Demons in the Doorway, Monsters Down the Hall
By: Ghost of the Dawn
Chapter Six: A Perfect Understanding
"Oh, by the way Cye," Robyn casually mentioned during lunch period one day. "You won't have to wait for me after school today. I've got detention hours to make up."
Cye paused in mid chew and gave her a "why don't you ever give me good news" type look. "What did you do this time?" he asked in a tone that told he wasn't too keen on hearing the answer.
"I got in a fight--not a real one!" Robyn quickly clarified as Cye's eyes suddenly grew wide. "These two snobby girls were giving me crap so I had to tell then what for. They started having this big mama cow just because I was joshing around with some guy."
"This guy wouldn't have been Hiroshi Yumi would it?" Kento asked. "I see you talking with him in the halls sometimes."
"Yeah, that's his name," Robyn nodded. "Good ?ol Hiro. That guy's a character, I'll tell ya." She paused to take a bite of her sandwich.
"Well, I hate to break this to you," Kento continued. "But he's Miniko's boyfriend."
"What??" Robyn choked, almost spitting out part of her sandwich in the process. "No wonder those girls got after me! Geeze! It's bad enough I get persecuted for being on the same planet as Sage, but this?"
Both Sage and Rowen raised an eyebrow at her when she mentioned this. Robyn furrowed her brows at them in return.
"Oh, don't even try to pretend you don't have a clue what I'm talking about. Everyone knows Min is all possessive over him. It's not like a big secret or anything. But what the heck is she doing getting after me when she already has a boyfriend? That girl's really screwed up."
"Robyn," Cye stepped in with his tolerant parental voice. "Maybe you should just calm down and try to stay out of her way instead of making her mad."
"Easier said than done," Robyn muttered to herself. "Especially when she's got her whole army of wannabes constantly riding up my--"
"What was that?" Cye demanded.
"I said I will do my best to be nice and helpful to everyone!"
Cye gave her a look that said he wasn't buying. But there wasn't much time for further argument as the bell sounded the end of lunch.
Ryo rubbed his sore neck as he walked out of the school. He too had to make up detention hours that afternoon. Three hours of cleaning up the school's horribly kept auditorium wasn't his idea of a great time. But at the same instant he also felt a sense of accomplishment as he left. That was the last of his detention hours from all his first period tardies plus the ones he had received for starting the chemistry lab on fire. He was now detention free and that thought alone gave him a sense of pride in his chest and an extra bounce in his step.
But he paused in mid stride as a noisy group of girls gathered a few yards away caught his attention. From the sounds of it, they seemed pretty mad and they were huddled around something in the midst of them. Ryo recognized Miniko Hino as the leader of the group instantly. There was no mistaking the flashy, bright clothes and the long black hair. Suddenly, the tall, dark-haired girl struck out with a vicious high kick and there was a flash of golden red as a body fell to the ground as it received the brunt of that kick.
Ryo's deep blue eyes widened. He recognized that color of red and sprinted toward the group. The girls never noticed his advance as they continued in taunting voices to ridicule the object of their disdain.
"What's going on here?" Ryo demanded, finally catching the attention of all of them.
Most of the members of the mocking mob instantly lost their nerve at the sight of the young man and shied away into silence. Miniko, however, never lost her defiant composure. She looked Ryo straight in the eye as if he was the one who had no business being there.
"Just taking care of some personal matters," she informed him curtly.
She pivoted smartly on her toe and paraded away. The rest of her group instantly gravitated toward her and they all shuffled away like sheep in a herd. Ryo glared darkly at their retreating backs before turning to the person that was left behind.
Robyn was sitting on the ground, drawn up into herself and holding the left side of her face. She made no move to acknowledge Ryo's presence as she continued to stare shamefully at the dirt. Ryo slowly squatted down beside her.
"Robyn, are you okay," he asked softly.
"Yeah," Robyn whispered in reply, still refusing to look at him.
"Here, let me see." He reached for the hand covering her face but Robyn jerked away before he could remove it.
"I'm fine Ryo! Leave me alone!"
Ryo withdrew his hands but didn't move from his place beside her. Both stayed unmoving and silent for several minutes. Finally, Robyn glanced up, as if asking the youth what he was still doing there.
"Are you going to let me see it now?" Ryo asked patiently.
Robyn didn't move away this time and slowly removed her hand. Ryo pursed his lips when he saw the wound. There was a slight abrasion in which a small bit of blood oozed from the broken skin. Most of the side of her face was red with the promise of being swollen and bruised in the future. It was worse than Ryo initially thought it would be but he knew better than to make a big deal about it now.
"Come on," he said as he gently pulled her to her feet. "We'll go to my house and clean it up."
Robyn complied without a word. Ryo picked up her bag and she allowed him to herd her to any place of his desire. The ten minute walk to Ryo's place was without word and remained that way even as they stepped up to the porch and into the house. Ryo led her to a stool by the kitchen counter before heading off alone to find the first aid kit. Robyn sat and waited in silence.
The place seemed to be empty but Ryo wasn't surprised one bit. His grandmother was never home before he was, no matter what time Ryo got home. She was always an active woman, even in her old age. When she wasn't out tending to her garden she was off visiting neighbors or friends or getting into one community project or another. That's just the way she was. And as long as she continued to come home in time to make him supper, Ryo didn't mind.
"Here," Ryo said when he came back and handed her an ice pack. "Hopefully, this will keep the swelling down."
Robyn bit back a cry when pain shot threw her face as a result of the cold material touching her bruised skin. Ryo moved to the sink and there was the sound of running water before he returned once more with a wet cloth.
"We better clean that so it doesn't get infected," he explained as he pulled up a stool next to hers.
Robyn instantly objected to the treatment.
"Ryo! Ouch! Just leave it be! I don't need you fussing over me like I'm some little kid!"
The bearer of Wildfire was undaunted by her actions and looked at her sternly.
"Well you're sure acting like a little kid! So quit being such a baby and let me help you!"
That was enough to do it and Robyn dropped both hands into her lap reluctantly. Ryo nodded and leaned forward, set on cleaning out the dirt scraped into her skin by Min's shoe when it collided with her face. Robyn flinched but held her ground as the cloth touched the tender spot. Ryo's expression changed from stern to apologetic as he regretfully continued to dab at the side of her face. Robyn's eyes were starting to water before Ryo was finally satisfied with his job. He tossed the cloth back in the sink and Robyn replaced the cold compress to her face.
"Ryo, I'm home," came a jolly voice as the front door open and shut. "Where is my little trouble maker?"
Ryo gave a lop sided grin. "In here Grandma," he called.
"Ryo, don't call her in here," Robyn hissed. "She's going to freak when she sees me like this!"
"It's okay," Ryo assured her. "My grandma's cool. You'll see."
The look on Robyn's face told she didn't believe that.
"Ah, here you are," Grandma Sanada said as she came into the kitchen. "Do we finally have all our detention hours made up now?"
"Yes Grandma," Ryo said.
"Good, let's see if we can keep it that way, hmm?"
"Yes Grandma," Ryo repeated with a grin.
"And who is this with you?" Grandma Sanada asked, finally noticing Robyn perched on the stool. "It's about time you brought home a girl, if you ask me."
Ryo chose to ignore that comment. Sometimes he felt like he was the adult in the family with a grandmother such as his.
"Grandma, this is Robyn. I told you about her. She's staying with the Mouri's remember?"
"Ah, Robyn yes," the elderly woman said as she walked up to Robyn. "It's certainly wonderful to meet y--Dear me! What happened to you child?"
Robyn bit her lip when the abrasion on her face was finally noticed.
"Did you get in a fight at school?" Grandma Sanada continued to ask.
"Yeah, something like that."
"Well, my Ryo better have helped you out then," his grandmother continued sternly.
Robyn laughed a bit at that. "Yes ma'am, he did."
"Good."
She moved to the sink to start preparing dinner and that was the end of that. Robyn shot a surprised look to Ryo who returned it with a knowing expression. He made a gesture with his head for her to follow him out back. Robyn obediently got up as he led the way to the back porch where each took a seat on the cement steps.
"So is it feeling any better?" Ryo asked.
"Yeah," Robyn said as she returned the ice pack to her face. "It doesn't hurt as much any more. Now my face just feels....fat."
Ryo laughed. "Well, a kick like that would do that to a person."
Robyn didn't reflect on Ryo's good humor. "Yeah, now I just can't wait until Cye sees this. The I-told-you-so's are never going to end." She sighed loudly. "And then he'll get that stupid look on his face--all sad and droopy eyed like I really let him down. No one can ever make me feel as guilty as Cye can."
But despite Robyn's lament, Ryo started to smile. "Hold on for one sec, I'll be back."
He promptly stood up and disappeared into the house and Robyn was left alone with her thoughts. She looked around idly at her surroundings. It was a fairly large back yard with thick grass that needed cutting. The edge of the yard faded into small trees with a thick underbrush which eventually lead to the forest outside of town. Robyn froze when she heard a rustling in the bushes. But before she could panic a familiar furry white form slipped into the yard.
"Hey White Blaze," Robyn greeted casually. "It's been a long time since I've seen you. Still remember me boy?"
She stretched out her hand to the large white cat. White Blaze hardly took time to sniff her offered finger tips before butting his head against her palm in a tiger's plea for a friendly scratch.
"I guess you do remember," Robyn laughed as she rubbed his ear with her free hand.
White Blaze sat himself closer to her and purred his thanks. After a few minutes of scratching, White Blaze pulled away and stepped closer to sniff at the cold object Robyn was holding to her face. He seemed to sense that something was wrong with her and made a small whimpering noise as he pushed her other hand with his nose. Robyn winced at the extra pressure and moved her hand away.
"It's okay boy, I'll be alright," Robyn attempted to sooth him by scratching his furry cheek.
"So there you are," Ryo said, hands on hips as he stepped out the door.
"Me?" Robyn wondered.
Ryo laughed. "I meant White Blaze, I haven't seen him for a couple days. He likes to go off on his own every now and then, huh?"
Ryo finished his question by patting the tiger on the head and he sat back down next to Robyn.
"Oh, by the way Robyn, you're staying for dinner."
The red haired girl raised an eyebrow at him. "Oh, I am, am I?"
"Yup."
"Well, then I guess I'll have to call home first and tell them where I am and stuff."
"Already done," Ryo assured her. "I told Cye's mom you were here and everything's fine."
Robyn smiled; even though what she really wanted to do was give Ryo the biggest hug of his life for being such an awesome friend. But for now, a smile would have to do.
"White Blaze," Robyn protested as the giant cat tried for the second time to see what the compress was hiding on her face. "I told you, I'm alright! Back off you silly cat! Here! Look!" Robyn announced as she removed the ice pack. "There, see? That's it."
White Blaze sniffed at the wound a few times before emitting a low growl. Robyn leaned back, suddenly scared at the noise.
"What is it? What'd I do?" she asked Ryo in a fearful voice.
The black haired youth put his arms around White Blaze's large shoulders and pulled him away.
"Don't worry. I think he's just mad about what happened to you is all."
"Really?" Robyn wondered. She absently rested her hand on the tiger's shoulder and White Blaze gave her a friendly nudge as if to agree with what Ryo said.
"Well I really don't blame him." Robyn suddenly changed moods as she stared darkly at her feet. "But then I guess I kind of deserved what I got. Just because she's snotty to me doesn't mean I should retaliate the same. I really brought it all on myself. I should just learn to keep my mouth shut."
"You know Robyn, we could teach you how to defend yourself if you'd like," Ryo offered. "At least then you could stand up to her, maybe dish out some of her own medicine."
Robyn shook her head. "No, I couldn't."
"Don't worry about it," Ryo insisted. "It's really not that hard to learn. Here, I can teach you some of the basic stuff right now. Come on, I'll show you."
He grabbed her hand but Robyn resisted when he pulled her to her feet.
"No Ryo, I'm serious. I can't do it--you don't understand."
He paused and looked at her curiously. "What do you mean? You're saying if Min attacks you again you're just going to sit there and take it like you did today?"
She looked at him seriously. "Yes Ryo, that is exactly what I would do."
"What? Why?"
Robyn turned her back to him and rubbed her left hand on her opposite arm. "I don't know if you would understand," she said softly.
Ryo grabbed her wrist and pulled her back around so she was facing him. He looked her straight in the face and Robyn thought she was going to drown in the depths of his amazing blue eyes.
"Tell me," he said simply.
Robyn turned away slightly and sighed. Why not? What did she have to loose?
"It happened a long time ago when Cye and I were just little kids. We couldn't have been more than six or seven. I didn't know him very well then but we lived next to each other. We were out playing in his back yard. I can't even remember what it was he said but I suddenly got mad and I hit him."
Robyn shook her head and gave a humorless laugh. "Cye was just this sickly little thing when we were young. I knocked him to the ground easily. But I remember he didn't say anything. He looked shocked at first and then he gave me this really sad, betrayed look as he stood up again.
"I don't know why, but that just made me angrier and I hit him again. And again and again. I--I couldn't stop. I wasn't really mad at him, I was just....mad. I had such a hard, frustrating childhood. And then there I was, taking out all that was bottled up inside me on this tiny little body."
Robyn paused to push her bangs out of her eyes. White Blaze walked up next to her and she leaned against his massive frame.
"But he never once cried out. He just sat there and took it all. Then finally, I heard him whimper a little. By that time I was crying myself, even though I couldn't make myself stop hitting and kicking him. But when I heard that sound I just froze and I realized something. At that point I was no better than my dad who did the same thing to me. Suddenly I felt so bad and dirty and evil. So I ran away and hid inside my house and I watched secretly as poor Cye picked himself up and limped home. I hid in the basement for the rest of the day, afraid his mom would tell my parents and that I would get in trouble."
Robyn finally looked up at Ryo as she finished her story.
"But no one ever mentioned it again. And try as I might to hide from Cye for the rest of my days, he eventually found me out and we somehow became friends. His forgiving me for that was probably the single grandest act of kindness I have ever encountered. And from then on, I knew I could never cause anyone to hurt like that again. Because I already knew how bad that felt and no one deserves that."
There was a long pause as her tale ended. Ryo just looked at her, trying to let it all sink in. It was hard for him to imagine the kind of conditions Robyn had to live with. Sure, his family wasn't perfect, but he never realized how lucky he had it until that moment. He was sorry Robyn couldn't say the same. In fact, he was mad for it. And after taking another look at the abrasion on her face, he was even madder that she still had to deal with it.
"Still Robyn," Ryo argued. "Doesn't it make you angry what Min did to you? Don't you want to do something about it?"
"Of course it does Ryo," Robyn insisted as she moved away to wander moodily about the yard. "It's hard, it's frustrating. It makes me feel powerless," she clenched her fists as her emotions started to build up. "I just--"
She finished off the sentence with a good kick to the soccer ball minding its own business in the yard. A few yards away was a shed that had a small bulls eye painted on it for throwing darts. Ryo's eyebrows shot up when the soccer ball landed dead center in the middle of it. Robyn didn't seem to notice.
"Woa, hold on," Ryo said as he ran to get the ball.
"What?" Robyn asked as he trotted back over to her.
Ryo dropped the ball at her feet. "Do that again," he challenged.
Robyn looked at the ball, shrugged, and kicked it again. Another bulls eye.
"Not bad," Ryo said, impressed. "Do you play soccer a lot?"
Another shrug.
Ryo retrieved the ball and bounced it on his knee. "Care for a game?"
Robyn smiled. "Okay."
By the time Grandma Sanada called out to them, their game of one on one turned to keep-the-ball-from-White-Blaze. Both teens where huffing and puffing as they ran tiredly after the white tiger who held the soccer ball firmly in his mouth.
"Okay you two, quit the hyjinks and come in for chow!" Ryo's grandmother called.
"Coming," Ryo panted. "I guess you win this round boy," he called to White Blaze.
"Yeah, but next time you're kitty litter pal," Robyn promised, also out of breath.
White Blaze didn't look the least bit scared and sat down to groom himself.
"Cats," both of them mumbled together as they trudged up the porch steps to eat.
"You know Ryo, you were right," Robyn admitted. "Your grandma is cool."
"Told ya," Ryo said with a grin.
It was starting to get dark now. Ryo was walking Robyn to the subway station where she could catch a ride to her own neighborhood. Robyn was thankful she packed a sweater as an icy breeze bit at her cheeks. It wasn't all that late yet, but the weather was getting colder and the days were getting shorter as Fall was upon them. The two reached the subway station with a few minutes to spare.
"Well, thanks for buying me some time, Ryo," Robyn offered. "Now all I have to do is figure out what I'm going to say when I get back. I can't tell them what really happened. Both of them will flip."
"You mean you're going to lie?" Ryo asked.
"Well, not flat out lie. Maybe bend the truth a little. But you'll back me up, right?"
"Robyn, I just can't lie to my friends. They trust me. Besides, to be honest, I can't lie to save my life. Serious."
Robyn patted his shoulder as the subway train arrived. "Don't worry Ryo, I'll make sure you won't get put in that position, okay?"
And before Ryo could ask her exactly what she meant by that, she was already on the train and gone from the station.
******
Ryo was never sure what went on that night. But when Kento, Cye, and Robyn arrived at school the next morning, none of them looked too happy. Robyn kept shooting Cye warning glares every time he looked at her while Kento just looked confused at it all. Ryo noticed Robyn had combed her hair a bit differently that day to better hide the long bruise running down the side of her face. When Rowen and Sage arrived she kept her head to the side so neither of them would have a clue to what happened.
Other than that, the morning remained uneventful as the bell rang to signal the beginning of school. The group separated and headed to their respective first periods. Except for Robyn who trotted after Kento and Sage.
"Hold on for a sec," Robyn said as she grabbed Sage's arm. "You go on ahead Ken, I've got to have a chat with Mr. Congeniality real quick, okay?"
Kento raised his hands, glad he wasn't asked to get involved in whatever was going on that day.
"Fine by me. Catch you later."
As Kento left, Sage turned to the thin girl and folded his arms expectantly. Robyn closed her eyes and pressed her fingers to her forehead as she tried to gather her thoughts.
"Okay Sage, this is what has to happen. I can't eat with you, I can't talk to you, I can't ignore you. I get in trouble if I'm nice to you and also if I'm mean to you. I'm not allowed to smell you, think about you, or draw little doodles of you in my notebook. So please do me a favor Sage. Could you just, like, turn the other way when ever you see me? You'll be doing both of us a favor."
Sage made hardly a response to Robyn's small rant and instead reached out to gently move the strands of hair away from her face.
"What happened?" he asked simply.
Caught a bit off guard, it took Robyn a while to find her voice again.
"That, is none of your business," Robyn finally stated. "And I am leaving now."
Sage merely watched as she turned smartly on her heel and marched off to her first hour class.
"Okay Robyn, time to spill," Cye demanded when he caught up to her at lunch. "You may have been able to hide it from my mom but you won't be able to hide it from me. Now what happened to your face?"
Robyn took a deep breath as they sat down across from each other at the lunch table outside. She knew she couldn't be able to dodge the question for ever. Fortunately, she was ready for this question--she hoped.
"Look, it's not a big deal Cye. We were just playing soccer at Ryo's house and things got a bit rough. That's all."
"Ryo did this to you??"
"No! None of this was Ryo's fault!"
"Well if that's all that happened then why didn't you tell me about it earlier?"
Robyn took a moment to ferret through her lunch sack as she replied.
"Because I knew that you would just blow the whole thing out of proportion like you're doing right now."
It was at this time that Sage and Rowen joined them at the table--Sage next to Cye and Rowen next to Robyn.
"Then how come I get the feeling you're not telling me something?" Cye probed.
Robyn made a noise of exasperation. Why couldn't he just let it be?
"Look, look. Here comes Ryo. I'll prove it. Hey Ryo," she called to him as he approached. "Did we or did we not play soccer last night?"
"Yes," Ryo answered warily as he sat down next to Sage.
"There, ya see?"
"Hey Robyn," Kento belted as he squeezed in between her and Rowen. The blue haired youth didn't look too appreciative of being shoved over but gave Kento room anyway.
"I heard what happened to you," Kento continued to say which caught everyone's attention. "No wonder you didn't want to tell us! Why did you let Miniko clock you like that anyway?"
"Miniko hit you??" Cye demanded while Robyn dropped her head on the table in defeat. "Robyn, I can't believe you lied to me! How can I ever trust you again? And Kento," he turned to his best friend and new target. "How on earth did you ever find that out?"
"Eh, I heard Min bragging about it in the hall. So how about you give the girl a break Cye? She's had a bad enough time as it is."
Robyn lifted her head and gave Kento a small smile of appreciation. Why couldn't Cye be that understanding?
"Did she really hit you?" Rowen asked. He had to lean forward so he could see her over Kento's bulk.
"Kicked me, actually," Robyn admitted. "And I don't want to hear anyone asking me why. I'm sure we're all aware of the many reasons she did it."
"Man," Kento grumbled. "That really just burns me up. She thinks she owns the whole school! Too bad she's a girl or I'd go knock her block off right now."
"I appreciate the offer Kento, but I think we should just leave it well enough alone. I don't need it to get any worse."
"Seriously Robyn, we all feel really bad about it," Rowen said. "We all wish we could have a least been there for you."
Robyn smiled at him. "Well, thanks for caring at least. But Ryo was there in time to give me moral support. That was good enough."
Everyone turned to look at Ryo who only shrugged in reply.
"Now everyone be quiet about it," Robyn ordered. "It's over and done now, no sense in keeping it going."
Everyone at the table paused long enough to hear a group of girls laughing in their general direction. It didn't take a genius to realize what they were laughing at. Robyn groaned and hid her face in her arms.
"So what are you doing after school today Robyn," Rowen asked when he had caught up with her and Ryo after school was out.
"Not much," Robyn admitted. "I've got a ton of homework to do tonight. Stupid college trig!"
"Wanna do it at my place? I could help you with your math if you need it."
Robyn raised a skeptical eyebrow at him as they stepped out the door. "Anything particular bring this sudden idea on?" she prodded.
"What? No! It was just an idea. Don't jump all over me for it."
Robyn made no further argument and instead blew her bangs away from her face as they stepped outside towards the usual meeting place. The others were already there as the remaining three arrived. Cye and Kento looked ready to leave in an instant, the latter spinning his key chain on one finger.
"Okay, everyone's here now. So let's go already," Kento said impatiently.
"Robyn's coming home with me," Rowen announced as if he had just called first dibs on her.
Cye shot her a questioning look to confirm Rowen's statement. Robyn shrugged and gave a look that said "Hey, it wasn't my idea, but I'll go along with it." Cye then gave Rowen a look which was similar to the one Robyn had given him earlier. Ryo waved casually to Sage as he started off for home and Kento seemed impartial to anything that went on.
"Well let's go then, come on Cye!"
"But--" Cye protested as he was dragged away by his shirt collar.
"No buts, you and me got places to go and things to do!"
"And you," Sage said to Rowen. "Must have forgotten that we have practice at the dojo today."
"Dojo??" Robyn squeaked.
Rowen slapped both hands to his face, his mouth forming an "O" shape as he expressed mock surprise. "Oh no," He cried lamely, poorly mimicking a type of English accent. "I _totally_ forgot! Oh dear me, how my mind just goes--OF COURSE I DIDN'T FORGET SAGE! I'M NOT AN IDIOT!!"
"More like unabashedly cynical," Sage muttered.
Robyn slapped her palm on her forehead. "Egads! I've been suckered again!" The sound of Kento's jeep was more than apparent to everyone within the vicinity as it drove away. "And there goes my ride home," she lamented.
"Well, I guess you get to come with me then," Rowen grinned.
Robyn twirled her finger in the air sarcastically. "Well whooptie-doo and la de da!"
Sage just kept to himself and started for the car as his father pulled up as he did every time this day of the week.
"Come on Robyn," Rowen said cheerfully as he took her arm and pulled her in the direction Sage was going.
The girl's expression was not one of excitement as she was dragged along to the car. Mr. Date looked mildly surprised when Sage opened the front passenger door and got in. Usually both boys took up the back seat when he came to pick them up.
"Hi Mr. Date," Rowen sang as he got in the back with a young red haired girl. "This is Robyn. She's going to be coming with us today."
Robyn kind of hunched her shoulders and smiled weakly to the rear view mirror as if apologizing for being there. Sage's father only nodded in acceptance and then drove off for his destination.
The Date family dojo was quite a spacious place; Robyn was surprised how much open room it had inside it. The building itself actually used to be a roller skating rink. The Date's had purchased it a few years ago when the old one proved to be too small and turned it into a dojo/gym. The floor of the main room was covered with mats and had a few weapon racks and tapestries along the walls. A large paper wall separated the smaller room which contained several different types of exercise machines--mostly used by the older students who attended the classes or simply came to work out. There weren't many people there that day--most of them being in the aforementioned gym when they arrived. The large practice room was currently empty since it would be a while until lessons started for that day.
As Sage and Rowen went off to the locker rooms to change into their practice gear, Robyn took a seat on one of the benches near the door and pulled out her math book and note paper. She had finished almost five of the easier problems when Rowen emerged again. He was wearing a white practice suit with the top held closed by a black belt. Robyn looked up when she felt someone standing over her.
"Yes," she said expectantly as she looked up.
"So what do you think?" he asked, motioning to his ensemble.
"I think they look like pajamas. But they don't look half bad on you."
"Yeah?" Rowen asked with a grin.
Robyn shrugged. "Sure, they really look good on ya. I just hope you're not planning on getting me into one of those things."
Rowen laughed. "Not quite. Come with me."
Robyn put away her things and left them on the bench as she followed the tall young man to the farthest corner of the practice room. There were some portable paper walls leaning against the wall and Rowen began setting them up, creating their own little room where they could have some privacy.
"Oh, you're sneakier than I thought," Robyn joked. "You're making a place here where we can be _alone_."
"Let's leave our dirty minds at the door, shall we?" Rowen responded brightly as he pulled her into the self made room.
"So what exactly are you doing anyway?" Robyn wanted to know.
"I," Rowen announced as he rolled up his sleeves. "Am going to teach you a little in the art of self defense."
Robyn smirked at him. "You've been talking to Ryo, haven't you?"
"That's beside the point. Shall we get started?"
"Fine," Robyn sighed in defeat. "Show me you're little....whatever and then I've got to get back to my homework."
"Alright," Rowen grinned triumphantly. He planted his feet apart in a readied stance. "Now, try to hit me."
"What?" Robyn protested.
"Come on, like you're going to punch me."
Robyn made a pathetic whimpering sound. "No Rowen," she whined. "I--I can't--"
"Come on, you're not going to hurt me. Just do it."
After a bit more fidgeting, Robyn finally balled up a tiny fist and made a half-hearted punch toward's Rowen's shoulder. The tall boy easily blocked it with a flick of his wrist.
"Oh Robyn! What a wussy punch! You can do better than that! Pretend your mad at me or something."
Robyn punched again, but it was only slightly more forceful than the first one. Again Rowen easily diverted the small attack to the side. The blue-haired youth shook his head to swish his hair away from his eyes. This wasn't going as good as he had hoped.
"Okay look, we're going to try something else. I'm going to punch with my left hand and I want you to take your right arm and block it like this here with the back side of your wrist."
Rowen went through the motions of the technique while Robyn mimicked the best she could.
"Okay, ready?" Rowen then said.
Robyn nodded. Rowen made a fist and pushed it very slowly in Robyn's direction. She blocked it awkwardly. After further instruction, Rowen tried again, punching with a bit more force than before. They repeated this action over and over until Robyn felt fairly comfortable with it. Then they rotated to their other hands and eventually went to a combination of the two. Rowen was just getting around to showing her how to block kicks when the noises from the outside room got to them.
"Looks like that's all for today," Rowen announced. "Sounds like everyone's here. Lessons should start soon."
Robyn nodded and started to walk out, but she paused in mid stride at what she saw. Two teenagers were already engaged in a practice sparing match and it was going on hot and heavy. One of the participants was a boy around Robyn's age that she had never seen before. The other one Robyn identified immediately. There was no mistaking those hard eyes and that dark, flowing hair.
"Eep!" Robyn squeaked as she ran back behind the paper wall. "It's Miniko! No wonder she could waylay me like she did! Crap! I'm dead!"
Robyn turned to Rowen with a vengeful gaze. "Why didn't you tell me she would be here??" she hissed.
Rowen shrugged as if the issue didn't matter.
"Well, I'm going to stay behind here until she leaves," Robyn announced.
"You can stay here," Rowen responded. "But I do have to move these walls when class starts."
"Great," Robyn mumbled.
She grudgingly helped Rowen replace the movable walls back in the corner and then slunk cowardly back to her bench. The class started when Mr. Date stepped into the room in his practice gui. All the students, including Rowen and Sage, instantly stood at attention and bowed respectfully. Robyn didn't wait to see what would happen next. She quickly gathered up her things and slipped out the door to continue her school work out on the sidewalk.
Time passed slowly, but finally the students started filing back out of the building and towards home. No one saw Robyn as they left. In her ever continuing quest to avoid Miniko Hino, she had sat herself around the corner so no would notice her.
"So here's where you went," Rowen said as he leaned over her, casting his lanky shadow across her papers. "So what have you been up to?"
"Hmm, mostly trying to figure out why you dragged me out here in the first place."
Rowen laughed as if she had meant the statement to be some sort of joke. "Well, we can leave now, as soon as I...." he paused when he noticed his hands were empty. "As soon as I go get my bag out of the locker room." He dashed back around the corner and into the dojo once again.
Robyn gathered up her things at a more casual pace before hiking her heavy bag over her shoulder and then walking back into the building. She only went as far as the doors, leaning on them when they closed as she waited for Rowen. The place was practically empty once again. Not even the usual music from the gym was playing now. But someone was still using the practice mats, however.
Sage stood in the midst of the mats, still in his white practice gui and a sword in his hand. Robyn had trouble telling from a distance but the weapon looked old. Sage seemed oblivious to anything and everything around him as he moved gracefully on the floor. The ancient blade whistled as it sliced through the air. It seemed to have a power all its own and Sage merely followed as the weapon led him through ancient katas rehearsed over the centuries by his ancestors. Robyn had never seen anything like it. He moved as if possessed. Graceful and powerful, like a jungle cat. His movements were almost hypnotizing.
Robyn didn't even notice Rowen come up beside her until he bumped her with his elbow. She looked up, a bit surprised he was there. Rowen merely jerked his head in the direction of the door to show that it was time to leave. Robyn took one last look at the master swordsman before following after him.
"Wah! Stupid Law of Cosines! I must always look in the back of the book to find you!"
Rowen looked up from his college physics book as Robyn started ranting and flipping disgruntledly through her math book.
"It's A squared equals B squared plus C squared minus 2BC Cos A," Rowen rattled off. "And how about writing that down at the top of your paper so you don't have to keep looking back?"
Robyn looked at him and then made a sound as if that was the stupidest thing she ever heard. But then she went ahead and did it anyway.
"Rowen," Robyn asked as she wrote. "How long have you known Sage?"
Rowen paused to tap his pencil to his chin. "About as long as you've known Cye, I'm guessing."
"And have you been best friends all that time?"
"Sure. Why do you ask?"
Robyn finally looked up from her work. "I was just curious. You two are such opposites, it's kinda weird how you can be so close."