her lips. Everything but the anticipation of the kiss was lost to her as her lips warmed to the caress of his fingers. Her heart pausing ever so slightly, she found herself enraptured by the warmth of the passion in his eyes. Feeling as though she would faint in anticipation, she closed her eyes to welcome his lips upon hers.

Out of respect for the two lovebirds, the other four turned back to their plates trying to ignore the scene before them. All, but Sai, who found himself suddenly wrapped in a blanket of confusion as he stared blankly at his plate as though unable to comprehend how he had gotten here. Eyes filled with bewilderment, he brought them from the plate of food before him up to where Sage and Hali who were on the verge of a deeply affectionate, intensely passionate kiss.

Shivering ever so slightly at the wispy touch of Sage's breath upon her lips, Hali wished the moment would last forever. But it was not to be. For in the next instant Sage jerked back from her touch as though he had been bitten. Eyes flying open, she found Sage staring at her with a look of pure confusion bordering on fear. All eyes once again fell upon the couple at the sudden sound of Sage's chair sliding back from the table as he jumped to his feet. Staring down at Hali with mixed fear, anger, and confusion, Sage shook his head. As if suddenly realizing they weren't alone, Sage met the gazes of the others. For just a moment his mouth moved wordlessly. Finding himself unable to explain or even understand himself what had happened, he closed his mouth once more.

The world spun crazily around Sage in rhythm with the confusion warring in his mind and heart. Part of him loved Hali desperately while the other part screamed against trusting her in any way. Totally lost within himself, Sage only lowered his head and closed his eyes tight as though to block out the confusion and conflict of such intensely powerful emotions. Balling up his fists at his sides, Sage began to tremble visibly as he fought for control of himself.

Unsure of what to do, but sensing Sage's confusion, Hali only sat helplessly looking up to him trying to meet his eyes. From Sage's other side, Rowen called Sage's name as all others watched frozen in their seats. When Sage refused to respond to his multiple calls, Rowen slowly stood and touched his friend's shoulder. As if obliterating all the strain within his friend, Rowen felt Sage's body relax at his touch. But Rowen's sigh of relief was cut off with a strangled gasp as his friend's eyes met his. Many times in the days of their battles against the Dynasty Rowen had seen this look. But never had he seen it before those days, or since those days.

Until now.

"Sage, what is it? What's wrong?" Rowen breathed fearfully, taking his hand off his friend's shoulder.

Eyes as cold and devoid of emotion as a wall of ice, Sage faced his friend coolly for a moment in silence. Then, moving his gaze to Hali, who only glared back with her unreadable, color changing eyes, he finally spoke just loud enough for his friend to hear.

"I don't know," he whispered. Turning back to his friend now with only the slightest hint of pleading in his eyes, "I don't know, Rowen. Something's wrong but I don't know what."

Taking his friend's shoulder gently in his grasp, Rowen faced his friend squarely intensity lighting his eyes. "Don't worry, Sage. We'll figure this out."

Even as Rowen was speaking, Hali gently moved to take Sage's hand in her own. But even before she could touch him, he recoiled from both her and Rowen. Taking several steps back, Sage alternated his gaze from one to the other. While Rowen slowly moved to advance on his friend, Hali only sat gazing up at him coldly.

"Just relax, Sage. Come—"

Overwhelmed, confused, and even afraid, Sage bolted for the back door hissing softly to all of them, "Just leave me alone!"

Kento and Ryo watched this entire scene dumbfounded. Sai, somehow, was not so fortunate. Unlike the others, he had sensed all the raging emotions within both Hali and Sage. While Sage's mistrust and confusion were obvious, it was the fear that had surprised him. Even more surprising was the open suspicion and anger he sensed from Hali. And it was she his eyes were now focused on as Sage bolted out the door and into the snow. With a blank expression he watched as she barred Rowen's path when he moved to follow his friend.

"What are you doing?!" Rowen hissed shoving her roughly aside concerned only about his friend.

Using his own momentum as well as her own, she gripped Rowen's sweatshirt in her arm and swung him smoothly to the floor. Regaining her balance with cat-like agility, she extended her hand to help him up while three other sets of eyes widened in shock at the two.

"Don't bother following him," Hali said, not facing any of them.

"But—"

"Don't. Bother," she repeated stressfully. "There's no point. Until he's ready to talk, there's nothing any of us can do. He's confused about something, disoriented. He needs time to sort things out in his mind first."

Four sets of eyes stared at her stupidly, as if unable to comprehend what she had just told them. Heaving a weary sigh, she faced them all.

"What…what could have done that to him?" Sai asked, gazing into Hali's eyes with a heart-wrenching look of concern.

Shaking her head slowly, she told him, "I don't know. But he's in no danger."

Seeing all of this, Hali suddenly felt herself on the verge of tears. She knew full well what had done this to Sage. Cursing herself silently for all of it, she turned to go back up to her room mumbling something about being tired. Hiding her silent tears, she made her way up the stairs and back to her room in bitter silence. Once there she closed her door softly, not wanting to hear what the others had to say. Consumed in guilt, she sank to a sitting position in front of her door. Determined not to give in to her tears, she thought back to everything that had happened that morning wondering where she had gone wrong. Unable to think of anything, she wearily heaved herself up from the floor. Shuffling exhaustedly into her bed, she fell onto it fully clothed. The last thing she saw before the numbing darkness of sleep closed in was Sage's icy glare asking her the one question she knew would have avoided all of this if only she could find the answer.

"Why?"