Quality of Friendship     Sai's first day at his new school wasn't going to be a good one he knew.  After soothing his mother's worries that  he'd be alright he entered the school and nearlly got swept away by the mass of students crowding the halls.  But  he managed to slip into a room minutes later.
    Inside he found himself looking at two boys one with ash-black hair and a big frame and the other with long black hair.  On the table was a varied assortment of foods.  Both looked up at him and he blushed in embarassment.
    "Um, sorry.  I didn't mean to intrude."
    The bigger boy grinned.  "No prob, dude.  We're just hanging around."  He cocked hi head to the side.  "You new?"
    Sai nodded.  "Yes.  My name is Sai."
    "Well I'm Kento and this is Ryo."  Ryo nodded at his introduction, smiling.
    Glancing at his watch Sai bowed slightly.  "It was pleasant meeting you but I must go now if that's alright... I don't wish to be late for class."
    Ryo shrugged.  "Sure."
    Sai gave a tentative smile and a nodd before leaving the room in search of his first class.
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    "Did you feel that Ryo?"
    Ryo's eyes followed the strange new boy into the hallway.  "Sure did, I just wish he'd have stayed until Sage and Rowen got here so that we could be sure..."
    "Well  he's going to school here so this probably won't be the last time we see him."
    Ryo shook his head wearily as he gazed at his friend, "You know Kento, sometimes you surprise me with your sudden insights."
    Kento just grinned before resuming his vigil over the food.
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    Sai watched the empty pool from the bleachers at lunch.  He sat in the shadows so it wasn't surprising that the four boys who entered didn't see him.  Two of them, Ryo and Kento, he'd met that morning but the blond and blue-haired two he hadn't.
    Kento and the blond seemed to be in the middle of an argument and the hotter it got the closer the blue-haired boy was forced to the pool's edge.  Ryo seemed to interveen and the next secong the blue-haired guy landed in the pool with a splash, it didn't take long for Sai to realize he couldn't swim and without hesitation he ran to the pool and dived in.
    The water closed around him like an old friend as he moved towards the sinking boy.  Quicklly he wrapped his arm around him, but the boy, still frantic, thrashed.  Sai felt a sharp, strong blow to the ribs but continued upward.  Breaking the surface he moved over to the side.  Kento helped the shivering young man out of the water and Sai climbed out on his own, wincing slightly at the pain in his side.  But no one noticed because their attention was focused on the other.
    The blond was bent over the drenched boy and it was Ryo who seemed panicy.  "How is he Sage?"
    "He's fine, just in a bit of shock..."
    Hearing that Sai turned to leave but felt a hand on his shoulder.  He turned to face Ryo, the other three including the boy who'd almost drowned watching him, "Thanks Sai."
    The strange feeling came over him again but he shrugged it off.  "I'm just glad he's alright."  He started to leave but the blue-haired boy's voice stopped him.
    "Don't I even get to meet my rescuer?"
    A blush crept over Sai's face.  "Sai Mouri.  And I beg to differ on the claim of rescuer.  If I had not done what I did one of your friends would have."
    The guy smiled.  "Nope, you're a hero, buddy whether you like it or not.  By the way I'm Rowen Hashiba and that's Sage Date.  Thanks again."
    Sai nodded.  "I wish I could stay longer and chat but I do believe I have yet another class to attend so I must bid you farewell."  Quickly he gathered his books and coat and ran out of the room as fast as he could.
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    "Did you guys feel that?  It was like when I met all of you."  Rowen mumbled as he watched Sai's retreating back.
    "You felt it too?"  Sage questioned with a toss of his blond head.
    Ryo shoved his hands in his pockets, "We all did.  Kento and I felt it wwhen we met him earlier today."
    Almost in unison the two who were on the floor looked up and asked, "Who is he?"
    Ryo looked towards the door.  "I heard someone say his mother and sister own a pottery store.  What do ya say we check it out after school today?"
    "You go it dude."
    "Sure, buddy."
    "I guess I could cancel my date..."
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    Sai moved slowly trying not to irritate his side more than necessary.  He'd already decided not to tell his sister andmother because it would only make them worry.  Luckily he'd had an extra outfit in his locker and his hair had had time to dry so nothing was amiss except the pain in his side.
    He was concentrating so hard on acting normal he didn't notice the four boys outside of 'Mouri's Pottery' until he was almosst on top of them.  It wasn't much of a surprise that he recognized them.  "Um, hello fellas.  Is there something I can do for you?"
    Kento grinned broadly, "We already asked your mom if you could come with us to the dojo for some practicing and she agreed so grab something to change into and let's go before we're late."
    Sai blinked, not really liking the fact that he hadn't been consulted.  But his mother stepped out of the door and exchanged his school bag for the one containing his Karate outift.  The look on her face squashed any protest he would have used.  "Enjoy yourself Sai, and don't worry about the store.  Your sister and I have it under control."
    "Sure mum.  Thanks.  I will."  He watched her go back inside before facing the others with a shrug, "Well lead the way."
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    He securely tied his belt as he faced off against Rowen on the mates.  The other three watching from the side.
    Sai easily dodged the kicks and punches thrown at him but didn't make any attempt to hit back.
    Rowen's face had gone red and when he spoke he sounded a little upset, "Man, Sai.  Will you at least try to hit me?"
    "Alright, I guess I can."  This time when Rowen threw his next punch Sai caught the arm and easily tossed him over his shoulders, gritting his teeth against the stab of pain from his side.
    "Hey Sage?"
    "Yah, Ro?"
    "My butt's sore, so I think it's you're turn."
    "Right."
    Sai sighed heavilly as Sage stepped up  but easily slipped into a fighting stance.  The blone, he noted, moved with the ease of a cat.  His violet eyes were cold and intimidating but Sai wasn't easily intimidated and waited for Sage to make the first move.  He didn't wait long as Sage spun into a round-house kick.  Using his hands he blocked the leg, held on, dropped to the floor and swept the other leg out from under him and heard a satisfying 'thud' as he fell to the floor.  A moment later Sage was on his feet again and Sai got to his before doubling over in sudden pain.  When he hit the ground he must have hit his side by accident.
    Without realizing it he had ended up on his hands and knees trying to force air into his burning lungs, Sage at his side.  Looking up he met the violet eye dead on,  "Don't worry, Sai, I'll fix it."  He felt a hand on his forhead and a word echoed in his mind, 'trust'.
    "I-I trust y-you."  The blackness tinging his sight took over.
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    Sage healed him as the others gathered around.
    "What happened Sage?" Ryo asked.
    "I'm not really sure.  None of us were able to touch him but somehow he ended up with a broken rib and a pierced lung."
    "The pool.  Man, I thought I hit him..."
    Kento turned Rowen around, "Whatcha mean, dude?"
    "I paniced, in the water and I-I hit him but he seemed okay after and I thought..."
    "I'm fine.  Don't worry about it."
    Sage looked back down and blinked.  The kanji on Sai's forhead was glowiing bright blue-green and Sage knew, with one glance at Sai's widdened eyes that their's were too.  "Courtesy's min."  He stated as he sat down.
    "Wisdom."
    "Justice."
    "Virtue."
    Sai's face became unreadable and his kanji flarred brighter.  "Trust."  Then within the spance of a heart beat he'd gotten to his feet and left the room.
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    Sai's head spun at dizzing speed as he pulled his black T-shirt over his head and shoved his cloths into his bag.
    "Sai?"
    He looked up in puzzlement to fing Ryo leaning against a locker watching him with a concerned expression.
    "Hello Ryo.  Is something wrong?"
    Ryo's eyebrow rose, "Maybe you can tell me.  Why did you take off so fast?"
    Sai felt his face heat but he smiled softly at the other.  "I didn't mean to but I remembered that it's my turn to cook supper and I need to get back."
    "Do you know what happened?"
    "It has to do with me being Sai of Torrent, the rest of you wear the other four armours of the Ronin Warriors."  He spoke it quietly wondering if he'd said too much but Ryoo nodded, smiling.
    "Do you remember that room you saw Kento and I in this morning?  Where it was?"
    "Yes."
    "Meet us there at eight tommorow and try and bring something to eat, it's become a type of ritual of ours to eat breakfast together at the school."
    "Sounds good and please extend my apologies to the others and thank Sage for doing what he did for me, I really am sorry."
    "Don't sweat it, we understand.  Now get going 'fore you're late."
    Sai smiled again as he tossed his bag over his shoulder.  "Thank-you Ryo."
    Ryo looked at him in surprise.  "For what?"
    Sai headed for the door, as he passed Ryo, he spoke quietly not looking at the dark-haired boy.  "For being a friend."