Arise on the Occasion

Chapter XI

SIN Productions

It was a much brighter and fancier than he would've liked, or perhaps he had expected. He was just a simple man of simple tastes and all the flashing lights and expensive décor nearly made him turn around back to the comfort of the hotel.

Rowen liked simple and straight to the point. He wasn't a connoisseur of fine wines; he was content enough for a nice cold beer and a sports bar. The building that stood in front of him was imposing, polished and refined even on the outside, gleaming a shiny royal purple that seemed to mock him.

He couldn't help but make a face wishing it were a small pub with unruly Brits who talked about football while making grunting and farting noises.

No, this was definitely a "Sage" place, so to speak, and Rowen wondered how many times Sage had made an appearance at this upscale club.

"Get a hold of yourself, Ro." He muttered under his breath to himself as he took a deep breath and exhaled it slowly.

If Sage could do it, he could do it.

After all Sage had forgiven him...so help him God he could walk into this gay bar and order a beer.

So help him God.

The twenty feet that separated him from the Crown Jewel seemed like a million miles. Between the flashing signs and the VIP parking he felt like he felt much like a fish out of water.

As he puffed out his chest at the challenge, he had to slowly force himself inside the establishment and up to the bar.

The place was prominent in men with a few women scattered here and there. There was a very large dance floor that took up most of the building that happened to coincide with the actual bar and an upper level that consisted of rows of booths for tired dancers or groups that wanted to sit together and chat.

There were no open stools at the bar and a large crowd was hovering at the counter at the announcement of drink specials. He managed to squeeze himself at the front but as he was pushed closer and closer to strangers his palms began to sweat uncomfortably.

After a few minutes of awkward waiting, a young man bartending around his age picked his way towards Rowen.

"What'll it be, mate?" the man seemed openly friendly with clear blue eyes and short spiky blonde hair, accompanied by an arch of an inquisitive eyebrow.

For a moment Rowen struggled to order, feeling almost clammy as he reached for his wallet. As odd as it seemed a beer suddenly seemed vaguely out of place. Trying to act natural as if he was comfortable with his surroundings, he asked casually, "What do you suggest?"

Instantaneously the bartender grinned showing his pearly whites, "Not from around here, are you now?" the grin seemed to grow more and more as Rowen squirmed under his gaze.

He didn't need to answer him, his accent was a dead give away. Instead the bartender concocted a glass full of a light milky substance and expertly placed it in front of him.

"It's on the house," he explained, "Cheers mate!"

Rowen looked down at the drink with an inward shrug and took a sip, expecting a totally different taste than he got for in return.

Looking up the bartender had a knowing smile.

"It tastes like a strawberry milkshake." Rowen concluded.

"Aye, it's strawberry milk, Kahlua, and vodka. A favorite here in these parts." With a wink he continued, "My name's Harry if you need something else."

Rowen thought for a moment and then reached into his wallet and slapped some bills on the bar. "Harry, keep 'em coming."

Harry, in return, seemed to glow.

--

Burnsville, Minnesota was a small city compared to Sage's normal business agenda and he felt suddenly out of place. There was no dominating downtown full of buildings kissing the sky and there wasn't a row of five-star restaurants catering to the wealthy. The cool breeze was fresh and unsoiled by pollution of any sorts and there was a calm that surrounded him that seemed foreign to the hustle and bustle of the world he was so used to.

The flight from London, to Indianapolis, then to Burnsville's small airport was grueling. On top of already losing much sleep due to the mess he already got himself into, to the newfound information of Vigil's true feelings drove Sage to serious sleep depravation. But at the precise hour of one p.m. he landed in her hometown and began the task of finding a rental car.

After getting horribly lost trying to navigate himself to Vigil's parent's house, he was sadly informed that although they had seen Vigil the night before she was staying at a friend's house for the time being. Her mother had been utterly surprised to see Sage, nevertheless she had been equally shocked to see Vigil only ten hours before.

Without prying into her daughter's business she handed Sage directions to Vigil's friend Jenny's house. Then with a quick hug and a humble inquiring look she waved goodbye and Sage was back on his way.

Getting lost again Sage stopped for directions and with less trouble then before he spotted the house his best friend was staying at. But to his ever-growing disappointment nobody answered the door and he was back to square one.

Killing time he backtracked to a local restaurant and had a bite to eat with his trusty briefcase full of work and his long-distance cell phone. He managed to close a deal in Italy while his mind raced through ideas of where Vigil might be hiding out.

Before he knew it the bistro was filled with hungry couples and talkative families as eight o' clock rolled around and the only choice Sage had left was to try her friend's house one again before calling it a night.

Pulling up to the house it was dark inside and that left Sage to worry more. He kept reminding himself over and over again that she was perfectly capable of taking care of herself, but he double-checked to make certain no one was home.

And nobody was.

For a split second the suave Sage Date felt despair and he was more than tempted to call Cye back in the UK to see if there was any more word about Vigil.

As he waited a few more minutes to see if anyone was mysteriously appear, Sage was rewarded with more nagging temptation and before he knew it he had called Cye in desperation but the answering machine picked up and he figured Cye must've been out with the others.

Rubbing his temples he glanced across the street at a small local diner that advertised being open twenty-four hours. Feeling the sudden call for a hot cup of coffee, even if it was American, he blew his hair out of his face and decided he could have one while keeping an eye out to see if anybody drove up to the house.

There was no traffic as Sage crossed the road, but the cold air whipped through his blazer and he pulled the jacket closer. He could see his breath as he pulled open the door and bells happily chimed his entrance to the deserted cafe. A few teenagers gossiped loudly from a booth in the back, laughing occasionally at something said as he took a stool at the end of the counter.

A twenty-something year old woman appeared from the kitchen at the bells barely looking up as she greeted him cheerfully.

"Coffee, black please." His crisp-clear English accent was void of his Japanese accent.

She nodded at the order and returned a minute later with a steaming cup placed directly in front of him. He had barely taken as sip when he nearly choked at the horrible taste. When she glanced at him from the corner of her eye, instead of being rude he tried to play it off as if the content was excruciatingly hot.

She let out a laugh but said nothing to him, holding her hand over her mouth. Turning her back to him she checked over her shoulder and diverted her attention to another customer.

Sage quickly concentrated on his drink trying to figure out if it was just American coffee in general that tasted so bad or if it was just this one cup. But he nearly spilled the whole mug when he heard the waitress say loud enough for him to hear, "You want another Coke, Vigil?"

He heard himself take a sharp intake of air as he spun around in his chair to see Vigil standing directly beside him with her arms folded across her chest.

"This place isn't exactly known for it's coffee Sage." She stated flatly as if it wasn't at all odd to see him sitting there in a different country nearly hysterical to find her.

Trying to play her game and predict her mood, he pretended to be stumped. "Then what is this place known for?"

"The ice cream sundaes." She said that as if it was obvious and quickly gestured to a vacant booth with a half-eaten fudge sundae and empty glass of Coke. She walked the distance to her seat and picked up the cherry on her dessert and winked at him while placing it in her mouth. "You wanna try?"

He smiled at her, emotions welling up in his throat. "I'd love to."

Glancing over Sage's shoulder Vigil half-shouted, "Hey Jen I'd love another Coke. But make it two, would ya?"

"Sure thing." Jenny grinned.

Sage left the coffee where it was and found himself sitting side by side with his best friend sharing ice cream. He almost felt like when had first met her nine years ago. She had been his light in the dark back then and nearly a decade later she still burned brightly.

When the soda arrived he found the pop, which he normally never touched, a hundred times better than his deserted coffee. And as he sipped on it he told her of all the trouble he went through in order to find her, out of all places, in a run of the mill cafe.

He kept the atmosphere purely pleasant but he knew his apology would have to be serious and sincere if he wanted her to forgive him. She giggled at the impersonal talk but when the sundae was gone she looked up at him expectantly for him to respond to her question about returning to Europe.

With an exhausted sigh Sage answered, "In about two hours."

Immediately her green eyes turned cold and he saw the hurt in them just as he knew she had expected him to stay at least another day.

He told her the only thing he could offer, "I'm forced to go back to sign the contracts for this latest deal. But with luck I can meet you back here in two days. How does that sound?"

She considered it, he knew that much, yet there was something that dawned on her. "It sounds almost perfect." Her eyes began to shine with unshed tears, "Except that there is somebody waiting for you in London. And I know you've been waiting on him for a long time."

"I am not abandoning you." He let her see both of his eyes to let her know he was serious, "I came here for a reason Vigil."

"But Sage, Rowen's only going to be in England for a few more days. This is your golden opportunity-"

For a moment he seemed to hesitate, "When are you going to be back home?"

"A week. Maybe two." She lied, but Sage was too wrapped up in his business plans and the knowledge of Rowen's soon return to Japan to see that her tone was a bit off. "Seriously Sage you don't have to worry about me. I'm a big, tough girl and I can take care of myself."

"If you come back in a week that'll leave time for this deal to close-"

"And Rowen." She added.

"And Rowen." He finally agreed, "But you'll come back in a week. No later."

"Sure."

Sage looked at Vigil and the look he gave her was a look she had never seen. His eyes were bright and alight with concern but underneath the worry she saw compassion and loyalty. They told the story he couldn't put into words and his normal violet coloring became a vibrant royal purple.

And then after that finally came the words.

With a deep breath Sage said, "You mean everything to me Vigil. You were there for me even when I was at my lowest and you stuck by my side through the good and the bad. And most importantly you put me first instead of yourself-"

"Sage..." she warned, "I'm really not good at this whole accepting apology thing so could we just skip it and go straight to live and let go?"

He, in return, ignored her. "If I could be half the friend you are to me-"

"You are more than half Sage. You are my best friend." Her voice cracked.

"I know." He whispered, "And I love you for that. And I'm so sorry I can't be more than just that. If I were straight, you'd be my wife. And for what it's worth you already are."

She sniffed but thankfully didn't cry, because she had a feeling if she did that Sage would feel even guiltier. "Thank you." She managed instead.

"I know it's not enough."

She smiled, "It was more than enough."

For a minute the two stared into each other's eyes and for some unexplainable reason they understood one another.

Tugging on the sleeve of his blazer she broke the silence, "I think you should leave now Sage. Rowen needs you and I'm going to be okay."

He raised a skeptical eyebrow but didn't disagree. With a slow, reluctant sigh he fished out his wallet and left a twenty-dollar bill on the table to cover their bill.

With their arms linked they walked out of the diner into the frosty night with the stars spread out twinkling above them. Vigil huddled closer and Sage looked down into her eyes and huskily stated, "If you need anything, anytime Vigil you know I'm here for you."

She nodded, "Okay."

Holding her in a tight embrace he admitted, "I miss you already. Hurry home."

And then the generally very predictable man did something very unexpected.

The blonde leaned down and kissed the brunette square on the mouth, hard and unyielding. When she squirmed and tried to break free, he pulled her closer so that their bodies seemed molded together.

For a moment she resisted, scared and shocked, trying to comprehend the unfathomable. She tried harder and harder to twist out of his grasp but every time she did so the kiss deepened and Sage was more determined.

Slowly the tension drained out of her and she gave up the fight, finally giving in and letting him have his way with her, letting him kiss her eagerly with his tongue roaming over her lips.

It was a long, heavenly, intimate kiss that seemed to hazily take hours and hours. He seemed to ravage her and share with her piece of his heart, but it was distressing to know it would soon end and he would be forever out of her reach. But for a moment she pretended he was hers, and hers alone and the world seemed to spin out of control.

He ran his fingers through her hair and without realizing it she was running her hands through his hair.

It all seemed so picture perfect but just like it started it abruptly ended. He pulled away breathing deeply and caressing her flushed cheeks. With a lazy smile, his eyes twinkled with an expression that was purely Sage as he pressed a protective kiss to her forehead.

Grinning and beyond disorientated she laughed and scolded him, "Sage Date, you little flirt! Get out of here before I rat you out to your beloved boyfriend!"

"Oh you wouldn't do that to me." Cocky as ever Vigil remembered him, he proudly proclaimed, "Remember you're my best friend." Winking he reminded before she shooed him off, "Call me if you need anything, want to talk, have a problem-"

She laughed at his sudden motherly side, "Go for God's sake, Go!"

Vigil watched as Sage sauntered across the street, every so often turning around and glancing back at her with an uneasy look.

With one last wave he slowly climbed into his rental car, started it up, and drove away.

Again she was alone with her thoughts and for a moment she almost felt sorry for herself. Without Sage the night seemed a little bit chillier than she remembered but the thought of Sage finally reconnecting with Rowen made the lonely ache inside of her a bit more bearable.

Wrapping her arms around herself she almost felt like crying but her insides were emotionally drained and with the energy she had left she could do little more than stare at the ground with contempt.

It was that exact moment when her beloved guardian angel found her.

"You look like you could use some company, love." The familiar British accent made her jump in alarm.

Whirling around her eyes widened in recognition and she nearly shouted, "Cye!? What are you doing here!?"

She had a look of amazement when she caught his eyes but all he could do was shrug with a knowing smile.

Before more words could be exchanged she flung herself into his arms and closed the embrace tightly.

"How in the world did you find me?" her question was muffled due to the crushing hug.

"It seems to me that I am an expert in following a Mr. Sage Date when he's worried about someone of importance."

When she gave him a saucy look, he continued, "He's not hard to miss in that gigantic Mercedes Benz."

"I can't believe you came all the way out here! This is the rustics, and for me!" she gave him a slightly confused look, "I really don't understand why you would do such a thing. It was really unnecessary, I am fine..."

"I've been informed it's the week of confessions." He tried to explain, then stopped suddenly as if losing the nerve in the first place. "I really am here just to complicate things." He finished sadly.

She studied him carefully, "I really doubt that." She flatly put. Shaking her head she pulled away with a forced grin and started to retreat back into the diner. "Wanna tell me over coffee?"

Cye made a quick grab for her hand and tugged her back so they were standing face to face. "Vigil," he took a deep breath and looked... utterly petrified. In a snap he regained his courage, swallowed nervously, and began to babble. "I don't know any better way to put this but Sage is horrible for you. Well, what I mean is, well you're ill suited for each other. If for some reason the two of you did get together it would just end in disaster."

There was a hint of amusement in her eyes. "Good thing Sage is gay."

"Right, good thing Sage is gay." He agreed without thinking.

Vigil couldn't help but let a tiny chuckle escape her.

"Alright I think this is coming out wrong." He ran a hand through his mahogany locks. "You know I've done a lot of thinking these past few days about my feelings for you."

Her expression changed immediately and the shock was written across her face. "You're feelings for me?" she squeaked without thinking. She bit her tongue and tried to curb all the sudden questions that sprang to mind. Slowly and cautiously she asked with curiosity, "I thought you only had an abundance of tight-lipped acquaintance feelings for me." Were the truly patronizing words that only Vigil would say.

For one whole tormenting minute he was quiet. Not looking at her, but not turned away. Her eyes were boring wholes in his skin and he felt...flushed and panicked at her almost certain, and predicted rejection of him.

Tediously he let his shoulders droop with defeat knowing the moment couldn't be prolonged any longer. The moment of truth was now at hand and he in turn would have to bear his soul.

With a mouth that felt like it was full of sawdust, he flexed his jaw to speak as she stared up at him with huge, saucer-like jade eyes.

Fumbling with the words and nervously tripping the truth with a joke, he finally managed, "It's quite bloody ironic you know," his voice seemed to waver but he held strong, "You being infatuated with Sage and me... being in love with you."

Vigil froze.

Cye lowered his eyes and muttered barely above a whisper, "Quite the predicament, isn't it?" There was no denying the misery in his statement.

Feeling unbelievably off, Vigil could not stop staring at the man who had just declared that he oh-so-casually loved her.

And so she blurted out the first thing that came to mind, "This isn't a joke, right!?"

Cye reddened, completely and thoroughly embarrassed. "No of course not." He snapped, "Don't be ridiculous."

Vigil nodded in accordance, pretending as if she understood the logic behind it but her brain was processing the information over and over again- as if not believing it.

Cye loved her.

Did she love Cye?

Could she love Cye?

Had she ever thought of Cye as more than a friend? No, not until now because she had stupidly skipped over him with her head in her ass dreaming of a gay man.

Glancing at him he seemed to be inspecting the asphalt with a prominent frown, probably having an inward mental battle with himself over whether or not he should've told her of his feelings, no doubt.

Once again she found herself staring at him.

He had the most adorable floppy auburn hair that was just as unruly, if not more so, than Sage's. And possibly the most beautiful sea foam green eyes that could be described as dreamy. And when he smiled at her-

Vigil blinked and nearly laughed out loud when the conclusion came easy to her.

Yes. She could effortlessly fall in love with Cye Mouri. Not only was he incredibly handsome, he had a personality that kept her in constant awe. He was a walking aquatic encyclopedia with a love for life that couldn't be matched by anyone she had met or ever heard of. He had a controlled temper that would impress an army general or a thousand Mommas if need be. He was, in retrospect, everything she could ask for in a man and more.

Not only has he been her friend in thick or thin, she trusted him, and trust was hard to come by these days. No, it wasn't shocking that Cye loved her. If she hadn't been blinded by Sage's pseudo-angelic halo she would've caught on long ago that he had been interested in her as more than friends. In fact if she hadn't been so stubborn and sadly, oblivious, she would've come to realize sooner that he was perfect for her in every way.

He was patient, reliable, good-natured, stable, and terribly good looking.

She on the other hand was brash, thick-skinned, spur of the moment, out-spoken, and wickedly charming.

A look of dawning haunted Vigil's pale features as she unexpectedly realized that they were the perfect match. Completely opposite that they complimented one another much like a hand snug in a glove.

She was his yin; and he was her yang.

On top of all that he could cook.

And he had known this much longer than she had. And he had patiently waited to tell her even after she had chased after a man that wouldn't be able to fill that void. And he had been her shoulder to cry on.

Again and again.

"Oh Cye!" she had tears brimming at the corner of her eyes.

He took her emotional state the completely wrong way as pain reflected in his eyes. "I'm sorry darling. I should've never told her. This was the wrong place, the wrong time... I don't know what I was thinking."

He was quick to turn to leave, but she was quicker. Grabbing him by the shoulders she whirled him around. Before he could protest she leaned up and planted a firm kiss on his lips and held onto him for dear life.

"So typical of a man to love you and leave you." She lectured, nuzzled in his chest and breathing his cologne, "Am I really too late to realize what a brilliant man you are? Because if I am, I am going to cry twice as much, and kick myself twice as hard as I will for fooling myself into believing I wanted Sage."

She waited for an answer, clinging to his every breath.

And sent a prayer to God.

If ever I needed anything, I need him now. I know I'm not the most perfect person, but God, I need Cye...I need him-

"If you want me Vigil, I'm yours."

She looked to the heavens and thanked God silently.

I promise God I won't meddle in anyone else's lives if you let this work. I promise I will donate canned food to the homeless. I promise...I'll promise anything!

Cye shook her a bit and gave her a stout hug, "Did you hear me? I'm yours Vigil, I'm yours."

Looking into his eyes she smiled warmly, letting the hot, salty tears make trails down her cheek.

He held her while she cried. But this time, it was different. This time she didn't cry for Sage, but for her own God-sent angel that was hers to keep.

And when it was all out of her system, Cye cupped her face and bent down to kiss her struggling with his own thanks to Mia and trying to contain his own yearning for the girl in his arms.

to be continued...