Ronin Warriors Fan Fiction ❯ Love's Tangled Web ❯ Part 1 ( Chapter 1 )

Author's Note: I took this fic off MediaMiner on Sept 16, 2005. I took it down mostly because I had totally revamped chapters 1-7, and added a new prologue. All of you who reviewed and loved this fic, I thank you more than I could ever possibly express, as praise is food for the muses, and, well, I hope you'll love it even more now. There is more depth to the characters, the plot, and some unexpected twists in store, that, while surprising, will flow with the storyline, rather than being harsh interrupting scenes, strung together with all the grace and delicacy of a piece of bubble gum, stretched to the limit, that it would have been otherwise. (my story has flow now!) Also, the story will have yaoi in later chapters. I have added more strings and tangles to this web, and also added some more insight to the characters, especially the OCs (you all don't know them as well as I do!).

 

Disclaimer: Not mine, except Jade. She's mine! All mine!!! And Rhia too! Mwahahahahaha!!! *cackles* O.O Oops… character slip…. ^_^( ) Okay, read already…

 

 

Love's Tangled Web

Part One

“Oh, what a tangled web we weave.”

~Shakespeare

 

 

Jade was furious. She had gotten dressed up and done her hair, and Sage had hardly looked at her all evening. They were at one of the best restaurants in town, but that didn't matter anymore. Did he ask her on this date to spend obscene amounts of money and look at other girls? She thought this night was supposed to be for just the two of them… She had told him how much his flirting bothered her, that it made her feel unwanted, unloved, neglected. And yet, he had still responded to every pretty girl that flirted with him! How could he do this to her? It was humiliating, degrading. He had excused himself a moment ago—she'd see what happened when he got back. Their waitress had been eyeing him all night.

 

Normally, she would have enjoyed going out with such a handsome man, all the other girls staring; she would have enjoyed making them jealous. But everything changed when he actually paid attention to those longing gazes. It made her jealous—and that was never a good thing.

 

Sorry about that," he said as he slid into the seat next to her.

 

Jade moved closer to him and wrapped her arm around his to whisper in his ear, her voice acquiring a rich, husky tone. "I missed you."

 

Sage turned to look at her, a slight smile on his face. "I was only gone for a minute."

 

"I know," she whispered, pressing as much of her body against him as possible. "But you know how I can't bear to be without you." She let her lips brush against his ear as she spoke.

 

“Mmm…" She was up to something, but he let his eyes drop closed as she started to run her hand up and down his thigh.

 

Luckily they were in a secluded corner booth where no one could see what she was doing as she moved her hand higher, to a place that made him forget what he was saying.

 

"What are you thinking about?"

 

"You…"

 

"Hmm… Not that pretty waitress who gave you her number?"

 

"No, just you."

 

"Not even any of those girls you were talking with at Intermission, earlier?"

 

"No, though they were gorgeous…"

 

"Damnit Sage!" She pulled away and stood up.

 

His eyes snapped open. "No, Jade. I didn't mean to--"

 

"I don't care what you meant!" she snapped, her eyes flashing in anger. "You've flirted with other girls for months, and I'm done putting up with it! When you decide you're ready to commit to one person, you can come find me, if I'm still available!" With that, she stormed out of the restaurant, all eyes now on her.

 

Sage caught up to her in the lobby and placed his hand firmly around her arm. "Jade, wait."

 

"Let me go, Sage." Her voice was low and dangerous.

 

"Not until you tell me why you're so upset."

 

She screamed in rage and slapped him. "Why don't you ask that pretty waitress, or those 'gorgeous' girls from the opera, or the other hundred girls that have given you their numbers on our dates!!!"

 

Sage stood there, stunned, as she walked swiftly out of the building and drove away.

 

Jade slammed the door behind her and everyone looked up, startled. "If you haven't heard from him yet, you might want to go get him. But I wouldn't. He'll probably find some girl to spend the night with." She threw the keys at Rowen and rushed upstairs.

 

The five remaining warriors in the living room stared at each other in silence for a moment before Rowen stood up.

 

"If Sage calls, tell him I'm on my way," he said as he headed for the door.

 

Sai looked up at the ceiling. "I'll go talk to Jade." He went into the kitchen and pulled out a bottle of saké, pouring half the bottle into a small to warm before he headed upstairs.

 

He found her crying hysterically, tissue under her eyes to keep her mascara from getting into them. He went and got a wet washcloth from the bathroom and waited as she gently cleaned the make-up off her face as she cried. After she finished, she looked up at him, her tears temporarily subsiding.

 

"Tell me what happened," he said as he started to take down her hair.

 

Jade recounted the whole story about what happened between her and Sage that night, not sparing any of the details. By the time she finished, her tears were flowing freely again. "I hate him."

 

"No, you don't," Sai said soothingly, taking her into his arms. "If you really hated him, you wouldn't be crying like this, would you?"

 

"No, I suppose not."

 

Jade stood up and changed into her nightgown before hanging up her dress. She took great care in these things, as menial tasks always helped her ignore her emotional distress. Until, suddenly, her crying renewed itself. "I just can't believe him!" she said between sobs.

 

Sai moved over to sit next to her and pulled her into his arms comfortingly. "Shhh… It's okay. It'll all be better in the morning." He rocked her and ran his hands over her back until her sobs lessened. "Are you gonna be okay?"

 

"Yes, just let me be for a little bit. I'll be okay."

 

The tears still slid down her face, but he left, listening outside her door. After a few moments she started crying again. She never cried much in front of anyone—the worst of it she always did alone, where no one could hear or see. He headed downstairs, pulling out a saké set on a tray before hearing the front door close. Sage wandered vaguely into the kitchen and sat at the table, Rowen right behind him.

 

* * *

 

Rowen walked into the restaurant to find Sage in a chair, head in hands.

 

"Hey, buddy," he said as he sat down next to him.

 

Sage lifted his head to look at Rowen, exposing his tear-stained face, though he wasn't crying any longer.

 

"Come on," Rowen said, patting Sage's shoulder. "Let's go home." He stood up and walked out to the car, Sage following him mutely, automatically.

 

"So what happened?" Rowen asked quietly. "All I know is that Jade came in upset and told us to come get you."

 

Sage sighed and recounted what happened in the restaurant.

 

"I'm sorry, Bro. Women, neh? Don't worry. We'll get you home and put you to bed, and you can think about it in the morning. Everything will be better then, and you and Jade will make up and it will be like none of this ever happened," Rowen said as he pulled into the driveway.

 

Sage noted his friend's attempt to cheer him up, but was unconvinced, and did not respond. Zombie-like, he wandered into the kitchen and sat at the table. He stared blankly at the floor, images of Jade passing through his mind.

 

Sai looked at Sage for a moment before shifting his gaze to Rowen and motioning toward the warm saké on the stove. "To help him feel better," he said simply before going upstairs to comfort Jade. He knocked on the door softly before letting himself in, and caught her trying to hastily wipe away her tears.

 

"Sai, I…"

 

"Shhh… don't talk," he said soothingly as he poured her some saké. "Drink this."

 

She took it and stared at it blankly while Sai filled his own cup. She knew what it was by the saké set and the smell, but she didn't want to drink it.

 

"Drink," Sai said again softly, taking a sip. "It'll help you feel better."

 

She took a sip and let the liquid warm the pit of her stomach before finishing the small cup. She loved the taste of the rice wine, and the familiarity brought a little comfort. "Thank you Sai," she said softly, hugging him.

 

"You're welcome," he said, hugging her back and handing her a refilled sakezuki.

 

She finished this second, and a third, cup before stopping. "Don't refill it. I feel much better, and now I'm tired. Drained is more like it. It's been a long night."

 

"Okay, I'll be right back. You get ready for bed." He made his way downstairs and found Sage and Rowen still at the table, the saké gone, Sage's tear-stained face calm and peaceful in the mask of sleep. "Is he okay?"

 

"Yea, I think so. He was like a statue for a while, and when I finally convinced him to drink a little bit, he started crying again, and the more he drank the more he cried. He started to calm down and then fell asleep. I don't blame him, though. I'd probably do the same thing."

 

"Yea, the alcohol broke down his mask, but at least he was able to deal with the emotions. You know how bad he is about locking his feelings away. You need help getting him to bed?"

 

"Would ya? He's tough to handle when he's like this," Rowen replied as he gently shook Sage half-awake. "Come on, buddy. Let's get you to bed."

 

Supported on either side by Rowen and Sai, Sage precariously stumbled to his room.

 

Sai went back to Jade's room and caught her just climbing into bed. He walked over and started to tuck her in. "Comfy?"

 

Jade shivered. "Cold. I'm so cold…" She placed her hands on his forearm and hugged it close to her.

 

Sai almost jumped at her touch—her hands were like ice. "You'll warm up in a minute, I promise. Now get some sleep. You've had a rough night." He gently tried to pull away.

 

Jade clung to him and looked up at him pleadingly. "Stay with me?" she whispered.

 

Sai melted under her gaze. Sometimes he wished he wasn't so softhearted. "Okay." He stripped to his boxer shorts and climbed in beside her.

 

"Thank you, Sai," Jade sighed as she snuggled close to him and rested her head on his chest.

 

He wrapped his arm around her waist and looked down only to find she was already asleep. He tried to gently untangle himself from her, but she only clung to him tighter, shifting in her sleep.

 

He didn't mind being curled up next to her, he liked her as more than a friend, but he'd never let her know. She loved Sage; he knew that for sure. But whether Sage drove her away with his constant flirting was another story. They really loved each other, and he wouldn't get in the way, but he couldn't help the way his heart skipped a beat whenever she was near.

 

He gazed down at her sleeping form. Here she was, so close to him, her limbs tangled in his, and yet she was unreachable. He sighed again before surrendering himself to the dark enfold of sleep.

 

* * *

 

Sage woke up to find himself in bed. He yawned and rolled over. He was in his boxers. He never slept in his boxers anymore. And where was Jade? Jade. Oh, Gods…

 

The memories came flooding back, and suddenly his bed felt just a little bigger, a little colder, and much lonelier. He glanced at the clock as he got up. Two A.M. He wandered into Jade's room and felt a twinge of pain at seeing her curled up with Sai. A streak of jealousy shot through him, but he dismissed it. Jealousy would get him nowhere. Jade just wanted someone to hold her and comfort her—nothing more.

 

He kneeled beside the bed and smoothed silken strands of long purple hair away from her face and gazed at her closed eyes and thought of the glittering green irises he knew were hidden underneath. How could he have been such a fool? She was so beautiful. She made every other girl he had ever seen vanish into oblivion.

 

He laid his head next to hers and took in her features: her long, soft eyelashes, pale skin, high cheekbones, delicate nose, rosy cheeks, full, sweet lips, long slender neck. He could even still smell the remnants of her perfume—a scent she wore only for him. He gently kissed her soft lips.

 

"Sage…" Jade whispered, a smile on her sleeping face before she drifted deeper into her dreams.

 

Sage smiled wanly as tears welled in his eyes. "Forgive me, Jade, my angel. My beautiful tenchi. I've fallen in love with you, but I fear I've realized it too late. Please forgive me."

 

He gazed at her a few moments longer before turning and walking out of the room, unaware of Sai's sea-blue eyes watching his retreat, having been witness to everything.