Sage groaned and opened his eyes. "Lie still," Rumiya commanded gently. A damp cloth touched Sage's temple, making him flinch. "You ought to have learned how to duck," Rumiya scolded, absently tugging the torn shoulder of her kimono back up.
"It gets tough when there are five things to duck at once," Sage replied, wincing. "Ow!"
"Sorry," Rumiya apologized. "For more than the wound." She turned away to rinse the cloth in a bowl of water. "I'm sorry for the deception, too."
"Why didn't you tell me?" Sage asked curiously. He sat up and touched Rumiya's shoulder gently. The girl started. She glanced up, her honey-brown eyes swimming in tears.
"I was hoping--that maybe this would be a chance for me to start over," she explained softly. A single tear streaked down her face. "I should've known better." She burst into a fit of weeping.
Sage wrapped his arms around her, comforting her, holding her gently. Rumiya sobbed on his shoulder for a good ten minutes before she raised her head and resolutely wiped her tears away. "I guess you've got a lot of questions," she said. Sage nodded. Rumiya sighed. "I'll tell you the whole story.
"It was four hundred years ago, a time of war and strife. Battle raged across the country, and Talpa was able to again gain access to this world.
"My half-brother and I were peaceful folk, trying to eke out a precarious existence on the land. Our parents--all three of them--were dead, casualties of ill health and malnutrition.
"Then the soldiers came, and our little farm was destroyed. My brother wanted to fight them, to get revenge, so we sought out the opposing general and my brother enlisted in his army." Rumiya smiled bitterly. "His first battle was with a fellow soldier who believed I was to become a camp follower.
"My brother got his revenge, though he was wounded in the process. Then, since we had nowhere else to go, we stayed with the army." Rumiya paused. "We were there two years, until I was almost sixteen. Then the army was defeated.
"My brother was badly injured. We took refuge in a small dojo--which your father now owns." Rumiya smiled at Sage's startled gasp. "It was there that the most significant event of my life occurred."
"You received the Halo armor," Sage said. Rumiya nodded.
"Yes. I received the Halo armor. My brother was too weak to even stand, let alone fight, so that left only me. And . . . I was drawn away to meet the other Ronins of my time."
"You make it sound as if it were a bad thing," Sage noted. Rumiya hung her head.
"They never really accepted me," she said softly. "A woman as a warrior? It was unheard-of! And they expected me to behave as a woman at all times, save when we were actually engaged in battle."
"That doesn't sound like it worked out too well."
"It cost me my life," Rumiya said baldly. "I had no confidence in myself. We fought as five, even against one enemy. And then . . . I was killed. By one of the very men who had once fought beside us."
"A Dynasty Warlord," Sage guessed. "Which?"
"Anubis," Rumiya replied. "I don't remember much more than watching the blade of his weapon coming towards me. After that . . . I just . . . well, sort of floated."
"If you died four hundred years ago," Sage said, not sure he believed what he was talking about. "Then how can you be here now?"
"The armor has the power to bring any of its previous bearers back to life," Rumiya explained. "It chose to do so. I don't know why, or for how long, or anything like that."
"Well, that covers pretty much all my questions," Sage said. "Will you be all right here? I don't want to leave you in danger."
"I'll be fine. I've got Okamiko and my oni for protection," Rumiya said, smiling. Sage smiled back. Then, on sudden impulse, be bent his head and kissed her quickly.
"Take care," he said, standing. He left quickly, wanting to get home before dawn.
Rumiya sat where she was on the floor, touching her fingers to her lips, until he was well out of sight.
Ryo and Rowen found Sage under the cherry trees at lunch on Monday. They were concerned; he looked like he was about to fall asleep. Cye and Kento were still in class; they shared the second lunch period.
"Hey, Sage, what's wrong?" Ryo asked.
"Yeah, you look beat, man!" Rowen added.
Sage shook his head, blinking, and looked up. "Huh?" he said. Then, rubbing at his eyes with the back of his hand, he added, "Oh. Sorry, guys. It was almost four in the morning before I got back from walking Ru home."
Ryo and Rowen shared a significant look. "Do we want to know?" Rowen murmured. Sage frowned at him.
"Aw, no, it wasn't anything like that!" he cried. His cheeks reddened slightly. "C'mon, guys! Lay off it already!"
"Then what was it?" Ryo asked, plainly disbelieving.
"It's not--something we can talk about here," Sage said. "Look, is there any way we can all meet at yours and Miya's place for dinner?"
"Uh, if Cye and Kento can make it, I guess so," Ryo replied frowning. He glanced at Rowen.
"I can make it. Mom's got some kind of recognition dinner or something to go to tonight, anyway," Rowen agreed.
"Good," Sage nodded. He yawned. "Man, I hate it when I'm this tired!" he complained.
"Okay, so you were telling the truth!" Rowen teased, grinning. Ryo glanced at him, frowning. "He didn't mind for Akari. Or Miku."
"Guys!" Sage yelled, mortified. Ryo and Rowen snickered. Sage glared at them. "Oh, yeah, laugh it up! At least I got some, which, considering how truly pitiful the two of you are, is not likely to happen for either one of you in the forseeable future!"
"Hey!" Ryo and Rowen cried in unison. Sage smirked at them and leaned back against the tree, ready for a short nap before the end of lunch.
Miya and Ryo were in the midst of a domestic tiff when the others arrived. Actually, it was more of a full- fledged war. And the casualties, it was soon apparent, were to be the guests.
" . . . your problem, Miya!? Every time I even ask about having somebody over, you throw a fit!" Ryo yelled.
"You aren't the one who has to cook for them!" Miya screeched back. "Or clean up after them!"
"Then why is it I always wind up doing all the dishes!?" Ryo demanded. Miya looked scornful.
"The dishes! The dishes!? You call that cleaning!?"
"After Kento's been here!? Hell, yeah! And the way you cook!?" Kento was the first to fall. He looked hurt, and Sai patted his shoulder consolingly, trying not to smile.
"Dishes are a pittance! I am the one who has to scrub the walls after the five of you throw your food around like two-year-olds! I am the one who has to pick scraps of gods-know-what out of the carpet! I am the one who has to put the furniture back where it belongs--and usually repair it, too! I'm not spending my life picking up after a group of immature, hormone-driven egomaniacs!" The others fell en masse.
"These are my friends you're talking about, Miya!" Ryo growled menacingly. He would have said more, but Rowen cleared his throat.
"Uh, speaking of which . . . " he said. Ryo and Miya whipped their heads around, startled. "The, uh, front door was open, so we came in."
Miya blushed furiously and scurried into the kitchen. "Ryo, go get the rest of the groceries!" she ordered sharply. Ryo glared at the kitchen door.
"Shrew," he muttered. He stalked towards the door. "Make yourselves comfortable, guys," he said over his shoulder. "I'll be back in a while."
"Is it just me, or did they get along better before they moved in together?" Sage asked sardonically. Rowen rolled his eyes, Sai nodded, and Kento continued to look sounded.
"I don't really eat that much . . . do I, guys?" he asked pathetically. Rowen and Sage looked at Sai. Sai shifted uncomfortably.
"Uh, well, Kento, you kinda . . . do," he admitted. "I mean . . . uh . . . well, you're a big guy, is all."
Kento looked worried. "You think I should go on a diet, Sai?" he asked. "Mama keeps feeding me up, though. And Papa's six-four--maybe I'm just still growing?" he asked hopefully.
"Um, maybe, Kento," Sai said, unwilling to burst his friend's bubble. Kento, however, wasn't really listening. He bit his lower lip, still frowning.
"Maybe I should go on a diet," he murmured to himself. "Maybe I could start tomorrow?"
Rowen and Sage shared a look and rolled their eyes.
"So Rumiya says she's a four-hundred- year-old Ronin Warrior?" Ryo said, summing it up neatly. Sage frowned at the say he stressed "says"
"You don't believe her!" he accused.
"No, I don't!" Ryo shot back. He looked concerned. "But you do!"
"Yes, I do," Sage said firmly. "I don't know how to explain it but . . . I just--I know it's the truth!"
Ryo opened his mouth to retort when Sai broke in. "Ryo, wouldn't White Blaze know? He's always pretty stand-offish around strangers, but is Rumiya is a Ronin . . . "
"I think she's telling the truth," Rowen said suddenly. His friends all looked at him. "Think about it. That extra little bit of kick she's got--like we do. And how she sort of seemed to know stuff about us nobody ever told her."
"Hey, and what about that pet wolf she's got?" Kento said, eyeing the leftovers wistfully. He'd already turned down seconds. "It don't seem tame to me."
"Okamiko's a she, Kento," Sage corrected. "Ru didn't want to talk about it, but I gather Okamiko saved her and her brother's lives a couple of times."
"Sure," Ryo said skeptically.
"Sai's idea is a good one," Rowen said, looking straight at Ryo. "If White Blaze knows her, then will you accept her story as the truth?"
Ryo considered it for a long moment, frowning heavily. Finally, reluctantly, he agreed. "If Blaze treats her like a Ronin, then I guess I'll have to, won't I."
"I suppose this means another trip out to the lake?" Miya asked snippily. Ryo scowled at her.
"Gee, Miya, took you this long to figure that out?" he said sarcastically.
"Don't you start with me!" Miya snapped back. "This is my house, paid for with my money! I support you, you--"
"Shut up, you shrewish bitch!" Ryo shouted. "It was all your idea in the first place, so if you didn't want to do it, you shouldn't have brought it up!"
"Guys! Guys, please! Please, calm down!" Sai pleaded, trying to settle Ryo and Miya down. He was having little, if any, success.
"Uh, if it makes you feel any better, Miya, it won't be this weekend," Sage offered. Miya broke off her quarrel with Ryo and turned to him, frowning.
"Oh?" she said in frigid tones. Sage winced.
"I'm taking Ru to the carnival Saturday," he explained. "And Sunday I'm taking her out dancing."
"Who was it who said Rumiya wasn't his girlfriend?" Rowen asked, malicious amusement dancing in his deep blue eyes.
Sage flushed and made no response.
Rumiya sat up when the alarm went off, rubbing her eyes sleepily. She peered myopically at the clock, one which showed both time and date. {Why did I set my clock for this early on a Saturday?} she wondered.
Okamiko padded in and tugged lightly at the blanket. Rumiya glanced down, and her friend silently reminded her of the occasion. Rumiya cursed and threw back the sheets. She dashed to her closet and threw on the closest clothing at hand, a pretty white skirt and a soft mint-green sweater. Grabbing up her backless white flats, she ran lightly down the stairs to grab a bite of breakfast.
{Damn! Damndamndamn! He'll be here any second!} She ate hurriedly, then realized she was cosmetics-free. For some reason, she wanted to look her best. She ran back up the stairs and spent a few seconds brushing a bit of eyeshadow and a touch of lip gloss on. Frowning, she decided on some perfume and a pair of delicate earrings.
She was trying to decide on more when the doorbell rang. "Shit!" she muttered at her reflection. She grabbed up her purse and ran to get the door.
Sage leaned against the door frame on the other side, grinning. "I was wondering how long it would take you to get the door," he teased. Rumiya made a face at him. Then, he held out a gorgeous bouquet of carnations, daisies, baby's-breath, and ferns. Rumiya gasped.
"Sage, they're beautiful!"
"Mm," Sage agreed absently, busy looking Rumiya over. Rumiya raised her eyes to his and blushed slightly. She turned away, clearing her throat.
"I'll just put these in a vase, and then we can get going," she said over her shoulder. Sage grinned, knowing exactly what affect he was having on her.
"Sure thing," he agreed. He knew his choice of jeans and a light green, short-sleeved button-up shirt had been appropriate; the green almost exactly matched the color of Rumiya's sweater. He wondered if she'd noticed.
Rumiya took a second in the kitchen to regain her composure. Okamiko raised her head from her paws and lolled her tongue out the side of her mouth. Rumiya mock-scowled at her. "What are you laughing at?" she demanded. The wolf vouchsafed no answer, but continued to watch with amusement.
Rumiya stuffed the flowers in a vase and set it in the middle of the kitchen table. Then, she took a deep, steadying breath, and walked out into the living room. "Sorry. I had to get the vase down off the top shelf."
"I would've gotten it for you," Sage said.
"Well, it's down now," Rumiya replied, smiling. "And I didn't break anything, either!"
"Well, that's good, anyway!" Sage replied, slinging an arm around her waist. Rumiya swallowed nervously at the contact, but her outward composure didn't slip. "Let's go. The carnival opens at nine."
Rumiya nodded, slipped on her shoes, and went along with him.
It was nearly sunset before the pair returned to Rumiya's house. They walked together, laughing and chatting, both of them with their arms full of prizes. Rumiya's pile was slightly larger.
"I don't know how I'm going to get that door open!" the girl giggled. "If I try to pull out my keys, I'll drop everything!"
The door suddenly slammed outward, then opened. Rumiya looked startled. "So that's how she does it!" she muttered. Sage frowned at her. "Okamiko."
"Ah. You need a new lock, if that works," he replied. Rumiya shook her head.
"Shiiko wouldn't like it."
"Tell me about her," Sage requested suddenly, dumping the toys on a side table. Rumiya did the same and went to sit on the couch. Sage sat beside her, smirking to himself when she edged away slightly.
"Shiiko is . . . I guess she's related to my family," Rumiya replied. "She was praying to her ancestors when I appeared out of nowhere. She bears a certain resemblance to my mother."
"Oh?" Sage politely prompted, stretching his arms out on the back of the couch. Rumiya sat forward some.
"I gave her quite a shock. She was completely unprepared for a naked sixteen-year-old girl to drop out of thin air in front of her."
"I know what I would do in a situation like that," Sage murmured, a devilish glint in his eyes. Rumiya blushed furiously.
"Break out the tux," she replied. Sage laughed. "Do you want to hear this story, or not?"
Sage nodded. "Of course. Go ahead." He wasn't so much interested in the story as keeping Rumiya distracted until he made his move.
"There's not much else to the story. I told her everything, of course. Strangely enough, she actually understood. She bought me a nice modern wardrobe and set me up here. Then she went back to her ancestors' grave to finish her prayers and purifications."
"I see," Sage said. "Did you have fun today?"
"Did I--well, yes, of course!" Rumiya said, startled. She blinked up at Sage. Then, she let out a little shriek as Sage suddenly pulled her across his lap, holding her very close. "S-Sage!"
"The best is yet to come," he whispered, just before his lips closed over hers.
Despite previous teasing little kisses, mere brushes of his lips against hers, Rumiya was completely unprepared for this. His lips moved gently against hers, parting them, stirring delicious feelings all across her body.
She gasped when he slipped his tongue into her mouth. Sage shuddered slightly, shifting them both so he was half-laying on top of Rumiya. Rumiya's hands slid up into his hair as she started to kiss him back.
There was a low, furious growl just beside Sage's ear. He paid it no heed, but continued to kiss the girl beneath him. Then, suddenly, he was jerked roughly onto the floor by the collar of his shirt. He froze, staring up at Okamiko's snarling muzzle.
"O-Okamiko! S-Stop!" Rumiya stuttered breathlessly. She flung herself down, jerking the enraged wolf away from Sage. Okamiko struggled, but Rumiya held tightly. Okamiko only desisted when a tear slipped down Rumiya's cheek. "Please!" the girl cried desperately.
Okamiko stilled, though the tension remained in her body. She turned her head and licked Rumiya's face lightly, then growled at Sage again. She padded back to the kitchen, standing in the door there.
Sage climbed to his feet and extended a hand to Rumiya. "You're better protected than I had imagined," he said softly. Rumiya blushed at the look in his eyes.
"I-I . . . yes," she whispered.
"I'll pick you up at eight tomorrow night," Sage said after a moment. He leaned towards her, ready to kiss her again, but a warning growl from Okamiko stopped him. "And you're willing to come down to the lake with us next weekend?"
Rumiya nodded. "I'll see you then," she said quietly. Sage lifted her fingers to his lips and kissed them softly. Then, he left quietly.
Rumiya was fast asleep, her head resting on the window. A few odd noises and yips from the back indicated Okamiko, too, slept. It was fairly quiet, aside from Kento and Sai's ongoing game of "Rock-Paper-Scissors"--which Kento kept loosing.
Sage watched Rumiya. For the past week, he had worn a slightly distracted look; now it was a thoughtful frown. Rowen touched his shoulder, and he jumped. "Huh?"
"Something wrong, buddy?" Rowen asked quietly.
"No!" Sage denied sharply. Rowen just looked at him, a slight smile on his lips. Sage sighed. "Nothing's wrong," he insisted.
"We'll worm it out of you eventually, Sage, so you might as well confess," Ryo said, rolling his head to look back at his friends. Sai and Kento stopped their game to listen.
Sage sighed again. "All right, all right," he said. "I've been thinking about something that happened last Saturday."
"Uh, we're going to want more detail than that," Kento prodded. Sage shifted uncomfortably.
"I kissed Rumiya," he admitted. His friends exchanged looks that clearly said, 'So what?' "This kiss . . . it wasn't like any kiss I've ever had before. Somehow, it was--it was even more intimate than--" He broke off, cheeks reddening.
"There's more," Rowen said certainly. Sage shifted in his seat, his eyes downcast.
"I think I'm in love with her," he mumbled.
"Sage, you've known her barely six weeks!" Ryo protested, scandalized. Sage glared at him.
"I know that!" he snapped. "It doesn't matter! And don't start telling me it's just infatuation, Rowen," he said, turning on Rowen. "I know my own heart."
"I think it's sweet," Miya spoke up. Ryo glared daggers at her.
"So who asked?" he demanded obnoxiously.
"Guys!" Sai wailed, waking Rumiya.
"Huh? Wha . . . ?"
"Uh, we're almost there," Sage said hurriedly. Rumiya stretched, completely unaware of the discussion of a mere moment before.
Okamiko smiled a lupine grin and went back to sleep.
Okamiko sprang out of the back of the van, knocking Sai over, and fled into the trees. "Okamiko!" Rumiya called after her, her tone irritated. The wolf paid her no mind.
Miya snatched Ryo's fingers away from his lips as he was about to whistle for White Blaze. "Oh, no, you don't!" she cried. "You are not going to get out of helping with the luggage!"
"Miya, you b--" The sounds of their quarrel faded from Okamiko's sharp ears. She raced ever deeper into the forest. She joyed in the feel of soft earth beneath her paws.
:Greetings, little sister. May I bear you company?: Okamiko skidded to a halt. She looked around, startled, and saw White Blaze rising from his place on a large, sun-baked rock.
:Oh! Greetings, elder one! My apologies. I am afraid I lost myself in the run.: Okamiko wagged her tail as White Blaze sniffed her lightly.
:You have been long away from the place of your life,: he observed.
:Yes,: Okamiko agreed. :Too long.:
:I wonder why?: White Blaze mused, too polite to ask outright.
:I remain always with my mistress,: Okamiko told him proudly.
:She must be a remarkable woman, to gain the loyalty of a Forest Wolf.:
:She was once Lady of Light.:
:I see.:
:Lord of Fire does not believe her.:
:May I know what name you use, little sister?:
:Of course, elder one!: Okamiko sounded startled and pleased. :I am Okamiko.:
:I am White Blaze, Okamiko,: White Blaze responded. Okamiko let out a tiny, surprised yip. :Come, let us run together for a time.:
:Will we run to the dwelling place of the Lords of Earth?: Okamiko asked curiously.
:In time, I think.: White Blaze glanced at the sun. :In time to eat, I think.:
Okamiko let her tongue hang out of her mouth as she and White Blaze started to run together.
Rumiya sat curled up under a tree, her knees pulled up to her chin, staring into space. Sage frowned slightly as he watched her. There was an aura of sadness about he'd never seen before. "Ru?" he said quietly. There was no response.
Rumiya started violently at a soft touch on her shoulder. She gasped, throwing an arm up protectively and drawing a fist back to strike. When she saw it was only Sage, she lowered her defenses. "Sage!" she said. "Um, what are you doing here?"
"This is my favorite spot to meditate," Sage replied, sitting down next to her. Rumiya let out a semi-amused snort. "What's wrong? Ryo bothering you?" Though Ryo had accepted White Blaze's "verdict" that Rumiya was a Ronin, he was still suspicious of her.
"Nothing," Rumiya denied softly. "Just thinking . . . about the past."
"Ru, what's gone is gone," Sage said quietly, raising her chin so that she looked into his eyes. "There's no way to bring back the past. You have to let go."
"Letting go is so much easier said than done," Rumiya replied softly. "And . . . I'm so afraid . . . " She suddenly threw herself into Sage's arms and buried her face in his chest, tears shimmering, unshed, on her lashes.
"What are you afraid of?" Sage asked gently. He held her tenderly, like he never wanted to let her go. Rumiya choked back a sob.
"How long do I have? How much time? A few weeks, a couple of months? A whole lifetime? Will I be sucked back into that . . . horrible limbo again?" Rumiya started to weep. Sage stroked her hair comfortingly.
"No one knows how much time they have left in this world," he replied. "But Ru . . . you have to live each moment to the fullest . . . with--with someone you care about."
{Is he . . . is he saying what I think he is?} Rumiya thought, her eyes widening. She slowly raised her head to stare incredulously at him. Sage looked back, his clear lavender eyes soft and vulnerable. {He--he is!}
"I l-love you, Rumiya Kawase," Sage whispered, brushing his lips across Rumiya's. Rumiya gasped sharply.
"Sage . . . " She pulled away, sitting back on her heels. The tears returned, and she lowered her head. After a moment, she looked back up. "Sage, please, don't. Not right now . . . " She caught back a sob. "Oh, Sage, the light can blind as easily as the dark . . . "
"I don't understand," Sage frowned, confused. This was not the reaction he had expected. Then, suddenly, something struck from behind. The last thing he saw before he blacked out was Rumiya, staring in horror.