***
Mist surrounded everything. It snaked lazily around all the trees, and hovered over the water. The perfectly smooth surface reflected the night sky through the mist like a mirror.
A bubble floated up from the depths in the center, sending rings rippling out to the edge. This was followed by another. Then more, and several more. Something was rising from the lagoon floor, its silhouette could be seen in the moonlight.
Slowly the top of a red/brown haired head could be seen breaking the surface, rising more until the water gently lapped at the pale face, just below the closed eyes. The liquid slid from the head like a live thing, leaving it completely dry.
Cold green-blue eyes snapped open, fixing Rowan with an icy blast.
"SAAAAAAI!" Rowan woke screaming. He found himself panting in the dark lounge room. Outside it was raining, but inside was warmth. The fire was blazing, radiating heat, and lighting the couch with a flickering red light. He ran a shaky hand through his tousled hair and tried to steady his breathing. Instantly Ryo, Seiji and Kento were there beside him.
"What is it?" Ryo demanded fearfully.
"Are you okay?" Kento asked.
"What did you see?" Seiji inquired.
Rowan took in a deep breath. "The lagoon. He's in the lagoon. I know it. I don't know how we could have missed it, but he's there." He made to get up, but three sets of hands stopped him. "Wha? I gotta go see!"
"No." Ryo said firmly. "You're still sick. I'll go see."
"But Ryo-"
"Rowan, I said I'll go see. Now you get back to sleep. I'll be back when I can." He went to the door, putting on his coat and boots.
"Are you sure you'll be okay?" Seiji asked from his side.
Ryo gave him an uncertain smile. "No. But I'm the one who screwed every thing up, so I should be the one to fix it."
"Be careful." Seiji said, handing him a torch. Ryo nodded, clasped his friends hand, then slipped out into the rain.
It took Ryo about half an hour to drive to the lagoon. By the time he had arrived there the rain had stopped and a faint mist coated the ground. He left the headlights on, to light up a path to the lagoon. No way he wanted to end up falling in at this time of night. Especially with the way Rowan had smelled after his little dip. Ryo stepped out of the car, pulled the jacket around himself, and trudged towards the black pool. The torch made it easier to avoid the clumps of weeds that were either trampled by past human activities, or sticking up. All of which wanted to trip him up.
"Hello Ryo." Came a quite, calm British voice that he recognized. Startled he span and shone his torch in the face of his missing friend who was standing, looking down into the pool before him.
"SAI!" He breathed in relief and ran towards him. "You scared me half to death! Where the hell have you been? We've been searching all over!"
"I've been right here." Came the quiet-calm reply without him even looking up. Ryo shook his head, a sudden anger flaring through him.
"What the hell are you talking about?! We searched this place for days and found nothing! Where were you really?"
"I told you already. I have been right here."
"But... we looked..." Ryo stepped forward. "Sai?"
Sai looked up, fixing him with stern look. It was intimidating in every un-Sai-like way. "Yes?"
"Are... you okay?"
"Of course I am, Ryo."
"We've been really freaking out. When we saw your foot prints in the mud all those days ago we thought..."
"Thought what, Ryo?" A faintly amused smile appeared on Sai's face as he moved in close to Ryo with one liquid swagger.
Ryo was suddenly scared. Sai's expression was never that bland, and his voice held a dangerous edge to it. It was similar to how a really angry parent might not yell, but would hiss their disapproval. Ryo took in a shaky breath as Sai started to circle him.
"Did you think I would drown myself? That your harsh words would drive me to suicide? Is that what you thought?" Sai leaned back on a fallen tree, expecting an answer.
"I didn't know what to think, but yeah, when I saw your foot prints that did cross my mind."
Sai laughed shortly then shook his head. "I always knew you though so little of me."
"I don't Sai, really!" Ryo found himself almost pleading. "It's just that you're so-"
Sai stood suddenly. "So what? Weak? Emotional? Soft? Those were your words."
Ryo tried to gather his thoughts. "That's not what I meant. You're more like tender hearted, and I'm a real idiot. I said some stupid things that were really cruel, even though I knew that you would take them to heart. I'm sorry! I can't believe I ever hurt you like I did, I never want to do it again."
"Oh, don't worry about that." Sai waved his hand in a dismissive gesture. "Since I no longer have a heart, I can't be hurt by you ripping it out again." He smiled lazily. Or it would have been a smile if it reached his eyes. They stayed cold and impassive. "Can I?"
Ryo just stared at him in horror. "Oh Sai, I'm sorry. I'm SO SORRY! Please forgive me."
"There's nothing to forgive. I'm stronger now, and that's all thanks to you." He walked past Ryo, back towards the manor through the forest. He paused, looking over his shoulder.
"Come on Ryo. If you stay out too long the others will start to worry. They may even begin to think you couldn't take it any more and ended your own life." He started walking again. "Although we all know how important you are to saving the world. Don't we. Dear, dear Ryo."
Ryo shuddered, although it might not have been from the cold. "Why are you walking?" He called out. "I have the car."
"The battery is dead." Came the faint reply.
"But-" At that moment the headlights failed. Ryo stiffened. He was all alone. He listened to the sounds of the night. There was a faint pattering sound as remaining droplets dripped from leaf to leaf, frogs croaked, but there were no other sounds. Not even the wind. Sai's movements were silent...
/like... a ghost.../ Ryo shivered again, then quick as he could made his way through the forest to home.
to be continued...