Arise on the Occasion
Chapter IX
SIN Productions
Everything about England was affable and extremely inviting. A type of pleasantness that lingered on for hours and hours, from the moment Mia Koji-Sanada awoke in the sound arms of her handsome husband to the afterglow of sexual play where Ryo would tease her incessantly about how she was too good for him.
In short Cye's charming invitation to scour Britain had been a wonderful idea indeed. With Ryo holding her hand protectively she smiled to herself and gazed at the lethal sharks that swam languidly around the huge aquarium tank. The aquatic glow radiated around the dark room casting shadows on the faces of Cye, Kento, Mei, Ryo, and herself who stood in awe staring at the huge creatures.
It had been Cye's idea, not surprisingly, to visit London's Aquarium this morning and the trip had been going perfectly. Although both Sage and Vigil had to return to work that morning, and Rowen had opted to sleeping in (claiming it wasn't worth losing sleep to see fish at the ungodly hour of eleven in the morning) the five of them were enjoying themselves immensely. The group had seen hundreds of types of fish: large, small, and ranging from every color of the rainbow and it wasn't only Cye who was intrigued by the underwater life.
Ryo couldn't tear his eyes away from the happy fish, a massive grin on his warm features as he attempted to name every one he saw. (Of course he quickly grew tired of this game as he realized how many fish the aquarium supported.) Kento and Mei trailed behind Cye, Ryo, and Mia due to it being Mei's first visit to an aquarium and Kento, being a patient and eager teacher, was pointing out each fish and reading its facts to his helplessly intrigued wife.
When Mei inquired more information about a certain creature or two, Kento would look up with a goofy grin to Cye for more help. And Cye would politely relay a short bio of each requested fish, which was for him an understatement since Cye was a walking aquatic tour-guide.
But it was the politeness that worried Mia. It seemed to clip her as odd. Normally Cye was bounding with energy at the mention of sea-life, but today he was preoccupied and restless. He didn't linger at any of the exhibits and most importantly he rarely participated in any of their conversations.
Ryo and Kento seemed to be oblivious to Cye's plight, but that wasn't anything out of the norm. The two of them were the slowest to comprehend other's feelings besides their own. Out of the five Ronins Cye of course was the keenest. Sage was pretty much a mind-reader as well, but when his own emotions or problems got in the way it boggled his intuition to the point that it was rendered useless. With a motherly frown she patiently waited the better of the day to grab a choice interview with Cye to discuss what was bothering him. And an hour and half later her patience paid off as Kento, Mei, and Ryo sauntered into a gift shop.
With a bottle of water in his hand, Cye timidly drank from the bottle as he located a vacant spot to sit down on the edge of a water fountain. Mia was hot on his heels, and just as he sat down she grabbed a spot beside him without a word. For a moment or two the pair was silent, with Mia watching various passerby's whisk coins with secret wishes into the fountain.
Cye blatantly stared at his drink.
Calmly, trying not to draw Cye into an argument, she merely started an open conversation with a gentle, "How are you doing?"
She seemed to catch Cye off-guard a little, as his eyes flashed to hers wearily, full of confusion. "I'm enjoying myself, thanks." He chuckled a bit, "This was my idea you know, love."
"I was asking how you were doing personally, not if you liked the aquarium because I can already draw my own conclusion on that one." She teased.
Cye blinked, "I'm fine."
"Are you?" her voice betrayed her amusement, and she quickly covered her tracks, "I mean you've been," she gestured with her hands, "Moping."
She half-expected Cye to deny it with a brilliant, flashy smile. Or at the least to say something witty like 'Have I?' and change the subject. But he did nothing of the sort, and just gave her a blank look.
More concerned now than ever she reached over and squeezed his hand, "Cye?" her motherly instincts were on overload. "Please tell me," she said in a softer voice, one that was barely above a whisper, "what is bothering you."
A brief flash of pain etched across his face but as quickly as Mia saw it, it disappeared. For a second Mia thought she had imagined it, because as he got his emotions in check she saw Ryo wave to her from the gift shop window, a ridiculous shark-shaped hat on his head. Barely paying attention to Ryo, she quickly waved back and turned her attention back to the problem at hand.
Before she could utter another word though, Cye was already replying, "I don't know what you are talking about dear. Everything is perfectly alright with me." When she opened her mouth to protest, he deliberately repeated, "I'm fine."
Frustrated, and a bit angry at this new stubborn side of the Brit, she bit her lip and returned her attention to watching Ryo through the gift shop window laughing hysterically as Kento swapped the hat on his head with an octopus one.
Even Cye betrayed a small reluctant smile.
Blurting before she realized what she was saying, "Don't you think it's wonderful the five of you guys are reunited? Especially now since Sage is getting married."
This time Cye's openly broken expression was all the proof she needed. She dived in.
"Cye try not to hide anything from me, okay? We've only known each other for...forever." She studied him as he looked equally frustrated and agitated as she felt. "I assume that you aren't upset that we flew all the way to England to see you."
"I'm elated to see you guys." he stammered, looking a bit bewildered.
"You sure look like it," Mia giggled. When he glared at her she continued, "Okay! Okay! I know you're happy to see me, alright?"
Then that left one question.
With an unsure waver in her voice she demanded, "Do you not approve of Sage marrying Vigil?"
"That's not it at all!" he nearly shouted his defense. Slightly embarrassed by his tone, Cye flushed and let his head droop. "Sage can marry whoever he wants." He assured her.
She wasn't quite sure how to answer him. It was already painfully obvious it was delicate topic to bring up but Mia had no clue as to why.
The only thing she could do was encourage him with a smile and say, "Of course he can."
Cye scowled.
Mia raised a suspicious eyebrow.
Cye didn't miss her startled reaction. "Oh love," he admitted softly, "This whole..." he trailed off with a sigh. He was torn between telling the whole chaotic truth to Mia, but his promise to Sage was burning in his mind. No, he couldn't betray him, despite the circumstances, despite the fact that Sage was acting like a complete ass...
He would have to settle for the half-truth.
Mia waited for him to answer, and when his frown deepened she repeated, "The whole...?"
"The whole damn marriage, well," he growled finally venting some anger towards Sage and his non-existing wedding, "It's a bloody mess, that's what it is." He didn't hesitate to elaborate and he balled up his fist in exasperation, "Vigil is so smitten by Sage's cool charm. It's disgusting, really."
"What girl wouldn't be?" she reminded gently, "Sage has always been that way."
He let out a snort of disgust, "Oh I'm supposed to pity him?" there was definite contempt in his voice.
Mia's eyes widened at his comments and his unspoken testimony. Blinking she felt suddenly discombobulated.
Her mouth went dry, "You're in love with her, aren't you?"
"Yes." He sounded disgusted with himself, or the whole conversation.
She couldn't stop the barrage of questions, "Does she know?"
"Don't be ridiculous." He waved off the possibility as if he was pretending the whole confession meant nothing to him. "I'd never breathe a word to her of it. She..." his voice trailed off, "She has enough problems to worry about right now."
"What about Sage?"
Again she saw the same ruthless scowl on his face. "No, he doesn't know either. The bloody idiot doesn't care a wink about her, all he cares about is himself."
Mia's heart gave out to him. She began to actually feel the whole traumatizing, dramatic tension that was draining Cye. In fact there seemed to be a cloud of impending doom hanging above him.
"Do you think if you would to tell her before the marriage she might change her mind about Sage? You never know. You should say something." she finalized her thoughts out loud, just as Ryo, Kento, and Mei emerged from the store carrying bags of souvenirs. "Before its too late." She added as she stood up.
"I think I'm rather invisible to her." He seemed utterly miserable.
With a flick of her wrist Mia turned towards the fountain and something whizzed by Cye's head.
A small, insignificant splash was heard but only to one set of ears fixated on a man with red hair and sea-green eyes. He watched as the coin sank to the bottom of the water.
'"Sometimes," Mia stated, "Wishes do come true."
--
Sage let an exhausted sigh out. It had been an excruciatingly long day at work and he had nerves like a guitar string that had been strung too tightly. One pluck and he could come undone.
His present state was unacceptable by Sage-standards. He barely could pay attention to any of his paperwork, his secretary had to beep him three times before he realized he had a customer waiting on him, and he felt much like a zoned-out zombie. He had little to no sleep that night and he could speculate that Vigil's antics were to blame.
Sage let out another sigh and shook his head. Although he'd like to blame the outgoing young woman, he knew why he couldn't concentrate on a single thing and why all of a sudden he had evolved into a flustered mess. And it had midnight blue hair and matching eyes.
After unlocking the front door to the house, he basically dragged his weary body through the hallway haphazardly dropping his suitcase somewhere in the foyer. Somewhere in the back of his mind he was somehow aware a furry dog wasn't bombarding him, but at the moment he was too tired to ask why.
But the answer to his question came soon enough.
In the kitchen Vigil was sitting at the kitchen table with a bowl of uneaten soup sitting cold and untouched in front of her. She had an unnatural blank expression on her face and it was odd seeing her sitting there with her hair pulled back in a ponytail and pajamas on at six o'clock in the evening.
Puck was lying at her feet looking just as pathetic.
Without a word spoken between them she looked up at him with unshed tears shimmering in her eyes. Sage didn't betray an ounce of emotion, he looked just as blank as she looked a second before.
"Sorry." She rubbed at her eyes, and through her flannel sleeve he heard her say, "I didn't hear you come through the door."
His whole plan to lecture her for her trick last night faded as he sat across from her. "Vigil what's wrong?" he deadpanned.
She sniffed, but she deliberately didn't answer his question. "I also wanted to say I'm sorry for tricking you into thinking I was at the bar last night. I knew Rowen was going to be there." The world seemed to be shining in her eyes, "I just thought with a little push that you two could be friends again."
"And we are." He stated matter-of-factly.
She nodded, as if she already knew, but it was her next revelation that changed Sage's mood. "And with you two talking again, maybe you can finally take the next step." With an awkward look she clarified, "Be more than just friends."
Fire blazed in Sage's eyes and immediately Vigil knew she finally crossed the line. "Stop playing match maker with my life!" he snapped, "Why are you crying any ways? There's nothing for you to be upset over!"
"Oh really?" she sarcastically put.
"Enlighten me dear Vigil." He growled.
She glared at him, "I don't like lying to your friends about us being engaged for starters."
"Just suck it up, will you?" he bluntly put, "They're only going to be here for one more week and then things will be the same as they always have been. Me wrapped around your little finger to do your social bidding." The lack of sleep and stress finally took its toll on the usually calm, sophisticated businessman, "And the one time I ask you to do something for me you act like it's the world. I do favors for you all the time Vigil, stop acting like a spoiled, selfish brat. This is important to me." His eyes narrowed, "Rowen is important to me."
Something clicked in Vigil's brain and she couldn't take the stuffy seclusion anymore. With a rush of rage and regret she pulled Sage's ring off her finger and chucked it at the nearest object to her.
As shards of porcelain shattered to the kitchen tile signaling the end of their fight, Sage vaguely heard a anger-filled Vigil shout, "Fuck you!"
With a wayward glance at the broken vase, now pieces all over the floor, Sage tiptoed over the remains and carefully picked up his ring amongst the rubble. When he looked up to comment on what a good arm she had, Vigil (and Puck) were gone.
Sage stood alone in his kitchen a disconcerted look on his pale features.
The room suddenly seemed to be dark and gloomy, and eerily lonely, without her presence.
--
"Mia!" Ryo's voice carried over the television dialogue in their Hotel room. "Mia are you ready yet? We were supposed to meet the others downstairs..." he paused as he pushed his long raven locks out of his face and looked down at the dial on his watch, "Ten minutes ago." He concluded. Throwing his hands in the air quite defeated, he purposely fell backwards against the bed landing lying down.
Miraculously Mia appeared out of the bathroom in an elegant but simple short black dress with a knowing twinkle in her eyes. "They aren't going anywhere with out us."
Ryo sat up with an appreciate gaze, "I know." He grinned, "I was just trying to make you hurry up." With a wink he was instantly by her side pressing a kiss to her temple, "By the way you look edible."
She shooed him away with her hand, "We really ought to get going though."
He rolled his eyes, "Don't act like I was the one who took forever getting dressed."
"You look nice too." She cast a smile in his direction taking in his black dress pants and button up gray silk shirt.
When the couple found their way down to the lobby where they were supposed to meet everyone for dinner, there was something they encountered that they weren't expecting.
Rowen and Sage talking animatedly to each other, walking hurriedly past them as if they didn't exist.
Ryo's eyes must've bugged out of his head as he caught sight of the casual wave of Sage's hand. It was accompanied by an arrogant nod as the blonde simply said, "Good evening Mia, Ryo. We will catch you after dinner."
Rowen didn't even bother to acknowledge them.
Mia was practically beaming as Ryo's jaw dropped to the floor.
Quickly enough they found Cye, Kento, and Mei.
"It seems," Kento had a grin that nearly broke his face, "That Sage and Rowen have a particular hankering for a bar in this hotel called the Black Horse Pub."
"Rowen's always had a particular interest in bars." Mia relayed, and with dazzling smile giggled, "And I guess Sage and him seem to have that in common."
Dragging her stunned-stupid husband behind her, she couldn't help but feel a huge weight lifted off her shoulders.
Once in the limo Mia had requested to be their transportation to and from the restaurant for tonight, Ryo stumbled out of his stupor and into a conversation with Kento. They were quickly discussing plans of convincing Sage to visit Toyouma and what strategic planning they would have to accomplish to sway him.
"But really," Kento put his arm around Mei, "The big hurdle is now out of our way. I don't know what happened, and I really don't give a damn how it happened, but the two bastards are talking again."
"Sage could visit the dojo and his family. I wonder what he thinks of that." Ryo quietly thought out loud, leaning back against his seat with a serene expression on his face.
The limo drove in silence as the group contemplated the thought of Sage returning to Japan.
But a few minutes from their destination, Mia interrupted the silence with an out of the blue question, "Ryo do you believe people ever change?"
He stated the obvious without much thought on the subject, "Of course people change. Isn't there evolution right?" looking back at her with a questioning glance he told her, "Aren't you supposed to be the brains of this operation?" he puffed out his chest, "I'm the muscle, remember?"
Never giving an explanation to her random comment, she continued, "You're right, I believe people change."
Cye thoughtfully turned his attention back from the window (and the passing scenery) to the conversation at hand. He gave Mia a genuine smile. "I agree."
to be continued...