Ashes on the Water by Angel of Fire |
Cye stood in the kitchen, hand on hips and glaring at Kento. "Kento, there are more people in this house then just you. Leave some food for everyone else." Cye said as Kento grinned at his best friend. "They were too slow. It was their fault, not mine." Kento proceeded in swallowing another sandwich, whole. Cye looked on in disgust as he began to make more sandwiches for everyone else. "Don't forget to make ones without meat for Sage." Kento reminded, amazed that his friend could handle not eating meat. And the scariest part was that Sage had been a vegetarian for at least 10 years and hadn't broken once. "Kento, can you go get Ryo and Rowen? I'll go get Sage. I think he said he was outside training." Cye said as he walked out the door. Kento watched as his friend left the room before grabbing one last sandwich and going off in hunt for his two comrades. * * * * * Cye stopped in the forest crossing, having failed in finding Sage. He glanced around the clearing in the forest, looking for any hint of his golden-haired companion. The forest was beautiful, and the wind that rustled his hair ever so faintly felt cool to the touch, giving him a sense of tranquility. He snapped himself back into reality and proceeded in his attempt to find Sage. //Where could he be?// Cye wondered to himself as he began to head home. If Sage was hungry he'd come home and eat. Cye glanced around the area he stood in, and realized that out of the forest, it was humid and warm. He shrugged as he decided to go for a swim. He slowly walked to the lake when he noticed a form moving gracefully by the water, swinging and stabbing the air. Cye froze and just stood for a moment, watching the unknowing figure. Sweat beaded Sage's forehead as he continued his form. He had to have it perfected for the competition the following day. His father would kick his ass if he lost this competition because it would lead him into the finals. Sage swung his no datchi in the finishing strike, before setting his weapon on the ground to rest. Panting, he walked over to his small bag. Cye watched with curiosity as Sage pulled out a small object. Sage pulled it to his lips and began to blow gently, creating a harmonious sound that carried out. Cye gasped at the melody as Sage began to play a song. Cye closed his eyes and let his body intake the sweet melody's bliss, before the song came to an end all to soon. Cye opened his eyes to see what had made the music end so soon, and saw a piercing eye glaring at him. "Cye, what are you doing here?" Sage demanded. He had never enjoyed people watching him, though everyone did it anyway. All because his mother was American and he had inherited her looks, for better or worse. "Umm... Kento ate all the sandwiches, but I fixed some more and I wanted to know if you'd like some." Cye said quickly, as Sage looked at him oddly. "No thank you. I think I'll just stay here and train some more. I need to get ready for tomorrow's competition." Cye had completely forgotten about that, and he scolded himself for doing so. "Sage, do you want me to bring you dinner out here when the time comes?" Cye asked as Sage shook his head. "Cye, you worry about our health way too much. I'll be fine. If I need something, I'll come get it myself." Cye nodded slowly. Knowing Sage, the blonde wasn't going to eat unless Cye forced it on him. "Fine Sage, I won't make you do anything, but try to eat something, and go to sleep at a normal hour. You need your rest." Sage rolled his eyes, but remained silent. The two stood for a moment, before Sage looked at Cye. "I'll try." He said as he set down the flute that had remained in his hand throughout the entire conversation. He then re-picked up his sword and formed his fighting stance. Cye watched him for a moment before beginning to walk away. He suddenly stopped and turned to face Sage. "Sage?" He asked softly as Sage froze in mid swing. He turned to face the set of sea green eyes that were staring at him. "Yeah Cye?" "Where did you learn to play the flute?" Sage looked down for a brief moment and Cye could have sworn he saw Sage blush before looking back up. "Well, I was really rebellious as a child, so my grandfather made me learn how to play the flute so that whenever I was mad, I could calm myself down. He also taught me how to meditate." Cye nodded, and couldn't help but smile. For some reason, he couldn't picture Sage being rebellious. But picturing Sage as a little child, meditating, caused Cye to begin laughing. When he snapped back into reality, Sage was watching him with a not too kind look on his face. And you guys wonder why I never talk. I tell you anything and you start laughing at me." Cye's smile disappeared as he looked at Sage. "I'm sorry. I couldn't help but laugh at the idea of you as a child, being rebellious." "Yeah, well I prefer to pretend that I don't have a childhood." Cye nodded. He knew very well that out of all the other warriors, he knew Sage the least. And anything he did know about the swordsman, he'd found out from Rowen, not Sage himself. Cye slowly headed back home, pausing for a brief moment to eye the lean, graceful body swinging the sword as if it was attached to his limb. Cye then turned away, and didn't see Sage for the rest of the day. It was around 11:30 when the blonde returned and crept into his room, thinking that Rowen was asleep. What he didn't expect was to see Cye and Rowen, both wide awake, waiting for him. "Now Sage, didn't I tell you to come home at a reasonable hour?" "And go to sleep at a reasonable one as well?" Rowen added. "And knowing you, you will be taking a shower and eating something, and you do realize that time adds up. By the time you're ready to go to bed, it'll be past 12, and you know that you should get more sleep then that." Cye said as Sage turned to them with an annoyed look no his face. "I'm sorry for staying out so late mom, dad. I promise I won't do it again." He walked into the bathroom, shutting the door behind him. "So, Cye, do I get to be the dad or are you?" Rowen asked with a grin as Cye whacked him on the back of the head. "Make sure he eats, OK Rowen?" Rowen nodded as Cye left the room. * * * * * Rowen grinned as Sage leaned on him. "Good job Sage!" Ryo praised him as Sage gave a faint smile to everyone. He should have listen to Cye and gone to sleep earlier, he was really tired now. At least he had won. "I told you to rest, but did you listen, no." Cye said with a smile. "Fine Cye. You were right. I'll admit that. But the extra training really helped." Cye nodded. "Sage, you still did a really good job! If that was me, I would have lost in the first round." "Well Cye, you haven't been training since you were 9." Sage pointed out as Cye grinned. "True. But you were still great." Cye said as everyone else nodded in agreement. "Yeah, especially since you sprained you're ankle during the fight, but still managed to win." Ryo said as Sage shrugged. It wasn't that he disliked all the compliments he was receiving, he just felt slightly undeserving. All he'd done was what his father had taught him, as had his grandfather, yet he was the one receiving the constant compliment. "I didn't do well. All I did was what I was taught. You should congratulate my teachers, not me." Cye frowned slightly. Sage was being far too modest. Cye walked over to Rowen and helped support Sage. Sage tried to pull away, but the pain in his ankle was far too much, and he slipped on the other two warriors. "Sage, don't stress yourself. Calm down and let us help." Cye said as Sage glared at him. "I don't need help." Sage stood up strait, and tried to keep the pain out of his mind. He had been taught many different ways to avert your self from pain. The one he favored though was where he pictured something that pleased him, and focused on the object of his affection. He began to walk, picturing, oddly enough, his friends. The rest of the warriors. And what became a shock to the swordsman, that he wasn't thinking and picturing all the warriors. Instead, he pictured only one comrade, with sea green eyes, and soft auburn hair. His eyes widened and he immediately fell to the ground, not able to support himself any longer. Cye quickly rushed to his side to help, but Sage turned away. Cye looked up oddly at the rest of the warriors, who shrugged in response to his questionable eyes. "I'm fine." Sage said flatly, not wanting anyone to see the shock written on his face. He had no right to think of Cye that way. It was horrible to think that he had felt something besides friendship when he had pictured the boy. It was then strong arms hoisted him up and he turned to see that Ryo was carrying him. Ryo gave an odd look at the blonde before opening his mouth to speak. "Sage, what's wrong? You look like you've just seen a ghost." Sage shrugged softly, as he blanketed himself in his normal, cool exterior once again. "I was just feeling dizzy." He lied. He hated having to lie to his friends, but he saw no other way around it. He felt a soft palm against his forehead and looked up at Cye. He wondered how someone who fought with his spear so long, managed to remain so fragile, untouchable. "You don't feel hot." Cye said in concern as Sage closed his eyes. "I'm fine now. I think the lack of sleep is catching up with me." Sage said, trying to suppress a yawn. It was within moments that Sage was asleep in Ryo's arms. "I think we better take him home..." Ryo said softly as Cye shook his head in disagreement. "Shouldn't we go to the doctor or hospital or something? His ankle's still pretty swollen." Ryo shook his head. "Lets just take him home and let him rest. Mia can ice down his injury, and he'll be as good as new. At least, I hope so..." Ryo said as the troopers began to the house. * * * * * Sage sat in bed, aggravated beyond belief. He knew Cye had a major motherly instinct, but he had never been this bad to the others when they got hurt. Sage sipped slightly at the tea in his hand, as Rowen entered the room. "So, how ya doing?" Rowen asked and it took all Sage's self discipline to stop from grinning. It was nice to have someone else in the room besides his temporary mother. "I'm fine. Cye's driving me crazy though." Rowen laughed faintly. He wasn't surprised in the least though. "Yeah, he can be annoying when he's in mother mode, but at least all his intentions are well." Sage nodded softly in agreement. Cye was just about the nicest person he knew. Cye always cared for him and the rest when they needed it, and always listened to their problems. "So, Sage, don't pretend that something isn't bothering 'ya. I've known 'ya too long for you to be able ta hid your feelings from me. What's wrong?" Sage sighed inwardly. He'd expected this to come, he and the archer had been friends too long to hid things from each other. "I'm, I'm just worried that I won't be able to make it to the next competition. And you know that my father will have a fit if I lose, and will actually kill me if I say I'm hurt and don't try." Rowen nodded. Sage's father was not abusive compared to his own father, but when Sage's father got mad, he got mad. Sage's father was normally calm and quiet, usually teaching or lost in meditation. If Sage lost a tournament that was worth a lot of money that could go to the Dojo, It was five slashes from a bamboo stick. If it was the championship, it was seven. And if Sage refused to participate for any reason but broken bones, it was ten. And that was why Sage Date never lost. Rowen knew that was worrying the blonde, but only partly. Something else was on the blondes mind, and he planned to find out just what was upsetting his best friend. "Sage, that's not what is totally bothering you. Something else is on your mind." Sage froze. He had no idea what to do until Cye entered the room, a pile of clean clothes in his hands. "Hi guys, I just came to see how Sage was and drop of these clothes." Cye began putting the clothes in the dresser, one by one. Rowen smiled at Cye as he stood up. "I think I'll be taking my leave. Bye Cye." Rowen began to leave the room, but made a last look at Sage as if to say, "this isn't over" before disappearing. "So Sage, are you all right? Do you need anything?" Sage shook his head. "I don't need anything, and I'm fine." He said, trying to hide his aggravation towards the sweet Brit. "Well, that's always a good sign. You can probably get up, but try to lay off the foot, OK?" Sage nodded as Cye began to make his leave. At first Sage was relieved, but then he realized that if Cye left, he'd have to talk to Rowen. And if he had to talk to Rowen, then he'd be in trouble. "Cye, why don't you stay here and keep me company?" Sage said as Cye eyed him oddly. "I'm really bored and lonely, and the only other person I've seen besides you was Rowen, but he left." Cye nodded, as he walked back to Sage and sat at the edge of the bed. He looked at Sage and tried to identify the boy's emotions, because surely he had them. He just managed to keep them in check at all times, He noticed a look of desperation in the violet eyes, that looked more gentle then usual, and almost...shy. "What do you want to talk about?" Cye asked, but Sage didn't reply. In truth, there wasn't much to talk about. "Sage, I over heard Rowen talking to you, and I was wondering why your dad would have such a fit about you not showing up to the tournament? Surely he can't expect you to come if you are injured, even in the slightest way?" Cye watched as Sage's head fell in shame. "My family is greatly into honor. An injury is not to be considered a weakness, instead it is a reason to pursue. If I don't win or I don't show up, it casts great dis-honor to my family. The honor of my family can only be reclaimed by punishing the one who dis-honored it in the first place." Cye's eyes grew wide when it struck him. He'd always pictured Sage's body to be perfect in any way, shape, or form. It suddenly dawned on him that Sage wasn't always there for his competitions. Like the time Cye had been cooking, and nearly caught the house on fire because he hit his head, which knocked him into unconsciousness. Sage, being the only one there, had stopped the fire, then taken him to the hospital to make sure he didn't have a concussion, Cye remembered that night vividly. Warm arms holding him, peaceful healing surging through his body, waking up to see Sage, in tournament clothing still, and not realizing that he could possibly be the reason Sage had scars. "Sage, if you miss a tournament, what happens?" Cye asked, almost scared to hear the answer. "I am locked on the basement for a few hours, then, I am hit with a bamboo stick to atone for my dis-honor." Cye nearly fainted, this was too much information to receive in such short time. "How... how many times?" Cye whispered as Sage shrugged. "I'm not sure. It depends on the rank of the tournament. It can range from five to ten." Cye cringed at the thought. "Don't worry Cye, that night, I chose to stay with you. You are not responsible for my actions. And it happens very rarely anyway. No matter what tournament my family has me enter, I almost always win. And after what we've been through together while fighting the dynasty, it doesn't really matter." All Cye could do was nod his head numbly. He glanced around the room in search of something to do to break the tension, when he eyed the teacup, not even half filled with lukewarm tea, he felt a feeling of relief. "I'll go get you some more tea." Cye declared as he took the glass and left the room. Sage sighed and felt like kicking himself. He now remembered why he never spoke of himself. No one wanted to know about it. * * * * * "I wonder what is bothering Sage?" Rowen thought to himself, when Cye entered the kitchen carrying the teacup. "Hello Rowen." Cye said softly. Rowen felt an odd sensation run over him. First Sage was acting weird, and now Cye. What was going on? "Cye, what's up?" Rowen asked, hoping that maybe Cye had figured out what was bothering Sage, and that was why he was acting odd. "I just talked to Sage, that's all." Cye said as he proceeded to make more tea. "‘Bout what?" Rowen asked as Cye shrugged. "Doesn't really matter. We just talked about what would happen if he couldn't compete in the finals." Rowen cringed at the was Cye's voice changed when he said the word "finals." He must have learned about the family honor and crap from Sage. Cye finished making the tea in silence, as Rowen watched. Cye then left the room and made his way to Sage's room. What he didn't expect was to find that Sage was gone, and the window was open. He glanced around the room in a panic, when he noticed that the Sage's sword was also gone. Cye began to fume when the pieces came together and he realized what had happened. It was that exact moment that Rowen chose to walk into the room. "Hey, where's Sage?" He asked, until he saw Cye's angered face and figured everything out. "I'm going out." "Where to?" Rowen asked, and grimaced at the look he got. "I'm going out to find Sage." Cye said angrily, and then he was gone. Rowen looked around the room. "I would not wanna be Sage right now." He muttered as he slowly left the room. * * * * * Cye trudged through the forest, heading for the lake. He was too mad for words. He had told Sage to be careful with the leg, yet Sage had insisted on climbing out the window to sword practice. When he got to the lake, his anger grew. Sage was nowhere to be seen. The blonde must have known where Cye would look, and purposely avoided those places. After nearly an hour of searching, Cye finally found Sage, practicing deeper in the forest then Cye cared to go. Cye's anger slipped away though, when the graceful body fell to the ground, his ankle giving out on him. Sage grabbed his leg, still breathing hard, at the moment Cye ran up. "Sage, I told you not to do this to your leg!" Cye said as he helped Sage to his feet. "Well, you said I could walk." Sage muttered as Cye sighed. "I said you could walk a little, not run off and start training." Sage nodded slightly, leaning heavily on Cye. Cye wrapped Sage's arm around his own shoulder, and the two began making the slow trek back home. "I'm... sorry Cye. I should have listened to you." Cye nodded in agreement. "Yes, I know that you should have listened to me." Sage sighed faintly. Cye was being way to smug. "Just be happy that I apologized." Sage pointed out, the coldness again filling his voice. "Didn't say I wasn't." Cye said cheerfully. He felt an urge, as he helped his limping companion walk, to get the blonde to smile. Sage rarely smiled, which annoyed Cye to a major extent. Sage looked beautiful when he smiled, as the light played on his pale skin, the smile added even more. So why didn't he do it? Then it dawned on Cye that he had just called Sage beautiful. That was wrong! You don't call your friend and comrade beautiful! Sure, everyone knew Sage was good looking. It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that Sage's pale skin, golden blonde hair, and intense violet eyes made for a deadly combination. Especially in Japan where he stuck out like a sore thumb. No, wait. Sage did stick out, but not in a bad way like a sore thumb. He stuck out more like, like a sun on a cloudy day. That fit better, and perfect for Sage of the Halo. "Cye, I'm at my room. You can let go off me now." Cye blushed as he realized that they were home, and in Sage's room none-the-less. He let go of Sage, who hobbled over to his bed and sat down. "Now Sage, can I trust you to stay in your room, or do I have to stay here until Rowen gets home so that you can't hurt yourself anymore?" "Don't worry mommy, I'll be a good boy. You don't gotta worry 'bout me!" Sage said as he rolled his eyes in annoyance. "Cye, go away. I'll be fine." Cye nodded slightly as he slowly left the room and his brooding friend. He'd blown it again. He hated how he was too motherly. Sage didn't like his own family, so why would he like Cye playing the role of his mother? Sadness filled Cye as he walked down the stairs and right into Rowen. Cye, what's tha matter?" Rowen asked in concern as Cye shrugged. "Just mad at myself for being so motherly, and not being able to get Sage to smile." Rowen grinned at this. "Cye, I don't mean ta be rude, but aren't ya being stupid? No one can make 'em laugh. He's like a British beefeater." Cye grinned. He remembered that when he was a child, his goal in life was to get a beefeater to move, never succeeded though. "You've got that right." "Well, if it helps ya at all, he's got somethin' on his mind, I can tell. I'm going to go get it outta him, then maybe he'll cheer up." Cye nodded as Rowen walked away towards the room he and Sage shared. * * * * * "Sage?" Rowen asked as he entered the room. He looked at the blonde and smiled. Sage was fast asleep on his bed, his foot propped up on a pillow. Rowen walked over to Sage and began to shake him slightly. "Umm, go away..." Sage said drowsily as he slapped away Rowen's hand. "Sage, you're sounding like me." Rowen said as Sage turned to look at him with one eye. "Ro, that was a low blow." Sage said as he turned back to his pillow. Rowen grabbed the edge of the pillow and pulled it out from under his best friend. Sage grumbled in disapproval, as he turned and glared at Rowen. "Wait a minute, you just insulted me!" "Yes I did. For a guy with an IQ of 250 or something like that, you sure are pretty dense." Sage said as Rowen glared at him. "Now who's giving low blows?" Sage shrugged, as Rowen began laughing. "Sage, I want you to tell me what's the matter? Something's wrong and I want to know what." Sage turned away, not wanting to answer the question. "OK, tell all. I don't care if ya turn away, or give me ya patent glare-of-death, yer gonna tell me what's wrong." Sage sighed as he turned back. "I wish I could tell you, but I really don't know myself. I, I just thought of someone in a weird way, and I knew I shouldn't have. But I really don't know why it's bothering me." Rowen patted Sage on his thigh. "Is it Mia?" Sage turned away. "I'm not of liberty to divulge that information." Sage said harshly as Rowen held his hands over his head. "Harsh! Please don't hurt me!" He exclaimed as Sage hit him in the shoulder. "Go away. If Cye knew that you were keeping me up, he'd have your head on a platter." Sage said as Rowen grinned and nodded in agreement. "You're right. Guess I gotta go. Take care and rest up." Rowen said as he walked to the door. "That's what I was doing before you barged in." Sage muttered as Rowen grinned. "Sorry 'bout that." He said as he left the room. * * * * * "Rowen, did he tell you what's wrong?" Cye asked eagerly as Rowen shrugged. "He likes someone, an' it's eating at 'em." Rowen said as Cye looked at him. "And you didn't find out who?" Cye asked as Rowen looked at him oddly. "No. Cye, are ya' becoming a snoop or somethin'?" "Maybe..." Cye muttered with a smile. "Well, that would be different." Rowen turned around when he heard a movement behind him, and saw the limber blonde in the doorway. "Now why are you talking about me behind my back?" Sage asked, his voice silent as always, holding a cold tone. Which was usual for Sage on any part. "No reason really. You've just been unusually withdrawn, even for you. We were just talking about why, and maybe how to help." Cye said softly, not wanting to have Sage any madder then he was. "And asking about who I like is going to help me how?" Sage asked harshly as Cye cringed. "I didn't know if it would, I was just curious, that's all. It's not like I know anything else about you. Trying to get information out of you is like trying to get water out of a rock. So any information I can get about you, I take." Sage turned away from Cye. Was he really that bad? Rowen looked around the room and slowly stepped out of the other door. "Cye, do you really want to know who I like? Is that what you really want to know?" Cye shrugged, unsure of where Sage was heading with this. "I guess I would want to know." Cye said softly as he shifted nervously. "Even if you might hate me after?" Cye shrugged slightly. He was totally, utterly, confused. "Cye, it's..." Sage stopped in mid sentence. He turned to Cye again. "Cye, it's you, OK?" Sage quickly turned around dashed out of the door, ignoring his ankle. Cye stood, dumb-founded, for a moment, before reality crashed down on him. "Sage!" He called out, but nothing happened. "Shit..." Cye muttered as he ran after Sage. * * * * * Sage panted as he sat in the damp corner of the cave he was found in. He knew very well that Cye wouldn't find him. No one would. Sage clutched his ankle, which was vibrating in pain. He clenched his teeth and hoped the pain would subside in a bit. Unfortunately, it didn't, and he spent a sleepless night in the cave, trying to meditate and clear his mind of all the pain. Didn't work though, he was too mad at himself for telling Cye the truth. God, he was an idiot. What was he thinking? He couldn't go back again, he couldn't face Cye. When morning came, Sage slowly limped out of the cave in search of food. * * * * * "Rowen, Sage still isn't back! What are we going to do?" Rowen rolled his eyes at his panicking friend. "Calm down Cye, I'm sure he's fine." Cye glared at him. "Well Rowen, he didn't just tell you that he liked you!" Rowen nodded in agreement. He'd be a little out of it too if such a cold, un-feeling person said that he liked him. "Cye, think about it. Even if ya' did find him, what would ya say to him? Do ya' like 'em too? There's a lot to it." Cye sighed, knowing that Rowen was right. "You may be right Rowen, but he is gone, and he is hurt, and he's in an area that has wolves and such. That is not a very good combination." "Sage is good at hiding when he doesn't want to be found. And right now, I doubt that he wants to be found. So if I were you, I'd just calm down and wait for him to come back." Cye took a deep breath and nodded slightly. "What's going on?" Cye and Rowen turned to the door and saw Kento, Ryo, and Mia, all carrying bags of food. Cye blushed. "Nothing." He said as he quickly left the room. The three looked at each other in curiosity, then looked at Rowen. "What's up with the British brat?" Kento asked. "And where's Sage? I haven't seen him at all today, or yesterday for that matter." Ryo pointed out as Mia began putting the food away. "Uh... I don't know if I can tell ya'll. I don't know if Cye would want me to..." Rowen muttered as Ryo and Kento glared at him. "Rowen, if you don't tell us, we'll tie you up, cover you with honey, and leave you in a room with a starving Kento." Ryo threatened as Kento glared at him. "I resent that remark. I wouldn't eat Rowen unless he has something like ice cream on him." Ryo grinned at Kento. "That can be arranged..." He said wickedly as Rowen looked on in horror. "Fine, I'll tell! Just don't sick Kento on me! Sage has a crush on Cye! He told Cye, got really embarrassed, and ran away yesterday!" Rowen said in one big breath. "WHAT?" The three other people in the room gaped. "Sage is gay. Big whoop. Who cares? It's his life, let him live it his way. If you have a problem with it, then you have a problem with me." Ryo opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out. "I don't care... I guess. But, does Cye like him back?" Kento asked as Rowen shrugged. "He doesn't know." Kento began to the door. "Where are you going Kento?" Rowen asked as Kento turned back. "To talk to my best friend." Kento said as he left the room. Ryo and Mia gave each other a look of confusion, but the look Rowen gave them that said, "drop the subject", and they hushed up. * * * * * Sage slowly climbed into his room through the window, and glanced around the room. He quickly went around and grabbed a change of clothes, which he immediately changed into. He then grabbed his tournament clothes and sword. He glanced around the room for a last check, and grabbed his wallet. He slowly scaled back down the wall of the house, and saw Cye staring at him from within the forest. "Sage." Cye said softly as Sage's eyes widened and he bolted away. "Sage!" Cye yelled as he chased after the blonde. He ran for a while until he lost sight of the blonde and sighed. "Sage, why do you run?" He muttered as he headed back to the mansion. He had to talk to Sage. But he had no idea of how to track down the blonde. "Hey Cye." Cye jerked at the sound of the voice and saw Kento leaning against a tree. "Hello Kento." Cye replied, trying to see if he could possibly make a break for it. Unfortunately, Ryo was at the front door, Mia at the back, and Rowen was behind him. "Hi everyone." He said nervously. "So Cye, are you going to tell us how you feel about Sage?" Kento said as Cye laughed faintly. "Actually, I'm really not going to tell you, so I'll be going now." Cye said as he turned around and saw Rowen. "Hello Rowen. Nice day, isn't it?" Cye turned to where neither boy was and tried to slink away. "Come on Cye, it's not that hard of a question." Rowen said as Cye sighed. "I don't know how I feel, OK? I'd rather talk to him, if you don't mind." Cye said, slightly angered. "Oh Cye, we wouldn't mind that request, if he were actually here. But since he isn't, I guess I'm going to have to do it. I am your best friend, you can tell me everything." Cye nodded slightly. "I, I'm telling the truth. I really don't know how I feel. I care about him, I'm just not sure to what extent. But, I really don't know what to do. He's not coming back unless we make him. And if I don't care about him like that, does he really have a reason to come back here?" Cye said softly. Kento looked at Cye oddly, unsure of what to make of the situation. "I believe Cye's right. If I was in love, told the person, and then found out the person didn't care about me, I wouldn't want to stick around." Mia said as Cye turned and saw that Ryo and Mia had joined the others around him. "Rowen, you are the closest with Sage, where would he go?" Rowen shrugged. "My guess is either the lake or the cave we found him out." Cye's eyes lit up at the mention of the cave. "Well, why don't Kento and I go check the cave, and Rowen, you can see what Sage got from his room." Cye said as he grabbed Kento's arm and pulled the muscular boy along with him. "Mia, Ryo, want to come with me to look through Sage's stuff?" Rowen asked as Mia and Ryo shrugged and nodded in agreement. * * * * * "Excuse me ma'am, may I have a room?" Sage asked to the girl behind the counter. She eyes him with curiosity. "I know I have no right to ask this, but where are you from?" Sage sighed, people asked him that far too often. "Excuse me, room?" He said agitated. "Tell me, and I'll give you your room." She said smartly as Sage groaned. "I'm half American and half Japanese." He said as he extended his hand, waiting for his key. "I'll give you your key if you answer my question." "I did." Sage growled as the girl giggled. "I mean another question." Sage took a deep breath. "What is it?" She smiled at him seductively. She grabbed the key, but keep it out of his reach. "Will you go out with me for dinner?" She said as Sage leaned forward so that their faces were inches apart. "No..." He said as he grabbed the key from the girl and walked away towards his room ignoring the jaw-slacking girl at the counter. He entered the room, and sighed as he collapsed onto the bed. "I'm an idiot. I can't believe that I was so stupid. Cye's not gay, case closed. And now I'm talking to myself. I'm the most pathetic, living thing in the world. And I'm still talking to myself. Oh, god!" Sage buried his head into the pillow. He was losing control of his feelings, and he was not supposed to lose control of his feelings. He wasn't allowed to show feelings. Feelings are a weakness, or at least that was what he was taught. Sage took a deep breath and sat up, closing his eyes. He was going to get through this problem. Returning to Mia's house was a different story though. "Well, I guess I'm going home." He said to the room. He stood up and pulled off his clothes, which he left on the floor. He walked slowly and rigidly into the bathroom, and walked over to the small shower, He turned on the faucets and waited for the water to get to a scalding temperature, before stepping in. He began to lather up his body, and scrub his hair. He had to be ready for his tournament, which involved being clean and practicing. Sage turned of the faucet and wrapped a towel around his waist, and a towel in his hair. He walked out into his room and let the towels fall to the floor. "Cye's advice was true. I better get some rest." Sage slowly climbed into his bed, and reached over to turn off the lamp, before drifting off into a Cye filled dream. * * * * * "You mean that Sage's money is gone too?" Cye said in disbelief. "I can't believe it!" He said agitated beyond belief. "Yeah, his tournament clothes, money, and his sword are gone." Cye silently cursed under his breath, ignoring the looks of surprise he got from everyone else. "Wait, doesn't that mean that he might be staying at a hotel?" Cye asked eagerly as Rowen laughed. "Cye, bud, I think 'ya should get some rest. We'll just wait 'til tomorrow an' go to his tournament. Cye, we both know very well that, even though he's hurt, he'll be going anyway." Cye nodded sullenly. He felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up to see Kento. "Come on Cye, let's get you into bed for some nice rest." Kento said as he guided Cye up the stairs. "I hope he's OK..." Mia muttered as Ryo sighed. "I hope they're both OK." * * * * * /Swing, stab, swing. Pivot, duck, swing. Stab, swing, Cye. Hey! Where'd that come from?/ Sage struggled to get out of the way in time. He leapt to the side, and landed hard on his right foot, and felt it snap to the side with a loud crack. Sage immediately fell to the ground, as he grabbed his ankle. He felt the sword press against his neck. He ignored it, his mind was too focused on his broken ankle to pay attention to the fact that he'd lost. He felt a rough hand pull him to his feet, and he looked to see that he was eye-to-eye with his angry father. Sage could no longer feel his foot, only the numbness that remained. His father slung Sage's arm across his shoulder and led the boy out of the room. Sage was well aware of what was coming next. * * * * * "I can't believe Sage lost!" Ryo said, obviously mad. "Ryo, did you hear that crack when Sage fell?" Cye asked nervously as Rowen nodded in agreement. "I think he might be broken." Mia said as Cye looked at her with wide-eyes. "Rowen, Sage lost! Doesn't that mean...?" Rowen nodded. "That's horrible! He only lost because he broke his ankle! I'm putting a stop to this!" Cye said as he headed to the basement, only to be stopped by Rowen. "Is everyone else confused?" Mia whispered to Kento and Ryo who both nodded. "Cye, don't interrupt. We have no right to stop family tradition." Rowen muttered as Cye looked at him in anger. "Family tradition!? I'd say it's more like bloody child abuse!" Rowen sighed as Cye began for the basement once more. "Cye, don't! Do ya' really want Sage to forever be mad at you for breaking his family honor? You know how much his family means to 'em! You know he's willing to do anything to keep 'is family honor! As the only male prodigy of the Date's, he's gotta follow strict orders!" "Well, I guess he doesn't care about family that much." Cye said as Rowen looked at him oddly. "What do you mean by that Cye?" "Rowen, he is the only male Date. He is supposed to carry on the family line. The man's gay! I don't see how he could carry on the family line like that!" Cye's words silenced Rowen. Cye began to descend down the basement stairs, but when he reached to bottom, Sage was gone. "Damn!" Cye said at the absence of the swordsman. "And we were so close to finding him." Cye turned to the others who had just entered the room. "He is damn good at playing mouse." Ryo muttered as the others nodded. Who knew that finding Sage could be so hard to find? * * * * * Sage sat in his room at his home, ignoring the pain on his back and his ankle. He was well aware that it was broken but his family was going to wait a bit before taking him to the hospital. /If at all. / He thought to himself, trying not to move his leg at all to prevent doing something he'd regret later. He was confined to his room after he's received his punishment for failing at the tournament. He'd seen that the others had come at the moment they'd entered, despite the fact that he'd been in the match already. And to think, the thought of Cye had cost him that match. Oh well. "Sage, we are taking you to the hospital soon, get ready." Sage's mother called out as Sage sighed. He couldn't get up to get ready. He was still in his tournament clothes, having not been able to change. He watched as his mom appear in the doorway and walk over to him. "Come on honey, let’s get that leg checked up." She said as she helped him to his foot. He said nothing but instead wrapped his arm around his mother's shoulders and aloud her to help him out of the room. * * * * * "Ryo and Kento will go check his house like Rowen suggested, and he and I'll go check the nearest hospital." Cye said as Ryo eyed him oddly. "Why don't we just use the mind-link?" Ryo asked. "I already tried. He's completely cut off his link to us." Cye said as Ryo nodded. Sage was known to be the best at that, even more so then Ryo himself. "When should we meet back?" Kento asked as Cye shrugged. "In about an hour or two I guess." Cye said as everyone nodded and the groups went their separate ways. * * * * * " Lady, is there a Sage Date here?" Rowen demanded to the woman at the counter who looked at him, wide-eyed. "Well yes, but I'm not aloud to tell you unless you are a relative..." Cye's eyes flared. "Listen Lady, Sage has a broken leg, and we have to see him. And If you "can't tell" me where he is, then I'll..." Rowen shoved the mad Cye away from the woman. "Don't mind my insane British friend. This is Cye Date and he's a relative of Sage." The woman looked at him in surprise, as did Cye. "Yes, this is Sage's brother." The lady nodded. "And Sir, who would that make you?" She asked as Rowen grinned. "Boyfriend. Now let me see." Rowen grabbed the woman's room list. "234, OK, thank ya' and have a nice day." He grabbed the gapping Cye's arm and dragged him away to Sage's room. As soon as they were out of earshot, Cye glared at Rowen. "Why did you say that?" Cye demanded as Rowen grinned. " Now Cye, you wouldn't be jealous that I get to be Sage's boyfriend for a day and not you?" Rowen asked as Cye blushed. "No, of course not! I was just wondering why you said that instead of a brother as well?" Rowen shrugged. "Two reasons actually. Ya' look more like you could be related to Sage. Red hair isn't hereditary like blonde, brown, and blonde. So technically, Sage could have a red headed brother, but blue hair? Yeah right. And two, did you see the look on the woman's face when I said that? Priceless!" Cye grinned, the woman had been scared. "This is his room." Rowen said as he pointed to a room with the numbers 234 on it. Cye slowly peered in to see if anyone else was in the room. Thankfully, no one was and he was able to walk in on the sleeping Sage. Rowen looked at the blonde and grinned. "Who knew that Sage could look so innocent in his sleep." Cye nodded in agreement. Sage's pale hair and skin gave him an angelic look, though everyone knew better then that. Sage was no angel, and that was a proven fact. Sage was not, as we say, virgin material. It was funny though, true to his element, Sage nearly glowed. He was so different. Not because of where he lived his skin and hair were an odd color. Same could be said about Cye and Rowen. It was the fact that even though Sage was out in the sun all the time, he never got burned, or tanned, and he always had a glow to him. Maybe the other guys were the only one to see it because of their connections to each other, but it was definitely there. "Cye, how are we going to get him out?" Rowen asked as Cye sighed. He'd forgotten all about that minor detail. He glanced around the room and smiled when he eyed the window. "Rowen, can you fly us around?" Cye asked as Rowen caught on and nodded. Cye walked over to Sage and gently slid his hand under the lithe form on the bed. "I'm sorry, please, no more... I won't fail again...." Sage mumbled in his sleep as he cringed at the touch of Cye's hands. "Cye, be careful, I think you hurt him." Rowen said as Cye glared at him. "I was being careful. I'll take care off him, and you grab his old tournament clothes." Rowen nodded as he grabbed the clothing. "Hey Cye, have ya' ever wondered how, even though Sage wore these clothes in a sweaty
tournament, how 'is clothes can still smell fresh and clean. Ahh, the mysteries of life..." "Please, put me down..." He said as Cye shook his head and he and Rowen began to walk to the window. Sage began to speak again, but Cye noted that the blonde couldn't find his voice. While flying through the air (after finding out that Sage didn't like heights) Cye felt something wet on his hands. He shrugged it off and waited for them to get home. When they arrived, he gently set sage down onto the couch in the living room, as Sage grimaced as he touched the cushion. Cye gasped when he noticed that what covered his hands and arms was indeed blood, having scraped open Sage's back wounds. Cye looked at his hands, then back at Sage with wide, frightened eyes. "Sage, roll over." Cye ordered as Sage shook his head. "Sage, do it." Cye said, his voice rising. "Cye. As much as I want to show you, my ass isn't covered, I'm in a hospital gown if you haven't noticed." Sage whispered through pain as Cye flushed. "I'll go get you some clothes, Rowen, can you clean him up?" Rowen nodded as Cye ran out of the room and Rowen began laughing. "Sage, you really should stop scaring people off that ya' like." Rowen grabbed the medical kit from the kitchen and came back in. "'Member Sarita?" Rowen said as Sage groaned and nodded. "Big mistake." Sage said as Rowen rolled him over and grabbed a wet cloth. "An' Eriika?" Rowen pointed out as he began to dab the wounds. Sage winced before replying. "Don't remind me." Sage mumbled as Rowen continued cleaning up his back. "Hey Sage, Have ya' ever actually been with a guy?" Rowen asked, as Sage dug his face into the armrest. "No." He said, his voice muffled by the cloth. Rowen began applying antibiotic cream to Sage's wounds. Again Sage winced, but he said nothing. "So, is Cye the first guy you've ever liked?" Rowen asked as he began wrapping the wound, forcing sage to sit up slightly so he could wrap it around Sage's mid section. Even despite the fact that Sage was his best friend, he admired the swordsman body. It was slightly muscular, though not too much and not too little. Rowen un-tied the hospital gown and threw it on the floor at the exact moment Cye walked in. Cye's eyes were so wide and his body so rigid, Rowen thought the Brit was going to faint on the spot. In the end, he didn't faint, but he dropped all the clothes that he had nicely folded. He'd also changed out of his bloodstained clothes and into one of his fashion crisis's. Plaid pants and a green sweater. "Umm... Sage, here are your clothes..." Cye said as he handed them to Rowen to give to the nude blonde who was acting like he could have cared less. "Thanks Cye." He said coolly as he flashed a rare smile. It was pained, but a smile none-the-less. "Hey Sage, you get to go commando!" Rowen pointed out with a laugh as he helped Sage put on the pants by holding the swordsman erect. After Sage accomplished that, he allowed himself to collapse stomach first back onto the couch. "Sage, do you want anything to eat?" Cye asked as Sage shook his head. "Cye, bring him some vegetarian food. Sage, I just saw you naked and you are way too thin. How much do you weigh?" Sage shrugged. He really didn't know. "If you don't start eating more, I'm going to declare that you're anorexic and they're going ta take ya' to a clinic." Rowen warned as Sage shook his head. "I'm not anorexic, I eat when I'm hungry." Sage pointed out as Cye let the room to get food. "Sage, you never answered my question. Is Cye the first guy ya've liked?" sage nodded. "Why do you like Cye anyway? I mean, no offense, but what happened in all your other relationships? Why didn't they work out?" Rowen asked as Sage hung his head. For a moment, Rowen didn't think he was going to answer, but eventually Sage opened his mouth to speak. "Well, you are my best friend, so I doubt you'll laugh at me as much as everyone else. I... I can't sleep with them. Anyone for that matter. And Cye is so nice, I figured he'd understand the best." Rowen looked at his curiously. "What exactly do you mean?" Rowen asked as sage sighed. "Rowen, I am a virgin, in my family, you must remain pure until marriage." Rowen's eyes widened. "Marriage? But isn't that a problem if ya' can't get married? I mean, ya' like another guy. So does that mean that you can nevah have sex?" Rowen asked as Sage shrugged. "Guess so. I just figured that if I liked one of my closest friends, they wouldn't insult and tease me when I don't put out. And Cye is just, he's just the one that is most likely going to care the least because he wants to preserve himself too. And he's good looking, which really doesn't matter to me if I care about the person." Rowen nodded until he began to grin. "So Sage, do you think that I'm sexy?" Rowen asked as Sage hit him over the head. But then Sage began to smile faintly as he wrapped his arm around Rowen's waist and pulled the blue haired boy close. "Of course I find you sexy my blue haired friend. Who doesn't?" Sage purred to Rowen as he kissed Rowen's cheek. For a moment the two froze, before they burst out laughing and Sage let go of Rowen's waist. "Sage, you like me because who I am?" Sage looked up, along with Rowen, to see Cye standing in the doorway with a tray of Vegetables and dip. Sage froze. Cye knew everything. * * * * * Sage didn't know what to do. It wasn't every day that he was presented with this type of situation. In fact, he was never presented with this situation. "Umm.... This is awkward..." Rowen said as he stood up. "I guess this is my cue to go away and leave you two alone." He briskly made his way out of the room, leaving Cye and Sage alone. The two stood in silence, until Sage managed to think coherently again. "I'm sorry C..." Sage's words were cut off as Cye claimed his lips with his own. It was that exact moment Ryo and Kento decided to enter. "Ummm... Is this the wrong house?" Kento said as the two in the middle of the room didn't break the lip-lock they were in. It was then Rowen ran into the room and grabbed both Ryo and Kento by the arms. "Come on. We're going to go see a movie." "But there's nothing playi...." Rowen dragged the two out of the house as Cye broke the kiss. "Sage, you have nothing to be sorry about. After Rowen pretended to be your boyfriend, I realized that that was what I wanted to be to you." Sage looked at him oddly. "Rowen pretended to be my boyfriend? Why was I not informed of this?" Cye laughed slightly at the blonde's confusion. "Sage, just stop thinking and let me kiss you." "Can do." Sage replied as they're lips met once again.
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