hope you, liked ch. 1 parts 1-9. send me your comments to:liv2ridehorse@aol.com.
Like I said before, I don't any of the Ronin warriors and I'm not getting paid
anything for writing this so don't sue me! OK now that the legal crap is taken' care of
on with the story.
________________________________________________________________
Ch. 2

Sage glanced up hearing the Door UN lock, Cye must be home. Sage glanced over at room siting
in the large arm chair his nose stuck in a book. Sage almost laughed out loud Rowen clearly hadn't heard the door open.

Cye managed to get the door open and looked around not seeing anyone he calls out "Hello, anyone home?"

Rowen about fell out of the chair he jumped so high, He looked around in confusion. Sage laughed lightly at his best friend’s antics. "We're in the reading room, Cye," Sage called in response. Sage looked over at Rowen again he had a grin on his face, he knew Rowen and he knew that Rowen had been surprised, not scared. "You ok, pal?" Sage asked. Rowen started to answer but saw Sage was grinning and his eyes widened, "YOU KNEW HE WAS HERE DIDN'T YOU?!" Rowen yelled in mock anger.

Sage just laughed and ducked from the large book heaved in his direction complements of the blue haired 17 year old who looked angry, but Sage could tell he was just playing around.
Cye blinked when he came into the reading room, nearly 80 books were scattered around the floor with Sage and Rowen in the middle of the books. But at the moment Sage was hiding behind the couch trying to avoid the barrage of books Rowen tossed at him.

Cye started to intervene but then he realized Sage was laughing and none of the books were hitting Sage. Rowen was laughing too. Cye realized if Rowen wanted to every one of the books would have hit Sage so he turned and left ."I'm going to be cooking," Cye said, his British tone proved the fact he was trying not to laugh out loud as he vanished around the corner into the kitchen.

"Ok, Cye. HEY! Rowen that was close" Sage yelped in annoyance.
Rowen didn't respond it was then that Sage released the books had stopped falling he slowly started to get up from behind the couch, his wounds making that a little difficult
*TAP* Sage jumped in surprise with something hard taped his head. Sage looked up slowly, and there was Rowen leaning over the couch a heavy book in his hand. "Sorry," Rowen said smiling, clearly in a better mood then last night. or hiding his pain better, Sage was sure which "Sure you are" Sage said with a smile. Rowen noticed how Sage winced Sharply when he got the his knees and started to get up. Sage seemed surprised when Rowen extended his hand offering him a hand up, Sage of course wasn't going to
turn down the offer he took a hold of Rowan's wrist and pulled him self up. Rowen's eyes held a mixture of, fear, worry and pain. Sage must have noticed this because he gave Rowen a reassuring smile. Sage only hoped he could reassure him self he was all right, and with the fact he had to go to train with Cain tomorrow he had to hope he'd be up to. "I'm going on a jog Rowen, you can come or stay with Cye" Sage said suddenly. He said it so suddenly it caught Rowen off guard, Rowen blinked replaying Sage's words in
his mind so he could think of an answer when he looked up Sage was already disappearing out the front door. "Hey Sage hold up I'm coming "Rowen called and garbed his jacket it was the middle of winter and Sage hadn't even garbed a jacket which surprised Rowen, Because Sage hated the cold, almost as much as Cye. "Hey Cye we're gone "Rowen called as he chased after Sage who hadn't stooped or waited for him.
Sage was nearly out of site when Rowen got out side, Sage wasn't jogging he was running, really running.
Rowen took off after him the much longer legged Sage had the upper hand Rowen lost sight but kept on running after him thinking he'd catch up with him.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Ch. 2
part. 2

Rowen was about to pass out he'd been running nearly and hour at an all out pace, and to make it worse
it was poring down Rain and hail. Rowen was about to turn and head home when he looked up and around him, instead of looking straight ahead as he had been for the past hour. When Rowen released where he was at
his blood ran cold. Rowen found him self in the darkened streets of his old neighborhood. only a block or 2 from where his dad lived. As if that wasn't bad enough, he was in gang turf and they didn't like him.
Sage was no were to be seen UN be known to Rowen almost 20 miles back Sage had turned left heading toward the Dojo. Sage had no Idea Rowen had even came out after him that night. I was getting darker, and Rowen was frozen to the spot where he stood. Rowen saw a payphone only a few feet away he reached into the pockets of the jeans he wore and found 75 cents he went into the booth and closed the door behind him. Rowen put the coins in the slot with trembling hands and dialed Mia's number praying someone would answer.
*Ring Ring*
Rowen glanced around him at the dimly lit street, his old school, the liquor store. Rowen Saw a man Stagger out of the ABC store a half empty bottle in one hand and a case full of beers in the other. Rowen looked closer and made out the man's face. Rowen stopped breathing he turned in the booth his back turned in the direction of the man praying he wasn't noticed. Crystal tears flooded his face his whole body was shaking." Come one pick up the phone please" Rowen said to the phone his voice pleading...

*Ring Ring Ring*
The door Opened and Sage came in rubbing his hands together to warm him up, He heard the phone ringing." Cye aren't you going to answer that?" Sage asked. Getting no response the heading for the phone and sighed heavily.

"Hello" Sage asked his voice mellow kind of tired

Rowen's eye's lit up.

"SAGE!" his voice was high pitched and shaking

Sage became quickly alert.

"Rowen calm down where are you what's wrong"? Sage asked and no matter how hard he tried, fear and worry slipped into his voice.

Rowen was leaning on the glass of the booth his legs shaking so badly he was unable to hold him self up.

"Sage, come get me please!" Rowen pleaded.

Sage struggled to keep him self calm but that was impossible, but still if Rowen knew he was scared ... well Rowen didn't need to be any more scared then he already was.

"OK Rowen, I'm coming, where are you?" Sage asked him.

"in my old neighborhood, a block from my house in a pay phone booth, please Sage come get me"!Rowen's breathing was much faster and he was all out shaking scared.


Sage's eyes widened what was Rowen doing down there. Sage took a sharp breath realizing the one thing that would effect Rowen in such a horrid way.

"I'm on my way, Stay where your at OK" Sage said

Rowen nodded mutely and sunk into a sitting form in the bottom of the booth. He pulled his knees to his chest and buried his face in knees sobbing UN controllably.

Sage didn't bother hanging up the phone he left it there dangling. Sage garbed the keys to the jeep from Ryo without asking. Ryo blinked when he'd gotten there Sage and Rowen had been gone, and Rowen was
still gone and Sage was leaving. Ryo looked a Mia who looked equally confused.

Sage jumped in the jeep and turned the key.
The tires spun in one spot for a brief moment before Sage and the jeep vanished from view doing at least 75 miles per hour.

Rowen was in a state of shock. He didn't even notice the 3 people banging on the glass who wanted to use the phone. Sage saw the small group around they saw him and the handgun in his right hand they scattered When Sage saw Rowen he knocked lightly on the glass. Rowen's eyes lifted to Sage but he was really out of it. Rowen leaned away from the door giving Sage room to open the door and get to Rowen. He tried to pull Rowen to his feet but he collapsed .Sage put the browning behind him slipping the barrel of the gun in the belt he wore. That done Sage picked Rowen up slowly, Rowen shivered but other wise did not fight back. Sage sat Rowen down in the passenger seat but as soon as Sage sat down behind the wheel. Rowen laid his head on his shoulder. Sage on any other occasion shoved him back but this time he put his arm around him pulling him closer trying to keep Rowen warm. "You’re safe "Sage whispered to Rowen.

Rowen mumbled something incoherently, Sage sped up the jeep turning on the heat for Rowen's sake he was glad he remembered to put the top on. Sage took a deep breath and kept looking at Rowen his heart went out to his younger friend, Rowen hadn't done anything to deserve this, hell no one deserved to go through what Rowen went though. Sage carried Rowen to their bed room, going in the side door so not to be seen by the others. Sage walked to Rowen's bed and with one hand turned back to covers and tried to lay Rowen down but Rowen was clinging to Sage's jacket not wanting to be alone again. Sage laid Rowen down and slipped out of his jacket letting Rowen hold on to it. Sage added a few layers of blankets to the boy and turned the heat all the way up. Sage sat down on the side of Rowen's bed, Praying Rowen wasn't slipping back into the horrible schedule, of forcing a smile in the day time and have horror filled nights.

__________________________________________________________________________________


CH. 2
Part. 3

Rowen blinked a few times the sun's Rays directly in his eyes had caused him to wake up. Rowen wondered how he'd gotten to bed the last the he remembered was chasing after Sage ... but after that it was a blur he couldn't remember anything. He felt the bed move behind him. Rowen rolled over and Saw Sage standing his back to Rowenstanding his Fighting pants fixing to put his shirt on. Rowen saw the still badly beaten upper torso of Sage and he realized he must be heading to the Dojo, Rowen would have to stop him he was in no shape to fight.
Sage had slipped his shirt and jacket on and was now tieing the Black belt with 9 pieces of red tape on the end marking his rank. Sage still UN aware that Rowen had woke up he hissed to no one."Damn that Cain if he keeps on fighting' like he has been I'm not sure I'll be able to fight anymore...all this to gain father's favor, you make me sick, you'll pay for this on day "Sage said his fingertips tracing along his jacket where underneath lay a Scare of which he would never forgive Cain for giving him.
Rowen tilted his head in confusion, he tried to remember what had happened last night but it was all blurry
he couldn't make out what had happened."Sage"Rowen called. Sage jumped in surprise UN aware Rowen had woke."hey! welcome back "Sage said relived he'd finally came out of his shock.
"Where did I go? and What happened last night"?Sage took a deep breath so Rowen didn't rember,well he wasn't going to add to his friend's pain. "Nothing,Rowen"Sage said."How are you feeling?"Sage added. "Fine why wouldn't I be feeling fine"?Rowen questioned siting up."I didn't know you we're following me last night when I came home you weren't here Cye said you went out after me it took me almost 4 hours to find you, you stayed in the cold to long and we're in a state of shock so I carried you home and now your up"Sage said,atleast he didn't lie he just left out some major points. Rowen seemed to believe him and stood up, he wobbled a bit his legs getting tangled in the blankets. Sage caught his arm and steadied him until he could UN tangle him self."Thanks, now where do you think your going"? Rowen questioned "the tournament is in 1 day I have to train"Sage answered simply. "That's crazy, Sage your in no shape to fight"Rowen urged.
Sage shook his head,"sorry Rowen I have to "Sage said and then added 'you can come if you want, if fact I'd kinda like ya to come and watch, but you'll have to stay out of the way OK "Sage asked. Rowen had a feeling he wasn't going to get a better offer from the blonde haired man so he mearly nodded mutely and went to get dressed. Rowen slipped out of the clothes he'd slept in and pulled on a pair of jeans and a dark blue T-shirt he brushed his hair and then came out of the bathroom still wondering what had happened the night before.
Rowen found Sage putting his swords and other weapons into a large bag, Rowen couldn't ever figure out why Sage never left his stuff at his father's Dojo. Sage looked up seeing Rowen. "Ready?" Sage asked.
"Yeah, are you sure you’re up to this?" Rowen questioned in a UN easy tone.

"Of course now come on "Sage said.

_________________________________________________________________________________
that's ch. 2
it's shorter then ch. 1 but I'll make it up with ch. 3.
What did ya think? tell me Liv2ridehorse@aol.com