Adult-FanFiction.org : Anime

Wild Child
By : FlayraDowitcher
Category: +M to R > Ronin Warriors
Views: 1521 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own RW/YST. I'm making no money off this fic.
Chapter List
- 1
- 2
- 3
Chapter 2

"Get up!"

Rowen was roughly jerked awake by numerous hands, all which tossed him from the wagon and to the dusty ground. He landed painfully on his side, yet held in his hiss of pain. All around him there was noise; people talking, children screaming, animals calling, and auctioneers shouting out prices. Rowen lifted his head to look at his surroundings, finding himself in what could only be a city market place. He barely had time to examine the area before he was roughly pulled to his feet by a set of men. They weren't soldiers but by the looks of them they were merchants, or worse, slave traders. Rowen struggled in his binds as the two dragged him along a stretch of street. He remembered Kento was with him and he frantically searched for the man, if anything just to know he was all right and to see a familiar face in this ocean of strangers. But his attention was turned to the steel barred cage, which was being held open for him by another rough looking man. One man held him still inside while the other untied his wrists. Rowen took the chance to swing at them but it appeared the men had expected that and retaliated quickly with a foot to his gut. He hacked up some spittle and fell to his knees on the wooden floor, holding his midsection as he tried to catch his breath. The sound of a steel lock and the rattling of bars echoed in his ears. He was trapped.

'Relax, Rowen. Don't panic. The worst thing you can do is panic. I have to think about this clearly…'

"LET ME GO! I'LL KNOCK ALL OF 'YA INTO THE NEXT MOON DAY!"

Rowen's head shot up at the sound of Kento's shouting and saw his friend being carried over by five soldiers holding him tight. They were coming towards his prison and he hoped Kento would be in here with him. The cage was too short to stand upright so escape would be futile. Kento struggled as he was pushed through the open cage door but with a swift kick to his rear, the large man fell the rest of the way in. He nearly fell on Rowen but the smaller man moved just in time. Rowen glared at the man who locked them inside.

"I'LL TEAR YOU APART, BASTARD!" Kento rattled the bars viciously and tried to pry them open.

"Kento!"

"Rowen?" Smokey blue eyes widened when they saw him. "Rowen! You're okay!"

"You just noticed I was in here?"

He gasped as Kento brought him in to a hug and he couldn't resist embracing back. In fact, he clung to his muscular friend as the full realization of their situation began to strike fear in his heart. As of this moment their futures were unknown. They were strangers in a strange land; a world much different from their own. Kento would have a rough time adjusting to this new world unlike Rowen who knew more about the Empire. He had taught Kento to write his name and that was about the only thing his friend could do. Currently he wished they were back at his house, lying on the bearskin rug in front of the hearth while reading out loud to his friend. Kento would usually fall asleep during 'boring' parts, something that annoyed him to no end but now that it was gone he wished he had it again.

"I'm sorry, Ro. This is all my fault! I shouldn't have rushed out when you said not to!"

'Well, that IS the reason we're here, you dope.' That was what he thought but didn't have the heart to say it out loud. Kento was only acting on his noble instincts for his fellow clan members. Kento liked to fight with his body, not with his head. "You were just trying to help, Ken. We didn't know this would happen." They separated.

"What's going to happen now? What is this place, besides the Empire?"

"It's a marketplace. By the size of the buildings and well-dressed people this is a rich place. The rich, nobles, and royals all come here, I'll bet."

"What do they want with us? Are we going to be slaves?"

Rowen crossed his arms and rested his back against the bars. "Most likely. Chances are you'll be sold into fighting games while I'll be bought for a slave."

Kento looked uneasy for a moment, and then turned serious eyes on Rowen. "What…'kind' of slave?"

Light blue brows lifted at the question. "Slaves are used for many different jobs, Kento." He felt himself blush then. "Oh." Now he knew what his friend had meant by the question. "I don't…really know for sure." He twitched when Kento slammed his fist in to the bars.

"Damn it! This isn't right! They shouldn't have that kind of power against people!"

"Well, they do. Now, we need to…think logically about our situation here."

"We need to get out!"

"Yes, but trying to escape in such a big place as this without knowing exactly where we are would be suicide. You and I would stick out like a sore thumb. And if we are caught they will likely kill us." He put his hand up to stop Kento's protest, which he knew was coming. "Now. Listen. To. Me. If we're dead, we can't change ANYTHING. Our goal is to stop the Empire from expanding in to our land. If they succeed then our clan will be wiped out within the blink of an eye! Do you want that to happen?"

"Of course not!" Kento growled. "But I don't want to roll over on my back and bare my belly either!"

"Neither do I. But if we're going to survive here then we have to play it safe." Rowen had to turn away from Kento for what he was going to say next. "Whoever buys me will be a noble lord, or a royal. Once they see that I can read and write properly they will use me for more. I'll have to act the studious servant and do what I am told. In turn, I can hopefully find ways to influence anyone I can. The only way we can save our clan is to appeal to the ways of the Empire. All this will fall on me so don't worry. Your biggest concern will be the fighting games…and staying alive."

"Ro, why aren't you looking at me?" Rowen wouldn't answer. "Rowen, I have no doubt you'll find a way to save us and our clan. I just fear we'll be split up and…and you'll be with someone who…who might…"

"And you could be killed in cold blood while people stand around and cheer at the sight. I'm more worried about you than myself."

Kento sat back and crossed his legs with a sigh. "So what are we to do?"

"Right now, all we can do is to wait." He finally turned to look back at Kento. "I figure we'll know tomorrow."

/

They were left in the cage without food or water for the rest of the day. Night had come and the market was completely empty, save for some stray dogs picking up left over food and garbage. A few soldiers and merchants still prowled the streets and their immediate area, making constant rounds to check that everyone was properly confined to their spots. Rowen rested against Kento's chest with the larger man's arms wrapped tightly around him, holding him close. The night air was cold and he shivered against his friend, who was doing his best to keep them warm. Rowen looked up in to the night sky yet could only see a small number of stars. The Empire had too many lights and fires, all in which hindered the sight of the beautiful stars. He couldn't even feel at home looking up at the stars, for there were so little to see. And the noise threatened to keep him awake. Back home there was no sounds; only silence with the occasional crickets, peepers, and a wolf howl. The Empire seemed to be a place where production and activity never really stopped. The smell of cooked meat was heavy in the night air, and he felt his stomach rumble with hunger. It was nowhere near as loud as Kento's, which rumbled and roared constantly. His thoughts were cut short when he felt Kento rubbing his belly.

"Ken?"

"Sorry…just thinkin' a lot." He answered in a whisper, nuzzling Rowen's ear. "I don't want anyone else to have you, Ro."

"…I know." He was starting to feel uncomfortable.

"Can I…'you know', before we're separated?"

Rowen flushed. "We might not be separated. We don't know what's going to happen and I don't want to do something so intimate in front of people! We're surrounded."

"But wouldn't you rather have your first time be with me? Someone you know? We were kids together, Ro."

"I know, and I cherish that."

"So what's the problem?" He dropped his forehead to Rowen's shoulder.

'I don't want to ruin our friendship.' Rowen said to himself. 'This is all my fault. I should have never given Kento the 'okay' to court me. Sometimes I'm so smart I'm stupid!' "I just…want that to be something special between us. Alone. In my house or yours, on the rug, in front of a fire." That should hold Kento off. "I want to go through the whole mating ritual as well."

Kento sighed. "Fine…I understand. I'm too tired and hungry to do much anyway."

Rowen felt himself smile. "We have a big day ahead of us tomorrow. We'll need our strength." He threaded Kento's fingers with his own. "I hope we can stay together."

Kento returned the smile. "Me too."

"Oh, fancy seeing you two here!" Rowen and Kento both looked up at the sound of another's voice, and a familiar one. The voice belonged to the man Cye; the one who led them from the tent of Lord Sage. Sea green eyes were looking at them with sorrow and pity. "How in the world did you two get caught?"

"Long story." Rowen answered, crawling out of Kento's hold to move towards Cye. "Why are you here?"

Cye smiled at them. "Well, I'm Lord Sage's personal servant and groom. I was once a slave too, sitting here in these cages like an animal." Cye looked at Kento. "I'm surprised you are here and not with the potential fighters."

"Should I be?" Kento asked.

"Usually that's how it is." Cye thought for a moment, and then spoke. "Lord Sage allows me to look through the slave traders' lot and see who they have."

Rowen's eyes widened. "Lord Sage comes to this market?" He felt a little tingle in his lower belly, which only occurred when he thought of Lord Sage but dismissed it as 'hunger' instead.

Cye nodded. "Yes, to buy all kinds of things. He's looking for a new slave to buy and I'm here to get an early peek at who will be on that stand tomorrow morning."

"So Rowen WILL be sold as a slave!" Kento growled.

Rowen ignored Kento and looked to Cye. "So you have the ear of Lord Sage?" Rowen took notice of Kento's confused look at the term but just waved off the man's silent question.

Cye gave a tiny smile. "In some ways, yes."

"Will you put in a good word for us with Lord Sage?" Kento's jaw dropped opened. Rowen saw the influence the blonde had over the building development and if he went with Lord Sage he had a better chance at stopping the expansion.

Cye bit his lip. "Um…Lord Sage isn't really looking for another champion fighter at the moment. A slave? Yes. A fighter? No."

"Kento is my intended." Rowen told the gentle young man.

"Is he?" Cye looked at Kento and then back to Rowen. Looking around quickly, he leaned in to whisper to Rowen. "Don't say that to anyone else, okay? If the men here knew that then…" He shuddered "it just wouldn't be safe for you. Keep it to yourself."

Rowen looked in to the sea green eyes of the auburn haired man and knew that he could trust this young man. He wasn't sure what it was, but something inside was telling him that Cye was trustworthy. If he wanted to get Lord Sage to buy him then he must convince Cye to put in a word for them. "I remember Lord Sage's words to me in the tent. He said I have 'uses' here. So will he buy us?"

Cye look uneasy again. "He doesn't want a fighter."

'Damn, I don't want to leave Kento behind.' He had a thought then, and ran with it. "You said you were once like us. Did you have the option of who could buy you? Did someone come around and 'peek' like you are doing now?"

"N-No. I wished I had, though. I just got lucky it was Sage who bought me." Cye stood up then. "I see where you are going with this. I'll speak to Lord Sage on your behalf. Both of you."

"Thank you, Cye."

"Yes. I must be going now. Take care of yourself and don't do anything that can get you into trouble!" He politely warned them before continuing on his way, leaving the two alone.

"You really want to be with that pompous ass?" Kento sneered and crossed his arms.

Rowen turned back to him. "In case you didn't notice," his tone was laden with sarcasm "Sage is the one who was at the tent yesterday! Obviously he has some part in the production and building in our territory! Who better to go with than the person who controls what's going on?"

"You don't know that he controls it."

"That's right, I don't. BUT, he is PART of it. These buildings can't be completed unless the contractors have sponsors." Kento stared at him, so he had to clarify. "They need rich people like Sage to give them money so they can build. If we're to save our clan then we have to appeal to Sage. Do you understand?" Rowen knew it was going to have to be mostly him since Kento would be stuck living with the other fighters but he didn't want to leave his friend out of the 'plan'.

"Tch!" He spit through the bars. "I don't like how you're just giving in so easily, Ro. It's not like you."

Rowen flashed him a smirk and sat opposite of his friend. "Who says I'm giving in? If I do everything right then I can be in control. You've got to give a little before you can take. That's the position we're in at this moment."

Kento raised a heavy dark blue brow. "Ro, you're the most 'socially awkward' person, as you put it, in our whole clan! You're lucky I'm someone who understands you! How are you going to talk that guy in to changing his rules when you've spent most of your time buried in books and not talking to people? You don't know what type of person he is! You've only met him once!"

Rowen didn't answer that because Kento made a valid point. He was fairly arrogant and a teeny bit snooty since he had always been far more intelligent than the other kids growing up. His constant studying and working hindered his ability to interact with the other boys. Of course he participated in basic training for young boys, but always went his own way. The only boy he would practice sparring with was Kento, who could make friends with a rock. Which is one of the reasons why Rowen did not want their relationship to go any further than just best friends. Kento was opposite of him in numerous ways and he deserved someone openhearted and sweet. Kento's heart and brawn held dominance over his mind, something that Rowen found hard to understand. Kento liked to give a lot of affection but too much of it would make Rowen uncomfortable. Still, he chose to answer back in a harsh, sarcastic tone. "At least I use my head, unlike some guys I know!" He sighed heavily when he saw the slightly hurt look on Kento's round face. "Alright, that was rude of me and I'm sorry. I'm just saying that I can do a lot more when I need to. It'll all depend on the situation at the time."

"Whatever." Kento spun around and gave Rowen his back.

Rowen rolled his eyes and chose to remain silent. He wouldn't play in to Kento's little childish games. Besides, Kento always gave in first anyway. The man could never stay silent for long.

So together in the small cage they sat in pure silence; tired, cold, and hungry.

/

"The clan member from yesterday?" Lord Sage looked up at Cye from his writing desk. He had been working on various documents long in to the night.

"Yes. I'm not sure how they ended up getting caught but the larger one is with him as well."

Sage tapped his cheek with the feather of his quill as he contemplated the idea of buying the blue-haired wild child. He remembered the heated look of pure determination in those blue eyes along with a little touch of disdain. Chief Rowen spoke very well and claimed to be educated in the ways of the Empire. A high-strung and intelligent slave would be dismissed or frowned upon by other nobility, but Sage was intrigued by the idea of 'taming' such a unique individual. "What do you think, Ryo?"

"About what?" The dark haired man was sitting on the floor polishing his swords.

"About 'Chief Rowen' joining my house."

"Oh. Um…I guess it's okay?"

Sage rolled his eyes. "Thank you for your input." He turned to Cye. "I know you have an opinion."

"I think you should bid on him because he seemed pretty eager when I told him you were looking to buy."

"Really?" He smirked. "Interesting." He looked over to Ryo. "Ryo, you spoke to him. What was he like after he left the tent?"

Ryo scratched the top of his head. "Well, he seemed really angry and fairly determined to get his way. He looks like he could be trouble, but I don't know."

"I'll think about it." Sage returned to his documents. "Tomorrow we'll arrive at the auction square early. Before the auctioning begins, Cye, I would like you to speak once again with Chief Rowen. Find out more about him and then return back to me. I'll make my final judgment then."

"Yes. Oh! I almost forgot to say! They're going to be sold as a pair, Rowen and Kento. Rowen as a slave and Kento as a fighter. I think you should take them both."

Sage laid one of the finished documents in the filing basket. "I don't need another fighter. My family has enough of them as it is. I'm sure I can persuade the trader to buy just one."

"You should purchase them both." Cye snatched the quill from Sage's hand, forcing the man to pay attention. "One of the most frightening feelings is being all alone in a strange new world without a friend. It was very difficult for me to live in your home where I knew no one and there was not one friendly face. I was very fortunate to have befriended you and Ryo, but such luck doesn't always happen between master and slave."

Sage leaned back in his chair. "You're overly sympathetic sometimes, Cye. Just because you felt that way doesn't mean Rowen does or will."

"He might just take over the servant and slave quarters." Ryo chimed in. "He seemed serious when he said, 'this isn't over' and called you a 'smug little ice prince'." Ryo quickly regretted the words he let slip from his mouth and judging by Cye's glare his auburn-haired lover was pissed.

"Oh, did he now?" Sage threaded his fingers together and smiled at Ryo. "And did you defend my honor at all, Head Swordsman?"

"I told them you were a really good guy but they didn't believe me! And it's not the first time you've been called that!" Cye glared at him again. "But we know the truth and we're your friends and that's all that matters, right? Right?" Ryo was flushed with embarrassment.

"You're forgiven. But going back to 'Chief Rowen'," he looked at Cye "don't give me that look."

"What look?"

"That 'kitten in the rain' look! I'm not buying them both!"

Ryo hid his laugh behind his gloved hand. He knew the 'kitten in the rain' look very well and when Cye used it to get his way, it usually worked.

"Ugh. Fine!" Sage snatched the quill back from Cye. "Talk to the other one, whatever his name was, and see what his abilities are! I will decide then. Now go, both of you. I'm tired." He pouted slightly and crossed his arms, hating the power of the 'kitten in the rain' look from Cye.

"Thank you, Sage!" Cye circled around the desk to lean down and give Sage a kiss on the cheek. "Are you sure you don't want me to stay and help you get ready for bed?"

"Not tonight. I'm just going to finish this and then head to bed." He went back to writing and peeked up at his two friends getting ready to leave. When Cye took Ryo's hand to lead him out Sage spoke up. "Don't stay up too late, you two. We have a busy day tomorrow."

"But I'm just going back to my room." Ryo said

"Yeah, sure." Sage continued to write. "I know where you're going. If Cye is not awake and by my side tomorrow morning before breakfast, I'll know who to blame."

He kept his violet eye focused on them as they exited his room, still hand in hand. Cye had advanced from slave to servant on Sage's good will. He even made Cye his personal servant and groom, which was a scandal in his family at the time. A personal groom had to be a middle-class person from a good name, not a slave purchased from an auction. But Sage had his way and soon Cye had become not only his servant but a friend as well. Sage and Ryo had been friends since before Cye, and now the three of them were their own little group. Oftentimes he would invite Cye into his bed if only for trusted company. There were very few people Sage trusted in this household. Ryo was their Head Swordsman and the family 'champion', but Sage did not need another to defend him. He was trained to use his own broadsword the moment he was strong enough to wield it and could easily defend himself, as well as his family name. It wasn't expected of a nobleman to fight on his own but rather to have someone fight for them. It was a ridiculous rule.

Sage stood and blew out his candle, going around the room to put out all the others. He moved to the open balcony arches and pulled the curtains closed. He then dressed in to his green sheer nightshirt and got in to bed, blowing out the bedside candle. The room was completely dark save for the bit of moonlight peeking through the balcony curtains. Sage kept his eyes open, waiting for them to adjust to the darkness. He usually laid awake in thought before actually falling asleep. If someone was with him sleep was easier to come by, but tonight he chose to be alone. It was a snap decision after Cye had brought up that Ronin Clan member, Rowen. Sage turned on his side to face the large door of his room. He was eager to buy the blue-haired beauty, even if the man wished to drive a sword through his chest. Sage could picture those intense blue eyes perfectly. Those blue orbs were a pool of mystery and they intrigued him to the point where he wanted to own the man. At first he had denied it to himself, brushing the man off as a ruffian from the woods. Yet he said his father was from the Empire, and the way the blue-haired Ronin spoke was with educated elegance. There was a huge difference between Rowen and the other one, Kento. Cye wants him to buy both men, but Sage really only wanted Rowen. He let out a sigh, fluffed his pillow and closed his eyes. He'll just have to wait and see what tomorrow brings.

/

"Ro…hey Ro! Wake up!" Kento shook his sleeping friend, who only muttered and grumbled in annoyance. "Ro! Get up! Jeez, you can sleep through an earthquake!" There was so much hustle and bustle around them that he was shocked Rowen was still asleep. Then again, the man was known for sleeping through an entire day and night.

Rowen felt the shaking of his shoulder but was too tired and lazy to actually move. He was going to smack Kento if the guy didn't stop shaking him soon. Rowen wasn't the cheeriest of morning people.

"Come on, Rowen." Kento's voice was softer now. "Wake up. People are moving all around and this place is getting crowded! They're even looking at us like pieces of meat!"

That forced Rowen to open his eyes and sit up. He yawned, stretched, and scratched the back of his head. "Is this nightmare over yet?"

"Nope. We're still here." Kento responded.

"Anything happen?"

"Nah. Although I'm so hungry I could eat a horse!" He whined loudly.

Rowen was starving as well yet he was able to control his hunger rage a little more than Kento. He took a moment to glance around at the bustling people noticing how many venders there were. It must be a busy market day.

"Hey look! Here comes Cye!" Kento shouted, pointing to the auburn haired man smiling at them as he approached.

"Good morning to you both." He smiled and sat on his knees in front of them. "I've spoken to Lord Sage on your behalf."

"And?" Rowen asked, waiting for the answer with a raised blue brow.

"He said he will buy you both only if he knows more of who you are. So tell me as much as you can about yourselves and how you can be useful to Lord Sage." Rowen was going to speak first but Kento beat him to it.

"You can tell that guy that I'm the best warrior and hunter in our clan! I'm the strongest of them all!" Kento flexed his muscles for Cye who just looked amused.

"Okay, well, that's a good start. But Lord Sage will have to know more than that. Do you think you would be able to win many fights?"

Kento snorted and gave a grin. "I'll ram 'em down like a bull and attack like a bear!"

"It's true, he will." Rowen said, deadpan. "As I said before I'm the only clan member who can read and write. I know science, herbs, astronomy, and I'm a master archer. I'm also the fastest runner."

"He's like a deer; it's really amazing." Kento added. "But he sleeps like a sloth and wouldn't wake up if a stampede of buffalo ran around him. But he rather have his nose in a book and fall asleep in a tree somewhere."

Rowen rolled his eyes. "Are you telling him about me, or am I?" Kento put his hands up and said nothing more. Rowen turned back to Cye. "Not to brag, but I'm highly intelligent, I'm very cunning, I learn quickly, I like to debate-" Kento cut him off, adding in some traits of his own.

"You're hot-headed," he counted on his fingers "you're stubborn, you're cranky when woken up, you're messy with your stuff-"

Rowen glared at him. "I will destroy you! I am NOT short tempered! And it's called 'organized chaos' you dope!"

Kento smiled at Cye. "You see?"

Cye hid his laugh behind his hand. "You two are funny!" He gently gripped one of the bars. "You and Lord Sage will bang heads for certain, Rowen. But I think Lord Sage will find the challenge very refreshing." He turned to Kento. "Are you a noble warrior?"

"Yeah."

Cye gave a sad smile. "That will kill you in these fights. You have to develop some crocodile skin and trust no one if you are to survive. I'm afraid that's just the way things are. But I think Lord Sage will like you too, Kento. Would you mind doing more than just fighting? We have a lot of labor around the palace and can always use a strong back."

Kento slammed his fist into his palm. "I can move houses!"

"Alright then." Cye chuckled and stood up. "I think I have everything that I need. Take my advice and don't fight the slave traders when they put you on the auction block. It just makes things easier. Try to act proud and show no fear. Many of the lords here today are not looking for strong individuals but rather meek ones."

"No problem there." Rowen stated. "Thank you for your help."

"Yes. I'll hopefully see you in a bit." Cye gave them another wave and disappeared into the crowd.

"I can't believe we're doing this." Kento mumble.

"Well, not like we have much of a choice at the moment." He sat back on his knees and looked at Kento. "You heard Cye, we have to 'behave' while they're ushering us onto that platform like cattle. Just swallow your pride and deal with it! Don't cause us any more trouble than you already have!"

Kento crossed his arms. "Well sorry for wanting to protect you and the other clan members! I forgot that was a crime punishable by your attitude."

Rowen chose not to respond to that but saw a couple of the slave traders coming over to them. "They're coming our way. Get ready."

/

Cye returned to the Date Family dais where the carriage was park alongside it but Sage had not come out. The servants and guards were still setting up the dais furniture, which consisted of two curule chair, a small table, and a large red rug that covered the surface. Cye wondered why there were two chairs on the dais, and gasped when he realized that Sage's uncle would be here as well. When the second Lord Date was present Sage would have to act his 'true' role as a nobleman, which meant cruel. Sage treated him like a friend while his uncle saw them all as worthless humans. Sage's father has been sick for quite some time and is unable to do many of the responsibilities that come with such a title. Lord Sage is still too young to rule the Date house, so his uncle has taken over for the time being. Although Sage's mother seemed to have more of a say in what decisions are made in the Date palace, which was Cye and Ryo's only saving grace from the uncle's wrath.

The carriage started to rock a bit and Cye met Ryo's eyes as the swordsman stood guard as the two stepped down. Lord Date the second exited first, wearing his classic silk purple robes and a wide variety of jewelry. Each finger had a gemstone ring on it and the headdress was laden with thin golden strands that sparkled in the sunlight. Sage was dressed all in green with less jewelry and a gold diadem laced with pearls upon his head. The elder always had to outshine the younger.

"You! Servant!" The slightly plump man pointed to Cye. "You are my nephew's groom, are you not?"

Cye bowed. "I am sir."

"Then why aren't you up here tending to him?" He said with a hiss, and then turned to Sage. "Learn to scold your servants for their lazy disobedience, nephew!"

Sage gave a slow nod to his uncle, and then glared at Cye. "This is my last warning to you, servant! Next time I will not be so forgiving!" He tilted his head away from his uncle's sight to lift up his curtain of blonde hair, revealing his covered left eye. He smiled and gave a wink in Cye's direction and motioned with a slight tilt of his head for his friend to join him on the dais. Cye hid his smile and climbed the dais steps to stand behind Sage's chair. Ryo quickly joined them, taking his place between both noblemen. Sage curled his finger at Cye and the other bent down so they can whisper.

"What did you find out?" Sage asked.

"Well, the one with the blue hair, Rowen, is a bit of a braggart and quite full of himself. I have no doubts that he has had a proper Empire education such as yourself and can be a very useful member to your growing council." Cye's sea-green eyes twinkled as he spoke next. "He reminds me a lot of you."

Sage gave him an amused look with one thin blonde brow raised. "I am far from a braggart, Cye." He turned to look back at the crowd. "I mind my own business as much as possible, you know that."

"Yes, but you like to let your actions speak for themselves…and perhaps you don't notice it as much as I do, but you always hold your head up high and snub others."

"Am I that obvious?"

"You are if one knows enough about you and what to look for." Cye smiled.

Sage took the goblet of water that was offered to him by his uncle's servant. "I think I give you a little too much freedom, Cye." Sage teased. "You and Ryo."

Ryo glanced at them and spoke quickly. "Don't pull me in to all this."

"And what of the other?"

Cye leaned in closer. "The other, Kento, is apparently the strongest warrior in the clan, and I don't doubt it either."

Sage leaned in closer as well. "Do you think it's necessary to buy both?"

"Yes, I believe so. Kento is twice the size of most of your family's fighters and can probably bring each one of them down single-handed. And between us…Kento is Rowen's 'intended'."

Sage smirked. "Intended?" He took a sip of water. "I would love to know what their courting rituals are. Now you have me interested, Cye. Thank you for that. Oh, it's starting!" Sage silenced them both and sat patiently waiting for his blue-haired wild child to appear.

/

"If that guy pushes me one more time-!"

"Deal with it for a bit longer, Kento! We're next."

Rowen stared at the steps leading up to the platform where two young women and one boy child were being auctioned off as slaves. The three were cowering near each other as the bids kept climbing higher and higher. Cye wasn't lying when he said that the meek were sought after more than the strong. He looked around at all the noblemen, searching their daises for signs of Sage. There were a few family banners he recognized from history books, but none of them were Sage's palace. Once he was up on the platform his vision could cover more ground.

After that group was sold and led off of the platform, it was their turn. Two of the slave traders yanked their chains, forcing them forward by their wrists. Rowen was going to go first but Kento pushed his way in front with means to shield him. He followed behind his friend as they took the platform; millions of eyes were on them but Rowen was searching for a particular pair. Or in this case, one eye of pure violet. Vaguely he could hear the auctioneer shouting about who and what they were but Rowen ignored it completely. His eyes were still scanning the crowd for Sage. Finally, Rowen's eyes found the dais of Sage's family with the sigil of a lightning bolt in a circle proudly displayed by some servants. Rowen's eyes met with Sage's immediately and they locked on, both staring at the other. Rowen took notice of Sage's diadem and robes, finding them to be very attractive on the blonde man. The word 'attractive' kept popping in his head every time he thought about this man and now it was happening when he laid eyes on him. And why was it pissing him off so much? But he saw Sage's hand go up to place a bid, and he held his breath.

"SOLD! TO THE DATE FAMILY!" The auctioneer shouted and then snapped his fingers, signaling four soldiers to undo the shackles on their wrists. A few soldiers wearing the Date colored green armor came up to them, being led by Ryo. Rowen looked at Ryo who shouted an order to the others.

"You three take the fighter to the Date Family Barracks. I'll take the other for Lord Sage."

Kento looked to Rowen as the guards started to pull him away. "HEY! LET ME GO! ROWEN!" He didn't want to fight too much, not until he saw what Rowen did.

Rowen jumped down from the dais, gave Ryo a stern look, and plopped himself on the ground. He crossed his legs and arms, puffing out his chest and holding his chin high. The crowd around them gasped and whispered at the sign of disobedience. "I'm not leaving unless Kento comes with me!"

Ryo's upper lip twitched. "Seriously? Come on, man, don't do this now. You'll see him later." He tried to reason with the other, but Rowen wouldn't hear of it.

"I said I'm not moving unless Kento comes with me." He turned to look at Sage on the dais. "I refuse to move."

"Stupid slave!" Shouted one of the slave traders, rearing his whip. "How dare you speak out of terms!" Before the whip could be brought down upon him, Ryo jumped in to shield him with one of the swords. The whip wrapped around the blade and Ryo yanked it free of the man's hold.

"Know your place as well, scum! You do not interfere in a matter with a Head Swordsman!" Ryo turned back to Rowen, who still sat in pure, stubborn disobedience. "Oh, wipe that look off your face before I do it for you. You're embarrassing yourself, Lord Sage, and me. Now get up and come with me."

Rowen turned his head away and stuck his nose in the air. Ryo growled a bit, not having the time nor the mood for this nonsense.

"Oh dear…" Cye rubbed his temples. "Shall I go help him?"

Sage smirked. "I'm actually enjoying this. He's extremely bold to be so defiant in public like this. Uh oh, Ryo's getting angry. Did you bring your spear?"

Cye cracked his knuckles. "I did. Shall I get it?"

"Not yet. I'm going to call our rebellious little jackass over here first." Sage beckoned his new slave with his hand, urging him to come forward. "BRING THE FIGHTER AS WELL!" He called, enjoying the dropped jaw of Ryo who didn't like giving in to defiance.

"Nephew, this slave will bring trouble!" His uncle warned but Sage ignored him.

Rowen stood up from the ground and waited for Kento to join him. He turned to Ryo with a smirk that silently spoke, 'I win'. Ryo huffed at him but followed behind the two as they made their way to the dais. Rowen kept his eyes firmly set on Sage, wishing he could wipe that smug smile off his pretty pale face. He swallowed hard when they stopped in front of the dais and a bead of sweat trickled down from his temple.

"Why do you openly defy me in public, servant?"

"I had a simple request that went unanswered. However, I think everyone here is making a big deal over something so small. It's not like the Empire will fall because one man chose to defy it." Rowen was, of course, referring to Sage's little snuffed statement in the tent.

Sage frowned, leaning on the left side of his curule chair and crossing his legs. "You might consider yourself lucky that my swordsman didn't run you through with his blades for such defiance. Do you find yourself better than anyone else here on my dais? What makes you different?"

Rowen stepped in front of Kento. "I'm far above your average slave and prisoner. I've had an Empire's education and my father, a brilliant scientist, taught me everything I needed to know and more."

His uncle gasped and turned to look at his nephew. "Is that the son of the man who fled the Empire?"

"I don't quite know for sure, uncle."

"There is one way." His uncle cleared his throat and asked a question in the ancient language of the Empire's first men. 'Do you understand the tongue in which I speak?'

'I do understand and I speak it as well as any of your kind, 'my lord'.' Rowen smirked at their shocked faces.

"Nephew, he speaks it more fluently than you do!" Sage sneered at his uncle's words for they were true yet he chose not to respond. "His father is the mad scientist who fled years ago!"

"My father is not mad!" Rowen defended with venom.

"Silence!" Sage shouted. "So you have proven you are familiar in the ways of the Empire. How does that change how we see you? Do you think you're better than any of those other slaves over there just because you can read and write?"

Rowen looked at Kento, and then back at Sage. "I'd be a liar if I said 'no'. I don't believe that anyone should be a slave or a servant. It's morally and ethnically wrong. But it is obvious from my own auction that," he heightened the volume of his voice, "most noblemen here are afraid of a lesser man who can stand up to them!" More shocked whispers and murmurs filled the air. "Keep the commoners scared, poor, and uneducated. That way, there is no chance of an uprising or a rebellion!"

"INSOLENCE!" Shouted his uncle. "Kill this man for such vile words!"

"Calm yourself, uncle." Sage looked at Rowen and tapped his bottom lip. Beside him, Cye had left to retrieve his spear and had it aimed at Rowen. The blue-haired man looked surprised to see Cye with a deadly weapon. "And you too, Cye." Sage sat up straight in the curule chair and smiled down at Rowen. "Surely with an education as vast as yours then you should know that not everyone here speaks with one voice. You're very narrow minded if you think so."

"We do not all think the same!" Cye chimed in and aimed his spear.

Ryo spoke to him next, but out of earshot of the others. "You've peeked Sage's interest. Quit while you're ahead or else he may give you to his uncle. And don't rope us in with the others. We're different."

Rowen narrowed his eyes at Sage. "Oh, I think I will be the judge of that."

End Chapter 2 TBC
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Wild Child	By : FlayraDowitcher Category: +M to R > Ronin Warriors Views: 1521 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own RW/YST. I'm making no money off this fic.

Wild Child