Disclaimer: I don't own them… wish I did, though!

Captain Backfire

Chapter ONE

Summary: It had all started out innocently enough. Rowen had no idea that he was about to become the "Captain Backfire" of the Ronin Warriors. But not because of anything to do with messing up in battles, but Rowen had a hard time with his love life. And the next few days were going to prove just how much he could really backfire on himself.

It was a quiet night, and Rowen had gotten in from a very rough day of classes at the university. He swung the open to his stuffy, one bedroom apartment and felt around the wall for the light switch. Much to his delight, as soon as he flicked the switch, the bulb blew.

Rowen leaned wearily into the doorframe, and let his book bag slide down his shoulder onto the floor. He blew the one blue forelock from his eyes and sighed aloud, "Great. This is all I needed."

As he kicked his book bag into the room, he stumbled into the small living room, fumbling around for the lamp on the small end table.

Forgetting that there was a coffee table right in front of it.

Rowen slammed his knee into the corner of the table, causing small stars to form about his head. He swore quietly to himself, and flicked on the light. He collapsed into the overstuffed leather chair and rubbed his now sore knee.

"Could this day possibly get any worse?" Rowen asked as he rubbed his eyes sleepily.

Although Rowen was known for staying up and sleeping in late, these college classes were getting the better of him. He found it hard to pull an all-nighter, then trying to make it to class on time. It was especially rough for him to stay up till his usual three or four am, and then get up for his eight o'clock class. Rowen quietly pouted into his palm. If he ever did anything else in his life before he died of exhaustion, it was tonever sign up for another class that met before noon. What he wouldn't do to be able to sleep in…

Rowen smiled coyly into his hand as an epiphany hit him. Today was Friday. Which meant that he could sleep in until Sunday if he wanted to. Although he had three tests to study for, he was a genius… It wouldn't take him much to study for a few hours on Sunday.

God, it was great to be a genius.

Rowen could feel his eyes beginning to shut as he felt the familiar wave of sleep begin to drift over him. Suddenly, the phone rang in the kitchen, causing Rowen to jump with a start. Unfortunately, he jumped so fast that he slammed his other knee into the table. He swore a little more loudly this time as he limped over to the phone.

"Rowen's house of utter exhaustion… You stay; we guarantee a few minutes peace. How can I be of service?" he asked snidely.

"My, but it sounds like those late night study session are finally catching up to somebody." The familiar voice said with a chuckle.

"Oh, hey, Sage. You would be too if you were taking the classes that I was taking. It sucks to get old." Rowen sulked as he pulled out a stool and collapsed into it.

"And let me guess. You bumped into the coffee table again, didn't you?"

Rowen lowered his head onto the counter of the bar, and whined, "Shut up."

"I don't know why you keep the damn thing. You've always banged your knees on it."

"Well, I guess that I haven't reached that level of smartdom. Maybe being in college will help with that." Rowen said as he smirked into the phone, "So what's up? Shouldn't you be out partying, or doing whatever it is that you do?"

"Nah. I had other important business to attend to. Which is why I was calling you!"

"Oh no," Rowen stated as he shook his head vehemently into the phone, "I know what that means. Whatever hair-brained idea you've got, I'm out."

There was a small silence on the other line, "What?" he asked innocently.

"Don't be coy with me! I know that you're up to something." Rowen said as he reached across the bar and grabbed an orange.

He heard a deep sigh into the phone, and a tut-tutting, "Rowen, Rowen, Rowen…"

"What? It's the truth! Plus, I'm exhausted, Sage. These classes are a bear." He said as he began to peel the skin back, the aroma slowly drifting to his nose.

"You act like all I do is cause problems for you. And anyway, how do you know that this 'important business' involves you anyway?"

Rowen scoffed as he tore a juicy slice from the small sphere, "Because. You and trouble go hand in hand. And you always drag me in the middle of it."
"You must have had a rough day." Sage stated with a little bit of disappointment.

"Why do you say that? Maybe the only thing I want to do right now is go to BED, Sage." Rowen ended as he popped the piece in his mouth.

He heard a sigh, "You are usually open to my suggestions. Forget that I said anything."

Rowen stopped chewing on his piece of fruit and began pulling another slice, "I'm always open-minded."

"Mm-hmm," Sage mumbled, "you used to be."

"What do you mean, 'used to be'?" Rowen asked as he glared into the phone, "And you are not quilting me into doing whatever it is that you want me to do."

"Well, I guess that you won't get to hear about who was asking about you today. But, no matter," he heard with a laugh, "you can't be bothered with these little petty matters anyway."

'Just say no, Rowen, just say no.' he told himself over and over again.

But, curiosity got the better of him, and he caved like the wimp that he was.

"Oh, please, all knowing one, please let my mind be opened and tell me who inquired about this meaningless little soul."

"Do you have a lab partner in advanced calculus?"

Rowen thought to himself for a moment, but with all of his classes jumbling together in his mind, it was beginning to cause a headache.

"Nope." Rowen answered off-hand with a shrug.

"Are you sure?" Sage asked coyly.

"Sage, do you know how many classes I'm taking? All I remember about calculus is this crusty old fart standing in front of the class spouting out theorems and proofs."

"Long black hair, green eyes, kinda short?"

Rowen gathered up the remaining bits of his orange and stood up, "You're loosing my interest."

"Mina Kozomoto." Sage finally huffed, irritated at his friend's disinterest.

Rowen threw the pieces into the trashcan, "Mina?" he asked in surprise.

"Yeah. Her brother takes lessons from my grandfather, and we ran into each other when she came to pick him up. You remember her from high school, don't you?"

Rowen thought for a moment and nodded, "Yeah, but I never talked to her. I thought that she was seeing Ash Minimoto."

Rowen heard a clink of ice in a glass as Sage took a drink, "She was, but they broke up a few months ago. It seems that she has a little bit of a crush on you, my friend."
Rowen's sea-green eyes widened, "Me? What do you mean?"

"Well, she mentioned being in class with you, and wanted to know if you were seeing anyone. And…" Sage faded off for his usual added drama.

Rowen rolled his eyes and smiled at Sages' drawn-out suspense. He allowed for a few minutes of the silence to continue before he asked, "And?" he asked.

"She wanted to know if you guys could meet for dinner tomorrow."

Rowen stared into the phone, knowing he must have heard something wrong. He tapped into the earpiece, and blew into it, hoping to clear the crud that had obviously muddled Sage's last comment.

"What are you doing?"

"I thought that you just said Mina wanted to have dinner with me. It's obviously a mistake."

Sage laughed heartily, and Rowen had to hold the phone away from his ear before it quieted down enough to hold it back.

"Rowen, you are such a geek."

"You mean it?" Rowen asked sarcastically as he sat down into his comfy chair, careful to avoid the ever-dangerous table.

"Come on, Ro. You'll have a good time. And she's asking you out, so she's gotta like you."

Rowen sunk deeper into the couch, "Do you not remember the last time I went out on a date?"

Sage sighed, "Yes, I remember. But this is different! She's asking YOU out on a date, not the other way around. I promise, this will be different."

Rowen sat silently as he waited for his friend to continue.

"We'll just put a piece of tape around your mouth so you won't say anything stupid, that's all." Sage said with a hint of a giggle.

Rowen covered his face and pouted, "I didn't mean to hurt her feelings. She shouldn't have teased her hair out so far if she didn't want anyone to say anything about it."

Sage laughed until he cried, "God, that was the most awful first date that I had ever heard of in my life!"

Rowen sighed as he waited for his friend to quiet down. Finally, after an eternity, Sage sniffed and dried his eyes, and was calm enough to speak to his friend.

"Come on, Rowen. She's sweet, and she seemed interested."
Rowen thought it over for a minute, then finally sighed and caved. Sage was right. Not ever date had to turn out the way that the last one did.

"Alright, tell her I'll be there."

"Great!"

Sage told Rowen where to meet her, and what time. After Sage and he exchanged good-byes, Rowen pushed the off button on the phone, and covered his face with a pillow. He screamed into it as loud as he could. Why did he get talked into these stupid situations when he knew how it was going to turn out! He slowly removed the pillow and covered his face.

'Oh well,' he thought to himself, 'it shouldn't be that bad. I mean, what can I do to make it completely horrible?'

He smiled to himself as he realized that he was over-reacting. He began to get up to put the phone away when he thumped his knee into the table once more. He cried quietly to himself as he hung up the phone and limped off to bed.

So far, this wasn't appearing to turn out to be such a good idea after all.