Chapter Six: My Enemy's Face
Carey pressed a steaming cup of tea into Cye's hands, gently wrapping his fingers around the warm ceramic. "Are you sure you're okay?" she asked. Cye managed to drag himself from his stupor long enough to give her a weak half-smile and a slight nod, and Carey frowned in concern. Even though he was dried off, dressed in some of Sage's clothes --- his sodden ones were in the dryer --- and wrapped in a warm blanket, Cye just couldn't seem to stop shivering. He seemed to be in shock, and Carey couldn't blame him. She hadn't gotten the full story out of the others yet, but she had heard enough to guess that Ryo had struck again, this time nearly drowning Cye. Of course, she still didn't know why Cye, Rowen, and Kento were here in the first place, but she had to admit that she was glad they were. If Sage had been alone when Ryo came looking for him…Carey shivered.
"Honey, what's wrong?" Sage asked quietly, seeing her shudder.
"Hmmm? Oh, I'm okay," Carey replied with a tiny, embarrassed laugh. "It's just…I'm glad it wasn't you." Sage smiled faintly and wrapped an arm around her shoulders in a quick hug.
"Oh, that's a nice sentiment. Makes the rest of us feel real good," Kento said sarcastically.
"Don't push it. You have yet to explain why any of you are even here," Carey shot back. "I came home early hoping for a quiet evening alone with my fiancé, and instead I get not only the three of you but the aftermath of another Ryo attack, this time practically on my own doorstep. And somehow I get the feeling there's more to this than what you're all telling me. So you'll have to forgive me if I'm a little less than hospitable right now."
"Carey, Kento, that's enough," Sage interjected sharply as Kento opened his mouth to reply. "We have more important things to worry about right now than your bickering. Ryo obviously survived that fire and now he's struck again. We need to find a way to stop him before he actually succeeds in killing one of us."
"Speaking of the fire, Sage, you haven't told us what the report said," Rowen spoke up. "We already guessed that Ryo had made it out, but what else was there that you didn't want to talk about over the phone?"
Sage shot a glance at Carey and started to speak, but she quickly forestalled him. "Whatever you found, you can share it with me just as easily as you can with them," she said quietly but firmly. "This affects me, too, Sage. Cye was almost killed tonight --- what if it had been you? How long before it is you? Something is obviously very wrong here, and I think I have a right to know what it is."
"I just didn't want to get you involved," Sage replied. "I figured you had enough on your mind dealing with the wedding."
"If Ryo gets hold of you there may not be a wedding," Carey reminded him. "Besides, I'm already involved with this --- I have been ever since we found Rowen hurt last Friday. Now tell me the truth, Sage. Don't try to shield me anymore."
Sage sighed, but he didn't try to argue with her. "According to the fire inspectors' report, there was no trace of another person in that shed, not even remains," he told the group. "There was also nothing to indicate how the fire started…no accelerants, no electrical problems, nothing so much as a discarded cigarette. It's as if it just sprang up on its own."
"Spontaneous combustion?" Rowen queried dubiously. "Sage, that's not possible."
"I know that and you know that, but the official report seems to think differently. Look, guys, I'm just telling you what my dad told me. I don't like this any more than you do."
"Is it possible they missed something?" Carey asked.
"Possible, maybe. Likely, no," Sage said. "We saw them at the park, remember. These guys are pros and they know their stuff. If this fire had started normally they would have found some evidence of that by now." No one could seem to think of a reply to this, and a thoughtful silence fell.
"Man, this has gone beyond bogus," Kento suddenly burst out. He jumped to his feet and started pacing angrily. "It's bad enough that Ryo's apparently gone psycho and is trying to kill the rest of us. But now he can magically start fires, escape burning sheds, and disappear without a trace? Give me a break."
"You have a better explanation?" Sage demanded.
"Yeah --- somebody screwed up that investigation," Kento retorted. "Look, it's obvious that Ryo got out, and that he started that fire. But if these fire guys are as good as you say they are, how come they didn't find out how he did it? And why are we always a step behind him? Something funny's going on here, Sage!"
"Well, duh," Carey murmured sardonically. Sage shot her a quelling look.
"I know that, Kento," he replied. "But how would you explain all this? A cover-up? Maybe we're all hallucinating? Or maybe it's not even Ryo, maybe we're being hunted by some kind of supernatural entity out for revenge?" None of them saw Cye's head come up, his eyes wide.
Kento flung his hands up in frustration. "Okay, fine…I can't explain it. So what? Look, all I know is this --- Ryo is out there and he's not playing with a full deck. And instead of doing something to stop him we're sitting around talking! We have to stop talking and do something, and we have to do it now!" he exhorted, banging his fist on a table for emphasis and sending a stack of papers cascading to the floor.
Rowen hastily bent to gather up the scattered papers. "Kento, we all want to find Ryo before he does any more harm," he said patiently, placing the stack on the coffee table in front of Cye. "But losing your temper isn't going to help. We need to think up a plan, and we will. But in the meantime we all just need to keep our heads and stay calm."
Kento snorted. "Yeah, Rowen, it'll be real easy to stay calm when we're all dead. Look, Ryo tried to kill you, me, and Cye. As far as I'm concerned, that equals 'threat', and we have to take out that threat. Right, Cye?" Cye didn't answer. "Cye?"
Cye was staring at a photograph on top of the papers Rowen had rearranged. He leaned over and picked it up with a shaking hand. "Sage, where did you get this?" he asked quietly.
Sage glanced at the photo Cye held. It showed a carved mask with cavernous eyes, a gaunt face, and long, sharp teeth. "It was taken at the gallery. It was a South American mask that came in a couple of weeks ago."
" 'Was'?"
"It was broken in an earthquake we had that same day. Fell off the table when the quake started. Why?"
Cye stared at the picture a moment longer, then lifted his gaze to meet Sage's. "Because this is the thing that attacked me," he said.
Carey frowned in confusion. "I thought Ryo attacked you."
"I thought so, too, at first. But then he --- I don't know how else to put this --- he morphed into this…this monster," Cye replied, waving the photograph.
There was silence for a moment as the other Ronins digested Cye's words. Finally Rowen spoke up. "Cye, are you sure? I mean, you're still kind of shaken up, buddy," he suggested.
"Rowen, the thing was six inches from my face," Cye replied pointedly. "Yes, this is what I saw. This is what picked me up by the throat and nearly choked me to death, then threw me into the pool. This is what made these gouges on my neck --- human fingernails don't do this," he added, indicating the deep scratches on the sides of his neck. "What is it, Sage?"
"Cye, I don't think --- "
Cye cut him off. "What is it, Sage?" he asked sharply.
Sage looked very unhappy as he explained, "It's supposed to be some sort of demon. I don't know anything more than that --- we had someone researching it, but I haven't heard what she found yet."
Rowen's shoulders slumped. "A demon," he said softly.
"Still think we need to stay calm, Rowen?" Kento asked sarcastically. "Well, this is just great. Other people attract losers or sluts or psychos. We attract demons."
"Not just any demon," Cye replied. The shock was wearing off, and a smoldering anger was taking its place. "A demon that knows us. This thing knows exactly who and what we are. It knows about the armors."
"How is that possible?" Kento wanted to know. "You don't think --- it's not one of Talpa's, is it?"
"I don't know. I doubt it, though. Talpa's been dead for almost ten years. No, whatever this creature is, something tells me it's a free agent. The important thing is, this monster already has Ryo and it wants to add us to its collection."
"What do you mean, it has Ryo?" Rowen asked.
Cye shrugged. "The demon said that Ryo was well enough, but that he 'fed' it, made it stronger. I'd be willing to bet that this thing has somehow captured Ryo, which would explain his sudden disappearance."
"So what do we do now?"
"We don't do anything now," Sage said quickly, before Cye could reply. "We're still not sure what we're facing, and I really don't think now is the best time to discuss this," he added, with a meaningful glance at a very confused Carey.
"What, so we just sit around and twiddle our thumbs while this thing picks us off one by one?" Kento exploded.
"Wait a minute!" The Ronins all turned to look at Carey, who was looking at them as if they had all just escaped from an asylum. "What are you all talking about? What armors? Who is Talpa, and how did demons get into this conversation? What the hell is going on here?"
The guys stared at her for a moment, then Cye whirled on Sage. "Well, Sage?" he demanded hotly. "You said you'd deal with this 'later'. Now it's 'later'. It's time to tell her the truth. Tell her who she's really marrying. Tell her about Talpa, and the armors, and what we were. Tell her why this thing wants us."
"Cye --- " Sage began, but Cye cut him off.
"I warned you that this would happen," he snarled. "I told you that all these attacks were somehow tied to the armors, and I was right, wasn't I? But you just refuse to face the truth, even to protect your fiancée. How can you put her in danger this way?"
"Cye, calm down."
"Damn it, Sage, do you even understand what's going on here?" Cye shouted furiously, his turquoise eyes blazing. "This is not Ryo that we're dealing with! This is something that can take Ryo's form, something that isn't even human! It's already come after three of us. You're next. Is any of this getting through to you?" Sage just glowered icily, and Cye went on, "I don't know what it is about the armors that has you too afraid to even discuss them, but you had better get over it right now because if you don't it could get us all killed. Is that what you want? Now tell Carey the truth…because if you don't tell her, I will."
"Tell me what?" Carey asked. She turned to look at her fiancé. "Sage?" she said plaintively.
Sage glared at Cye a moment longer, then sighed and took Carey's hand. "Honey, sit down," he said quietly. "There's something I have to tell you…something we all have to tell you."
They told her all of it. Discovering the armors, the war with Talpa, the terror of Shikaisen, the earth-shattering battle with the Black Inferno in Africa, the vengeance of Suzunagi. The demons, the horrors, the nightmares. The seemingly endless struggle to survive, followed, at long last, by the years of peace. It seemed to take an eternity, but finally the tale wound to an end.
Carey sat on the couch, Sage on one side of her and Cye on the other. She looked slowly from one face to the other. "Santa Maria," she finally managed. "If I didn't know better I'd swear you were all on drugs or something."
"But you do believe us?" Rowen asked hesitantly.
"Do I have a choice?" she replied, still looking rather stunned. "If it were just one or two of you I could pass this off as some sort of bizarre joke --- let's tell Carey an outlandish story about demons and armor and see if we can get her to fall for it. But all four of you…and Ryo is part of this too, isn't he?"
"He was the leader," Kento told her with rather noticeable enjoyment. Rowen elbowed him.
"Sweetheart, I know it sounds crazy," Sage said gently, holding Carey's hand. "It sounded even crazier when it actually happened. But it did happen. The Ronin Armors, the demons…all of it was real."
Carey turned huge, bewildered golden eyes on him. "Why didn't you tell me?" she asked. "Why did you keep this from me? You and Rowen both said you didn't know anything about 'armors'. Why did you lie to me?"
Sage didn't answer, so Cye stepped into the breach. "Carey, not even our parents know about this," he said quietly. "The only other people who know are Mia Koji and Yuli Yamano, and that's only because they were in the middle of it with us. We've kept the armors a secret for almost ten years."
"I didn't ask you," Carey told him. She turned back to Sage. "That's why the guys are here, isn't it? You thought I'd be in rehearsal all night and you could all discuss this without my knowing. And that's why Cye is so mad at you. You had no intention of telling me about any of this, did you? Why?"
"Because I couldn't," Sage answered reluctantly. "Because you wouldn't understand."
"And you think I understand now?" Carey demanded angrily. "Sangre de Dios, Sage --- one minute I'm marrying a normal guy with normal friends, and the next thing I know I've walked into some kind of weirded-out anime series. Demons and Nether Spirits and immortal Ancients and mystical armors that can destroy the world, not to mention the hellbeastie that seems to be stalking us now --- how the hell do I understand that?"
Sage got up and began to pace restlessly. "Apparently you don't," he snapped. "Damn it, Carey, this is ridiculous. We're not Ronin Warriors anymore. We haven't used the armors in years. It's over and done with."
"Really? Well, somebody forgot to tell this…this…thing that's after you," Carey accused. "Cye and Rowen both heard it refer to those 'armors' of yours, which means that it's not 'over and done with' and I think you've known that from the beginning. Which means that you deliberately lied to me and now there's a demon after you because you used to be some sort of armored superhero --- and I can't believe we're even having this conversation," she finished incredulously.
Sage ran a hand through his hair in frustration. "This is why I didn't tell you, Carey," he replied bitterly. "Because you'd make a big deal out of it and it would ruin everything. You can't understand what we went through. Besides, why should I bring up something that's been over for seven years?"
"Sage, take it easy," Cye warned, but Carey suddenly stared at her fiancé with growing comprehension.
"Wait…wait a minute," she said slowly. "This is your big secret? This is what you've been hiding from me all this time?"
All four Ronins turned to look at her. "What are you talking about?" Sage asked.
"I'm talking about whatever it was that you and Rowen were discussing last weekend. The thing you said you could never tell me about because it would destroy our relationship, remember? I wouldn't understand about you or what you did. The thing that Rowen told you was real and you couldn't forget it? That thing?"
Sage's eyes widened in outrage. "You were eavesdropping!"
"I was not. You left the door open and I overheard you," Carey defended herself. "Good God, Sage, all of that was about some mystical armors? I thought --- " She stopped suddenly, biting her lip.
"You thought what?" Sage asked. "What did you think I meant?"
Carey stared at the floor, chewing on her lip and blushing painfully. "Nothing," she replied almost inaudibly.
"Don't lie to me. What did you think I was talking about?" Carey didn't reply, nor would she meet his eyes. "Answer me, Carey Rose," Sage demanded inexorably. "What did you think?"
Carey looked as if she wanted to slide between the sofa cushions and disappear. "I thought --- you and Rowen --- I thought you meant you had --- that you were --- you had been --- oh, mierda," she stammered miserably.
It took them a few moments to figure out why the normally articulate and intelligent young woman had suddenly been reduced to stumbling incoherence. The answer hit them all at once. Sage looked mortally offended, Rowen turned bright red, and Cye was suddenly overcome with a fit of coughing. Kento, however, was not nearly as subtle. "Oh, man," he guffawed. "This is priceless. You hear that, buddy? She thinks you've been swinging both ways --- and with your best friend! You know, I always thought there was something weird about you two."
"Shut up, Kento," Sage snarled. He turned on Carey. "I can't believe it. How could you actually think that Rowen and I were --- how could you believe that about either of us? What in the hell were you thinking?!"
"Don't you talk to me that way," Carey shot back. "If you had been honest with me this wouldn't have happened. I've suspected for a while that you've been keeping secrets from me, and I know how close you and Rowen are --- sometimes it almost seems like you're two halves of a whole, like there's something between you that I can never share. When I overheard that it just sounded like you were talking about…something more than friendship," she finished defensively. "What was I supposed to think?"
"You didn't have to think that," Sage replied with asperity.
Cye managed to bring his choking under control and decided to try and restore some sort of order. "Ahem --- ah, Carey, I know this all seems kind of odd to you, and I can see where you might have misunderstood," he said, trying desperately to keep a straight face. "But you have to understand something about us. We went through a war together when we were just teenagers. We relied on one another for survival, because we had no one else. And yes, it formed a strong bond between the five of us, stronger perhaps than anything on this earth. In a way, I suppose you could say it made us brothers. But that's all we were to one another. There was never any kind of…indiscretion to speak of," he added delicately. "You and Sage had a misunderstanding, but now it's been cleared up. Now I think you each owe the other an apology."
"But…but it wasn't just that conversation," Carey said unhappily. She looked straight at Rowen. "Rowen, do you remember the morning after the fire, when you were staying with us?" Rowen nodded, puzzled. Carey went on, "Sage and I were here in the living room --- we didn't think you were up yet --- and I had music on while I was practicing. We got a little silly and were waltzing around the living room, and I happened to glance up and see you standing in the doorway." She dropped her gaze for a moment, then faced Rowen again. "I saw the look on your face…you looked so lost, so heartbroken, like someone you loved had rejected you. And you were looking at Sage," she finished sadly.
None of them would have thought it possible, but Rowen turned an even deeper red. He just sat there for a second or two, his mouth opening and closing uselessly, then he buried his face in his hands. "Oh, no," he groaned, shaking his head. "Oh, no, no, no…oh, damn it."
"Uh, Rowen…do you have any idea what she's talking about?" Sage asked warily.
Rowen groaned again and finally raised his head. His face was as crimson as if he'd been boiled alive, making his blue hair stand out in violent contrast, and he looked as if he didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "It's not what you think," he muttered in chagrin. "It's worse." He took a deep breath and faced Carey like a man going to his own execution. "Carey, what you saw that day…you've got it all wrong. I wasn't looking at Sage --- I was looking at you."
Three jaws dropped --- Kento was too busy grinning. "You were what?" Sage exploded. "Rowen, please tell me I heard you wrong, that you didn't just say you were making eyes at my fiancée."
"No, you heard right," Rowen sighed resignedly. "I've had a crush on Carey almost since I met her."
Kento burst out laughing again. "You mean you've got the hots for your best friend's bride-to-be? Damn, Rowen, that is twisted," he chortled happily. "Oh, man, this just gets better and better."
"Shut up, Kento," Rowen retorted wearily. To Sage and Carey he added, "I never meant to tell you, especially not like this. I thought I was doing a good job of hiding it."
"Not good enough," Sage snapped.
"Stop it, Sage," Carey pleaded. She turned beseeching eyes on Rowen. "Rowen…please tell me you're not serious. Please tell me this is just some sort of a joke, or the medication talking, or that you've been possessed by aliens from the Crab Nebula or…or something. But just don't tell me that the best friend of the man I'm about to marry is carrying a torch for me."
"Carey, I wish it were that simple," Rowen said gently. "But you deserve better than an easy lie. I care about you, I have for a long time. You were the first woman who treated me like a normal human being, like having an I.Q. in the 200's didn't make me any different from anyone else. You treated me with honesty and compassion and fairness and you made me feel like I was part of your family. How could I not respond to that? But I knew how much you and Sage loved each other, and I wasn't going to interfere in that, no matter how I felt about you."
"So you were just going to keep nobly silent," Carey murmured numbly.
"What else could I do? You were in love, engaged to marry a man who adores you. And yes, it hurts sometimes to see the two of you together. But I know that Sage loves you in a way I'm not sure I ever could. You two belong together. Don't let my stupidity ruin that," he urged with a meaningful look at Sage, who just stood there in stony silence.
Carey slumped back against the couch cushions, looking rather shell-shocked. "Would anyone else like to jump in on this?" she asked weakly.
"Don't look at me," Kento proclaimed. "I don't even like you very much."
"Shut up, Kento," Cye warned. "Well, I suppose it's good that we've all finally unburdened ourselves, but let's concentrate on the task at hand now, shall we? We still need to find out more about this monster we're up against, and what it's done with Ryo."
"What about Mia?" Rowen asked eagerly, grateful for the change of subject. "If anyone can help us, she can."
"Good idea. Sage, you have the picture. E-mail it to Mia and ask her if she can find out anything," Cye instructed. "Better yet, can you make copies of it? That way, each of us can do some research and hopefully we'll find some answers faster."
"Fine," Sage replied coolly. He took the photo and went over to the computer.
"What about the armors?" Kento asked. "Do you think we'll need them?"
"I hope not, but it looks like there's at least a chance," Cye said. "Now would be a good time to find your kanji crystals and see if they still respond. In the meantime, keep your guards up. Now that this thing has shown its true face, it may very well escalate its attacks. Something tells me we're running out of time --- we have to find out what this is and how to stop it, and we have to find out fast. Ryo's life could very well depend on it."
"And what about Sage and Carey?" Rowen said quietly. Sage looked up sharply as Rowen went on, "Sage is the only one this demon hasn't gone after yet, and because of her closeness to him Carey could be a target as well. The demon could decide to use her as bait."
"I can take care of myself and my fiancée just fine, thank you," Sage replied pointedly. "I don't have any intention of going into hiding just because some demon has gotten loose out there. If it wants me, it'll have to fight me all the way."
"And what about Carey?" Rowen demanded. "What if it wants her?"
"What, like you do?" Sage retorted nastily.
"Knock it off, both of you!" Cye interrupted them. "You can indulge in your little fits of jealousy later, but right now we have more pressing concerns. Sage, Rowen is right. You are in danger, and Carey even more so because she doesn't have the battle experience that you do. We have to find some way to protect the two of you."
"Basta ya! Enough!" Carey cried, leaping to her feet. All eyes turned to her. "What you all have to do now is go home," she said in a shaking voice. "Please, just leave so I can try to salvage something of my engagement and my sanity."
"Carey…" Rowen began, but Carey cut him off, raising her hands as if to ward off a blow .
"No mas, Rowen," she pleaded, her eyes shimmering with barely restrained tears. "Just…no more. I'm sorry, I know you all mean well, but I cannot take any more of this, not tonight. Please, all of you…just go home," she begged, then turned and ran down the hall to the bedroom. A moment later the door slammed, and they could briefly hear the sound of her sobs before they were muffled by her pillow.
Sage got up to go after her, but Cye caught his arm. "No, Sage. Let her go for now," he said.
Sage glowered at his friend. "Cye, I really don't need your advice on dealing with my own fiancée. Do I need to remind you that you were the one who started spouting off about demons and Talpa and those goddamned armors? If you hadn't opened your mouth none of this would have happened."
"Sage, I know how you feel and I can't really blame you. But please listen to me," Cye replied gently but firmly. "Right now Carey is very hurt, angry, and confused, and so are you. If you confront each other now you'll wind up saying things you don't mean, things that could do irreparable harm to your relationship. Is this how you want to start off your marriage?"
"Thanks to you guys, there may not be a marriage," Sage shot back. "Do you understand now why I didn't want to tell her about our past? I knew she wouldn't understand this; I knew it would be too much for her. And I was right, wasn't I?"
"Maybe if you had told her earlier it wouldn't have been too much," Cye retorted. "Sage, try and see this from her point of view. She came home early expecting to have a well-deserved quiet evening alone with the man she loves. Instead she's had to deal with all of us telling her things that under any other circumstances would be enough to have us all committed. Demons that morph into our friend's likeness, mystical armors, teenage warriors fighting to save the world from the forces of darkness…not to mention being the center of a love triangle involving her future husband and his best friend," he added with a wry glance at a shamefaced Rowen. "Can you blame her for being a little overwhelmed? But she had to know the truth about us, and she had to know it now…because that's why this demon is stalking us in the first place. This creature didn't choose us at random. Somehow it knows who and what we are, and that's what's drawn it to us. And the sooner we face that the better off we'll all be."
"So what can we do now?" Rowen asked.
"I think you've all done enough for one evening," Sage said tiredly. "Carey's right, guys --- go home. We're not accomplishing anything standing around here blaming each other. At least now we know a little bit more about what we're facing. I'll get in touch with Mia and see if she can tell us anything about this creature, but for now let's just call it a night."
Cye nodded sympathetically. "Of course. And the sooner we each get started on our own research, hopefully the faster we'll be able to figure out how to get this demon off our backs…or our necks," he added wryly, touching the claw marks on his throat.
"Will you be okay?" Sage asked.
Cye smiled, knowing it was the closest Sage was going to come to an apology. "I'll be fine," he said gently. "I wasn't hurt badly; heaven knows I've survived worse. Of course, I hate to think what Emmy is going to say when she sees this."
"Just tell her you got in a fight with my cat," Rowen suggested.
"Rowen, you don't have a cat."
"Emiko doesn't know that."
Kento levered himself out of his chair, chuckling. "Jealous girlfriends, hysterical fiancées, morphing demons and love triangles. I gotta hand it to you guys --- demonbusting wasn't half this entertaining when we were in high school. Stay tuned for the next exciting episode of 'The Young And The Ronins'," he intoned dramatically.
"Shut up, Kento!" the other three yelled in unison.
Mia's reply was gratifyingly swift. Three days after the swimming-pool attack, the Ronins gathered at Cye's apartment to discuss Mia's findings.
Kento peered at the string of q's and x's that stretched across the computer screen. "Is that even a word?" he asked doubtfully.
"According to Mia, it is," Cye replied. "It's the name of an ancient Aztec demon…the closest translation she can get is 'Light Taker' or 'Soul Eater'. From what she was able to find, it was some sort of shapeshifter demon that feeds on the life force of its victims."
"Like a vampire?" Rowen wanted to know.
"In a way, I guess. Mia couldn't find a whole lot on this thing, but she says she'll keep looking. Basically, this creature can take the shape of its chosen victim while it gradually drains the victim's life energies." Cye ran a hand through his hair and sighed. "Not much to go on, is it?"
Rowen smiled wryly. "Well, it's more than what we had, at least. Now this thing has a face and a name…even if we can't pronounce it. We just have to find out what else it has."
"Hey, where the heck is Sage?" Kento demanded suddenly. "Shouldn't he be here trying to help us figure this out?"
"Sage is in Sendai," Cye said. "He and Carey are spending the weekend with his parents and they couldn't get out of it, so he forwarded Mia's e-mail to me and asked me to fill the rest of you in on this."
"More wedding stuff," Kento scoffed. "I'm surprised she didn't dump him after all those little revelations the other night."
Cye slanted a cynical glance at his friend. "You'd like that, wouldn't you? You know, you really seem to go out of your way to make life difficult for Carey. Why do you dislike her so much?"
Kento shrugged. "It's not like I hate her or anything. It's just that --- ever since he met her, Sage has been, I don't know, different. She's changed him, man," he complained.
"Well, what did you expect? He loves her; that would change anyone. Personally, I think it's wonderful that Sage has found someone he can trust, someone besides us that accepts him. I just hope they can work through this and put it behind them."
Kento gave him a sour look. "Cye, you're a hopeless romantic," he groused. He glanced at his watch. "I gotta go. It's a Saturday night, and I know the restaurant's going to be busy."
"Keep your guard up," Rowen reminded him. "This demon doesn't take weekends off, you know."
"Yeah, whatever. Anyway, it's already hit the three of us. It's Sage's turn." Kento picked up his jacket. " 'Night, guys."
"Good night, Kento," Cye replied. When Kento had gone, Cye leaned back in his chair and sighed deeply. "Am I really a hopeless romantic?" he asked wistfully.
"Kind of," Rowen replied. "But I guess someone has to be. So," he said, changing the subject, "what are your exciting plans for the weekend?"
"You mean besides watching over my shoulder for soul-eating demons? Working on my much-neglected thesis. You?"
"Sitting in my big empty house grading papers and desperately wishing I had a life. Oh, yeah, and trying to figure out a way to apologize to Sage in the point-two seconds I'll have before he hangs up on me."
Cye raised an eyebrow. "Not speaking to you, is he? Well, you have to admit, Rowen, blurting out that you have a crush on his bride-to-be was perhaps not the most intelligent thing to do."
"Well, what was I supposed to do, let her go on thinking that I was gay and Sage was at the least bisexual?" Rowen defended himself. "It's not like I was actually coming on to her or anything. I just didn't think either one of them would take it so badly."
"Maybe you should have fallen for my girlfriend," Cye suggested lightly. "Emmy would probably enjoy having men fight over her."
"Great. So I can have you mad at me instead." Rowen shook his head. "No thanks. I know you love Emiko, but I want a woman who's a little bit less…needy."
Cye sighed. "I know she can be clingy sometimes, but she's really a good woman at heart."
"I'm sure she is, but…you know, this whole demon thing got me thinking. Mia helped us when we faced Talpa, Shikaisen, and Mukara. Carey's trying to help us now. I don't doubt that if this 'Soul Taker' hurts Sage she'll go after it with a vengeance. I want a woman who'd do that for me."
"So do I," Cye replied, so softly Rowen almost didn't hear him. He rubbed his eyes and gazed into space. "What a mess. Sometimes I think life was a lot easier when we were at war with Talpa."
"Ah, yes, the halcyon days of battle, imprisonment, and terror."
"You laugh, but I'm serious. At least then all we had to deal with was Talpa and the warlords. We didn't have to worry about the detritus of our personal lives as well."
"That's because we didn't have personal lives," Rowen pointed out wryly.
"Still," Cye muttered.
Rowen smiled sympathetically. "Hell of a week, huh, buddy?"
"To say the least," Cye replied. "I don't understand it, Rowen. Why is this 'Light Eater' after us? What do we have that it wants, besides armors that we haven't worn in seven years? Why are we fighting each other instead of it? And why the bloody hell is all this happening now?"
Rowen sighed and fingered the brace on his broken hand. "Wish I knew. I just hope we find out in time to get Ryo out in one piece. I can't help but wonder, though --- what's going to happen when this thing finally meets up with Sage?"
Coming home had been a mistake, Sage realized as he ran through the familiar moves of the kendo drills. As soon as he walked in the door he could feel the weight of his family's name, of duty and honor and tradition and all the things he had had forced onto him as a child. It pressed against him like a cold, leaden fog, seeping into his very bones the way the chill of night seeps into sun-warmed stone. He could almost feel his emotional walls going back up…which would have been fine if he had been alone, but he wasn't. His bride-to-be stood by his side, smiling and making gracious small talk with his family as if nothing was wrong, as if there wasn't a wall of tension between them as thick as a tree. Sage had to give Carey credit --- she was a much better actress than he had realized.
And to make matters worse, he hardly had a chance to be alone with her, to try and clear the air. When they had arrived last night, they found themselves whisked first into dinner and then into a family gathering that had lasted almost until midnight. Today had not begun much better. After breakfast, he had tried to find a moment with Carey, only to find himself teaching classes in the dojo at his father's and grandfather's insistence. Carey, meanwhile, had been swept into a whirl of wedding details by his mother and Satsuki…including an extensive lecture on the noble history of the Date family, one that would have sent a lesser woman running screaming into the hills. At lunch he had only managed to ask her to meet him in the dojo later that evening before he was dragged off to practice under Grandfather's watchful eye. And of course, there was still the little matter of Rowen's crush on Carey, not to mention the Ryo-demon running around wreaking havoc with his friends. Well, Sage thought sourly, at least he had one thing to be grateful for --- Yayoi was on call at the hospital this weekend and could not make it home. Sage was really not in the mood for a weekend full of verbal duels between his fiancée and his older sister. He had enough problems.
"You are not concentrating, Seiji." His grandfather's stern voice cut into his thoughts, startling Sage from his musings. He turned to see the old man regarding him with disapproval.
Sage flushed slightly and bowed. "Sumimasen, ojii-sama," he murmured respectfully. "My thoughts were wandering."
"And they should not," Masuhiro Date lectured his grandson. "The samurai does not moon about in battle. He is focused and alert at all times. You should be concentrating on the task at hand, Seiji. Nothing else is important."
It was the same lecture he had heard ever since he first picked up a sword, but suddenly it made Sage feel very tired, as if he had been carrying a huge, unbearable weight for miles. "What's the point, Grandfather?" he said wearily. "We aren't samurai anymore. The world has changed."
"The world will always need those such as us," Masuhiro replied with an unshakable dignity. "We of the Date have dedicated our lives to preserving honor and virtue, even when those around us would consider such things an embarrassing anachronism. Someone has to keep the old ways alive, Seiji."
"But why us?"
Grandfather shrugged. "If not us, then who?" He looked closely at Sage. "You are not happy, magomusuko." It was not a question.
"It's nothing," Sage replied.
"Do not lie to me, Seiji. You and your young lady are having problems, aren't you?"
Sage ran a hand tiredly across his eyes. "My 'young lady' is named Carey, Grandfather. Since she's going to be your granddaughter-in-law, don't you think you could at least call her that?"
A faint, almost sad smile crossed Masuhiro's face as he shook his head. "Seiji, I have given my consent to your marriage. That does not mean I have to approve of your choice."
Any other time, Sage thought, he would have leapt immediately to Carey's defense. But the events of the past few days had left him drained, and he found that he couldn't even muster up the strength to raise his voice. "I've done what you wanted, Grandfather," he replied, his voice toneless. "I've chosen a bride, someone to provide the family with heirs. Isn't that enough?"
"It would have been better if you had let me choose your bride. I would not have chosen wrongly, Grandson."
Sage closed his eyes. Even with the problems he and Carey were having, the thought of being trapped in a loveless marriage to a total stranger was too much to bear, and he suddenly found himself fighting back tears. He turned away so that his grandfather would not see and despise his weakness. "I have to spend the rest of my life with the woman I marry. She has to be someone I can respect, trust, and honor. Is it so unthinkable to want love, too?" he pleaded softly.
"You think too much like your Western relatives," Masuhiro rebuked him, firmly but not unkindly. "Love is a weakness, boy. It fades quickly and makes you vulnerable." Sage didn't reply, and Masuhiro continued, "The heat of young passion is short-lived, Seiji, and marriage alliances should be made to last. Better to choose a bride with your head rather than your heart."
The old man sighed. "But what's done is done," he said fatalistically. "You have made your choice…time will tell if it was the right one." He left the dojo, and Sage was alone with his churning thoughts.
Is Grandfather right? he wondered. Is love nothing but a weakness? Would I be happier if I hadn't fallen in love with Carey, if I had let my family arrange a match for me? Sage sighed deeply --- he knew the answer to that one. Sometimes I think it was easier before I even knew what it meant to love. By the time his late-night appointment with Carey rolled around, Sage was confused, irritable, and itching for a fight.
She walked into the dojo, and Sage saw immediately that Carey was in no better a mood than he was. "Are you okay?" he asked.
Carey shrugged. "I guess. So why did you want to meet here?"
"You saw Mia's e-mail," Sage replied. "You know what's been happening and what we're up against. If I can't keep you out of this mess, I want to make sure you can at least be helpful." He picked up the twin sai and tossed them to her, hilts first. "We haven't had a chance to practice together for a while, so let's see if your skills are still up."
Carey caught the swords easily. Was it hurt or disappointment that Sage saw flicker in her eyes? But it was quickly gone, hidden behind that cool, unreadable look. "Whatever," she said. "I could use the exercise." She raised her swords to a ready position as Sage picked up his own blade. "En garde."
Even as unhappy as he was, Sage had to admit that Carey's ability with the sai was impressive. He had begun teaching her swordfighting shortly after they had become engaged, and she had picked it up with astounding speed. She hadn't been up to the huge no-datchi or the katana, but she had taken to the short swords with an ease that had surprised him; it reminded her, she said, of the knife skills she had seen the gangs use back home in Miami. Any other time, he would have been perfectly confident in her prowess…any other time but now. The thought that there was something out there hunting them, something strong and bloodthirsty and determined, sent a chill through Sage and the only way he could fight it was to turn it outward.
He pushed her hard, harder than he ever had. Fueled by an inexplicable anger, she at first kept pace with him, but after a while she began to tire. Finally she backed away, holding one hand palm out in a gesture of surrender. "What are you doing?" Sage demanded, lowering his sword. "Why are you giving up?"
"Sage, enough," Carey replied sharply. She was breathing hard and strands of her dark hair clung wetly to her forehead, but her golden eyes shot sparks. "We have been at this for an hour and a half. It's late, I'm tired, and I would like to get to bed sometime before dawn. We can finish playing your sadistic little game tomorrow."
She looked exhausted and he wanted to take her in his arms and comfort her. But he could hear the echo of his grandfather's words --- Love is a weakness --- and when he spoke it was with his grandfather's voice. "Is that what you plan to tell your enemy?" he said coldly. "That you'll finish the battle tomorrow? Do you think this demon stalking us will care if you're tired? Most likely it'll just put you out of your misery."
"Yeah, well, forgive me if my mortal limitations offend you, oh mighty warrior," Carey sneered. "Besides, this thing is after you, not me. I just get stuck cleaning up afterwards."
"That doesn't matter," Sage told her, as if he were lecturing a wayward pupil. "What do you think this is, a rehearsal? Your enemy won't show any weakness or mercy. Neither can you. Now get over here and let's work on this until you get it right."
Carey glared at him. "Go to hell, Sage. I'm your fiancée, not your student. You don't give me orders."
"While you're in this dojo I do. You still have a lot to learn about our traditions, Carey, and you'd better learn fast if you're going to be my wife. I put up with a lot from you, and it's caused me a lot of trouble with my family but I've shrugged it off for your sake. But when you're in this dojo you play by my rules, and I expect you to treat me with respect. I'm the master here, not you." She didn't reply, just continued to glower, and Sage lifted his sword again. "Now pick up those swords and show me that you've actually learned something," Sage ordered.
She came at him so fast he barely had time to react. He hadn't even finished bringing his blade to guard position when she was upon him, wielding the twin swords with a vengeance, and all he could do was defend himself. Finally he thought he saw an opening, and prepared to attack. But before he could she spun, slamming a vicious roundhouse kick into his side. He staggered and she knocked his feet out from beneath him, sending him crashing to the mat. He hadn't even drawn a full breath before she was kneeling on his chest, the blunted tip of one of her swords a hairsbreadth from his throat.
Sage gasped for breath, and not just from exertion. The fury in Carey's eyes seared him. "That was illegal," he managed.
"Doesn't matter. I won," Carey replied coldly. "Don't…you…ever speak to me that way again." Her voice was level, but there was an edge to it that could have drawn blood. She got to her feet in one swift, fluid motion and stalked out of the dojo, pausing only to fling the words "Good night, Sage," over her shoulder.
Sage sat up slowly, wincing at the soreness in his ribs where Carey had kicked him --- there was a lot of strength in that tiny frame, he thought ruefully. God, she probably hates me now. He couldn't blame her. He didn't really like himself at the moment, either. He wrapped his arms around his knees and sighed deeply.
How did it come to this? he wondered unhappily. Just over a week ago we were happy, in love, planning our wedding; everything was just about perfect. Now it's all falling apart. Ryo's missing, there's a demon stalking us that can make itself look like him, my best friend is in love with my fiancée, and my fiancée is mad enough to nearly skewer me. Sage had not missed the rage in Carey's eyes when she had attacked --- she had wanted to hurt him, and he didn't doubt that she could have. He knew she was still upset about the whole demon-and-armor situation, but this went way beyond that.
Sage sighed again, running a hand through his sweat-dampened hair. He knew why she was angry. All through the wedding discussions, his mother and Satsuki had constantly referred to tradition and how important it was to uphold the family's reputation. His grandfather had asked her point-blank when she intended to have children, emphasizing that her "duty as Seiji's wife" would be to provide at least one heir, preferably more and preferably boys. Here in his parents' house, she was surrounded by reminders of the long and illustrious history of the Date clan. All of it only underscored the fact that she was marrying the heir to a noble, powerful, and well-respected family and that she, a Cuban-American dancer only two generations removed from Havana, was nowhere near his equal. And while he knew his family liked Carey --- well, most of them, anyway --- the message was still there, just under the surface. Carey Navarro, star ballerina, who had danced for the Emperor of Japan and had international companies clamoring to work with her, was not good enough to marry the future head of the Date family.
He had not been much help either, Sage thought with a stab of remorse. Instead of standing by Carey and supporting her, he had withdrawn behind his old mask, keeping her at a careful distance. He remembered the first time he had brought her to meet his family, when he had defended her to the point of being threatened with disownment. Why couldn't he seem to do that now? Why was his family name suddenly more important than the woman he loved? And why did he even have to choose between them?
"Having problems, Sage of Halo?"
Sage's head shot up. Lost in his thoughts, he had not noticed the lights of the dojo dimming to almost nothing. But when he saw the figure leaning casually against the doorframe, he knew why they had. "You," he said coldly.
Ryo --- or rather, the thing that looked like Ryo --- smiled placidly. "Is that any way to greet a guest, especially one who's come so far to see you? I thought you had better manners than that."
Sage rose deliberately to his feet, his sword in hand. "You aren't a guest," he replied. "And you can drop the disguise. I already know what you look like."
The demon raised an eyebrow. "Do you? I simply thought you would prefer seeing this form. But, very well, as you wish." With a casual shrug, the demon transformed. Carnivorous teeth grinned at Sage. "Is this better?" it asked, as calmly as if it were modeling a new outfit.
Sage fought back a wave of nausea. Nothing he had seen in all his years as a Ronin had prepared him for this. The cadaverous face, the vicious talons, the scabrous body were all bad enough, but the sense of the thing…Malevolent psychic energy, black with disease, poured from it in waves. It ripped into his senses with white-hot claws, shredding his defenses and threatening to drive him mad. He swayed under the onslaught, nearly collapsing, and just barely managed to get his psychic shields up in time. "Oh, my God," he murmured involuntarily.
"What's the matter, Halo?" the monster queried solicitously. "You wanted to see me as I truly am. Is my real face not to your liking?" At Sage's stricken look, the demon chuckled. "No, I suppose it isn't. It's always difficult for one of light to look upon darkness…especially his own."
The words finally penetrated Sage's numbed brain. "What do you mean, 'my own'?" he demanded. "Why are you here? What do you want?"
"So many questions," the demon chided. "But I will answer one. I'm here because you called me, Sage of Halo."
"What?!" Sage staggered back a pace, horrified. How had he called this… this monstrosity? "Liar," he snarled, raising his sword to a ready position.
The demon just stood there, eyeing Sage as if he were a harmless, naughty child rather than a trained warrior holding a three-foot-long blade. "Put that down," it said tolerantly. "I'm not here to harm you…at least not yet."
"Yeah, well, I don't feel like giving you the chance," Sage retorted. He reached the monster in two strides, swinging the sword in a two-handed grip. The blade whistled sharply as it passed…through empty air.
"Stop that," said the creature's voice behind him, and Sage whirled. The demon stood a few feet away, calmly regarding him. "Do you think you can defeat me so easily?" it asked. Sage lunged at it again, and again it vanished to rematerialize in yet another spot. A sudden, icy shaft of fear clawed at Sage's insides, but he forced it down. In one lightning-swift motion, he raised the sword over his head, then swung it down with all his force in a killing blow.
The monster caught the blade in one clawed hand. "I said, stop that," it repeated in a voice suddenly hard with menace. It tore the sword easily from Sage's grasp and flung it aside, then raised its other hand in an almost negligent gesture. The blood-red eyes glowed luridly and a blast of roiling psychic energy smashed into Sage with the force of a wrecking ball, dropping him to his knees in a gasping, shaking heap.
As Sage crouched on the mats, trembling violently and fighting not to either faint or throw up, the monster approached to stand over him. Somehow he had the feeling it disapproved. "Enough. I tire of this game, Halo," it said imperiously.
"Sorry to disappoint you," Sage muttered from between clenched teeth.
The monster chuckled, a sound that set Sage's teeth on edge. "You still have your spirit. Good. Perhaps you will be worthy of my hunger after all."
Sage glared up into the hideous face. "I'm not afraid of you," he grated.
"Oh, but you are," the demon replied smoothly. "More than you know." With the precision of a surgeon, it traced a razor-sharp talon lightly along Sage's temple, leaving a hair-thin line of blood welling in its wake. Another blast of the monster's vile energy hit Sage, and it was all he could do not to throw up right then and there. A feral smile curled the lipless mouth as the demon licked the thin thread of Sage's blood from its claw. "Delicious," it pronounced, like a connoisseur at a wine tasting. Sage fought the urge to flinch as it leaned closer to him. "I could take you now," it hissed. "Rip out that pale throat and leave you bleeding here in your childhood home. But I won't. I'll let you ripen a bit longer, save you for last. Because when I am ready…you will come to me."
"Over my dead body," Sage managed to snarl. What the hell did it do to me?
"Indeed," the monster drawled. It stepped back, and Sage had to force himself not to gulp for air. "As much as I've enjoyed our little game, I really must go. I have other matters to attend to. But don't worry, Sage of Halo, we'll meet again soon." The air around the demon shimmered as it began to fade.
"Coward," Sage flung at it.
The now-transparent demon chuckled. "You have the audacity to call me coward. But look more closely, warrior of Wisdom --- which of us is the true coward?" And with that parting shot, the monster disappeared. Sage knelt where he was, frozen and gasping, until the lights returned to normal. Then he ran for the bathroom and was violently sick.
Later, when he had managed to calm himself, Sage climbed the stairs to his bedroom. But as he reached the top of the steps, Sage found himself turning not toward his own room but towards the one where Carey slept. Sage had to smile slightly at the quaintness of it all. He and Carey had been lovers for about a year and had been living together for several months, yet his parents still insisted on placing them in separate bedrooms…which in this case meant Carey wound up staying in Yayoi's old room, something that would probably give his oldest sister fits if she knew, Sage thought. Just because they were going to be sisters-in-law didn't mean they had to like each other, especially since they never had to begin with.
He stood in the doorway, just watching her for a while. She lay with her back turned to him, the blankets pulled up so that all he saw was her dark hair against the white sheets, her slender form a shapeless lump in the bed. Sage felt as if he were watching her from behind a window, as if there was an invisible barrier between them, and suddenly he felt very small and cold and alone.
Love is a weakness, boy.
Oh, for crying out loud, Grandfather, shut up.
"Sage, is there something you need or are you just going to stand there all night?" Carey's voice was quiet in the stillness, but it still made him jump.
"Sorry, I…didn't mean to wake you," Sage stammered apologetically.
"You didn't. I wasn't asleep," came the reply. "I've been trying for about an hour or so, but I don't seem to be having much luck."
Sage crossed the room and sat down gently on the edge of the bed. "How did you know it was me?"
Carey lifted one shoulder in a small shrug. "I just knew. Besides, who else would just walk in like that?" Her back was still turned to him. "Sage, with all due respect, it's after midnight. If this is a lecture, can it wait until morning?" she asked tonelessly.
"It's not a lecture. It's an apology," Sage replied quietly. "Carey, I was harsh with you tonight and I shouldn't have been. I pushed you way beyond what I had any right to do. I'm sorry."
Carey rolled over and gazed up at him, her face unreadable. "You taught me swordfighting, you know. Why do you suddenly have so little faith in that? Haven't I proved myself to you yet?"
Sage brushed a strand of her hair away from her face. "Yes, you have," he agreed. "Against human opponents. But what we're facing now isn't human. I just want to be sure that if I can't protect you, you at least have a shot at protecting yourself. And that did not come out the way it was supposed to," he finished with a wince.
Carey's right eyebrow lifted just the smallest fraction. "Seiji Date. Are you actually worried about me?"
Sage sighed. "Terrified. And don't call me that," he added automatically.
The tiniest hint of a half-smile flitted across Carey's lips as she sat up, hugging her knees to her chest. "You were pretty hard on me tonight," she said, then sighed. "But I guess it was mutual. I didn't hurt you, did I?"
"Well, let's just say that the next time we have a big fight, remind me to be on the other side of the room. Way on the other side," Sage replied wryly.
Carey smiled ruefully and lowered her eyes. "I'm sorry, honey. I didn't mean to go ballistic on you like that, but suddenly I was just so mad…all I wanted to do was hurt something. And you were there." She rested her chin on her knees, looking very young and vulnerable. "All weekend long, all I've heard is what I'm expected to be as the wife of the Date heir. Nobody seems to think that what I am is good enough." She slanted a glance at Sage. "Not even you."
Sage didn't even bother trying to refute that. He remembered full well what he had said to her, and it filled him with shame. "I shouldn't have said that."
"Maybe not. But you did, and in a way you meant it." She shifted slightly so that she was looking him straight in the eye. "You've been shutting me out lately, keeping me at a distance. It's like you're reverting to the way you were when we first met. I know you've had a lot on your mind with…everything that's been going on, but I just wish you'd be a little more open with me."
"You're still mad because I didn't tell you about the armors, aren't you?"
"A little. I'm still trying to grasp the fact that my husband-to-be has mystical powers and helped save the world a few times. But that's not all of it. Sage, I don't want to be one of those clingy types who has to know where you are, who you're with, and what you'll be doing every second of the day. I know there's a part of your life that doesn't involve me, just like there's a part of mine that doesn't involve you. But this demon situation…this concerns both of us. If it hurts you then it hurts me as well. Let me help you, darling, let me be part of this. Don't fall back on your old samurai machismo."
"I just didn't want to get you involved. There was a lot of ugliness in my past, and I wanted to protect you from it."
"I know, and I'm glad you care that much. But you have to understand something. In my own way, I was raised to be every bit as much of a warrior as you are. Why do you think I came back here to marry you, especially when I knew your grandfather disapproved? My parents always taught me to stand by the people I loved and to fight for what was important to me. Sage, I love you, I want to be your wife, and I will do my best to respect your family's traditions. But I won't, I can't be the submissive Japanese 'little woman' who walks one pace behind you with her eyes on the ground, who keeps your house and has your babies and defers to you in everything."
"Is that what you think I want?"
"I think it's what your family wants, especially your grandfather," Carey replied gently. "And I think that, in the end, your family will always come first for you. I don't want to come between that. I want to help you and support you, but I won't be your subordinate, Sage. I will be your partner in this marriage, or the marriage won't happen at all." It was neither an ultimatum nor a threat. It was a simple statement of fact.
Sage lowered his eyes for a moment, and Carey's heart sank. Then he met her gaze again, and she saw the honesty in those violet eyes. "I love you. And I need you," he said simply. It was enough.
They leaned against the headboard, Sage's arm around Carey's shoulders as she rested lightly against him. It wasn't quite as close as they usually were, but it was a start, Sage thought.
Finally Carey sighed. "I always thought that people about to get married were supposed to be floating around in some kind of rose-colored daze; that everything was all hearts and flowers and happily-ever-after. But I guess it doesn't really work that way, does it?" she mused a little sadly.
"I guess not," Sage agreed. He smiled slightly in the darkness. "This was our first really huge fight, you know."
"Should we celebrate?"
"That we had it or that we survived it?"
Carey shrugged. "Why not both?" Sage chuckled softly and hugged her close, kissing the top of her head. He knew he should tell her about the demon's visit, but he couldn't bring himself to ruin the fragile peace between them. Later, he pleaded with his conscience. I'll tell her later. Just let us have now.
After a while Sage spoke. "I guess we shouldn't have come here, not now, not with things so tense between us."
"We had to," Carey said. "They're your family and soon to be mine as well. We can't just shut them out ...even though sometimes I almost wish we could," she added ruefully.
"You're not the only one," Sage replied. He tilted his head back to gaze at the ceiling. "I love my family dearly, but sometimes I think my life would have been a lot simpler if I had been born the son of an anonymous farmer in some backwater village."
"Are you that unhappy?"
"Confused is more like it. Am I Sage Date, art historian and lover to one of Japan's hottest young ballerinas, who takes salsa-dance lessons on a whim and kisses his girlfriend in public and defies his family for love? Or am I Seiji Date, descendant of noble samurai warriors, heir to the Date legacy, for whom honor is everything, marriage is a contract, and emotion is a sign of weakness? And how do I reconcile the two?"
"Well, personally, I prefer Sage to Seiji," Carey told him. "But they're both you, querido. After all, it was Seiji's honor and courage that made you stand up to your grandfather for me. And it was Sage's love that gave me the strength to do the same." She smiled at him then, the first real smile she'd given him all night. "Maybe they're not as far apart as you think," she said wisely.
Sage stared at her in surprise for a moment, then raised her hand to his lips. "Cye was right," he said softly. "I do underestimate you sometimes."
"Maybe we underestimate each other," Carey replied. Then she giggled suddenly.
"What's so funny?"
"I was just imagining you as a farmer in Boondocks, Japan. Driving an ox-drawn cart, wearing one of your designer suits with your hair perfectly combed and one of those basket-type hats on your head…and chomping on a blade of grass," Carey explained, and giggled again.
Sage felt his lips twitch at the image her words called up. "Honey, they don't use oxen anymore. Most farms have tractors now."
"Whatever. The idea is still too ridiculous for words," Carey said, her eyes sparkling.
"Actually, I think I'd make a great farmer," Sage replied with an air of mock-injured dignity. At Carey's skeptically raised eyebrow, he added, "Or not."
"Definitely not," Carey said firmly. "It's late, Sage, and you look tired. You really should get some sleep."
"Meaning you want me to go away and stop keeping you awake," Sage teased her. "I know a dismissal when I hear one."
"Well, since you mention it…." Carey said, and they both laughed.
Sage smoothed Carey's hair away from her face with a gentle caress. "We can make this work, can't we?" he asked wistfully.
"Well, we're not out of the woods yet. But at least now we can see the trail again," Carey answered. She kissed him softly on the lips, a tender, lingering kiss that gave Sage new hope. "Good night, darling. Buenos sueños."
"Oyasumi nasai, love." It wasn't until Sage was in his own bed that he remembered he had forgotten to tell her about the monster.
Hidden in its lair, the demon chuckled softly to itself. Foolish mortals. Didn't they know that it could hear them, sense them, feel them? It knew their secrets. It knew the glorious, unbelievable power they held. And soon…it would possess them. Already the humans were falling into its trap, and the more they fought against it the more ensnared they became…and they didn't even realize it, the monster thought delightedly. By the time they knew what they faced, it would be too late. The demon would feed, and feed well.
But not yet, it reminded itself. Patience. The time was not right yet. No, for the time being it would wait, and watch, and gather strength from this one being it already held. It would feed from this one until its plan fell into place, and then…The demon smiled cruelly in anticipation.
It had waited for hundreds of years. It could wait a little longer.
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Santa Maria: Spanish; "holy Mary".
Sangre de Dios: Spanish; "God's blood".
Basta ya: Spanish; "enough already".
No mas: Spanish; "no more".
Sumimasen: Japanese; "sorry".
Ojii-sama: Japanese; "grandfather".
Magamusuko: Japanese, "grandson".
Sai; Japanese; twin short swords.
Buenos sueños: Spanish; "sweet dreams".
Oyasumi nasai: Japanese; "good night".