Okay some action going on now! DUH DUH DUH! :3
Chapter Seventeen
Rowen knew something was up when Mia had greeted him downstairs and told him Hoshi was already there. He was grumpy from finals, but he didn't want to deal with her and Sage right now. They had been getting along okay for the past couple weeks, occasionally bitching to him that the other was insufferable. He started to pay no mind to it, and figured that they could handle being at each others throats a little while longer. After all, if he had to deal with Leea, she had to deal with Sage. It was a fair compromise considering the circumstances.
He walked past Mia, and realized he was even earlier than Cye was! He chuckled to himself, he had never been on time for anything, much less early. Most of his professors forgave him of this quality because he got such high marks on everything.
Hoshi was out back, but not their normal spot, but the pier which was down the lake a ways. She was sitting out there throwing stones in the lake, the sun was getting low, and wondered if she was cold at all. He had a big date planned for them later that evening, but he wondered what was bugging her so much that she wouldn't wait for him in the house.
He walked out on the creaky old wood pier and sat down next to her. She glanced over with just eyes but kept didn't acknowledge him in any way. She threw another stone, "how was your final?"
He didn't want to push her if she was upset with something, he assumed Sage, but he just answered, "well, you know how your professors are. Always trying to push us."
Hoshi smirked as she tucked her head on her knees, "don't you like being challenged though?"
"To an extent, not so much that I don't get to see my girlfriend," he smiled as he put an arm over her shoulders. "Something is seriously wrong when my best friends see my best gal more than I do."
She leaned against him and sighed at his annoyance.
"Sage isn't so bad."
He starred at her and teased, "who are you and what have you done with Hoshi?"
She shoved him lightly and he laughed as he pulled her into a deep kiss, "Rowen..."
He locked lips with her tightly and slid a hand to her neck so he press her lips more tightly to his. She gasped and pushed away and he laughed, "we have all summer for that and so much more."
He swore she would have turned red from head to toe if she wasn't so serious about something. She pointed out at the lake, "do you see him?"
He looked out at the lake, "see who?"
She shook her head, "the nether spirit."
"I don't see anyone, Hoshi," he paused to look at her, her eyes were almost glazed over she was seriously starring forward. His eyes narrowed at the lake. "Are you seeing nether realm spirits."
She nodded and hugged her knees close to her, "I have since we saved Raleigh."
He didn't know why he suddenly was upset and he felt a tightness in his chest. "You've been seeing nether spirits and haven't told me," he asked as he pulled away from her. "For months now?"
All she could do was nod, she heard the soft anger in his voice.
"You've been lying to me?"
She shook her head but she could tell he was angry with her. She would be too, because she realized that she made a mistake that could have killed her. She felt tears coming own her cheek, "I didn't think it was going to hurt me, but he threatened Sage..."
She heard silence from as he got up and started to leave the pier. She realized she couldn't let him walk away from her before she finished explaining. She grabbed his hand and he turned to look at her, his face was hard and stoic, but she could tell he was angry, "you've told Sage?"
"No, he saw one show up," she said quickly as he pulled his hand away. "None of you guys ever noticed, so I thought it was fluke..."
"I shouldn't have had to notice, you should have told me," he said firmly to her. "Hoshi, what was all this talk to Ryo and them that you understand consequences? What would have happened if one of them tried to hurt you?"
She realized it wasn't anger she was seeing, it was sadness. "Rowen, it was a mistake," she paused but he was already walking off.
He stopped as she tried to catch up to him, he leaned over and kissed her, but she saw a bright light. He was in his subarmor and he took off into the woods. She bit her lip and tears welled up in her eyes. She betrayed his trust, it wasn't that he was mad at her, it was that she had been foolish like Runa. She had been foolish enough not to say anything, and just go along with everything. She leaned her head in her hands, and sobbed silently.
See, he can't protect you.
"Shut up," she mumbled, she knew the spirit was behind her because the music filled her ears.
There must be an exchange...
Hoshi was mad, and said, "you keep saying that!"
She went back to sobbing as she heard only the music on the air. She listened to it, it was so sad but so beautiful. She couldn't quite figure out what was so sad in it, but she felt she saw couple in her mind. The first was a beautiful young woman, and the other was a man shrouded in light. All she heard was a scream though, then the song kept playing as she looked at the lake. It had turned blood red. She bent back over and cried. Why hadn't she told Rowen about any of this? All she could think of was how big of a fool she had been.
She felt a gentle hand on her shoulder and she looked up in surprise and saw Cye. He knelt down next to her, and said softly, "Mia told me what's going on."
She glanced back at the lake, the shadow was gone and the lake was blue again. It was slowly turning the colors of the setting sun, "Rowen is upset with me..."
"I could see that," he said softly as he wiped her tears away. "I don't think its you he's upset with, I think its more himself. He does his best to have control of the situation, but he doesn't realize that some things are just uncontrollable. Look, you told him the truth and he'll just have to come to the understanding that at least you told him. It's not that bad of situation...it's not like you cheated on him..."
Hoshi starred at Cye, "it must feel that way though, since I kept the secret with Sage."
Cye pulled her to her feet and wiped her eyes again, "no, well...sort of... but don't worry about to much...he'll come around when he comes around. He can't stay mad at you, silly, there are worse things that it could have been."
She starred at him, "how is it that you know me and Rowen so well?
Cye smiled as he started to pull her towards the house, she was moving slowly though as he said, "because, at times you are exactly like he is. Stubborn, and...very knowledgeable..."
"Is that your way of saying smart ass," she asked and he just grinned.
"Look, I'll make you some tea and I can hang out with you while the others watch whatever tonight's movie is," he said sweetly as she nodded. He opened the kitchen door that came from the back, "he'll be back when he cools off, I assure you."
She sat down at the counter as he started to fix her some tea and he rummaged through Mia's cupboards for some cookies. She laughed, he was awfully British. He placed a small plate in front of her with a dainty cup and some sort of hard cookie. She saw him look up quickly and he took a serious fighting stance, "Hoshi, I think your wolf is here."
Hoshi whirled around in her chair and saw the beast starring up at her. The kitchen door was open, and a soft breeze blew in blossoms around the red wolf. The wolf turned into the beautiful woman and greeted her.
Hello, Little One.
She was still just wearing the hakama, but her right arm was covered by part of the silver armor, and she carried a sword on her hip. Cye sunk into a defensive pose. His soft face was hard.
"She's okay, Cye," Hoshi said but he still didn't relax any.
So trusting, the woman smiled which showed her sharpened fangs, even the sweetest of the ronins knows that isn't wise, I haven't had the pleasure of meeting Torrent just Halo and Strata.
"You're Raleigh," Cye stated and she nodded. "Look I don't want to fight if I don't have to."
I didn't come to fight, she said to him and then said to Hoshi, I came for forgiveness.
Hoshi paused, she had enough of this stuff for one day, "look it's okay, that Talpa guy seemed like a bit of jerk. I don't blame you for anything."
No, but I failed in my duty, she said as she moved from the door way and knelt in front of Hoshi. Cye put an arm in front of her as the wolf woman pulled the kantana free. Raleigh placed it on her palms and offered it up, I cannot live with my failure, and even though I owe you a debt. The only thing I can give is you is the honor of ending it.
Cye looked as shocked as Hoshi. Raleigh was asking for Hoshi to take her life? Was she that loyal to her cause? Cye understood the burden and said to Hoshi, "It would be an honor."
Hoshi looked at Cye and then to the sword, "but I can't, Cye!"
I beg of you, Raleigh said as she lowered her head.
"No," Hoshi replied instantly and smacked the sword from her hands with her scarred fingers. The sword cut her as it fell. It clattered to the floor and Cye looked at her curiously. "Look, I understand the concept as some sort of feudal thing, but I think it's pathetic. You spent all those years searching, misguided, but you still had hope that she was alive and you still had your virtue! Now that your mind is clear, you're willing to disregard it because of whatever shame that was put on you! Are you the yojimbo with the virtue of Hope? Well, forget your doubts and hope for peet's sake she's alive! If I can live through...If I can have hope, you sure as hell can!"Cye starred at her, she was shaking and the blood was running from her hand. Hoshi raised her left hand and slapped the warrior. "It's time you took responsibility for your actions instead of escaping them!"
The warrior raised the armored hand to her cheek as Cye pulled Hoshi back. "Hoshi, your bleeding!"
Hoshi starred at her hand, she was shaking again. She calmed her temper and realized her head was also hurting again. She felt her stomach churn suddenly and she rushed over to the sink to barf. She ran some water down the drain and wiped her mouth on a paper towel.
Raleigh looked up at Cye, I apologize, ronin. I have made a fool of my virtue.
"Why apologize to me, you upset her," Cye said and the wolf girl nodded.
Hoshi turned around and picked up the sword with her left hand, Cye could see anger burning in her eyes. It wasn't natural, it almost seemed as if she was possessed. Hoshi held out the sword, "If you want to owe your debt to me, fight for you life! If you fight and win, you will live and that releases you of your debt!"
Cye grabbed the sword from her, "Hoshi, you're not you. Stop this."
She looked him in the eyes, they were darkened. He felt his virtue glow, and saw her eyes glitter with the light, "I don't feel so well, Cye..."
Cye saw her grow weak and he caught her with his free hand. He looked at Raleigh and threatened quickly, "You better not have done this too her."
The women shook her head and caught the sword he threw to back to her.
"Take her words, Raleigh, repay her debt by living," Cye said as he picked her up and rushed out of the room.