Chapter Two
Weekend Secrets
Rena sat quietly as she picked her food with her fork. She's successfully avoided both Rowen and Kento at school. But here? She was trapped. Yuki never mentioned anything about inviting them over. And now only the sound of the clock ticking was the only sound that could be heard in the Tomoe household. Joining the teens was Yuki's mom, dad and little sister.
When the boys arrived Kento almost jumped on Yuki's dad. He looked so much like Rena's dad, which was understandable since they are brothers. Luckily, Yuki's dad was way nicer and pleasant to be around. They just have been doing basic chatting about school and such until they ran out of things so say and were not just sitting around looking at each other.
Rowen looked up at Rena, who was still refusing to look at anyone. Kento, for them most part, was getting really annoyed at the silence and decided to speak up. "Ok, look, there's no need to beat around the bush about this. Here's the thing, Rena. We, Rowen, me and some other friends of ours, is going to a good friend of ours this weekend and YOU are coming!"
"Kento!" Rowen scolded and elbowed Kento in the ribs.
"What?" Kento whined in protest.
"Sorry," Rowen said after giving Kento a harsh glare.
"It's alright," Mrs. Tomoe replied with a sweet smile. "We're all trying to adjusted to this. I think a weekend with old friends sounds nice."
Mr. Tomoe raised an eyebrow at his wife. He wasn't so sure about that. Rena alone with a bunch of boys? He knew Rowen and Kento were her friends but he really didn't know them at all. Rena glanced up at her aunt with a look on her face that was asking if she was serious. Mrs. Tomoe just ignored both her husband and niece. "When will you be leaving?"
"Friday, right after school," Kento happily replied. He then looked at Rena, who actually looked back. He winked at her. "I have a jeep so I'll be driving. It will be a tight fit, but it'll work out. You'll love our friends. They're kinda crazy but fun to be with."
"You would know. You're the crazies of us all, Hardhead," Rowen smirked. Kento just shot him a glare for the misuse of his armor and nickname Hardrock.
"Then it's settled!" Mrs. Tomoe clapped her hands together. "This weekend you're going to spend with Kento and Rowen!"
Rena looked at her aunt then back to the boys. Kento smiled and gave her a thumbs up while Rowen gave her more of an apologetic smile and a shrug. She then turned to her cousin and kicked him in the shin. Yuki held in his yelp then smirked at her.
Rena gave out a silent sigh as she stood with her cousin outside of the school. He was going over the typical weekend 'What to bring' list to make sure she had everything. Soon Kento hollered her name and came running up to them with a sandy brown haired boy tagging along and scolding him for being to loud. Kento just ignored him. "So, you ready?"
"I think so," Yuki replied for her as she looked down. Kento just smiled at her.
"Oh! Rena, this is my bestest best friend in the world, Cye," Kento clapped a friend hand on the smaller boy. Rena looked up at him. This Cye looked like he could be snapped in two by Kento if desired. But he seemed nice. Cye gave her a friendly smile.
"Hi. I would apologize for Kento. But since you already know him, well," Cye winked at her. A small smile appeared on her face. His accent was cute. He was nice and the complete opposite of Kento in many ways. She watched them two carry on and closely observed them.
A few minutes later Rowen arrived with another friend of theirs. This one had black hair and animalistic blue eyes. There was definitely a wild feeling about him. He immediately smiled at the girl and offered his hand to her. "Hi. I'm Ryo. Rowen's told me all about you. It's nice to finally meet you."
Rena locked eyes with him for a minute. Everything about him was warm and welcoming. Surprisingly, to her, her hand went up and took his. The second their hands touched she felt warm all over. She looked at their hands and her eyes widened. She looked back to his eyes. Something was different about these guys. She quickly released his hand.
"Hey, where's Sage?" Kento asked when he noticed their blonde haired friend missing. Rena wondered about this Sage guy. She's heard girls giggle about him in school but never knew which boy he was. Of course it didn't help that she was avoiding people anyway.
"He left early today. Dental appointment," Rowen replied. "He'll come to Mia's later."
"I guess that's it then," Yuki said. He looked at his cousin. "Have fun this weekend."
Rena frown at her cousin. This was his fault. But nothing she could do about it now. Her aunt was too gung-ho about it. Once she got an idea in her mind there was no stopping her. And watch out if you try. Yuki gave Rena a hug before running off.
"Let's go," Kento said as he grabbed Rena's bag off the ground. He happily bounced to his jeep with the remaining teens following. Some wondering why they were even friends with him in the first place. All well. Kento was Kento and would never change.
The group piled into Kento's jeep. The boys let Rena ride in front. On they way to Mia's the boys took turns talking about Mia and normal stuff, leaving the Dynasty out of the conversation. Rena just quietly sat, barely listening to them. That was until Kento mentioned Ryo's pet. "Oh, Rena, we should warn you that Ryo has a pet tiger. But don't worry about him. He's really friendly."
Rena turned and raised and eyebrow at the black haired boy. She knew he had a wild side about him. But owning a tiger? Ryo smiled and nodded. "You'll like White Blaze. He's just a big kitten."
A few minutes later, Kento pulled the jeep up to a pretty large house. A girl, a little older than them, was already outside to greet them. "Hi, guys!"
"Hey, Mia," They greeted her as they climbed out of the jeep.
"You must me, Rena," Mia smiled. Rena nodded at the pretty brunette. "It's nice to meet you. I got an earful about you when Kento called me the other day. Welcome to my home."
The group turned their eyes to a rustling sound in the near by woods.
"White Blaze, here boy," Ryo called. Rena's eye widened as the large white tiger revealed himself. She watched with curiosity as the tiger happily strolled up to them and rubbed his massive head on Ryo's leg. Ryo smiled and petting his friend. "There you are."
White Blaze purred at the attention before turning his head to an unfamiliar scent. Rena held her ground easily as the tiger walked over to her. He sniffed her then rubbed his head on her leg. She looked at Ryo. Ryo nodded. "I think he likes you."
Rena kneeled down and scratched the tiger behind his ears. White Blaze practically smiled at the attention. Ryo noticed a content look on her face. That's odd. She has no fear of him. Usually people freak out at least little when they see him. I wonder why she's not afraid.
"Come on, I'll show you to your room," Kento grabbed Rena's arm and practically dragged her into the house.
"How's she doing?" Mia asked, pointing this question at Rowen.
"Ok. She's not really talking to us yet," Rowen replied, referring to the use of sign language.
"Do any of us know sign language?" Cye asked. "I don't"
"Not me," Ryo replied.
"I know a little," Mia said. They all looked to Rowen. He blushed and rubbed the back of his head.
"Um...I went out and bought some books on sign language," Rowen said sheepishly. "Kento's looking at them too."
"Not surprising coming from you. But Kento? He never studies and he's willingly studying this?" Cye asked surprised.
"I guess we should be too surprised. I mean, they have been friends since they were kids," Ryo said. Even he too found it a bit odd that they remained so close. White Blaze once again rubbed on Ryo's leg before heading off into the woods again.
Rena felt out of place. Here she was in a new house, with three new people she knew nothing about and two old friends she hasn't seen in years. Kento has showed her everything in the house in less than ten minutes. She looked around the living room. The guys were completely at rest here. They looked almost tranquil.
"Sorry, guys," Mia said as she returned to the living room. "A friend from work has an important lecture on Monday and is freaking out about it. I'm going to go help her. I'll be back later tonight."
"Ok, Mia," They waved.
"Sorry," Mia apologized again.
"Don't worry about it, Mia. We know you love to help a friend in need," Ryo replied. Mia smiled then left. "Well, I'm gonna go find White Blaze."
After he left, Cye mumbled something about a shower and headed upstairs as Kento made a mad dash to the kitchen. That left Rena alone with Rowen. He had his nose in a book. This she learn about him very quickly. She heard several students in school making fun of his because of his IQ. This made her mad. But she didn't say anything. She couldn't. Not many knew sign language. She felt anger building up inside her at that thought. She felt so useless.
Rowen looked up from his book when she suddenly stood up. "Rena?"
She just waved at him as she headed for her room. Rowen, not know what to say, just let her go. He turned his eye back to his sign language book. He had to get her to communicate with him. That was the only thing he could think of to reconnect with her.
Rena just about slammed her door. She fell face first on her bed and sighed. What was wrong with her? Why couldn't she just let go? She couldn't speak, big deal. At least she was alive. Rena sighed again before drifting off to sleep.
She wasn't sure how long she slept. When she did wake up the house was quiet. There was also a throw blanket laying on her so someone had came in to check on her. She pushed the blanket off and left her room. She went downstairs to see if anyone was there. No one was. They must have gone outside for some reason. Her stomach rumbled. She hadn't eaten anything since lunch.
Rena wondered into the kitchen. Mia and the boys told her to help herself to anything she needed. She felt odd going through someone else's cabinets to find something to eat. But she was really hungry and no one was around to get something for her. So she did just that. She looked for something to eat and ended up with a peanut butter sandwich and glass of milk. She sat and ate quietly on the kitchen counter. Rena had a couple bites left when she heard someone walk into the house.
"Ryo? Mia? Anyone here?" An unfamiliar voice called. She guessed it was this Sage guy. When he walked into the kitchen her eyes locked on him and her mouth hung open.
"What?" Sage glared at the new girl staring at him. Great. Rowen and Kento's friend is just like those annoying giggling girls at school. Now she's going to hang all over me too.
Rena popped the last of her sandwich in her mouth and slid off the counter. She began to sign to him.
- I'm sorry! I didn't mean to stare at you! It's just that you look so much... -
Sage noticed she suddenly stopped and covered her mouth. It was obvious she was saying something she shouldn't. Rena continued to stare at him then finished her signing.
- ...like a friend of mine. Forgive me. I didn't mean to stare. -
She gave him a small, timid bow before rushing towards the door he was standing in. Sage stepped aside to let her pass. But White Blaze appeared at that moment and came through the same door she was trying to exit from. He ended up brushing against her just enough to throw off her balance. Sage, instinctively, threw out his arms to catch her.
The second they touched a rush of power flowed over them and they both blacked out. Sage's head was spinning once he started to wake up. An unfamiliar voice met his ears as his eyes opened. "Ouch! That hurt! I'm never going to get us to that!"
"What?" Sage sat up and rubbed his head. He looked around a semi dark room, there was enough light for him to make out only one person in this strange place. Rena. She saw him at the same time.
"What are you doing here?" Rena demanded.
"I don't...Wait! You can speak?" Sage pointed accusingly at her. "But how? Kento and Rowen told me you couldn't!"
"Crap," Rena cursed under her breath and looked away from him. Sage was about to push the matter when a bad feeling stopped him. Something shifted in the darkness. Both Rena and Sage looked to the shadows. The thing moved again, sending more bad vibes to Sage. Without thinking, Sage summoned his sub-armor and leaped in front of Rena to protect her. Rena's eyes widened at the mysterious armor he wore. "What the...?"
"Who are you? What do you want?" Sage demanded from the unseen threat. A slight raspy laugh began to fill the empty space around them. Wind began to blow. "Rena, stay behind me!"
The laughter picked up, as did the wind. The unseen threat formed into a shadow figure outlined in blood red. It hissed at them and looked right at Rena. "You will die."
The shadow figure turned into a lightning like bolt and flew right at her. Sage threw his arms around her and took the hit on his back, which didn't hurt.
"Um...you don't have to..." Rena, glad it was too dark for him to see her blushing, started but got interrupted by a frantic voice.
"Rena? Rena!" It was Rowen calling to her.
"Yo, Sage? Dude, you ok?" Kento's voice also came to them.
"What happened?" Cye asked.
"Come on, Rena, Sage," Rowen cried again. "Will either of you two wake up?"
Sage groaned as reality came creeping back to him. He opened his eyes to the real light in the room. "What happened?"
"That's what we want to know," Ryo said looking down with an odd look on his face.
"Why are you staring at me like that?" Sage demanded.
"Why are you holding Rena like that?" Ryo asked with the same tone.
"What?" Sage looked down to see that he and Rena were laying on the floor. He was indeed holding Rena just like he was in that strange world they were just in. Sage could feel heat rising off his face as he released her so Rowen could take her. He sat up and rubbed his head. "What happened?"
"You tell us," Cye was the one to reply. "We came in and found you two on the floor."
"And, while you were laying there, you suddenly threw your arms around Rena," Kento glared at his blonde haired friend.
"Whoa! Hold on, Kento!" Sage frantically waved his hands. "I wasn't trying to..."
"Rena!" Rowen's relieved voiced interrupted them. "Are you alright?"
Rena nodded. It took a few second to realize what happened. She sat up too fast. Her head spun around. Rowen put his arm around her shoulder. "Whoa. Easy now. Sage, what happened?"
"I'm not really sure. White Blaze came through the kitchen door at the same time that Rena was going out. He must have bumped into her and when she fell I went to catch her and..."
Rena shot Sage a hard glare. He was caught off guard by the look and immediately clamped his mouth shut. Rena stepped in and started signing. - It's ok. We're fine. White Blaze tripped me on accident and we must have fallen harder than I thought.-
"That would explain why you're so dizzy," Cye said. The others agreed. Rena was silently gratefully they bought it. She shot Sage one more 'Don't you dare say anything' glare before Rowen and Kento helped her upstairs to her room. "I'm think I should get supper started. Mia will be home soon."
"Great! I'm starving!" Kento called from a distance. Cye laughed at his best friend as he headed for the kitchen. No doubt his stomach hear him, not his ears.
"You ok, Sage?" Ryo asked once he noticed a strange, but familiar, look on Sage's face.
"Huh?" Sage looked up at him.
"You look like you've just seen a Dynasty solider," Ryo whispered.
"Oh..um," Sage debated whether or not to tell him what really happened. Rena's glare reentered his mind and he decided against it. For now at least.
Mia returned just as Cye finished supper and had it on the table. Lucky for her. Kento was trying all night to steal some. Cye called up for his missing friends to come and eat. Ryo came in from outside. Sage was sitting in the living room read a magazine. He got up and meet Rowen and Rena coming down the stairs. He looked at Rena. She looked back at him. Sage sightly nodded to her. She assumed that mean he was going to keep her secret.
Rena tapped her finger on her arm. There was no way she was going to sleep tonight without talking to Sage about what happened. She looked at her clock. It was almost four in the morning. Rena kicked off her covers and headed for her door. She quietly opened it and slipped down the hall to Rowen and Sage's bedroom.
Inside both the boys were sound asleep. Rowen was sprawled out on his bed with a book laying on his chest and his cover partly hanging off the bed. A smile crept on to her face. She remembered him sleeping like that when they were kids. She walked over to him. She took the book and land it on the nightstand, her eye catching the title. It was a book on sign language. Next she pulled the covers over him.
Now for what she came for. Rena slipped over to Sage's bed and watched him sleep. She cocked her head to the side. Anyone could see why this boy was so popular with the girls. And he looked so much like...Rena shook her head. She reached up and placed her hand over his mouth. Sage was a light sleeper so he immediately snapped awake and sat up. He tore her hand off his mouth. "What do you think..."
Rena clamped her hand back over his mouth while placing a free finger over her lips to silence him. Sage gave her a questionable look. She signaled for him to follow her before releasing him and headed back out into the hall. Sage tossed a glance at Rowen before curiosity got the better of him and he followed her out.
The two ended up down at the lake. Sage waited quietly. Rena watched him for a few seconds to gather her thoughts. The look in her eyes told Sage what she was thinking. "Go on. I understand sign language."
Rena couldn't hold in her surprise as her eyes widened. She started to explain. - Ok. I'll tell you what happened but you might not believe me. It's not...It's kind of out there. -
"Try me. You might be surprised what I believe in," Sage smirked at the thought of their armors and the evil Dynasty.
- Alright, here it is. That place we were in...is my fantasy world. -
"Fantasy world?"
Rena nodded. - When I was a little girl, I was kissed by magic. By a fairy. He gave me the power to teleport into a fantasy world. -
"What was that thing that was in there with us?"
- I don't know. That thing never has been in there before. It's my world so only I can say was goes into it. That thing must have been a side effect of you entering into my world without my permission. -
"A side effect?" Rena watched Sage's reaction closely. He really seem to believe what she was saying. "And this fairy that kissed you? Is he the reason you were staring at me?"
- Yes. You two look so much like each other. At first I thought that you might have been him. -
"Are you safe in this fantasy world? Has there been any other kind of evil presence in there?"
- No. I am protected in that world. My fairy friend wouldn't let anything happen to me in there. -
"So, why did he give you this gift?"
- I don't know really. Although, one time he told me that his world might need my help. I'm not sure what he meant by that. He just told me to wait. That he'd come get me when the time was right. -
Sage nodded. He believed her. But still, something about this felt off. "And you haven't told anyone about this?"
- No. It has been a secret of my own...until now. I have no idea how or why you were teleported into my fantasy world. But after what I saw in there...I have a guess. -
Sage and Rena went quiet. Rena crossed her arms and waited. He knew what she was asking. It was his turn to spill. Sage looked up at the house. He was probably going to get scolded for this, especially by Kento and Rowen. Even though the Dynasty was gone evil still existed and there would be a need for them again. Anyone who knew about the armors would be in danger as well.
Sage sighed then sat down on the ground, summoned his sub armor and told her everything. Rena sat down beside him and listened. The danger she felt from his story scared her. Two of her closest friends were so close to death and she didn't even know. They mention nothing about this. Although she couldn't blame them. She could sense just a fraction of the danger they were in just from listening to Sage.
Sage waited for her to make the next move. She looked at his armor and placed a hand on his shoulder. Sage sat patently as she inspected the armor. She ran her hand down his arm to his hand. She pressed her palm to his hand. Next she looked into his one visible eye. Without thinking, she reached up and tucked his hair behind his ear. She shook her head slightly.
- You have such pretty eyes. You really shouldn't hide them. Sorry. I just can't believe how much you look like him. -
Rena got up and brushed off her pj bottoms. Her intension was to go back into the house and go to bed. But there was still something left unsettled. "What about Rowen and Kento?"
Rena paused. She turned back to face him. "They should know about this."
Rena shook her head. -No! This is none of their business. It's my secret and now yours. You have no right to tell them about any of this. -
"I don't feel right about keeping this a secret," Sage replied.
- There's nothing to feel bad about. This gift I have isn't dangerous. I told you already. Besides, I'm sure you don't want them to know you told me about your armors. There's no need to make them worry about me knowing. I'm going to be fine. So, let's just leave it at that. -
"I'm not sure," Sage narrowed his eye brows. On one hand, she did have a point. If he did tell them then they would just be worried about it all the time. Then on the other hand, it wasn't a good idea to keep this a secret. What if another hungry powered large floating evil master appeared? "I'll make you a deal."
Rena's eyebrows perched.
"I'll keep your secret if you stop feeling sorry for yourself and get back to the real you," Rena was shocked at his words. "Rowen told me all about you. You're not really like this. You lost your voice, so what? It's not like your death. There is two ways you can handle this, one, you can do as you are and feel sorry for yourself and just be miserable for the rest of your life or, two, you can get over it, be happy and return to the girl Rowen and Kento use to know."
Rena chewed on her bottom lip.
"Rowen and Kento are worried about you. When Rowen found out what happened he immediately went out and got some books on sign language. He's hoping that he can reconnect with you and bring your smile back," Rena looked at him in shock. She wonder about those sign books Rowen had but never thought much about them. "And Kento, he pretends nothing is bothering him. But it is. Now, do we have a deal?"
Sage could see Rena's mind was going ninety to nothing. She looked up at him and nodded. - Alright, you have a deal. -
Sage nodded as his sub armor disappeared. The two headed back to the house with a new friendship bond forming between them.
Like usual, Rowen was the last one up. He came downstair, his hair still a mess, and was met with a bear hug. "What? Rena?"
Rena pulled away from him just enough to give him a bright, friendly smile. Rowen blinked confusingly at her. Before he could ask what's up she kissed his cheek. - I'm sorry, Rowen! I didn't mean to be such a gloomy gus! Thank you for being such a great friend to me! You're the best! -
Rowen blushed and touched his cheek as Rena smiled once again at him then happily bounced away from him. "What was that for?"
"I dunno, bro," Kento said. "But she did the same to me when I got up this morning."
Kento and Rowen exchanged looked before look at Rena, who was sitting by Sage. Sage started talking to her and pointing at a photo album he was holding. Rena laughed at one of the pictures then looked up at Rowen and laughed harder. Rowen blushed harder when he realized what picture they were looking at. "Sage!"
"Oops!" Sage quickly tossed the album into the floor before bolting from the living room, with Rowen hot on his heels.
"Whoa!" Ryo cried as Sage and Rowen dashed passed him. He turned to Kento and Rena, who was still laughing with tears streaming down her face. "What's with them? What's with her?"
"Pictures," Kento grinned. Ryo picked up the album off the floor then began to laugh himself. The album was opened to a picture of Rowen painted up like a clown. Kento did this himself when Rowen refused to wake up one day.
Notes: Well that's it for chapter two. I think it's a bit long but I really need to establish the relationship between Sage and Rena. Hope you all like it and let me know. I don't own the Ronin Warriors! They belong to their rightful owner.
And sorry about any grammar mistakes. I've proofread this chapter this time. So hope that's better. Proofreading isn't my strongest point. ;p