Dorothy Catalonia ran towards the basketball hoop, her mind centered fully
on her goal. She didn't even have a chance of making it as saw for only a
split second of Catherine's body flying to intercept. P
"Natria!" Dorothy threw the ball to the young woman nearby. It was caught
with ease and a second later it was through the hoop. Catherine turned and
smiled at Natria. P
"Nice shot! If you shoot like that we'll make it to the championships for
sure. P
"Yeah and we're going to win our way out of this God forsaken city!" P
"You got it. It's Tokyo we're heading for!" cried Dorothy with tons of
energy. The other two could only shake their heads with small smiles
across their faces. P
"Hey where're Relena and Hilde? We need to get back to the Rat House
before Owner throws another one of his fits," said Natria. P
"I don't know. I wonder if they got into trouble again at school," stated
Dorothy. P
"I didn't see them after class. I bet it was that stupid history teacher
again," said Catherine. P
"Yeah well you know there isn't anything we can do about it. All we can do
is sit back and let them beat us down to their heart's content." P
"Hey!" They turned towards the voice. "Where's the ball let's play!"
yelled Hilde good-naturedly. She came running up with Relena close behind.
Relena ran over and grabbed the ball, making her way towards the others.
P
"Okay, I'm out and Hilde's paired up with Catherine." started Relena. P
"No, I've already been playing for an hour," said Dorothy. "I'll be out
first." Relena smiled and threw the ball to her friend. As soon as the
ball was in Dorothy's hands, Relena and Catherine in the starting positions
as their teammates stood to guard the hoops. The two teams smirked at each
other in good-natured rivalry, knowing they were equally matched. P
Dorothy slowly made her way in between the two teams and threw the ball
into the air. Relena and Hilde leaped for the ball. Relena knocked the
ball towards Natria who took it to the basket. Cathy stood firmly in her
path. Watching the ball carefully, Cathy ran forward just as Natria threw
the basketball. One thing that always amazed anyone who watched Cathy play
was how high she could jump. After taking the ball she immediately threw
it to Hilde. Relena was guarding her, but Hilde saw the opening and
managed to take the ball back. Relena's arms were spread in the guarding
position. P
"Getting slow Relena?" mocked Hilde teasingly. Relena smiled and looked at
Hilde and quickly sped forward, sweeping past her opponent and at the same
time ceasing the ball. She quickly made her way to the basket. She threw
ball straight towards the hoop. It teetered on the edge and finally went
in with a small gust of wind. Catherine stepped forward to take the ball
back again. Hilde let out a shout and was passed the ball. Their game
continued for several more minutes. P
"Hey girls! It's almost five! We're going to be late." Relena waved them
away. LP
"I'm going to stay here and shoot a few more baskets." P
"You sure?" asked Natria with an incredulous look. P
"It's going to be dark soon," added Dorothy. P
"I'll be fine." The others nodded and turned to go. Hilde turned back as
Relena distractedly dribbled the ball to the center of the 'court.' P
"Do you think we're going to make it?" Relena glanced at her then shot the
ball. It went through smoothly. P
"I don't know. I hope so." Hilde smiled a little. P
"Me too. See ya' Relena." P
"Bye." Relena was now left with her own thoughts. She new that every time
she was left to think her mind went deep into another world. Underneath
her cool exterior she was troubled. All frustrations came out and she
would show it through her playing. She and the other girls were the best
in the slums, but at school, it didn't mean anything to the others in the
school. In fact, the amount of basketball the girls played was a factor
that made them even lower in the eyes of other 'normal' people. Relena had
always been angry at the bias opinion of the other students. She never
showed it of course, at least not in public. Now was one of those times
that she let her frustration rise up. The ball flew furiously with a
terrifying speed. Each time the ball went straight through. Then she ran
up to make a slam-dunk. Her hands held on even as the ball hit the ground
and rolled away. Finally she let go and dropped to the ground panting.
She wiped her forehead of its cold sweat as she looked up at the battered
hoop. P
"I think you've got a problem." Relena turned and immediately picked out
the young man from among the shadows. He stood with his arms crossed,
leaning against the fence. She barely spared him a glance as she walked
over to the basketball and casually picked it up. She then turned back to
the stranger and spun the ball in her hands; glancing at the ball and then
to stare at him. P
"Problem?" P
"Yes." The young man stood straight and came into the light. He was
stunningly handsome. His brown hair was unruly in a devilish kind of way
and his deep Prussian eyes stared into her. P
"Yeah, you might say I have a problem. This whole city is my problem."
Relena eyed him wearily as he took another step closer. "Come any closer
and I'll beat you within an inch of your death." He stopped immediately.
P
"If the city is such a problem why." P
"Why don't I just leave?" Relena laughed cynically. "You wouldn't believe
me even if I told you." She turned and made a move to leave. P
"You're a Lost Girl, aren't you?" Relena froze. Yes she was. He had
guessed right on the head. An orphan bought in the black market and sold
literally into slavery. Few people knew of that term unless they were
actually apart of the market. Relena's eyes narrowed. P
"Yes I am. I heard a rumor there was a group of boys who are just like us.
Except they have a better chance than us. They play basketball, but the
rumor also says that they aren't allowed out until after dark." Relena
took in his pale skin and strong muscles. She knew she was right. This
was a Lost Boy. He seemed to catch on to what she was saying fairly
quickly. P
"There are quite a few Lost Children in the city. You may have the wrong
guy." P
"You play basketball. Why else would you be out now? Other Lost Children
are held in tight confinements, unless they play a blood sport. Their
owners want them to excel in their skills so they can gain money." P
"Nice observation." She nodded curtly. P
"We're getting out of here. There's nothing you or anyone else can do
about it." She walked past him and turned to glare into his eyes. P
"We want out. You have not lived the life of a Ureal/U Lost Child.
Not the pain of a whip or fist. Remember that." P
"How do you know this?" growled the young man, obviously ruffled by her
comments. P
"Rumors travel fast of the more privileged." She began to leave but her
arm was suddenly being held in a vice-like grip. P
"There are no privileges in being a Lost Child." Relena turned to stare
into dark eyes. Her hatred for everything welled up within her and came
pouring out of her mouth. P
"Your Uowner/U never lets you out until night and once you're out, you
have complete free rein of what you do. I consider that a privilege, but
you are still being fooled. All Lost Children, if they're lucky enough,
may go to school, but you don't know anyone personally except for your own
teammates. Right after school you're ordered to go straight back to your
owner, not seeing the others like yourself." He never flinched, but his
grip tightened noticeably. "You're sheltered. some prized horse so your
owner can bet on you as you play for him out in the arena. Your blood
means nothing when it runs red in front of everyone. You may think you're
better in skills and in talent, but you're not." Relena stared at his face
for what seemed like forever. Finally, he threw her arm away and stepped
back. P
"I learned early in life to not become too attached to anyone. Being kind
shows weakness and being close always causes pain. Cruelty is the only way
that does not create heartbreak, if there is such a thing for people like
us." P
"Those kinds of beliefs aren't always true." He didn't even seem to believe
what he was saying. P
"Better live with it. Because all normal Children are like that. I have a
few people I talk to and I'd like it to stay that way. There is more to
this game than it seems. I know that already, but you have yet to learn
this. For people like me, we're the worst kind to be teamed up with.
Unfortunately, my teammates have not figured that out yet. I know
because." She cut herself off immediately and looked around, suddenly
noticing how dark it had gotten. She turned away once again and ran into
the shadows. The young man stared after her. Then he spoke as if she was
still there. P
"Hello, my name is Heero Yuy. Best AB player you've ever met." P
P
BR
P Relena was sprinting, trying to get home before Owner noticed she was late. Her home was fondly named the Rate House. It was given off as an orphanage when in reality it was only a station in the black market of Lost Children. Her team and a few other Lost Children all belonged to the man in charge of the station. Any others there were up for sale and shipping. P She was late and she knew she was going to pay for it, but she didn't care. Beatings were natural now and besides, her owner wouldn't kill her. He needed her to bet on in the games. That's how she was going to get out. They could win and buy their way out like so few others had done in the past. The games paid thousands to the winners and with that money; they could buy their freedom. Basketball had changed a lot since the turn of the century. There virtually were no rules anymore. No consequences for injuries. It had turned into a blood sport and everyone knew most of the players were Lost Children. They are the only people willing to participate in this sport. It was the only way out of slavery. Get good at blood sports or be a slave for the rest of your life. There are two kinds of Lost Children. The kinds that are meant only for servitude and those that are bet on for sports. Luckily, Relena had talent. Her particular owner actually collected Lost Children with such talents. He found Relena on sale in a stand in Europe. She was seven years old and he never made her conditions much better. P Relena entered the 'orphanage' slowly. The entrance and front halls were decent (in consideration of what the building looked like on the outside) but as she went further into the bowels of the building, everything became damp and bleak. Nothing soft to look at. Pipes hung out and dripped. A few children sat in the hall, unmoving looking like old rag dolls. lifeless. Relena continued on and turned into a room. The other girls sat inside with one blinking overhead light. The bunks were framed with rotting wood and thin pieces of cloth were used as mats. Other than a small box of basketball clothes, rags imitating clothing, and the girls' uniforms they wore, there was nothing else. It was as if the moment the girls were in the Rat House, they were transformed from the competitive players to meek lifeless dolls like those out in the halls. They looked up at her entrance and eyed her sadly. P "You should have come back with us," said Catherine with fear. P "Owner is mad," said Dorothy. Suddenly, a thundering came from down the hall. Owner was drunk again. P "You brat! What have I told you?" He came flying into the room with a bottle in his hand. He stumbled once and focused his drunken eyes on Relena. Then he let out an enraged cry, heading straight towards her. Natria ran forward but she was quickly backhanded. The other girls caught her as she fell. Terrified the girls huddled in the corner and watched as their friend was pummeled with blow after blow. The sound of glass breaking followed as Relena struggled to evade the blows. Catherine sat crying into Dorothy's shoulder as each time the lamp went out and flickered on showing a new horrifying image. Hilde was on all fours looking as if she wanted to run to her friend. Instead her hands were clenched into fists and her eyes shimmered with tears. The sound of a bone cracking and another back hand nearly sent Natria over the edge, but finally, Owner stepped back heaving and spat on Relena's crumbled form. He turned and stared at the others and smiled drunkenly as they backed away in fear. P After he stumbled back out, they quickly ran over to Relena. P "Relena!" P "Oh God!" P "She's out." P "Quick! Grab a cloth! I don't care what anything!" cried Dorothy. P "Relena, please wake up." P
BR
P Relena was sprinting, trying to get home before Owner noticed she was late. Her home was fondly named the Rate House. It was given off as an orphanage when in reality it was only a station in the black market of Lost Children. Her team and a few other Lost Children all belonged to the man in charge of the station. Any others there were up for sale and shipping. P She was late and she knew she was going to pay for it, but she didn't care. Beatings were natural now and besides, her owner wouldn't kill her. He needed her to bet on in the games. That's how she was going to get out. They could win and buy their way out like so few others had done in the past. The games paid thousands to the winners and with that money; they could buy their freedom. Basketball had changed a lot since the turn of the century. There virtually were no rules anymore. No consequences for injuries. It had turned into a blood sport and everyone knew most of the players were Lost Children. They are the only people willing to participate in this sport. It was the only way out of slavery. Get good at blood sports or be a slave for the rest of your life. There are two kinds of Lost Children. The kinds that are meant only for servitude and those that are bet on for sports. Luckily, Relena had talent. Her particular owner actually collected Lost Children with such talents. He found Relena on sale in a stand in Europe. She was seven years old and he never made her conditions much better. P Relena entered the 'orphanage' slowly. The entrance and front halls were decent (in consideration of what the building looked like on the outside) but as she went further into the bowels of the building, everything became damp and bleak. Nothing soft to look at. Pipes hung out and dripped. A few children sat in the hall, unmoving looking like old rag dolls. lifeless. Relena continued on and turned into a room. The other girls sat inside with one blinking overhead light. The bunks were framed with rotting wood and thin pieces of cloth were used as mats. Other than a small box of basketball clothes, rags imitating clothing, and the girls' uniforms they wore, there was nothing else. It was as if the moment the girls were in the Rat House, they were transformed from the competitive players to meek lifeless dolls like those out in the halls. They looked up at her entrance and eyed her sadly. P "You should have come back with us," said Catherine with fear. P "Owner is mad," said Dorothy. Suddenly, a thundering came from down the hall. Owner was drunk again. P "You brat! What have I told you?" He came flying into the room with a bottle in his hand. He stumbled once and focused his drunken eyes on Relena. Then he let out an enraged cry, heading straight towards her. Natria ran forward but she was quickly backhanded. The other girls caught her as she fell. Terrified the girls huddled in the corner and watched as their friend was pummeled with blow after blow. The sound of glass breaking followed as Relena struggled to evade the blows. Catherine sat crying into Dorothy's shoulder as each time the lamp went out and flickered on showing a new horrifying image. Hilde was on all fours looking as if she wanted to run to her friend. Instead her hands were clenched into fists and her eyes shimmered with tears. The sound of a bone cracking and another back hand nearly sent Natria over the edge, but finally, Owner stepped back heaving and spat on Relena's crumbled form. He turned and stared at the others and smiled drunkenly as they backed away in fear. P After he stumbled back out, they quickly ran over to Relena. P "Relena!" P "Oh God!" P "She's out." P "Quick! Grab a cloth! I don't care what anything!" cried Dorothy. P "Relena, please wake up." P