Ronin Warriors Fan Fiction ❯ Love's Tangled Web ❯ Part 4 ( Chapter 4 )

**Author's Note: Okay, so what's gonna happen now? Jade and Sage are still fighting, and now we find out about Sai and Kento's relationship, and Ryo's secret feelings for Rhia. Will Ryo show Rhia how he feels? Will she accept him or reject him? How much more tangled can this get? I'll give you a clue: VERY.

 

Love's Tangled Web

Part 4

 

Rowen grabbed his most recent astronomy book and took it into the living room to read more of it. He settled into his favorite chair and began to read when someone walked into the room and turned on the stereo. The music was soft and soothing, fusing the sounds of flutes, harps, oboes and other instruments with the babbling of a stream, bird calls, crickets and other insects.

 

He knew without looking who it had to be. He heard the person sit on the floor beside his chair, facing the window directly behind him. Dare he look out the corner of his eye and verify who was sitting so close to him? If he didn't, his curiosity would drive him crazy, but if he did, it might turn out to be the one person to whom he would devote all of his love and affection if he were allowed.

 

Rowen closed his eyes and opened them again, trying to concentrate on his book. He read two sentences and realized he had no idea what he had just read. He read them again, only gaining a general idea of what the sentences were about. He sighed. 'Damn it,' he thought. He knew he wasn't going to get any reading done unless he looked. And if his assumption was right, he wouldn't get any reading done after he looked either. He sighed again.

 

"Rowen, are you okay?"

 

A wisp of blonde hair, a slender hand on his wrist. Dare he look into the face he could spend hours gazing at? He looked up into concerned indigo eyes.

 

"Yea, I'm fine. Why?" He made his tone what he hoped was light.

 

"You just seemed like something was bothering you. At least, that's what I was feeling in your aura."

 

Rowen inwardly paled as he wondered exactly how much Sage could read from his aura. "Well, I was just thinking about something, and I have to figure out what I'm gonna do is all. It's a tough decision. But I should be the one asking you if you're okay, with everything you've been going through."

 

Sage waved away his concern. "Don't worry about it. It'll all work out sooner or later."

 

"Yea, but sooner or later doesn't help you much now."

 

"True."

 

They sat in silence for a moment, Rowen fidgeting nervously.

 

Sage finally broke the silence. "You want to talk about it?"

 

"Only if you go first."

 

Sage smiled. "Okay. Why don't we take a walk?"

 

"Okay." Rowen smiled back, marked his page, and placed his book on the table, following Sage outside, part of him ecstatic to be alone with Sage, another part scared out of his wits.

 

They walked along one of the forest trails, patches of sunlight highlighting various parts of the scenery around them. They reached a small meadow, filled with soft grass and wildflowers. Rowen walked into the meadow, sitting down and leaning against a familiar rock. He often came out here at night to look at the stars. His body was picking up every sensation around him--the rock behind his back, the grass under him, the whisper of the wind through the flowers, the warmth of the sun as it shone down upon him, the proximity of Sage's body. Especially how close Sage was to him. He had sat down next to him, also leaning on the rock, almost touching him. Almost.

 

Rowen was the one to break the peaceful silence that had come over them. "So you gonna tell me what happened?"

 

"Well, you probably have already heard most of it."

 

"Yea, it was kinda hard not to, with you and Jade screaming it at each other. But I want to know exactly what happened. Not accusations the two of you were throwing in the midst of anger."

 

Sage gazed at the flowers around them and started to recount the tale. When he was finished, Rowen whistled in compassion.

 

"Sage, I had no idea."

 

"No one does."

 

Rowen's heart twisted as he looked at the gorgeous blonde next to him. Sage was hurt, deeply, and it showed. He longed to pull the warrior next to him and comfort him, but he knew Sage would have none of that. But slowly, timidly almost, he wrapped his hand around Sage's. "Don't worry. Things will work out okay, you'll see. But if ya need somebody to talk to now, ya know I'm here."

 

Sage smiled at his friend and squeezed his hand lightly. "Thanks, Ro."

 

Rowen smiled back at the swordsman, his heart melting under that gaze. "Ya know, there's something I need to tell you…" he trailed off, lowering his gaze.

 

"What's that, Ro?"

 

The archer looked up, and his mind went completely blank. Sage was so beautiful, his blonde hair, indigo eyes wide in question, moist lips slightly parted… Before he even knew what he was doing, Rowen pulled Sage toward him and kissed him, pressing Sage's sweet lips against his own. He had one hand buried in his golden locks, just relishing the taste of him, until he realized Sage wasn't kissing him back.

 

He pulled away and Sage just stared at him. There was no anger, no disgust, no love in his gaze, just shock as he slowly raised his fingers to his lips.

 

Rowen watched Sage, glued in place by his own shock, disbelief, shame and fear. He braced himself for anger, a torrent of harsh words and demands, but there were none. The two warriors simply stared at each other.

 

"What… Why?" Sage asked, forcing himself to make some kind of sound.

 

Rowen swallowed hard. He had better tell the truth.

 

"Because I love you."

 

* * *

 

Jade walked into the kitchen feeling cool and refreshed. She poured herself some tea and sat down at the bar, gazing out the windows over the sink.

 

Suddenly, a pair of arms wrapped themselves around her waist. She started when she felt a pair of lips on her neck. Seeing a lock of auburn-colored hair out of the corner of her eye, she smiled and turned to face him. "Hello, Sai."

 

He ran his fingers through her wet hair. “You've been to the lake.”

 

“Yes, Ryo and I went and had a wonderful swim while we chatted. Jealous?” She grinned evilly at him and he smiled back.

 

“Why would I be jealous?”

 

“Because I got to go for a lovely swim today and you didn't.”

 

“I suppose I might be a little jealous.”

 

She giggled

 

He hugged her fiercely, pulling her body flush against his. “But now you're here with me.” He buried his face in her neck, kissing it softly.

 

Jade gazed over Sai's shoulder and watched Ryo leave the kitchen doorway. They had talked about her feelings, but not about his. She'd have to ask him about that later, because she had the sudden suspicion that he was in love with Sai, though he hadn't said anything about it.

 

She pulled away from the embrace. “Sai-kun, what do you think about Ryo?”

 

“In what sense?”

 

Hmm… good response… “Just what you think when you see him.”

 

He looked at her questioningly, but answered her anyway. “I think he's a great guy, caring, loving, beautiful in his own right, and willing to give anything for his friends.”

 

“You think he's beautiful?” Score! Point for Jade. She smiled.

 

Sai laughed. “What's with all these questions about Ryo all of a sudden? You must know something.”

 

Jade grinned like a Cheshire cat. “No, but I suspect something.”

 

“About me and Ryo? Why? Rhia's the one in love with Ryo.”

 

Jade stared at Sai.

 

He winked. “I'm observant, too.”

 

“Don't say anything. I hate to think what she'd do to us.”

 

“I won't. Besides, I have you and Kento, and that's all I need. But we're supposed to be talking about you and me. Not everyone else.”

 

Jade smiled. “Okay, then let's talk about you and me.” She kissed him softly. “What are we gonna do, Sai?” A worried look came into her eyes.

 

“About what?”

 

“About us.” She pulled away slightly, looking down at the floor before meeting his gaze again. “I mean, I want to work things out with Sage, because I really do love him, but I don't want to lose the love I've found in you.”

 

He sighed. “Jade, I'll always love you. We may not always be lovers, but I'll always love you, just as Sage loves you. And if you don't have to choose, then don't. There's no rule saying you can't have more than one lover at the same time.”

 

“True, but a part of me still feels bad. But, I suppose you're right.” She gasped as he started nipping at her neck and shoulder.

 

“Of course I'm right,” he whispered, grinning, running his hands over her back.

 

Jade pulled his head up and kissed him softly before pushing him away. “Later, Tiger,” she whispered, a glint in her eye.

 

“Promise?”

 

“I promise.”

 

Sai gave her an evil smile in response. “Okay. You promised, and I fully intend to hold you to it.”

 

“Good.”