Here ya go! My computer had be gone for around seven weeks and is still not
done so the part I had on it I just had to omit. I think I rewrote this
better anyway. Enjoy! Oh, sorry if the format is different. My computer
had a different program and I'm not quite used to this one.
The study was tense in the thick silence that seemed to radiate off those present. Mia sat frustratedly glaring at her computer while the guys leaned or stood around her desk. They had tried every source they could think of but had only hit dead ends. While had it gone against her pricipals they had gone through their new guests stuff, which wasn't much anyway. All they had to go on, without actually going through pocket of what they were wearing, was a jacket that appeared to a uniform. She had done everything she could but nothing matched up with the young mans uniform. A frustrated sigh drew her attention back to the three around her desk. She closed her eyes for a moment, remembering that only a day ago it had been Ryo and Rowan trying to pull her away from this very desk saying she needed to relax. Now she wished she could.
" This is getting us nowhere!" Kento slammed a fist into the desk below him.
" Quiet Kento! They're still asleep in there." Mia layed a restraining hand and his.
" Yeah, well, maybe we should wake them up. They propably have our answers."
" Or they could have been pulled into this like Ryo and Rowan." Sai spoke up.
The room fell silent as the thought settled heavily in the already tension thick air. Mia continued her fruitless searching, feeling better doing something rather than brooding like her three little troopers. Silently she sent up a plea that her missing friends were alright. Without their armors they wouldn't be able to fight, not like they used to. She could only hope they fell into friendly hands.
Rain still poured down the windows, hitting the roof with a cadence that would put whoever let it to a restful sleep, but Quatre couldn't let it. He fought to open tired eyes, his body just beginning to wake from it's long sleep. For a moment he thought he might be dead. No pain assailed his heart when he shifted, his mind was clearer than it had been for a long time, he felt so completely at ease and comfortable. He blinked open his reluctent eyelids and pushed himself into a sitting position. Instantly he froze. Warm brown eyes gazed thoughtfully into his own, each breath blowing gently on his face and neck. Delicate, long whiskers twitched slightly as the tiger regaurded him, the large paws holding him up on the couch shifting only slightly. Quatre found he couldn't look away nor blink. His own blue gaze locked with brown. The tigers eyes were radiating an intelligence most humans didn't have, a knowledge that went beyond boundries, emotion that was much too deep. It was almost as if the beautiful tiger was searching for something in his soul. For a moment he completely forgot to be scared. Then, suddenly the gaze was broken, a soft headbutt knocking him out of a trance and back into the couch.
" Hello." It was no more than a whisper of breath but the tiger seemed to hear and respond, pushing his head under an outstretched hand. Smiling softly Quatre ran his long fingers gently over the thick fur, a soft growl his response. The tiger shifted from the couch to sit next to him on the floor.
It was only then, when natural thought process was actually working again, that Quatre realized his surroundings, and the fact he was petting a tiger. For a moment his mind had gone back to a time in Trowas trailer at the circus, putting him in a familier place. But this definitly wasn't Trowas circus trailer. And this tiger, though seemingly tame, wasn't a circus animal. His gaze shot around the room till it landed on the other side of the couch where Heero lay sleeping still, the only familier thing here. He knew they should have been dead, or at least in a hospital, but for some reason he found no fear or hesitence in being here, the tiger and Heero reassuring presences. He looked to his friend again. Heero yawned a bit, but other wise seemed unconceredly asleep. Like the day before had all been just a bad dream that was over now.
The tiger he was petting cocked its head slightly, gazing at the other boy curiously.
Quatre could only watch as the tiger padded over to his sleeping companion softly, barely making a sound on the hardwood floor. He stopped next to the boy, peering curiously at him as he leaned forward. Quatre muffled a laugh as a wet tongue kissed the side of Heeros head, standing a few hairs on end when finished. Heero scrucnched up his nose, wiping at his face as he woke to come eye to eye with , if there was such a thing, a grinning tiger. The trace of surprise that breifly lit his face was gone in an instant, replaced by calm. He stayed perfectly still, staring the tiger down. But the great animal seemed to get board quickly of this, and with a growl, trotted back over to Quatre. Only then did Heero move, sitting up and swinging his legs onto the floor. He inadvertenly kicked Quatre in the process from where his foot had lain beside him, earning another growl from the tiger.
" Quatre," he began, eyeing the tiger his friend was petting warily, " where are we?"
" Couldn't tell you. I just woke up too, but there dosen't seem to be any danger."
Heero just raised an eyebrow, watching as Quatre reached down and wove his arms about the furry neck in a warm embrace. The tiger rested its great head on the boys shoulder.
" Well, seems White Blaze has made new friends."
Three heads lifted to the door way. The young man who had spoken pushed off from where he had been leaning and took a few steps toward them, stopping only when both boys tensed up.
" White Blaze, would you go get Kento and Sage for me? I think we should let Mia sleep for a bit more."
The tiger had a bright gleam in its eyes as it bounded out of the room.
" I'm glad you're awake. You had us worried for awhile there."The young man had only taken a step forward when a yell sounded throughout house. What sounded like a heard of elephants ran down the hall. A second later another young man burst though the door, followed soon by a loping tiger and another boy. A piece of cloth was gripped in the tigers seemingly smirking mouth.
" Ha ha, very funny Blaze." The dark haired youth grumbled sticking his tongue out at the animal while his hands covered his bare backside. He then turned his glare on his two friends who weren't even trying to quell the smiles and quiet laughter. The two seated on the couch could only watch stunned.
" I guess White Blaze has had enough of our moping around." The blonde spoke up with a small smile.
The tiger let the peice of cloth drop to the floor before padding over to the couch, sitting between the two boys seated there. Silence stretched for a moment as the two new boys turned suddenly serious eyes to them. It was broken by the first boy who had entered.
" Well since our guests have woken up I suppose introductions are in order."
" Shouldn't we wake Mia up?" The dark haired man asked, forgetting for a moment and lifting his hands from his ripped pants. His eyes went wide and his hands whipped back.
" Let her rest. This has been hard on her."
" Sai?"
Everyones attention was drawn back to the doorway where a woman not much older than the boys now stood.
" Mia, uh...hi."
Mia shook her head as she moved forward toward the couch, breifly gripping Sais hand in her own in understanding. She surveyed her guests with kind eyes, though for a moment uncertian.
" White Blaze trusts them Mia, so they must be good." Sai reassured her. Mia nodded and seem to relax, giving them both a welcoming smile.
" Hello, my name is Mia Koji. Welcome to my home."
Quatre, recovering from the last few moments, quickly gathered his wits and stood, gingerly testing tired legs. Instantly Heero was standing at his side, a hand resting gently on his elbow. Quatre shook him off gently and faced their four hosts.
" Quatre Winner." He could see Heero guaging their reactions out of the corner of his eye, doing the same himself discretely. When none came and Heero made no move to introduce himself the young man who had sicked the tiger on the others stepped forward.
" Mouri Sai, and my friends..."
" Kento Lei Fuan." The dark haird youth lifted one hand and waved cockily.
" Date Sage." The blonde bowed slightly then straightened to gaze cooly at them from violet eyes. " And you are? He fixed that gaze on Heero. Only after sharing a glace with Quatre did Heero answer.
" Heero Yuy." He nodded respectfully at their hostess. They waited patiently as Mia sat before sitting once again. Heero and Quatre met the eyes of others without hesitation. All they could do was wait patiently for their questions to be answered or find a way to contact the Preventers. The rooms tension seemed to buzz as both groups stared each other down, broken finally by Mia.
" Would you two care for something to eat?"
"No,thank you." Quatre answered. He hesitated then asked a question of his own. " Where are we?"
Kento jumped in before she could say anything.
" Why don't we just get down to it. We want to know where our friends are. Whats happened to them?" He leaned forward demandingly.
" Kento! Don't push them." Sage adomished. Kento spun on him.
" We don't even know if they're okay. Mia said Rowan looked hurt, and Ryo fell. Last time we didn't have anything to go on but some mumbo jumbo that dude was spilling to find you and Ryo, this time we have a lot more, and I want answers!" He whirled back on them, eyes narrowed but hopeful.
" We don't know who your friends are." Heero drew attention with his deadly quiet voice. " Whatever has happened to them doesn't concern us."
" Like he..!"
" Kento!"
White Blaze suddenly let out at roar. Beofre anyone could move he was gone from the room, leaving them all to stare after him.
" White Blaze?" Sai took a step to follow just as all the lights flickered out, plunging them into darkness. Even the wind and rain seemed to have let up creating a deep silence that seemd too unnatural.
" Damn, this can't be good."
" Quiet Kento," Sage held up a barely discreanable hand and moved forward slightly. A soft thud was heard and a quiet curse. " Sorry Sai. Mia, do you have a flashlight somewhere in here?"
" No, Rowan left it in the kitchen last time he went stargazing on the cliff."
Heero groped blindly for the boy next to him as a feeling of apprehension washing over him. Something was going to happen.
Everything started at once. The room seemed to melt away from them leaving them sitting and standing in the same position, only in mid air. Stars glowed around them, the Earth a beautiful blue sphere beside them. The three sitting stood slowly , rising to look around, momentarily stunned.
" What's going on?!" Sais cry echoed around them. No one had an answer for that.
" Erugh, this has something to do with them doesn't it!?" Kento turned to face both of the new boys, momentarily thrown off balance by the fact he was standing on nothing but air. " Now I know how Rowan must've felt."
" There are no colonies." It wasn't but a whisper, meant only for the ears of the boy beside him, but it caught in the air and drifted to each person around them. The curious, worried glances being sent around them quickly turned to Heero.
" But, this has to be a dream. So why would there be?" Quatre knew he didn't believe himself either.
" What do you mean? Colonies? In space?" Sage was standing protectivly by Mia, but watching the young men next to him with a lace of concern and curiousity that was his nature. They were all startled when Mia spoke for the first time since they got there.
" This settles it then, they aren't from our world." Her voice was calm, but there was an underlying pain, as if she was struggling to keep her own hope afloat.
" You aren't talking aliens are you Mia?" Sai questioned. This brought Heero and Quatres attention back to the conversation promptly. Mia laughed, easing tension as she did so.
" No, no Sai. They may be from our world...just a different dimension of it." She looked thoughtfully at the two boys now staring at her.
" Mia, you can't mean they're from the Netherworld." Sage looked to the two. " They just don't feel like it."
" No, another demension, or perhaps, another time."
Heero opened his mouth to disagree, but stopped, looking around them he couldn't come up with any other explanation other than a dream. If was a dream he didn't think he wanted to wake up. He knew that crash had been real, though he had never felt them hit the ground, and he was afraid if this was a dream he would wake up and Quatre might not be there. Though considering what he was hiding from everyone else...he stopped that train of thought. He kept his secret yes, he had promised that when he found out, but he would do everything in his power to help. Life had just become worth living, with freinds, some who had stuck with him till they had become family. He had grown more in the peace than he had ever thought he would.
" I know it's hard to believe but..."
" No," Quatre looked around them then back to Mia, his eyes reflecting the stars, " I do believe it."
" Have you ever delt with anything like this?" Sage asked, his vioce was lower now, a wariness to it. Quatre smile at him.
" Our world, dimension, whatever...is ruled by a scentific mind. They might consider this possible, might even try...but this seems like it has nothing to do with science." He got a faraway look in his eyes, a figure of a moblie suit reflecting with the stars. " Not all things can be explained by science." One hand drifted to his heart.
( Very good young one...)
" What the...?" Kento began. They all watched in wonder as the words swirled serenly around them in and around the stars, letters and symbols alike. Languages, some long dead, wrote out their golden marks in the night sky.
" What is this?" Mia spoke, entranced by shimmering gold words dancing around them.
( This is everywhere and nowhere. Time and distance are meaningless...) The old words fell in a burst of stardust, shimmering away to allow new ones. (As to who I am young Halo,) Sage's eyes widened. ( That cannot be explain or even comprehended in human minds...) The stars twinkled in what seemed like silent laughter. ( Do not be offended Hardrock. It is merely the truth. There is no need to be confused, everything will be explained...) It was then that Kento, Sai, and Sage realized that the other two boys must have been wondering about the titles. ( You must all try to understand what I will tell you, and each other...the future ahead depends on it...)
" Here we go again."
The study was tense in the thick silence that seemed to radiate off those present. Mia sat frustratedly glaring at her computer while the guys leaned or stood around her desk. They had tried every source they could think of but had only hit dead ends. While had it gone against her pricipals they had gone through their new guests stuff, which wasn't much anyway. All they had to go on, without actually going through pocket of what they were wearing, was a jacket that appeared to a uniform. She had done everything she could but nothing matched up with the young mans uniform. A frustrated sigh drew her attention back to the three around her desk. She closed her eyes for a moment, remembering that only a day ago it had been Ryo and Rowan trying to pull her away from this very desk saying she needed to relax. Now she wished she could.
" This is getting us nowhere!" Kento slammed a fist into the desk below him.
" Quiet Kento! They're still asleep in there." Mia layed a restraining hand and his.
" Yeah, well, maybe we should wake them up. They propably have our answers."
" Or they could have been pulled into this like Ryo and Rowan." Sai spoke up.
The room fell silent as the thought settled heavily in the already tension thick air. Mia continued her fruitless searching, feeling better doing something rather than brooding like her three little troopers. Silently she sent up a plea that her missing friends were alright. Without their armors they wouldn't be able to fight, not like they used to. She could only hope they fell into friendly hands.
Rain still poured down the windows, hitting the roof with a cadence that would put whoever let it to a restful sleep, but Quatre couldn't let it. He fought to open tired eyes, his body just beginning to wake from it's long sleep. For a moment he thought he might be dead. No pain assailed his heart when he shifted, his mind was clearer than it had been for a long time, he felt so completely at ease and comfortable. He blinked open his reluctent eyelids and pushed himself into a sitting position. Instantly he froze. Warm brown eyes gazed thoughtfully into his own, each breath blowing gently on his face and neck. Delicate, long whiskers twitched slightly as the tiger regaurded him, the large paws holding him up on the couch shifting only slightly. Quatre found he couldn't look away nor blink. His own blue gaze locked with brown. The tigers eyes were radiating an intelligence most humans didn't have, a knowledge that went beyond boundries, emotion that was much too deep. It was almost as if the beautiful tiger was searching for something in his soul. For a moment he completely forgot to be scared. Then, suddenly the gaze was broken, a soft headbutt knocking him out of a trance and back into the couch.
" Hello." It was no more than a whisper of breath but the tiger seemed to hear and respond, pushing his head under an outstretched hand. Smiling softly Quatre ran his long fingers gently over the thick fur, a soft growl his response. The tiger shifted from the couch to sit next to him on the floor.
It was only then, when natural thought process was actually working again, that Quatre realized his surroundings, and the fact he was petting a tiger. For a moment his mind had gone back to a time in Trowas trailer at the circus, putting him in a familier place. But this definitly wasn't Trowas circus trailer. And this tiger, though seemingly tame, wasn't a circus animal. His gaze shot around the room till it landed on the other side of the couch where Heero lay sleeping still, the only familier thing here. He knew they should have been dead, or at least in a hospital, but for some reason he found no fear or hesitence in being here, the tiger and Heero reassuring presences. He looked to his friend again. Heero yawned a bit, but other wise seemed unconceredly asleep. Like the day before had all been just a bad dream that was over now.
The tiger he was petting cocked its head slightly, gazing at the other boy curiously.
Quatre could only watch as the tiger padded over to his sleeping companion softly, barely making a sound on the hardwood floor. He stopped next to the boy, peering curiously at him as he leaned forward. Quatre muffled a laugh as a wet tongue kissed the side of Heeros head, standing a few hairs on end when finished. Heero scrucnched up his nose, wiping at his face as he woke to come eye to eye with , if there was such a thing, a grinning tiger. The trace of surprise that breifly lit his face was gone in an instant, replaced by calm. He stayed perfectly still, staring the tiger down. But the great animal seemed to get board quickly of this, and with a growl, trotted back over to Quatre. Only then did Heero move, sitting up and swinging his legs onto the floor. He inadvertenly kicked Quatre in the process from where his foot had lain beside him, earning another growl from the tiger.
" Quatre," he began, eyeing the tiger his friend was petting warily, " where are we?"
" Couldn't tell you. I just woke up too, but there dosen't seem to be any danger."
Heero just raised an eyebrow, watching as Quatre reached down and wove his arms about the furry neck in a warm embrace. The tiger rested its great head on the boys shoulder.
" Well, seems White Blaze has made new friends."
Three heads lifted to the door way. The young man who had spoken pushed off from where he had been leaning and took a few steps toward them, stopping only when both boys tensed up.
" White Blaze, would you go get Kento and Sage for me? I think we should let Mia sleep for a bit more."
The tiger had a bright gleam in its eyes as it bounded out of the room.
" I'm glad you're awake. You had us worried for awhile there."The young man had only taken a step forward when a yell sounded throughout house. What sounded like a heard of elephants ran down the hall. A second later another young man burst though the door, followed soon by a loping tiger and another boy. A piece of cloth was gripped in the tigers seemingly smirking mouth.
" Ha ha, very funny Blaze." The dark haired youth grumbled sticking his tongue out at the animal while his hands covered his bare backside. He then turned his glare on his two friends who weren't even trying to quell the smiles and quiet laughter. The two seated on the couch could only watch stunned.
" I guess White Blaze has had enough of our moping around." The blonde spoke up with a small smile.
The tiger let the peice of cloth drop to the floor before padding over to the couch, sitting between the two boys seated there. Silence stretched for a moment as the two new boys turned suddenly serious eyes to them. It was broken by the first boy who had entered.
" Well since our guests have woken up I suppose introductions are in order."
" Shouldn't we wake Mia up?" The dark haired man asked, forgetting for a moment and lifting his hands from his ripped pants. His eyes went wide and his hands whipped back.
" Let her rest. This has been hard on her."
" Sai?"
Everyones attention was drawn back to the doorway where a woman not much older than the boys now stood.
" Mia, uh...hi."
Mia shook her head as she moved forward toward the couch, breifly gripping Sais hand in her own in understanding. She surveyed her guests with kind eyes, though for a moment uncertian.
" White Blaze trusts them Mia, so they must be good." Sai reassured her. Mia nodded and seem to relax, giving them both a welcoming smile.
" Hello, my name is Mia Koji. Welcome to my home."
Quatre, recovering from the last few moments, quickly gathered his wits and stood, gingerly testing tired legs. Instantly Heero was standing at his side, a hand resting gently on his elbow. Quatre shook him off gently and faced their four hosts.
" Quatre Winner." He could see Heero guaging their reactions out of the corner of his eye, doing the same himself discretely. When none came and Heero made no move to introduce himself the young man who had sicked the tiger on the others stepped forward.
" Mouri Sai, and my friends..."
" Kento Lei Fuan." The dark haird youth lifted one hand and waved cockily.
" Date Sage." The blonde bowed slightly then straightened to gaze cooly at them from violet eyes. " And you are? He fixed that gaze on Heero. Only after sharing a glace with Quatre did Heero answer.
" Heero Yuy." He nodded respectfully at their hostess. They waited patiently as Mia sat before sitting once again. Heero and Quatre met the eyes of others without hesitation. All they could do was wait patiently for their questions to be answered or find a way to contact the Preventers. The rooms tension seemed to buzz as both groups stared each other down, broken finally by Mia.
" Would you two care for something to eat?"
"No,thank you." Quatre answered. He hesitated then asked a question of his own. " Where are we?"
Kento jumped in before she could say anything.
" Why don't we just get down to it. We want to know where our friends are. Whats happened to them?" He leaned forward demandingly.
" Kento! Don't push them." Sage adomished. Kento spun on him.
" We don't even know if they're okay. Mia said Rowan looked hurt, and Ryo fell. Last time we didn't have anything to go on but some mumbo jumbo that dude was spilling to find you and Ryo, this time we have a lot more, and I want answers!" He whirled back on them, eyes narrowed but hopeful.
" We don't know who your friends are." Heero drew attention with his deadly quiet voice. " Whatever has happened to them doesn't concern us."
" Like he..!"
" Kento!"
White Blaze suddenly let out at roar. Beofre anyone could move he was gone from the room, leaving them all to stare after him.
" White Blaze?" Sai took a step to follow just as all the lights flickered out, plunging them into darkness. Even the wind and rain seemed to have let up creating a deep silence that seemd too unnatural.
" Damn, this can't be good."
" Quiet Kento," Sage held up a barely discreanable hand and moved forward slightly. A soft thud was heard and a quiet curse. " Sorry Sai. Mia, do you have a flashlight somewhere in here?"
" No, Rowan left it in the kitchen last time he went stargazing on the cliff."
Heero groped blindly for the boy next to him as a feeling of apprehension washing over him. Something was going to happen.
Everything started at once. The room seemed to melt away from them leaving them sitting and standing in the same position, only in mid air. Stars glowed around them, the Earth a beautiful blue sphere beside them. The three sitting stood slowly , rising to look around, momentarily stunned.
" What's going on?!" Sais cry echoed around them. No one had an answer for that.
" Erugh, this has something to do with them doesn't it!?" Kento turned to face both of the new boys, momentarily thrown off balance by the fact he was standing on nothing but air. " Now I know how Rowan must've felt."
" There are no colonies." It wasn't but a whisper, meant only for the ears of the boy beside him, but it caught in the air and drifted to each person around them. The curious, worried glances being sent around them quickly turned to Heero.
" But, this has to be a dream. So why would there be?" Quatre knew he didn't believe himself either.
" What do you mean? Colonies? In space?" Sage was standing protectivly by Mia, but watching the young men next to him with a lace of concern and curiousity that was his nature. They were all startled when Mia spoke for the first time since they got there.
" This settles it then, they aren't from our world." Her voice was calm, but there was an underlying pain, as if she was struggling to keep her own hope afloat.
" You aren't talking aliens are you Mia?" Sai questioned. This brought Heero and Quatres attention back to the conversation promptly. Mia laughed, easing tension as she did so.
" No, no Sai. They may be from our world...just a different dimension of it." She looked thoughtfully at the two boys now staring at her.
" Mia, you can't mean they're from the Netherworld." Sage looked to the two. " They just don't feel like it."
" No, another demension, or perhaps, another time."
Heero opened his mouth to disagree, but stopped, looking around them he couldn't come up with any other explanation other than a dream. If was a dream he didn't think he wanted to wake up. He knew that crash had been real, though he had never felt them hit the ground, and he was afraid if this was a dream he would wake up and Quatre might not be there. Though considering what he was hiding from everyone else...he stopped that train of thought. He kept his secret yes, he had promised that when he found out, but he would do everything in his power to help. Life had just become worth living, with freinds, some who had stuck with him till they had become family. He had grown more in the peace than he had ever thought he would.
" I know it's hard to believe but..."
" No," Quatre looked around them then back to Mia, his eyes reflecting the stars, " I do believe it."
" Have you ever delt with anything like this?" Sage asked, his vioce was lower now, a wariness to it. Quatre smile at him.
" Our world, dimension, whatever...is ruled by a scentific mind. They might consider this possible, might even try...but this seems like it has nothing to do with science." He got a faraway look in his eyes, a figure of a moblie suit reflecting with the stars. " Not all things can be explained by science." One hand drifted to his heart.
( Very good young one...)
" What the...?" Kento began. They all watched in wonder as the words swirled serenly around them in and around the stars, letters and symbols alike. Languages, some long dead, wrote out their golden marks in the night sky.
" What is this?" Mia spoke, entranced by shimmering gold words dancing around them.
( This is everywhere and nowhere. Time and distance are meaningless...) The old words fell in a burst of stardust, shimmering away to allow new ones. (As to who I am young Halo,) Sage's eyes widened. ( That cannot be explain or even comprehended in human minds...) The stars twinkled in what seemed like silent laughter. ( Do not be offended Hardrock. It is merely the truth. There is no need to be confused, everything will be explained...) It was then that Kento, Sai, and Sage realized that the other two boys must have been wondering about the titles. ( You must all try to understand what I will tell you, and each other...the future ahead depends on it...)
" Here we go again."