Part 11
Note: I think ff.n may be out to remove my almost 5 year old account (wow I remember the days of author pics) anyway this fic is on my site, look for it at )
Rowen had collapsed on his bed and soon had fallen asleep, once he got off the phone. At some point that night Thomas had come in, saw his sleeping roommate and simply let him sleep.
The next morning came, and Rowen woke up to the sound of Tom's alarm going off. He sleepily watched as his roommate climbed down from the top bunk and turned it off. Tom then went to his computer and checked something.
Rowen was awake enough to glance at the calendar. "It's Saturday." he muttered.
"Yeah it is." Tom answered.
"Why are you up at 8 am?"
"Cause some girl called here yesterday to find you. She told me to remind you your friend was coming here today at 9 am."
"Nine?" Rowen muttered and glanced at the clock, it was now 8:15.
"Yep." Thomas said.
Rowen groaned and pulled himself out of bed. Damn Sage and his annoying timing. Why couldn't he just sleep? He sighed to himself and went to take a shower.
Rowen had gotten his hair to a reasonably dry level and the two roommates were sitting in their room working on school work. When the room phone rang Tom went to answer it, then hung up.
"Your friend is downstairs." Tom told him.
Rowen signed and saved his paper. Then grabbing his ID he left the room and made his way downstairs. Sage… Sage was here.
He paused in the stairwell, Sage, what would that mean? He better get down there before Sage contacted him via the mind link. But something still stopped him from moving. Maybe it was the fact that Sage would notice how bad he looked.
But then would Sage really care? Sage was Sage, his best friend.
With a sigh he continued to the lobby.
Time and time again Sage Date had, had trouble with girls. They all seemed to want him for his looks; hardly ever had he meant one who wanted him for himself. Of course most of the time he was to shy to talk to them any longer then a few minutes. Perhaps shy wasn't the right word, perhaps it had more to deal with his childhood. (After all being dressed in girl's clothes and teased for it was not something one could forget.) Whatever the cause he didn't like the girls/women that would eye him.
As Sage stood near the stair well/entry way groups of people went past to get into the building. It would figure he would have to wait for Rowen in an area where people… females, could stare at him.
"He'll be down soon." the female security guard told him, noticing his nervousness, she didn't seem to be checking him out.
Sage nodded in thanks to her and continued to ignore the looks from females. The sounds of someone running down stairs came from Sage's left and he glanced in that direction expectantly.
After a few seconds Rowen walked into the room. He looked different, more grown up, in a good way… However, he looked horrible as far as Rowen of Strata went. The normal confidence was gone, as was the inner strength. His walk carried none of his warrior strength or determination. His virtue seemed the only thing that hadn't changed in someway.
Rowen wasn't sure what to expect when he walked into that room, and due to that he had stopped at the bottom of the stairs. The getting his resolve back he walked threw the doorway.
Sage.
Sage noticed him as soon as he entered and watched as he walked over to him. Without even saying hi he asked for his ID. Sage has already dug out the New York City's driver's license. Rowen took it, glanced at it once, clearly confused then signed him in.
"Come on." He told his friend, sounding less then happy to see him.
The two walked back to where the elevator/stairwell was and Rowen hit the button for the elevator. Silence still reigned supreme. While Sage wanted to know what was wrong he knew better then to ask right now. Rowen would tell him when he felt the time was right, wouldn't he?
The elevator doors opened and a group of teens got off, Rowen jumped into the elevator followed by Sage. The silence had started to get to him.
"Rowen?"
"Sage, let it wait till we get to the room." Rowen told him, something in the warrior's voice was off, Rowen seemed to have lost something, something Sage couldn't identify, yet he knew it was there.
Sage didn't reply, but Rowen could read him, Sage was worried. Well he did have a right to be, after all he had changed. At least letting them know he was corrupted now would give them time to look for a new Ronin of Strata.
They made it to the room in time to see Tom leave.
"Rowen, I'll be back later." Tom said, and didn't give Rowen a chance to reply as he walked down the hallway.
Rowen was glad in a way, at least Tom wouldn't be there if he broke down. He sighed and led Sage into his room.
TBC
Sorry for the delay in updating, school this year killed any time I had for really writing any fics, I'm trying to up date everything now.
Please note: I update on before I update here, it also has all of my new fics.
