Title: New Kids on the Block
Rating: PG-13
Warning: Slash, AU, OOC
Disclaimer I do not own Ronin Warriors
Thanks to the Following Reviewers: Queen Flare, Legolas19, Shadow Kat, RekiaReium, zorra

Chapter Eighteen

Ryo walked into Sage's room after the blonde. Shutting the door, the Japanese teen leaned against it. Looking around, he took in the appearance of the room. Sage's bed pressed against the wall, covered with a green comforter. Two bookcases sat on either side of the closet, completely filled with books. A computer desk sat against the wall opposite of the bed, the black computer sitting tall against the textbooks. The dresser was inside the closet, some clothes already hanging there.

Sage moved to his computer desk and sat in the black leather chair, turning it to face the Japanese teen. He watched as the dark haired boy leaned against the door, eyes wondering around the room, but never looking directly as Sage. Clearing his throat, the blonde mentioned towards his bed. "You can sit down," he stated.

Snapping himself out of his thoughts, Ryo nodded, moving mechanically towards the bed and sitting down. "Sow, what did you have to tell me?"

Ryo eyed Sage for a moment then sighed. "You don't need to sound like a teacher or something," he commented, looking down at his feet. "You wanted to know about why I won't be with you and Rowen, and I wasn't going to tell you or him this, but I guess you deserve to know."

Sage leaned forward in his chair, arms resting on his knees. "Why are you going to tell me this now?" he asked.

Ryo shrugged, looking up at the blonde. "I've been thinking about what you said, and I understand that you wanted to be my friend, but I've never been very trusting of anyone, and past experiences haven't given me a reason to trust people," he explained.

"Not everyone should be distrusted, you know," Sage stated.

Ryo sighed. "I know, but I take a while before I trust someone," he said, "and they don't have to do anything distrusting, I just don't trust them at first."

"Do you trust me?" Sage questioned.

Ryo shrugged. "I must, or else I wouldn't be sitting here to you," he answered.

Sage nodded, leaning back in the chair. "Okay, so what is it that you want to tell me?" Taking a deep breath, Ryo slowly started to tell about his last relationship and how it had fallen apart. He told the blonde how after him; he was not willing to try again until he felt ready. "So, what you're saying is that you're scared?" the blonde asked.

"Ryo shrugged again. "I'm not scared about getting involved with someone again, but I don't want to be the reason you and Rowen break up later," he explained.

Sage shook his head, getting up from his chair and walking over to sit next to Ryo on the bed. "It wouldn't happen that way," he stated, "we both talked about it, and both of us want you involved."

Ryo sighed, looking down at the floor. "You know what you want, but I have no idea what I want," he muttered, running a hand through his hair.

Sage nodded. "I'm not saying you have to rush into things," he said, "if you need time to think, that's fine with me."

Ryo shook his head. "It's not that I don't know what I want, kinda, it's that so many things can go wrong," he explained. "I mean, it's a lot harder taking care of two instead of one."

Sage shrugged. "If you're ready to take on two lovers at once, then I think you should."

Ryo smiled slightly. "You know, you aren't as conservative as you act," he commented.

Sage shrugged. "It's amazing what you find out about someone when you take the time to know them."

Ryo rolled his eyes. "Alright, I get your point," he muttered, getting off the bed and walking towards the door. "I'll talk to you later."

"So that's it?" Sage questioned. "You tell me that, admit I was right, say you might like to join Rowen and I, then leave?"

Ryo chuckled, turning around and leaning against the door. "Yeah, that sounds about right," he stated.

Sage rolled his eyes, standing and walking over to Ryo. "You don't have to leave."

Ryo shrugged. "It's not like we have anything else to talk about," he stated.

"Well, I could always call Rowen so the three of us can talk," Sage suggested.

"Why should I have to be here for that?" Ryo muttered. "You're perfectly capable of telling him."

Sage rolled his eyes. "It would be best if you told him."

Ryo sighed. "Can't you tell him, by say it like I do?"

Sage shook his head. "No, because my Japanese isn't as good as yours, and you happen to use a lot of Japanese terms."

Ryo sighed again. "What I I'm not ready to tell him?"

"You told me, why not him?" Sage countered.

"I was barely ready to tell you," Ryo stated. "It'll be a little longer before I'm ready to tell him."

Sage shrugged. "You don't have to tell him, but we can still talk about stuff."

Ryo sighed. "Alright, go call the blue-haired bookworm," he muttered.

Sage rolled his eyes. "It won't kill you," he said, walking over to his computer desk and picking up his cell phone. Ryo sighed, walking back over to the bed and plopping down, back resting against the comforter, legs hanging off the edge. He shut his eyes and listened to Sage talk to Rowen on the phone.

Ryo heard the soft click of Sage putting his phone down. He heard the soft padding of Sage's feet on the floor as he walked towards the bed. The bed shifted under his added weight, bedsprings groaning for him to get off. Ryo opened his eyes, staring up at Sage.

"He'll be over in ten minutes," Sage informed him. Ryo nodded. "Are you going to go back to the silent treatment?" the blonde asked.

Ryo shook his head. "No, I'm not, I'm just thinking about stuff."

Sage raised an elegant eyebrow in question. "Really? What are you thinking about?"

Ryo shrugged against the bed. "Just...stuff."

"Like...?" Sage inquired, wanting specifics.

Ryo sighed. "Like how none of this would have happened if Anubis hadn't told me to kiss you...." he muttered.

Sage bit his lip. "Do you regret it?"

Ryo shook his head. "No, I don't, but life would have been a lot easier the past few weeks."

"It's not like they've been that horrible," Sage said, "besides, you enjoyed yourself."

Ryo glared slightly at Sage. "Whether or not I enjoyed myself isn't the issue," he muttered.

Sage raised an eyebrow. "Really? So if I were to kiss you right now, you wouldn't enjoy yourself?"

Ryo blinked. "What makes you think th—!" He was cut off when Sage pressed his lips into his, pushing the Japanese teen further into the mattress. He gasped, and the blonde pushed forward, tongue slipping between parted lips to meet the other. He felt the ball of Ryo's tongue ring, and smiled.

Once the shock wore off, Ryo responded, pressing against the blonde. One arm went around his neck, holding him there and deepening the kiss. The other arm wrapped around the one Sage used to hold himself up and above Ryo.

Deciding to test the boundaries, Sage used his free hand to map out Ryo's chest and torso. He could feel his nipple rings under the thin fabric of his shirt, and when he passed over each one, snagging the rings on purpose, and earn of small lust filled moan from Ryo.

"I must say, this is incredibly hot," Rowen commented from the doorway, "and here I thought we were going to talk."

Sage pulled away with a small smile on his face. "We are, I was just making a point."

Ryo glared at the blonde. "Taking a cheap shot and making a point are two completely different things, Sage," he stated.

Rowen shook his head, moving over to the bed and climbing on to it, lying next to Ryo. "Get use to it," he commented.

Sage nodded. "Because he's worse then I am," he added, pointing to Rowen.

Rowen rolled his eyes playfully. "I don't know what you're talking about..." he muttered.

Ryo shook his head. "I don't want to know," he stated. "The two of you can keep your weird sex adventures to yourself."

Sage glared then rolled his eyes, accidentally pulling one of Ryo's nipple rings, making the Japanese teen moan before he could cover his mouth. "Don't pull those!" he exclaimed, batting Sage's hand away.

"I'm sorry, forgot those were there," Sage muttered.

Ryo turned away from Sage. "I'm sure you did..." he muttered with a small pout.

"Sage, play nice," Rowen joked.

Ryo rolled his eyes, and got off the bed. "Well, seeing as you both pretty much know my answer, I'm heading home before Grandma decides to come over here looking for me."

"Bye!" Rowen said with a grin.

"See you at school tomorrow," Sage called. Ryo waved goodbye to both of them and left the room, shutting the door behind him.