A Part

Chapter One

Just because he was the Ronin of Torrent didn't necessarily mean Cye loved the rain. Rain didn't really bother him and a light drizzle was actually very soothing to watch and listen to. But a torrential downpour for three days was more rain than he liked. Especially when it was humid as hell and raining.

It was late November for crying out loud! This humidity and heat should be past them.

Days like this made making pottery next to impossible for him with all the moister in the air. It also slowed down business. And of course today would be the day that the air conditioner in the shop blew a fuse.

He let out a long exasperated sigh, I hope the others are having a better day than I am.

The train stopped and he stepped out of the car onto the platform, opening his umbrella he gazed up at the large building across from him. This high-end luxury hotel had opened in February and was specifically design to cater only to foreigners. And Rachel had landed a job working in their café on one of the higher levels.

Cye was picking her up for the big dinner tonight at the restaurant where Kento and now Ryo worked. A few months back Ryo had stepped up to help Kento's family out after they had been too busy and a few hands short, since he and Kento worked so well together, Mama had given Ryo a job there. Which was good as far as Cye was concerned, Ryo needed the money and it was a subtle way for him to work on his fire skills.

He walked across the street and into the fancy building. This wasn't his first time here yet he was still in awe of just how grand this place was. Floor to wall marble floors, three huge crystal chandeliers just in the lobby, the cherry and mahogany wood furniture, and the many high end paintings on the wall.

Entering the elevator, he was very relieved to spend the whole ride alone. Stepping out of the elevator he saw the glass doors to the café. He had been told by Rachel that this café was modeled to look like something in old Europe. While Cye had never been to Europe he had seen plenty of pictures and this place sure looked the part. They even sold European drinks and snacks. He still wasn't a big fan of coffee but those Italian Soda's had become an addiction.

Opening the door, he saw Rachel busy with a customer. Both of them talking about a million miles an hour in German, she did look up long enough to smile at him before returning to the customer. Cye smiled back before sitting at the bar, he knew she still had a half hour before her shift ended.

"Hello Cye," the boy behind the counter smiled, "How are you?"

"I'm alright, how are you doing Jared? It looks pretty busy today." Cye answered in English.

Jared had moved to Japan earlier that spring from America. He was a nice guy around Rachel's age. Though he didn't speak very much Japanese he was getting better all the time. "It's been like this all day. I guess no one wants to go out in the rain, huh?"

"Well if you're not used to this kind of weather who can blame them?"

"That's true. Oh hey can I get you a drink? Or a snack?"

The auburn haired boy smiled, "Just an ice water please."

Nodding Jared fixed the drink and handed it to Cye, "Hey um can I ask you a question Cye? It about Rachel."

He nodded, "What about her?"

"Is she erm… is she dating anyone?"

Shit. That was not the kind of question he wanted to be asked. It put him in a weird spot. Was Rachel dating anyone? No. However Cye was well aware that she had feelings for Ryo and lately it was becoming obvious that Ryo was growing feeling for her. "Um. Well I-"

"Hey Cye." Rachel stood next to him, "How was your day?"

"Hi Rachel." Thank you! "Oh it could have been better. Jared say's it's been like this all day?" He took a sip from his water.

She nodded, "Yeah. No one wants to go out in the rain. But I was just telling a lady that going to the parks in the rain is the best time because how low the crowd is."

Cye gave a nod, "You heard from Sileny today?"

"Yes and she confirmed her flight lands tomorrow night just after eleven. Has Sage gotten back from Sendai okay?"

Sileny had been in Sweden the last three weeks visiting family while Sage and Satsuki had been in Sendai for their grandfather's birthday. "He's been back for a few hours. Satsuki is coming in tomorrow." And something in Sage's voice sounded a bit odd when he told everyone he was back.

She nodded, "Good the whole gang will be back together before the end of the week."

The Ronin of Torrent smiled.

I sense you are here, Cye.

It was Black Blaze. No matter how long it had been it was still surprising to hear the demon tiger's voice in his head. Hello Black Blaze, I've only been here a few minutes. Where are you?

On the roof.

Aren't you soaking wet?

It's just rain. Also it's easier to be up here than trying to hide down in that poor excuse of a break room.

Cye chuckled and when he noticed the looks Rachel and Jaden gave him he quickly said, "Oh just remembering something that Black Blaze did."

During the rest of the time he sat waiting for Rachel, Jared didn't ask the question again. For which Cye was grateful. Instead he asked what Japan was like during Christmas, then he was told Cye how crazy the holiday season was back in America. The two had been talking about traditions when Rachel got off work.

They were in the elevator when he said, "When Sage told us when he got back; he sounded like something was bothering him." He looked at her, "If it's really important he'll say what it is."

Rachel nodded. Sage was always a little different after coming back from visiting his grandparents, "Maybe his grandparents are sick? I hate to sound morbid but they are in their late eighties."

"I don't think that's it. He didn't sound sad just like he had something weighing heavy on his mind."

"I won't press the issue when I see him. On a different note, what were you and Jared talking about? You looked so relieved when I came over."

Cye looked at the buttons on the wall, "He asked me if you were dating anyone."

Her eyes widened. Rachel had suspected he had a crush on her but to ask one of her friends. "Oh… wow um."

"I didn't tell him you are single because I didn't feel it was my place." Sea-green eyes darted to her, "Would you go out with him?"

"No." She didn't hesitate in her answer, "Jared is a good guy but I don't feel attracted to him at all."

The rest of the elevator ride had been in silence, when they left the hotel Black Blaze was outside waiting for them. The warrior and waitress took the bullet train to china town while Black Blaze had run the whole way over.

Ryo sat at the table next to Rowen, "Has he told you what's up?"

Rowen set his tea cup down and shook his head, "No. He said he'd tell us later. 'course you know he'd tell you if you asked him."

He knew why Sage was like that. Guess he'd just have to wait with the others.

Kento came over and sat across from Rowen, his shift also over, a smug smirk formed on his face, "You excited to see your girlfriend tomorrow?"

"Sileny is not my girlfriend," Rowen fired back visibly annoyed. "I will be happy to see her, yes, won't you?"

"I'll be happy to see her. Three weeks gone in another country, I haven't even stayed in America or China for that long before. Think she'll remember how to speak Japanese?"

"She spoke it just fine on the phone yesterday." The archer replied and quickly added, "Her flight gets in late and she asked me to pick her up so Rachel could sleep."

"I wonder what Sweden is like?" Ryo asked. His only trips out of this country hadn't been for pleasure or family, and not one had ended well either.

"Sileny said she was going to take a lot of pictures for you guys," Rachel smiled as she walked to the table with Cye. "She also overnight shipped a big package to the house, saying that we had to wait for her to open it."

"She got us gifts?" Ryo blinked.

"Some of it's for us but most of it is her stuff." Rachel shrugged, "She usually comes back with a lot of stuff when's in Sweden for more than a week."

Sage arrived catching part of the conversation, "What's the longest she's been there?"

She thought for a moment, "A month and a half. That was a few years ago though."

Kento scooted over as Cye sat down, his eyes on the blonde, "Changing the topic-now that we are all here what's bugging you Sage? And don't try to pass on the topic or say it's nothing. You've been really quiet-even for you-since you got back."

The swordsman looked at his friend, Kento could be very blunt and to the point. This behavior usually bothered Sage but he had been expecting this for a few hours now. "Fine." He sat beside Ryo and motioned for Rachel to sit next to him.

"Is it your grandfather?" Cye asked sounding concerned.

"Yes and no," Sage began, "His health is fine right now so nothing to worry about there. It's something he told me the other day when he and I finished meditating." He paused trying to figure out how to word this, "He said he has been thinking of talking to a match maker-he did not say for who or why-but since he said it me and not one of my sisters..."

Rachel was surprised. She knew in traditional families, such as the Date or even the Mori, match making and arranged marriages were still a common practice. Her eyes darted around the table to see everyone as surprised as she was. "Did you tell your sisters about this?"

Sage nodded, "Yayoi was fit to be tied, she's had a few boyfriends in the past, she has one right now too and things are pretty serious from what she told me." He shook his head, "I thought Satsuki was going to explode. Hiding her anger is not something she's good at."

I doubt she wanted to hide it, Rachel thought.

"You're grandfather does know we have magic armor and the hell that's put Mia, Rachel, and Sileny through right?" Kento asked, "If it is you he's trying to get a match for wouldn't he take that into consideration? That's not something you just spring on a girl."

"Kento," Cye looked at him, "It's not like we can advertise it either."

"Cye would your family head try to set you up with a girl?" Ryo asked.

He shrugged, "At this point I don't think so. Chances are I have my mother to thank for that."

Ryo looked at Kento who said, "Gramps already told me he was leaving things like that up to me. My parents are an arranged marriage but they knew each other as kids. What about you if your dad hadn't left the clan?"

"I know he left because of their rules and so he could marry my mom, so maybe."

Rachel leaned over and looked at Rowen who shook his head. She looked back to Sage, "Okay let's get hypothetical here. Say it is you and he finds a girl, what will you do?"

"I don't have the slightest idea. This isn't something I ever gave much thought to and now I can't stop thinking about it."

Now Kento was starting to think about it too. He saw Rachel's eyes dart over to Ryo before going back to Sage. Kento glanced at Rowen, he was sure something was up between him and Sileny. Then he looked at Ryo (who's attention was focused on the table) before looking back at Rachel.

Could any of them really think about trying to be normal enough to have a relationship? It was something to think about.

"Well until we know for sure don't worry yourself sick over it." Rachel nudged him, "Yuli's tournament is this weekend so you're not allowed to get sick."

Sage smiled, "Thanks Rachel." He could really use a good distraction like that right about now.