Arise on the Occasion

Chapter V

SIN Productions

Cye shot through the living room, excusing himself in between his guests in a hurry.

He knew where they were.

They were in his kitchen.

Cye flamboyantly entered the kitchen, throwing open the door revealing the guilty party.

They were enjoying his pate.

Cye's sea green eyes flared in anger, but he quickly got control of his temper. He knew what Sage was trying to pull.

He was trying to make Rowen think he was going to get married...

"Sage!" Cye demanded, without a further explanation to the former Ronin Warrior of Wisdom. This didn't at all seem wise, especially of the cool and calm former swordsman...

Cye stomped his foot angrily, crossing his arms. "I'm not leaving this kitchen until you tell me what is going on here!"

Vigil lifted her eyebrows at Cye's hostility but didn't say anything, just contently ate her pate. She munched and looked over to Sage, expecting him to answer.

Sage stood up from the nook Vigil and himself were sitting at, leaving his plate mostly finished. He was about to answer Cye when somebody followed Cye into the kitchen.

"Cye I-" Sage started.

"Sage?...SAGE!" Kento's deep and hearty voice filled the kitchen, "The man of the hour! We heard you're getting married!"

Cye glared at Sage but thankfully Kento didn't notice.

Sage smiled, "Kento." He acknowledged.

"So..." Kento wanted details. He was always counted on to be blunt and straight to the point, "When's the big day?"

Cye didn't answer for them, and in fact looked at Sage with a smirk. He wanted to see how the blonde would get himself out of trouble. He continued to cross his arms with a look that read: This isn't going to work, but I'd love to see you try.

Sage tried to ignore Cye.

Surprisingly it was Vigil who spoke up. She was staring down at her ring finger, then looked up at the man Sage had called Kento. He stood a couple of inches taller then Cye, built larger then any other of Cye's friends, and had puppy dog eyes. "March." Vigil stated, quickly turning away from Kento's gaze, "It's in March."

"Wow..." he exclaimed, "Oh! I'm sorry, that's so rude of me. I haven't even introduced myself." Kento sheepishly admitted, "You must be the soon to be bride..." he smiled warmly at the red head.

"Yeah, that's me." Vigil forced herself to look happy. At least Kento was more friendly and outgoing then Ryo had been. It only made her wonder what Rowen would be like.

And she hoped she had the chance to find out. She offered her hand to shake, "Vigil." She introduced.

"I'm Kento, one of Sage's old buddies."

"It's nice to meet you." She concluded.

Kento chuckled good-naturedly, "I can't believe you're getting hitched!" he turned towards the blonde, "That's great Sage!" he managed, glancing back at a rather skeptical Torrent, "Don'tcha think so Cye?"

Cye snorted, but answered accordingly, "I'm ecstatic."

Somehow, one way or another, Kento managed to completely miss Cye Mouri's intended sarcasm. He patted Cye on the back and kept his attention on the supposedly engaged couple, "So who's the best man?"

Sage's left eye twitched inwardly and Vigil nearly choked on the pate she had been so interested in during the whole conversation. "Excuse me?" Sage tried to buy himself some time, "Repeat that for me could you Kento?"

Kento laughed, oblivious, "I said who is gonna be the best man for the weddin'?"

Vigil thought Sage's plan was going to crumble right there. It was evident Sage was stumped for an answer and she was kind of hoping Kento would see right through him so Sage's charades could be put to an end.

Sage didn't need to lie to win the approval of his friends. Vigil knew, maybe a sixth sense or something, that those five men were supposed to be friends...friends didn't care what your sexuality was or petty things like that.

Right?

Unfortunately for Vigil this Kento character had a thick skull and didn't catch on to Sage's antics.

"Well...I...I..." Sage stuttered, thinking as fast as he could. Who would he pick to be his best man if he were to get married?

He had never thought about that.

On normal circumstances he would've immediately suggested Vigil. She was, of course, his best friend. Even awkward as it would be to have a girl as a best man, he wouldn't care because she fit the description.

Ten years ago he would've picked Rowen...

Sage stiffened up at the thought.

Vigil rolled her eyes at Sage's apparent nervousness. She had thought no one saw her but apparently Cye had caught it and his disapproving look he was giving Sage turned into a disapproving glare.

"Cye!" Sage quickly decided on, thinking that would be the most logical answer in the given situation. "Cye's going to be my best man."

"Well!" Kento congratulated, "Now that's two weddings you have been a best man Cye. But when are you yourself going to tie the knot?"

"Very funny Kento." Cye deadpanned.

Kento shrugged, then excused himself courteously from the kitchen saying he didn't want to leave his wife alone too long, but promised Vigil and Sage he would seek them out later for more details and to catch up with what Sage had been up to.

Cye followed the Chinese man, giving one last dirty look to Sage, muttering on his way out, "You owe me an explanation Seiji."

--

Rowen splashed cold water onto his face, breathing hard. It was startling how nervous he was and he hadn't even had a glimpse of his former best friend yet. He would probably have a mental break down if he even managed to get a word in with him.

He couldn't believe he was here in London with him. Had he completely lost his mind?

What on Earth had compelled him to fly thousands of miles across countries to attempt an apology for something that happened ten years ago?

Rowen was definitely losing his composure, his sanity.

But in the truth of it all what did he have to lose?

He had everything to gain, and nothing to lose. And he was reminded of that everyday with the thought of the swordsman.

It was all Mia's fault, Rowen sulked miserably. If she hadn't convinced him to come here in the first place...his mind trailed off and started thinking about a few days prior.

Rowen munched quietly on some ginger, sitting alone at the table. The newspaper was sprawled in front of him on the tabletop, but he had lost interest in it quite some time ago.

Mia entered the kitchen intent on a cup of coffee. She noticed the blue haired man right away but he never acknowledged her presence. He looked haggard, worn, exhausted...almost as if he was falling apart.

A big difference between her husband, a former Ronin as well, who still almost looked the vibrant teenager he used to be.

Mia just couldn't understand why Rowen was wasting his life away, and by choice. He used to enjoy living...and now... Mia didn't know what Rowen wanted.

She shook her head and continued on towards the coffee maker.

Rowen was on his own now, she couldn't baby him anymore. And she knew that.

Besides there was nothing Mia, Ryo, or anybody could do for him. He had to change his life himself otherwise there wouldn't be any change. Mia had great faith in Strata. He was incredibly smart, brilliant in fact. She knew he would someday find happiness, he just had to keep his eyes open...

After she poured herself a cup of coffee, she reached for the fridge to grab the cream when she noticed Cye's invitation. She pulled back for a moment, pondering on that thought. She turned to see Rowen starring blankly at the newspaper before him. Not reading it, but just starring...

She glanced back at the cordial, white and sea blue card before speaking. "You know Sage will be at Cye's Saturday." She noted matter-of-factly. She watched the archer hoping it would snap him out of his self-wallowing.

Rowen didn't answer her. In fact he didn't even flinch at her comment.

That didn't stop Mia, she continued, "Perhaps this is your chance to make amends Rowen. I know how much he means to you."

Rowen shifted uncomfortably and squirmed under Mia's gaze. Until finally he looked up at her with pleading, azure eyes. His lip trembled, much like an upset kid's, as he attempted to talk. "Mia, I-"

She cut him off, "I'll make the reservations today." Mia opened the fridge quickly and pulled the cream, "For three."

Rowen splashed another handful of cold water onto his face. No, he couldn't blame Mia. Mia had good intentions and for starters, she was right. Rowen desperately missed Sage, it's just that...

He sighed anxiously and doubted he would be able to pull this off. He starred at his reflection in the bathroom mirror. And what he saw scared him.

He didn't want to be the person he was anymore. He didn't want to feel empty, worn out, and alone all the time. He wanted another chance, and for some reason, he thought if he won back Sage's friendship he would be given that chance.

It was a start, he supposed, in the right direction. And that was why he was here.

He closed his eyes and tried to picture what Sage Date would look like now, ten years after the last time he saw him. He was getting lost in his thoughts, when a loud thump broke him out of his daydream.

KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!

Rowen's eyes fluttered open as he heard a feminine voice timidly ask through the shut door, "Hello? Is someone in there?"

Rowen remembered that he was in Cye's bathroom and he quickly dried his hands on the peach colored towel hanging next to the sink. He reached over to the locked handle and opened the door.

Upon opening the door wider, he came eye to eye with a woman with flaming red hair. She was standing, nearly blocking the door, with her hands on her hips, "It's about time!" she scolded with a smirk, "I was starting to think someone had fallen in there and got stuck."

Rowen was at a loss for words, "Well I..."

She held up a hand, gesturing that he didn't need an explanation. "It's alright, I was just teasing."

"Oh." Rowen felt unstrung, "Uh okay."

The lady giggled, and Rowen looked at her strangely, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be so rude." She smiled and held out her hand, "I don't believe we've met."

"You're American?" Rowen questioned, shaking hands with her.

"I am. My name's Vigil."

Rowen couldn't put his finger on it, but she acted as if she knew something that he didn't. Immediately his gaze went to his fly, hoping that wasn't what she knew. He was relieved when it wasn't. "Rowen Hashiba."

"Hashiba?" Vigil seemed taken aback, "Isn't that Japanese?"

He nodded.

"Funny." Vigil's green eyes sparkled mischievously, "So is my fiancée. Do you know him? His name is Sage Date."

Rowen nearly fell over right then and there. He gasped for breath, shock written across his face as he started coughing violently.

"Are you okay?" Vigil immediately asked, hovering over him.

"Yeah..." Rowen wheezed, "Never better."

Vigil didn't know what to say next. She had wanted to see Rowen's reaction to Sage having a girlfriend first hand, and now that she did, she didn't know what to do. She knew it was her responsibility to make Sage and Rowen friends again she just didn't know how to go about doing that.

Rowen seemed distant, but nice, but it was obvious he was lacking self-esteem. He wasn't at all what she expected. She had expected to find a charming man but in his place was a man who looked much like a tasteless beer junkie.

"So..." Vigil started uneasily, "You seem nice Rowen, I haven't really met anyone at this party who's quite like you. You're...entertaining..."

Rowen was still in complete shock. But he heard her even though his brain was working a mile a minute. "Entertaining?" hardly a word anyone had used to describe him, especially lately.

"Yeah." Vigil reassured him, "Maybe we could get a few drinks later or something..." she attempted to sound casual, but inside she doubted her plan would work.

It was all up to Rowen.

Rowen hesitated, knowing this was Sage's fiancée, but then again...she could somehow get him close enough to have a real conversation with Sage. He nodded, "Maybe."

"Great!" Vigil tugged at her purse, and with renewed stamina unzipped it and quickly handed Rowen her business card, "My cell number is on there." She pointed out, and then just like that she slipped past Rowen and into the bathroom. Shutting the door behind her, she left a startled and dazed Rowen Hashiba outside in the hallway alone to deal with his emotions.

to be continued...