Ronin Special #1
What Might have been
By: Ghost of the Dawn

Chapter 4: Sage, Part 2

"Robyn? Are you there? Robyn?"

Robyn wasn't sure how long she was out of it, but she could still hear Mary Anne's shrill voice calling her from the phone on the floor. With hands shaking, she bent to pickup the receiver. After dropping it a couple more times, she finally managed to get it back up to her ear.

"I'm here," she croaked. "What happened to Sage?"

"I'm not sure on the details," Mary Anne's voice responded. "I just know they had to wheel him in on a stretcher."

Robyn felt numb. That fake Sage had gotten hurt, but was she supposed to feel sorry for him? If he was an imposter, if he was someone sent there to purposefully trick her then why should she care if he got hurt? But what if he wasn't? And why did it matter? He was still a person, shouldn't that be enough to care?

"How bad is he, Mary Anne?"

"I couldn't tell. I don't work that section of the hospital. I was just passing through and there's no way I could not recognize that hair. I told the doctor I knew who he was and I was going to call his wife. And now here I am."

Robyn just nodded, though it was a stupid thing to do on the phone. She didn't know what else to say.

"You should probably come down, Robyn," Mary Anne coaxed. "Whether its bad or not, you need to be here."

Robyn swallowed. "Yeah, I will. Oh, but... Sage took the car."

"Don't worry Robyn, I'll come get you. You just sit tight, okay?"

When Robyn hung up, she felt as if extra bursts of electricity were shooting through her. She couldn't sit still and she couldn't get her heart to slow down. What had happened? Was he okay? How was she supposed to feel? What was she going to do now? What could she possibly say to that man after what she had said earlier? What was she going to do if he was seriously injured? If he was dying?

These questions played themselves over and over in her head and Robyn had no answers as she paced in a circle in the living room. Waiting was torture. Not knowing was killing her.

When the doorbell rang, Robyn almost jumped right out of her skin. She didn't grab a jacket or even bother to lock up behind her as she ran outside.

"Now don't worry too much," Mary Anne was saying as she drove. "I know they, at least, weren't taking him to the emergency room. He probably just had a few bumps and scrapes. Sage is tough. He'll be alright."

"Why didn't you find out more before you called me?" Robyn snapped. "Just guessing how you think he is isn't helping!"

There was a rough silence between them.

"Sorry," Robyn then said. "I didn't mean that. I'm glad you told me right away."

"No worries, Hon," Mary Anne replied kindly. "I understand. Heck, I'd probably be freaking out far worse than you in this situation if it were my husband." She put a hand on Robyn's. "Don't worry, everything will be okay. You'll see."

"Thanks Mary Anne," Robyn said gratefully. And she meant it. With that Sage acting like a stranger, it was good to have someone who acted like she expected.

However, her talk with Mary Anne only soothed her worries for a moment. She was still dying to see if he was okay, imposter or not. Thankfully, it was only a short drive to the hospital. The second they parked, Mary Anne dashed inside with Robyn at her heels. Since the blonde worked there, she easily led Robyn to the correct section of the hospital and immediately asked the nurse at the desk where they could find Sage. In turn, the nurse glanced down the hall.

"Oh, what great timing. I see his doctor coming out of his room right there."

That was all the two women needed before they were off again.

"Doctor," Mary Anne called to the older man who was in the hall. "We're here to see Sage Date. This is his wife."

"Ah, Mrs. Date," the doctor bowed. "I was worried we wouldn't be able to get a hold of you at this late hour."

"Is he okay?" was all Robyn asked and she had surprised herself with how concerned she sounded.

"Your husband was in a pretty nasty crash," the doctor informed her. "But he was lucky. He has a broken collar bone and his arm was fractured in three places. He's got some cuts and bruises, but no head trauma that we can tell. He'll be ready for release here in a moment. In fact, he's already up and walking around even though I told him to stay down."

That was all Robyn needed and she hurried to the room. The door was closed so she eased it open and peeked around. As the doctor said, there was no one sitting the bed, but she immediately heard Sage's voice. He was standing with his back to the door and his cell phone, which had also survived, to his ear. He turned when he heard someone enter the room, but then immediately turned back when the person he was speaking to was talking in such a way that demanded his full attention.

Robyn let him have his conversation and quietly sat herself in a chair near the door. She watched him pace slightly from side to side. Sage was obviously not too happy with the conversation he was having. He was topless with a sling and a cast on his left arm. The creamy skin of his broad back was starting to show a few bruises around his left shoulder as well.

After her initial relief of finding out he was okay, Robyn began to notice something else. The way he stood, the way Sage was talking; it was just like him. Like the old Sage she knew. He stood stiff and proper, speaking formally to the person on the phone. There were no smiles and his tone was careful and without emotion. There he was; this was like her Sage.

This led Robyn to her first theory back when she woke up with Cye. She was still bouncing though alternate worlds. Places where she saw her friends living alternate lives; lives they shared with an alternate version of her that seemed to be missing. They were still the same type of people, they were just under different circumstances. But the kind of person they were, the kind of person they had always been, was still the same. Robyn had made a mistake. This was still Sage.

"Yes, Grandfather, I understand," Sage was saying in the voice Robyn was used to. "Yes, I'm sorry to have worried everybody. Yes, I know. Yes, Sir."

The person on the other end, his grandfather, continued to talk for several minutes and Sage listened in silence, his body language tense. Robyn could only guess at what kind of words the old man had for him. Finally, after Sage had been properly chastised thrice over, he was finally allowed to hang up the phone.

Robyn had been silent and continued to sit in her chair during the entire call. She didn't move or say a word as Sage hung up and just continued to watch, still marveling over her discovery. Sage sighed and then turned towards her. Robyn could see further bruises forming at the shoulder of the broken arm and across his chest. His flawless face was also swollen with a large bandage over his forehead. When Sage looked at her, his posture was still stiff and his violet eyes and face expression betrayed nothing to what he was feeling. He was a closed book and Robyn was used to him that way. This Sage she knew. This one she could deal with.

Then slowly, as if through a conscious action, his walls went down again. Robyn could actually see the change as he came forward and sat down on the bed across from her. His eyes came to life again and he slowly smiled at her.

Robyn wasn't sure what kind of expression she had on her face, but Sage reached out with his good arm and brushed his fingers over the back of her hand.

"Hey," he said gently. "It's okay. I'm fine."

Robyn just looked at him, feeling overwhelmed. The day had been an emotional roller coaster for her. She wasn't sure how much energy she had left to go on.

"Come here, come sit by me," Sage then said.

Robyn did as she was told. Gingerly, almost apologetically, she sat herself next to Sage. He, in turn, put his arm around her and pulled her in closer. Robyn allowed it and even though he wasn't wearing a shirt, she still put her arms around him as well and rested her cheek against his chest. His body was warm, just as warm as the others had been. Yet, for some reason it surprised her. She had always been used to the cold demeanor he had. She almost laughed at herself that she actually assumed the rest of him would be cold as well. But he was so warm and this was the closest Robyn had ever been to him. If this was her last chance, she wanted to hold him close just a moment longer.

"I'm so glad you're alive," she whispered.

"Me, too," Sage chuckled.

Robyn could feel the rumble in his chest. Even if this wasn't her Sage, this was the most real he had ever felt to her. And she had let her paranoia get the best of her. Why couldn't she had seen it was still Sage? What had almost happened to him?

"I'm so sorry you got hurt, Sage. I–"

"It's okay," Sage soothed, rubbing her back. "I'm fine. It looks worse than it is, I promise."

The door opened and the doctor stepped in.

"Mr. Date, you're cleared to go. I'm sure you're eager to get home, but please don't forget to call my receptionist in the morning to make an appointment to see me again in about two weeks, alright? I also took the liberty of having a cab called for you both. It should be here any minute."

"Thank you, Doctor," Sage said as he stood and bowed respectfully. "Robyn, can you please grab my jacket?"

Robyn looked around and found it hanging over a chair. She ran to retrieve it and then frowned when she saw the bloodstains on it. Probably the same reason Sage no longer had his shirt on. Robyn felt more like a child than a wife when she tried to drape the coat over his shoulders. She had forgotten how broad and tall Sage was getting. He was so much bigger than she was.

Outside, there was a cab waiting for them just as the doctor had said. Robyn worried a bit about Sage. He didn't look too stable. She wished he hadn't insisted on walking out of the hospital under his own power. He needed rest. She noticed the doctor just shook his head at the stubborn blonde as they left.

Sage opened the door to let Robyn in the cab first. She scooted in and then watched as Sage slowly slid in himself. His wince was not lost on her and she tried to help him in the best she could then leaned over to close the door and help buckle him in. As the driver started off, Sage leaned back with a heavy sigh, resting his head on the back of the seat. A look of slight discomfort crossed his face.

"Does it hurt?" Robyn asked softly.

The cab hit a bump and Sage winced again.

"I'll be fine," he said, not looking at her.

That, too, sounded more like the old Sage she knew. Not admitting to anything; keeping his distance when he was right next to her. He seemed fine enough so Robyn let it go. They reached their destination and Sage paid for the cab fair before pulling himself out of the vehicle. Robyn noticed his actions were slow and stiff, but he was insisting on doing it all himself. He even opened the car door for her.

Still the gentleman, Robyn thought in amusement.

The cab drove off and they headed for the kitchen door at the side of the house. Sage, who was walking slightly ahead, stumbled a bit and Robyn hurried to steady him. He stiffened at her touch, but Robyn stayed next to him. She would rather he be uncomfortable with her touch him than him falling on his face before he got into the house. Though maybe Robyn deduced wrong with Sage's discomfort.

Once they were inside with the door closed behind them, Sage loosened his stance and put more weight on Robyn's shoulders. She almost stumbled herself before she made it to the couch and both of them fell clumsily onto it. This close, Robyn could feel Sage's entire body tighten in pain when he sat down. And before Robyn could get up again, Sage leaned back against her, resting his head on her shoulder and pinning her between the couch and his weight.

"Pain medication... makes me dizzy..." he mumbled.

Robyn shook her head at him. It was the middle of the night and he had been worried someone was going to see him limping up to his house. And heaven forbid the cab driver see him less than up to par even though he will never see the man again in his life!

And yet, he let her see him this way. He dropped his guard only when they were alone and fully admitted to her his problems. Her Sage never did that. At least, not with her. Maybe with the others he had, she really wasn't sure. But in this world, it was for her he would let his guard down and that made Robyn feel a bit special.

"Okay, now tell me honestly," Robyn said. "Are you going to be okay?"

Sage adjusted slightly so the bridge of his nose was resting against her neck. "I'm so tired," he sighed into his skin.

The feel of his breath gave Robyn goose bumps.

"I've been such an idiot today. How do you put up with me?"

"You're not the only one," Robyn replied. Sage's jacket had fallen off his shoulder. She reached out to pull it over him again and keep him warm. "We both did some stupid stuff today."

"I know you hate how much I work. But I just... I want to give you everything. I want to be able to provide anything you've ever wanted."

Robyn put her arms lightly around his shoulders and rested her cheek on his soft hair.

"I don't need everything. I have you."

"Then you still love me?" he asked with a weak smile.

Robyn clutched him as tight as she dared and buried her face in his hair. She didn't want to say it; not to another one of them. It hurt every time because she meant it and because it wasn't really them she was saying it to.

"Please take care of yourself. I couldn't bear it if something happened to you."

They both sat in silence for a while.

"Help me get to bed," Sage then said.

Robyn slipped out from beneath his back and carefully helped Sage to his feet. Together they made their way to the bedroom. Sage sat down heavily on the bed, fatigue and the medicine he was on taking over. Robyn removed his coat for him and frowned when she saw the bruises forming again on his white skin. He had too nice a complexion to get such markings on him. The skin beneath the sling he was wearing was growing red, too.

"We need to get you something to wear under that," Robyn said.

Sage raised his head a bit in response, but didn't say much. He was fading out of it quickly.

Robyn turned to the dresser drawer and began digging through Sage's clothes, hoping to find some pajamas without having to go through every single one. That would look really odd. But fortunately, Sage was so out of it, he probably wouldn't have noticed anyway. Robyn finally found herself a suitable top and then began to ease the sling off Sage's shoulder. His head had been hanging down for a while, but he looked up to slide his good arm into the sleeve. Then Robyn helped him slowly slide the injured arm into the other sleeve.

At first, Robyn felt like she were dressing a child. But as she moved to the buttons, she became fully aware of how close to a man's body she was sitting. She could feel his eyes on her, his breath near her temple. It gave her goose bumps. She fumbled with shaking fingers, feeling her face growing warm. She tried not to brush the skin of his chest and she went through one button at a time. She reached the last one as Sage brushed his knuckles against the side of her neck. The contact made her shiver involuntarily. How did he do it? Even after being all bandaged up and bruised, this man still managed to make everything so sensual.

Robyn tried to smile at him, but then pulled away from his touch to remove his shoes and socks.

"You need rest," she told him as she worked. "It's been a long day."

She hoped that line would discourage him from trying anything else the rest of the night. Though, with how drowsy he looked, Robyn doubted Sage had the energy to do much anyway. She just wanted to get him to stop touching her in that way.

Once done, Robyn got up and went to fish out some bedtime clothes for herself. If Sage didn't want to sleep in his pants, he would have to remove them himself. Robyn could hear him fiddling with his belt as she grabbed the clothes she needed and went into the bathroom to change. When she got out, Sage was now laying on his back in bed with the covers pulled sloppily around him. He raised his head a little when she entered the room and gave her a half medicated smile.

"I can't believe you still won't dress in front of me," he said in a slightly slurred voice.

Robyn felt her face flush as she stood by the end of the bed. At least she played the part of the real Robyn that was supposed to be in this world right. Still, it was embarrassing. Especially how Sage was leaning over and smiling at her now.

"You're still so innocent. It's really sexy."

Robyn raised an eyebrow at him. Was she talking to Sage or Rowen now? And since when would someone as good looking as that find her sexy?

"Yeah, just don't try anything tonight," Robyn said as she tried to hide her embarrassment and climbed into bed. "You don't want to be hurting yourself more than you already have."

"Right, right," Sage sighed as he dropped his head tiredly back on the pillow. It was obvious his energy was near the end. It was the only reason Robyn was trusting herself with him alone in bed. After all, very few women could say no to Sage Date. Robyn wasn't so sure she was one of them.

The lights were switched off and the two lay in the dark, both looking at the ceiling.

Sage let out a long, noisy breath.

"Do you need anything?" Robyn turned to him and asked.

"No, I'm fine."

Silence.

"What was that earlier?" Sage then asked. "Why were you yelling at me in the bathroom? It didn't make any sense."

Robyn flinched at the accusation.

"Well you were nude in the living room with rose petals. How am I supposed to take that?"

"I thought that was what you want--"

"No, it's not," Robyn cut him off.

More silence.

"But...I'm so hot!"

Robyn made a sound like a strangled cough and then pulled the covers over her head as she was wracked with a fit of laughter. She couldn't believe she just heard those words coming out of Sage's mouth.

"Hey, what are you laughing at?" Sage demanded, though he couldn't stop the laughter in his own voice. "I know I don't look like much right now, but when all this heals you won't be able to keep your hands off me. I know it."

That just sent Robyn into another peel of laughter.

"Ohmigosh! Stop! Stop!" Robyn gasped for air. "My sides!"

"You're crushing my frail ego here," Sage complained good naturedly.

"I'm sure your ego will survive," Robyn chuckled. "It's the rest of you I'm worried about."

They both settled down from laughing and Sage smiled at her in the dark. "Do you want to come over here and hold your frail husband?"

Robyn grinned. You bet I do! There will be time to feel guilty about it later.

"If I must," she teased.

Sage held out his arm and Robyn scooted forward to rest against his good side. If she wasn't careful, she was going to get used to sharing a bed. How would that bode when she made it back home? At the moment, Robyn didn't care. It was the first time in a long time she fell asleep with a smile on her face.

The next morning, Robyn woke to the sound of thunder. When her eyes opened she was laying on her side, facing the window. It looked grey and overcast outside. Not a day for leaving the house.

For a moment, Robyn felt like she was laying in the bed by herself. When she rolled over, however, she saw Sage laying next to her on his back, still asleep. That was unusual. Sage was usually up with the sun before anyone else. Though today, there was no sun and he was probably tired from last night's ordeal.

Robyn rolled over on her other side so she could watch him sleep. She could see just the profiled of his face and his hair fell over part of it, but it was still beautiful. She watched his chest rise and fall and listened to his breathing and the rumbling outside. Robyn thought it was the most peaceful place she had ever been.

As if sensing her gaze, Sage's head rolled towards her and he opened his eyes. Now Robyn could see the side of his face bandaged from the car accident. It looked a bit swollen.

"Morning," Robyn smiled gently. "How do you feel?"

Without a word, Sage rolled over onto his non-injured side and used his good arm to pull himself up into sitting position. he winced a bit as he flexed his shoulder and moved his head and neck around.

"I'm sore," Sage admitted.

"Of course you are," Robyn lectured. "You can't expect to walk way from a car accident without any problems. You should stay in bed and recover today."

"I have a meeting," Sage insisted. "I need to get dressed or I'll be late."

"A meeting on Sunday?" Robyn retorted. "I don't think so! You're going to call them and tell them you can't attend. You need to stay here and rest."

"Yes ma'am," Sage saluted sharply and then winced at the sudden action.

"See?" Robyn insisted. "You're in no shape to go anywhere. You call and tell them that."

Sage met Robyn's stubborn expression with a smile. "Where would I be without you looking after me?" he said as he leaned forward and kissed her forehead.

Robyn tried to suppress her grin. Any kind of compliment from Sage was rare and she was eating it up.

"While you call in, I'll make us breakfast," Robyn announced as she happily bounded out of the room

Here eyes were bright and her heart was beating a bit faster as she entered the kitchen. Inside, she was glad the other guys weren't around. They certainly would have teased her mercilessly for how she was acting. Right now she would have gladly done anything for that gorgeous smile.

I feel like such a dork, Robyn admitted inwardly with a flush of her cheeks.

She began poking around in the kitchen to see what she could make breakfast. Knowing Sage, she assumed he would expect a traditional Japanese breakfast. That meant something like fish and rice she supposed. Living at the Mouri's house was something different. Both Cye and his mother loved to cook and enjoyed different foods from all over the country. That plus living in the US most of her childhood made Robyn a bit dubious on what Sage may consider a proper Japanese breakfast for himself.

However, upon opening one cupboard, Robyn found her salvation. Two and a half bags of blueberry pancake mix. Robyn looked at it in confusion.

Does Sage like blueberry pancakes? Robyn wondered. From the look of the stash, I would imagine they both eat it quite a bit. But I never would have guessed... Oh well, I do remember the guys mentioning Sage did have a sweet tooth. I'll give it a try. Hope he likes it.

As she prepared the batter, Robyn could hear the muffled talking of Sage's voice coming from the bedroom. His tone had switched to the more formal "Sage Tone" she was used to. It still wasn't as stiff as when she heard him talking to his grandfather, but it was still there. She then heard Sage shut the door and then she couldn't hear him at all.

It was kind of the same way he was the other night at the hospital when he was on the phone. As he talked like that, he kept his back to her. Almost as if he didn't want her to hear him using that tone.

Robyn wondered about it as she cooked. She had always suspected there was a different Sage in there than the one he showed the public. She saw glimpses of that "Inner Sage" on occasion when he was with his friends. Though never had he shown that side of him to her.

"Is that blue berry pancakes I smell?" Sage asked as he walked in the room.

"Yup," Robyn grinned as she poured the first one into the pan. "I hope you like them."

"You know me," Sage chuckled as if Robyn had just told a joke. "You're the one who said I have them too often."

I did? Whoops! Better cover that up.

"Well, I thought I'd spoil you a bit since you had a rough night."

Sage was standing right behind her, nuzzling her ear in a way that made shivers go right up her spine. "That's why I love you. You know me so well."

Robyn blushed, half from the close proximity and half from such a compliment. It felt like a big honor to be told by Sage that he felt she knew him well.

"So can you help me with this? I'm still not so good at it," Sage then said.

Robyn turned to find Sage dressed for the day in all but his shirt. She smiled and happily helped him to get it over his shoulders, then carefully on the broken arm. Robyn was just going through the motions of it all, but paused in what she was doing for she could have sworn she could hear Sage breaking into a broad grin. Robyn stopped fastening the buttons and looked up at him accusingly.

"Did you just ask me that because you wanted me to dress you again?"

Sage's smile was neither guilty nor apologetic. "It's a possibility."

Before Robyn could chastize him, Sage placed his good hand on her waist and bent over to press his forehead against hers.

"I'm so glad I married you," he murmured.

Robyn's face flushed again. Even though she knew she was playing the part of a married woman, a fresh reminder of whom she was married to and that he even enjoyed it made her insides flutter all over again. She must have really been flustered because it started to feel to her that she was moving. Then Robyn realized she was. Sage has pulled her in closer and was slowly swaying with her. Robyn found it a bit odd to be slow dancing to the sound of breakfast cooking when a low rumble caught her ears.

The sound began to grow and Robyn realized it was Sage humming. It took a while, but Robyn eventually recognized the tune. Sage began to sing the words slow and low in her ear.

"She's got a way about her. I don't know what it is, but I know that I can't live without her.

"She's got a smile that heals me. I don't know what it is, but I have to laugh when she reveals me..."

Robyn was swept up in the moment. It felt romantic and absurd at the same time and she hardly knew how to react. It felt too surreal. What exactly was going on here?

She pulled her head away and looked Sage straight in the face, raising an eyebrow at him.

"Billy Joel? What are you doing?" Then it hit her and Robyn's eyes flew open wide.

"Oh my gosh!" she announced. "You're a huge dork!"

She half expected Sage to suddenly frown at her or some similar action that told he did not appreciate the comment. But all Sage did was laugh.

"You always tell me that," he said fondly.

He reached down and kissed her soft and sweet. Robyn didn't try to stop him. His kiss felt wonderful and she was too stunned to respond. She looked at him blankly for a while and then her mouth slowly shifted into a soft smile. She finally understood exactly what was going on.

You ARE Sage. It's not like you were never acting like him, it was that I never knew the real you at all.

Sage stopped dancing. "What is that look for?" he asked. "What are you thinking?"

Robyn pulled out of the embrace feeling a little wiser. "It's nothing. Oh hey, you know what? I totally forgot about this, but we should probably call the guys and tell them that you were in a car accident. I'm sure they would appreciate knowing what happened." Robyn turned to flip her pancake. It was a little on the dark side from being forgotten for so long. "I'm not sure, does Rowen work on weekends?"

Sage's question stopped Robyn cold.

"Who's Rowen?"

Robyn paused, wondering if she heard right, before rotating her head to look at him. "You know, Rowen Hashiba? Your best friend since you were a kid?"

Sage looked at her blankly. "I think you're confused with someone else."

Robyn turned full around. "You know, your FRIENDS? Rowen? Cye? Ryo? Kento?"

Sage shrugged helplessly. "Honey, I'm sorry. I have no idea what you're talking about."

It felt like Robyn's heart fell into her stomach. She took a moment to try and quell the panicked feeling rising up inside her. This wasn't right. This, all of it was very, very wrong.

"Address book," she said to Sage. "Do I have an address book? Where do I keep it?"

Sage was taken a bit aback at her current state and the question. "Why are you asking me where you keep yo–"

"Just tell me! Where do I keep it!?" Robyn practically screamed.

Sage jumped back from her outburst, looking more vulnerable than he had even the night before. "Uh, your night stand in the bedroom... I think."

Robyn ran for the bedroom and flung open the drawer of the night stand. Inside was a single black book and Robyn flipped through the pages with shaking hands. It was just as she had feared. The names of all the people she knew; none of them were in there. In fact, no names were in there at all. Page after page was completely blank.

It's as if no one else exists for us, Robyn thought fearfully.

Then, one name showed up in the otherwise empty address book.

Mary Anne. No last name. This was it.

Clarity rang through to her bones. Robyn knew this was a message to her and she knew what she had to do. Quickly, she dressed and grabbed some money, not worrying about her hair at all. Clutching the book to her chest, Robyn ran out of the room, nearly mowing down Sage in the process.

"Hey, is everything okay?" Sage asked as he grabbed her shoulder to steady them both.

Robyn's eyes were wide.

"I have to go! Right now. It's very important. Please stay here and watch the pancakes. I'll be right back!"

She managed to grab a jacket as she ran out the door, never waiting to hear what Sage had to say to her. Her heart pounded as she got on the bus, clutching the address book to her chest. The ride seemed to take a day and a second all at once. It felt as though she had all the time in the world to plan for what she was going to do and none at all. The bus reached her stop and Robyn sprang from her seat and out into the pouring rain.

Robyn ran block after block, getting drenched, but not caring. When she finally reached her destination, Robyn was a bit surprised with herself. She thought she might lose her nerve by the time she got there. After all, this was the moment of reckoning. All the wondering she had done, it would be revealed here. But she didn't stop at all. Robyn practically ran into the door pounding on it with all her might.

The door didn't take long to be answered and a surprised Mary Anne looked out at her.

"Robyn? What's going on?" she wondered. "You're positively soaked! Are you okay?"

"Don't play with me!" Robyn shot back. "What's going on?"

Mary Anne blinked innocently at her. "What do you mean Robyn?"

Again, Robyn surprised herself not only with how fast she pushed herself into Mary Anne's house, but with the force she used as she shoved Mary Anne against the wall.

"Stop lying to me! I know it's you!" Robyn's voice rose to almost a scream. "You've been in every world! Why are you doing this? Tell me, what is this?"

Slowly, Mary Anne's wide eyed expression melded into a knowing smile.

"Well, it took you long enough to figure it out," she said in a deeper voice.

Robyn lost all her gumption as Mary Anne changed her tune. Her courage was gone and she backed up as she looked at this new Mary Anne with wide eyes.

"Though I suppose now the trial run is over." Mary Anne nodded.

"Trial run?" The words slipped out of Robyn's mouth before she eve realized she had said it.

At those words, the house–the whole world– disappeared. Even the ground was gone, and Robyn stumbled, feeling like she was going to fall. However, the blackness beneath her stayed solid and despite the lack of light, she could still see her hands in front of her. And then, something else appeared from the blackness.

One by one they appeared in the order Robyn had met them. The Ronins, her friends, of the other worlds. Or were they? The slight differences that Robyn tried to convince herself were there could no longer been seen. Even things like Kento's age or Sage's injuries. They looked exactly as she remembered them all from her world and there they hung in the air, their feet a few inches off the ground. Arms and their sides, eyes closed and heads slightly bowed.

As she stared at them, a voice spoke, reverberating all around her.

"Now that you have seen the possibilities, it's time to choose..."

To Be Continued..