Chapter 11

Voices

Charlie

"Promise me..." sniffled Lily. Huh? "Promise me you'll never do anything so reckless again." she wept. "I..." I stammered. "PROMISE ME!" my only one pleaded. "I...I can't. Gomenasai." I denied. "But why?" she demanded to know. Because, whenever Lily's in peril, my body takes on a will of it's own. I no longer have control of my actions. "I just can't." I repeated. "Baka, just because your body has a will of it's own doesn't mean you have to cave in to it's demands!" came a voice, Lily's, inside my head.

"Huh?! Lily, d-did you...did you just use telepathy?!" I stuttered. "What are you talking about?" she asked. "Just a moment ago, I heard your voice inside my head." I explained. "Really?!" she gasped. I nodded. "Here, I'm gonna try to send you a message." I closed my eyes. Lily, I love you with all my heart. Then I awaited a response. "...And I love you, Charlie." came Lily's thought-speak. Our eyes widened and we gasped. That's when it hit us. "We can use telepathy!" Lily/I realized awestruck.

Raychel

I was still rubbing the hunched over Ayato's back when I heard brother and Lily call out, "Ra-Raychel!" from inside Nirvash. "I'll be right back." I told my ill boyfriend. Ayato just nodded. "What's wrong?" I asked them as I reentered the mech. "We can speak in different voices!" they exclaimed. Huh? "Come again?" I was confused. "Just listen." instructed Lily as she and brother closed their eyes. Um...okay. I listened.

...Nothing. "Err...what am I supposed to be listening for?" I inquired. Their eyes popped open. "You...can't hear us?" went brother. "Hear you? You haven't said a word over than 'listen'." I argued. They frowned. "I guess...it only works between us." brother had a hint of disappointment in his tone. What are they rambling about? "What does?!" I demanded growing tired of their vagueness. "We can use telepathy." they elaborated almost in sync.

"Wait, what?! You mean like our parents can?!" I exclaimed in disbelief. "Yeah, I think so." remarked Charlie. Lily nodded in agreement. I didn't doubt their claim. "Well, I suppose stranger things have happened. I mean, look at us, we're living proof." I thought out loud with a shrug. "Yeah, that's true." brother mused. "When did this happen?" I questioned. "Just a few minutes ago." stated Lily. Wow, sugoi.

"Hey Charlie, since we're twins do you think you can receive telepathic messages from me?" I wondered. "Dunno. Try sending me one." he suggested. "Okay." I agreed. I closed my eyes and concentrated. You two are a bunch of lovesick fools. "Did you get it?" I asked. He shook his head. "Lily?" he turned to her. "Nothing." she stated. I almost frowned. "So what was it?" inquired Lily. "Oh, that you two were made for each other." I sorta fibbed. "Thanks, sis." went my twin beaming. Lily also looked pleased by my compliment.

Half an hour later...

Charlie

"How you feeling?" sister asked Ayato. "Better, Sorry about that Raych. Maybe I had too much cake," he apologized with a cheap chuckle. "It's ok we won't tell anybody. Right?" comforted Raychel as she turned to Lily and I. We nodded in agreement. "Thanks guys I appreciate it." he told us. "Hey sis, how did you know Lily and I were in trouble? I mean... we were miles apart." I wondered.

"Honestly, I don't know. I suddenly got this feeling in the pit of my stomach that you needed me." admitted Raychel. "Maybe it's the bond that twins share." suggested Lily touching my conscious. "Yeah, maybe" I thought replied. I'm really enjoying this whole telepathy thing. It's almost made me forget the fact that, not even an hour ago, Lily... and I nearly died... Almost.

As we pulled up to Ayato's house to drop him off, sister pulled him close for a parting kiss. I heard her whisper in his ear, "Let's keep the whole'life or death' situation to ourselves, 'kay?" She requested. He nodded. She mouthed, "thanks," then in her normal tone, wished her boyfriend a happy 14th birthday. "Happy 14th birthday Ayato." repeated Lily and I. "Thanks guys. This was definitely my most...eventful birthday ever. Later Chuck, Lil." he remarked. Then with a slight bow and grin directed at sister, "Goodnight, my hime." he bid her farewell. "G'night, goofball." chuckled Raychel. HOPE's tires picked up the gravel as they spun, and we were off to our next destination...home.

Fifteen minutes later...

Twins

Mama, papa, and the Sorels were sitting on the front porch waiting for us as we parked our LFO. But, why were they waiting for us? Lily's mother and ours', followed by our fathers, ran towards us and began...checking our bodies. Why were they checking? "Um...mom?" went Charlie. "Are you alright?" she asked. Wait, there's no way she could've know! We were nowhere near home earlier! "We're fine, why?" responded Lily innocently. "See honey? It was nothing." stated Dominic. "It was just a bad dream." added father. They had a vision?!

Suddenly mother and father's heads jerked at Nirvash. Oh crap, is she... "You almost WHAT?!" bellowed their worried voices as one. Well, there's our answer. "What is it?" insisted Anemone. "Nirvash just told us Charlie and Lily fell off their boards today...and almost died!" reported mother. "They WHAT?! Lily Sorel, that is not the definition of 'fine'." scolded her father. Thanks a lot, Nirvash. [Do not take that tone with me. Not only am I your LFO but, also your guardian. Therefore, it was my duty to inform your parents of today's events.] came HOPE's telepathic voice. Yeah, yeah. We know, we know.

Charlie

As Lily and I explained what happened our parents noticed we were completing the other's sentences. "What possessed you to leap off your board after her?!" demanded mother when I came to that part. "Lily." I stated flatly. Dominic let a chuckle escape him. "Like father, like son." he remarked. Father face-palmed and shook his head as if he wasn't surprised by my actions. "Yeah, you're right." he reluctantly agreed with his buddy.

"There's more, Lily and I can speak with each other telepathically now. What does this mean?" I inquired. "Yeah, we figured as much since you're now finishing sentences." admitted father. "Yes, but what does it mean?" pressed Lily. "In short, it means you two are meant to be together." said Dominic with his arms crossed, looking a bit irritated. However, there was a hint of happiness in his tone. "Congratulations Charlie, you'll never know privacy again." he gave me a pat on the back. "Oomph!" Anemone had swatted him upside the head. "What he meant to say is we're very happy for the both of you, right honey?" she shot her husband a leer. "Right." answered Lily's clearly reined father.

Lily and I shared the same realization, "We're...meant to be together?" We blushed at the shared thought. "I'm glad. Somehow...somehow I always knew it was Charlie who I'd be with...forever." thought-spoke Lily taking my hand. "Yeah, me too." I telepathically replied still clasping her palm.

"You're doing it now, aren't you?" asked father with a smirk referring to our (Lily and I) new bond. The biggest smiles touched our lips as we replied gleefully in one voice, "Yeah, we are." Father placed his hand atop my head. "I won't condemn you actions, son. However, I can't condone them either. That said, you're grounded for one month. You'll go to school and come straight home. No lifting, surfing, or piloting a LFO. As for your motorbike, it's only to be used to get you to and from school. Am I clear?" he stated. "Yes, father." I accepted the punishment.

"The same goes for you, Lily. One month and you can't see Charlie either." uncle firmly told his daughter. Tears started forming in Lily's glistening brown eyes. "I don't want that, Chuck." she touched my conscious. "Me neither." I agreed in her head. Anemone nudged her husband. "Isn't that a bit harsh?" she objected gazing into his eyes. "Fine, you can still see your boyfriend." sighed Dominic lessening her punishment. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Lily mouth, "Thank you, mom." with her lips.

Raychel

"As for you, Raychel." began father. Her it comes. "You did good, we're very proud of you." praised mother. "And Ayato too. From what Nirvash told us, he was very brave." added father. I'm not in trouble. "Thanks mom and dad. And I'll let Ayato know that next time I see him." I responded grateful. "Be sure you do." smiled mother. "I will." I promised smiling back.

The next day...

Charlie

I yawned. "What's the matter? Didn't sleep well?" inquired sister as we walked to class. "I had the craziest dream last night." I stated. "Yeah? What about?" she listened. "It was like I was viewing someone else's memories through their eyes. ...I think they were yours, Lily." I told my girlfriend. Lily's jaw dropped. "No freaking way! You too?! I think I dreamt your memories last night!" she exclaimed. Now my jaw dropped. Ho~ly crap!

"Why would we dreaming each other's memories?" I wondered. "Maybe it's to help you understand the other better." came Ayato's voice from behind us. "Oh, hey Ayato." greeted Raychel. "Good morning, my hime." he said. "I really wish you wouldn't call me that in school. It's embarrassing." my twin blushed. "What would you like me to call?" he asked with a smirk. "Oh, I don't know, how 'bout, 'Raych'?" she suggested. "Very well, Raych-hime." he teased. She rolled her eyes. "I'm just teasing. I'll stop now." he reassured her as we entered our classroom.

One week later...

Charlie

"God, I'm so bored!" I groaned. "How are you holding up, Lil?" I touched her conscious. She had just gotten off work and was now stuck at home, much like myself. "This sucks! We can't do anything." came her voice. "Yeah, I know. But hey, look on the bright side." I began. "And what's that, huh?" she asked. "At least we can still 'talk' with each other." I tried lifting her spirits. "Yeah, you have a point. Y'know, your 'voice' is the only thing that makes it bearable." she told me. "Thanks Lil, I love you too. Hey, see if your folks will let me come over. I gotta get outta here, these 'prison walls' are closing in on me." I jokingly suggested. "Good idea. While I ask my parents you ask yours, 'kay?" she replied. "My dad's in the garage. Gimme a sec." I informed her.

I found him underneath a LFO he was repairing. "Hey dad?" I called to him. "Yeah, son?" he listened, still working. "Can I go over Lily's, please?" I requested. "What do her folks say?" he inquired. "Lily's asking them now." I stated. "Hey Chuck, mom said it was okay." came Lily's voice. I relayed the message to him. "Two hours, then come back home." conditioned father. "Okay, thanks dad." I said as I left. "I'll be right over. I can only stay for two hours though." I telepathically informed her. "Then hurry up, we don't have much time." she told me.

(Author's Note: I am not suggesting nor insinuating that Charlie and Lily are up to anything sleazy. They simply want to spend time together. They're still just kids so, if you were hoping for a 'lemon' you won't find one! Maybe when they are like...I don't know, sixteen. Not 14 and 13!)

NEXT CHAPTER: INDEED, THEIR DREAM WERE MEANT FOR THE TWO TO BETTER UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER. AND IT BRINGS THEIR YOUNG HEARTS CLOSER. CHARLIE AND LILY CONTINUE TO TOY WITH THEIR NEWFOUND POWER DURING THEIR PUNISHMENT. MEANWHILE, RAYCHEL GOES LIFTING WITH HER DEAR BOYFRIEND. AN INCIDENT OCCURS WHICH REAWAKENS A LONG DORMANT POWER WITHIN HER. WHAT IS IT? CHAPTER 12: POWER OF LOVE