It Was Just A Dream

Sage's Story- Chapter 2

A Ronin Warriors Faniction by Hibana

Standard Disclaimer: I don't own Ronin Warriors

Author's Note: Sorry everyone! I got really busy at the end of the school year and didn't have time to even think about writing! But, lo and behold, I sat down today and discovered I could write again! So here's the next chapter... I've go the rest of the chapters for Sage's section mostly done, so expect some updates soon! This chapter is a little shorter than normal, but I'll probably post the next one by the end of the night, so enjoy!


"Seiji? Would you mind terribly going to the store for me?" asked his grandmother. "It seems we have run out of your grandfather and mother's favorite tea…I would so hate to disappoint them at supper tonight."

"Not at all, Grandmother," replied Sage, looking up from the book he was reading: an old tome about legends and myths. Sage had been trying to look up the legend the Ancient One had told him— no, to say that would imply that he believed that the dream was real, and he wasn't sure he did yet- as he looked up the myth he had dreamed about. He wasn't having much luck; there were, of course, frequent mentions to demons and heroic samurai throughout the book. Some of the samurai even had magic swords; however, no tale fit the one he had heard in his dream. It would be a relief to step away from it for a moment.

"Ah, thank you, Seiji… you do remember the brand?"

"Yes, grandmother."

"Oh, good…" she stepped out and returned with some money. "Best buy two this time, so we don't have this situation again."

Sage nodded to his grandmother and was quickly out the door.

After half-an-hour's journey by bus and foot Sage arrived at the shop where he knew the tea was available. He found the brand, grabbed two of the containers, and stood in line to pay. He sighed as he waited, looking around the shop. There, outside the window, were some teenagers about his age, though he was not sure. They were laughing and joking with each other, each with dark hair and complexion that, when they moved along, caused them to disappear into the crowd, becoming indistinguishable from the other dark haired like-skin people. Sage watched the people move by, a sea or blur of dark hair. He knew that if were to walk into that crowd, attempt to blend and hide within it, he'd stand out like a stain on an otherwise perfect surface. His fair blonde hair and fairer skin would surely do that… and if anyone looked at his eyes, well… eyes as pale as his were rare.

He was different… that he knew. He'd always been mocked in school for his looks. In fact, he wore his hair as he did, with one covered to dampen his pale eyes' effect… make it less noticeable, if only one pale blue eye could be seen.

He didn't look Japanese… that's what he was told by his classmates. So how could he be? Was he adopted? Was he from Europe? Or even America? How was he Japanese, with such coloring…

How was he the heir to the famous Date Family, when he didn't even look Japanese?

He had found it… the reason.

Maybe… this is why he tried so hard, he mused to himself. To become what his family wanted him to be. To be the ideal grandson, ideal son, perfect and honorable in every word and act. Because he would never look the part.

He paid for the tea and stepped out into the crowd, all the time feeling as if he didn't belong.

"…you are not alone…" That's what the Ancient had said. Then, why did he feel like he was?


"Are you sure, Seiji, that this is the right brand?"

"Yes Grandmother."

"But it doesn't look like the old one…" she took out the old container and compared them.

"It's the same, Grandmother."

"But just look at it, Seiji! It's not the same... you bought the wrong one..."

"It is the same brand, Grandmother… they merely changed the color of the wrapper to a darker shade of green. See? Here on the label..."

"Ah, well, then,… thank you, Seiji."

He nodded and began to walk back but a thought stopped him. "Grandmother? You wouldn't happen to know of any legends about our family, would you?"

"Legends? About our family?" she asked, taken a bit aback.

Sage nodded. "I was, uh, doing some research…"

She looked pleased and surprised. "Well, I'm afraid I don't remember all of them… it would be best to ask your grandfather. He will surely know."

Sage nodded—he had expected that. "I will, then… Thank you…"

He went back to reading the book, looking for some kind of confirmation... a sign, a hint, anything that what he dreamed was true.


It was quiet at dinner, as it was every night. His family ate their meal delicately, the only sounds the soft slurping or the quiet knocking of chopsticks picking up food. Sage hesitated before speaking, for the silence was a bit repressive—it made him feel he shouldn't break it, that to do so would be bad. But he wanted to know about any legends… he wanted some kind of confirmation of the Ancient's story.

"Grandfather?" he began hesitantly.

As he had suspected, everyone stopped to look at him, look at the one who had broken their peaceful silence. He hesitated again.

"Yes, Grandson?" replied the elderly man. "Do you have something to say?"

"I was wondering, Grandfather, about our clan's history… are there any legends that relate to our heritage?" Sage asked, hoping for a good response.

The elderly man hummed to himself and sat down his chopsticks. "An interesting question… why do you ask, Seiji?"

Again Sage hesitated—he hadn't anticipated that question. He quickly thought of a reply that might suit his grandfather, and said it confidently as if it had been his intent all along. "I have been meditating on what it means to be a member of the Date family in preparation for my upcoming kendo match… and I wished to hear more of our history."

To Sage's surprise, his grandfather seemed to greatly approve—he nodded and hummed to himself again, and nodded again. "Good, good," he said quietly, and cleared his throat. "There is one legend in particular that I remember… it involved our clan's founder, the great Date Masamune. You, of course, know of him… it is he whose victories on the battlefield as both general and samurai, as well as his ferocity in battle, that earned him the name 'One-eyed Dragon' and gave rise to our family." He cleared his throat again, a sign to his family that he was moving from historical fact to something else. "The legend is quite unspecific except for a few vague details… the claim is that Date Masamune was approached by a mystical monk who saw his virtue and greatness and asked him to protect an artifact of great value and power. It was to be an heirloom of the Date clan and protected by all members."

"What was the artifact, Grandfather?" asked Sage, his heart pounding in his chest.

"It was some kind of special armor… taken from a demon and remolded or something like that… a powerful, mystical armor…" replied his grandfather, pleased by Sage's interest in his past.

Sage couldn't believe his ears. Here was the confirmation that he had been seeking all along—it gave credence to the dreams Sage had been having.

His grandfather continued. "That is the legend of our family… Date Masamune's greatness was recognized and a talisman given to him… alas, however, it is just a legend… if such an artifact were given to our clan, it has been lost throughout the centuries…"

Sage heard his grandfather's words and some of his excitement diminished. So the armor had been lost… but still, he told himself, he now knew it had existed… and if he were to believe the Ancient One, that it still did…

"Thank you, Grandfather," he replied, pulling himself out of his thoughts.

His grandfather cleared his throat. "It pleases me, Seiji, that you are interested in your ancestry… and that you are taking the kendo match most seriously…"

Sage hid his smile by bowing his head.

Sage's spirits were high the rest of the evening and he had much to think about as he prepared for bed. His grandfather's approval tonight, even over something so small as a question about their heritage, gave Sage hope. Not only did it confirm the Ancient's story, not only did it confirm that Sage was on the right track towards it, but it also gave Sage hope that he could be the person his family wanted him to be.

A sudden thought, rising from the depths of himself, rose to the top like a bubble and shattered, scattering his good spirits.

Is that really who he wanted to be?

He paused in the middle of turning down his bed covers, thinking.

He found he had no answers and went to sleep instead.


Well? What'd ya think? I'm building up to the big chapter, which will be chapter four of his story (chapter nine of the series).

Do you think Sage accepted the whole magic thing too quickly? I might go back and add, I'm not sure yet... and as I sort of explain in the next chapter, he kind of needs to believe in it and what the Ancient is saying...

Anyway, give me your feedback! Pretty please? Even if it is just to say I took too long to update!