BABT IT's COLD OUTSIDE

Part I

Road Rage


There had been more snow during the night, though the flakes were no longer falling, and five young men eagerly anticipated seeing the diamond-strewn counterpane that quilted the front yard of the oh-so-familiar mansion of Mia Koji. She lived north of Tokyo, so it was rare for the boys to see heavy snow, except for Sage who happed to live in an area where snowfall accumulated in large amounts.

Rowen came to a stop sign at the crossroads and slowed his Toyota 4X4 to a halt as he approached it. He glanced in his review mirror and snorted. Sage and Kento were fretting over the last finishing touches to Mia's present. Not exactly the two people he had intended to be in charge of wrapping, especially since neither celebrated Christmas. Sage had griped that the present should be wrapped in traditional fabric while Kento argued flashy and vibrant paper would be more appealing. Kento won that round. However, the way Kento was tearing at the package, Rowen wasn't sure if the gift would stay intact. Luckily, Sage tore the present from Kento's abusive hands and handed it over to Cye who kindly volunteered to finish it for them. Rowen wondered what Sage and Kento would think of their retreat to Mia's for the holidays. Both were non-Christians unlike Ryo and Cye. Rowen was an atheist; he wasn't sure what to believe in.

Rowen began to drum his fingers against the steering wheel as an oversized truck, which had the right away took his own sweet time turning. The truck passed him, but not without skidding on the slippery road and splashing muddy snow upon his windshield.

"Damn!" he swore, "He did that on purpose!" Rowen rolled down his window and stuck his head out at the retreating vehicle. "Learn to drive you overgrown hick!" Impolitely, he extended his right arm and flicked his middle finger upward.

The sound of a blasting foghorn was the trucker's response. Rowen nodded with satisfaction. Those Clint Eastwood films paid off. No one screws up Dirty Strata's window and leaves without a proper "thank you."

"I think the long strenuous drive to Mia's is beginning to show. That was the eighth car you flicked off today." Sage said with significant lifting of his brows. Rowen flew his hands in the air in defense, "Hey, not my fault if everyone drives like possessed idiots. Who the hell knew any bubbling idiotcan get a driver's license. "

"Rowen I hardly think cursing and nearly running over those two older women today was their fault."

"They were too slow!"

Sage narrowed his eyes at the back of his head. "They were pedestrians! They had the right away to cross the street." Rowen stepped on the gas and made his turn down a private road. "Says you. I bet they walked right in front of me on purpose." Inhaling he mocked an elderly woman's voice, "Dear, look at the handsome young man in the car, we should walk right in front of him and 'slowly' make our way to the other side."

"Hey," proclaimed Kento cheerfully, "Does anyone know why the two chickens crossed the road?" Everyone groaned and slouched into their seats.

"Well," he continued with a slanted smile.

"To piss me off!" Rowen injected.

"Neah, I thought it was so you could run them over." Ryo burst out from the backseat. Kento whooped and shared a brotherly high-five with Ryo; while Sage responded by rolling his eyes and pressing his head against the cold window.

"Look, we need to calm down. Mia is expecting us and I would like to impress her with our wonderful manners. It's Christmas and it has been over two year's since we last saw her. We all agreed that this winter we would celebrate the season with her. Let's not destroy this merry holiday for her, she doesn't need that." Cye exclaimed reasonably. Yup that's Cye Mori; who acted the part of big brother flawlessly. The savior, the practical one and to the others dissatisfaction, the one who made them felt guilty anytime they started to argue over nothing. He shifted in his front seat to glare at the three boys through the review mirror and then turned his eyes to rest on Rowen. "You guys know what that is, right?"

"Manners? Way overrated if you ask me."

"No one asked for your sarcasm Rowen."

"But I'm so good at it sweet heart."

"Actually, mannerism is what Sage does when ever Mia walks into the room. Mister Shy-ness is always the gentleman around her; too bad she doesn't know the real Sage-OWW!"

Sage removed his hand from Kento's head. "Next time I'll use my something much harder on you."

Over the commotion Rowen managed to look ahead to see his sanctuary. The Victorian-style mansion stood magnificently by itself, surrounded by snow-powdered trees, and at its side a delicate iced lake. More importantly, the house held a bathroom; just like Rowen had thought 'his safe haven'. As his car approached he irritably noted that no attempt had been made to clear the driveway of snow. You'd think with all the money Nasuti had she would be able to have someone clean her driveway: cheapskate. He slowed his car to make the turn, barely noticing three roguish men and a young dark haired woman throwing tightly packed snowballs at each other. The car tires crunched the crusty snow as he wheeled the vehicle into the drive, just stopping short of the gigantic windows that looked out to the stone driveway.