Greetings Everyone! I know it's been a while since I'm shown myself here...cursed internet doesn't like me...however...I have been writing. grins wickedly I hope that you all enjoy this new fic... it's something different, at least for me. :) Ja ne!
Disclaimer: I own nothing...except a slightly crabby cow.
Arranged Marriage
By LadyHawk225
Chapter 1
Sage walked through the quiet forest calmly. His golden hair reflecting the bright rays of sunlight filtering through the leafy canopy above his head as he padded softly down the beaten path in the woods. He breathed deeply of the sweet morning air, listening to the cheerful songs of the birds as they awoke from their rest and greeted the morning.
Seeing a large, smooth, flat rock to the right of the path, Sage stopped and climbed nimbly to sit on the top, crossing his legs and settling his body for meditation. Closing his eyes, he allowed the slight breeze and warm sunshine to calm his spirit.
After what seemed like only a few moments, but in truth, was nearly half an hour, Sage opened his eyes again, leapt off the rock and back onto the path, returning back the way he had come towards the mansion in the distance. He rarely meditated for such a short time, but his mind no longer seemed capable of ignoring the excitement welling up within his heart. He smiled happily as he walked, dreaming about the day ahead of him. He chuckled in anticipation and excitement as he neared the house, walking up the back steps and into the kitchen happily.
"Well there you are!" Cye exclaimed as Sage wandered in and seated himself at the table and started eating the breakfast of eggs and bacon that the lithe cook had placed before him.
"Where have you been?" Ryo asked with a grin.
"Out meditating." Sage replied around a mouthful of eggs.
"Only you, Sage." Kento laughed. "You're the only guy I know who would spend the morning of his wedding day out meditating in the woods like some crazy forest guru."
"Kento, if Sage wants to meditate before his big day, good for him." Lori, Kento's wife, reprimanded him. Kento grinned sheepishly and threw his wife an apologetic smile.
"Yeah, Kento. What was it you did before you got married?" Rowen jibbed, grinning as Kento blushed.
"He got dead drunk, that's what he did!" Cye laughed.
"Aw, I was just kidding." Kento mumbled.
Sage laughed. "That's all right Kento. I'll tell you all a secret though. That was the first time I've actually had trouble settling down to meditate. I could hardly sit still!"
"Wow. There's a first." Sakora said, sitting on her husband's lap. Rowen grinned at her and pulled her closer, whispering sweet words in her ear.
"Aw, get a room." Ryo laughed at the couple.
Rowen stuck his tongue out at Ryo and sauntered out of the kitchen, carrying Sakora giggling and blushing in his arms.
Cye muttered something about too much excitement before breakfast as he began doing the dishes. Kento and Lori talked about something quietly while Ryo ran off to find White Blaze.
Sage went back to his breakfast with a smile. Finishing quickly and handing his dishes to Cye with a grateful smile, Sage went upstairs to start getting ready.
Half an hour later he stepped out of the shower, fresh and clean, his hair immaculate and started dressing in his black tux. Straightening his dark green tie and running his fingers through his hair, he gave himself a reassuring smile in the mirror and bounded out of the room happily.
Downstairs, he found chaos.
"Kento! Give me back my shoe!" Lori screamed at her husband who was waving her high-heeled shoe above her head and laughing.
"Nope." Kento grinned at her.
Lori cursed under her breath and began jumping wildly, much to the amusement of Kento.
Ryo was laughing at them while Cye tried to reason with Kento and tried to calm Lori down simultaneously. Sakora sat on the couch with Rowen, the two of them having a thumb-war while White Blaze looked on demurely.
Sage cleared his throat to get their attention. Lori took that moment of distraction to snag her shoe from Kento and stick her tongue out at him childishly.
"I'm ready." Sage said quietly, suddenly very nervous.
"Okay, let's go!" Ryo led the way out to the car.
The group piled into the car and Ryo pulled out of the driveway, headed for town where the church was. Silence deafened the car as it proceeded slowly towards town, all the occupants feeling either nervous or excited, or a mixture of both.
"So Sage, are you enjoying your last few moments of freedom?" Rowen asked slyly.
Sage didn't answer, feeling rather ill at the moment.
"I'll tell you what Sage, married life is great, just keep your wits about you, and you'll be fine." Kento said, ignoring the glare Lori was shooting in his direction.
"I wonder what she'll be like." Sage said quietly.
Silence reigned for a few moments before Sakora spoke up quietly to reassure him.
"Don't worry Sage. Your grandfather is a smart man, I'm sure he's found you an excellent match." She said, laying a hand on his shoulder.
"Yeah. I didn't know Sakora, and Kento didn't know Lori before we were married and look how great things turned out for us." Rowen gave his wife a smile.
Sage was silent for a moment before speaking again in a whisper that was almost too soft to hear.
"I wonder if she'll like me." He mumbled.
"Is that what's bothering you!" Kento cried.
"Sage, like Sakora said, you're grandfather knows you really, really well. I'm sure you'll be a perfect match for each other." Lori said.
"Yeah, besides Sage, who couldn't like you?" Ryo teased.
Cye smacked Ryo upside the head before turning to Sage in the back of the van.
"Don't worry. Everything will turn out fine. We've been through worse, I'm sure this'll be a piece of cake." Cye smiled.
Sage managed a small grin, flipping his hair away from his eye.
"Yeah. I guess you guys are right. Thanks." He said, blushing slightly.
"Anytime, bro. Now all we need to do is get wives for Ryo and Cye." Kento said, impishly, grinning as Ryo swerved the car slightly and Cye jumped.
"Arranged marriages are not in my cultural heritage!" Cye said quickly in a slightly high-pitched voice.
"So?" Rowen laughed.
"I don't have parents to set it up." Ryo jumped in.
"We'll help you find someone." Kento laughed as Ryo paled.
"We are perfectly capable of handling the situation without your help, thanks." Cye said dryly.
"Uh, huh." Rowen said, unconvinced.
"Honestly, when was the last time one of you guys were even out on a date?" Kento said.
"Why just last week!" Ryo piped up.
Rowen rolled his eyes. "Ryo, flirting with the lady who delivers our mail doesn't count."
Ryo began mumbling under his breath.
Sage stared out the window as the conversation raged around him, his mind drifting to his bride waiting at the church for him. He'd never even seen her before, but when his grandfather told him that he'd found him a match, Sage didn't want to argue with his grandfather's advice. Now he was on his way to be married. The butterflies in Sage's stomach mutated into bumblebees as he saw the church ahead in the distance.
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Anna sat stiffly in her chair as numerous Japanese women fussed with her dress and veil, making sure everything was in proper order. They chattered away in Japanese, sometimes addressing her though she could only nod faintly, not understanding more than a half a dozen words of Japanese.
Two weeks. Two weeks since she had first come to this country with Steve. Her real parents had died in a car accident nearly two months ago to that day, making her an orphan. Tears welled up in Anna's eyes as she remembered them.
The little Japanese ladies helping her get ready thought she was crying out of joy for the moment and nodded, chattered away excitedly. Faintly, Vera heard the bridal march song begin to play on an organ, and she was pulled to her feet and ushered out the door from the small room she had been in.
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Sage stood at the alter of the massive church stiffly. He had no idea how he had gotten here. His friends stood behind him, snickering softly and making comments, but Sage paid no attention to them. Lori and Sakora were sitting in the front row of the nearly bursting church, already staring to tear up.
Goodness, how many people had grandfather invited? Sage thought briefly.
His eyes swung to the organ in the corner of the church as a familiar tune began playing, Sage's eyes darting back to the doors at the far end of the church. He could see his grandfather smiling serenely from his seat near the front before turning with the rest of the congregation to the doors in the back.
Sage felt faint as the music reached a crescendo, and the massive doors began opening slowly.
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Anna's tears flowed more freely now that her face was hidden by her veil. Steve grabbed her roughly by the arm and pulled her towards the door which was opening. Good Lord, help her she felt sick.
She walked in a trance as Steve led her down the aisle towards the front of the church. She silently seethed in hatred of Steve, an associate of her father's from work who had immediately adopted her after her parents death. He was cruel and abusive; he had beat her often in the last two weeks. He smelled of alchohol and cigarrettes.
If only I had been born one year earlier... Anna thought sadly as tears coursed down her cheeks and she slowly made her way towards the alter.
She was seventeen, and Steve had made her leave her home in America and come to Japan so that he could marry her off before she turned eighteen and get money from the grooms' family. That was all she was to him. A means of getting money and a punching bag for when he was frustrated.
Oh, well. She thought to herself as she walked. At least he can't hit me anymore.
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Sage stared as he watched his bride approach on the arm of her father. She wore a simple wedding dress, the veil completely obstructing Sage from catching even a glimpse of her face, though he was able to admired her long chestnut hair which fell in waves about her shoulders and back.
Her father left her when she reached the alter, her head bowed and her shoulders trembling. Confused at her actions, Sage turned to the priest who was beginning the ceremony.
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Anna's shoulders shook uncontrollably as Steve left her at the alter with her soon-to-be husband. She couldn't even get a good look at him, her eyes were clouded by both her veil and her tears.
Fear gripped her heart as the ceremony began. She resisted the urge to run. What would he be like? Would he be cruel like Steve had been? Steve had told her that Japanese men liked to beat their wives regularly and work them hard all day long. While she didn't necessarily believe Steve, she didn't know anything about Japanese culture.
It took all of her willpower not to wail in anguish and utter despair as the priest continued in the ceremony. Not understanding one word of it she couldn't even find comfort in the soft words of the priest.
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Sage grew more and more uncomfortable as the ceremony went on. He could hear the other Ronin's whispering to each other behind him. They had noticed it too. Sage wasn't sure, but he thought that the girl was crying.
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Anna trembled violently as the priest stopped talking and she turned to the figure beside her, her new husband.
His hands came up to her veil and gently lifted it away, and Anna closed her eyes. She felt a hand under her chin and involuntarily opened her eyes to stare at the most handsome man she had ever seen, studying her with kindness and concern in his one visible eye. He leaned forward and gently kissed her lips, but Anna's mind was too clouded by shock and tears to do more than just stand there.
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Sage turned to his new wife as the priest finished the ceremony, more nervous than he had ever been in his life. A thousand thoughts fluttered in his mind as he lifted her veil, but they all quieted to silence as he stared at the most beautiful woman he had ever seen in his life.
Long chestnut hair framing her delicate face fell in waves around her. Her eyes were closed and he gently reached out and tilted her face up to meet his, and was rewarded with a glimpse of large, beautiful blue eyes studying him fearfully. He leaned forward and kissed her, noting the tears still fresh on her cheeks...
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"I'm worried, Rowen." Sage confided as the reception raged on around the two Ronin.
"You mean about your wife? I'm sure she'll be back shortly." Rowen replied, glancing towards the door to the ladies room where Sage's bride had disappeared to shortly after the reception had gotten under way.
Sage shook his head. "Not about that. I'm worried because she was crying during the ceremony. Rowen, she hasn't said anything to me, and she hasn't responded to anything I said. In fact, when she went to the restroom, she just tugged on my sleeve and pointed to it." Sage sighed.
"Well..." Rowen stammered.
"She hates me." Sage moaned, sitting in a chair and burying his face in his hands.
Rowen sat down next to him and rubbed his back.
"I wouldn't worry about it, Sage. She's probably just so nervous and excited that she just doesn't know what to do with her emotions." He said.
Sage looked up at him.
"Ro, she's been in the bathroom for half an hour."
Rowen grinned sheepishly. "Well, you know how girls are."
Sage rolled his eyes and moaned again.
"Look, will it make you feel better if I ask Sakora to go and check on her? I'm sure she's probably just doing her makeup or some other feminine thing." Rowen said, waving his hand dismissively.
Sage nodded slightly, and Rowen got out of his chair and walked over to where Sakora was talking to some of her girlfriends. After speaking with her briefly, Sage watched as Sakora disappeared into the ladies room.
"Why do you look so unhappy, Sage?" A low voice asked.
Sage jumped and then stood up, bowing respectfully to his grandfather.
"It's nothing grandfather." Sage lied.
"Nothing would not have you sulking on your wedding day. Tell me what is wrong." He ordered sternly, although his eyes held kindness and concern.
"It's just...grandfather, I don't think she likes me." Sage said.
"What makes you say that?" He asked.
Sage told him about her actions during the wedding and now at the reception, and his grandfather listened with a small smile.
"Yes, arranged marriages can be difficult." He said.
"What should I do, grandfather? I'm married to her and I don't even know her name." Sage said.
"You could try talking to her." He responded.
"I have, she doesn't say anything to me! Nothing!" Sage was beginning to feel a little irritated. He looked towards the door to the ladies room and was surprised to see Sakora and his new bride standing there, having just emerged from the bathroom.
Sage looked at his bride, she was just a beautiful as she had been at the alter, but it was obvious that she had been crying. Sakora shrugged her shoulders and wandered over to where Rowen was talking with Ryo, as Sage headed over to his bride, determined to talk to her.
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Anna blinked as the bathroom stall she had been hiding in suddenly opened, and a tall, dark brown-haired Japanese woman stood smiling at her. She grabbed her arm and began speaking rapidly in Japanese to her, while Anna tried to wipe away her tears and pull away from the woman, who was leading her towards the door.
However, the other woman was very strong for her lean size, and she pulled Anna out of the bathroom and back into the reception hall despite her protests. Her eyes locked on her new husband only a few feet away where he was talking with an elderly gentleman. The two appeared to be in some sort of heated discussion, because suddenly, her new husband was all but shouting. He turned to her a moment later and she paled, frightened.
Oh, no. He's angry with me. She thought, debating on whether or not she should run back into the ladies room as the other woman abandoned her and left to talk to some other people. She decided to stand her ground, afraid of angering him further by retreating.
Sage wandered over to his bride, concerned.
"Are you all right?" He asked her.
She didn't answer, but her eyes darted from side to side as if she was looking for a way to escape.
"Look, I'm sorry if you don't like me..." Sage began, but getting no reaction from his new wife, he began to get irritated.
"Well, the least you could do would be to answer me!" He exclaimed, throwing his hands in the air.
The girl's eyes widened, and she backed up against the wall, throwing an arm above her head as if to shield herself.
Sage froze, his arms still in the air and stared in shock.
Wide, blue eyes peeked up at him, fearfully.
My God. Sage thought, his whole body gone completely numb. She's scared of me. She thinks I'm going to hit her.
As the realization slammed into Sage, he lowered his hands quickly, and immediately began apologizing to the girl as knives of shame stabbed mercilessly at his gut.
Confusion was written clearly across her face as she watched him, lowering her arm slowly and watching him.
Suddenly, she opened her mouth and said something, Sage couldn't understand. He blinked at her as the realization hit him. Whipping around, he found his grandfather grinning at him wryly.
Sage looked back at the girl as she cowered against the wall and then back at his grandfather in shock. Only then did he understand.
She didn't speak Japanese.
"Rowen!" Sage called to the blue-haired man.
Rowen scampered up to Sage with a smile.
"What's up? Oh, I see you found your blushing bride." Rowen waved to Sage's wife.
"Rowen, I figured out why she hasn't been saying anything to me." Sage said, quietly.
"Oh yeah? Why?" Rowen asked.
"She doesn't speak Japanese." He whispered.
Rowen choked. "What!" He looked over at the girl in shock.
"Rowen, I think she speaks English, try and talk with her will you?" Sage said quietly. Sage knew that Rowen and Cye both spoke English, and although Cye was fluent, he didn't see the British boy.
"Uh, sure. What do you want me to say?" Rowen asked.
"Ask her what her name is and tell her mine, and tell her what's going on. I think she knows she's now married to me, but she's frightened. Apologize to her for me as well, will you?" Sage said as quietly he started over to where his grandfather was still smiling at him.
"Um, okay." Rowen said to Sage's retreating back as he turned to the girl.
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Anna watched as the blue-haired man approached her. She blinked at his smile, which made her feel suddenly warm. He stopped a short distance from her and Anna slowly rose up to her full height, watching him.
"Hello. Do you speak English?" He suddenly asked.
Anna jumped. This guy spoke English! Finally, someone with whom she could converse. However, she was still wary of him, despite his warm smile and words.
"Hello, yes, I speak English." She answered.
Rowen grinned broadly. "Wonderful!" He exclaimed, and Anna couldn't help but smile at his enthusiasm.
"I'm Rowen, what's your name miss?" Rowen held out his hand to her.
"I'm Anna." She responded, taking Rowen's hand and shaking it.
"Anna. What a pretty name. Is it American?" Rowen said.
Anna blushed at the complement and nodded.
"Splended," he smiled again. "So, I assume you know what's going on here?" Rowen said, casually.
Anna nodded. "Yes, I just got married to that man." She pointed to Sage who was in the middle of a heated discussion with his grandfather.
Rowen nodded. "Yes, his name is Sage. He apologizes for the confusion, he didn't know that you don't speak Japanese."
"Oh." Anna's eyes widened at this remark.
Suddenly, she thought of something.
"Rowen, Sage doesn't speak English does he?" She asked.
"Not a word." Rowen grinned at her.
Anna groaned and placed a hand over her eyes wearily.
"But don't worry, either he'll learn English, or you'll learn Japanese soon enough. I suspect the latter." Rowen continued.
"Okay." Anna said quietly. She wasn't terribly excited about the prospect of living with a man who didn't even speak her language and then having to learn a new language as fast as she could so that she could speak with him. However she didn't want to make Rowen angry, and she certainly didn't want to make Sage angry. Both men seemed capable of heavy violence, and she wanted none of it directed at her.
Rowen noticed her quiet demeanor.
"Hey, is something wrong?" He asked gently.
"N-No. Nothing's wrong." She answered quickly.
"I know it must be difficult, getting married to a guy who doesn't speak your language, but it'll be okay, you'll see." Rowen reassured her, placing an arm around her shoulders and leading her gently towards where Sage was still speaking with his grandfather. "Sage is a great man, my best friend, and I'm sure you'll do fine together."
Rowen smiled at her once more before wandering off to speak with the brown-haired woman Anna had been with earlier, leaving her alone with her new husband.
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Sage left his new bride and best friend and made a bee-line for his grinning grandfather, fury written across his face.
"Grandfather, how could you do this to me!" Sage cried, trying to keep his voice calm.
"Do what?" Sage's grandfather asked calmly.
"Matching me up with this woman who...who can't even speak my language!" Sage sputtered.
"Sage, are you unhappy with your new wife?" Sage's grandfather asked, nodding towards where Rowen was speaking with his bride.
Sage's anger quickly faded. "No. No, grandfather, she's very beautiful."
"Then why the long face?" The elderly man replied. "She will learn our language soon enough."
Sage's anger returned. "Grandfather! That'll take months! I can't wait that long to have a conversation with my wife! And besides, how does she feel about all of this?" He cried.
Sage's grandfather suddenly because solemn at the mention of the girl's wishes. "As far as language is concerned, Sage, there are more ways to converse and communicate than just by using words."
Sage nodded quietly at his words, recognizing the wisdom in them.
"As far as how she feels about this, she didn't have much of a choice. In fact, I think that marrying you is the best thing that could have happened to her, whether you or she understands that or not." The elderly man said quietly.
"What do you mean?" Sage asked.
"Just that I have my reasons for the things that I do." He smiled kindly at Sage. "Don't worry, Sage, things will work themselves out."
Sage opened his mouth to reply, but just then Rowen and his wife walked up to them. Sage saw his grandfather and Rowen retreating back to the festivities out of the corner of his eyes as he faced his wife.
She looked timid, not necessarily frightened, but a little wary of the situation, and of him.
Well, I guess grandfather is right, I'll just make the best of the situation. Sage thought to himself as he smiled gently at the woman and held out his hand to her.
Anna stared at the proffered hand her new husband held out to her.
Sage. His name is Sage.
She scolded herself silently as she timidly gave him her hand.
Sage took her hand gently and led her towards the dance floor, where couples were dancing slowly to a soft melody which had begun to play. Anna's eyes widened as Sage took her hand and placed it on his shoulder while holding her other hand, he placed his hand on her waist and slowly began leading her in a dance.
She couldn't help blushing as Sage slowly swung her around the dance floor, staring into her eyes and smiling gently. He didn't speak, they both knew she wouldn't understand his words, but his actions were enough to relay the message written clearly in his eyes.
Anna hardly noticed as the lights dimmed and the other dancers made a wide circle around the newlyweds. Her wide, innocent eyes were captured in his as they swayed gently to the music. Sage pulled her closer, and before she knew it, Anna's head rested on his chest and his breath whispered softly in her ear. She could hear his heart beating through his tuxedo, steadily hammering away in his chest and radiating in her ear as he held her.
Anna's mind numbed at the intimate situation, her fears evaporating in the mood. His breath tickled her ear and she allowed herself a small smile, feeling safe and warm in his arms as they continued to dance slowly. The song ended among uproarious clapping and a few whistles, and Sage lightly kissed the tip of her ear as he pulled away. The soft, gentle touch of his lips made her shiver, and yet her whole body was filled with a warm aura of complacency.
Anna looked up at him as they stood on the dance floor together, not noticing as the other dancers milled about them as another song began. Sage didn't move his arms from where they held her, as he looked down on her, smiling gently. Suddenly, Anna realized that there was no malice in his eyes whatsoever, but rather, the opposite. His eyes shone with gentle kindness and peace. Anna smiled back at him, no longer afraid of the man before her. As Sage began to lead her in another dance, little did Anna know as she smiled and danced with him, that she would never again be afraid of her husband.
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"The party's ovvveeerrrr…." Cye and Rowen sang in unison while swaying back and forth unsteadily. Cye was slightly tipsy and Rowen was just…Rowen.
"Lovely wedding, nice reception." Lori said through a yawn as she stretched in her chair.
"Yes, very." Kento agreed with her as he looked around the nearly empty reception hall. The guests and family members had long since left, the clock striking midnight nearby. Waitresses were cleaning up tables and waiters bustled about straightening chairs and sweeping the floor.
"They're so cute together." Sakora commented dreamily as he watched Sage dance slowly with his new wife in the middle of the empty dance floor. Anna seemed happy, she was smiling, her blue eyes shining up at Sage. Sage watched his wife's eyes as they danced, a goofy grin painted on his face.
"I'm glad that they were able to get over the whole 'I don't understand you, you don't understand me' thing." Lori said.
"Well, they still have to learn each other's language, so it won't be that simple unfortunately." Sakora commented.
"True enough. But still, for tonight, it doesn't matter."
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Sage felt positively giddy. He was barely paying attention to the dance he was leading Anna in, rather, he was staring into her beautiful eyes and resisting the urge to laugh maniacally and scream "Mine! All mine!"
However, his strict training came in handy in this situation as he restrained himself and settled for contentedly watching her.
"Hey, shouldn't you two be going somewhere?" Ryo broke the mood as he strolled up to the pair. Anna and Sage broke apart as the rest of their friends wandered up to them.
"Yeah, don't you have something to…dooooo?" Rowen said, grinning like the Cheshire cat.
"Shut it, Rowen." Sage growled.
"Anyway, we're heading out, and since we're the last, you two might wanna think about getting some rest tonight before you head out in the morning." Lori said, smiling gently.
Sage nodded slowly and eyed the entrance to the hotel that was part of the restaurant the reception was being held in. He knew there were reservations for himself and his wife waiting at the desk, and plane tickets for their trip to China tomorrow. Sighing, he bowed to his friends and took Anna be the hand.
"Cya buddy!" Ryo clapped Sage on his back, happily.
Rowen just snickered.
"Bye guys! Congratulations again!" Lori said as Kento ran to get their jackets.
Sage smiled and nodded as he waved goodbye to his friends, leading Anna towards the door.