Chapter 11
My heart began to beat faster as I saw the flames begin to creep towards me. Hotaru had found me and tried to pry off the pillar but it was no use, it was too heavy and it really hurt too. As the smoke began to rise I began to feel dizzy and everything was getting blurry.
*flashback*
"May I have this dance?" Trowa asked me and for a minute I was speechless.
"Umm...sure..."I smiled as I took his hand and we walked out to the dance floor. I put my right hand on his shoulder and he placed his left hand around my waist. With his right hand he held my left. We began dancing to the music. It wasn't fast but it wasn't too slow. I tried hard not to show my nervousness as I looked into his deep green eyes and I felt like melting. The dance soon ended and before I left Trowa took hold of my hand and kissed it and I felt my cheeks burn a deep crimson. I turned around and saw Hotaru and was about to head over to her to actually, believe it or not thank her but the ground began to shake violently and I fell down. I quickly revived myself avoiding all the rushing feet. Something was totally wrong. All the other girls were screaming and everyone was stampeding to the doors. My eyes darted around the colossal mansion but Hotaru was nowhere to be seen. I decided to go look for her as the ground rumbled beneath me. I ran to the other side of the dance floor and without warning a pillar fell down and I tried to dodge it but I ended up on the floor and I screamed in pain. The dust cleared and I discovered the pillar had fallen on my leg. I tried to pull free but it wouldn't budge. I decided to try calling for help.
"Hello? I shouted. "Somebody help me!" I screamed but got no answer. All of a sudden Hotaru appeared.
"Riona!" she signed.
"Hotaru, I'm so glad to see you. You gotta go find help!" I exclaimed, trying not to show all the pain I was feeling, and she nodded. Just as she was about to leave one of the fallen curtains caught fire and it spread in front of the door where Hotaru planned to leave to go get help. She ran back to me and kneeled down beside me.
*end flashback*
I felt someone shake me violently. I groggily opened my eyes to see Hotaru.
" Riona are you okay? You gotta stay with me, I'm gonna try getting you out of here!" Hotaru signed trying to make the situation seem better, but really it couldn't get any better. I was about to say something when I inhaled a great amount of smoke and I began to cough and choke and Hotaru put her hand on my shoulder.
"Riona are you alright? You gotta hang in there, someone's bound to find us, I'm sure!" Hotaru signed. I had caught my breath.
"Hotaru, you have to hurry and get out of here!" I shouted as the flames crackled in the distance and it would soon reach us.
"No I'm not leaving here without you!" she signed sternly.
"Oh Hotaru stop being so stubborn, go!" I shouted and I saw tears begin to well up in her eyes and I felt really bad. She shouldn't waste her life sitting around waiting for me. I was about to tell her to go again but I began choking on the smoke again.
"Hotaru...please *cough* *cough* get out of here now!" I said and the last thing I saw was Hotaru refusingly shake her head and I plunged into darkness.
(Trowa's point of view)
I had just finished a dance with Riona when the ground began to shake uncontrollably. I ran to the nearest window, pushing past panicked people who were rushing to the door. I looked out the window, mobile dolls...I whispered to myself and quickly ran outside. I was about to sneak into the forest to my gundam when a thought struck me, where's Riona? I ran between the hurrying people looking left and right for Riona and then I saw Quatre.
" Quatre, have you seen Riona?" I asked trying not to show nervousness.
"No I haven't, I'm sure she's already out! You better hurry and get to your gundam the mobile dolls are getting closer. I'm on my way to Sandrock!" Quatre shouted above the screaming. Where could she be? I wondered. I noticed the last few people leave the now burning building and I ran over to where all the guests were and ran in-between the crowds looking for Riona. I came up to Relena.
"Relena, have you seen Riona?" I asked.
"No, I haven't seen her. Did she get out of the mansion?" Relena asked with slight fear in her voice.
"I don't know, that's why I'm asking you." I replied.
"I don't know she's probably still in there!" Relena said in panic. I looked toward the burning mansion, I had to go in there and find her. I was about to go in when I spotted Wufei.
"Wufei, I need your help." I shouted and he ran over towards me.
"What is it Barton?" he asked.
"Riona, she's still in the mansion. I didn't see Hotaru anywhere either. You have to come with me and help look for them." I explained.
"This better be quick Barton, I was on my way to Nataku." Wufei replied and I nodded a thanks. I could tell he wasn't only going in there to help me but also to help Hotaru. I could tell he had something towards her. Anyway, I pushed that thought out of my mind and back to looking for Riona. We ran into the building and a rush of heat greeted us.
"Riona! Riona are you in here?" I shouted but got no answer. Wufei grabbed my shoulder.
"Trowa this way! It's Hotaru!" he shouted and we ran over to her. The girl looked very weak, her dress was destroyed and she was choking from the smoke. Wufei ran over to her and began to sign to her. At first I didn't notice but then Hotaru pointed to something on the ground and I noticed it was Riona and I gasped in shock and I got down on my knees and tried to wake her up but she was deep in unconsciousness. Then I saw there was a pillar on top of her left leg.
"Wufei, help me get this pillar off of Riona!" I shouted and Wufei ran over and we tried many times but couldn't.
"Wufei, go tell Quatre to get Sandrock to come and lift this pillar!" I shouted.
"Alright. I'm going to get Hotaru out of here, she's got a broken arm." he shouted back and I nodded. He helped her stand up and put her un- injured arm across his shoulder and the two quickly exited the mansion. I turned back to Riona. Come on Quatre, hurry up! I said. I looked down at Riona's lifeless body and brushed a stray strand of hair out of her face. I'm sorry, for not being there I said to her. Suddenly the ceiling began to give way and a large hand appeared, it was Sandrock. He reached for the pillar and picked up with ease and threw it aside and then left to continue the battle. Without wasting another minute I bent down and carefully picked up Riona in my arms, one under her neck and the other under her knees. I tried to be real careful when I put my right arm under her knees and she slightly flinched from the pain. I stood up and held her close and began making my way out of the mansion. Once or twice a pillar threatened to fall down on us but I quickly dodged them. Soon we were out of the building and onto the grass. Hotaru who was sitting there, quickly got up and ran over to us. I laid Riona down on the grass and Relena, Hilde, Dorothy and Catherine ran over.
"Oh my gosh is she okay?" Catherine asked.
"I hope so. She's unconscious. A pillar fell on her leg so she was trapped inside. It's probably broken." I explained.
" We gotta get her to the hospital." Relena exclaimed.
"Don't worry, I'm already on it!" Hilde smiled as she drove up with her car. Wufei and I helped get Riona and Hotaru in the car and they quickly sped away. Wufei and I had missed the battle with the mobile dolls. We decided to go to the hospital to see if they were okay and so we put on our motorcycle helmets and were about to leave. Quatre, Duo, and Heero got out of their gundams and came over to us.
"Whoa, what just happened?" Duo asked in a concerned yet his usual jolly tone.
"I'll explain it all to you later, Maxwell." Wufei replied and the two of us sped away on our motorcycles. Quatre, Duo, and Heero followed on their own motorcycles.
(Riona's point of view)
I felt a pounding sensation in my head and I slowly opened my eyes. I eyes adjusted to the sight of white sheets and I realized I was in the hospital. Just as soon as I realized I was in the hospital did I wonder where Hotaru was. I sat up and quickly looked around the room and I found her sitting on the windowsill looking out at the stars.
"Hotaru..." I tried to say but it came out in a squeaky and scratchy tone. She turned around and noticed I was awake and ran over. She had a cast on her arm.
"Are you alright? How do you feel?" she signed.
"I'm okay, my head kinda hurts and my leg too. What happened to your arm?" I asked.
"I broke it." she signed. Relena and the girls must've heard me and came in.
" How are you feeling?" Dorothy asked me.
"Fine, I just need some rest." I said leaning back in bed.
"Alright, rest is what you shall have." Hilde smiled and she and the girls exited the room, Hotaru stayed. She returned to the windowsill and I sat down and began star-gazing again. I smiled and closed my eyes. I was able to sleep for a little while when I felt someone stand over me. I opened my eyes.
"Trowa?" I asked and he nodded.
"How do you feel?" he asked. It was the third time someone had asked me that question.
" Oh yeah, having a pillar fall on my leg and falling unconscious in a building full of smoke, I feel great!" I replied sarcastically, trying to lighten up the place and Trowa couldn't help but smile.
"Hey Trowa?" he looked up at me. "Thanks, for saving me." I smiled.
"I'm sorry Riona..." I looked at him confused.
"Sorry for what?" I asked.
"I'm sorry I wasn't there for you. If I was, you wouldn't be here like this." he said. I put my hand on his shoulder.
" No don't be, you were there for me Trowa. You saved my life." I replied and he smiled.
'' I hope my leg heals in time for the gymnastics competition. I still have a lot of practicing to do." I said, starting a new subject.
"It will, technology today has become more advanced. Your leg should heal in four days at the most." Trowa answered.
"Well that's nice to hear." I chimed. We talked a little more and I glanced over to see what Hotaru was up to and I saw her talking, or rather signing with Wufei and I couldn't help but smile.
The doctor decided to let me go home that night anyway since my injury wasn't severe. Before I left I thanked Trowa one more time. Then, Hilde and the girls drove Hotaru and I back to our dorm. We sleepily brushed our teeth and climbed into bed.
"Good night Hotaru." I said and turned off the lamp and fell into deep sleep. I was so glad we didn't have school the next day.
My heart began to beat faster as I saw the flames begin to creep towards me. Hotaru had found me and tried to pry off the pillar but it was no use, it was too heavy and it really hurt too. As the smoke began to rise I began to feel dizzy and everything was getting blurry.
*flashback*
"May I have this dance?" Trowa asked me and for a minute I was speechless.
"Umm...sure..."I smiled as I took his hand and we walked out to the dance floor. I put my right hand on his shoulder and he placed his left hand around my waist. With his right hand he held my left. We began dancing to the music. It wasn't fast but it wasn't too slow. I tried hard not to show my nervousness as I looked into his deep green eyes and I felt like melting. The dance soon ended and before I left Trowa took hold of my hand and kissed it and I felt my cheeks burn a deep crimson. I turned around and saw Hotaru and was about to head over to her to actually, believe it or not thank her but the ground began to shake violently and I fell down. I quickly revived myself avoiding all the rushing feet. Something was totally wrong. All the other girls were screaming and everyone was stampeding to the doors. My eyes darted around the colossal mansion but Hotaru was nowhere to be seen. I decided to go look for her as the ground rumbled beneath me. I ran to the other side of the dance floor and without warning a pillar fell down and I tried to dodge it but I ended up on the floor and I screamed in pain. The dust cleared and I discovered the pillar had fallen on my leg. I tried to pull free but it wouldn't budge. I decided to try calling for help.
"Hello? I shouted. "Somebody help me!" I screamed but got no answer. All of a sudden Hotaru appeared.
"Riona!" she signed.
"Hotaru, I'm so glad to see you. You gotta go find help!" I exclaimed, trying not to show all the pain I was feeling, and she nodded. Just as she was about to leave one of the fallen curtains caught fire and it spread in front of the door where Hotaru planned to leave to go get help. She ran back to me and kneeled down beside me.
*end flashback*
I felt someone shake me violently. I groggily opened my eyes to see Hotaru.
" Riona are you okay? You gotta stay with me, I'm gonna try getting you out of here!" Hotaru signed trying to make the situation seem better, but really it couldn't get any better. I was about to say something when I inhaled a great amount of smoke and I began to cough and choke and Hotaru put her hand on my shoulder.
"Riona are you alright? You gotta hang in there, someone's bound to find us, I'm sure!" Hotaru signed. I had caught my breath.
"Hotaru, you have to hurry and get out of here!" I shouted as the flames crackled in the distance and it would soon reach us.
"No I'm not leaving here without you!" she signed sternly.
"Oh Hotaru stop being so stubborn, go!" I shouted and I saw tears begin to well up in her eyes and I felt really bad. She shouldn't waste her life sitting around waiting for me. I was about to tell her to go again but I began choking on the smoke again.
"Hotaru...please *cough* *cough* get out of here now!" I said and the last thing I saw was Hotaru refusingly shake her head and I plunged into darkness.
(Trowa's point of view)
I had just finished a dance with Riona when the ground began to shake uncontrollably. I ran to the nearest window, pushing past panicked people who were rushing to the door. I looked out the window, mobile dolls...I whispered to myself and quickly ran outside. I was about to sneak into the forest to my gundam when a thought struck me, where's Riona? I ran between the hurrying people looking left and right for Riona and then I saw Quatre.
" Quatre, have you seen Riona?" I asked trying not to show nervousness.
"No I haven't, I'm sure she's already out! You better hurry and get to your gundam the mobile dolls are getting closer. I'm on my way to Sandrock!" Quatre shouted above the screaming. Where could she be? I wondered. I noticed the last few people leave the now burning building and I ran over to where all the guests were and ran in-between the crowds looking for Riona. I came up to Relena.
"Relena, have you seen Riona?" I asked.
"No, I haven't seen her. Did she get out of the mansion?" Relena asked with slight fear in her voice.
"I don't know, that's why I'm asking you." I replied.
"I don't know she's probably still in there!" Relena said in panic. I looked toward the burning mansion, I had to go in there and find her. I was about to go in when I spotted Wufei.
"Wufei, I need your help." I shouted and he ran over towards me.
"What is it Barton?" he asked.
"Riona, she's still in the mansion. I didn't see Hotaru anywhere either. You have to come with me and help look for them." I explained.
"This better be quick Barton, I was on my way to Nataku." Wufei replied and I nodded a thanks. I could tell he wasn't only going in there to help me but also to help Hotaru. I could tell he had something towards her. Anyway, I pushed that thought out of my mind and back to looking for Riona. We ran into the building and a rush of heat greeted us.
"Riona! Riona are you in here?" I shouted but got no answer. Wufei grabbed my shoulder.
"Trowa this way! It's Hotaru!" he shouted and we ran over to her. The girl looked very weak, her dress was destroyed and she was choking from the smoke. Wufei ran over to her and began to sign to her. At first I didn't notice but then Hotaru pointed to something on the ground and I noticed it was Riona and I gasped in shock and I got down on my knees and tried to wake her up but she was deep in unconsciousness. Then I saw there was a pillar on top of her left leg.
"Wufei, help me get this pillar off of Riona!" I shouted and Wufei ran over and we tried many times but couldn't.
"Wufei, go tell Quatre to get Sandrock to come and lift this pillar!" I shouted.
"Alright. I'm going to get Hotaru out of here, she's got a broken arm." he shouted back and I nodded. He helped her stand up and put her un- injured arm across his shoulder and the two quickly exited the mansion. I turned back to Riona. Come on Quatre, hurry up! I said. I looked down at Riona's lifeless body and brushed a stray strand of hair out of her face. I'm sorry, for not being there I said to her. Suddenly the ceiling began to give way and a large hand appeared, it was Sandrock. He reached for the pillar and picked up with ease and threw it aside and then left to continue the battle. Without wasting another minute I bent down and carefully picked up Riona in my arms, one under her neck and the other under her knees. I tried to be real careful when I put my right arm under her knees and she slightly flinched from the pain. I stood up and held her close and began making my way out of the mansion. Once or twice a pillar threatened to fall down on us but I quickly dodged them. Soon we were out of the building and onto the grass. Hotaru who was sitting there, quickly got up and ran over to us. I laid Riona down on the grass and Relena, Hilde, Dorothy and Catherine ran over.
"Oh my gosh is she okay?" Catherine asked.
"I hope so. She's unconscious. A pillar fell on her leg so she was trapped inside. It's probably broken." I explained.
" We gotta get her to the hospital." Relena exclaimed.
"Don't worry, I'm already on it!" Hilde smiled as she drove up with her car. Wufei and I helped get Riona and Hotaru in the car and they quickly sped away. Wufei and I had missed the battle with the mobile dolls. We decided to go to the hospital to see if they were okay and so we put on our motorcycle helmets and were about to leave. Quatre, Duo, and Heero got out of their gundams and came over to us.
"Whoa, what just happened?" Duo asked in a concerned yet his usual jolly tone.
"I'll explain it all to you later, Maxwell." Wufei replied and the two of us sped away on our motorcycles. Quatre, Duo, and Heero followed on their own motorcycles.
(Riona's point of view)
I felt a pounding sensation in my head and I slowly opened my eyes. I eyes adjusted to the sight of white sheets and I realized I was in the hospital. Just as soon as I realized I was in the hospital did I wonder where Hotaru was. I sat up and quickly looked around the room and I found her sitting on the windowsill looking out at the stars.
"Hotaru..." I tried to say but it came out in a squeaky and scratchy tone. She turned around and noticed I was awake and ran over. She had a cast on her arm.
"Are you alright? How do you feel?" she signed.
"I'm okay, my head kinda hurts and my leg too. What happened to your arm?" I asked.
"I broke it." she signed. Relena and the girls must've heard me and came in.
" How are you feeling?" Dorothy asked me.
"Fine, I just need some rest." I said leaning back in bed.
"Alright, rest is what you shall have." Hilde smiled and she and the girls exited the room, Hotaru stayed. She returned to the windowsill and I sat down and began star-gazing again. I smiled and closed my eyes. I was able to sleep for a little while when I felt someone stand over me. I opened my eyes.
"Trowa?" I asked and he nodded.
"How do you feel?" he asked. It was the third time someone had asked me that question.
" Oh yeah, having a pillar fall on my leg and falling unconscious in a building full of smoke, I feel great!" I replied sarcastically, trying to lighten up the place and Trowa couldn't help but smile.
"Hey Trowa?" he looked up at me. "Thanks, for saving me." I smiled.
"I'm sorry Riona..." I looked at him confused.
"Sorry for what?" I asked.
"I'm sorry I wasn't there for you. If I was, you wouldn't be here like this." he said. I put my hand on his shoulder.
" No don't be, you were there for me Trowa. You saved my life." I replied and he smiled.
'' I hope my leg heals in time for the gymnastics competition. I still have a lot of practicing to do." I said, starting a new subject.
"It will, technology today has become more advanced. Your leg should heal in four days at the most." Trowa answered.
"Well that's nice to hear." I chimed. We talked a little more and I glanced over to see what Hotaru was up to and I saw her talking, or rather signing with Wufei and I couldn't help but smile.
The doctor decided to let me go home that night anyway since my injury wasn't severe. Before I left I thanked Trowa one more time. Then, Hilde and the girls drove Hotaru and I back to our dorm. We sleepily brushed our teeth and climbed into bed.
"Good night Hotaru." I said and turned off the lamp and fell into deep sleep. I was so glad we didn't have school the next day.