Ch 2: Deeper Art

"Uuuuuugh!" Celia woke with such a fright she actually screamed, her high pitched voice waking up everyone in the house hold. Nana jolted awake, the sound she was making ending as Kouta and Lucy popped into the room. The amount of vectors that appeared made the room heavy and humid. It had been nothing more than Nana's low moaning in the end. Yeah, it would be a while before she decided to see "The Grudge" again. After much apologizing, Celia got up, showered, dressed and went down to eat breakfast. Today she would be going to the museum with the others and the idea pleased her greatly. She had never been to the museum before so it was something she looked forward for.

That would be in the next few hours though, she waved goodbye to the others and walked outside. She was greeted by a few people before she walked about 3 miles to the nearest hospital. She went inside and was instantly greeted by a male Diclonius doctor. "Hello Queen Celia. Had a good morning?"

She shook her head at the proper way he was addressing her. "Thank you Hector, I'm fine. Had a bit of a rough night." She said sheepishly. "I see." The male siplitet nodded as a nurse came by him, she handed over the paper work which literally floated into his hands. "We've got a recent victim in in Room C3, he's losing a lot of blood and he won't let any of us near him." He said solemnly.

"What happened?" She asked, just as seriously. "An attack somewhere in the western part of the city. We were given a call about a few hours ago actually and we sent the ambulance over. He was definitely attacked by one of our kind. His right arm is almost completely ripped off."

Celia sighed, remembering a few unpleasant moments from her own past. "I'll check on him."

She knocked on the door, knowing it wouldn't have been wise to go in right now. "Whose is it." A female voice answered. "It's me, Chiba Celia." She answered. She wasn't surprised when the door didn't open. 'I'm not so sure it'll be a good thing for you to be here dear. He's…"

"I understand what's going on, please let me come in." Celia said softly. The door was hesitantly opened, and she entered. A human nurse stood at the edge of the bed where laid a man in total agony. His left arm was all but ripped off, hanging just by a few sinews. His face contorted in fear when he saw her, trying to back away.

"Stay away! Demon!" He yelled, his words hurting Celia emotionally. "Please sir, I won't hurt you…" She tried to say, his next words a violent scream. "Liar! Stay away! Monster! Demon!" He was shaking with complete fear and Celia knew she would have to calm him down in some way. She stepped back, trying to make him feel safe. She spoke softly, raising a hand in peace. "Sir, you're hurt really bad. I can help you. I swear I can."

"Fuck you! Demon! Die Demon!" She swallowed at his harsh words. Whoever had attacked him must have done more than just nearly rip his arm off. They had probably tortured him as well, she remember when she used to do the same thing. Breathing softly she slowly approached the bed. They had to hold him down so he wouldn't try to get away.

"Go away! Please go away." His words hit her deeply. She suddenly found herself remembering something really deep into her past. "Go away!" Those had been her thoughts when that man had killed her parents. She had said those same words, when she looked into those uncaring, unfeeling hazelnut eyes. She knew exactly how this man felt. His eyes widened, knowing death was certainly coming as was quite shocked when Celia placed a soothing hand on his wounded arm.

"Please sir, I know your scared. I know exactly how you feel. Trust me." He shook with fear, but did not move. "It's ok." She said softly, just breath ok?"

His breathing calmed just a bit. She slowly pulled out a vector. She was glad he wasn't able to see it, for he certainly would have freaked out then. She placed it on the wound, concentrating. He could feel the pressure and his breathing quickened. "It's ok." She continued to speak. She concentrated, letting the formation of her vector transport into the wound. Slowly but certainly, the arm began to reform.

This was something that nobody before had ever thought possible. Vectors were capable of healing grievous wounds, missing arms and legs. It wasn't perfect however, she couldn't heal dead people, nor she could heal eternal organs or decapitated heads.

He looked at his new arm, moved it. "Y-you helped me?" He asked, completely shocked.

"We're not all bad." She said smiling.

"Thank you!"

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Although Celia was 19 years old, she hardly seemed to have aged at all in the past two years. She still looked 17 years old, although she held herself much more proudly which added to her maturity. Her happy expression touched many who saw her and the dark girl who wanted to kill everyone was completely gone.

She returned home after working in the hospital and changed into something more comfortable.

"Ready Celia-chan!?" Nana said gleefully, waving towards her as Lucy and Kouta stood at the end of the sidewalk, holding hands. "Sure thing!" Celia called out. "I'll be right there!"

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"WOW!!"

Celia's joyful expression was perhaps a bit too much. She walked around the entire room, quite childish really, looking at everything. The paintings on the wall, the statues, everything. She ran into the next room and a loud "Whoa!" echoed through the hallways.

"She's just like you dear." Kouta said to his wife. "What's that supposed to mean?" Lucy said, raising an eyebrow. "She's just so happy with everything. It's like the time when we were at the zoo. I never did see anyone like giraffes as much as you."

Lucy might have pushed Kouta a bit harder than she should have, but they all had a good laugh in the end.

"May I help you young lady?" The voice came behind Celia who turned around. A young man with ashen blonde hair stood beside her. He was about 6ft tall, thin but well proportioned. A healthy guy, though by mo means physically overpowered. He wore a simple shirt with the words "Staff" on it and blue jeans.

"Yes sir." She said happily. "Who is this?" She pointed to a picture of a young woman, arms crossed and sitting. The man smiled. "That young lady is Leonardo Da Vinci's famous "Mona Lisa." He painted it in the early 1500s and has remained a staple mark for artists everywhere."

"Wow!" She breathed, clearly interested.

"However it's just a copy. The real one lies in Italy." He said.

"Really? What about that one over there?"

"That is Michelangelo's David. A marvelous statue, but alas also just a copy."

"That's amazing. I-I never knew art was this beautiful! If this false ones are this good I really wish I could see the real ones." "Well young lady, if you like love art as much as your saying I could show you something authentic." He said. "Would you like to see it?"

She nodded her head. "Please! Thank you!"

He brought her over to another room where she saw plastered on the wall an amazing looking painting. However it was covered by a thick glass and the picture seemed incredibly dated. There were rips across the edges of the painting. "Raphael's The School of Athens." It's perhaps one of his most famous paintings and this right here is the original. I should say at least what we believe to be the original." He said, not wanting to sound like he was lying.

Celia was awes trucked. "It's amazing! Wonderful! It really is!" She didn't seem to have words to explain it. Secretly she now thought that being an artist wouldn't have been such a bad idea. If she had any sort of artistic talent.

"I wish I could draw like that." She said. "I'm sure you could." the man said kindly. "Oh no, I could never draw anything that good." She said defiantly, shaking her head. "I'm not that good."

"You're good enough to help small children in burning buildings, I'm confident you could be an excellent artist." The man said pleasantly. She looked at him and smiled. He was a really nice guy, so friendly and supportive. She shook her head still, "No I couldn't…" she said. "I'm just not good at things like this." He looked at her, and then said. "If you wish, I have a masters in an Art Degree and have painted a few pieces that have been placed in some of the more renowned museums in America and Spain.

If you want to, I could teach you a few things."

Her heart exploded out of her chest metaphorically. "W-would you really!? I would love that! When can you start! Now!" She was shaking joyfully and he had to raise a hand to calm her down. "Is that your parents over there?" He asked, looking at the pink haired horned girls and Kouta.

"Yes." She said. Perhaps not biologically, but Kouta and Lucy were probably the best adoptive parents she could ever have had. Nana was like a sister to her. "Although I'm sure your old enough to make your own decisions, I'd like their permission first. If they say yes, I'll come over to your house once every three four days per week. I'll do my best to teach you as much as I can if you're willing to learn."

"Th-th-…THANK YOU!!" She actually cried, giving him a hug and running over to the others. She told them what had happened and they all agreed that if Celia truly wanted this, they would agree.

She was completely overjoyed. She ran back to him. "They said yes! Oh…I don't eve know your name?"

"I'm Frederick. Ridini Frederick. I already know that you are Chiba Celia. The supposed Queen of the Diclonius and someone who had done a lot to redeem herself. You've done a good job. A very good job."

"Thank you." She said beaming.