All was dead silent at the Koji mansion. Outside, there was a major storm going on; one none of them was willing to risk venturing out into. Since they had seen the news report about the storm, originating at the beach, and since they had not received any word from two of their friends, worry spread around the entire house. Everyone was gathered in the living room. Mia was sitting on the couch with Rowen at her side, comforting her, Sage was standing against the wall with his eyes closed and arms folded over his chest, and Ryo was pacing.

"They should have called by now."

Rowen sighed for the umpteenth time, and looked up at his worried leader. He was going to tell him to calm down, but looking into his worried face, he couldn't do it. They were all worried for Kento and Cye. They had been gone since morning, saying they were going surfing at the beach, and it was already late into the night. It had been nearly six hours since the storm had started, and they were beginning to wonder what had happened to them. The last they heard from the duo was just before noon. They gave no indication that they would be returning soon, and now, everyone wondered if they would be returning at all.

Finally, just when Rowen was getting the courage to talk to Ryo, Sage pushed off of the wall. Rowen gasped. He hadn't seen Sage move or speak for a long time, and to see him step around the couch with fire in his eyes was quite a move, indeed. Ryo couldn't have looked more fierce if he tried. Sage stepped right into Ryo's path, and the other boy stopped. Sage was glaring, silently trying to calm the other down, but Ryo was too worried to be reasoned with that way, and returned the glare with equal strength.

Rowen was worried. Sage wasn't handling the situation with care, and it looked as if there was going to be a brawl. He noticed that Sage had a calm demeanor to him; his stance, his spirit, but his face showed one that matched their leader. Ryo, on the other hand, wasn't so calm. His hands were balled into tight fists, slowly turning white, and after a while, his shoulders had begun to shake. When that happened, Ryo broke the glare and he turned his head away as tears filled his eyes. Sighing, and letting down his glare, Sage took a step foreward and pulled their leader close.

Ryo was calmer now, and once his tears mostly stopped, Sage led him to the couch to sit in between Rowen and Mia. His head immediately went down into his hands, and his shoulders still lightly shook with sobs.

"My head hurts…"

"Oh, Ryo…"

"You're going to worry yourself to death at this rate."

Rowen disappeared into the kitchen for a moment, and when he came back, Sage was kneeling on the floor in front of him and Mia. Ryo had moved into a sitting position, laying his head over the back of the couch with an arm draped over his face. He looked a mess. When Rowen came back into the living room holding an ice pack, Sage helped Ryo lay down onto Mia's lap, and Mia held the ice pack to his head. Sage motioned that he and Rowen should leave the room for a moment, and Mia let them go, staying to watch out for the other. The other two then went out into the hall. Rowen took a seat on the stairs, and Sage leaned up against the rail.

"Ryo worries so much…"

"I can't imagine how hard it must be for him, being the leader. He thinks he has to protect all of us, and when there is even a small chance that we're in trouble…"

"What are you saying? You think Cye and Kento are hurt?"

"I don't know. I think we would all feel it if they were badly hurt, but since they left their crystals behind, there is still that possibility."

Rowen sighed and hung his head.

"I don't even want to think about it…"

"Neither do I, of course."

Both of them had a moment of silence, and Mia looked over at them from the living room, wondering what they were talking about so quietly. Was it something that they didn't want Ryo to know about? Rowen sighed again, and Sage looked at him.

"They said that storm was deadly… and it came out of nowhere! What if the two of them were… out there when it was starting up?"

Sage couldn't give an answer.

"I mean, I know Cye was out there, but cou he handle such a devastating storm? And what about Kento?"

Again, Sage couldn't reply.

"What if they were out there, and they're hurt somewhere! If they're okay, then why haven't they called us yet!"

Sage remained silent as the stalagmite he had been sealed in before.

"And furthermore, why aren't we out there searching for them?"

"The storm."

Finally, an answer, no matter how short it was. Rowen was getting hysterical, but Sage was calm as ever, if not a bit sad. He was equally worried, but he knew there were times when he was needed to be the anchor that held them all together. He had to be strong now, no matter how hard it was.

"Forget the storm! I mean, if we can defeat a dark sorcerer, we can survive a little wind and rain, right?"

"Rowen, calm down."

"I'm tired of being calm! Cye and Kento could be out there, fighting for their lives, and we're just sitting here doing nothing! I can't stand this! What is going on!"

Rowen suddenly gasped as Sage pinned him against the wall. If he had been just an inch to the left, his head would have hit a hanging picture. Ironically, it was one of all of them, happy. Rowen wasn't prepared to be pushed back, but Sage hadn't done it out of rage. He was holding Rowen's shoulders gently, and had a faltering expression. It was then that Rowen saw that Sage wasn't calm at all. He was just as worried. After a long minute, Sage let go of Rowen, and took a step back, but he didn't avert his eyes from his friend's.

"Ro, I can't give you the answers you want. I don't know where those two are, or how they're doing. But getting all worked up wont do them any good. Those two are strong, and no way in hell would they let something like, this storm, do them in. We can't go out in that storm just yet, and it wouldn't help them if we tried and ended up getting ourselves hurt. What we can do for them now is sit tight and pray that they're okay. Have faith in them, and they will be just fine. In fact, they'll be better than fine. Don't let your emotions get the best of you."

Rowen was touched by Sage's speech, and slightly nodded his head in understanding. Then, Sage brought Rowen in and embraced him like he had for Ryo. In his head, he made a small prayer.

'Be okay, guys… I want to be able to see your smiling faces again… and there's a welcome home hug waiting for the both of you.'

Sage closed his eyes tightly, still hugging Rowen. He was letting the fear get to him, too.

'We'll come for you as soon as we can… Just have faith!'