Ronin Warriors
The Ugly Duckling~ Chapter 6: Sage's Curiosity (That Killed The Cat)
By ~*Angel*~
Heyas all! I'm back! Well, not much has gone on for me…except that it's the first day of Spring Vacation for me. ^_^ Woozahs. So I'm rather happy at the moment…I'm not bored because I've got so much stuff to do over this break…heck, I have this break to make $1,000 for all the school trips and whatnot that I'm going on after Spring Break. I still owe my church $75…oi. Anybody wanna donate? ^_^;; Okay okay! Just kidding! Lol…well, I better let you go and read the fic. See ya at the end!
Disclaimer: I don't own Ronin Warriors.
Sage bounced his tennis ball up and down on his racket while his eyes were trained on Rowan and Lindsay. Lindsay seemed rather giddy whilst Rowan seemed as if he was on another planet or something. Sage's partner, Naoko had been absent so Sage practiced against a wall but that got boring fast and besides, his mind wasn't on the game at all. I've been friend's with Rowan my whole life and he won't even tell me what happened or what's wrong with him…everytime we bring up Mia, he blushes almost as if he's…
"Sage!" A girl chirped from beside him.
Sage turned his face up towards the tall brunette standing next to him. "Oh hey Mara,"
"Hello! Wow, isn't it weird how both of our partners are out sick today?" Mara commented seating herself next to Sage.
"Yeah," Sage replied absentminded.
"I don't have a partner and I can see that you obviously don't have one either so, how about being my partner for today?" Mara asked as she flicked a fake piece of link off of her shirt.
Sage shrugged. "I guess,"
"Great!"
Maybe it'll help me take my mind off of Ro for a while.
~*~*~*~
"Hello, welcome back Miss Koji, we just got a new shipment of Regency romance books, would you like to see them?" Asked the kindly old man standing before her.
She nodded. "Oh of course!"
He chuckled. "Right this way,"
Mia followed the short little man to the back of the store as her eyes wandered around at all the new books. Mr. Tsubasa was a kind old man who had just opened a new bookstore for he believed that there was a shortage of bookstores in the neighborhood. She couldn't help but agree. She knew that he had spent all of his life savings and it was well spent for she could tell with it's homey decorations and the organized shelves, this store would be filled with people in no time. "You must think me silly for reading all these romance books,"
"Not really, I think the kind of books you chose are tasteful unlike those books where all they do is--," Mr. Tsubasa was cut off when the door open and the bells rang indicating that there was a new customer. Clearing his throat, he motioned towards the shelves in from of him. "Here are your books, I ordered them especially for you, I hope you like what you see,"
"Thank you Mr. Tsubasa," Mia smiled warmly as the short man walked away towards the front. Finally, she turned her head towards the tall shelves holding dozens of shiny new books. She could hardly keep from squealing. Starting at the bottom, she grabbed every different book and stuck it in her hands. She didn't bother reading the back of the books because from her experience, the Regency books were always good no matter what. Though there was that one book…Gradually, she had to stand on the tip of her toes to grab the ones on the top shelves. Setting down the books, she almost tried climbing the shelves but decided that she could break the shelves and ruin the display. Tilting her head so that her arm could get better access, her fingers flittered across the side of the books before she was able to grip one and hold on.
"Here, let me get that for you," A deep rich voice floated through the air as Mia caught a whiff of his soft woodsy cologne and felt his body press to the side of hers pushing her out of the way. She blushed as she inched away towards her stack of already-collected books laying on the ground in an organized stack. She glanced at the side of his face and saw that a part of his hair was obscuring one eye. "Thank you," She bowed slightly as he handed her the book.
"Need anymore help?" He asked.
Bringing her head back up, she took a step back. The icy-blue eyes seemed to chill her to the bone but warm her at the same time. "I think I can get the rest,"
"Nonsense, here, what do you need?" He asked turning back to the shelf.
"Um…" Mia listed off the books she needed from that shelf her blush progressed with each listing.
"There, I believe that's the last of them," He said as he handed a handful of books to her.
Mia nodded and went to grab the books but jerked her hands back at the same time he did when a bolt of static jumped from her hand to his, or from his to hers. Either way, it stung. "Sorry," She muttered as she held her hand in her palm.
He shrugged and looked at the growing piles of books at her feet. "That's quite a collection of books you have there," He commented his eyes flickering back to her face.
Mia nodded and blushed brighter as she reached out for the books. Tugging on them, she replied, "Yes, I like to read,"
"Ahhh," The man simply said as he tugged the books back and turned it around to read the back.
"Can I have that?" Mia asked quietly.
Holding it above her head, he turned his icy-blue eyes back on her face. "You know you're going to rot your brains on these…that is, if you had one to start with,"
Burning bright red now but in anger, Mia, snatched the book out of his grasp and turned around to gather all the books in her arm. "You are an odious man, why should you care if I had a brain or not to rot on these books. It is my preference to read these and it is not your place to criticize me." Turning around, she glared at him in the face motioning to the other books he had in his hands.
"Of course it is, if you can call me odious, then I can call you brainless. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth," Sage smirked as he deliberately held the books away from her prying hands.
"Only because you had started it, do you usually go around calling girls brainless?" She demanded as she grabbed for the books.
Yanking it out of her reach again he shrugged. "I only state the truth,"
Mia's face turned pale. Her lips pressed in a thin line, she spun on the heel of her shoe. Arrogant clod. He doesn't even know me! "Then I suggest you leave me alone."
Sage grimaced as he watched the girl pay for her books and then glanced down at the three books in his hands. I don't know what came over me… "Damn," He cursed as he raced out the door.
"Mr. Date, you need to pay for those," Mr. Tsubasa shouted.
Sage stopped in his tracks and quickly turned around throwing a few bills at him. "Keep the change,"
"I do not accept charity,"
"It isn't charity, I'm just in a hurry,"
"Wait, this won't take long," Mr. Tsubasa said as he quickly handed Sage a few bills and coins. "Here, have a nice day,"
"Yeah you too," Sage quickly rushed out of the door and scanned the busy crowd. The familiar reddish-brown head of the girl was nowhere to be seen. Sage narrowed his eyes in disgust at himself. Taking a look down at his arms, he realized he had just spent a good amount of money on the books. He knew what he had to do, he just didn't know how to do it.
~*~*~*~
Mia yanked her jeep door open as she flung the bags of books in the back of the vehicle. "What an arrogant, odious, egotistical, bigheaded, supercilious man!" She growled as she jabbed the keys into the hole and started up the car. Taking a few deep breaths, she quickly calmed herself. "It's alright, it's not as if I'm ever going to meet him again," THANK THE POWERS THAT BE. "He seems familiar…I wonder where I've met him," Glancing into the rearview mirror, she quickly drove out of the parking lot and towards home.
~*~*~*~
"Sage! I never knew he read these kinds of books!" His sister giggled as she started into her brother's blushing face. "Do you have anything to tell your big sis? Come on…you know you want to,"
"Stop it Yayoi," Sage blushed as he grabbed the books back from her. "It's for a girl I met,"
She gasped. "Sage, you have a girlfriend? Hey Maaa!! Sage has a girlfriend!" Her voice echoing throughout the household.
"Ni-chan?" Satsuki, his little sister asked. "Ni-chan has a girlfriend?"
"Hai!!" Yayoi said grinning as she held up three romance books. "And LOOK at what he bought her!"
"WOOF!! WOOF!!" Sean came romping through the door and jumped onto Sage's bed. Up from behind him, came his mother with a spatula in her hand.
"Off the bed Sean, now!" She ordered the bundle of fur.
Jumping of the bed, Sean quickly walked over to Sage.
Sage was busy trying to get the books away from Yayoi. "Maaa! Tell her to give the books back to me!" He blushed bright red as Yayoi yanked the book out of his reach.
"Romance books? You bought her romance books?" Yayoi started laughing. "This is even more serious then I thought!"
"I DON'T HAVE a girlfriend!" He stated as he reached for the books again.
Mrs. Date quickly snatched the books out of Yayoi's hands and glanced at them. "My Sage…If these aren't for your girlfriend, then who are they for?"
"I don't have a girlfriend and the books are for a girl I met,"
Satsuki pulled on his pants. "But doesn't buying something make her your girlfriend? Do you like her?"
"No…She forgot to get them and I tried catching her so in order to catch up with her I had to pay for the books, Ma, can you give them back to me?"
Yayoi collapsed to the ground laughing.
"Oh would you be quiet!" Sage snapped as his mother handed him the three books. Turning back to her he bowed and blushed as he realized the look she had in her eyes. "Ma…?"
"So, when do we get to meet this girl?" She questioned a moment later. "I have such a great dinner in plan for this!" She grinned happily.
Sage could almost see the arrows, the hearts, and the cupids popping around his mother. "Why? She's NOT my girlfriend," he grumbled.
"Sage has a girlfriend!"
"Ma! Tell her to be quiet!"
"Yayoi, stop teasing your brother,"
Yayoi just kept on laughing.
"Ni-chan! That means I get a new sister!"
"ARGH!" Sage growled in frustration.
"WOOF!"
"Down Sean! Down!"
~*~*~*~
"Mia did something happen?" Sai asked.
"NO," She emphasized the word.
Sai blinked at the outburst. "Okay," He said softly as a sweatdrop rolled down his head.
Mia smiled apologetically. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to snap at you…don't worry about me, it's nothing big."
"If you say so,"
"So what's up with you? Anything special happen in school today?" Mia asked as she sipped her drink.
Sai sighed. "There's this girl named Miko at school…I dunno, she's a nice one but she's rather odd…"
"Odd?" Mia grinned. "It doesn't seem like you would be the kind of guy to judge because a girl is unique,"
Sai forced a chuckle. "I know I know…" Turning serious, he looked out the window. "I hope that I don't sound egotistical when I say that I think she's obsessed with me."
Mia cocked her head to one side. "How so?"
"I dunno…can we forget I ever brought this subject up?" Sai asked as he looked down at his drink.
"Sure,"
"Hey Sai! Hey--," A familiar voice called out.
"Hey Sage!" A grin brightening Sai's features.
A shadow crossed over Mia's eyes as she stood up. "Please forgive me Sai, I have some business to attend to,"
"Oh…okay," Sai responded, disappointed.
"Wai-," Sage began as the girl walked past him. Think! Quick! Think! His brain was frozen as he watched the girl walk straight out of the restaurant.
"Hey buddy…you okay?" Sai asked snapping Sage out of his reverie.
"Yeah…Er…so wassup?" Sage asked as he took Mia's spot and ordered a drink.
Sai shrugged. "Nothing much, mid-terms are bugging me though,"
Sage nodded thanks to the waiter and took a long sip. "Yeah, they're really harsh this year. The English department never gives mid-terms…I don't know why they're doing it this year,"
"Ugh, two essays. That's crazy. Those essays should be saved for the finals or something," Sai grimaced wiping his mouth.
Sage nodded. Mia must've not told him yet…And it wouldn't do well if I told him I upset his girlfriend…
"Sage man, you okay? You like zoned out for a few moments there," Sai commented.
Sage nodded. "Sorry, a lot's on my mind,"
Sai nodded in agreement.
~*~*~*~
"Sage! Take Sean out for a walk! That poor dog has been cooped up in this house the whole day!" Mrs. Date called right when Sage came through the door.
"Okay Ma," Sage replied as he grabbed the leash off a hook and called for the dog. "Sean! Walk!"
"WOOF! WOOF!"
Sage steeled himself as the dog threw himself against Sage covering him in wet kisses. "Down boy," Sage grinned affectionately as he rubbed the top of Sean's head.
"RUFF!!"
"Come on boy, let's go so we'll be back in time for dinner,"
~*~*~*~
Sage sighed as his thoughts went over the weird way Rowan was acting and the fact that he had just hurt a girl for no reason at all. Closing his eyes he inhaled. "Darn it," What had gotten over him? The girl was strange for sure…if he could only put his han-
"Sean? Sean?" Sage's eyes widened as he realized he was holding an empty leash. "SEAN?!!"
~*~*~*~
"STUPID ARROGANT MAN!" Mia pounded the ball against the wall with each syllable. Stopping to catch a breath, she bounced the yellow ball against her racket. "Why am I even wasting my time over him. And of all things, he had the NERVE to call me dumb! ARGH! I'll show him dumb that…" A string of curses flowed out of her mouth as she started pounding the ball vehemently against the wall.
"WOOF! WOOF!"
"Egad!" Was the only thing Mia got out of her mouth before a large ball of fur jumped on her and ran away with her racket in it's mouth. Blinking as she laid on the floor, she jumped out. "That was my favorite racket!" She growled as she grabbed her stuff, running after the ball of fur. Adrenaline pumping through her blood, she increased her speed. At least all this running is helping me work out my stress. "Give that back you stupid do-OOOF!!!" She crashed into someone and went sprawling on the dirt trail.
"Argh!" The guy muttered as he hit the ground on his rear. "Damn!"
"I'm sorry," Both said at the same time as they got up.
"You!" Mia exclaimed as her face turned bright red when she got a glance of who it was. Spinning on her heel like she had done in the book store, she winced when a pain shot up her leg. Then she started limping towards the direction of where the dog had gone.
"Hey wait up," He called out.
Mia stopped and turned around looking directly into his eyes. They didn't scare her as much anymore. "You will forgive me when I tell you that I don't believe in talking to people like you,"
"Will you just hold on a minute?" He asked exasperated.
"Why should I?" She questioned turning around.
"Because I wanted to ask for your forgiveness,"
Mia turned back around staring at his standing form. "Well?"
"Will you please forgive me?" He asked looking straight into her eyes.
"Forgiven, now please leave me alone, I would like to get my racket back from that bouncing ball of fur," She turned around again on her good foot and started limping again.
"Oh you're hurt, let me help you," He said as he quickly went over to her and grabbed her arm.
Looking at his hand on her arm, Mia softly removed it from his grasp. "I'm fine, thank you,"
"Do you have to be like that?"
"Forgive me for acting such but my first impression of you is rather poor,"
"Can I change that then?" He softly asked.
Mia felt as if her heart skipped a beat when the guy asked her. "I guess," She said suspiciously. "What's your name?"
"Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot, we were never introduced, I'm Sage Date," He said smiling slightly as he held out his hand.
Mia nodded and took it. "I'm Mia Koji,"
"Nice to meet you,"
"A pleasure I'm sure,"
"Now about that dog…" Sage began.
"You know that ball of fluff?" Mia asked as they walked side by side, her, limping.
"Yes, his name is Sean, he's a dear if you get to know him, a bit mischievous at times," Sage said as he rolled the leash up into his hand.
"Smart dog if he was able to get out of his leash,"
"Very smart indeed…In fact, he's probably ran back home,"
"Am I suppose to go there with you then?" Mia asked.
"Of course, if you are to get your racket back that is," Sage said.
"I guess I'll take that as an invitation,"
Sage nodded. "Good…so, how am I doing so far?"
"Not bad," She smiled.
~*~*~*~
Sage held the door open and allowed her to go through first. He watched concerned as Mia limped her way in. "We should get my mom to look at your ankle,"
"I'm fine, just a little twist," She said as she stood aside waiting for him to come in. She felt a bit strange being in a stranger's house. "Heh, here I am in your home and I barely even know you,"
"Strangers?" Sage chuckled. "I wouldn't say that,"
"MAAAAAA!! Sage is home!" Yayoi shouted at the top of her lungs as she descended from the stairs. Arching her eyebrow as she caught site of Mia, she shouted again. "AND HE'S GOT COMPANY!"
Coming out from the kitchen, Mrs. Date's features brightened quite a lot when she caught site of Mia. She loved play matchmaker. Looking at Mia from head to toe, she held out a hand. "Why hello!"
"Hello," Mia said cordially as she took her hand and shook it. "I'm Mia Koji,"
"It's a pleasure to finally meet you," Mrs. Date said grinning as she took Mia's arm.
Finally? She arched an eyebrow looking up at Sage's face. It was serene, emotionless but a flush of color tinted his peach skin. "Thank you," She replied as she allowed herself to be ushered through the kitchen.
"Satsuki, make one more room at the table," Mrs. Date said to the little girl before her standing in the kitchen with a raggedy doll in one hand.
"Hai mama! Oh, is that Sage's g-," Satsuki was cut off as Sage quickly covered her mouth tickling her.
"Sage stop that…really, we have a guest today,"
"Oh no ma'am, I just came to get my racket…" Mia said timidly.
"Racket? Now is that what Sean stole?" Mrs. Date giggled. "Well, now you HAVE to stay because our dog was a nuisance to you…it's the least we can do,"
Mia blushed. "Really, I should be going home, Grandfather will be worried,"
"Oh then just call him! It'll be nice to have a fresh face at the table!" Mrs. Date persuaded.
"You can't win an argument with her you know," Sage said from his place near Satsuki.
Mia nodded. "Alright, if it is of no bother to you guys that is,"
"OF
COURSE NOT!" Yayoi said grinning from ear to ear as she slapped Sage's back.
"Yayoi…where'd you come from?"
Sage's eye contradicted to lines and dots. (AN: Like this. ¬_¬)
"Really Sage, Yayoi, I want you guys to be on your best behavior,"
"Hai Ma," Both chorused in unison.
~*~*~*~
"She's a nice girl Sage," Mrs. Date said as she carefully lifted a pan out of the oven.
"Mom…I know what you're thinking and it isn't that," Sage said as he spooned large amounts of rice into a large porcelain bowl.
"Now what would you know I'm thinking of? I didn't give birth to a mind-reader," She said grinning as she kissed his cheek. "Now go in there and talk to her, I want her to be very welcome! My, it's been a long time since I entertained,"
"Moooom…" Sage groaned as he was pushed out of the kitchen.
~*~*~*~
Mia was sitting awkwardly as the two girls sitting cross from her stared at her. "Um…"
"Here's the rice!" Came a voice.
Yayoi jumped. "Jeez Sage, you sure are chirpy,"
Sage narrowed his eyes as he took his seat next to Mia, "And what's that suppose to mean?"
Mia got up. "You know…I'm gonna help your mom with dinner," She quickly went into the kitchen.
"Oh nothing, just that you are never this chirpy," She shrugged as she spooned a generous amount of rice onto her plate.
"Yayoi…" Sage said in a warning tone.
"Oh geez Sage, lighten up will you?" Yayoi chided as Miss Hana followed by Mia and Mrs Date came in with plates of food in their arms. "Yay! I was getting rather hungry,"
"It does smell delicious," Mia said as she sat down.
"Well children, eat up!" Mrs. Date said as her and Miss Hana sat down.
~*~*~*~
"Hey Mia, will you come up to my room afterwards? I have some stuff to give you," Sage said as he gave her another dish to dry.
"Gifts?" She grinned. "You are really generous,"
"It's nothing," He said turning his face away from her as he concentrated on his dishes.
Yayoi sat at the table watching and tapping her fingers.
"Yayoi, don't you have something better to do?" Sage everything but snapped at her.
"Cra-abby," Yayoi muttered. "And no, I'm not doing anything to you am I?"
Sage turned around. Then STOP staring at me! She is NOT my girlfriend! She's Sai's! Sai's! Sai's!
"Well, that's the last of them!" Mia said grinning as she folded the dish towel up and set it on the counter. Looking at her watch she frowned. "Oh my, I didn't realize it was so late,"
Sage dried his hand quickly on the towels and rolled down his sleeves. "My room's upstairs,"
Mia nodded as she followed.
Yayoi watched this all with an interested eye.
~*~*~*~
"Here," Sage said as he handed her the bag of books.
"Oh…" Mia looked down at them and smiled up at him. "Thank you," She said as she pecked his cheek.
Sage blushed and for one was glad his room was dark. "You're welcome," He responded.
A horn honked from below.
"Mia! Your grandfather's here!" Mrs. Date shouted from below.
"I would give you back the racket but it seems Sean chewed it up beyond recognition," Sage said as he smiled apologetically.
"It's alright," She grinned. "Don't worry about it, my granfather and I are tennis buffs, I'm sure we have another one sitting around, anyways, thank you for these books, I owe you," She quickly went down the stairs and out the door, stopping only to wave goodbye. "Thank you," She mouthed to him before hugging his mom and shaking Yayoi's hand and rubbing Satsuki's head.
"You're welcome,"
Next on Ronin Warriors…
Ryo: Man I can sure use a vacation…
Kento: NO! I have to pass these or I'm going to fail!
Sai: Don't worry Kento, I'll help you.
Ryo: So…has anyone else noticed that Rowan and Sage both have been acting weird?
Sai: Yeah, for some reason, I think he's avoiding me…
Ryo: Hmmm…
Kento: Oh yeah, I just remembered, Sai, when are you ever going to tell us the details about you and Mia? I think I've been patient enough! I deserve to know why my best friend hasn't told me about his girlfriend!
Sai: WHAAAAAAT?!!!
Mia: Next time on Ronin Warriors: The Ugly Duckling~ Chapter 7: The Truth…Finally.
Sage and Rowan: It's unbelievable!
Sai: BELIEVE IT! _
^_^ I hope you guys enjoyed this, a lot of things will be answered in the next chapter…I don't usually read over my work so if you guys spot something out of place, just tell me and I'll fix it right away. Ja!
~Angel
