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Learning to Live

Chapter 10: Freed Plant

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(Knives)

The heat of the fire at our backs, Luke and I ran through the halls of the plant facility. At first Luke was leading me to the front of the complex then seemed to change his mind and headed for the side of the building.

I didn't understand his reasoning for this until we were out of the building and I saw the gigantic crowd out front.

Explosions rocked the ground as the fires reached flammable chemicals inside; screams and shouts from the front reaching us.

"Over here," said Luke, pointing to a small bench on the side of a small shop. "I'll be right back, going to get the jeep."

I nodded wordlessly and sat wearily down on the bench. I shut out the sounds of the chaos and pandemonium coming from the burning Plant and sighed.

My muscles were sore and my energy sapped, I felt almost like I was going to collapse. I looked down at the plant angel in my arms. Her Angel form was just beginning to shift to the more human form. Her feathery white hair changed to more of a dirty blond and her skin lost its translucency.

I took off my coat and wrapped it around her torso. I was already a conspicuous sight, but having a completely naked woman in my lap would make things worse. Hopefully Luke would get back soon. We hopefully wouldn't be missed by the others, and forgotten in the mass of confusion.

I looked out at the town that was now dark but for the light of the half fallen suns and the moons. I began to wonder if this town would survive without the Plant.

There was no doubt that it would suffer considerably. But it would not compare to the suffering of my brethren. She was free. That's all that mattered. So what if the humans perished.

But somewhere in the back of my mind I felt a nagging sensation. It tickled the back of my mind and made my throat constrict.

Regret.

There was nothing I could have done to save the Plant Facility. It wasn't my fault. These people would suffer because of their own incompetence.

They don't deserve this. They are good people. An inner voice whispered, sounding oddly female.

'They've enslaved my brothers and sisters', I thought

They knew not what they were doing. They do not understand what Plants are.

'They should'.

Do not condemn them, brother.

Brother…?

I looked down at the Plant, whose eyes were opened to slits but enough for me to see the color of her eyes.

"What do you know? You have not seen what I have. Not been thought what I have." I said bitterly.

She only smiled an enigmatic smile with those grayish-blue eyes of hers then closed them and fell into an apparent sleep.

I frowned. She was just ignorant. Like Vash.

Just then, Luke's jeep pulled up nearby and I wearily lifted the Plant Woman and myself up and headed for the jeep.

I could see that he was curious but oddly enough said nothing as he navigated the dark streets towards home. I was thankful for that. I didn't have the nerve or patience to be asked questions.

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The second we pulled up to the front of the bakery, Lily came rushing out, "What happened?" she demanded of her brother.

"Later."

"Not later! Now! What happened! Everything was fine and then Kestrel started freaking out and then the power went out and why is there a blaze over there?"

Luke sighed, "Talk later, Lily." He opened his door, pushed past his sister and walked around the side.

We managed to get the unconscious Plant inside, Luke taking most of her weight as my muscles were beginning to give out.

I made my way upstairs after Luke and his sister and fell into the living-room couch with a grunt. I was surprised at how much freeing my sister had taken out of me. I had never expected this kind of strain.

Luke set the Plant woman down next to me just as she was regaining consciousness. Luke smiled half-heartedly at her then backed away.

Kestrel rushed into the room at lightning fast speed. She came to a halt on the other side of the living room across from the couch

She and my sister stared at each other expressionless for a moment.

Then Kestrel gave my sister Plant a solemn look. What she did next shocked me to my core. She walked up to the Plant and pulled her into a hug.

My sister didn't seem to know what to do for a second them gradually accepted the hug.

They separated and Kestrel gave her a goofy smile.

She giggled and stuck her tongue out at Kestrel.

I was at a loss for words. Something just happened but I had no clue whatsoever what had happened.

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Weeell… I just got this chapter back from the Honorable Miss Legacy-chan… sadly I didn't not wake up on the right side of the bed this morning… the left side is quite uncomfortable… for an air mattress anyway… So no RR this time. I'm pooped… just want to relax. And listen to some not so noisy tunes… mmmm Meet Joe Black Soundtrack and Pink Floyd… joy….

If I feel like it later I might add something to the Author's Notes LJ… a writer's rant or something... also start keeping an eye on it as I'm going to leave chapter updates every now and then.

Also sorry for the sucky title… it was last minute… I kept wanting the title to be "Woot" for some odd reason.

Anyways… thanks to those who did review!

Blu-chan

DarkFusion

hope-is-4ever

El Hustino

Rosebud

mister smith

(Apologies for the short chapter and …. I WANT MORE REVIEWS! So review your little buns off! …. Please?)