Nearly a week had passed after the two ronins had been rescued from the small island, and already, Kento was starting to get back to his normal size and weight. He was anemic when they'd found him, and his arm had been badly damaged, but with a few days of eating and rest, he was feeling better. He'd nearly gotten an ulcer from lack of proper food, and so the first few days of eating normally again were difficult for him, on top of having a head cold. But, he was finally out and about again, taking Rowen up on his offer of free food.

Cye, on the other hand, was struggling. Many of his cuts had been badly infected and cepticemia had kicked in a day or so before they'd been found. It was close, but his fever was finally going down. His ribs were, indeed, bruised up, so most of the day, he just stayed in bed, staring out the window. He rarely ate, moved, or spoke. Kento managed to get him to talk once or twice, but that was it; though, in Sage's eyes, Cye had no secrets.

"It's guilt."

Rowen looked up from his book, blinking in confusion from Sage's random comment. He'd just been sitting there, minding his own business when Sage said that. Not sure what his best friend meant, he lowered his book and quirked a brow.

"What are you talking about, Sage?"

"Cye. I think he feels guilty about… you know."

"Te beach incident? Why would he be feeling guilty about that?"

"I'm not sure… Maybe it's because he was the one who convinced Kento to go to the beach with him."

"But he wanted to go, anyway. Nothing could have stopped them, or that sudden storm." He lifted his book again. "Cye's smart enough to know that." He finished, going back to his own business. Sage knew Rowen had a point, but he couldn't shake his uneasy feeling.

Just down the hall, Cye was sitting up against the headboard, his light blue comforter pooling on his lap. Again, his eyes were directed outside, where he knew the lake was. He was always fond of the water, but after what they'd been through, he had to question the safety and reliability of his element. He'd almost gotten them both killed, and if he had just been paying attention-! The knock at the door startled him a little, and he turned his head as the door opened. Who else but Kento would be standing there, although, he had a look of shock on his face at seeing Cye sit up in bed. He hadn't been able to manage that on his own in a while.

"Cye… are you feeling better?" He asked in a hopeful tone, and Cye lightly nodded. Still, he tried to avoid direct eye contact. Kento saw this and felt guilty, himself as he walked in with a book and a tray of food.

"Um, hey, I didn't know what you were in the mood for, so I brought up a variety! Chips, a sandwich, some juice a cookie…! Anything else you might want? Hmm?"

Cye shook his head and looked back, almost blankly, out the window. Kento didn't like it, and he set the tray down before seating himself almost roughly on the end of Cye's bed.

"I wont accept head shakes or nods or shrugs today, Cye! Come on, it's been a week! You need to start talking again!" Cye didn't have a body movement for that.

"Cye… Cye, for god's sake, at least LOOK at me when I'm talking to you! This has got to STOP!" But how could he look at him? How?

"Cye, say something right now or I'm just gonna walk out! Come on… I know you want to talk, so stop hesitating!" Kento could be rough when he was determined, but Cye hoped he wouldn't get physical like the last time he'd yelled like this. It was two days ago, when Cye was faced with him. Kento had lost his temper and shook him roughly, rattling his already hurting ribs. It took Ryo and Rowen to pull him away. Kento had never been forceful with him before, and it only fueled his guilt. After another moment, Kento stomped his feet and padded out quickly, slamming the door as he left, and the sound of it made Cye cringe. He wanted to talk, to get this messy event behind them, but how could he face Kento again?

"When it was all my fault… oh, Kento…" Cye curled up over his knees as far as his ribs would allow, and he let his tear of frustration fall freely down over his swollen cheeks. Though he was upset, Kento hadn't really left the hallway, and he stopped when he heard those words. He put an ear to the door, but he wouldn't dare go back inside after the scene he'd just made.

"I'm sorry… I'm sorry… I'll say it a thousand times, I'm sorry…!"

Kento had to try hard to contain his own tears, and he stayed at the door, unable to move away. Leaning his head on the door, he cursed behind his teeth, but not in anger.