June 2000 (Normal disclaimers -which I keep forgetting to put in- apply. Please don't think that any of these characters are mine. They're not. I'm just borrowing them for a while.)

At first all he could understand was cold. He was cold. So cold. Freezing cold. Beyond shivering cold. Cold and tired. He could feel the heat of the fire beside him and the fabric of the blankets around him- which he thought was not something that he should feel considering how cold he was, and the fact that he couldn't absorb any of that heat. How could one possibly get colder when surrounded by so much heat? It didn't make much sense in his mind, and that really, really irritated him.

They were talking excitedly. Their voices buzzed and bounced off the wall, distorting in his ears. He had no idea what it was that they were talking about, but he didn't really care either. He pulled the blankets around himself tighter in a desperate attempt to draw in the heat, but it didn't seem to be working.

Burning heat, similar to really hot bath water, or warm toast, or hot cocoa pressed against his forehead making him gasp. He leaned into it hungrily. He needed that heat more than anything right now. He wanted more. A strange tingly sensation spread from the heat over his skin, seeping into his bones, flowing through out his body from the top of his head to the tips of his toes.

Then the cold seemed to be sucked out of him through the heat. It was actually an interesting experience. Very difficult to describe in any other way than that he could feel the cold leave his body. He began to shiver as the ice that had gripped his soul melted and evaporated, then the shivering was no longer even a point to think about since the cold was replaced by comfortable warmth. He relaxed into the soft blankets, and sighed as the heat was taken away from his forehead. Slowly he opened his eyes.

His missing friend greeted his sight with a small smile.

"Sai?" Rowan asked his sleepy voice a little croaky. "You're back. I knew you would come back. I missed you buddy."

"I know, Ro." The soft voice replied.

"What happened to you? We were all out looking for you and-"

"Nothing happened to me." Sai insisted gently. "You just rest now, okay?"

Rowan nodded and rolled over, snoring almost immediately. Sai watched him sleep for a few moments then briefly looked at the others who were watching him with open mouths. He was holding a small ball of black goo in his palm. It had gathered there when he had placed his other hand on Rowan. Now as they watched, the goo began to shrink and steam, until it shriveled down into a hard rock-like substance. Black and shinny. Sai put it on the mantle above the fire.

"Why are you all looking at me like that?" He asked quietly, slowly turning to face them with cold eyes.

"W-we had no idea you could do... things... like that!" Kento stuttered, hand behind his head. Sai smiled his new found slight smile and silently sauntered over to them.

"There are lots of things you don't know about me."

Ryo shuddered.

Seiji checked Rowan's condition. "His temperature is completely back to normal! What ever you did to him worked."

"Good." Suddenly Sai was almost cheerful. "Any one for pancakes? Especially since the sun is now officially up?"

"Sure!" Kento whooped. "Man, no one can cook anywhere near as good as you Sai! You're the best! Seiji tried, but well..." He laughed at the memory. "Let's just say that it was no competition."

"Really." Sai considered Seiji with a raised eye brow.

"Yes." Seiji replied. "I must admit that while you were... away... we ate out."

"When we ate." Kento added following Sai into the kitchen, continuing to babble excitedly.

Ryo stayed with Seiji in the lounge room, waiting until they were out of hearing range.

"Did he say where he was?" Seiji whispered.

"No. Not really. He said he was always at the lagoon. When I questioned him..." Ryo gave a cautious glance towards the kitchen.

"Yes?"

"He... He got all creepy. Not like Sai at all. I think I really hurt him bad Seiji and he's trying really hard to cover it up. He says that there's nothing to forgive, but I can't help feel... I don't know. Intimidated? All of a sudden."

"It's his eyes." Seiji announced.

Ryo slowly nodded. "Yeah. I expected to see anger or hurt or ANYTHING in his eyes when I found him there, but instead all I saw was nothing. I still see nothing. It isn't right. Has he opened the link back up to you yet?" Seiji shook his head. "Me neither. I don't like it."

"After breakfast I'll go talk to him. I'll see if I can get him to open up and vent to me. Okay?" Ryo nodded absently. "Anyway, come eat! You haven't eaten for almost a week. No wonder you are feeling down."

Breakfast went by completely normal. Well, mostly normal.

Kento ate as much as he could, while chattering about how good a cook Sai was. It was hard not to marvel at his ability to inhale food and talk at the same time. It made you wonder where he really did his talking from...

Seiji had a few pancakes on his plate but mainly sat in stunned silence, watching Kento from behind his cup of tea.

Rowan had risen from the couch at the smell of cooking and was eating almost as much as Kento, although he paused to breath and speak.

Ryo ate slowly, keeping his eyes on Sai who was sitting across the table from him. From the looks of things one would suspect that Sai had never eaten pancakes before. Sai's eyes widened with wonder as he poured the syrup, watching the thick golden-brown liquid flow from the jug to the plate, streaming over the pile he had there, and pooling on the white plate. Without putting the jug down, he lifted his other hand and dribbled the syrup over his extended fingers. He set the jug down, and watched it all slowly drain down his fingers, dribbling slightly down his wrist, to finally drip onto his plate. Ryo watched as Sai brought his hand to his mouth and slowly began to lick the inside of his index finger. Pink tongue lapping at the substance from palm to tip, curling around the under side. He licked and sucked hungrily, making small noises, until that finger was clean, then he gave the next finger the same treatment. Then the next, until all four fingers were clean. Then he slowly sliced up his pancakes and ate thoughtfully.

Ryo was frozen wide eyed. He had never seen Sai eat like that. Looking around he noticed that obviously the others had not either. They were also frozen watching Sai do that with pancakes hanging from their forks and mouths.

Without even looking at them Sai asked, "Is something wrong with the pancakes?"

Abruptly they all said various "no, they're great!" 's then went back to shoveling their mouths full. All never taking their eyes completely off Sai as he continued to eat slowly.

After breakfast Ryo volunteered to wash the dishes and Kento to dry. Rowan went back to sleep on the couch.

Seiji invited Sai out to spar with him, to which Sai smiled slightly and agreed. Out in the yard they readied their weapons, Seiji with is sword and Sai with his staff. They bowed, then started to circle each other. Seiji attacked, Sai blocked. They circled again. Strikes flew back and forth. Seiji was surprised that he was not able to land any of his blows, and that Sai was only defending. They circled again.

"Are you still angry with us, Sai?" Seiji asked while they were circling.

Sai just gave him a blank look. "Why would I be angry?"

Seiji attacked again, Sai blocked easily. "Because of the stupid things we said before."

"Again, why would I be angry? You were only telling the truth, and without the truth I would never have grown stronger."

"How are you stronger?" Seiji thrust his sword, but Sai blocked and struck him instead. Seiji backed off, startled.

Sai just smiled, tilting his head slightly, then attacked. Like lightning, he hit every opening Seiji had, and even broke through Seiji's defense. Sai span, knocked the sword from his hand, then tripped him up all in one move. Seiji suddenly found himself on the ground and sat up to find the end of a staff at his throat. It was over in seconds.

/He HAS grown stronger!/ Seiji thought, lying in stunned silence, panting and looking up at the satisfied smirk on the face above him. Sai relaxed the staff and helped him up, not even slightly exerted.

"That was a good. Shall we go again?" Sai asked. Seiji nodded straightened himself up in a dignified manner, then moved to pick up his sword from a good distance away. "Next time, don't let your guard down. I don't want to think you are being easy on me."

/Don't go easy on him he says./ Seiji thought. /Don't let your guard down he says. If that's what he wants, than that's what he'll get!/

Ryo and Kento watched from the kitchen window as Sai defeated Seiji again and again and again, all without taking a single hit to himself. Finally Seiji limped back inside, trying to stay dignified, but failing. Still out in the yard holding his staff across himself, Sai looked up coldly, directly at Ryo. Ryo stepped back in a split second of spine tingling fright.

The look Sai gave him told him he was next.

to be continued...