Disclaimer: I don't own anything except OCs and plot. Bout it.
A/N: This chapter took me a long time to write, due to the fact that one character was being a pissant and didn't let me go further with one scene. I hope you enjoy it; and as always if you see an error; please tell me about it so I can fix it. Read, Review, fave it! Hope you enjoy Chapter 3!
Chapter Three
The roaring of the motocross bikes filled Sage with longing. His hands itched to be on the handles, guiding him through the participants who were his rivals. Satsuki and he were able to get into the stadiums free since Sage had perks to enter and exit as he pleased. Of course, today he was a participant in one of the mock-trials out of his need to release certain tensions he'd been feeling since over a year now. It hadn't been easy, but even after he received his armor from Suzunagi, he didn't feel much ease. In reality, he could be pegged as the most scared to don the armor.
He had thought, for a time, he could pursue a normal life; a life he so chose to live. But, as he should have accepted the fact that life for his comrades and he, it didn't seem likely he would ever get what he desired.
Sage was jolted out of his thoughts when Satsuki poked him in his waist. Looking down at his shorter sibling, he quirked an eyebrow at her. "What?"
"Yamato, Hideo is here, and he's walking our way." Satsuki pointed to a much taller, leaner man walking their way; already dressed in his motocross gear, minus his helmet. His long shaggy black hair reminded Sage of Ryo, but it was traced in blonde highlights and cut a different way. Yamato's face was rounder, and held a very noble presence. He broke into a wide grin that calmed his fierce look and clapped Sage on the forearm.
"Date! So nice of you to join us." Yamato beamed at Sage like a proud older brother. His dark eyes turned to Satsuki with interest. "Oh, you've brought a girl." He smiled at her, only to hear Sage abruptly clear his throat.
"Suki, this is Yamato, Hideo; the greatest motocross rider in all of Japan, as you've stated this morning. " Sage outwardly looked at her stoically; inwardly he was chortling at her glare she was currently giving him. "Yam, this is my little sister, Satsuki, who is only fifteen." He glared at Yamato who blinked and then belted out a nervous laugh.
"Oh yes. Of course." Yamato cleared his throat and bowed his head respectfully. "So, I hear you're my biggest fan then?"
"I don't believe I am your biggest fan, not as bad as this one here who has a motocross shrine in his bedroom." Satsuki jabbed a thumb toward Sage who looked quite appalled. He stuttered a few times which made Yamato chortle along with Satsuki.
"Well, between you and I, Satsuki-san, you're probably right." Yamato winked at her. "I bet he finds that I exude passion, and grace, and poise."
Sage snorted, "Yeah, right. You keep dreaming yourself awake, and you'll find you're living a nightmare."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"If you exude passion, grace and poise, you're pretty much very gay." Sage said with a shrug, getting a very shocked look from Yamato.
Seeming a bit put off, Yamato slightly chuckled. He ran a hand through his stylistically unkempt hair and frowned. A cool, brisk male voice came over on the intercom to ask all riders to report to their places. The races were about to start.
Sage looked at Satsuki with a grin, "Go, and find a seat in the stadiums and watch." He started to follow the departing Yamato who waved at Satsuki.
"Good luck, Seiji!" Satsuki cupped her hands in front of her mouth and shouted.
Sage grinned, and gave a peace sign before disappearing around the trailer with several people buzzing around trying to help the owner of said trailer to get ready for the race.
Ryo stared at the phone in his hand, frowning. He tried several times to call the Date household, but he'd always get the same answering machine message to leave his name and phone number, that they would get back to whoever was calling as soon as they were available.
He left three messages in hope one of the Date family members would give Sage the message. He had even tried Sage's cellphone, but Sage must have turned it off.
It worried him; he had gotten in touch with all of the others, but Sage was being the most elusive. Ryo would probably have to just go to the Date household and see if he couldn't find Sage there. Casting a look at the white tiger slumbering on the bed, tail flickering back and forth as if content, Ryo sighed. He hoped White Blaze didn't try to follow him out, since the tiger gave his landlord a scare several months back.
After several pleas and promises that the tiger would be removed to a different, safer location, Ryo had finally stopped getting unannounced, random inspections. And with no more surprises, and everything going back to normal, White Blaze suddenly started staying with him once more.
It didn't bother the Ronin of Wildfire one bit. He needed the company more than ever now that things were about to get very crazy. He wondered how they would react when he'd give the news of something sinister that was already starting to take over and had been for the last few months. Is that what Elayne was saying, specifically?
His head hurt from the crowded thoughts that went back and forth in his mind. It was hard, but he knew that it must be done. They had to know; even if it was something he swore if they would be called to arms again; he'd make sure to see if he could be the only one to suffer with fighting.
But, as eager as Ryo was, the new threat that he felt was much stronger and stealthier than Talpa ever dreamed. Then again it could have been the fact that they somehow felt weaker, and more divided even before Suzunagi's hand in their new armors. One reason Ryo knew all too well was of the fact he, himself, felt the tension the armors gave to the point it stressed out everyone. Their untapped enhanced abilities were still steadfastly growing day in and day out; he could feel the apprehension that grew within his comrades.
Now to add the fuel to that wild fire that was spreading haphazardly, it made Ryo on edge. And he knew that was why Elayne parted with him without giving too much away right then and there. She was one to conserve all her energy in pronouncing the inevitable to those who wished to remain as normal as possible.
With Ryo's father constantly on assignments across the continents, and being trained since an early age to fend for himself, he was used to not having anything to go home to or for that matter; not being afraid to leave anything behind.
His only concerns were for his comrades and best friends that he'd come to know and love over the last few years.
A growl from the white tiger caused the bearer of Wildfire to remove himself from his morbid musings. He shook his head to clear it and looked at White Blaze who was still slumbering on his bed.
His only fleeting thought as he departed was the big house cat better not shed all over his bed or there would be hell to pay.
Sage pulled his bike beside Yamato who gave him a sharp acknowledging nod. Sage mirrored Yamato before focusing his attention on the dirt road in front of him. He had a good chance today at beating Yamato, but it was his conscious that was at war with itself. He had the choice to let Yamato once again take the lead, or he, Date Sage, could easily overpower him. It was a gamble he was urging himself to take; but the dutiful part of Sage felt he couldn't risk the odds of these sports fanatics finding out who he was, thus putting his name in public where his grandfather could see.
A rebellious thought, but he couldn't help himself from getting himself mentally ready for the win. He could show his grandfather that life wasn't all about the art of Kendo or even teaching it. He could enjoy other passions as well, just like he did with meditating and the bamboo flute. This, of course, was considered much more dangerous than those ambitions.
He revved his engine. He was waiting with bated breath for the signal to tell them to start.
How long would it take Sage to overpower them? To compensate for his last lost and almost humiliation?
He shook his head to clear it. He was not going to fail; even if it cost him his freedom. Sage had to smile at his gloomy thoughts. Here he was seventeen, a Ronin Warrior who helped defeat the Emperor of the Netherworld, twice, and he was scared of his grandfather's wrath.
If his grandfather would have been the Emperor… he really didn't think he would have survived. His grandfather was a figure of twice the scariness Talpa ever was. Snorting back a laugh, he revved his engine again. At long last, the signal came and the riders were off.
Sage weaved his way easily through the crowd of motocross bikers. The roaring of the bike deafened all of his previous thoughts and he felt, for the first time in a while, free.
He couldn't hear what the commentator was shouting over the intercom, but he knew without a doubt he was at least second place. There was another rider on his right keeping pace, his long ponytail flapping in the wind like a black slithering snake. Eyes narrowing, Sage pressed the brake ever so slightly, slowing down to ease his way to be on the right side of the ever present rider. He then pressed the pedal and flashed forward, smirking all the while leaving the rider in his wake. Spotting Yamato's bike coming fast up ahead, Sage felt a surge of excitement. This was it. This would predetermine who would win this and it would help Sage prove his worth.
It was a silly notion to even think this would prove his worth to people that insisted they knew him so personally. But they didn't know a damn thing. He was deprived of a normal life thanks to his upbringing and his armor. His rigid personality was just a ruse, really; to please his grandfather and to make sure no one could read his thoughts. It worked very well; almost too well. The only one to have seen him shed a few tears was Rowen, but he still lacked the initiative to know what Sage was truly capable of.
Flying forward, he was now keeping pace with Yamato at this point. Yamato's head whipped around, as if startled by the oncoming rider who had somehow gotten through the threshold of riders that were faraway at this moment.
Sage gave a short wave and pressed his pedal to go faster. He was about to pass Yamato when Sage heard a pop and felt something hard hit his helmet. It caused him to stagger on his bike, but he managed to catch himself in time to avoid another piece of rubber hitting his helmet. Yamato's back tire had suddenly exploded, throwing remnants of rubber everywhere.
Sage avoided it with ease; gathering his wits and directing his bike around the champion. Relief swelled over him and he thanked whatever had come to his aide to be in first with all his might. Laughing quietly to himself, he pushed his bike's limits as he made lap after lap with no difficulty; knowing that the ones behind him would not take the lead any time soon.
Sage wondered if Satsuki was watching his path to victory. Against his better judgment, and in the lead with only one more lap to go, he couldn't help but glance in the somewhat filled stadium to see if Satsuki was waving her arms for him to see her. It only took that one second to cause something bad to happen.
Sage's eyes widened in seeing a dark haired teenager standing against the fence, her arms over the bar, looking intently at him. His breath hitched and heart lurched, the bike following the rapid beating of his heart as he lost concentration on his task at hand. Sage took the curve too loosely and felt a jolt as he rammed into the barricade sideways. He tried desperately to keep control over his rogue bike, but Sage knew by then it was futile. He heard the crowd groan and the commentator say something in a disappointing lilt as he came to a startling stop that caused him to come up from his position. He banged into the ground as his bike finally lulled to a stop in a heap near the finish line.
Disappointment surged through him fiercely as he watched the long haired biker finish first place. Cheers roared through the stadium from the limited onlookers while some booed for Sage's sake. He still felt no respite due to how he lost. He was so close – oh so close. He slammed his gloved fist into the ground, making a dent in the dirt. He cursed under his breath as he looked around to see where the dark haired teenager went. He had seen no sign of her after looking for a few minutes. Paramedics came to help him; but he politely refused their attention as he got up and took his bike to be cleaned and put away. He had gone to congratulate the biker who won, but stopped in his tracks when he noticed that the biker was not a man, but a woman – well a teenager his age, he supposed.
Sage felt a burning sensation fly across his senses as he saw red. He couldn't believe it…A girl had beat him? A girl? He knew girls were not weak as his mind was insisting, but he couldn't help but feel a bit insulted that a girl beat him at his sport that he was really good in, aside from Kendo, and his other pursuits.
He squelched down the anger, put his bike up, and spent his time looking around; trying to find the person who was responsible for his failure to achieve what he wanted. The distraction that allured him to his victory's demise.
He stopped short upon seeing Satsuki enjoying a snack from one of the vendors. She was talking animatedly with a girl with long dark hair, pulled into a ponytail. Her stance was just as he remembered it.
"Oh hi Sage!" Satsuki said brightly, "Shame you lost,"
Sage's eyes twitched from his little sister's careless tone and cleared his throat. "You could have more sympathy for your elder brother who was about to win, you know. And, you," he pointed at the tall girl who looked back at him with hardened violet eyes, "what are you doing here?"
"Is that how you greet your imouto, Seiji?" Elayne said coolly as she crossed her arms; her eyes still held the detached look.
"Hardly." Sage said bitingly, "You could give someone a warning before you show up and surprise them."
"Now Seiji, what did we learn from our previous visit? Never accuse someone without valid reason and valid, hard evidence that you can back up with facts."
Sage worked his jaw and stared at Satsuki. "Let's go."
"I'm not ready to go, niisan." Satsuki groused, "Just because you're bitter because you lost to a girl…"
"I am not bitter…now let's go; it's getting late and I have class to teach." Sage then let his eyes fall on Elayne. "You better go back to wherever you came from. You're not welcomed here."
Hurt flashed across Elayne's face before she masked it. She snorted, "Typical."
"With you, comes trouble, Elayne. I don't want any part of it."
"You honestly think I wanted to be this!" Elayne raged hotly. She pointed an accusing finger at Sage. "You of all people should understand I do not want any part of this yet you all drag me into this and blame me! Typical!."
Sage worked his jaw a bit before turning his back on her. As far as he was concerned, the last time they were even in a close vicinity of each other had bad end results and clearly still in the air.
"Come on, Layne, you're welcomed to our house. Regardless of what Old Dragon jr. thinks." Satsuki said the last part so Sage could hear.
Sage stopped in his tracks and turned to glare at Satsuki who only waved him off boredly. "I don't care what negative history you two have with each other; but this is my visit with my sister so shove it where the sun doesn't shine, Sage and walk with it happily until you get over yourself." Satsuki looked at Elayne. "Kaa-san would absolutely go crazy seeing you,"
Elayne smiled, "Well, I guess I can spare a few hours to see Umeko-san."
The girl kept a close eye on the retreating forms, one stoic young man, two girls who were chatting animatedly with each other. It seemed like they were a family of three siblings, with the older brother looking around as if ready for an attack, and the girls just enjoying each other's company. She saw the dark haired, taller girl glance her way with a steely gaze, before bring their attention back on the shorter one. A thrill went down the girl's back and she smiled. Soon…it would all be out in the open soon…
After taking his leave from Rowen, Cye had taken his usual mission to the store and then home to his apartment. On his way, he thought about the implications behind Ryo's urgent request they take a break from life and go up to Mia's. Ryo cited the need of this particular outing was because Mia was due to arrive that Saturday morning, and it would have been good if all five Ronin took the initiative to greet her. It would also put all of them in better spirits.
Cye had his doubts. He wasn't much for an outing; especially if it had anything to do with all five of them together again. It was strange, and a bit odd that the last time they had been in close range of each other; it had turned sour very quickly. Being with one of them one on one didn't seem to bother him…and that sentiment seemed to outreach all of them.
Shaking his head out of his thoughts, Cye pulled his keys out from his pocket and went to open the door when he felt hands over his eyes.
"Guess who!"
"Mid!" Cye said with a grunt, whirling around. "Don't do that."
"Jumpy little fishy aren't we…"
Cye ignored her and opened his door. "What do you want?"
"I only wanted to stop by and visit. I went back to Rowen's apartment, but no one was there." Midori said as she walked in behind him.
"I thought we informed you that we were going to the early show tonight?" Cye said, pulling his sweater over his head and laying it over the chair. He quirked an eyebrow at Midori; he watched her sit down on the edge of the sofa with a despondent look.
"You all right?" He asked, sitting beside her.
She sighed, "Yeah, I'm fine." She paused a little before catching the skeptical look on Cye's face.
"Mid, I think knowing you all my life has given me the initiative to know when you are fine…Tell me." He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her closer. He rested his chin on the top of her head.
She sighed and closed her eyes. "I feel – weird."
"Weird?" Cye asked, confused.
"Yeah – restless. Like, something bad is going to happen."
Cye blinked before he smiled. "It's probably just stress from your mother's illness. It'll get better when she's in remission."
"I don't know Cye…I didn't feel this dread when she first found out, and this time is no different; I just feel a constant nagging feeling that won't go away." Midori said, her face distorted in between thoughtfulness and agitation. "I had a dream about you." It seemed she finally got to the point. "And Rowen…and three others…I'm guessing they are your friends – and they were wearing these weird objects."
Cye's eyes became wide as saucers as he looked down at her; but she was so much into her story she was telling him, she never noticed. "There was this great big streak of light that came upon you all and struck you dead. I was there but I couldn't do anything about it; nor could I scream."
Getting a hold of himself after a few quiet moments, he chuckled. "Do you honestly believe dreams, Mid?"
"But it was so realistic! And the feeling I'm getting-are you hiding something from me, Cye?" Midori was quick to pick up on the hesitation of the accusation.
"N-no." Cye stammered from the severe look she gave him. "I'm just saying that when do dreams really come a reality? Aside from some dreams you have had." He added when she was about to open her mouth.
"I don't know – I just, just can't help it. I get gooseflesh every time I think about it." As a reaction to the thought; she rubbed her hands over her arms.
"Mid, I wouldn't worry about it." He said calmly, running his fingers gently in her hair. Deep inside though, this worried Cye – did she have a second sight; or anything specific to that; much like Elayne had years ago? He mentally shook his head…no, he wouldn't believe that. He squelched that feeling down, buried it deep within him. "When is Ky supposed to come home?"
"She was supposed to be back around six but she said she had something to do." Midori said with sigh.
"Poor Middie." Cye said with a chuckle. He grabbed her cheeks and pulled. A loud slap was an answer to Cye's prodding. "You hit hard, for a girl."
"I can hit worse, bud. Keep on putting your hands on me, and you'll see!"
"Oh I love when you talk like that, baby." Cye sniggered as Midori elbowed him hard.
