They stepped off the platform at Osaka Station and look around, trying to find someone they recognized.
"Yo! Sage! Over here!"
Sage's head swiveled to the familiar British accent he knew so well. Running up to them, Cye beamed, out of breath.
"Hey, Cye. Come to pick us up?" Sage asked, laying a hand on the Brits' shoulder as he leaned over to catch his breath and nodded.
"Ya." He stood up straight, taking one of the suitcases from Sage.
"Hello, Anna." He said in English. Anna's eyes widened with shock.
"You speak English?" She gaped as they began walking towards the parking lot.
"Yeah…I grew up in London, then moved here. Did you enjoy China?" He asked politely, starting up the car and climbing in.
Anna smiled at Sage in the backseat while they buckled their seatbelts and Cye pulled out of the crowded train station onto the main highway.
"Absolutely. We had a wonderful time, thank you."
"Good!" He replied, then began speaking rapidly in Japanese to Sage.
Sage nodded with a smile, glancing at his wife.
"What's he saying, Cye?"
"Oh, I asked him if he had a good time as well, he said he did." Cye smiled at her in the rear-view mirror.
"Oh, good." She sighed, looking out the window as Cye and Sage continued talking in the front seat. She felt a little awkward, being unable to understand what they were talking about. She caught Cye glancing at her in the rear-view mirror and blushed. Were they talking about her? She frowned out the window at the landscape. She wasn't so sure she like that…
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"So, how did things go?" Cye asked Sage as Anna turned to the scenery outside the window.
Sage sighed. "I think they went well…she seems to be warming up to me anyway."
"Good. Any…uh, problems?" Cye questioned, eyes firmly placed on the road.
Sage chuckled. "Not the kind you're thinking of. I let her have her space. She'll come to me when she's ready. I want her to feel safe, and love me first." He replied.
Cye glanced at Anna in the backseat. "Do you think she will?"
"Will what?"
"Love you."
Sage was silent for a while before he answered. "I hope so." He whispered.
"You know what your family expects of you…"
"Cye, please don't bring that up. I don't really want to think about 'bringing an heir to the Date family' right now. I just want to get to know my wife in peace." Sage moaned.
"I understand. Not another word out of me on the subject." Cye commented.
Silence descended on the car for several minutes before Sage spoke again—his voice barely more than a whisper. "Although…I guess I have to think about it. Grandfather and father won't leave the subject alone for long, and you know how my mother is."
"At least you don't live at home. This way, you can have some time before the questions start—and of course, an escape route should you wish it." Cye replied, grinning slightly.
"Yeah. I guess I just feel like…like I'm using her. Deceiving her." Sage said softly, glancing back at Anna who had fallen asleep.
"I understand, Sage. But this really wasn't your decision…you know what your family expects." Cye replied.
"I could have fought it." Sage moaned, sorrowfully.
"Well—I don't know if I should tell you this…" Cye mumbled.
"What? Tell me what?" Sage sat up straight, curious.
Cye sighed, wearily. "I was talking to your Grandfather after you two left. It seems that her father was rather…abusive to her."
Sage stared at him in shock.
"Abusive? How?" He whispered.
"Physically, mentally…" Cye said, frowning.
"He didn't…"
"No." Cye interrupted him. "He didn't rape her…he just…hurt her. A lot."
Sage moaned, tears threatening. He looked back at his wife and the dam nearly burst, but he turned his eyes back to the road quickly, unwilling to let Cye see him cry.
"You see Sage…I think that's part of the reason your Grandfather set you two up together. You're probably the best thing that could have happened to her." Cye mumbled.
"How can you say that?" Sage growled. "She doesn't know me! Damnit Cye, she was scared of me—no, terrified of me at first! Gods, she thought I would hit her! She doesn't speak our language, she doesn't know our traditions, and I don't even want to think about my parents badgering me for a son from this poor woman!" Sage ranted.
Cye was silent for a while.
"At least you won't beat her." He whispered.
Sage sighed, nodding silently.
That poor woman. He thought bitterly. I bet she had hopes and dreams…goals for the future. Now look at her…married to a man she doesn't know, can't talk to, in a country she didn't grow up in. Beaten? Her father had beat her? How could anyone do that to such a beautiful woman? How could anyone do that to their daughter? Their own flesh and blood…it just didn't make sense.
Sage growled slightly in his seat, sitting back and looking out the window.
One thing was for sure, he thought angrily. If I ever see her father again…I'll kill him for hurting her…
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"Anna."
She groaned—only semiconscious, but conscious enough to know she didn't want to get up.
"Anna, we're here."
She waved her hand sleepily, trying to dismiss the voice. It chuckled.
"Come on, dearest. Everyone's waiting to meet you. You're home." Cye said, shaking her shoulders softly. Sage stood behind him, grinning slightly as the water Ronin attempted to wake up his wife. Apparently, she had the same affixation for sleep that Rowen did.
She opened her eyes, slowly, looking from Cye to Sage and back again. Nodding, she yawned and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. Cye moved away and she stepped out of the car, stretching. She froze as she saw five people standing nearby, watching her curiously.
"Heh, these are your housemates, Anna." Cye said, chuckling slightly.
She lowered her arms and nodded slowly. She recognized two of the faces…the blue-haired man—Rowen? And the dark haired woman who'd dragged her out of the bathroom at the reception stood together. The woman waved slightly when she looked at her, and Anna waved back sheepishly.
"Okay, let's introduce you." Cye led her towards a blue-gray haired man and a woman with short, black hair, Sage following close behind.
"This is Kento..." Anna shook hands with the burly man. He smiled warmly at her, showing off a row of sparkling white teeth.
"…his wife Lori…" She smiled at the woman--who promptly reached out and grabbed her in a hug squeezing her so hard Anna thought her lungs would burst. Several people chuckled and Anna lightly patted Lori's back as she released her, smiling broadly. Anna smiled at her, then turned to the next person.
"…this is Ryo, he owns the house after it was left to him by a dear friend who moved to America…" Cye introduced the black haired man. Anna gaped briefly at the mansion behind them. He owned this place? Holy—
"Hashimemaste" He smiled, bending down and kissing her hand.
Anna gaped at him a moment more, before Cye pulled her towards the last two people.
"…I believe you know Rowen…"
"Nice to meet you again." He smiled at her gently. Anna nodded, grinning back at him.
"…and his wife, Sakora." Anna smiled at the woman. Sakora smiled back, hugging her lightly.
"Well, now that we've all made introductions, why don't we get your things inside?" Cye said. Anna nodded, watching as Sage and Kento moved to the car to grab their suitcases, dragging them up the stairs of the mansion.
"Cye…" Anna asked as they began walking towards the mansion. The other's followed closely, chatting amongst themselves.
"Let me guess…you want to know how a young guy like Ryo, inherited such a huge house?" Cye smiled at her.
"House, nothing. This is a mansion!"
Cye chuckled. "The woman who used to own it, her name is Mia, inherited it from her wealthy grandfather. Several years ago, before Rowen or Kento were married, we all moved in here together. We lived together for a few years, but then Kento got married, and Mia was offered a job at a prestigious school in America. She decided to take the job, and since Kento really had no place for him and his new wife to stay, she offered to let everyone live here while she was gone. She gave Ryo the house shortly after she left, because he has no family—being an orphan, and she wanted to make sure he was provided for." Cye explained. They had entered the house, and Anna was looking around curiously.
"Ryo's an orphan?" She asked, following Cye and Sage up the large flight of stairs to the second floor.
"Yeah, his mother died when he was young and his father was killed while working in Africa." Cye replied.
"Oh…that's too bad." Anna whispered.
Sage led them down the long hallway to the far end, then opened a door leading to a room on their left. Anna gasped as they entered the room. It was huge, with two dressers and a large wardrobe, armchairs and a couch in front of a large TV and fireplace. She wandered in, exploring, as Sage and Cye set the suitcases on the bed. She opened the door to a large walk-in closet, turning around once and gaping before exiting and closing the door. She walked to the other side of the room, eyes widening as she entered a large bathroom, complete with a Jacuzzi-style bathtub. She walked out, passing by Cye and Sage who watched, amused, from where they sat on the bed. They followed her as she stepped out onto the balcony and gasped.
The balconey ran the entire length of the house, several other doors further down leading to other rooms. Numerous pieces of furniture scattered the large area, and Anna walked to the railing, leaning over the edge and breathing in the fresh air. The view was beautiful…nothing to be seen for miles but forest—a small lake near the driveway had a dock protruding out from the shore. Why hadn't she noticed that when she came?
"Beautiful, ne?" A voice behind her asked.
Anna turned and smiled at Cye, Sage leaning on the doorway back to the bedroom.
"There used to be a boat house…but Ryo's a bit of a pryo and burned it down last summer." Cye laughed at the memory.
"It's amazing! Where do those other doors lead to?" She asked, pointing to the four doors further down the balcony, curiously.
"Oh, those lead into the other's bedrooms. We all live on this side of the house, so we can all enjoy the balcony together." Cye explained.
"Wow." Anna breathed, turning back towards the room and following Cye inside.
"Well, as you can probably tell, this is Sage's room. I'll let you guys get settled in. If you need anything, Rowen and Sakora's room is right next door. My own in at the far end of the hallway, with Ryo in the middle, and Kento and Lori next to me. Just holler if you need anything." Cye smiled at her, then spoke to Sage briefly and left.
Anna watched him leave, then turned to Sage who smiled at her gently. She grinned back at him and he began unloading his things into one of the large dressers. She followed suit, using the other dresser. Soon, everything was unpacked, and Sage sat silently on the bed, watching her. She didn't notice however, and moved about the room, examining things.
Several books littered the floor and a desk in the corner, but other than that, everything seemed to be in perfect order. A few small plants sat on a table near the glass balcony doors—bamboo, jade, and a small bonsai tree. Other than that, the room was simple; most of the pillows and the wallpaper were green, with white trim alternately here and there. She turned towards the double bed and her husband sitting there. He grinned at her and motioned her over.
She walked to him slowly, then sat beside him on the bed. Motioning to the room, he pointed at her, then himself. Anna nodded, smiling. He grinned back at her and rose.
She looked up at him curiously and he placed a hand on his stomach, then pointed to his mouth.
Food? She wondered, but stood and followed him as he left the room, closing the door behind them. She walked down the hall, admiring the beautiful paintings and tapestries that hung there. Sage walked down the stairs and she followed slowly. Towards the right, as they came down the stairs was a high-ceiling, vaulted living room, several fine armchairs and couches spread out around a TV. A large fireplace in the far-right wall, bookshelves packed with novels surrounding it. She smiled at the large bay window, it faced out into the side yard and forest, a large window seat below it, where Rowen and Sakora were curled up amongst the pillows, reading together. Both looked up and waved slightly as Sage and Anna came down the stairs, smiling, before turning back to their novels.
Anna smiled at the couple and followed Sage as he turned around to the left at the bottom of the stairs. A long hallway, which Anna could see had several doorways leading off of it, followed the stairs on the left side of the house, back below the upstairs hallway. Sage led her to the first door down on the left down this hallway, which was wide open.
The kitchen was beautiful, with marvelous black and silver marble countertops and fine-cherry wood cupboard. Cye turned from where he had been stirring something over the stove as they entered.
"Hungry Anna?" He asked.
She nodded slightly and watched Sage get two bowls down from a shelf and give them to Cye, who filled them with the sweet-smelling stew he had been cooking on the stove. They sat at the bar in the center of the kitchen and ate quietly. Anna watched Cye continue to cook as she ate.
"Cye, where to those doors down this hallway lead to?" She asked, blowing on her stew to cool it.
"Hmm? Oh, well there's a study, a library, and a work-out room down there, as well as a guest bedroom." He replied, smiling at her.
"Oh. What about the unused rooms upstairs?" She asked.
"They're mostly used for storage…although every once in a while one of us takes one over for some hobby or another. For example, Lori likes to paint, so she sometimes uses the room across from her and Kento's bedroom as a studio." Cye answered.
"I see." Anna replied, going back to her meal. She looked about kitchen curiously, noting the backdoor which led outside near the fridge, and the door behind them which led to a fancy dining room…although it didn't look like it was used often.
I think I could get used to this… Anna thought happily as she munched on the delicious stew. It's a beautiful house…and everyone seems so friendly. I'm sure everything will be fine.
Feeling more optimistic than she had since she first arrived in Japan, Anna smiled to herself as she ate, glancing at her husband as he rose to get more stew. She knew things would work out…