Chapter 4

Betrayal

Rowan woke with a start, "Where am I?" he asked. Three gloomy figures stood around him. His eyesight blurred them out, he was unable to focus.

"Your in Areins room, " Ryo said, his voice one of susption, anger, and concern,

"I..I am?" he sat up, but was quickly pushed back down.

"You kinda hit your head.....it would be best for you to rest," came a soft, sweet voice, he knew had to be Ariens.

" Why were you in here Rowan,?" Mia asked putting a cool wet cloth on his head.

"What hit me?"

"WhiteBlaze.....seems Ryo didn't want to leave Arein unprotected. "

"Oh,....." Rowan sighed heavily, feeling stupid for being caught,

"So, Rowan, buddy, pal, why were you in here?"Ryo asked, his arms wrapped around Arein like a small protective sheild.

"I was ah... checking up on her. I heard a noise and thought it would be best to check on 'er. Guess it was just WhiteBlaze. Sorry," /Good Rowan, you can still use that noggin of yours./

"Oh, well, thank you," Arein said to him,

"Yea.......just be careful next time. Well, me and Arein will see you all later,"befour Arein could protest she was out of the room, out of the house, and in the woods.

Frowning, Rowan sighed again, " Man..."

"Rowan, I don't belive you. Your room is three doors down from here. How could you hear a noise? And it wouldn't wake Cye, or Kento up?" Mia said, dipping the cloth on Rowans head back into the cool cold water.

"Well, they must sleep hard or somethin 'cause I heard what I heard."

Mia sighed knowing she would get no more information out of him. For now.

~*~

"Arein! Tell me why you think he was in there!"Ryo said, now bacicly begging for her opinion.

"I, don't know why Ryo, Sorry," Arein said, wondering her self why.

"Arein, honey, sweety, love of my life,"Ryo put his forehead to hers,"come on baby, tell me what you think,"

Arein blushed,"Quit that Ryo!"she pushed him away as he began tickling her, Ryo smiled and stopped.

"Okay, okay, you don't have to tell me now. Just promise to tell me later okay?"

Arein brightend up,"Sure Ryo!"

"So," Ryo slipped an arm around Arein and pulled her as close as possible, "Wanna know what I'm thinking?" he whispered, tilting his head and gently kissing her.

She broke off blushing, "Yes, but I wanna know if you ment what you said on the phone."

"What did I say?"

She punched him playfully, "Ryo! What do you think you said? To make me wanna ask now."

His smile lightened making him look innocent, "I ment it Arein, I love you. More than anything else in my life. Your my world,"he pressed his forehead to hers, "And all that matters."

"Really Ryo?"

He looked into her eyes, "I mean it, with all my heart."

She frowned and looked at the ground. She wasn't exactly sure she could make this kind of comitment. It wasn't that she didn't like Ryo, /Of course I like him like him.....but...I don't know/

"How do you feel about me?" he asked, tilting her chin up so their eyes met.She felt herself lost in a vortex of tiger blue eyes and warm sweet breath that blew down her neck. How did she feel?/I love him/ her concious took in, //But do you mean it?// Arein looked deeper into Ryo's eyes and knew now, she was truely lost. /Of couse I mean it!/ her concious laughed, //Oh, and what about his freind? The blue haired boy? Rowan. Dosen't he appeal to you in anyway.//

"Arein,"Ryo whispered befour kissing her again, pleading for an ansew. /Of course I think he's cute. But what me and Ryo have is soild. I know./ She silenced her concious and spoke lightly to Ryo.

"I love you too. With all my soul and heart." the next thing Arein knew she was one the ground. Ryo sliding on top of her and kissing every visble part of her neck. /Okay...I'm scared. I love Ryo but I'm not ready for this!/

"Ryo!Stop please!" she begged trying to shove him off of her. For some reason he felt stronger than usual and pinned her down hard. She looked up into his eyes, tears filling her own, and was a little afraid of what she saw. He looked diffrent. He never looked like this befour. Never. And her mind was telling her what it ment.

But Ryo softy whispered it into her ears, the look getting stronger, "I wanna make love to you."

Areins heart beat increased and she kicked and figited more, "No Ryo! I can't! I'm not ready for this yet!"he placed a finger on her lips for silence.

"I know you don't think you are. But once we do it I know you'll think diffrent.I promise. And I swear it dosen't hurt."

Arein could feel hot tears fill her eyes as Ryo began unbuckiling her belt and undoing her pants. /How could someone who says he loves you do this?/ she thought letting her tears fall freely and screaming out for help befour his mouth covered hers. //Becuase, Arein// a voice she didn't reconize said in her mind// He dosen't really love you. He only wants to 'do' you, and leave you//

Arein cried harder feeling Ryo's hands slide up her shirt./Some help/

~*~

Rowan ran franticly around the house looking for Arein. Something in his mind was saying something was wrong.He didn't know what but he was going to make sure.Sage had given him the only clue he had. They were outside.

Okay, so outside at the Koji place could be anywhere! He figured he'd follow his sence's which led to the woods. Nearing the center of the the woods he heard these weird sounds. As he neared they sounded like screams. The kinds girls made when they got scared. /Oh god!Arein!/

Rowan ran as fast as his legs could move, and found what he feared. Arein was pinned under Ryo, his hands up her shirt and his own shirt missing. Arein was crying, but was not doing anything to stop Ryo. /Why?/ he asked his self. He charged at Ryo, knocking him off of Arein. Ryo got up mad, his hormones raging and charged at Rowan as the two began to fight.

Arein watched from where she was left. Just watched./Why am I so helpless? I could of stopped Ryo, no problem.Now there fighting and its all my fault./ A voice in her head laughed //You a weak little mortal, foolish girl.You are ment to be helpless. Its what you are. Its why strong Ronin's like Wildfire prey on you. Your so easy to munipulate.And if Strata would not of come and rescued you, you'd be just another mark on a Ronin's bed post.//

/Thats not true!/ Arein screamed at the voice,/Ryo loves me. He means it. He just wants something I'm not ready for./ she held herself as the two boys threw punches and fought//Whatever little girl, you'll understand soon enough. Your part in my plan is not fullfilled yet. I will return// at that the voice left. And Arein shook out of the trance she was in and watched the brawl that was happening.

~*~

"Ryo!Stop it man!"Rowan said, dodging the punches that flew out at him.

"No!I see what your doin! Tryin to get Arein all to yourself and make her yours! I aint hav'in that Rowan!! Some freind you are!!" Ryo yelled, tackling Rowan to the ground and punching him like a punching bag.

"Ryo stop!!" Arein screamed. He ignored he and slamed into Rowan fist after fist.

Arein was confused. She had to stop Ryo. She bit her lip and ran at Ryo, knocking him of of Rowan. He fell back shocked, and looked at Arein.

A sudden relization hit Ryo. What was he doing?Trying to rape Arein and then beat the hell out of Rowan?! What was he thinking?! Had he gone mad?!

Rowan looked up from the ground painfully. His head hurt, his ribbs felt broken, and then Arein sat over him. Holding his hand and making him feel.....safe. /I haven't felt like this befour/ he said, not caring if Ryo was dead or alive.

Ryo stood up and looked at Rowan and Arein. Arein looked back at Ryo, her eyes full of tears and she tightly held Rowans hand. They looked so, right together. Rowan and Arein. Ryo didn't know how they just did. A sensation of jealously rose inside him and he stood up, never taking his eyes off Arein.

"I'm.....I'm sorry." he said, turning and walking back towards the house. His heart ached, true pain he had never felt befour. How could he hurt Arein? How?

Arein turned her attition to Rowan when he groaned in pain, "You okay?" she asked sliding his bangs from his face.

Rowan gently brushed up agnist her fingers, "Yea I'm [cough] fine. Just a little hurt'n."

Arein smiled kindly and kissed Rowans cheek, "Thank you, Rowan."

He blushed , and began coughing up a little blood. Arein looked up and saw Sage,Cye,Kento, and Mia running to the two. /Ryo...../ Arein's mind whispered.

*~*

A man with dark brown hair that went past his waist, and deep set eyes watched all that happened from above."Stupid little Strata, trying to get his-self killing for a girl? A pathetic one at that. Oh well, young boys do stupid things. I think I'll go play with Wildfire's head. Yes, this should be entertaining." the man laughed and disappered. Unaware that there were eyes watching him.

~*~

This is all I have now. Tell me if ya like! ^_^