The first day back at school was a normal one for the six friends.  They met up at lunch to, hopefully, have a quiet, uneventful time... At least once.
    "So, where are we going after school?" Kento asked as he stuffed a sandwich down his mouth.
    "I figured we go to the dojo.  Dad doesn't have any classes until after supper today," Sage said as he sipped some the his tea.
    "What are you going to help me with?" Sarah asked watching Kento eat with amazement.
    "Why do you keep staring at me?" Kento asked between mouths full.
    "It's amazing how much you can stuff in your mouth at one time," Sarah commented.
    "Oh, that's nothing. I've seen him stuff more then that before," Cye said sitting down next to Sarah.
    "It's about time you got here," Ryo commented.
    "Yeah, I met that new student," Cye explained.
    "New student.  What new student?" Sarah asked a bit surprised, "I thought all new students had to address the entire school?"
    "Yeah, well she was able to convince them not to make her," Cye explained.
    "Who is this new girl?" Sage asked with interest.
    "It's Yuki's cousin from America, Catherine," Cye answered.
    "Yuki's cousin?" Sarah asked not believing it. Cye nodded his head, but before anyone could say anymore bell rang to end lunch.
    "Well, I better get going.  Don't want to be late for Marine Biology," Cye said as he jumped up and headed out of the cafeteria.
    "I've got some work to do.  Hey Sarah, do you know what class Yuki has next?" Sage asked walking next to her as they headed down the hall.
    "Um, I think she has math with Rowen.  Why?" Sarah asked, giving him a puzzled look.
    "Take a wild guess," Sage stated as he turned down another hall.  Sarah shook her head and headed to her English class.

    Cye was on his way to class when something hit him.  It felt like someone came up and slapped him on the back of the head, but he knew that this feeling came from the inside. He sat down at his desk just as the bell rang, and the teacher started his lecture explaining about some of the endangered marine life.  Cye would usually be engrossed in the subject, but the feeling would not go away.
    "Mr. Mouri, would you please answer the question?" the teacher asked bringing Cye's attention back to his favorite class.
    "Um, could you repeat the question?" Cye asked nervously knowing he was in trouble.
    "I would like to see you after class, Mr. Mouri," the teacher stated, and Cye slowly nodded his head.
 

    The school yard was empty except for five figures that lounged around one of the large trees that stood on the manicured grass.  Three of the figures were sitting in the grass working on homework they knew wouldn't get done otherwise, one was sitting up on a branch reading his physics book, while the fifth was pacing back and forth in front of them.
    "Man where is he?" Kento asked as he walked back and forth.
    "Settle down Kento.  He probably started talking to one of the teachers.  You know how they get to talking and never quit," Sage said looking up from his
math.
    "There he is," Sarah said as she noticed Cye slowing coming down the stairs of the school.
    "Hey, Cye, where've you been?" Rowen asked jumping down from his perch.
    "One of the teachers had to see me after school," Cye said as he started to leave the school grounds. The others picked their stuff up and started after him.

    "Hey, did you guys see Catherine?" Ryo asked finally catching up to Cye.
    "Yeah, she's in my math class," Rowen answered, "How about you Sage?"
    "Yes, I saw her just before you met her," Sage informed, "Did you meet her, Ryo?"
    "Yeah, Yuki caught me just as I was leaving the school.  She's really nice don't you think?"
    "She sure does like to flirt, doesn't she." Rowen commented laughing a bit.  Kento slowed down his pace to meet up with Sarah who was at the rear of the group.
    "Hey, what are you thinking about?" Kento asked
    "Hmm?  Oh, I was thinking about Catherine.  Have you met her?" Sarah asked snapping back to reality.
    "Actually no, I haven't.  Have you?" Kento asked back as he stretched his hand up above his head.
    "Nah, but I did talk to Yuki.  She seems excited about her being here," Sarah said as they entered the Date dojo.
    "Hey, Sarah, come on. We need to get started," Sage said taking her things and  pulling her to the middle of the room.
    "Oh, Sage you're here.  I hope you're all staying for dinner," Sage's mother asked coming from the door that connected the dojo to the house.
    "Yeah, were going to stay.  How long till it's finished?" Sage asked.
    "Oh, probably in an hour or so," Sage's mother answered as she stood to watch them get started.
    "All right.  Come on Sarah we better get started," Sage handing her a bamboo sword. Sage started off showing her the basics, like how to hold it.  Rowen and Ryo paired up to do some hand to hand sparring while Cye and Kento grabbed some staffs.  Cye was working on his blocking some of Kento's attacks when he felt that something had hit him in the head again, but it wasn't Kento.  He tried to ignore it, but not matter what he did it would not go away.  Kento went for an attack to Cye's head thinking he would block it like he had been doing, but the next thing he knew Cye was laying on the floor unconscious.
    "Cye! Hey Cye, are you all right?" Kento begged trying to get Cye to respond.
    "Kento! What did you do?" Sage asked darting over to the two.
    "We were sparing and when I went for his head he didn't block it," Kento explained panic in his voice.
    "Sage, dinners about re... What happened?" She asked running over to the group.
    "We had a little accident," Ryo said gesturing to Cye on the floor.
    "Is he all right?" Sage's mother asked kneeling down next to him.
    "He should be.  It's only a small bump on the head," Sage replied nodding.
    "Kento, please take him up to the living room and set him on the couch," Mrs. Date instructed, and Kento did as he was told.

    Cye slowly opened his eyes and felt something cold and wet on his head.  He looked up at the ceiling and decided to figure out where he was.  He slowly sat up, the washcloth that was on his head fell to his lap.  The room spun around a bit and when it settled he found he was in the Date's living room.
    "Ah, I see you've woke up," Mrs. Date said walking into the living room and sitting down next to him, "How do you feel?"
    "Fine.. I guess." Cye replied unsure of what even had happened.
  . "I think you may have a small bump, but other then that, you'll be fine," Mrs. Date said feeling his head.
    "Hey, Mom, how is Cye?" Sage asked coming up from the dojo, his clothes changed into something clean.
    "Oh, he'll be fine," she replied moving over to reveal Cye sitting up, "I'll be in the kitchen if you need me."
    "Hey, Cye, how are you feeling?" Sage asked taking his mother's seat next to Cye as she left for the kitchen.
    "Things seem to spin a bit every once and a while, but other then that I'm fine," Cye replied.
    "What happened out there?" Sage asked, "Kento said that you were sparing and then you just phased out."
    "I don't know what the problem is.  When I was on my way to class after lunch today,  Something hit me in the back of the head, but it was on the inside.  Since then all I've been able to think about is Catherine.  Even in my Marine Biology class I didn't pay the slightest bit of attention to the teacher." Cye explained.
    "You didn't pay attention in Marine Biology?" Sage asked in shock, "You know I think I might know what your problem is?"
    "What?" Cye asked puzzled.
    "I think you have a crush." Sage replied smirking.
    "A crush? Are you sure?" Cye asked surprised.
    "Yeah, I mean you can tell," Sage replied.
    "Sage, dear, suppers on the table.  Tell the others to come on in," Mrs. Date said from the doorway, "Do you feel like eating, Cye?"
    "Yeah, I'm starving," Cye said as he stood up with Sage's help.

    There was hardly any conversation at the table that night.  Everyone was looking at each other then at Cye hoping he was all right.  Kento finally got the nerve and spoke up,
    "Cye, look, I'm sorry for hitting you like that.  I really didn't mean to," Kento apologized.
    "It's all right Kento.  I know you didn't mean to," Cye replied.
    "I think we figured out what the problem was though," Sage added.
    "Really, what?" Rowen his interest peaked.
    "Cye's in love," Sage answered.  Time seemed to stop for a split second as everyone froze in mid bite.  Cye turned a deep shade of red and tried to hide himself by scooting down in his chair.
    "With who?" Kento asked shock spread over his face.
    "Catherine," Sage replied.
    "Catherine? Hey that's great!" Ryo exclaimed.
    "Why is that?" Rowen questioned.
    "When I met her she said that she liked Cye!" Ryo explained.
    "Hey, she's staying with Yuki isn't she?" Sage asked as Rowen nodded his head in response, "I have her number, why don't we get them hooked up?" Sage suggested.
     Ryo and Rowen agreed and dragged Cye into the living room to call up Catherine.
    "Well, I'm happy for him.  It's about time he got together with someone," Mrs. Date commented as she stood up and started cleaning the table.
    "I better get down to the dojo.  My students should getting here soon," Mr. Date said as he left the room.  Kento lazily ate the scrap off his plate when he noticed Sarah still in mid bite.
   "Hey, Sarah, you all right?" Kento asked looking at her, but Sarah didn't move an inch,     "Sarah, hey, wake up!" Kento said waving a hand in front of her face.
    "Uhhh?" Sarah said finally snapping out of it.
    "Katie you all right?"
    "Yeah, yeah... I'm fine.  Cye had a crush on.what her name?"
    "Catherine, so it seems."
    "Kento, Yuki doesn't have any cousins," Sarah stated.
    "Well, maybe it's a second cousin or something," Kento suggested
    "I don't know. She never said that she had any relatives."
    "Maybe they just found out about her?"
    "But why wouldn't Yuki call me?  I mean we're friends.  When I'm not with you guys I'm with her."
    "I don't know..." Kento was then cut off by the cheering from the other room.
    "Hey, guys!  Cye and Catherine are going out tomorrow night!" Ryo announced.
    "Yeah, we need to do some planning.  Come on let's get back to Mia's," Rowen suggested, leading the way.
    "You two coming?" Sage asked peeking into the dinning room.
    "Yeah, we're coming," Kento said as he stood up and led Sarah out the door both with somber faces.
    "Hey, aren't you guys happy for him?" Ryo asked slowing down to match their pace.
    "Yeah, were happy, aren't we, Sarah?" Kento replied, nudging Sarah in the side.
    "Oh, yeah, we're just bursting with happiness," Sarah mumbled.
    "What did you say?" Ryo asked looking at Sarah.
    "Nothing," Sarah stated shaking her head.

    It was dark when they got back to Mia's.  Ryo, Sage, and even Rowen pulled Cye into the den to plan for his date with Catherine.  Kento headed onto the kitchen to talk to Mia and Sarah went right up to her room.  She closed her door quietly, walked onto the balcony and leaned on the banister.  She looked at the silver moon as it reflected of the mirror lake.  The balcony connected her room with the others on the floor, which also meant she was connected to the den.  She crept down to the lighted window and stood quietly outside.  Inside, the four guys were up and about showing Cye how to act
and what to do.  Sarah, depressed more then ever now, walked back into her room, locked the door to the balcony, and laid down on her bed.

    Kento told Mia what happened earlier, and was telling Mia how worried he was about Sarah.  Mia, decided she'd check on her for Kento, and then tell him what she had learned.  Mia walked up past the den grinning a bit when she heard all the planning inside.  She arrived at Sarah's door and started to knock when she thought she heard some sobbing.
"Sarah?" Mia asked knocking on the door, "I'm coming in,"  Mia slowly opened the door to a dark room.  The light from the door showed Katie laying across her bed, crying.
"Sarah, what's the matter?" Mia asked, sitting down next to her.
    "N.. nothing," Sarah said as she quickly wiped at her eyes.
    "You don't cry over nothing," Mia stated.
    "Who said I was crying?" Sarah asked sniffing a bit, as Mia just shook her head.
    "Kento told me what happened.  It's more then just who Cye's going out with, isn't it?" Mia asked as Sarah sat up in the bed.  Even in the dark Mia could still see where her tears had been.
     "Kento was the one that wanted me to come up.  He was worried about you.  He thinks that maybe you had a crush yourself."
    "Me?! A crush? On Cye!? Crazy," Sarah objected.
    "Sarah, we could tell you like him, and he likes you," Mia said putting an arm around her.
    "How could you tell?" Sarah asked leaning into Mia's grasp.
    "Oh, just by the way you and him acted. You can tell."
    "But why is this girl making him act like this?  He never acted like this around me!"
    "That I don't know.  Try not to worry too much," Mia tried to reassure her.
    "But, what if they do hit it off?"
    "If they do, we'll deal with it then, okay?"  Sarah nodded silently trying to keep the tears from falling again,
     "Get some rest and we'll see what happens," Mia said as she stood and left the room. Sarah settled down in her bed, but no matter how hard she tried she couldn't get to sleep. Sometime in the middle of the night, she heard the door squeak and looked up to see Kento peeking in.
    "You still up?" Kento asked opening the door a bit more.
    "Yeah, couldn't seem to get to sleep," Katie replied.
    "Yeah, know, I'm starting to wonder about this girl.  You know what you said earlier tonight about Yuki?  I think you're right.  You would of been at least one of the first to know she had a cousin from America, especially since you're from there," Kento said, sitting down on the bed.
    "That's one of the things that's been on my mind," Sarah said, looking out the window.
    "Yeah, are you going to be all right?" Kento asked sounding concerned.
    "I'll be all right. It just takes a little getting used to," Sarah said turning to look at Kento, "What time did they finally go to bed?"
    "It was about 2.  I've never seen Cye like this, it's almost like something is completely different.  I told Rowen about that and he just said that's cause he was in love, but he was in love before Catherine.  You know he really likes you," Kento stated looking right into Sarah's eyes.
    "Mia told me you guys could tell I liked him and that he liked me,"  Katie replied looking away quickly.
    "Yeah, well, it was kind of easy to guess.  You get some sleep.  I'll see ya in the morning," Kento said as he stood and headed out of the room.
    "Night," Katie called to him quietly as the door shut.
 

    The next day, nothing was going right.  Cye slept in, so there was no breakfast, and all Sage, Ryo, and Rowen could do was talk about Cye's date that night.  Kento and Sarah, who didn't want to be reminded of what was going on, stayed as far away as they could.  When they finally did leave, the air in the van was very unnerving.  They were still talking about the date, and Sarah wanted to so much punch any one of them and tell them to shut up, but she refrained.  It wasn't until the walk from the van to school that the trouble erupted.
    "Hey, Kento, what do you think Cye should wear for his date?" Sage asked walking backwards.
    "You're the one that likes to impress the girls, you should know," Kento mumbled.
    "What is with you Kento?" Ryo asked
    "If you really want to know, it's YOU!" Kento yelled.
    "What did I do?" Ryo asked
    "Kento, please don't fight with them," Sarah pleaded.
    "No, Sarah this had to be said.  Ryo, to answer your question, everything, ever since you got Cye hooked up with this Catherine all you three have been talking about is their date.  It's not like you.  Sage normally if you thought she was as cute as you do you'd be trying to get the first date not setting one up!  And Rowen, I haven't seen you crack a book since yesterday after school!  Ryo, you would probably be happy for Cye but you're acting like you've been watching way too much Barney!" Kento exclaimed.
    "Kento, they're just helping me.  I have no idea what to do," Cye stated defending the others.
    "Cye, snap out of it!  The other day you told me how much you really like a certain person.  Now you just shrug her off like she was nobody!" Kento yelled

    "Kento please, stop it!" Sarah pleaded again.
    "Kento what are you talking about?" Sage asked
    "Cye told me that he liked Sarah, and I know Sarah likes him.  You guys even said something about it at one time or another.  But now you all act like she doesn't even exist!" Kento explained.
    "I never said anything like that, we're just friends and that's all we'll ever be!" Cye spoke up, causing Sarah to look at him in surprise.  She looked over at Kento, who also had a look of shock on his face.
   "How could you even say such a thing?!" Kento yelled.
   "I agree.  Sarah's a good friend, but look at her, she's not exactly the prettiest girl at school," Sage said and the other two agreed.  Sarah stood there, not moving.  This wasn't them, something has control of them, she just knew it.  But no matter what she told herself, it didn't help.  The tears ran down her face in multitudes.  She didn't' say a thing and just took off down the street.  Kento looked at them with a face that said 'your dead' and ran off after her.

    It only took Sarah a minute or so to reach the school grounds.  She leaned against a tree to catch her breath, and was there when Kento ran into the yard.
   "I'm positive something is wrong.  I know they would never mean to say anything like that," Kento said putting a hand on her shoulder.
    "I know, but... they were looking me in the eyes the entire time they said it," Sarah yelled. Kento looked her in the eyes and could see the pain and hurt they had caused.
    "I'm sure we'll get through this, it just takes time," Kento said as he pulled her close to him and she cried into his shoulder.  The others had come through the gate and noticed the two by the tree, but just ignored them and went into the building.

    All the students in the school knew something was up, when that group broke apart.  They were as tight as family, and for them to fight, meant the world was ending.  Everyone could sense the tension that was in the air anytime Sarah or Kento were in the same room with the others.  Kento didn't eat lunch and stayed as far away from the others as possible.  He started sleeping on the couch, and after Cye burnt his and Sarah's food the first time, they started to order out for themselves.  Cye and Catherine got together and continued to go out.  They made a scene whenever Sarah or Kento were around.  Sarah never wanted to admit it, but she couldn't wait to go home.

    Sarah's remaining time in Japan went by slowly, but when the day came when she had to leave, she didn't want to.  Sarah was in her room packing her remaining
things when Kento walked in.
   "How are ya doing?" Kento asked.
   "Fine.  In a way I can't wait to go home, but I don't want to leave you.  You've been a great friend Kento.  You're like a brother, not that I know what one is like, but ya know.  You'd do anything to protect me.  I guess that's what a brother would do," Sarah said as she finished packing.
    "Sarah you've been like a sister to me too.  Promise you'll write okay?"
    "I promise."
    "Mia said to come on or we're going to miss Sarah's plane," Yuli said from the door. Kento grabbed a couple of Sarah's bags. The ride to the airport was a quiet one.  Not a word was said.  Sarah watched the scenery out of her window, wondering if she'd ever be able to come back. At the terminal before Sarah had to go by herself they said their last good byes.
    "You know, I always pictured this moment a little different," Sarah said, looking around at all the people.
    "We all did Sarah, I hope you'll be able to come back again sometime," Mia said as she hugged her.
    "I'll try Mia.  I'll try," Sarah replied
    "It was nice to meet you Yuli, I'm sorry about the guys," Sarah said as she kneeled down to face him.
    "Don't worry.  I'm sure we'll find out what's going on," Yuli said somewhat cheerfully.
    "Sarah, If anything happens, like Red Wing, or if you ever need to talk, call me.  I'll even pay the charges," Kento said, looking at her in the eyes.
    "I'll remember that.  Thank you Kento, I'll never forget you.  I'll even start writing you when I get on the plane," Sarah said as she flashed a fake smile, a tear
started to fall that she couldn't hold.
    "Sarah, everything will be all right, just hold on," Kento said as he hugged her and kissed her on the cheek, wiping the tear away.
   "You better get going, or you're going to miss the flight," Mia stated.  Sarah picked up her bag and headed toward her plane, looking back one more time wishing to see everybody there, but only locked eyes with Kento, one tear falling down his cheek.

    After Sarah boarded the plane, she took her seat.  The time it took the plane to take off seemed like forever, but once it was up, she stood up and walked back to the bathroom, and locked the door.  She couldn't hold it back anymore, and she didn't want to start in front of everyone.  So she sat down on the toilet and let her sorrow out.  She cried for the majority of the flight.

    Faraway, Red Wing watched the plane leave through a viewing portal in his throne room, which was once that of Talpa.
    "You've done a good job," Red Wing said.
    "Thank you my lord," a warrior replied.
    "It's now time to continue with our plan.  Now GO!" Red Wing commanded.
    "Yes my lord," The warrior replied as she stood and vanished from the room.
    "Soon, you'll be mine.  Very soon indeed," Red Wing whispered to the image that now appeared in the viewing portal.