"Ronin Warriors: The Final Victor"
By Onikage
Scroll Thirty-Eight: A Bond By Any Other Name
Mia yawned daintily as she pushed open the kitchen door, fully prepared to make breakfast when she found Anubis just finishing up with the cleaning. "Anubis! It's six in the morning!" she hissed softly. Anubis dumped the hash browns into a bowl that had been lined with paper towels. He greeted her with a smile.
"Yes, isn't this when you start making breakfast?" he asked innocently. Mia nodded slowly in utter surprise that he had all ready made an enormous amount of food before seven. She didn't even know that he had a talent for cooking! "Here, have some juice and go ahead and start eating. Hardrock should be up in a few minutes so I can't guarantee that there will be enough once he gets his fill," he chuckled and poured her a glass. Mia took it before he shooed her into the dining room.
"Th-thank you!" she laughed softly and found a place at the table. She found Lady Kayura and Ryo all ready dining. "Why, good morning, you two! You're up early!"
"Actually, we haven't been to bed yet," Ryo confessed with a blushed.
"What? You'll mess up your sleep cycle, Ryo," Mia scolded.
"I-I know. Me and Kayura got wrapped up in talking out on the porch. When we finally got tired, Anubis all ready had food on the table!" Kayura blushed prettily and yawned sweetly.
"We thought it best to eat because: one, there would be nothing left once Hardrock gets up, and two, it's such a rare occasion that Anubis actually makes a meal," she explained. "He's either on cloud nine or seriously depressed when something like this happens."
"And with Red you can never tell," Ryo smirked. "Want some more hash browns, Kay?"
"Yes, please."
"Anyway… It was probably kinda hard to sleep anyway," Ryo began, "y'know with all the moaning and groaning." Mia almost inhaled her juice.
"E-excuse me?"
"You didn't hear?" Kayura asked in bewilderment. "There were some choice noises going on down at Cale and Sekhmet's end of the house… " Mia flushed with a frown.
"We have to put a stop to that."
"Oh, c'mon Mia. Give Sekh a break… He's been abstinent since Talpa's reign. It'll die down in a few nights. I mean… think about it: how would you feel if you hadn't seen Dais in years?" Mia blushed at the thought. Her face reddened further as a set of lips kissed the side of her temple.
"Good morning, lady love," he greeted and sat beside her.
"… I suppose you have a point," Mia murmured, attempting to will the capillaries in her cheeks to close.
"Goodness, breakfast all ready! I guess that talk we had did a lot of good!" he smiled at Mia.
"Anubis made all this, not me!" she corrected, still amazed. She took a bite of a muffin and her eyes lit up. "They're still warm! Dais, eat this!"
"He's one of three things: guilty about something, VERY depressed, or in love," Dais murmured. "Hey, that is good."
"Why not all three?" Ryo smirked as Anubis re-entered the dining room with yet another plate of food: pancakes. He felt eyes on him.
"What? Is there something wrong? The eggs aren't too done are they?"
"No, no… we're just trying to figure out what's come over you, Anubis," Kayura confessed. Anubis just smiled.
"Nothing! I was… a little stressed… so I thought I would do something different to make good use of the energy. Would you rather me mope and snap at everyone all day?" he asked. "Is everything all right?"
"Did you make enough for Whiteblaze?"
"You know I did and he just wouldn't eat… I don't know what could be wrong, except the fact that he cannot see…" There was a creak of the kitchen door and Yuli crawled into his chair beside Ryo, blinking sleepily.
"Hey, 'mornin', Yul'!" Ryo greeted. Yuli yawned largely and blinked again.
"Mmn." He squinted and looked around the table. "… W'time sit?"
"Six," Ryo answered. Yuli frowned.
"… Not even light out yet." Mia put a plate of food in front of him.
"Have some food, Yuli. Anubis made it today." The kid blinked up at him then blinked at his food.
"Too tired to… mmn…"
"What's up? Didn't ya sleep?" Ryo asked through a bite of food. Yuli shook his head.
"… Someone must've eaten somethin' of Rowen's cause all I heard was a lotta moaning and bumps… Did someone leave the t.v. on or somethin'?" Ryo cleared his throat and smiled nervously.
"P-probably. I'll make sure that they're off this time."
"Mmn." Yuli started to eat.
"Well!" Anubis began. "I'm going to go wake up Tori," he announced, getting up from the table after the timer went off in the kitchen.
"You think that's a wise idea? It's six and after yesterday's… handfulla fun… you're probably in very hot water," Dais smirked.
"… Think it is wise to neglect training when you have a raving hellcat trying to kill you all the time?"
"But aren't you going to eat?"
"All ready have!" he called from the kitchen.
Anubis climbed the stairs, humming softly to himself. He passed Halo in the hallway. He looked a little out of it. "Good morning, Halo."
"Hm? Oh, yeah… Good morning."
"You look like hell," Anubis stated with a smirk. "Didn't you sleep?" Sage brushed past him and started down the stairs.
"Like the dead," he called behind him. Anubis couldn't help but notice the lingering sadness in his eyes. He returned to the matter at hand and that was to get Rekka out of bed.
Opening the door slowly and quietly he found her fast asleep and curled around the stuffed wolf that he had mended. He shut the door behind him and leaned against it with a silent sigh. … Sleeping… The only place where I don't make you miserable… He slipped to the window and opened the curtains, letting in the first rays of sunlight. She stirred with a soft yawn and snuggled further into her pillows. He sat beside her and pulled the hair away from her eyes. "Tori. Come on now. It's time to get up…" he called softly. Tori's bronze eyes fluttered open, gleaming gold from her most recent dream. She yawned and stretched, giving him a soft smile. He colored.
"… Mmn. 'Yo-sama?" she called, still halfway into dreamland. Anubis stiffened a bit.
'Yo-sama? Ohhh. He suddenly grinned cunningly. This was going to be so much fun for him. "No, little one. It's Anubis." As soon as her nickname met her ears, she groaned and covered her head with her pillow.
"Man… There had better be a full-blown sun high in the sky for your sake, Red," she grumbled.
"No. It's about half past six in the morning. Come on now, if you stay in bed, you'll be an easy target for Zeal," he said in a tone that clearly stated that he was very serious. Tori became wide-awake and came out from underneath the pillow. She saw Anubis go to her dresser and pick up her hairbrush.
"Huh?" She sat up and yawned again. Anubis touched her hair and she felt him brush the tangles out of it. Tori just sat there as if it were an everyday thing.
"You want to be able to protect yourself, don't you? I know all her tricks and I'll teach you them so you can be ready for her." Tori turned around and faced him.
"I thought you didn't want me to fight her," she reminded.
"Right. I don't want you to, but after what happened to you in the city, I realized that it couldn't be helped. Now get dressed. I made you breakfast so come and eat before Hardrock and Sekhmet eat it all." Tori climbed out of bed and stretched. She pulled on a pair of jeans from the floor and followed Anubis. "Mmn, hey 'Nubi?" she called inside a yawn as she followed him down the stairs. He flushed. She had never addressed him so affectionately before then. He stopped and waited for her.
"Yes?"
"… Thanks for keepin' the towel on me yesterday in the baths. I didn't mean to hit you. It was kinda a reaction I had. Kento grabbed my butt a few days before during Twister, so I was still on reflex-anti-pervert mode," she said softly and stared at her socks. Anubis scratched the back of his hair and flushed at the memory.
"S'okay. A reaction, I guess. It was either let everyone see… a whole new side of you, or get the hell smacked out of my face."
"… You're not… mad?"
"No. Why would I be?" Tori fell silent and hopped down the rest of the stairs.
"'Nubi?" she called again before turning around. He blushed again.
"Hm?"
"… I'm sorry," she finished and entered the dining room.
"'Mornin', 'Ri-san!" Ryo greeted. "Red still alive?"
"Yeah. I didn't kill him. I'm not that uncivil in the morning…"
Anubis just smiled to himself and entered the kitchen.Tori sat beside Ryo and Sage. "Where's Kento-kun and Sai-kun?" she asked and started on a hash brown. Mia checked her watch and frowned.
"Kento's not usually up before seven… however, Sai… This is out of the ordinary. He's usually the early riser!"
"Maybe he's not feeling good? Y'know like a cold or somethin'?" Ryo suggested.
"They spent the night getting drunk and playing strip poker in the kitchen," Sage spoke up and calmly drank his tea. He didn't grace anyone with a glance. "… And I don't blame them…" He just stared off into space. Mia frowned.
"Just HOW drunk were they?" she demanded.
"… Drunk enough for Megami to start betting on undergarments." Tori and Ryo nearly choked on their food. Dais simply sighed and shook his head.
"… Kids."Sekhmet padded into the kitchen and froze at the sight of Anubis still cooking. "Woah. You are in either a good mood… or feel guilty as hell if you're cooking," Sekhmet murmured and snagged a muffin. Anubis finished flipping the pancakes he was making for Hardrock and shrugged.
"… I just… felt like it, I guess. I didn't poison the food, so relax," he finished with an annoyed frown when he caught Sekhmet examining the muffin out of the corner of his eye. "Speaking of poison, where is thine lady bane this morning?" he smirked. Sekhmet couldn't help but grin.
"Sleeping like an empress should…" Anubis raised an eyebrow.
"Tied to your bed post?" Sekhmet rolled his eyes and nudged him with his elbow.
"Not last night any way… You should try it some time. I drives them wild when they can't touch you!" he whispered with a sly grin. Anubis sighed.
"I take it we will be hearing about more of these… 'nights' for a while, won't we?" Sekhmet shrugged with a wry grin as he ate. "You know, the others aren't too fond of hearing the sweet sounds of love early unto the morning hours." Sekhmet frowned.
"Huh? Managi and I were asleep by… hm… no later than one!" The kitchen door creaked open and Managi yawned sweetly, wrapped in a lush dark green kimono that belonged to Sekhmet.
"Mmn, good… morning," she yawned again. Sekhmet kissed her hair.
"My lady." Anubis went back to cooking.
"Highness."
"Darling, what time did we finally get to bed?"
"Mmn, a little past midnight, why?" Sekhmet nibbled on her neck.
"Mmn, because some of the others do not take to your lovely voice in the midst of passion," he chuckled. Managi's face flared. The dining room door opened and Yuli padded sleepily into the kitchen, nearly stumbling on his way to the sink.
"Good morning, young master," Managi greeted. Yuli blinked up at her.
A pause…
… then placed his dishes in the sink.
"M'goin' back ta bed," he mumbled and slunk out of the kitchen. Managi gave Anubis and Sekhmet a look of worry.
"Wonder what was wrong?" she murmured.
"Yuli couldn't sleep because of all the 'extra noise'," Anubis began. "He said he was up all night."
"All night? Then it couldn't have been us…" she murmured softly.
"Who else was up at that hour?" Sekhmet asked as Ryo entered the room.
"Whatcha guys talking about?"
"Wildfire do you know who was up all night?" Sekhmet asked.
"Y'mean besides me and Kayura? Huh, Sage said that Kento, Sai and Megami and Sakura were partying a little hard. They had gone to bed by the time he went to bed. That was at… three I think."
"And Halo is up at this hour?" Anubis inquired, shocked. It was always eight hours for Halo. Something must have happened… A thought flashed through his mind.
Where was Korin?
Ryo shrugged.
"Yeah. Maybe he's doing some kinda will power training… You know him and his meditative… hobby." He washed off the plates and yawned. "Well, I'm gonna take a few hours to sleep myself… Hey, Red. You should cook more often. Those hash browns rock!" he grinned and left.
"What… is a hash… brown?" Managi inquired as she eyed the pancakes with slight distain. Anubis led her to the dining room door.
"They are on the table next to Halo if you choose to try one, Highness," he smiled. Managi looked up at him with a curious look.
"Why do you address me so? I am not your empress…" Anubis' smile didn't falter.
"My lady… you have earned it. Now sit and eat before Hardrock awakens."
"Why? What happens?" she asked. Tori was munching on her second hash brown.
"Kento-kun eats a lot," she replied.
"Oh…"
"I'll be in the kitchen if anyone needs me," Anubis said. Managi sat beside Tori where Wildfire had been previously. She stared at the things familiar to her… and gaped at the things so unfamiliar. She knew eggs… the juice… and the bacon looked promising. She jumped when the basket of hash browns was thrust into her face.
"Here! Try one!" Tori smiled. "Get them while they're still crispy!" Managi hesitantly took one. She dropped it onto her plate as it was still hot. Mia glanced at Dais with a small smile as they watched her. Dais just shook his head. Managi took a forkful and slowly tasted a small bite. Her eyes lit up. Tori grinned.
"Good huh?" Managi blushed when she noticed the eyes on her. She nodded with a gentle smile.
"Yes… Everything is… wonderful," she murmured as smiled greeted her from around the table. Even Halo, who had seemed quite preoccupied in thought, was giving her a look of approval. Friendship.
Mia's eyes widened when tears came to the deep golden eyes. "Managi? Are you all right? Did you burn yourself?" She shook her head with a smile.
"N-no, my lady… I am… I am all right…"Sekhmet looked at Anubis as he re-entered the kitchen. "Well, if it wasn't us making the noise… Perhaps Torrent and Hardrock…?" He didn't finish his thought. Anubis shook his head.
"Torrent wouldn't…" Anubis began, then stopped, second-guessing himself. Sekhmet raised an eyebrow.
"Well…"
Sai stretched sleepily and groaned at the little angry gnome inside his head pounding away at his skull with a giant hammer. Upon opening his eyes he found the familiar fish plushie on top of the shelves that created his headboard. The little marine creature had been a gift from Mia after the incident with Sekhmet and his fish. Sai glanced at his clock and groaned: nine forty-seven. Great… I'm hungova… He carefully rolled over and into a warm body. His entire spine went rigid. Very carefully he pulled back the bedspread and stared at the long dark hair spilling over lightly tanned skin. Sai bolted upright and covered his mouth, swallowing hard. His eyes trailed downward to the edge of the covers around his waist. PLEASE let there be boxers… PLEASE. Pink ones, plaid ones. Polka dotted ones with 'I brake for kitties' on 'em… ANYTHING. Just NOT skin!
He paled when it was just him and the sheets. He covered his face and groaned. "Bullocks…"
"Mmn, Sai?" Kento mumbled and lifted his head from his bed on the other side of the room. "Wha's wrong?" Sai motioned for him to be quiet and pulled back more of the covers for him to see Sakura sleeping silently beside Torrent. Kento blinked for a few seconds and then tensed. He sat up slowly and found Megami asleep next to him… just as naked as he was. His face was as pale as Sai's. Sai ducked into the bathroom and Kento followed him quickly. They shut the door softly and… well basically freaked.
"Did… Did we…?" Kento began.
"Um… maybe?" Sai swallowed.
"Did they?" Sai raked his hands through his hair.
"Looks like it…"
"SHIT!" Kento hissed. He froze and ripped open the medicine cabinet. He fumbled for a familiar box, knocking over bottles of aspirin and cans of shaving gel. Sai hushed him to be silent. Kento looked inside the box. He tossed it to the ground with a sigh of relief. Last nights events came back to him slowly. He knew he wasn't that drunk last night. Just the initial shock had his head going at the speed of light.
"Phew!"
"What do you mean 'phew'!" Sai hissed. "Do you realized what just happened!"
"Yeah… a lotta nothin'…"
"How do you know! We don't even remember!" he hissed.
"You were piss drunk, man… Of course you don't remember." Sai grabbed a pair of boxers from the hamper and chucked a pair at Kento.
"GOD! I can't believe this happened… Mia's going to bloody have a fit!" he hissed.
"Not if you keep yer trap shut!" Kento hissed and pulled on the boxers. He opened the door then shut it again.
"Now what?"
"… What do we tell them?" Kento asked.
"… The truth I guess…" Sai swallowed hard. Before it had been something mutual. Just a quick tuck and roll in the sack and you forgot about it the next day. This was different.
Both Ronins peeked out of the bathroom they shared as the girls started to wake up.
They actually cared about these girls.Sakura held the bed sheet to her body and held her forehead as she sat up. … Not doing that again… She looked over at Megami. She just stared down underneath the covers in shock and bolted up in bed. She caught Sakura's eyes. Megami's suddenly watered. "S-sakura?" she whimpered. Suiko wrapped the sheet around her body and hurried over to Kongo's side.
"What's wrong?" she whispered.
"… I think I did something really s-stupid!" she sobbed and buried her face into her best friend's shoulder. Sakura held the tanned body close and stroked the short ash colored locks. This wasn't unfamiliar territory for her. She had done it a few times with a boyfriend, but Megami was very adamant about her own, almost as passionate as Tori. Herself on the other hand, it wouldn't matter as much. Suiko had told her that as long she was her summoner, her body was protected from an assortment of things.
Getting pregnant or deathly ill being two of them.
"Shh. It's okay. You like Kento, don't you?" she asked softly.
"That's not the point!" Megami snapped in a sob. "It's… just that I… can't remember if I… liked it," she finished in a whisper. She lifted her head, her dark eyes still misting. "… They're not even here with us when we woke up," she added.
The bathroom door creaked open and they jerked. Megami quickly dried her eyes when she saw Kento looking at her with apologetic eyes. She turned away. He sat beside her silently. Sai and Sakura greeted each other with an understanding silence. She then stood slowly and grabbed Sai's hand pulling him to the bathroom again. "Let's wash off the hang over…" she murmured.
Kento waited until heard the shower going before he even tried to say something. "G-guess you an' me had a little too much to drink last night and… did some… stuff…" she mumbled. "Don't worry… Kongo-sempai said that I can't get pregnant or get a cold while he's around… So whatever happened, you're in the clear…" She rubbed her shoulders nervously. Kento grabbed his robe that hung on the back of his chair and draped it over her shoulders before holding her close from behind. Megami started to cry.
"Hey… sh, sh, sh, shh… S'okay. We… didn't do anything," he whispered. Megami stiffened and dried her eyes, turning to him.
"W-what?" she croaked still in the midst of tears. Kento dried her cheeks.
"You're still a virgin, hon…" Megami covered her face.
"But, but I'm… and you're…" she whimpered both happy and still confused and upset. "No more alcohol!" she managed to say. Kento chuckled softly.
"Okay." He lifted her face and gave her a warm kiss. Her eyes went wide. Until then, he had only kissed her once, that she could remember, and that was on a dare from one of the boys when they were in the city. Since then it had been so awkward between them. Accidental touches or remarks that left something more to be thought of were among the mixed signals that she had seen from Kento. Plus the fact that he never seemed to be serious about anything wasn't a comforting thought.
Megami felt her face get hot as she felt strong arms pull her closer. For a moment she was stunned. He felt her body relax and respond timidly. Much more different that last night's had been… This was a thousand times better and he preferred it that way. He smiled softly as he pulled back slightly. Her dark green eyes staring up at him under half lids. "… Wanna start over?" he suggested.
"… 'Kay," she smiled and practically pounced on him in a tight hug.Sakura let the showerhead wash the soap off of her face and ease the slight headache she had. She felt Sai's eyes on her and turned to find him staring at her. Sea-blue eyes that used to sparkle were now dull with regret and guilt. "I… I'm sorry," he said softly. "I didn't want your first time… to be like this," he confessed softly, looking away. Sakura's eyes widened.
He didn't know…
"… It was a stupid thing we did and I don't want you t'think that I purposely took advantage of an unstable situation just t'get you in th' sack… I… care about you lots, love," he added. "I know I can't undo what've done… I just want you t'know that… I… god…"
"Sai-sama?" she began. "… There's something you should know. I'm… not a virgin… I wasn't last night…" Sai felt the color drain from his face.
"… Y… you're not?" Sakura shook her head.
"… M'not… You never asked… and I never thought to tell you… I'm sorry…" Sai slumped against the shower wall and looked relieved.
"Don't be!" he smiled. He felt so MUCH better. Sakura gave him a slight smile and turned back to finish her shower when she felt his arms encircle her and his lips at her ear.
"… Still doesn't change how I feel about you, love…" Sakura turned in his arms and smiled softly.
"… That's good to hear."Cale blinked sleepily in the bright sun lit room as he finally awoke. He stretched and remembered…
Korin's summoner lay curled against him in a dream filled slumber without a trace of torment on her angelic face. He smiled to himself and gave her a kiss on her forehead to wake her. She stirred and stretched.
"Seiji-sama?" she murmured. After a few moments for her eyes to adjust, she was greeted with a smile from Cale. Her face colored as she recalled what happened.
"You look puzzled, my lady…" Domo nodded.
"… That… How… How did you… It was like you were him and…"
"Aye… How do you feel?" Domo sat up slowly.
"… Better," she admitted, though still quite shocked. Cale sat up beside her and stroked her hair. "… and different…"
"Good…" He was pleased to see the sunshine outside as well as in her eyes and expression. Domo held the sheets against her and looked thoughtful.
"Cale… What happened last night… those things I said…"
"Don't worry about it…" he smiled. "Think of it like this: a mutual event with mutual results." Domo raised an eyebrow.
"The same can be said about a prostitute and her client, Cale."
"Aye… that is true… but what is different is that I care about you… just as everyone else does. I wouldn't put a spell on a complete stranger… or even someone I knew. I just felt that there was a common connection with us… that I've felt with rarely any other." Domo's eyes widened.
"Are you saying you love me?" she gasped. Cale chuckled.
"Of course!" He touched her hair. "In so many words though… I love you just as Hardrock and Strata do and Torrent and Wildfire… Halo however… that is a feeling… that I have reserved for another…" he finished softly, lowering his eyes. Domo reached up and brushed the blue bangs away from his eyes.
"I thought you were still in love with her," she confirmed. "… I'm sorry I couldn't do anything to help you, Cale-kun." He just smiled at her.
"On the contrary… you've helped me realize something that I had forgotten…"
"What's that?"
"… Purpose."Tori walked a step behind Anubis down the familiar path toward the small meadow near the south end of the valley. Talpa's castle could be seen at the far north end, lining the mountainside darkly despite the bright sunshine that early morning. Three paths emerged from Mia's house: one towards the lake behind the house, facing Talpa's castle, one leading east to the gravel road outside the valley, and the one they were taking toward the south that circled around the lake and lead to a meadow just past the lake's bank. It would have been easier to cut across the lake, but Anubis wanted to walk.
He always wanted to "walk". They remained in silence as they had left the house. It had been a buzz trying to figure out what exactly happened that night. As far as anyone knew: Cale was still hiding in his room, Domo was still asleep in her room, and the drunkenness of Torrent and Hardrock lead everyone to assume the obvious. Everyone had automatically dismissed Rowen and Nasake of any… "foul play". Both usually slept past noon anyway. Rowen's low blood pressure and Nasake's insomnia saw to that.
Tori tried to ignore the silence between herself and Anubis by thinking about what had been going on since she and the others had been gone. Everything hadn't quite registered. The new addition to their rather large "family" was a definite change. She wasn't sure if it meant something good or if it was an omen for a more traumatic day. She knew Talpa and Sekhmet had fought and even Anubis was thrown in to the fray, but the fact remained that Talpa was still "alive" in some sense and that he would most definitely return to take revenge on Sekhmet, Anubis, and Managi.
The question was: when?
"Something troubling you, little one?" Anubis asked, finally breaking the silence. Tori snapped out of her thoughts and noticed him now walking beside her.
"… It's nothing. I was… just thinking about what Sekkie told me about his fight with Talpa. I… I'm worried that he'll comeback and do something horrible."
"He will. I wouldn't worry though." Tori's eyes bugged.
"… Are you sure that you're well now?" she mumbled with an annoyed frown. Sage said that he did have a rather large bump on his head. Tori wondered if his… odd and "happy" behavior was the result of that. Anubis, to her surprise, just laughed softly. What? No witty comeback? What the crap happened!
"I feel fine, little one," he mused. "You needn't worry about Talpa. True, he may have finally attained his former form, but if Sekhmet can handle him, then all of us shouldn't have much trouble." It's Zeal that I am worried about… Tori frowned in confusion.
"Okay… We were fighting against Talpa… but now you say that we've got nothing to worry about? He's the EMPEROR of the Dynasty! And he's freed Kurai, AND has got Raiko, AND you're nut-job of a girl friend-" Anubis gave her a sharp look.
"EX! EX-girlfriend!" she corrected with a nervous smile, though still doubtful of his feelings.
"… From what Managi has told us, Talpa no longer has any authority over anyone. Kurai I suppose sees him as no real threat to his plan, whatever those may be. The only reason he probably hasn't done away with him is because Talpa poses a nuisance to US. Talpa IS powerful, but we don't need any more distractions in addition to his. It's bad enough that Raiko and Zeal are running around free to terrorize. The reason why we are out here now is to strengthen our weaknesses to those distractions. YOU and I are targets for Zeal, just as Korin and Halo are for Raiko, and Sekhmet and Managi to Talpa… I am still very weary about your ability to defend yourself…" Tori nodded in understanding. She didn't try to argue. Anubis was right about her and her being such a trouble target. She had the scars and bruises to prove it. She sighed as she set aside the bag he instructed her to bring by a tree just as the meadow stretched out before them. She continued to follow Anubis.
"So why aren't Seiji-kun and Domo training then?" Anubis sighed and summoned his dark blue sub-armor.
"Because they have their own weaknesses to overcome first before they can fend off Raiko. I'm not even sure that they are aware of the danger surrounding them… Whatever happened in the city… Well, it's best not to pester to an all ready tense situation. Do you understand?"
"Is that supposed to mean you don't wanna talk anymore?" He smirked.
"Precisely." He waited for her to summon her battle armament. "Well?"
"Well what?"
"What are you waiting for? Put on your armor so we can start! Please don't tell me I am going to have to hold your hand throughout this whole thing!" he groaned. Tori blushed and frowned.
"I'm waiting for you to turn around, you dirty old man!" she snapped. Anubis stepped back in shock.
"'D-dirty old'… What the hell are you talking about? Just do it!"
"Hey! There's a split second where there's nakedness involved! I'm a young, pretty, impressionable, virginal girl and I'd like to keep it that way from prying eyes!" Anubis turned with another annoyed groan.
"You won't have to worry about that," he muttered.
"I heard that!" she snapped.
"Are you decent yet!" There was a pause, a brief blast of gentle red light and heat, and then nothing.
"Okay! I'm ready!" she smiled. He turned and saw the jet-black armor matching his own. She was taking off the cloak that she wore and set it aside. "So… what exactly are you gonna teach me, Yoda?"
"WHO?" Anubis blinked.
"… Never mind. What's first on the agenda?" Anubis sat down in the grass and closed his eyes. He didn't say anything more. "… Anubis?" She waved her hands in front of his face. "Reeed?" she called and kneeled in front of him.
Nothing. Tori sighed heavily and poked him in the forehead sharply. "OW!"
"Geez, finally! I thought you went to sleep!"
"Will you just… SIT and concentrate!"
"ON WHAT, Yoda?"
"… Everything around you… and don't call me… Y-yoda."
"… You want me to meditate?"
"I thought that was quite obvious, little one."
"Just what's that gonna teach me?"
"How about patience?" he snapped, grabbing her hands and holding them firmly before shutting his eyes again. Tori frowned and sat on the ground in front of him, noticing that he wasn't going to let go of her hands.
"Are you gonna let go? I'm not going any where." Anubis' eyebrows rose slightly.
"I know that, but simple mediation isn't the purpose of this exercise… Just close your eyes and let your mind wander. I'll tell you what to do next all right?" Tori shut her eyes.
"Fine…" There was a long pause. "… Red?"
"Hnn, whaaat?" he groaned.
"… Thanks…" Anubis opened one eye and saw her cheeks heating.
"Save your thanks when we are finished…"
"… 'Kay."Rowen yawned tiredly and rubbed the sleep out of his eyes as he entered the kitchen. "HUAAAAAAA!… 'Mornin'…"
"It's noon, Strata," Sekhmet corrected. Rowen blinked at the clock. Whatever. It looked like morning time to him. "Late night?"
"… Nah… M'just so tired lately…" Mia placed a cup of coffee in front of him and touched his forehead.
"Are you taking your blood pressure medicine like you are supposed to?" Rowen drank generously and yawned again.
"Ran out… M'fine…"
"When?"
"Psh… A… while ago… I felt okay, but these last coupla days… HWA… I've been feelin' kinda weak…"
"Well, after that display of heroics Hardrock told me about in the city, I bet you're exhausted. You're body lost quite a bit of blood according to Torrent," Sekhmet reminded. Rowen nodded sleepily.
"That'll do it… Mnn… Where's Sage?"
"Outside meditating again. He's been out there for most of the morning. Why don't you go get him? Lunch is about ready."
"M'surprised Kento's not in here houndin' ya," Rowen pointed out.
"Kento AND Sai are still in bed!" Mia snipped.
"Wha?"
"When everyone finally gets up I want to talk with all of you about something," she grumbled. Rowen yawned.
"Yes'm… Sekh?"
"Yes?"
"Could ya keep it down at night when you and Lady M. are getting down in dirty? 'Sake woke up three times last night…" Sekhmet frowned.
"Don't tell me. Tell Hardrock and Torrent… They are you culprits." Rowen's sleepy eyes went wide.
"Hm… Wow. Didn't think they were like that…"
"Not together! With Kongo and Suiko… Honestly, Strata. You're supposed to be the 'bright' one." Rowen stretched and yawned.
"Oh… 'bout time… damn…"
"Rowen!" Mia snapped.
"Here's something for ya Sekh: The sum of the squares of the legs of the right triangle is equal ta the square of the hypotenuse…"
Sekhmet's jaw dropped. He then frowned.
"… You are NOT normal…" Rowen smirked.
"This coming from the man wearing purple eye shadow and has claws for hands…"
"It's… WAR PAINT," he snapped.
"Yeah, I bet."
Rowen slipped out the porch door and saw Whiteblaze sunbathing in a sunny corner of the veranda. His ears perked up and now ice colored eyes scanned, still unseeing. He growled. Rowen kneeled down and offered his hand to the dark nose before the giant cat became docile. Rowen scratched his chin. "Hey 'Blaze… Feeling any better?" A low whine met his ears. Rowen's face fell.
"Hang in there… We'll think of somethin'… Did Sage go by here?" Whiteblaze lifted himself up and padded his way to the screen door leading to the garden gate. Rowen was so surprised that he knew his way around so quickly. He rubbed the side of his back when he spotted the rays of sunlight catching on Halo's hair. "Thanks, boy. 'Sake said she had something for you. Think you can make it up to my room?" he asked as he kneeled down. Whiteblaze licked his cheek and padded back down the long stretch of porch.
Rowen opened the screen door and met Sage as he sat in front of the small patch of wildflowers that he and the other boys helped him plant a few summers ago. He smiled. It was good to see some semblance of normality in these dark times. His smile faded upon seeing the troubled expression on his best friend's brow. He was frowning, which was something very rare… unless there was something really bothering him. Rowen hesitated briefly. He wouldn't get anywhere if Sage knew that he felt something was wrong. It was hard enough to get Ryo to open up sometimes. Better play it cool… "… 'Mornin', Sage…" Rowen greeted cheerfully and plopped down on the grass next to him.
"No. Nothing is bothering me. I don't want to talk about it," Sage murmured flatly. Rowen stiffened.
"Damn… That obvious?"
"You hesitated…" Rowen sighed.
"Something is bothering you. You just said that you didn't want ta talk about 'it'."
"Right. So either way… you're wasting your time…"
"I'm not wasting my time if this is what I wanna do with it!" Rowen snapped. "Spill it, man. This Domo thing is eatin' you alive." Sage's eyes snapped open and frowned. His lips tightened, but he said nothing. Rowen saw the muscles in his friend's arms tense. "… You know, Seiji," Rowen began, using Sage's more formal name. "… You… We never talk anymore… Ya used ta wanna hang out with me and the guys even though it was just dumb stuff like watch the game or… geez play Nintendo!" Rowen lay down in the soft grass and looked up at the leaves. Shafts of light spilled down on the spring like garden. "… I don't like it," he continued. "I don't like the fact that you don't trust me with anything anymore… Christ… All I have to talk to now is Nasake! But she's not a guy… She's not you…"
Sage squeezed his eyes shut to keep the tears at bay. He knew he had been such a jerk the past couple of weeks. He was so frustrated! It was hard to keep up with everyone and sort out his feelings at the same time…
Besides… everyone seemed to be having better things to do with the girls. He was angry. Angry at what was happening to him, angry that he couldn't control himself like he used to. Talpa he could deal with… the strict traditions of his family were tolerable… hell… puberty felt a heck of a lot easier than now. Before he had been so wrapped up with his childhood… Talpa… school… his family… that he had never taken the time for himself. Even meditation, a purpose he was taught to better himself, was something asked of him… not something that he willingly did. The only reason he did it was out of simple routine… Love was something he did understand. He loved his family. He loved his friends. He loved his best friend like a brother, but love… real love? Just thinking about it made his heart scream. It ached when he attempted to rationalize. It ached when he tried to ignore it. So… perhaps… stopping all emotion would stem the hunger…
All it did was seep out through the long lashes of his lavender-blue eyes and onto the stonewash color of his jeans. He felt a hand in his hair guide him forward until his forehead rested against a shoulder. He sighed heavily and sniffled. "God…" Sage whispered. "M'sorry, Ro…" He lifted his head and wiped away lingering tears. He did have some dignity left in him, dammit. Rowen smirked.
"S'okay… I's just worried is all… I mean I know you don't act out like Kento when you're upset… but still… ya can't bottle shit up like Cale or Anubis. Ya gotta let it out… We'll spar later so you can take out some of this stress, 'kay?" Sage nodded and flopped back onto the grass.
"… I feel like shit," he mumbled.
"Did you even sleep last night?"
"… No."
"Why the fuck not?" he laughed. Sage dug his the heels of his hands into his eyes with an agitated groan.
"Hn, because I know what was keeping everyone up at night besides Sekhmet and Managi's boink-fest." Rowen shrugged.
"Kento and Sai's love fest with the girls bothered you that much last night? You weren't even in our room!" he exclaimed. "I thought that ya might be jealous that they've got a fan club now, but it's not something to loose sleep over, man!" Sage closed his eyes.
"… Have Domo or Cale come down yet?"
"Nah. Kento and Sai are still upstairs sleepin' it off… Why?"
"They're the reason why I didn't sleep. I was on my way to bed when I heard them… going at it." Rowen scrambled away from Sage as if he had a contagious disease.
"WHAAAAA!" he sputtered. "D. and Cale! Holy fuckin' shit, man!" Sage laughed bitterly.
"… Funny. I was a lot calmer than you…"
"Did they see you?" Sage sighed.
"… Cale did… but the look he gave me… it seemed… guilty… I deduced what happened occurred because they were drunk. The empty bottle on the floor said it all." Rowen collapsed back to the grass beside him.
"… Wow. Cale, Domo, Kento, Sai, Megami, Sakura, Sekh, and Managi… that's… GOD. More than half the house had sex last night! Geez…"
"… Must be something in the water…" Rowen sat up abruptly.
"Ya think it's Dynasty related?" Sage burst into soft laughter. Rowen always considered every possibility… even if it was silly.
"… I doubt it," Sage chuckled. Rowen hugged his knees.
"So what are ya gonna do about Cale?"
"Nothing."
"NOTHING! He boinked the girl you happen to be gaga over!"
"… Wasn't his fault… I have a feeling that… Domo initiated the situation in the first place… She likes to drink… a little too much unfortunately. My problem is with her, not Cale…"
"Man… If Cale did that to 'Sake… Hnn…" Rowen growled. "It's bad enough what she went through…"
"Huh?" Rowen hung his head.
"… 'Sake had some financial problems after her grandmother had surgery about a year ago… The landlord threatened ta put them out on the street… so… she decided that… she could use herself as payment… It was either that or have her only living relative die…"
"So…"
"Yeah… She was raped… Repeatedly… Mostly by him… sometimes with other guys he had over," Rowen said hoarsely. His eyes misted when Sage touched his shoulder. "The girls don't know… Sai and Kento only know that she had been raped once… but not the whole story… God… She still flinches when I get close. I feel so helpless…" Rowen banished angry tears.
There was a long wind and chime filled pause. The scent of the wildflowers lingered in the cool spring air. Sage sighed as the dark purple and red around the heavy silhouette of Talpa's castle stood out on the blue sky over the mountains.
"… Think we can keep them safe now?" he asked. Rowen looked out at the ominous horizon and frowned.
"… Does Talpa have a major superiority complex?"
"… Out the ass," Sage laughed.
They turned their heads when they heard the creak of the screen door being opened. Mia poked her head out. "Hey guys… Lunch is ready. Hungry?" she smiled. Rowen's stomach growled rather loudly.
"… Did you swallow a bear?" Sage asked.
"… Yeah. A whole package of gummi bears last night," Rowen said, making a face. "Sugar high's a bitch…"
"Well, no WONDER you're tired!" Mia exclaimed."Catch." Anubis tossed Tori and apple from the refrigerator as he was bent down looking for the food he had prepared earlier. She caught it in both hands with a gasp. "I thought you said that we weren't coming back until later on in the afternoon?" she said, leaning on the door. Anubis pulled out the small lunch pack.
"I did," he answered. "Forgot our food. Well, we might as well eat it here… Destroys the purpose of putting it in this container though," he sighed. "It took me forever to get everything to fit!" Tori peeked inside. Her eyes widened.
Man… I think he cooks better than Sai! she marveled. "Hey, no worries. It's nice out. Let's eat outside in the garden," she suggested. Anubis' eyebrows lifted.
"… An excellent idea," he murmured.
"Aww… You guys goin' ona daaaaaaaate?" Rowen chided from the kitchen table. Tori blushed and glared at him.
"You wish."
"Actually, I do!" he grinned. "Come on! Just admit it you two and get it over with! Just boink all ready!" Tori made a face.
"Don't be gross, Rowen. He's just teaching me!" she defended. Sage and Rowen glanced at each other with sly grins.
"Teacher's pet," they chorused. Tori growled and squinted her eyes at the cloth napkin in Rowen's lap.
It caught fire.
"WAH!" Rowen skidded back and tried batting it out. Sage doused the flames with the glass of ice water. Rowen squeaked with the frozen contact. Having singed and cold balls was NOT a good thing. Anubis placed an armored hand on her shoulder.
"Nicely done. You're learning." Tori beamed and stuck her tongue out at Rowen.
"All right, all right! M'sorry, geez!" he snapped.
"You look like you've wet yourself, Rowen," Sage pointed out.
"… My, aren't YOU the bright crayon in the big box?" Rowen grumbled and blotted the water with a dry dishtowel.
"They don't call me Halo for nothing!" he smirked.
"HUAAAAAAA!"
Kento's yawn could be heard halfway down the hall before he entered the kitchen for the first time that day. Sai was right behind him.
"Well, well… Busy night?" Anubis asked. Kento gave him a cool smirk.
"Busier than you've been ina 'bout three years…"
"Ouch," Sai smirked. "That burned." Anubis rolled his eyes.
"Oh, yes… I felt that burn all the way down," he mocked.
"How FAR down? Tori, you have to be more careful when you play with Anubis," Sage spoke up. Anubis shot him a heated glare. Tori not only matched the angered gaze, but Sage felt a little warm from it. He held up his hands defensively.
"All right… I surrender. Not another word."
"Good." Mia came back into the kitchen from bringing Yuli and Dais lunch. He had been teaching the boy to finally use the sword he had received as a Christmas present from Sage.
"What's burning?" she inquired, sniffing the air.
"Rowen flambé," he muttered.
"How did you burn yourself?"
"… Ask TORI." Tori calmly ate her apple as she waited for Anubis to finish gathering the rest of their food. She shrugged.
"Don't look at me! You're the one that's so accident prone in the kitchen…"
"She got ya there, buddy…" Kento said and opened a bottle of syrup. He shoved half a pancake in his mouth and poured some of it into his mouth.
"KENTO! Don't do that! Get a plate for heaven's sake!" Mia scolded. Kento swiped his mouth.
"Cahn'tf… I mifsed breafkfastf!" He swallowed, "Gotta make up for it! Hey those pancakes were good! Who cooked anyway?"
"Anubis," everyone stated. Kento nodded in silent approval.
"… Cool beans." A pause. "What's fer lunch?" he asked, returning to the refrigerator.
"I want to have a talk with everyone later," Mia announced. "Before dinner, understand?" She spoke in a tone of voice that left no room for argument.
"Yes, ma'am," everyone droned as she left the kitchen.
"S'up, everyone?" Domo greeted as she and Cale entered the kitchen. The room fell silent on Sage and Rowen's side. Mia paled when she saw Cale. It was the first time she had seen him in days. Tori knocked on Anubis' head.
"Come on, hurry up!"
"Ow! Quit!" Tori sighed and turned to Domo with a smile.
"You look like you had a good night's rest for once!" Domo's face colored slightly.
"… Must be the weather. It's nice out, huh?" Tori nodded then went back to bothering Anubis. She poked him.
"Are you done yet?"
"No."
"… How 'bout now?"
"NO!"
"… Now?"
"HNN."
Mia quickly began to busy herself by putting away dishes. She soon felt Cale's presence behind her. She swallowed hard when he touched her shoulder. "… May I talk with you later, my lady? It's… important," he requested softly. Mia nodded, not meeting his eyes.
"… S-sure, Cale… There's lunch on the stove. Help yourself," she whispered. She gasped when he kissed the back of her head.
"I hope you made plenty. I'm starving!" he smiled, going over and getting some food. Mia smiled softly. Her heart just felt a little lighter.
"How is it, Halo?" Cale asked. "Isn't this one of your family recipes?" He had hoped Sage would have understood the look he had given him last night. Yet he prepared for the worst from the bearer of the Halo power.
Sage didn't reply. He got up from the table with his dishes and started washing them. Sai looked up. Sage was never that rude. "Didn't you hear him, Sage?" Sage gripped the side of the sink, trying not to get too angry.
Rowen saw Sage's body tense up. He had said that it didn't really bother him because he knew what had happened, but he knew that Sage still felt a little jealous of Cale. Who wouldn't? "No. Sorry. I didn't," Sage lied in a very acid-like tone. Kento raised an eyebrow.
"Geez, Sage. What kinda bug to ya have up your ass? It's not like he screwed D. behind your back!" he commented innocently. Cale choked on his food and Domo's face flared bright red.
Sage was silent.
Rowen was silent.
Domo and Cale remained in a shameful silence. Domo bit her lip. Kento blinked.
"What? Geez, it was a joke… It… Oh… Ohhhhhhh," he murmured. He winced, waiting for the sparks to fly.
This was going to get UGLY.
"What?" Tori sputtered, looking straight at Domo. She had guilt written all over. Tori frowned and grabbed Domo by the arm. "God, tell me you didn't!" she exclaimed. "Are you crazy?" she whispered inside a hiss.
"… It… just happened-"
"No, it doesn't JUST happen!" Tori snapped. "What the hell were you thinking? Were you again drunk too!" Domo yanked her arm out of Tori's armored grip.
"Lay off…" she snipped. "You sound like my mom…"
"Well at least I CARE about you more than your mother! God, I thought you were serious about Sage-"
"Shut up!" she interrupted. "You don't know what I'm going through!"
"That still doesn't give you any right or excuse to fuck the next guy who feels sorry for you! I warned you about Ryu when you did this before too and look where it got you!"
"This has nothing to do with him!"
"Bullshit!" Tori shouted and slammed her fist down on the counter making even Hardrock and Anubis jump. "This is how you deal with your problems when shit hits the fan! You could have come to me to talk! I'm always here to listen! God! SAGE cares about you more than I do and you ignore him! Instead of talking, you get piss drunk and fuck! It's bad enough that you act this way when you were with Ryu! You didn't have to get Cale involved too!" she exclaimed. "Stop acting like a whore!"
Domo's hand shot out and slapped Tori's cheek hard.
"Fuck you! You don't understand what I'm going through!" she shrieked. "So how the hell could you tell me what's best for me! You were never gang-raped at fourteen! You were never raped by a demon in front of someone you care about! GOD! You don't know what I've been through! You don't know what it's like!" she cried, angry tears flooding her eyes. She didn't care. This HAD to be said.
"I am SO disgusted with you and your 'holier than thou' attitude! You spout and preach nonsense about your 'precious' virginity like it's actually something sacred! Being a virgin is just a state of being… It's not worth saving. It's not all ribbons and flowers, and feel good fuck-me feelings. It's rough, hard, and savage. Men don't care if you want it to be right or not! You're just a piece of ass. The first time sucks just as much when you do it again. Being raped and making love aren't different. It's all the same. It's garbage! And that's what you feel like when it's over: garbage…" Domo didn't bother to wipe away the tears flowing down her cheeks. Nothing mattered.
"… Cale and I have our reasons… We were hurting. We were drunk… Trying to forget everything that had gone wrong… the raping, the cheating… the constant numbing sameness of it all! How dare you judge me! You don't even know the first thing about it," she snarled and flew out of the kitchen.
Sage snarled deep in his throat. "All right. I've had it with this…" He dashed out of the kitchen after her.
The others present stood in a shocked and saddened silence. Tori held her stinging cheek, tears racing down her flushed face of shame. Anubis went to examine her cheek. She slapped his hand away and turned to the sink. The hands returned to her shoulders as she leaned over the sink and wept softly. "Come. Let's go outside and calm you down…" Tori pulled out of his touch and walked a shameful path to the garden with Anubis trailing behind her silently.
She just ran. She wasn't sure in which direction. It didn't matter. She didn't care. She just had to get out and away. Branches whipped at her face, leaving scratches and her feet started to sting from sharp thorns and sticks lining the forest floor. How could she! So stupid! Everyone's so STUPID! she chastised herself. Dammit! God dammit!
"Running isn't going to stop the hurt, Domo," Korin telepathed to her.
"I don't care! I don't see you offering any comfort!" she sobbed and continued to run. "Where were you when I got drunk with Cale!"
"My lady… I am not your nursemaid. I only guide you…"
"Fuck you!" she shrieked and severed the link. She felt a sharp pain rip against the side of her leg, making her trip and fall to the grass. She didn't get up. She just wanted to die.
"Domo!" Sage's voice called. She lifted her head with a gasp and pulled herself to her feet, running again. Go away, go away, go away!Sage caught a glimpse of her white tank top disappear over a large log. He frowned. This isn't helping… he thought. I'm not getting anywhere. He concentrated briefly as he ran, summoning the ivory and emerald sub-armor. His speed increased considerably as he finally caught up to her. She was still running, but slowly giving up on it all together. He latched onto her arm and spun her around.
"Domo!"
"Leave me alone, Sage!" she snarled and swung out her hand blindly. He caught it in a painful grip and shoved her against the trunk of a large tree rather roughly. He wasn't going to be gentle any longer. She had a beast inside of her and it wasn't going to be taken lightly.
"Stop running!" he ordered. Domo struggled in his hands, not caring if he bruised her arms.
"Leave me alone… Just go!" Sage's one eye flashed and he snarled.
"NO! God dammit, you are NOT going to run away from me this time. Whatever your problem is, it's going to stop NOW!" he barked.
"I can do as a please!" she snapped angrily.
"Only a selfish person would!" he stabbed, catching her off guard by insulting her.
"… Fuck you, Halo!" Sage shoved her against the trunk again.
"You'd like that wouldn't you?" he growled lowly. "Because that's all you're good for! That's all that you know how to do… Isn't that what you want me to say, so you can wallow more in self pity?" he continued. "Well, I'm not like that, Domo! I won't believe it! I refuse to!" He pushed himself away from her and stared at her with angry eyes.
"… You've really disappointed me, Domo… I thought you had more sense and morality than this. You're acting foolishly as selfishly. Tori was right when she said that you were acting like a whore…"
"I heard what she said! I don't fucking need you to remind me! The fuck do you care anyway? You just wanna piece of ass too!"
"Don't flatter yourself!" he shouted. "Quit being such a drama queen!" Domo made a stifled cry before her hand flew out and struck Sage's cheek, drawing blood. Sage grimaced and backhanded her hard enough to knock her on her back. He pinned her arms up over her head. "Get over it!" he ordered. Domo's eyes burned.
"… You… I hate you!" she gasped. "You don't know what it's like, Seiji…" she cried. "You're childhood wasn't taken, your innocence wasn't ripped into…"
"No, but I know others like you and they're not poisoning themselves!"
"You fucking lie."
"Your friend Nasake is one of them!" Domo's eyes grew large. "… That's right. That shit sucker of a landlord raped her just like you. He used and abused her just like you were every month of her life… She had NO ONE… and she's not killing herself like you are," he said softly. He lowered his eyes. "You have every divine god given animal right to be angry, to feel like you've been used, sad… I DO understand what you are feeling," he whispered. "I was there too watching you being hurt and unable to stop it. He raped me too. He raped us both…" Domo turned her face away.
"You're just saying that to try and make me feel better." There was a soft flash of green light as he sub-armor vanished.
"… How many scars do you have since it happened? There's ten total on your back running diagonally… fang marks on your neck… your breasts… even between your legs. I have them too. All of them," he whispered, sitting up and pulling his shirt off over his head. A mirror image of all of the lacerations she had covered his chest and neck. Her eyes filled with tears. He leaned back over her and kissed her temple tenderly. "… Why didn't you come talk to me?" he whispered. "… I wouldn't judge you. I just want to protect you. You can trust me…" He found her eyes. "… You have no reason not to… It's the same with everyone else. You can trust us… It isn't fair for everyone when you expect things to just be okay suddenly and get upset when nothing good happens… There is an effort that you must give…"
Domo just stared up into the lavender-blue depths. It was those same eyes as the night before. The eyes that didn't scold, burn, or judge appeared to her more real and genuine than ever. … Thank you, Cale…
Slender arms flew around his neck and she buried her face into his shoulder. "Seiji… I… I'm sorry… Please… Help me…" she quavered. Sage lifted himself up and held her in a tight embrace, curling his fingers into her long blonde hair, and inhaling the scent of lilacs while feeling the first rays of sunlight light him once more…A/N: I dedicate this chapter to my very best friend who's there for me to set me straight when I need it. Thank you!
Long one, ne? I think this is the longest chapter that I've ever written for this fic! O.o Did everyone get a good dose of insulin I was due for a sappy chapter anyway. Oh well, I guess that means that the bad guys should show up again soon huh? Oh, the answer to the question about the character profiles? I scrapped them. Everything's basically the same, but it was too much of a limiter. Besides, it totally can give away surprises and junk. Hope you enjoyed this one! (sorry about the questions not looking right in this chapter I can't put the exclaimation point and the question mark together now... HN.)