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'Mother always told me friends always came before yourself. I never had any friends though, so this meant nothing to me. Now that I have friends I still can't see why I would put them in front of myself. There was a time when I did believe this, when we were fighting for our lives, but living with them has made this saying mean nothing to me any more.' Rowen stared hard at the creature. 'If I ask for something I wouldn't know what to expect. What could the price be that this thing wants in return? What should I do ?'

"There's nothing to worry about mystical armored warrior." It said sounding like it read his thoughts. "I am your friend, you may call me Eadem. Whatever you wish can be yours. Anything at all. Isn't that what friends are supposed to do?" Eadem looked at Rowen, the same eerie stare it always had, but somehow it was different. "I know everything about you, I can see it in your very soul. Your desires, your pain, your longing. I can do anything for you, don't be afraid to ask."

"I'm not afraid." Rowen snapped. "Eadem, if your my friend why won't you tell me what the price is?"

Eadem's expression didn't change. "It all depends on the wish..."

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The room was silent, like it had been since Sage told what Rowen was feeling. It was tearing Sage up inside, Rowen was his best friend. He always knew that he wanted it to be more then that. Days when he would catch himself staring at him for no reason, and wondered how long he'd been staring. Sometimes he'd even just watch him sleep and wonder what dreams he was having, and if he was in them. Sage was always afraid to tell him though, it seemed like there was never a good opportunity.

When Sage first saw the darkness in Rowen's wishes, towards them he felt hurt. Hurt because the one he loved had a death wish against him, against all his friends.

Sage looked up. "I think we'd better keep an eye on him "

"Yes but how? He's locked himself in his room." Sai asked.

"We knock and ask if we can come in, and if he doesn't want us to come in, Mia always has a master key in her underwear drawer" Ryo said. Three pairs of eye looked at him.

"How would you know there is one in her underwear drawer?" Kento asked.

"Uhh, youknowuhhhehehe.."Ryo muttered fast.

"We shouldn't be concerned about Ryo hormonal escapades right now. We need to focus on Rowen." Sage commanded.

"Yeah" Ryo agreed.

"I'll go up to see if he want's to talk or something." Sage got up. "The rest of you can make a better plan." Sage walked out of the room.

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"It depends on the wish. Could you explain that more?" Rowen asked.

"No, if you want to wish, now's the time. Someone is coming" Eadem looked towards the door.

Rowen looked down. 'It came here for me, so it now or never' "Okay Eadem, I wish that my comrades would leave me alone once and a while."

Eadem's expression changed, its soft glowing eyes turned red, "I think you can do better then THAT!" It yelled.

"What?" Rowen asked nervously.

"You hate your friends! You want to KILL them, I see it in your soul." It moved closer to him. All Rowen could do was shake his head in return. "I am your only friend, I will help you get rid of them, if you like it or not." It whispered into his ear.

"NO! I just want them to know my style of living!" Rowen cried.

Eadem shook its head. "You know you can't lie to me, I saw it. You can't deny it."

True Rowen did wish they were dead but he never really meant it. They're the only friends he'd ever known. He just gets upset with them sometimes, but they've been through so much together. Their bonds are unbreakable.

'Oh god what have I done!' Rowen thought.

Eadem grabbed Rowen. "And you shall take them out with your own hands." It turned into a vapor, and flew into Rowen's mouth.

"No..." Rowen mumbled, before he passed out on the floor.

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Sage knocked on the door. "Rowen?" He asked softly. No reply. 'Is he ignoring us now?' Sage wondered. He tried making mind contact, but there was nothing. Sage tried the handle. 'Yep locked' He thought.

"Hey Sage." Kento said from behind him. "Just like Ryo said there was a key in Mia's drawer. Here." He tossed him the key. Sage caught it.

"He's not responding," Sage said. He unlocked the door. When he opened the door he saw Rowen laying on the floor.

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