Disclamers and Warnings: See part one (I'm lazy, I don't feel like writing them out again)

Bad Dreams Part Two

Kento sat up abruptly, breathing hard. Oh God! Fighting each other and Ryou…and then Sai…then blackness.

"Kento?"

He had disturbed Sai. Torrent was staring up at him with bleary, but understanding eyes.

"You too?"

Kento nodded. "Yeah. It's ok though." He was aware that his thoughts and heart were still racing.

"Lie back down then." Sai said, reaching up for Kento, offering comfort. Kento lay back down, returning the favor of the embrace.

"That's terrifying." He breathed. Sai nodded. The other three men were now blinking at them sleepily.

"Ya too?" Rowen asked. Kento nodded. "What the fuck is goin' on?" The archer complained.

"Damned if I know." Ryou growled. Drawing Rowen against his chest as he sat up. Sage sat up and faced the other two. Sai was eyeing the threesome a bit strangely till Rowen smiled at him and he sat up, pillowing his head on Rowen's shoulder and leaning back against Ryou. Kento sat up too, and leaned against the arm of the couch.

"What do you think the dreams mean?" Sai asked.

"I have no clue." Sage replied. "It's something to do with the balance of the elements."

"Fire vs. Water, Earth vs. Air, Spirit…" Rowen trailed off. "Sage?"

"I said, I don't know."

"Vs. Tiger maybe." Kento chuckled, earning himself three glares and a reproving glance. "Alright, alright."

"Vs. Death." Sai said softly. "Of the four of us. It only makes sense."

"You gonna be ok?" Kento asked. Sai looked irrationally depressed over just some dreams. Damned scary dreams, but dreams nonetheless.

"I'll be alright." Came the quiet reply. "I just feel a bit depressed, that's all."

"Ah." Rowen was sympathetic.

"I think," Ryou began, "That there's a logical place to start here. Sage, you said it was something with the elements. Sai got the dreams first, said there was something wrong with the water." Sai nodded. "Well then, it's only logical to start with water." He turned to Sai. "Would the pond do? It's closest."

Sai nodded again. "Though I'm not quite sure what you have in mind Ryou."

"We can't fight whatever it is till we know what we're fighting, can we?"

"So you think it's another fight." Kento said, watching Sai carefully. Ryou nodded, his fingers finding their way into Rowen's scruffy blue hair.

"What's with everyone being so affectionate to Rowen?" Sai giggled.

"He asks for it." Sage explained.

"So does Sai." Rowen chimed in. "Kento's just slow."

Kento's head snapped towards Rowen and Sai started turning red.

"What?" Kento asked.

Rowen snorted, pulling Ryou's hand away from where it had clamped over his mouth. "I can't believe ya've nevah noticed." He said, shooting a quick glare at Ryou. "Sai's totally gone on you, really."

"Rowen." Ryou growled. There was no other way to shut the archer up. Rowen had hold of both his wrists and the man was stronger than he looked.

"Shut up Ryou. I think Kento ought ta get th' pictca." He turned towards Kento and Sai. "Fagive me if I'm wrong, Sai…but, Ken, Sai been sweet on ya fer…at least a year now. Probably longer."

"Rowen!" It was Sai's soft protest that finally shut Rowen up. The Brit's face had turned bright red.

"Sai?" Kento asked softly. Sai just hung his head.

"I'm…I'm sorry, Kento. I never meant to…"

"Shut up Sai." Kento interrupted with no real menace in his voice. "I'm not mad. I…is Rowen right?" Sai nodded, let his head drop further down on his chest. "Sai…" Kento chuckled slightly. "Damn it Sai, I'm not gonna start screamin' or anythin'. I've lived with those three too long fer that. Sai…look at me." Sai lifted his head. "I…I really don't know how I feel. I've never…no, I've avoided thinking about that. Which is stupid, but true."

Sai smiled slightly, then giggled and threw his arms around Kento who slowly returned the embrace and looked inquisitively over at Rowen. To his surprise it was Ryou who answered.

"You were really sweet." Ryou said, smiling. "And sensitive. I think" he chuckled, "Sai appreciated that."

"Yes, Sai did." Sai announced, squirming around to settle in Kento's lap, making sure that the other man's arms stayed around him. "What time is it?"

Sage twisted around to look at a clock. "Five thirty."

Kento yawned. "More sleep." He declared.

"But I'm no tired now." Rowen complained, leering suggestively at Sage and Ryou.

"Go up to your own room then." Kento told him. "I hear it enough. I don't need to see it too."

"Aww, Ken…ruin all my fun why don'tcha."

"I'm tired too." Sage cut in.

Rowen started to pout, not noticing the smirk on Ryou's face. At least, not till Ryou was pulling him off the couch and up the stairs. He tossed a very silly grin back at the other three before pasting himself to Ryou.

Kento chuckled and lay back down, moving Sai with him. Then Sai looked over at Sage.

"Are you going to stay over there, or will you come over here and get warm?" He inquired. Sage smiled and scooted over to the other two. They fell asleep as the sun began to filter in the window. A pile if Ronins attempting to forget what might be in store.


"Up an' at em!" Kento bellowed cheerfully into Ryou's room the next morning. (It was really only later that morning, actually).

"Go 'way!" Came Rowen's accented voice. Kento chuckled.

"Don't make me come pull you out of there."

Ryou sat up and nudged the lump hidden under the blankets next to him.

"Get up, Ro."

"Nnnnn."

"You asked for it." Ryou chuckled evilly. He proceeded to pull all the covers off the bed, revealing a stark naked Rowen.

"Damn you, Ryou." Rowen hissed. "Gimme th' damn covahs."

"Uh-uh" Ryou shook his head, grinning. With a growl Rowen tackled him, sending both of them flying to the floor. Kento was laughing to hard his sides hurt as he left the room, shutting the door behind him.

"They're up." He informed Sage and Sai once he was back in the kitchen. "They should be down soon, if they don't get too distracted."

Sage smiled. Sai giggled a bit. The two of them were still eating their breakfasts, Kento had scarfed his down and then been told to go check on Ryou and Rowen. Finally the last two Ronins came stumbling down the stairs. Rowen immediately draped himself over Sage's shoulders.

"Good morning." Sage greeted him clearly.

"G' mornin'" Rowen sighed, reaching for and downing half of Sage's coffee. Ryou sat down and stretched across the table for the cereal.

"So we're goin ta th' pon' today?" He mumbled with his mouth full. Sage glared at him and he swallowed before speaking again.

"Are we going to the pond today?" He asked. The others nodded.

"What could be doing this?" Sai wondered aloud as he placed his dishes in the sink.

"No clue." Ryou said with his mouth full again. Then he swallowed and turned to Sage, who was glaring at him yet again. "Stop glaring at me Sage. We're not at some fancy dinner."

"That's no reason not to be at least reasonably polite." Sage said, totally unaware that Rowen was still gulping his coffee. He finally looked at his lover when he realized that his coffee wasn't in front of him. "Get your own, Rowen."

" 'M too lazy."

"Damned right." Ryou chuckled. "Make me do all the work."

Sai blushed at the innuendo. Sage merely laughed slightly. Ryou was calmly stuffing his face and Rowen looked vaguely indignant.

"You were enjoying yourself." He informed Ryou.

"I wasn't complaining." Ryou snickered, then turned to Sage. "You missed out."

"So I heard."

"Oh will you all stop it!"

Everyone turned to stare at Sai. There were tears streaming down the young man's cheeks.

"Sai what's wrong?"

"I…I don't know…I just…I…" Sai was sobbing into his hands now. Rowen went up and drew Sai into his arms.

"You gonna be ok?"

"Yeah." Sai laughed shakily. "I just got depressed all of a sudden." He snuggled into Rowen's arms and whispered something to him that had the blue haired man laughing and squeezing Sai tightly. The other three were glaring slightly.

"I's nothin'," Rowen laughed.

~end part two~
Part three
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