Arise on the Occasion

Chapter VIII

SIN Productions

The slow strum of jazz slowly filtered through the noise of the bar. A soothing beat that seemed to calm even the high strung.

Rowen could make out the music despite the chaos erupting in his brain. The click-clack from the pool tables seemed to be drowning in the crowd; the idle chatter from strangers was suddenly drowned out by the steady pounding of his heart.

He swallowed hard.

"Sage!" he barely choked out, unable to hide the surprise in his tone. "Um..." he seemed to lose his voice, his words coming out in a barely audible squeak. "Would you like a drink?" it was the first thing he could think of and probably the most appropriate. He gestured with his hands for the equally startled blonde to sit down.

Sage blinked accordingly, but said nothing. Slowly he comprehended Rowen's offer and looked as if any minute he would turn and walk away.

Rowen expected his old friend to bolt, leaving him no explanation on why he just happened to be in the bar at Rowen's hotel. And he wouldn't have put a single ounce of blame on him if he left, nor would he be angry. And so the man once responsible for partaking in the destruction of a demon named Talpa waited for a response from the ever-mysterious Halo.

Eventually Sage took the seat offered, which was the most shocking event of the evening. Without missing a beat the blonde called to the bartender for a cocaine shooter.

Strata was clueless how to strike up conversation. There was words unsaid and he was unsure how to go about bringing them up. And he hadn't spoken to his friend for over ten years and didn't even know the things that interested him anymore. He supposed he had changed, more than he put out, and Rowen figured himself to be the same closed-minded bastard that broke the bond they shared.

Sage was given his drink and Rowen watched curiously as he delicately sipped at it. His eyes wandered back to the last shot he ordered, still on the counter untouched.

The continuing lack of discussion made Rowen's stomach churn. Here he was given a once in a lifetime opportunity to make amends and apologize, and he was tongue-tied. The irony of it all was sickening; the most outspoken Ronin unable to even utter a word.

Rowen silently chided himself a coward. He could battle the Dynasty without fear in his heart but he couldn't talk with his best friend.

Closing his eyes he wished he had the wisdom and courage Sage possessed. Even after all these years he still idolized the twenty-nine year old even though they remained out of contact.

"I'm sorry." It didn't come out the way he would've liked it, but the meaning was the same. "I'm sorry for all the bullshit I put ya through Seiji. You didn't deserve that, from anybody, especially from me. I broke your trust and reacted without thinking, lashing out. You were and still are the most important person in my life." His speech came out more slowly, "I understand if you still don't want to talk to me. Completely."

He kept his gaze on the untouched full shot glass still in front of him. There was silence, unbearable silence. And at that moment Rowen would've given anything to know what Sage was thinking.

But Sage said nothing. And the strums of bar music came back to Rowen's ears.

Shifting uncomfortably on the stool, he nervously looked up to see Sage doing exactly what he had been doing. Staring at his now empty shot.

With the silence continuing, the blue-haired man felt the rejection full-force. He hung his head low and sighed loud enough for him to hear.

"Ya know," Rowen continued softly, "Ever since that day things for me have never been the same. Everything's different. I hate it." He managed to leave a few English pounds for a tip. "Congrats' on getting' engaged. I'm glad you're happy." He pushed off the stool, "At least one of us is. See ya 'round Sage."

And with that Rowen Hashiba left the Black Horse Pub.

--

Sage heard and felt Rowen's words ringing in his ears. They kept repeating in his head like some damned broken record. He cursed Vigel over and over again, already planning the longest lecture of her life. But he couldn't blame her even though he desperately wanted to. In fact he could've almost burst with shock, and perhaps joy at hearing those words Rowen confessed. He had wanted to hear them for ten long agonizing years. He had needed to hear them.

It felt like Sage had just won a battle long thought hopeless and lost. His burdens were lifted and his chest free of that tightening feeling whenever he thought about Toyoma and all he had lost.

And now he didn't know what to do. Sure he was victorious, having had Rowen's apology. But he knew things still weren't fixed between the two of them.

In one hand he could continue his life the way it was since he left Japan. He had his job, he had Vigel, and most importantly he was safe from the turmoil in his heart.

In the other he could sincerely accept Rowen's apology uniting the five friends and take a risk jeopardizing everything he had worked so hard for: independence from Toyoma. But independence wasn't everything, he chided, perhaps even overrated.

And then there was serious doubt. A lot of doubt.

Sage looked over at Rowen's abandoned drink, picked it up, and tipped it back.

--

"You're right. I couldn't find them." Cye was back up in Ryo and Mia's hotel room.

Immediately Ryo's eyebrows shot up, "Them? I thought you were looking for Rowen."

"Oh!" Cye certainly was flustered, "I meant Rowen. Couldn't find the chum. Looks like he up and bloody disappeared." He covered quickly, "But Vigel was in the area and she decided she'd join us for dinner."

Vigel seemed out of it. Without much emotion she said, "Hi. Nice to see you guys again."

Mia smiled politely, "Have a long day?" she inquired.

She snapped out of it, "Yeah... Days in the newspaper industry seem to get longer and longer."

Mia agreed with a nod.

"So," Cye changed the subject, "Why don't we get Kento and Mei and head out for some grub?"

--

"Rowen!"

There seemed to be a voice calling after him but he quickly dismissed it as an alcoholic delusion. He kept walking through the hotel, his attention on leaving and finding another pub as soon as possible.

"Rowen!"

This time he stopped dead in his tracks. The voice seemed to be real enough but he couldn't quite bring himself to turn around.

Finally the voice caught up, "Rowen!" it was directly behind him but still Rowen didn't believe it was there. He didn't believe it until there was a very real hand on his shoulder.

"Are you going to turn around or am I going to have to talk to your back?"

Rowen spun around and came inches away from Sage. His mouth went dry and he squeaked out, "Sage?"

For a minute the two men said nothing, just breathed in the situation one breath at a time.

Rowen could hardly believe his luck, "Does this mean you might consider forgiving me?"

Sage seemed to fidget for a moment but to Rowen's surprise he held out his hand for Rowen to shake. "Forgive and forget, that's the saying, right?"

"Well some things you really ought to not forgive people for-"

"Shut up Rowen. I swear, sometimes I wonder if you are more stubborn than I am."

"Ya think?" Rowen's smile seemed to nearly break his face. He held out his hand and Sage grasped it.

Sage shook his head, "I can't believe you're really in London."

"Hey I can't believe you actually forgave this baka!"

"Hey." Sage shrugged, playing cool. "When I go to Heaven I'm on the A list." He pointed to his former comrade, "You on the other hand might be on the B list."

"Haha." Rowen joked.

The two reconciled best friends grinned and couldn't help but stare at each other as the world around them continued without a glance in their direction.

--

Vigel wanted to officially die. The little shindig Cye had chosen for dinner had possibly the slowest service she had ever seen. It didn't seem to faze anyone else, save herself. She was currently biting her fingernails down to the quick as Cye animatedly began discussing further plans for her and Sage's wedding. It was obvious the Brit was trying to break her, nearly successful getting her to confess Sage's lie.

Vigel made a promise to Sage and vowed not to break it though Cye was making her feel horribly guilty for lying to Sage's friends.

"Yes..." Cye hissed, glancing over at her. Only an hour before he had been warm-hearted and shockingly caring about Vigel's feelings, and now he seemed to be turning on her. "She loves artichoke hearts. I have this one recipe made with ricotta cheese. It would be a perfect hors d'oeuvre for the wedding."

Without thinking Vigel replied, "Sage hates artichokes."

"Oh I'm sure I can concoct an alternative." Cye's cheery voice wanted to make Vigel hurl.

Her make-haste smile quickly turned into a frown.

While Vigel was sending Cye glares, Mia piped up, "Have you picked a dress out yet, my dear?"

Vigel sighed miserably, "No."

"Well I think tomorrow is a perfect day to start looking." Mia announced, ready to help the young girl. "Why don't you and I pick one out? I know a lot about weddings since Ryo and I planned ours."

"Great." Vigel deadpanned. Without glancing up she added, "Excuse me I'm going to find the ladies room."

--

The cool water was a nice change from the interrogating questions dinner had turned into. She only hoped Rowen had better luck with Sage than she herself was having. She took her time in the bathroom, gingerly fixing her make-up, and generally stalling for time. Before she knew it she had spent ten rewarding minutes from her dinner party and suddenly the dread started to swallow her, knowing she had to go back.

She was amusing herself with the automatic sink when she heard a knock on the door.

Vigel gave into the inevitable, grumbling the entire way.

"Mm?" she stuck her head out of the bathroom.

"Vigel come out of there, would ya dear?" it was Cye.

"No I'm rather fond of this here bathroom." She spat back, annoyed to no end.

Cye seemed stunned at her lash out, but didn't give up. "Oh come, come. I'm sorry for giving you such a hard time tonight. You don't deserve it." He seemed sheepish. "It's just that I don't like lying to my friends, they are good people you know."

"Well don't look at me like its my fault!" she closed the door, ignoring the hurt look on Cye's face.

"Vigel!" he knocked again.

"Leave me be!" she cried back, just wanting peace.

"Aren't you even going to come back to dinner? The waiter is ready to take our order." Cye tried softly.

"Thanks to you I've lost my appetite."

Cye gave in and pushed the door open to the girl's bathroom, and walked in with his arms crossed.

Vigel looked up from playing with the faucet again to see Cye standing in the girl's room, looking rather pissed off.

She burst out laughing.

"You should see yourself Cye, really." She chuckled.

He laughed as well, understanding her point of view completely. "Are you coming back now?"

She giggled more, "Well I suppose." And then poked him in the ribs, "Just leave the fuckin' wedding alone will you? You're driving me crazy!"

Just as Cye was about to reply, an older English woman walked into the bathroom and nearly had a heart attack at seeing a male in the ladies restroom.

"Young man! What are you doing in here!?" her voice echoed off the walls.

Vigel and Cye bailed out of the bathroom in fits of laughter.

--

She let out an exhausted sigh the moment she reached the house she shared with Sage and of course, her darling Puck. None of the lights were on and she was surprised Sage had already turned in. It was unlike him to be in bed at such an early hour of 10, at least by his standards. She had hoped she could extricate some details out of the stubborn man before he would start ranting and raving about how she had deliberately tricked him into meeting Rowen at the hotel's pub.

Timidly she climbed the stairs to the second story. She stopped directly in front of Sage's room and for a long time couldn't conjure up the courage to knock on his door. Minutes passed and Vigil remained hand up in the air, centimeters away from the wood and still she seemed frozen. Mixed emotions ran through her head and for the first time since she had moved to Europe she felt guilty for dragging Sage into something against his will. Granted it had become a habitual habit to manipulate Sage to get her way, she didn't realize how incredibly selfish she had always been to him. Partly out of fun (and to see if he would comply), and partly for her unspoken feelings for him.

She loved Sage and she supposed Sage knew the truth deep down under his cold exterior. He just failed to think that she was capable of falling for someone...hard.

But she was trying to be unselfish by pushing Sage to patch his relationship up with Rowen. She knew, yes she knew Sage still harbored an undying love for his ex-best friend and that they had a bond so perplexing and rare that she should've kissed her own hopes goodbye. She could never compete.

She had so many worries and doubts now that she never had before. Before this there was a carefree relationship between Sage and her that she cherished more than she had cherished anything before. In her life prior to stumbling haphazardly into thee Sage Date she felt empty, incomplete and for a short while in her hectic life she felt...normal. As if written in the stars she was supposed to meet Sage.

That was love, wasn't it? When you meet someone and you saw no one but them in your future.

But Rowen. Rowen fucking Hashiba. He had to come and ruin what simple plan she had etched for her and Sage. Sure it wasn't a real relationship, but her friendship to Sage meant more then anything to her. She had nothing against the gruff blue haired man; in fact it was quite the contrary, she was even beginning to have the start of respect for him. After all he did go through the trouble of calling her and agreeing to meet up with her, and she already knew it was for Sage's sake.

And Sage loved him, not Vigil. That was enough for her.

Slouching noticeably she let her hand drop and she felt like she was losing a battle that could never be won. Sage loved Rowen, that was that.

Lifting her hand she inspected the ring Sage had loaned her and daydreamed about the temporary title that came with it: fiancée.

Everything seemed like such a disaster but in the midst of it all Cye still continued to have hope. Cye had high expectations for his friends. He was sure Sage would come to his senses and set everything right in the end. He assured her Sage's friends would forgive her for the lies and if there was any blame it would be put on Sage himself. Rowen would supposedly break free from his self-inflicted wounds and emerge from his shell to be the Rowen everyone knew before Sage left Japan.

And then the story would end, Vigil thought sourly. Sage and Rowen would be the best of friends again and the five armor bearers would finally be reunited. No doubt Sage would move back to Toyoma to be with his friends and family forgetting the measly ten years he had lived in London. And most importantly forget Vigil. Oh he might call once in a blue moon to unconsciously and subtly brag how glorious his life was in Japan. He might even send a card on Christmas, if his secretary remembers.

Vigil gave up the thought of rudely awakening him in an attempt to talk and suddenly became blinded by angry tears. She leaned against the wall and slid to the carpet a crying, emotional mess.

Oh how she suddenly hated happy endings.

to be continued...