Courting The Jester

Chapter Eleven

"Hey guys? How the heck do you get across this thing?" Kento shouted cheerfully.
Rowen shouted back how to get across the chasm. The guys were half way there when Sage flipped. His face was twisted and ugly when he went for Mia and Nikki. Rowen tried to intervene but Sage forced past him. Sage grabbed Nikki's arm and threw her to the side, his rage all focused on Mia. Rowen spun and caught Nikki before she fell, leaving Mia defenseless. The redhead stared coldly at Halo as he seized her up.

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Nikki walked next to him, his massive armor making her feel small and insignificant. The heavy scowl on his face didn't help, nor did the way he gripped his bow with a large clenched fist. She felt naked at his side, as if she was set out in shame for him to see right through her. For him to judge her. She knew she came out lacking.
"Keep your eyes open," Rowen said, his voice quiet but hard as steel. He was angry with her. He had been for so long now. She wished that this was over. She really didn't know how much more she could take. Nikki nodded and scanned the woods around them, but she knew it was pointless. There was nothing about her that would be able to sense the enemy until they were right in front of her face. Any survival instincts had long since started screaming at her that she needed to get away from there. A little more danger wouldn't mean anything, and wouldn't cause any extra warning. She wasn't like them. She didn't want to be. She wanted to be home, in her own bed, in her own country, in her own life. She didn't want to be a part of his any longer.
The thing had leapt out of the trees above them and Rowen had put an arrow through its head before she knew they were being attacked. It fell to the ground with a thump, writhing around in pain. Rowen put two more arrows in it before it stopped fighting. She realized that she had never even started. She hadn't been afraid. Rowen poked his foot into the thing, turning it over and making sure it was dead. Then he leveled her with a cold look.
"You weren't watching, Nikki. It was going after you." She shrugged, as if to say that there wasn't anything she could do about it. Rowen snorted and continued on, his broad back turned to her.
Oh yes, she didn't want to be a part of this any longer.
They topped a hill and she caught a glimpse of the small clearing, and the several people gathered around a fire at the center of it. The Ronin stretched his long legs, walking faster towards the safety of the group below. She continued at the same pace, buying herself a few moments of time to think. The redhead at the fire looked up at Nikki, and her brow furrowed a moment. Nikki shook her head in a small quick motion, and a brief flicker of relief showed on the redhead's face before she schooled it away. Several feet away a blonde head was turned in her direction. Nikki almost went to her to give her the same silent reassurance she'd given Mia, but the girl was flanked by both Cye and Sage, and neither one looked like they were planning on going anywhere anytime soon. Sage's face was set in a grim expression, and Cye's wasn't much better. Both were armed.
Rowen strode into the firelight and went immediately to where Ryo stood with Kento. He leaned in and Nikki couldn't hear what he had said, but Mia's face once again flickered, this time with anger, before she forced it down. Nikki just shrugged at her friend. It didn't matter. Rowen would think what he wanted to. Nikki had long since tried to change that.
Nikki paused by the fire and sat down slowly. Cassie gingerly picked her way over to the fire and lowered herself between Nikki and Mia. Nikki reached out and briefly touched the blonde girl's hand, hoping the motion went unnoticed. Cassie stared unseeing at the dancing flames before her, seeming lost in her own world. But she too had a quick expression of relief pass her face. A moment. Nikki looked up and saw that Sage was watching them all, his eyes narrowed and unreadable. Nikki met his gaze and eventually the Ronin of Halo looked away, standing and moving over to Cye's side. The two spoke softly and Cye shook his head. Nikki didn't even try to figure it out.
Too many secrets. Too many deceptions. Were they even still on the same side?
Nikki remained were she was seated, closing her eyes tiredly. She was cold, despite the fire in front of her. She was cold all the way down into her bones. She wondered if she was ever going to be warm again.
As if instinctually knowing what she needed, she felt a male figure move in behind her and wrap his arms around her. She sighed and leaned back into his chest, thankful that he wasn't still as angry with her. That they could at least take a moment to relax…
She opened her eyes and went to turn around and tell him she was sorry about everything that had happened earlier, but something caught her eye. Rowen. He was still across the fire with Ryo and Kento, but all three were staring at her in horror. Nikki went numb. The arms around her tightened and a soft voice whispered seductively in her ear.
"Come now little one, don't you want to play anymore?"
Something licked her neck.
Oh god, she didn't want to be a part of this any longer.

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"Sage, calm down," Rowen said, just as the others made it across. They stared in confusion for a second at the scene in front of them.
"You…what did you do…!" Sage roared.
"Sage! Calm down!" Ryo shouted from the chasm. "Rowen, grab him!"

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Cassie looked confused as she kept her face turned towards where Sage had just entered. She had gone pale, then flushed. She grasped at Cye's hand, and they could see that she was trembling. She continued to stare blindly at Sage. The blonde Ronin had stopped dead in his tracks, his eyes riveted on the young woman.
"Cye? I can see him. Why can I see him, Cye?" Cassie asked, sounding almost breathless.
"What do you mean, you can see him?" Cye stared at her, then at Sage. "I thought you were completely blind Cass."
"I am, almost," she said, a smile forming on her lips. "My world is all dark shadows." Suddenly her entire face lit up and she started laughing.
"But I can see him! I don't know why, but where there's usually dark all I see is this bright beautiful light! It's beautiful! You're beautiful!" Cassie laughed with joy and spun in a circle, as if an excited child. She moved forward across the kitchen unerringly towards Sage.
"Cassie, look out!" Mia started but the girl had already stumbled into one of the kitchen chairs between her and Halo. Cye jumped forward to steady her, but Sage beat him to it. He moved to her swiftly and caught her arm, lightly grasping her waist to help her regain her balance. Cassie stared up at him, blue eyes unseeing but riveted on him. She bit her lip with small teeth, face upturned. Sage looked speechless. It was a first.
Cassie reached a tentative hand up and paused. When Sage didn't move or stop her, Cassie brushed her small fingers against Sage's shoulder. Then she moved up to his face.
"I can see you," she whispered. Sage still seemed dazed, but was recovering.
"But you can't see the furniture so please be careful," he said gently. Cassie smiled again, and the tall Ronin in front of her couldn't help but smile too. Mia looked at Sage then back at Cye. The warrior of Torrent was standing there silently, expression stunned. Rowen must have noticed as well because he spoke up in an overly jovial voice.
"Gee Sage, that's swell of you to provide a warning system for her, especially since we all know how clumsy you can be, buddy. But why don't you return the pretty lady to her escort so we can go get that barbeque started up? I've got a rack of ribs calling my name."
Rowen leveled a pointed look at Sage. He continued to stare down at the girl in front of him. Rowen cleared his throat.
"Seiji…give her back to Cye and help me, okay?" At the use of his Japanese name, Sage started then pulled back, flushing.
"Of course," he said, guiding Cassie back to Cye quickly. "It was nice to meet you Cassie. If you'll excuse me." Sage took one look at Cye then flushed again, moving out of the room with Rowen.
"Later darlin'!" Rowen called over his shoulder as the two disappeared through the kitchen door.
"What the hell was that?" Rowen lowered his voice as soon as they were out of the room. "She came here with Cye, man! You can't…whatever that was!"
"It was nothing." Sage mouth went tight as he exited the house and headed for the grill.
"Good. Keep it that way." Rowen looked across the lawn and suddenly perked up, a grin splitting his face. "Hey Nikki! Get your butt over here! I'm going to show you how a real man cooks!"
The dark haired girl lounging in the sun remained were she was, but rolled her eyes insolently.
"Is that why you have Sage with you?" she asked acidly. Rowen's face fell and he glared at her, then shrugged and turned away.
"You know, I try and I try, but I really can't stand that girl," Rowen spoke irritably. Sage grunted and picked up the charcoal.
"None of us can, Rowen."

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"Sage, let her go! Sage!" Ryo snapped, angry and confused, trying to pry Sage's hands away from Mia. Sage had seized her up and was shaking her with uncommon and unbelievable rage.
"I swear if you don't drop her this instant, I will beat the hell out of you, friend or not. So DROP HER SAGE!" Kento roared furiously. Sage didn't, so Kento slammed his fist into Sage's stomach. The
Ronin of Halo grunted and bent over, loosening his hold on the frightened redhead. Kento grabbed her up and drug her away, keeping her behind him protectively. Ryo and Cye moved in between as soon as they saw Sage surge back up to his feet.
"Rowen help us, dammit!" Cye yelled.
"No."
"Why the hell not!"
"I'm not sure..."

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All right! Enough of this! What do you want from me! To magically metamorphosize into your perfect woman? What dimensions do you want, Rowen? Thirty-six, twenty-four, thirty-six? Maybe I could grow another foot or so. Bring you breakfast in bed. Rub your feet. Knit you socks…"
Rowen stood up and brushed past her, grabbing his shirt up and yanking it on viciously. He paused in the doorframe and said over his shoulder,
"Actually Nikki, all I wanted was five lousy minutes of company. Of you not being a bitch for once. It might've been nice. Now I couldn't give a shit."
He let her door slam shut behind him. She stared at the door for a long time before returning to her bed alone. His side was already cold.

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"They killed her Cye!" Sage roared, still struggling to get at Mia and Nikki. "They killed her!"
"What the hell…?" Cye stared at Sage in confusion. "Who?"
"Think about it Cye! Use your brain! It's in there, but they made us forget. They made us forget what they did so that…that we wouldn't know that they killed her!"
"Who, Sage?" Cye was almost screaming at his friend. "Who did they kill!"
" Cassie…" Sage groaned in despair and finally slumped to his knees.

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Cassie shrieked with laughter when Sage picked her up and threw her over his shoulder, jumping back into the water with a huge splash. They both came up sputtering and Cassie playfully thumped him over the head.
"Take that, you fiend!" she laughed. A dangerous look came into Sage's eyes and he moved in on her.
"Oh yeah?" he asked softly. Then he disappeared from her sight. Cassie turned around, treading water, trying to find that familiar light in the darkness. She couldn't find him anywhere.
"Sage?" she asked, getting a little nervous despite herself. "You better not have ditched me buddy, because that's going to be one heck of a long walk to try to find my way back on. Sage?"
Cassie yelped as she was yanked from below back down into the water. She came up sputtering again, laughing once more.
"You're a jerk," she told him. Sage only chuckled and moved closer to her. Cassie gradually stopped smiling, aware of his closer proximity, but she didn't move away. A long muscled arm reached out and wrapped itself gently around her waist.
"Sage," she whispered softly, breathing deeper. "Sage we can't."
The arm drew her in closer and Cassie's heightened senses of kicked in. She could hear his breathing, slightly deeper then normal, as if he was trying to keep himself calm. He smelled like the woods, like trees and new grass and running water. His muscles around her felt relaxed and easy, confident. The only thing that belied his emotions completely was the light she saw when she turned her face to him. It surged back and forth, growing brighter than normal before shifting back, in time with his breathing. Cassie shivered when he pulled her flush against him, water dripping down his bare chest, the light so bright she almost couldn't stand it. Her head was spinning. She could feel the strength in his hands despite how gently he ran his palm down her jaw, tangling his fingers into her wet hair.
"Sage, please…"
He tilted her head back and shivered. Then he paused. He waited. Finally she gave in and she leaned up. Sage brushed his lips lightly across hers, as if still uncertain of the reception he would get. Cassie sighed and pressed into him, wrapping her arms around his neck. That was all it needed for Sage to break. He seized her up, crushing her body to his, and kissed her the way he'd wanted to ever since the first time he'd laid eyes on her. She was his drug, the one thing in his life that he'd become completely infatuated with. She was perfect. Everything about her. He needed her…
Suddenly they both felt a familiar jolt and Cassie yanked away. Sage's arms fell helplessly to his sides. He knew what it meant, and he didn't want to turn around. But he'd never been a coward. Sage sighed and turned to face the stricken young man who had swum up behind them.
"Cye…" Cassie breathed, and tears came to her eyes. "I'm so sorry." The girl turned and dashed towards the shore, stumbling out of the water and back towards the trail leading to the house. Sage remained where he was, facing his friend and comrade. He waited for Cye to say something but the warrior remained silent, anger and sadness raging back and forth across his handsome face.
"Say something Cye," Sage asked softly. Cye just blinked and shook his head, as if trying to force an image out of his mind.
"Cye," Sage started again but the other Ronin cut him off gently.
"You better go after her, Sage. She'll get lost by herself."
"Cye, I'm sorry."
"Why Seiji?" Cye asked, using Sage's Japanese name for the first time that Sage could remember. "Neither one of us has her. You didn't take anything from me."
"I love her, Shin." There was pain in Sage's voice.
"I know."
"But I love you more, my friend."
A sad smile formed on Cye's mouth as he whispered, "I know that too."
"So what do we do?" Sage asked, sounding lost. It was a side Sage never let show and it wrenched at Cye's heart. The warrior of Torrent was so torn. On one hand he wanted to beat his friend into a bloody pulp for touching the woman that he cared so much about. But at the same time, he had seen the way Sage looked at Cassie. Had seen the way he was kissing her.
"I'm going to swim," Cye said suddenly, voice almost sounding normal. "You're going to go find her. She's lost and scared. I can feel it from here. And then tonight we are all going to the club like we promised Mia."
"Cye…"
"I'll see you later Sage." Cye turned and swam lazily off. He made it until Sage was long gone before the tears of frustration and hurt overtook him. He would not be jealous. Neither one of them actually had her. Cassie never led them on, and there wasn't a deceitful bone in her body. They were all just stuck in this stupid confusing situation. Him and Sage could both lose. It was a sad thought, but the angry and vindictive side of him enjoyed it. He would not get jealous. He couldn't. They couldn't afford that right now. They couldn't allow themselves to be divided. Not when that thing had started coming around…

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The name seemed to rock Cye, and he froze. Ryo looked stupidly back and forth between everyone, completely confused. Kento continued to stare down Sage, guarding Mia. Rowen had stepped away from Nikki and was rubbing his temples painfully. White Blaze crouched on the ground and growled at everyone. Finally Rowen stepped forward and yelled at the top of his lungs,
"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON!"
Eight pairs of eyes turned to him. The owner of the last pair grinned from where He was sitting on a nearby rock, enjoying the events as they unfolded. At Strata's outburst, He cocked his head to the side and asked politely,
"Would you all like me to explain?"

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"You won't win. We'll fight you," Cassie whispered bravely, despite the fact her entire body was trembling in terror. The voice whispered in her ear seductively, as always.
"Dear child, what makes you think there's anyone but you left?"

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He rose gracefully and straightened to his full height. He looked down at his simply cut shirt and frowned. He adjusted it twice before seeming satisfied and then relaxed back, rolling his shoulders.
"Who the hell's this dude?" Kento grumbled. He grinned, slightly larger and wider than He really should have, and gave a small bow.
"I have many names, good sir," He said with a flourish, "But please call me Damian." It was a flawlessly polite and social appropriate moment, if it hadn't been for the fact that Nikki was sobbing in terror behind Rowen, grasping at his hand and weakly trying to pull him away. Mia had stepped out from behind Kento and was pure white, but she stood her ground.
"So you're back," Mia said as strongly as she could muster. "Pity."
He seemed to find that amusing, and bowed to her mockingly.
"My lady, you did give me a bit of a rocky path to follow." His dark eyes glittered with thinly veiled pleasure. "But it was only fair to give you a head start."
Those dark eyes had locked on her. The other four Ronins shifted uncomfortably, while Sage seemed to be arguing with himself.
"We destroyed you once," Mia whispered thickly, the tendons in her neck visible from her tension. "We can do it again."
Damian seemed to find that hysterical. He fell back, laughing a little too loud, and he jumped back up on his rock. He started to spin in a circle, hands stretched out like a child at play.
"This guy's off his rocker," Ryo whispered under his breath, watching the dark figure spin faster and faster.
"He's…he's the one," Sage suddenly spoke up urgently. "He's the one that attacked us before! Don't let him-"
"Don't let me what, Halo?" He asked from right in front of Sage, grabbing the blonde by the throat and lifting him off the ground, long fingers crushing into Sage's neck.
"Sage!" Rowen shouted and leapt forward.
"No!" Nikki screamed and grabbed at Rowen's arm, throwing him off balance.
"Oh, yes, I have missed you," He whispered in Nikki's ear. "So scared. So deliciously scared…" He grabbed her by the arm and Nikki found herself dangling above the chasm next to Sage, Damian seated primly on the invisible bridge. He lifted Sage a little higher and twisted his hand, causing Sage to make a pained choking noise, but allowing him to gaze at his nails critically.
"How the hell's this guy moving so fast!" Cye yelled, yanking out his kanji orb.
"Put that away, sweeting," Damian murmured nonchalantly, "I would hate to get all riled up and forget that I'm holding something." White Blaze snarled from the edge, and He grinned at the tiger, showing his teeth as well. White Blaze shivered but held his ground.
"Where was I?" He asked himself, tapping his foot against an imaginary wall. "Oh yes. I remember. These three little vixens, well two really. Such a shame, wasn't it Sage? She was so pretty…that is until she was ripped into little pieces. But enough of that."
"Nikki! Sage!" Rowen cried, seeing them held above the chasm. "Let them go!"
"Really, some people are so rude. Does no one teach manners anymore?" Damian asked himself and casually dropped Nikki. She shrieked as she suddenly plummeted down.
"NO!" Mia screamed, clawing towards the edge. But it was too late. Her friend had fallen too fast. There was nothing they could do.
Nikki was gone.
Mia stared at the chasm stricken. Next to her Rowen stared in disbelief. The Ronins looked in horror at where Sage was still dangling helplessly, choking, digging at the fingertips around his neck. Sage was incredibly strong but didn't even seem to be phasing the thing.
Damian looked at them disapprovingly, like a schoolteacher tired of being interrupted.
"Are we going to pay attention now?" He asked haughtily. The others remained in a horrible silence. "Now then. Before I was so rudely interrupted…these two vixens. I guess we're down to one now. But she's the most important one of all. Because it was all her idea, wasn't it my dear?" Dark eyes returned to Mia, but she remained motionless. The loss of Nikki had seemed to have stunned her into a catatonic condition.
"Well, these sweet little girls decided that you big strong boys just weren't good enough to get the job done. So they took matters into their own hands. Too bad, too, because they did such a botched job of it. Would you like me to tell them just how the little blonde one died? I can describe it. It's fun to describe."
He was cruelly teasing her, but Mia merely shook her head no, staring down after her friend.
"Oh well. I'll let you have the honors, my lady. But I will say that these sweet little girls did a marvelous job covering their tracks until now. That is until their little seal stopped working. Seems like a lot of wasted effort now, doesn't it?" He smiled sympathetically at Mia. The fact that he had way too many teeth took away from the gesture. Sage was starting to turn blue, and his legs were kicking feebly. Rowen looked like he didn't know whether to rush the demon or stay where he was.
"You're not real," Mia whispered.
He cocked his head at her in amusement. "No?"
"No," Mia said, not looking at him. "This is just a trick. It's all tricks. To hurt us. To confuse us. This isn't real."
"Mia, don't make him angry," Cye said thickly, eyes riveted on Sage.
"You aren't real," Mia said louder, rising to her feet and clenching her eyes shut. "You aren't real!"
"Mia…" Kento warned, frightened and confused.
"YOU AREN'T REAL! GO AWAY!" Mia screamed.
He grinned at her and leaned forward until their noses were touching.
"Are you sure?"

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"Don't worry my dear. It'll all be over soon." He lovingly played with her hair. She began crying because she knew it would never be over. Never.

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Mia opened her eyes to find Sage standing on his tiptoes by the rock it had been on earlier, his hands tearing at his own throat. Nikki was passed out at his feet. Rowen rushed forward and grabbed at Sage, who was a dangerous shade of blue, and drugSage's fingers away from his neck. Sage collapsed into him and Rowen lowered him gingerly to the floor. Ryo had moved to Nikki and picked her up, her form limp in his arms.
"We leave, now," he commanded. He turned angry eyes on Mia. "And you explain everything."
"We can't," Mia whispered miserably.
"Why the hell not?" Kento demanded. "I'm ready to get out of here now!"
Mia looked at Kento, her face dejected and afraid.
"Because the game just began."