Despite the Fact You Love Me

Chapter 3

"Did I hear what you just said…?" asked Rowen who got up

real close to Kento. "Please… don't tell me I heard that word…" Ryo and

Sage immediately knew what Rowen was thinking. If Kento was called for the

army, that means that all of the teenage boys were likely to be called.

"Heh, yeah," Kento scoffed and sunk into the sofa. "I guess

I won't be seeing you guys as much as I like now." Kento pulled up a huge

pillow. Sage turned back around when Mrs. Mori was going to check on him

(to see if he actually was going to call his mother).

"Well, you all will be fine there," Mrs. Mori tried to cheer

Kento up, "I mean… you're not going to be completely separated. Hey, it

might be fun." Everyone knew that Mrs. Mori didn't mean it one bit.

"Fun, my foot," Rowen growled. He was already in a bad mood…

but this situation was getting worse. "It is almost definite that if I get

called up, I am going to what you call… the Air Force! Wow, I'm going to

become a flying birdie in the sky shooting walking stick figures!"

"And then we cannot protect each other," mumbled Ryo. "Who

knows what may happen… the Ronin Warriors aren't Ronin Warriors when not

together. And not to mention…"

Kento finished for Ryo, "We cannot assume that we will all

be back after the years."

"Now I am beginning to hope that I falsely put my status

when I enrolled to school," Rowen said under his breath. Everyone then

peered at him… Mrs. Mori being the most surprised out of them. "Well… I HAD

to when my parents divorced. I kind of went independent after that."

"Same here," Ryo murmured and rested his head in his hands.

"But I didn't put a false profile."

"Well good for everyone then!" Kento spoke, sarcastically,

"We should sent some dummies of us to do the worthless fighting!"

"Get real… they could tell the difference between a dummy

and a person," Rowen rolled his eyes. The situation seemed to go to the

funny side. But it was not the right time for humor.

"Unless they are just as stupid as dummies," mumbled Kento.

"This is not good, guys," Sage hung up the phone and walked

over to them. His eyes seem to be very worried… and his face was very pale.

"Don't have to tell us, Sage," Ryo then questioned, "What

section are you sent to?"

"To tell you the truth, I haven't the slightest clue," Sage

answered in an almost inaudible tone.

"Well welcome to the To-Be-A-Soldier Club, Sage!" Kento

joked in a half-hearted way.

Sage grumbled, "I feel so loved."

"I bet you do," Ryo smirked.

Everyone was uneasy about the subject. Time started to feel

so critical. And time was beginning to feel very, very short. They came

back to feel relieved and to feel relaxed. But it was almost certain that

it wasn't going to be any "Kick back and relax" any time soon… it seemed to

be not for a long while yet. They talked more but rather on the complaining

side. All of them had no idea what to do just yet.

"I don't feel like going back home now," Sage growled, "The

minute I do… the minute I go."

"Same here," Kento rolled his eyes for the millionth time

that day, "knowing what Uncle Chu might say. He might go bonkers. In fact,

he didn't even sound like he wanted me to go."

"Hey," Ryo said, "I might be next on the list to get that

phone call. Uh-uh."

"Well," Mrs. Mori offered, "… you have been wonderful to my

son, Sai. He wouldn't mind if you guy stay for awhile. It will be okay for

now. Plus, you boys look tired."

"Thank you, Mrs. Mori, but…" Sage started to say.

"It's okay. I know Dr. Date wouldn't mind. I'll just tell

her that you're help nursing my son back to health. Now definitely she will

approve."

"Hmm… I don't know…" Rowen rubbed his head and had his full

attention toward Sai.

"Something wrong?" Ryo blinked and gave a questioning look

at Rowen and Sai.

"You know," Rowen cocked his head, "I don't know if Sai

should know this. It doesn't sound like a good idea at all. He has been

through too much."

"You have got me thinking, Rowen," Sage spoke in support of

Rowen's words. "Sai has to stress off for now. I mean… he has already

carried too much of our own burden."

"You boys are really kind," Mrs. Mori told them and gathered

their attention towards her. "But I think I cannot keep this secret to Sai.

Not now… not ever. He has to know."

"Mrs. Mori," everyone spoke.

"I know you mean my son well," Mrs. Mori added, "But… that

is one thing I cannot promise."

"We can't let him know… not now at least. Let us think of

something first," Ryo persuaded.

"Hey!" Rowen snapped his fingers. "We can't just sit here.

We are wasting some precious time! Why don't we do something and discuss

this?" Everyone nodded in full agreement.

"That's strange," Sage placed his hand on Sai's forehead.

"He hasn't awaken yet."

"Maybe our fish boy really needed the rest," Kento told

Sage, "He's just exhausted."

Sage confessed, "I'm not too sure, Kento. I'm not too sure."