Finally back. Whew.
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Chapter 21: Rescue

Light finally began to pour through a slit in the cave. Lelouch glanced up and covered his eyes from the light with one arm still around Kallen. He winced with a grimace on his face. He had grown accustomed to the dark, gloomy cave. His eyes relaxed again as a cloud blew over, covering the sun's light once again. Kallen began shaking furiously in Lelouch's arms. Lelouch could only hold her with despair.

Rivalz, hurry up, Lelouch thought concerned looking down at the precious girl in his arms. I don't think she can hold out much longer.

At long last a familiar voice was heard in the distance, accompanied by the sound footsteps. Rivalz! Lelouch looked up and gently lied Kallen down on their balled up damp clothes.

"Lelouch!" Rivalz and Gino called out. "We're back and were ready to get out of here!"

Lelouch then picked Kallen up bridal style and head toward his companions. Lelouch looked down and noticed his sweet girl had been looking at him while he carried her.

Are you my angel? she thought, noticing only his eyes and the sky behind him. Lelouch smiled and ran until he finally met with Rivalz and Gino who had a make-shift stretcher for Kallen.

"We called for help," Gino said with a grin and a thumbs-up. "Park ranger is gonna meet us by the road not too far from here with his truck in a bit to take Kallen to the hospital. We'll have to carry her a bit, but it won't be too bad. Are you okay Lelouch?"

Rivalz and Gino looked Lelouch up and down. His veins were jabbing through his now ripped arms. He had several bleeding cuts all over with mud splashed here and there. Lelouch had gone through quite a transformation this year. His intellect remained intact, but it was clear after this little ordeal that he had just as much brawn as he had brain now.

"I'll be fine," he replied confidently

"You have some pretty bad cuts," Gino pointed out

"Yeah, you should probably have those looked at anyway," Rivalz agreed.

"Guys, don't worry I'll be fine. I just want to make sure Kallen is okay," Lelouch spoke motioning to the gorgeous pink haired beauty in his arms.

"If you say so."

"We should get moving," Lelouch said as he placed Kallen onto the stretcher. "Gino, grab the other end of the stretcher. I don't want to waste any time. Rivalz you lead the way."

The boys were quick to their feet. Lelouch and Gino effortlessly lifted Kallen and began speeding their way to the road. Lelouch held his end of the stretcher behind himself so he could run, while Gino held Kallen in front. The two were actually keeping up with Rivalz.

"C'mon Rivalz, were carrying a girl in a stretcher and we're still running faster than you!" Gino shouted.

"I'm not a meat head like you guys! I thought you would have figured that out by now," Rivalz huffed, ready to pass out from exhaustion.

Lelouch looked back concerned at Kallen then spoke, "Rivalz, point us to the road. I need to get her out, now."

With the rest of his being Rivalz caught up to Lelouch. "Just straight ahead, the park ranger should be there." And with that Rivalz collapsed right where he was in the woods.

Lelouch picked up the pace. His veins pumped acid and his muscles throbbed with pain, but he couldn't feel any of it. Kallen was the only thing on his mind.

"Gino, I can see the road!" The chess genius shouted.

"Good, cause you are actually wearing me out for a change."

The two brawny boys rounded a large tree and finally crossed a threshold of brush to get to the road. Lelouch scanned the area and looked ahead and spotted the park ranger.

Oh boy, Gino thought. Lelouch is gonna gun it.

Sure enough, Gino felt the crafted stretcher tug almost out of his grasp as Lelouch bolted up the road for the park ranger.

"Lelouch, slow down. He sees us he's coming over."

The crown prince finally began to relax and breathe a sigh of relief. The park ranger pulled up and opened a first aid kit to begin treating Kallen. Lelouch grabbed her and slung her arm over his shoulder. He effortlessly picked her up and placed her in the passenger side of the truck and kissed her forehead. As head pulled away he noticed a red smear on her head.

That wasn't there a minute ago. The crazy teenage boy touched the side of his faced and caught notice of his badly bleeding wound. Hmph.

"Don't worry boys she'll be just fine," the ranger assured them. "Son," he motioned to Lelouch, "We should probably have you looked at too. You look pretty torn up yourself."

"Whatever," Lelouch shrugged.

Lelouch hated to leave his friends, but he definitely didn't want to leave Kallen like this.

"Gino, I hate to bail on you guys, but I need to go with Kallen. Will you guys be okay?"

Gino was hunched over on his thighs, panting heavily. "Yeah man, we'll be fine. I'll round everyone else up and we'll come see you guys at the hospital. Just go do your thing."

"Thanks man. You're a great friend," Lelouch praised the golden haired boy with a nod.

With that Lelouch hopped into the truck next to Kallen and slammed the door shut. The trucked sped off down the road. Gino sat for a moment and watched the truck race down the road. After ten minutes Gino vomited everywhere all over the side of the road.

Lelouch…

It's good to be back, however there is someone out there called Blackroselover who is stealing parts of my story. Stealing other people's work is not cool. I'll finish this story, but I'd really like him/her to remove what he took from me. I've reported him to the administrator, but it looks like it is still up. I know this chapter wasn't much, but 22 is pretty much done and it'll be out some time this weekend. It'll be a lot better. More fluff and other goodies.