Another day or two passed, and the stranded ronins were lying out on the beach on a blistering hot day. It was hard for them to recall how long it had been since they landed there on the island, and neither had the energy to do anything or go anywhere. Sure, they had found some vegetation and fruits to eat, but it wasn't enough to give them energy, and for Cye's sake, Kento wouldn't fish.

Kento was tanning nicely, but he was visibly a bit thinner, also, and the makeshift bandages that Cye had made him days earlier were not looking pretty. His hair was caked in sand and sweat, and his outfit could never be worn again. He strained to turn his head slightly to look at his friend. Cye's cuts were dark, especially the infected one just above his eye, and his skin wasn't tanning like Kento's, but he never did tan well. His hair was messed up badly, and his face was tinged slightly pink.

If simply being stranded in a place where there wasn't a shower or adequate food supplies wasn't bad enough, the bear attack had taken its toll on the water bearer's energy reserves. He barely moved, complaining of chest pain and he may have suffered a few bruised ribs. Whenever the tide started to rise, Kento had to pull his buddy out of the way, less he be dragged down into the hungry Ocean. Even if it was his element, it had proven to them both that it wasn't always safe.

Absently, Kento mused on how bright it was, and how warm he had been all morning. It was probably well into the afternoon by then, and he was just so tired. It was hot, he was hurting, and it made him absolutely miserable. Then, as he started to drift off, a cool feeling started to reach him, starting down at his feet, and it spread upwards. It was amazing… though it stung his open and healing cuts, the crisp coolness made his body feel relaxed. But, he had to wonder where it was coming from. He was almost asleep when the cold spread way higher, and that woke him immediately. There was water up to his waist, from the rising tide, and he struggled to sit up.

"Hold still…"

Kento was half-sitting when a hand rested on his shoulder. It was Cye. He was sitting up, something he hadn't been able to do in a while, and was looking a little more refreshed, as well.

"Cye… you feeling better now?"

"A little…"

"How did that happen?"

Cye looked back at the rising water and Kento got an idea of what it was. Maybe their five elements were more connected to them and their armors than they thought! Kento knew that there were times when their armors were slightly recharged when in their element, but he didn't know it could do so without their armors. He smiled, as Cye seemed to be okay, and they were high enough on the beach that they wouldn't be buried, and lied back down.

"Kento…"

He nodded, knowing exactly what the other was thinking. Though, Kento knew of only one place with a large amount of rocks, and it was impossible to get past the bear.

"Kento-"

"Forget it, Cye. It just wont work!"

"Then we'll make it work."

Cye got to his feet, and managed to help the exhausted other up. Soon, they were retracing their steps back through the mess of a path they had found during the storm. It was a slow walk, as Cye could hardly breathe without hurting his ribs, and Kento was a big guy with hardly any energy to use in carrying himself. Somehow, the two managed to find their way back to the large cave, and stood at a good distance away, just staring and waiting.

"Do you think he's in there? I don't hear anything…"

"I don't know… maybe we should go back."

"What?"

"Your energy can be easily recovered… I can wait until we get off this stupid island to recharge!"

"But we have no idea how long that could be!"

Cye looked around for a minute, and then spotted a cozy spot in the shade of a big palm tree, and he walked over. Kento wasn't sure what to think as Cye lowered him down onto the sand, and started walking off, but when he saw that his friend was going in the direction of the cave, he tried to follow; he failed.

"Cye! Geeze, man, come back! That bear already messed you up enough!"

The water bearer ignored him and kept on going, slowly, carefully, on his own. When his form disappeared into the cave, Kento held onto his breath. It was a few more minutes, it seemed, before Cye came back out and was helping his friend up. Cye was smiling.

"What is it…?"

"The cave is empty! We have a chance now, and we're gonna take it!"

The two slowly sauntered into the cave, and immediately, Kento could feel the energy around him, waiting to fill him up. It was amazing how much energy was lingering in the thick rocks, and it nearly brought a tear to his eyes when he sat down and let it flow into him. It was warm and filled him wholly and completely. He closed his eyes and stayed that way for a long time. Cye remained just outside the cave to watch out for the bear, but half a day passed and the growling fiend still had not returned.

As he sat and waited, Cye absently thought about their ordeal, and how the others were doing. He knew Sage would keep most of the group calm, but their hot-headed leader would not be so easily comforted. If only there was a way to contact them, to send them a message of wellness… but he could not think of any possible way that could work. Sitting outside for so long, Cye began to drift off, his energy reserves lowering again, and he almost lost consciousness- that is, until he heard echoed footsteps making their way to the entrance of the cave.

Cye looked up as his friend walked out, looking strong as ever; he was almost glowing. The water bearer smiled at this and took the offered hand that helped him back into a standing position. His ribs still complained, but he ignored that and walked with Kento back towards the beach. The brush seemed thicker each time they had to make the journey, but they had begun to pay it no mind. It just meant they had to spend a little more energy, and while they worked their way back down the path, they conversed.

"You appear to be much better, Kento! I guess that cave did the trick, ne?"

"You bet! Aw, man, if that bear had attacked right now, I'd have the upper hand, this time! If only we'd thought about that sooner, we wouldn't have gotten trashed by Yogi!"

Cye laughed softly, just enough so he could be heard, but not enough to cause himself too much pain. Kento really did watch too much television! ….Ahh… television… one luxury that the duo had taken advantage of until now. Usually, Kento and Rowen, or Ryo would be playing some loud, annoying video game, jumping around unnecessarily and slamming the controller around, but it was better than sitting on a beach getting sand all over you all day. Kento missed video games, the kitchen, his messy room; Cye missed his kitchen, his Suiki plushie, and the shower. Did he mention the shower?

Just then, as they began to see through the thick brush, both of them stopped cold. A tingling feeling, like a small electric shock shot through them, and after a moment of shock, a feeling of hope spread through them. That's when they stopped walking, and sprinted as fast as they could to the beach. Once there, the two of them paused again as the faint silhouette of a ship appeared on the horrizon.

"A boat! We're saved!!"

Cye squinted his eyes, and tightened his weakened senses and gasped. He sensed their own on that ship! He sensed…

"It's the guys! And the coast guard! 3"

"Wow! That's so awesome! Hey, guys! GUUUUYS!!"

The two shouted as loud as they could, standing on the edge of the beach, waving their arms about like mad, but the ship continued to sail right past them and the island. Cye was getting tired and sore, and knew the crewmen wouldn't be able to spot two people on a faraway beach, even if some of the passengers were their best friends and fellow Ronin Warriors. Instead, he had a plan. Kento was still yelling, until he saw Cye run to one of the trees and started to tear its branches off.

"Cye? What're you doing?"

"We have to make some kind of signal! If we can burn this stuff, maybe we can get their attention!"

"Cye… A little fire probably wont do much good!"

"Yes… but if Ryo is with them…"

"!"

Cye had a good point, and that made Kento smile widely. He quickly started up a fire in the makeshift fire-pit they had made earlier, and then helped gather some leaves and wood to burn. Within minutes, the fire was built large enough that nobody could miss it. However, the boat was now no longer in sight. Kento stood anxiously on the shore, while Cye resigned to sit, anxious.

"Cye… I don't see…"

"Easy…give it another minute…"

A minute passed, and then ten, and still no ship. Kento kept his tired eyes on the water, and Cye was the one who was giving up hope.