Here's the next chappie! . I hope you like it. I wrote it fully during 1st-3rd period. We're doing nothing in those class! Which is actually how this fic was born. I needed something to do. But, I should be able to keep up with this since school is slowing down so much. Anyway, I'm not sure how this chapter's going to turn out. This is the first time I've written a chapter straight onto the computer. Normally I write it on paper, then type it later. Anyway, two more things:

1) Thank:

Shigeru

DarkMistress950

JillyBean3

For reviewing!

2) Even though this should go without saying- I do not own Ronin Warriors or The Catcher in the Rye. I am simply exploit… er borrowing .' them so that I may entertain you people for a short period of time.

Anyway, on with the next chapter.

I could never tell Sage. Not everything anyway. Especially the fact that I feel as if I've gotten worse since I let my secret slip. I'm not exactly sure why. I think it may be because saying it out loud made me have to admit the truth to myself. Though, I wonder if maybe it's for other, sub-conscience reasons. That I've gotten worse that is. Life is just so confusing. I don't think I even understand half the things I do.

Though, sometimes I do. And then I regret doing them. Like now.

We had been playing basketball for a while. I was sort of into the game, though not as much as the others.

When Kento passed me the ball, I missed it, barely even noticing it in time to try and grab it. But it was too late.

"Hey, Rowen, get your head in the game!" Kento yelled. I think he was joking around. But I'm not sure.

So, I decided to try and get more into the game. But, it's always a bad idea when I do. I'm real competitive. I mean REAL competitive. If I'm into the game, I'll do practically anything I can do to win. So, I started to really play. I wish I hadn't. Cye was on the other team. He got in my way, I shoved and went for the basket. I can be such a freaking idiot sometimes.

"Rowen, what'd you do that for?!" Ryo yelled from where he was helping Cye back up.

"I, I'm sorry, Cye. Really." I wish I didn't stammer so much. I just wanted to crawl into a hole and stay there. Just anywhere but here. I'm just so stupid sometimes. I smirk inwardly. And people say I'm the smart one of the group. Yeah right.

Was it just me, or had a really ackward silence fallen? They're probably mad at me. All of them. They probably think I'm so weirdo. I hate it when this happens. That's why I try to normally just keep my mouth shut, eyes on the ground or in a book. And it's when I break the promise to myself to just stay quiet that stuff like this happens.

Maybe I should just leave. Find a hole to crawl into. Maybe there's a cemetery around here. I wonder if the guys would be willing to dig a hole for me. Probably not. They'd probably be too afraid of law suits. Don't blame them. I can't blame anyone. But me.

"Why don't we call it a night?" Sage suggested.

I wonder how long it's been quiet. Or maybe they've been talking all along. I need to start paying more attention. I seem to be doing that a lot lately. Not paying attention. Drifting to my world in my head.

"Pizza!" Kento hollered.

Crap. I missed something else. Well, at least I know what we're doing. Pizza. Probably that place two blocks from Sage's family's dojo. We always go there. I grab my bag and follow the others. I'm behind the rest. That's happened a lot lately too. There's not enough room for all of us to walk next to each other on the side walk. Only for us to walk on pairs. Cye and Kento always walk together. And lately Ryo and Sage have been walking together. Leaving me to walk alone. Behind the rest of them. I wonder if they really like me. I mean, I know we hang out. But times like these I wonder if they really count me as a friend rather than an acquaintance or peer.

"Hey, you okay there, Rowen?"

"Um, uh, yeah, fine, Ryo." Wonder why he's asking all of a sudden. Wait. What if Sage told him. Maybe that's why they've been hanging-out a lot lately. Maybe they're talking about me. But then again, why? Why would they waste time talking about me?

"That was a pretty big sigh there, Rowen." Sage said, with something akin to concern in his voice. But I may have been imagining it. Wait. I don't remember sighing. Not out loud anyway. I must be slipping. I need to pay more attention to what I'm doing.

"Rowen? You all right?" Sage asked in a low voice.

"I'm fine. Just a long week." I said, then adding, "At school." Looking up, I realize that the others are ahead of us. "Come on, we're getting behind." Jogging, I catch up with the others, not giving Sage a chance to say anything.

At the restaurant, we order two large pizzas. To start with. Though, we'll order more. We always do. But, I don't know. It's just the way we've always done things. Old habits die hard I guess. We always get one pepperoni and one with mushrooms. I personally like perpperoni. I have mushrooms. Actual mushrooms. I don't mind something that's been cooked with mushrooms, they give a nice flavor actually. But I hate actually mushrooms. It's weird. It doesn't make sense. The guys tease me about it sometimes. As well as the fact that I like pizza, but hate tomatoes, ketchup and tomato sauce for that matter. But for some reason I still like pizza. I wish they'd stop picking on me about it. I don't think they really mean anything by but. I don't think anyway.

The conversation stayed light through the first two pies. I like this conversation. You can talk for hours but never have to actually say anything. Nothing about yourself. Nothing personal. Nothing except saying what everyone else says and what they expect you to say. Though, it can get hard sometimes. Remembering what people want to hear that is. But I'm normally pretty good at it. Especially when writing papers for school. Teachers are so easy to predict in what they want to hear.

"So, what did you think of Ms. W.'s test today?" Ryo asked.

"I studied for hours last night, and I think I still failed!" Kento whined.

"It was alright." Cye commented.

"Fine." I said, none emotionally, taking a sip from my soda. No, it wasn't I thought to myself. But I couldn't tell the others that. I didn't study for that history test. But, I may still pull off a low A. Kento would kill for that grade. But I would get killed for that grade. By everyone if they found out. I'm supposed to get straight A's. I'm getting sick of it. But it's what I've always done. You can't just change who you are just because you feel like it. Habits die hard.

We ordered another pepperoni pizza. I didn't eat any of this one though. I'd already had two slices.

"Aren't you gonna eat anymore, Rowen?" Sage asked. I wish he'd stop asking about how I was. The others might catch on soon. If they didn't already know that is.

"No, I'm full."

"But you only had two slices."

"Yeah, so?"

"You normally have four."

"I'm just not that hungry."

"But you didn't eat lunch."

"I'm full."

Thankfully, he dropped it. But he was eyeing me. Crap. He's going to ask me about this later. I just know it. That is, if he talks to me. I just have to try an avoid him a bit longer. Just until he forgets. Why must Sage have such an excellent memory?

Besides that one 'incident' the rest of dinner went well. Thankfully, when Sage was inquiring me, they were busy talking about something else. Afterwards, we all went to Sage's family's dojo. Like we do most Fridays. We hung out and did some sparring. Out of habit, I stayed after Ryo, Kento and Cye left. Sage and I normally sparred more after they left. I wasn't thinking straight. I should have left. But now, I'm stuck alone with the one person I don't want to be. Because he knows. No one was supposed to know.

Well, that's it for this chapter. Shigeru, I hope this chapter made things a little clearer, if, not, let me know, but I think I may say things a bit more bluntly next chapter, though we'll have to wait and see. I don't know. This is actually the first time I've written something without writing an outline of the whole fic first. .' We'll see…