Isas had been spending most of his time caring for Yasahiro. He seemed to be doing better since the last time he went to check on him, other than being extra giddy. He chalked it up to him being in bed all day. He wasn't the type to sit still and watch everything happen.

Niether was he.

He didn't like the idea of just waiting for everything to happen. He hated the idea of just waiting for everything to come crashing down on them and Saburo to end up in the hospital. Especially not with Saburo.

He felt awful about everything that had happened. He should have done better. He should have talked to him, gone to visit him in the accident, paid for his medical expenses-or at least have found a way to.

Maybe then, none of this would have happened. They would all just be friends and they wouldn't have to do all of these things. They wouldn't have the burden of trying to save the world.

They could just be normal teenagers.

He let out a heavy sigh, burying his head in his hands as he took a seat on his couch.

'I fucking hate this,' He thought, 'Why did it have to turn out like this?'

"Isas? Are you okay?"

Isas looked up. His sister Chiyoko was staring up at him, concerned. He ran his fingers through his hair, "Not...exactly, Chiyoko. Lately I've been feeling like I'm losing control over my life. Between Yasahiro getting sick and the...'things' happening with my friend, I can't focus. I can't calm down."

"By 'friend', you mean the guy you've been flirting with who's waiting for you at the door right now, right?"

"What?"

"He came in awhile ago. Said he was looking for you and that he wanted to talk to you."

"And you didn't think to tell me this sooner?!"

"You were busy!"

Isas shook his head, "Just let him in."

"She already did."

Isas hesitated to look up. His voice alone made him shake. He felt like he was going to have a heart attack. He stood up, still trying to look at the ground for as long as he could to prevent him from seeing his flushed face.

When he did look up, his intense anxiety had been depleted and replace with pure guilt.

Saburo was standing there, hands in his pockets and avoiding Isas' eyes. He didn't need to, however. Isas could see his sunken face from a mile away. There were dark circles around his eyes, his cheeks seem to be caving in, he was paler than a sheet of paper.

It took everything Isas had to keep his composure as he walked over to him and tried to look at him in his ember eyes. He forced a smile as he spoke, "Hello again, Saburo-San."

Saburo smirked, placing a hand on his shoulder, "You don't got to be so formal, Princey. Not after all the shit that happened the last time we got together."

Isas nodded, "Right. Would you like to sit down?"

The slightly taller boy shrugged, "Sure. Got nowhere else to be. Why not?"

Isas led him over to the couch. Saburo was noticeable out of breath as he sat down. A harsh breath escaped his lips and his hands shook.

"Are you all-"

"Fine," He answered harshly, "...Sorry. That...that was an overreaction. Been having those for awhile now."

"You've been under a lot of stress. We all got suspended, remember?"

"Yeah. Sorry bout that too. I shouldn't have dragged you into that. I should've fought that bastard when school was over."

"You shouldn't have fought him at all."

"Isa, you saw the shit he was doing. You heard what he said! I wasn't gonna let that shit stand!"

"Yes, but once again, you've landed yourself on probation! You know how that works, don't you?"

"Of course I fucking know! And if I could go back and not kick the shit out Akito and his little fucks, I wouldn't have!"

"So why did you-?"

"I DON'T KNOW!" He shouted, his eyes burning yellow.

Isas stood up, his heels bumping into the couch. Saburo balled his fists. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. After a few seconds, he opened his eyes again. The yellow glow was gone, but he was still visibly distressed.

"Look, I didn't come here to be reprimanded, alright?"

"Then...why did you come here?"

"I came because...because I wanted to see you again. I wanted to see...if you were okay. Don't think I didn't see you just a few weeks ago squirt out green goo outta your eyes and just come back a couple days later like it was nothing."

Isas hugged himself tightly and turned his head. Saburo grabbed his chin, turning his head back around to get a good look at his friend's now milky eye.

"Isa...what happened to you?"

"I...caught the flu and then...'this' happened. I can't see out of this eye anymore, and I need glasses to see out of my other one. I get migraines more frequently than I used to, and it's harder for me to focus in school because my head just constantly feels...fuzzy. That's why I'm so worried about you! I'm worried about all of us! This obviously isn't some minor infection-this is much more serious than you can ever imagine-"

Saburo moved away, "I think you know a lot more than you're letting on, Isa-kun."

Isas gulped. "What...what do you mean?"

"I see you guys. You all leave school and head over to the Falls. Sometimes you even skip school-and you never like skipping school. If your parents ever found out, they'd have your ass for fucking up your attendance. You told me so yourself," He started stalking towards him, "So why the hell is an over-achieving honor roll student like you skipping school?"

Isas was shaking. "I...you wouldn't believe me if I told you. Trust me."

"What? You got the antidote to the flu or something?"

"No. Nothing like that. But...I can't explain. You really wouldn't believe me if I told you-"

"Then show me," He reached over and grabbed his hand, "Show me what the fuck is going on so I don't lose my mind."

'You can't,' Isas thought, 'You don't know what it will do to him if he's so close to it.'

"Okay." Goddamnit. "But, we can't go inside."

"Inside of what?"

"The Falls."

"You've been inside of the Falls?"

"I have. Grab a coat and follow me. Chiyoko! Tell Yasahiro that I'll be back soon! And remind him to take his medicine!"

"Okay!"

Saburo raissed an eyebrow, "Yasahiro?"

"He's a friend I made. You'd like him. He's...eccentric."

Saburo shrugged, following Isas out the door.

'Gods don't let this screw me over.

---------------

Saburo never understood Isas.

He fingered that was mostly because he had spent so much time away from him since their childhood, but the time he did he knew him as a straight forward kid who didn't beat around the bush. It was physically impossible for him to lie or avoid telling anyone anything because he would get all tongue tied and sweaty.

Never did he have to drag the truth out of him like this. They had tried to walk all of the way there, but the pain in Saburo's lungs was so severe, they had to take the bus most of the way.

He hated that. He hated everything that was happening to him and everything that was about to happen to him. He hated to admit that he wasn't the healthy person he was just a week ago. Now he couldn't get up the stairs to his apartment without getting winded.

He couldn't afford to get whatever fancy treatment they were providing the other patients, but he sure as shit wasn't going to ask Isas to give him money for treatment.

He would never be able to pay him back and it just didn't seem right. Not after everything. He couldn't ask him to do that. He'd never ask him to do that.

"Hey, we're here," Isas finally said, tapping his thigh.

Saburo nodded as he pulled himself up and followed Isas off the bus. Isas led him up the the usual path up to the Falls, feeling his chest tighten as he did so.

He wanted to reach out and grab Isas' hand. Their hands were just inches away from each other-but he slid his hand back into his pocket, reminding himself of the whole Fujiwara incident.

He couldn't help himself anymore. He was losing control and he didn't know what to do.

'I have to do this alone,' He thought, 'That's what a real, normal man does. He does things on his own.'

He stopped, colliding with the back of Isas' head. "Shit, sorry-"

"I-it's fine. We made it."

Saburo looked around. The Falls were always a sight to behold. The area around them always seemed to be a lot more fresh the rest of town. The colors were brighter and the water was clear. It almost felt...pure.

He glanced around, looking behind the trees and bushes to see if something was a amiss. But everything seemed normal.

"Okay. So, whatcha gonna show me?"

Isas fiddled with his fingers, "Ah, well...please promise me that when I do this, you a, will not chase after me, and b, not leave before I come out."

"What?"

Isas sighed, "You'll see."

Saburo stood back. Isas walked to the edge of the lake surrounding the Falls. He took a breath, getting into a runner's position.

"Hey, what are you-?"

Before the words even left Saburo's tongue, Isas took off running across the lake's surface and into the Falls itself.

Saburo stood there, speechless. He had to have been hallucinating, right? There was no way Isas just ran across water like that. It was physically impossible. Unless...

He walked closer to the edge, putting his foot out. His toe touched the water. It lit up under his toe. His eyes went wide. He placed his entire foot down. The water beneath him lit up.

Holy shit.

He placed both of his feet down on the water and took off running. He was just about to jump through the Falls when Isas jumped out at him. They banged their heads together and fell back into the water.

"Ow!" Isas shouted, "Saburo, what the hell?! I told you not to follow me!"

"Oh no, no, no! You don't get to fuckin' tell me off when you just sprint across water like you were fuckin' Jesus or something! What the hell was that?!"

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you, and I'm not sure it's safe-"

"Oh, cut the crap, you princey ass bitch- Just tell me what the fuck is going on?!"

Isas opened his mouth to speak but was cut off by the sound of an engine revving. A woman with strawberry colored hair on a yellow Vespa popped out of the bushes like a maniac and screeched to a halt at the edge of the lake.

"Are you Saburo-San?" She asked.

"What's it to you?" He asked defensively.

"It's your mom. She's in trouble and you need to come with me."

Saburo's heart fell to his stomach. He could feel his blood run cold. The two boys exchanged a glance before they ran to the woman. She pulled them onto the Vespa and she sped off.

----------

A crowd had gathered in front of Saburo's apartment. Thick, black smoke billowed out of the windows as debris fell onto the street. Fire trucks surrounded the building, hoses aimed at the little Ramen shop below the apartment.

Saburo didn't wait for the woman to stop the Vespa. He just jumped off and sprinted towards the crowd. He pushed through the people. His heart stopped. He could see his mother being wheeled into an ambulance with a oxygen mask strapped to her face.

"MA!" He yelled. He pushed people out of the way and ran up to the ambulance. Some paramedics stood in front of him and pulled him away.

"Sir, you need to calm down-"

"What's wrong with her? That's my mother, I need to know-"

"Physically, she's fine. But she inhaled a lot of smoke and her breathing is compromised. We're taking her to the hospital now."

"I'm coming with her. I need to come with-"

Saburo stopped. At the corner of his eye, he could see him. Akito Chimon and his band of jolly idiots hiding behind a liquor store.

And they were laughing.

"Sir? Are you okay?"

Saburo pushed past him. He went into a full sprint. Akito and his friends started running. The blonde haired boy ran faster. He grabbed Fujiwara by the collar and pulled him down. He stomped on his face, digging his heel into his face. One of Akito's other friends jumped on his back. Saburo swayed and knocked him into a wall three times.

The boy finally fell off and hit the ground, groaning in pain. Another came running but Saburo quickly took care of him, landing a hard kick to his chest.

Akito was the only one left. Saburo ran head on. He grabbed Akito but the neck and punched him over and over until blood stained his hands and face.

He threw him down onto the floor and pressed his foot against his chest. He lifted his other foot high, preparing to stomp down and crush his ribs. He took a very deep breath.

And that was the last one he would take on his own.

A million knives seemed to pierce his lungs. He could no longer take a proper breath. The world spun and he went down hard.

As he collided with the earth and his vision went dark, the last thing he could actually see was Akito standing over him, wearing that stupid, shit eating grin of his on his face.