"Can she really take you back?"
"I don't see why not." The remark was bitter. "After all, she has legal custody over Sammy and I."
So very bitter.
"Do you think it's selfish?"
He regarded her curiously, not understanding her meaning. "What is?"
"…That I want to stay in Japan."
Was it foolish to want to stay somewhere because you were comfortable? Because you felt safe?
Unforeseen Circumstance
An Enigma Called Romance
(Day 20)
By: Little Ucchan
"So each armor is endowed with a virtue, and the five elemental armors share the strongest bond."
"Mm-hmm."
"Five…" Fingers tapped against the tabletop, thinking. "The pentagram. Have you used the five pointed star in any sort of formation before?"
"A few times."
"What as?"
"…"
"Cye-kun?"
The boy blinked, realizing he had been inattentive, and lowered his head in embarrassment. "Gomen nasai. What did you ask again?"
Krysta set down her pencil, pushing up the fine, wire-framed glasses perched on her nose. "I wanted to know if you've hand any experience using the pentagram as a magical amplifier."
"Somewhat. We've created protective barriers using the star and our armors. One time, we also used it as a way to attack."
"But if one of you were missing…"
"It wouldn't have fallen through," the Ronin finished.
Krysta nodded, turning back to the notes she'd written down from yesterday's field tests. She could not come up with a proper counter spell if she did not know the armors inside and out. And watching Cye perform various feats in his armor, both on the ground and in the water, had greatly expanded her knowledge on the subject. Now, all that was left were the details, which had led to this interview with boy.
"Does your bond with the others allow you speak telepathically?"
"It happens sometimes. Not really by our own will. Just during some heightened event, like when one of us is in serious danger or hurt."
"Hmm. Psychic energies run high with intense emotions or stress." She was in the middle of reviewing the notes she had written, along with the ones her niece had provided, when she looked up to face Cye. "You know, with some practice, you could learn to speak telepathically on command. Have you ever tried?"
"It never really came up," he confessed.
Krysta nodded, returning back to her notes. "Describe to me any other links that you might have with the other armors."
"I could sense them," Cye said. "Specifically them. Not just because of the power level."
"If you were in a middle of downtown and you've lost the others, could you tell which direction they were in?"
"Yes."
"In armor or without?"
"In armor."
"By instinct, or do you have to concentrate?"
"Concentrate."
"Anything else?"
There was a pause. "Emotions… I can feel my friends' pain, whether mental or physical."
Krysta took off her glasses, looking at the boy inquiringly, if not a bit worried. "Always?"
"Physical, no. Not often anyway." Cye's eyebrows creased, searching for what else to say. "It always happens in a life threatening situation. But the pain is always dulled in a way. It's to a lesser degree than what my friend might be feeling."
"And mentally?"
"It's the same scenario. But, it's strange. I can feel their emotions." He stopped, shrugging his shoulders self-consciously. "It could be just me, though. The guys haven't shown many signs of it."
"A natural gift," Krysta concluded, putting her glassed back on. "I sensed it when I first saw you. You're a born empath. Though your abilities differ from the norm. Your senses pick up the emotional states of others instead of the psychic energies surrounding you."
He smirked to himself. "They always accuse me of mind reading, even though I can't. I just know what they're feeling."
"Just them?" Krysta prodded.
He shrugged again, this time looking down at the table. "Maybe not."
"Ah." She leaned back in her chair, a triumphant smile on her face, as if she had just discovered the answer to some complicated riddle. "So that explains it."
"Explains what?"
"Why you've been so absentminded this morning." Krysta kept her gaze on Cye, her face serious. "Is it my niece?" She snorted disdainfully when he did not answer, remembering just how Laura had acted before leaving to get lunch. "Don't mind her. She can get moody at times."
"Maybe," Cye agreed quietly. "After all, I've only known her for a short time." His eyes remained downcast, focused on his hands, folded in front of him. "But it bothers me to see such frustration, deceit, and… helplessness emanating from her." He chuckled a bit. "I'll admit, it's not something I'd normally associate with that kind of girl."
Krysta's face held no humor. She knew his tactics and heard the underlying accusation. "Does your ability to read people's emotions normally involve spying?"
"Not when I can seen the answer blatantly in front of me."
Cye was normally not this bold. Nor did he speak with such a sharp tongue. But he couldn't deny that Krysta's plan to bring Laura home had upset him, especially when she did not understand the girl's feelings on the matter. On them. On how Laura felt about them. She doesn't even know who we are! How we are as a group. What we can accomplish together… If Krysta really knew them as the Ronin warriors, knew of their exploits and determination… she would have surely been impressed.
They had entered a staring contest by then, Cye unwavering in his belief and Krysta trying to decipher what was in the boy's heart. Finally, she turned away, scoffing. "I suppose I'll have to listen to your side, eventually," she said. "After all, you're one of the five who's foolish enough to throw your life away."
Cye softened his expression. "Maybe I don't have enough battle experience, or I hold my ideals too high to consider helping someone else foolish."
Krysta turned back to him, eyes scrutinizing, like they've always been. "Why are you doing this?"
He smiled ruefully. "To me, that's the same as asking someone why they love. There's—"
"—No clear answer," she finished for him, nodding. "Tell me, Cye. Do you have family?"
"A sister and my mother."
"Friends?"
"Many at my school."
"And it doesn't concern you at all that you're placing them in danger?"
"Of course it concerns me!" he immediately replied. "It's something I dread. That I wish never to happen." He paused, his eyes lowering in genuine sorrow. Krysta waited for him to finish. "I guess the pain of seeing others suffer has made me doubt my path a lot of times. But… every time I think about the lives lost because of my battle, I think about the many more that would have died if I did not participate at all."
Cye then smiled. "I guess that's what keeps me going. My involvement does put the people I love in danger. But my lack of involvement puts them at a greater risk because I have the power to do something; to prevent a disaster from happening. And if I don't take that risk and fight, it's like I saw their deaths coming, and I didn't do anything to stop it."
After he had finished, gazing at him for so long, the woman turned away. "You're not lying." It was a statement more than anything else.
"Krysta-san, these are my reasons for fighting. But it's not why I'm helping your niece." He shook his head gently, that slight smile still lingering on his face. "Whether you're willing to believe it or not, Laura got caught up in our group. She's a friend to us now. And for my friends, I need no reason to act. That's just how I am."
"And I suppose that's how all of you are."
"If you met us… you'd know."
Krysta continued to look down at the table they were seated at, eyes always shifting, but not focusing on anything. The dark, brown orbs moved up to glance at him every now and then. "Hmph. She thinks very highly of you guys. Did you know that?"
Cye didn't say anything, but his expression gave away that he was not aware of that.
"Yup," she carried on. "She normally doesn't take the time to defend others, unless it's family. Without question, she wouldn't turn her back on family."
"I don't think she's turning her back on you," Cye offered.
"Did you sense that from her as well?" she asked bitterly. "When she stormed out of the house and slammed the door behind her?"
"This is not based on what I felt, but what I know of your niece. And you know it too." He met her eyes squarely. "It's easier to go into battle with friends. Family is irreplaceable."
Cye kept her gaze, hoping that, after hearing his words, maybe she'd understand. Maybe she'd see what they all saw.
Krysta stood up from her seat. "So is friendship," she countered, resigning. "If right, friends can be just as strong as family. Maybe even more."
The soft click of the door to the master bedroom being closed left Cye alone in the vast living room, staring at his folded hands among scattered papers and unfinished work.
The interview was over.
***
Slash! Steel sliced through air, a sharp whistling sound following in its wake as the boy continued his dance, blade for blade. Slash! Swoosh!
He did a back flip, drawing both swords back, poised to strike in his mock fight with his imaginary foe. Ryo took in breath, lowering his stance as sweat poured down his face and chest. It felt good just to cut loose on the open ground. To get lost in the fluid motions of battle was the ultimate source of relief that he could find. And he definitely needed to get rid of the stress that was mounting upon his shoulders. I hate this.
He wanted someone to attack him. As bad as it sounded, he couldn't stand another waiting period. The anticipation would drive him insane.
There was some rustling in the brushes nearby. Ryo swerved on his heels, swords drawn ready. The girl that had appeared out of the foliage was more than surprised.
He immediately lowered his swords, almost dropping them to the floor. "I'm sorry," he hastily apologized, looking around for his sheaths. No more practicing for you. "I didn't mean to—"
"Ryo?"
He looked up again, recognizing the melodious voice, but when he gazed into the face of the speaker, he knew he was mistaken. The girl had fully stepped into the clearing in front of his cabin home, dressed in a blue summer dress, a peculiar sense of fashion if he ever did see, but oddly familiar. "I'm sorry. But do we know each other?"
The girl was taken aback, but more confused than shocked. She laughed a bit, taking another step forward. "Ryo, it's me."
He looked more closely, directly into her eyes, and saw the inner fire burning within the bright red orbs. "Yume…?"
She smiled brightly, bobbing her head up and down.
Ryo still appeared to be in shock. "What… what happened to you?"
She looked at him curiously. "What do you mean?"
"Well, uh…" Hasn't she looked in the mirror? Ryo looked around for some reflective surface. He considered holding out his swords to her, but thought twice about scaring her again. Grabbing his sheaths and putting away his swords, Ryo signaled for her to give him a minute and rushed back into the cabin.
Yume looked on, ever more confused than when Ryo had not recognized her. White Blaze, who had been lounging on his usual spot on the porch, had gotten up and approached the demon-girl. He looked up at Yume, gave a quick sniff, and tilted his head to the side in bewilderment. Yume raised an eyebrow at the tiger. What's going on? This is too weird.
Ryo came back, holding a hand mirror in one hand. He turned the reflective surface to Yume, and she nearly fell over, stumbling back in surprise.
"W-what??" She grabbed the mirror, a hand moving to touch her hair, her light brown hair, no longer the familiar locks of pink that she had been born with. "What happened??"
Ryo looked on at her in surprise. "You mean, you don't know?? You didn't do it yourself?"
"No!" Her hand moved to her ears, now human in design. "I don't know what happened," she spoke softly, then jerked again when her fingers brushed by the space where her ears were supposed to extend, and found that they were still there. She looked at the mirror again, only saw air, but felt it twitch beneath her fingers. An illusion…
She then glanced at her fingernails, closing her fists to feel the sharp tips underneath. She looked human because of an illusion. But how? And why would…
A picture of Maki's smiling face suddenly came to mind.
Handing the mirror back to Ryo, Yume reached around her neck and snapped the clasp off the necklace she wore. With a quiet shimmer, the illusion vanished, causing Ryo's eyes to widen and White Blaze's head to shoot up in surprise.
"Whoa. You're back to normal again."
Yume frowned at the necklace, remembering what the meddlesome boy had said.
"I had Kurumi mess with it a bit. You won't need to worry about it breaking."
She should have caught the double meaning. Kurumi, huh? If the red-head was involved, then this definitely was Maki's doing.
"Just thought your boyfriend would appreciate it."
"Annoying jerk."
Ryo raised an eyebrow at the remark, and Yume lowered her head sheepishly.
"A friend of mine gave this to me. He acts more like a bothersome older brother, though." The boy chuckled lightly. "I guess he just wants me to have fun." Yume slipped the necklace back on, her human guise falling into place. "It's hard to do when you don't blend in well."
He understood her meaning, looking down at White Blaze, recalling the few times he dared to take the large cat within the city limits. Very hard to enjoy yourself, but it sure provides an interesting display.
Despite his surprise in seeing Yume again, he was actually happy that the demon-girl came by, even quite flattered at her devotion to him. Her presence kept his mind off of fighting, and even though he knew that he should stay on alert, it was a welcomed change.
"Say, have you ever been to the mall?"
"Mall?" She'd heard of such a place, where many teenagers spent the hours of their days shopping and hanging out. "No, I've never been to a mall."
Ryo smiled. "Want to go?"
***
The trunk of the car slammed shut, Sage taking the two bags of groceries in his arms and heading around the garage to the back entrance of his house. "Just because I'm grounded doesn't mean I'm an errand boy," he grumbled to himself as he pulled out his keys and unlocked the door.
Setting the two bags on the kitchen counter, he pulled out a pack of soda and opened one of the cans. Taking a sip of his drink, he walked into the living room… and stopped abruptly in the doorframe.
The three that were seated around the coffee table all turned at his entrance, two of which he recognized. One was his grandfather, a rather cheerful expression on his face. The other…
He swallowed the soda that had been in his mouth, biting down on his lip to stop himself from coughing. Rika…
"Oh, Sage. I'm glad you're here." Grandfather Date rose, motioning for his grandson to come closer. "You remember David Lansdale and his daughter."
So that's who the third person was. Her father.
"Yes," he stepped forward just as Mr. Lansdale rose from his seat and extended a hand to him. He took it firmly in his. "It's good to see you again." To Rika, he gave a humble nod. The girl smiled slyly in reply.
"My word." Mr. Lansdale looked over the boy, then smiled at both Sage and Grandfather Date. "What two years has done to you. I remember when you were just a little boy, walking around the kendo arena with your shinai. You've grown, Sage."
"Thank you," he bowed. "I trust that you're in good health, Lansdale-san?"
"As fit as always." He smiled again. "You know, it's too bad that there's no tournaments taking place right now. I'd like to see you fight."
"Yes, it is a shame," Grandfather Date agreed.
"If you want," Sage began, getting an idea. "I could arrange a show for you."
Both men looked at the boy curiously, Sage's grandfather catching on to what he was implying. "Oh yes!" He turned to Mr. Lansdale, smiling excitedly. "There is a young girl staying with us from the Kanaji incident. Skilled with the sword, but by more 'unconventional' means. I remember that you wished to see how kendo stands up to other forms of martial arts."
Mr. Lansdale nodded his head, considering the thought. "Sounds interesting. I'd like to see it. If she's willing."
"Oh she is," Sage assured him. Willing to kick my ass.
"Unfortunately she's away on a trip," Grandfather Date interjected. "Perhaps another time? How long will you be in town?"
"Quite a while, actually. I have a lot of business to attend to. And with the move…"
"Good!" Grandfather Date clapped his hands together. "Then you'll be able to visit again. You should bring your wife over next time. We'd love to have you for dinner."
"Cassandra's still in Paris," he declined, sitting back down on the sofa when Grandfather Date did. "She could be over there for a while."
"I see. Does this have to do with what you mentioned earlier."
He nodded. "I'm hoping you could give me some sound advice, Date-sama."
"Of course." Grandfather Date turned back to the two teens, realizing that he had forgotten their presence in the room. "Sage, why don't you show Rika around the house. I'm sure you two have a lot of catching up to do."
Sage was about to remind his grandfather that he was grounded, but decided against it. Bringing it up would be a form of self punishment.
"Hai," he bowed once, then turned towards Rika, who was looking at him expectantly. "Rika-san, would you like a drink?"
She smiled at him again, that seductress's smile, and held her hand palm down to him. An eyebrow arched at the gesture, eyeing her hand before he took it in his own, helping her to her feet.
"I'd love one." She laced her arm around his, smiling mischievously when he tensed slightly. "Bye Daddy," Rika waved over her shoulder as they departed, sounding like a perfect angel if it weren't for the fact that she was clinging to another boy.
"Bye pumpkin," he called back to her, not at all perturbed. "Have fun."
***
"You know, it amazes me how proper you become when anyone over 25 is in the room," she chided, glancing up at the tall boy by her side.
"Forced habit." Sage stopped in the middle of the kitchen, looking at Rika, and her arm, pointedly. "And it amazes me how bold you become when anyone is present. Especially authority figures."
"Forced habit," she shrugged back at him. "Besides, my daddy doesn't mind."
"My grandfather might."
Rika scoffed, but released his arm nonetheless. "Your grandfather knows me too well." She pulled out a chair from the breakfast table, seating herself gracefully as Sage reached for a glass from the cupboard. "Did you know that I saw him more times than I saw you? Pretty freaky, huh?"
It certainly was. And what was more frightening was how well they knew each other without knowing nothing at all. "Ice?"
"Two please."
"Soda or…"
"Soda's fine."
He took the glass and can to her, setting both items down at the table. Rika took the can, tapped the top a few times with the back of her fingernail, and opened the drink, pouring the fizzing liquid in her glass of ice. She looked over at Sage as he sat in the seat opposite to her. "I couldn't help but notice the keys sitting on the counter."
His gaze wandered to the counter as well, and he got up to put the keys in his pocket.
"Is it yours?"
"It's my mother's."
"But you can drive."
"No."
She took a delicate sip of her drink, watching the blonde over the rim of the glass. "No, you can't drive? Or no—"
"No I'm not taking you anywhere," Sage replied, sitting back down.
Rika smiled, setting the glass down on the table. "Don't be so quick to jump the gun."
"I think my timing was just right."
She gazed on at him, that same smile on her face before she got up suddenly. "Well, let's go!"
"I told you I'm not taking you anywhere."
"Ah c'mon!" Rika leaned forward across the table, so much that Sage had to sit back in his chair in order to place some distance between them. "We'll be back before they even realize that we're gone." She put on her best pout. "Please?"
For a moment, it seemed like Sage was going to give in, starting to have his doubts when she gave him that look. But her charm, no matter how good it was, wasn't going to work this time.
"But why???" Rika whined when Sage declined yet again.
"Rika," he began, arms crossed firmly over his chest. "Every time I agree to go out with you, I always end up getting in trouble for it."
"But I always get you out of it, don't I?"
"But you placed me in it in the first place! I'm not falling for it this time."
"You know." Rika grabbed the edge of the table and pulled herself forward, face now inches apart from Sage's own. "I can get you in trouble even without us leaving," she purred, eyes moving to focus on his lips, then his eyes, then his lips again.
"Rika…" Sage breathed, surprised to find hardly any strength in his voice.
"Yes?" she crooned.
"Are you trying to make a move on me?"
Her lips twitched into a smile as she leaned in closer. "Only if it's working."
So close. Just a breath's distance away. She was so close. Would he move? She had seen how his eyes had shifted to gaze at her waiting lips. Would he kiss her?
Sage met her eyes again, then turned his head away.
Rika backed off, though she wasn't disappointed. A faint smile crossed her lips. Well played, Sage. Well played.
When she looked back up at him, he was staring at her. Not in an angry way, nor did he seem hurt by her actions. Just… amused, as if he had expected it.
"You've changed," he said.
Rika propped her chin in both of her palms, kicking her legs up as if she were lying on a soft bed and not a dining table. She titled her head to the side. "Have I really?"
He looked at her more closely before shaking his head. "No."
Her smile… The way she carried herself… Always full of surprises. Always full of energy. Always the girl he remembered from eight years ago. She never changed.
"Let's play strip poker!"
If anything else, she got bolder.
"Rika!" Sage hissed, flushing at the suggestion. "I am not playing strip poker with you!"
"But it'll be fun!" Rika insisted, slapping her palms flat against the table. "Please?"
She's doing that pout thing again. "Rika…"
"C'mon." She finally got off the table, sitting back in her chair. "You owe me for standing me up yesterday."
His mind blanked for a second. Yesterday? What was supposed to happen ye—
"Friday. Shay's Diner at 6:00?"
"Great! I'll be there."
His face made that 'o' expression, as in 'oh shit' when he remembered that he had arranged a date with Rika the week before. "I am so sorry."
"Naw, it's alright," she waved it away. "I'm not really mad. Heard from your grandfather what happened."
Still, he felt horrible. Even more so because the engagement still didn't cross his mind when he saw Rika in his house. "I'm really sorry, Rika. I'll do anything to make it up to you."
"Strip poker."
"Except that," he corrected.
"But I want to play!" Pout.
Sage sighed to himself, trying to think of some way to divert her attention away from the insidious game when a clever alternative came to mind. "How about this? I'll play you poker. But with a different consequence other than stripping."
"What do you have in mind?" At least she was interested.
"Winner gets to ask any one question. Loser has to answer, no matter what."
She thought about his proposal a moment before her lips curled up into an impish smile. "Sure. I'm game."
***
"Wow…" Yume looked around, wandering with eyes wide open at the sights that surrounded her. "This is so… Wow," she uttered again for lack of better words. Ryo chuckled.
"I take it you don't go into the city that much."
"Never," she replied. "I only hear what Maki tells me."
"This Maki," Ryo glanced over at her. "Is he…?"
"He lives around here," Yume offered, then reconsidered her words. "At least I think he lives around here."
So, he's human then. That somehow relieved him, considering what Yume was. "You talk a lot about him."
"Yeah well, he's been with me for a long time," she confessed. "I consider him family, as meddlesome as he is. He's always there for me."
Ryo agreed, smiling at her. "That's a nice relationship to have."
She smiled back. "This is nice too."
He nodded again. It was. And it would have been more pleasant if Yume didn't continuously look over her shoulder or shy away from other people's gazes.
"What's wrong?"
"I've never been around so many people before," she told him, hugging herself. "And I fear that I still don't fit in here as well as we'd hoped."
It was her clothes. Even disguised as a human, her strange attire, as simple as it was, made her stand out in a crowd. Ryo looked at her in concern, feeling her discomfort, then scanned the mall. He smiled, giving the girl a quick wink before pulling her into one of the clothes stores.
***
"Huh?" He turned around, watching as a rather familiar raven-haired boy entered one of the fashion stores with a petite brunette tagging along. Is that…?
He looked around, spotted his parents at a nearby shop, and thought that they wouldn't mind if he went off on his own.
Skateboard in hand, he followed after the couple.
***
Ryo smiled to himself, shaking his head in amusement as he sat in a chair, waiting for Yume to come out. When she had first walked in, it was as if she had never seen so many clothes in her life! And when one of the clerks said that she could try some of them on… well she went into more shock.
"Go on," Ryo had urged, smiling. "Pick something out."
"Oh no, I can't! I—"
"Go." He had pushed her gently from behind, asking the sales lady, a nice middle-aged woman, to help her decide. "I'll be right here."
He remembered her meek expression as she nodded, going with the other woman with a thousand doubts and worries clouding her mind. It made him smile again. He had so much to show her. I wonder how long she's been living in the forest.
"Ryo!!"
He turned his head, quickly locating the source of the call. He practically gaped at who he saw. "Yulie?"
The nine year old boy ran up to him, waving his hand. "I thought it was you!"
Ryo got up, immediately grabbing the boy into a headlock, ruffling his hair. "Hey, how've you been kid?"
Yulie pulled out of the teen's grip, running a hand through his brown locks to try and get the stray ends to stay down. "Good. If you consider going to school good."
Ryo grinned at the remark, looking over the boy. How long has it been? Their visits to Mia's house had stopped ever since she'd gone to France to help her parents out. And even before then, Yulie hadn't been able to stop by often.
"Yeah, I hear ya. School's a royal pain." He shot him a curious gaze. "So what are you doing over here?"
"I'm shopping with my parents," he answered. "They're just outside."
"Ah, well don't you think you should tell them where you are?" Ryo said with a grin, watching as Yulie flustered for a response.
"W-What makes you think I didn't tell them?"
"C'mon, Yuls," he began, starting to sit down. "I know you better than that. You just walked in here and—" His sentence was cut short, so was his act of reclaiming his seat as a petite figure stepped forward, wringing her hands nervously together.
Ryo slowly got back up, jaw slack as he gazed at Yume, making her cheeks redden. "Is it, okay?" she asked timidly, smoothing out some of the creases on the white short sleeve dress. It wasn't sassy or bold, like the current style, but looked more like a child's dress, innocent and pure. The sash around her waist, pulled into a bow in the back, added to the image. If she had kept her pink hair instead of the illusionary brown, it would have only enhanced her girlish looks.
"Ah," he fidgeted where he stood, weight shifting from one foot to the other as he searched for words, cursing himself for being so tongue tied.
"He means yes," Yulie, who had been watching the entire time, put in helpfully. Ryo glared at the boy, feeling more stupid than he did two seconds ago.
"So you like it?"
He turned back to Yume, finally finding his voice and pleasantly surprised to find out that he was still in awe at her appearance. "I love it."
Yume giggled, hardly able to contain herself. The sales clerk that had been helping her appeared by her side, first looking at the ecstatic girl, then to the boy that had accompanied her. "Well, how do you like it? Isn't she darling?"
"It's just perfect for her," Ryo commented as he reached for his back pocket. "We'll take it."
"We will??" Yume's expression of happiness suddenly dropped to one of surprise. "Ryo, don't." Her eyes turned to his, begging him not to go through the trouble, but Ryo's mind was already made up, pulling out a few bills from his wallet and handing it over to the clerk.
"Can she wear it now?" he asked.
"Oh yes. I'll just need to remove the security tags." She turned to Yume, smiling at the lucky girl. "Do you want a bag to put your other clothes in?"
"Yes," she replied absently, still quite uncertain that all of this was happening.
"Come this way then," the woman said, directing her back to the fitting room. "I'll come back with your receipt and change, sir."
Ryo nodded his thanks.
After they had departed, the boy took in breath, feeling extremely good about what he did. He didn't care about the price. He'd rather spend his money on someone else and make them feel happy. At least he'd know that it was being put to good use.
"So Ryo, is she your girlfriend?" a young voice asked. He had forgotten again that Yulie was still at his side.
"You know, I don't remember you being this nosy."
He laughed uneasily. "Well, the girls at my school got me into it." His face fell in annoyance at the thought. "All they do is gossip."
"At your age??" Ryo snorted at the boy's confirmation. "Corrupt them while they're young, I guess."
"So," Yulie began again, seeing as how they strayed from their original topic. "Is she?"
Ryo had to hold his tongue, for he had the strangest impulse to say yes.
***
"C'mon!! Are you or aren't you?"
Sage gritted his teeth, wanting desperately to be anywhere but in his own kitchen, playing poker with Rika.
He had thought the game to be much less harmful than strip poker, initially pitching the idea in order to learn a bit more about Rika, since neither of them even knew the other's birthday, among countless other things that friends were supposed to know. But Rika had won the first round and had pointed the game in an entirely different direction from what he originally intended. Now it was only slightly less harmful than strip poker.
"Fess up Sage," she taunted, smile widening as he twisted uncomfortably in his seat. He's gonna give in. Any moment now…
"Alright!" he shouted, swallowing down what remaining pride he had left. "I am."
Her eyes lit up at the response. "Really??"
He nodded, barely able to face her after confessing that embarrassing piece of information.
"Kinky."
Sage's head shot up, appalled. "Kinky? That's all you have to say??"
"C'mon Sage," Rika laughed, gathering up the cards. "It wasn't that bad of a question. I mean, it's not like I asked if you were a virgin or something."
"You know, I'd rather answer that question than the one you posed to me!"
"Really?" She leaned in mischievously. "So are you?"
Sage's face darkened.
"I'm just kidding!" She shuffled the rest of the cards, dealing out the next hand. "I'll save that question for later."
"Should I really continue torturing myself," he muttered, picking up his cards. Two pairs.
"Just fold if you want." Rika picked up her own. "No harm there."
That was true. The round was void if either of them folded.
Sage set down one card, Rika sliding the new one across the table. He picked it up and placed the King of Spades in his hand. Just what he needed.
Rika set down two cards, eyebrows rising at the new addition to her hand. Sage looked over at the girl, not missing how she hid behind her fanned cards. Most likely to conceal her smile. It was so easy to read her expressions. But regardless of whether or not he knew if she had a good hand, it didn't help him in winning.
"You're going to beat me, aren't you?"
She shrugged her shoulders innocently, still hiding behind her wall of cards. "You can fold."
He could… but he didn't.
Sage set his cards down face up. "Full House."
Rika paused for a moment, as if stunned by the hand. But Sage knew better when her lips pulled up, eyes shining with a predatory gleam. She set her cards down, claiming yet another victory over the blonde. "Four of a kind."
Sage cursed under his breath.
"Let's see…" Rika laced her fingers together, eyes idly cast towards the ceiling as she thought about her next question. "What to ask… What to ask…" Her face lit up, casting a naughty look in Sage's direction. "Describe to me your wildest, sexual fantasy."
"No!"
"C'mon Sage!! It's a simple question!"
"For you maybe! You have no qualms about it!" he cried, trying to hide his deepening flush behind his hand. "And why does it always have to be about sex??" He was very grateful that they had had the foresight to close the kitchen's sliding door. If anyone heard them…
"Sex is an interesting topic," Rika stated as a matter of fact. "No matter who you talk to about it, you get a different reaction every time. It's very entertaining."
Sage looked at her long and hard. "How long have you been doing this?"
"What? Challenging taboos? Or playing cards?"
"Both."
Rika grinned. "I've been this outrageous all my life. You should know that. Besides, you can learn a lot by courting controversy."
"True," he conceded. "And the other?"
"Since I was seven. My dad's friends taught me how to play. Plus it pays to have a little bit of luck on your side." Rika took the deck and shuffled it a few times, setting it facedown between them. "Tell you what. We'll both cut the deck. If you get the higher card, I'll discard the question."
"And if you get the higher card?" he asked carefully.
She grinned again. "Double."
Sage winced, looking at the deck ominously. "That's a risk."
"All of life's a risk."
He had to agree with that statement.
Glancing over at the deck again, Sage reached out and cut it, looking at the card at the bottom of his hand. His eyes shot up at Rika before he flipped the deck over, revealing the card.
Rika whistled. "Ace of Spades. Hard to beat." She cut the remaining deck, looking at the bottom card.
"Well?" Sage prompted when only silence met his ears.
She took one look at him, and flipped the deck over. Ten of Clovers. "Looks like Lady Luck is on your side."
"For once." His eyes then narrowed questioningly at Rika, noting the content look the girl was giving him. Something was on her mind.
"Do you believe in Fate, Sage?" she asked, resting her chin on her folded hands.
"You mean, like a higher power leading me in the direction of my destiny," he classified.
"You sound bitter."
Sage snorted. "That's because I'm a skeptic by nature. I'd rather believe in myself and what I'm capable of than divine intervention."
"And yet…"
He raised an eyebrow at her. "And yet I can't deny that there is something out there, pulling me down a certain path." He shook his head in resignation. "And I can't escape it, no matter how much I resist."
"Fate's strong."
"It is," Sage admitted. "But I grew up with the belief that a person's will is stronger."
"Strong enough to alter one's destiny?"
He gazed at her curiously, wondering at the sudden change in her mood. "Why did you ask me this?"
"Because I believe in Fate," Rika declared. "I believe in destiny. I let the winds guide me wherever they wish with no fear of consequence. It's how I've lived my life."
"That's very brave." Or blind, he reminded himself. Free spirits were always in danger of burning out too quickly. And Rika Lansdale was the very embodiment of freedom.
"Care for one more gamble?" she asked, shuffling the deck and setting the cards face down on the table once again. "Let's see what Fate has in stored for us." She moved her hand across the deck, spreading out the cards. "Chose one. Memorize it. And then place it back in the deck. I'm going to throw the cards up into the air. If I catch the one that's yours… then you and I are meant to be together."
It was quite a gamble. To determine your feelings for another by the card in your hand… Sage didn't know if she was joking or serious. But Rika was going to go through with it. And later, when he'd looked back on today in the comfort of his own room, he wondered why he did as well.
Quietly, he picked out a card. Lavender eyes studied its features, just for a moment, before placing it back in the deck. Rika gathered the cards, and after a short pause, where both of them met the other's eyes, she threw them into the air.
Sage watched them float down in short, rocking motions, Rika's hand shooting out to snag one out of the air. She looked at the card, the first signs of a smile coming to her lips when the door leading into the kitchen opened, Mr. Lansdale stepping inside.
"Rika , sweetheart? We need to get—" He halted in the middle of his sentence as a card fluttered by his face.
Grandfather Date stepped in the doorway soon after, eyes suspiciously regarding his grandson and the newly scattered cards. "What is going on in here?"
Rika hastily started to gather the cards, an explanation coming together as she worked. "Sorry, Date-sama. It was my fault. I'll get it cleaned up."
Sage had already kneeled onto the floor, picking up the cards that had missed the table during their fall. Rika soon joined him. "What was your card?" she whispered.
"Rika, when you're done, we need to get going," her father told her, turning to converse with Grandfather Date. "I'm sorry we have to leave so soon."
Rika tuned out of the rest of the conversation, eyes focused on Sage and his answer. "Queen of Hearts."
"Rika."
"Right. We're almost done, Daddy." She organized the rest of the cards in her hand before realizing that Sage was staring at her, waiting.
"Ah," she looked back down at the deck, handing them over to him with an embarrassed look. "It got mixed in with the rest of the cards."
Sage blinked. What?
"Sorry," she apologized again when she caught sight of that look of disbelief on the blonde's face. "Maybe we weren't supposed to know."
"Maybe."
Rika smiled suddenly, planting a quick kiss on his cheek. "I'll come over again sometime," she promised. "Is that alright?"
"That's fine with me," he agreed.
She winked at him, giving one last look at the boy before she followed after her father. "So, did you have a good time?"
"Mm-hmm." She let her father open the door for her, climbing into the passenger seat of the black Mercedes-Benz with a pleasant smile on her face. She had seen the card, just before her father had walked in on them. Queen of Diamonds.
As much as it was a disappointment, Rika surprisingly found herself satisfied with the results. The cards revealed much to her. And even though she had chosen the wrong one, the proximity of it showed her the truth. At least I'm not that far away from his heart.
***
Is she my girlfriend? The question wandered around Ryo's mind ever since he hesitated when answering Yulie's question. Is she? The issue never came up. But considering that this wasn't a normal girl he was dealing with… would it?
They were sitting in the mall's food court, Yume, in her new dress, looking quizzically at the unusual treat she and Ryo were sharing together.
"Is this really snow?" She poked at the domelike shape with her spoon. "I don't remember snow being red."
"It's ice," he informed her, highly amused. "And it's red because of the syrup they put on it."
"Why would you pay to eat ice?" she asked, taking an experimental spoonful and placing it in her mouth. Her eyes immediately lit up. "Mmm!"
"That's why." Ryo smiled as she scooped up some more. "Pretty good, huh?"
"Mm-hmm," Yume bobbed her head enthusiastically. "It's delicious!"
Ryo chuckled to himself as he watched her eat, wondering maybe if he should ask the girl what she thought of him. Of them, together. He suddenly felt embarrassed just by the thought. He's never been in a relationship before.
"Ryo?"
He gave a start. "Huh?"
Yume tilted her head to the side, concern etched into her delicate features. "Is something wrong?"
"Uh…" He thought to ask her, but then stopped short. "It's nothing."
The demon-girl frowned slightly. She had felt something change in his demeanor, but it was soon gone, hidden behind Ryo's smile.
"So, since you don't go into the city…" he began, changing topics. "What do you do most of the day? I mean—" He made sure to keep his voice low, so that no one would overhear. "—I know you're different but you seem like any normal girl."
She leaned in closer to him, their conversation being cleverly hidden behind the wall of chatter that always crowded the food court. "Well, I normally spend my time at the lake. I love swimming and being in the water."
"A lake huh? Is it nearby. Maybe you can show it to me sometime."
"I don't know, Ryo."
"Why not?"
"Because, it's kinda hard to get there."
"Oh. Is it that far?"
"No, actually it's close to your house." She smiled shyly at his bemused look. "Yeah, I know. It's kinda confusing." Yume frowned, trying to think of a better way to explain it to him. "It exists here, but then it doesn't, you know? Like, if you were to walk out into the forest, chances are, you're not going to find the lake. But if you walk through this special door… really you're walking in the same space, but it's different." She looked at Ryo hopefully. "Do you kinda get what I'm saying?"
"Yeah. Sort of like an alternate dimension thing," he nodded. "Gotcha."
Yume's eyes widened, staring at Ryo for an incredulous moment before her eyes narrowed warily. "You don't think what I'm telling you is weird?"
He shook his head before realizing his error, fervently searching for an excuse. "Well, yeah I guess it is but, I think it's… cool." Ryo kicked himself mentally. Lame!
"I don't know," he tried again. "I guess I'm a bit out there to be saying this, but I have no problem believing in—" He smiled a bit. "—alternate dimensions and cute demon girls." Ryo laughed, catching sight of Yume's expression. "I guess you think I'm the weird one now."
"No," she shook her head. "No, not at all. In fact I think you're…" She paused, looking down at the table before meeting his eyes again. "…sweet."
Ryo rubbed the back of his head, looking around to find some kind of distraction. He knew he was blushing. "Uh, do you want another one?" He pointed to the nearly finished snow cone. "I can get a different flavor."
Yume smiled at him before reaching out for the cup, her hand suspended calmly over the top. She continued to smile, watching as Ryo inched closer to the spectacle before him, truly in awe. The space right beneath her palm began to swirl slowly, crystalline shards forming within the cup, forming ice.
The cup was filled by a solid ball of ice, styled to perfection, almost as clear as glass. Yume retracted her hand, pointing her index and middle fingers at the circular dome. Ryo thought he saw the air shimmer as she closed in, her hand stopping a few inches from actually touching the sphere before it cracked. The ice broke apart rapidly, forming smaller and smaller pieces till it was soft and as light as snow. Instant shaved ice.
"Amazing," Ryo smiled approvingly. "Handy little trick."
He was about to get up from his seat to grab one of the syrup bottles from the stand when he noticed some stares directed their way, followed by whispered murmurs. Panic rose in his chest, thinking that some passersby saw that entire display. But when he turned to Yume, he saw the reason behind their stares.
Ryo immediately rose from his seat, throwing off his jacket and draping it over the girl's head. "Ryo!" she cried in alarm, uncertain of what to make of this sudden move. That was until she saw the stares, all directed at her.
She pulled the fabric of his jacket closer around her, suddenly feeling naked among the throng of people as Ryo grabbed her bag and rushed her out of the mall. She wondered how much of her true self broke through the illusion, but this was no time to stop and look at a mirror.
But she had to admit that there was one bright side to the whole experience. Ryo kept a protective arm around her the entire way.
***
"You alright?"
They had been walking for half an hour now. Far away from the judging eyes and astonished whispers. However, Yume still had the jacket covering her hair, even though Ryo insisted that they were fine.
"Yume?" he stopped, looking at the demon-girl when she didn't answer.
"I'm fine," she nodded and turned to him, cringing as she asked, "Is it still bad?"
Ryo gave her a sympathetic smile, both hands moving to gently pull the jacket back from her head. Yume waited for his response, eyeing him suspiciously when he began to chuckle. "It looks like you have highlights."
She huffed angrily, pulling the jacket back over her head. But Ryo pulled it back again, this time smoothing out her hair. "I'm just kidding. It's not that noticeable anymore."
"And my ears?"
"Back to normal." He paused, correcting himself. "Well, human normal, anyway."
Yume sighed, letting the jacket sag down to her shoulders. "What a disaster."
"Hey now. It's wasn't that bad." Ryo placed his arm around her, giving her shoulder a reassuring squeeze as they continued their walk. "Actually, it was quite the adventure, don't you think?"
She allowed herself a smile.
"So do you know what caused it?"
Yume nodded after a moment. "Using my abilities must have overshadowed my necklace's illusion."
Ryo looked at her questioningly. "Overshadowed the illusion?"
"If you think about, the necklace makes me look human so I can do normal human things." She looked at him wryly. "Creating ice in the palm of my hand isn't one of them."
"So whenever you use your powers…"
"I revert back to my demon form," she finished.
They came up to an open courtyard at the next street corner, specifically designed to beautify the city. A fountain sat at the center of the square with benches and various plant life bordering the tile design.
Yume tilted her head at him as they sat down at one of the empty benches, the question that had been slowly nagging her as the day grew on finally finding voice. "How did you know that I was a demon?"
Ryo's brain stalled for a moment. "What?"
"The first day we met. You knew that I was a demon." She waved a finger at him when he moved to speak. "And don't say you didn't know. Not once did you ask what I was."
"But if I did, that would have been rude," he joked.
Yume gave him a tired look, knowing that he was trying to avoid the subject. "Ryo…"
He smiled ruefully, searching her face, trying to decide if he should tell her or not. She was a demon. And in a certain way, he was a demon slayer. Him seeing her was already a bad idea. But for some odd reason, it didn't matter. All he wanted was to protect her. From the inquiring eyes and disdainful sneers. And from the secret life that he lead.
"I can sense strong auras," he began carefully, knowing that he sucked at lying and faired better with partial truths. "Strong as in different from the majority of auras out there. Some gifted humans can have strong auras. But demons, when compared to humans, always have it. It's easy to pick you out."
"Like right now?"
He looked at her for a long moment, instinctively feeling her energy at her request. After a minute, he shook his head. "You have to thank Maki for giving you that," Ryo said, pointing at the snowflake jewel hanging from her neck. "I can't sense anything from you."
She brought a hand up to her neck at the mention of it, fingering the ornament lightly. "Like I said. Meddlesome."
"Does he know about…"
She nodded once. "Yes. He even helped me control my powers."
"Really?" He seemed astonished by this piece of news.
Yume nodded again. "He's kinda a Jack of all trades."
"Rather unconventional trades," Ryo remarked.
"Well, I tend to attract very unconventional people," she smiled at him. Their gazes met, each content with staring at the other before Yume giggled, scooting closer to him. Ryo lifted his arm at the same time, letting her settle against his chest before draping his arm around her. They sat in comfortably silence, watching the fountain head shoot water into the sky.
He didn't know how long they've been sitting there, but Ryo was aroused out of his peaceful state of mind when the fountainhead mysteriously stopped sprouting water. Dark eyebrows knitted together in wonder when all of a sudden, a shot of water burst out of the top, soaring high, as if it had been held back by some unseen force and begged for release.
The missile of water fell back with an audible plop! A few passersby cried out in surprise when stray water droplets struck their faces. The entire spectacle repeated itself again. Then, as if it had a mind of its own, the fountainhead started pouring water in a rotating fashion, the curved stream falling into the wide basin below where several children watched in awe, squealing at the phenomenon.
Ryo didn't know what to make of it. Was someone messing with the valves?
Yume suddenly shifted against him, seeming to sink lower under the protection of his arm. He looked down at the girl, noticing one of her fingers pointing towards the fountain, moving this way and that in time with the sudden water show in the middle of the courtyard. She gave Ryo a quick look, eyes gleaming with mischief, before she turned back to what she was doing.
Ryo readjusted his arm around her, stealthily moving his jacket up higher to cover her head as he watched water shoot up into the air and Yume's hair change color. Pink suited her better.
***
It was close to nightfall when the two of them had finally returned, the sun setting behind the wall of trees surrounding Ryo's cabin.
"I had a wonderful time," Yume said, the two of them standing on the porch steps.
"So did I," he agreed. "Are you sure you don't want me to walk you? It's getting dark."
She giggled, shaking her head. "I'm fine on my own."
"Are you sure?" he offered again.
"You just want to see the lake," she pointed out. Ryo snapped his fingers in mock disappointment, earning a smile from the girl. "Let's save it for another day."
He smiled back. "Let's."
Yume lingered for a moment, not wanting to leave but knowing that Maki would be upset with her if he found out she had returned so late.
She smiled again, waving a tentative goodbye before strolling idly into the woods, her bag swinging happily in one hand. What a day. She couldn't believe her luck to meet someone like Ryo. She giggled at the very thought of him, like a little schoolgirl with a crush. Oh Ryo…
Her thoughts had wandered so far, engrossed with the happenings of the day, that she did not notice the figure standing in the foliage, staring at her. Not until she inadvertently turned her head and caught sighted of the demon ninja.
She screamed in surprise, her bag falling to the floor as she backed up into a defensive position, her illusionary guise fading as her nails extended to six inch claws. So startled was she that it took her a few minutes to catch her breath.
"Don't do that!" Yume shouted, feeling indignant at the same time unsettled at how the ninja continued to stare at her, hollow and empty. Like a man with no face. It sent chills down her spine.
Her breath quickened, the assassin vanishing as quietly and mysteriously as he appeared. But not before leaving Yume a message. A warning. A threat.
She sank down to her knees, her entire body trembling in fear. Do not interfere, water sprite. The demon had said. Death will be your punishment.
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Ahahahahahahahaha!!!! ::beats away with a stick the one-month-update monster:: Take that!! ::whack:: And that!! ::whack:: And THAT!! ::WHACK:: Muahahahahaha!!!! =)
Actually, I don't know what sprung on this quick update. This chapter was just so fun for me to write. On one side, you have this cute little romance going on with Ryo and Yume. Then on the other, the impish, electrifying bond between Sage and Rika. Oo… ^-^ So much fun!
Split Persona, I am greatly honored by your review, particularly the comment towards the end about my OC. It means a lot to me to be able to create a character that is real and believable and that readers do not particularly hate (because it's an OC female), but for other, more story based reasons. ^^;; And Little Fairy from Nam, I got your review, but for some reason, it's not showing up on ff.net (even though said site sent me the review notification themselves). -_- But I got it, don't worry. ^^;; Your promise of death by fire and pointy things got me going. And I guess you're the cause of this fast update. ^_~ Go you!
Korin! I got your message!! ^_^ Thanks for being my crazy friend from back in the day. And Panthera… ::shakes head:: The things I do for you. I get a review from you the exact moment I decide to post a new chapter and I just couldn't leave you out. Thanks for always putting in good insight (among the throng of threats and curses). And about my use of dialogue, I'm happy that you like it. That and my fight scenes are my pride and joy.
Next chapter is… fight, fight, and more fighting!! The climactic battle of Unforeseen Circumstance. Yes, the second installment is to end soon. Two more chapters and an epilogue. But you should know by now that the divisions serve no purpose but to amuse myself and give me a false sense that I'm actually getting some headway in this story. ^^;; And on regarding Takeru, I noticed that a lot of people are interested in him and want him to make an appearance again to further the story, but it's not going to happen in UC. =( Sorry. I know, he's cute with his silver hair, tragic story, and trench coat but please wait for a Takeru showing in the third installment. More secrets revealed!!