Rae: Chapter Two is in and I hope you enjoy. Thank you to those who have reviewed, I'm enjoying writing this story as well...hopefully I don't loose inspiration.
Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing, only any characters you don't recognize
Inner Circle Experiment
Chapter Two
I stood behind the blond pilot, the tip of my dagger poised at his throat, pressing against the skin hard, but not enough to pierce the pretty-boy's skin. The Perfect Soldier was at a loss, and I could tell, having to choose between what needs to be done, and what he wants done. I could let go of the blond, but I could be shot, then again, I probably wouldn't get hit. What to do?
"Let go of Quatre!" I heard Maxwell holler at me, a grin lifting on my lips
Something in the pit of my stomach told me I had to get out, that something wasn't right. I couldn't stop the swelling I felt in my stomach, my hand clenching around the dagger, my otherhand tightening its grip around the neck of my captive. I growled to myself before shoving the naïve teen away, turning with a start and dashing toward the hanger exit. Footsteps followed, gunshots crackling in the air like man-made thunder. I pushed myself, sprinting down the long corridors, thoughts racing through my mind.
I reached the outside of the base and turned to gaze back, only to be tackled on my back. Landing on the grass, I immediately used the momentum, I gained from tumbling backwards, and flipped my attacker over, my blade instantly at the person's throat, a gun poised at my forehead. I recognized cold, Persian-blue eyes glaring up at me, making me glare in return. My stomach tightened again, realizing the pilots and myself weren't alone.
"Shadow, Shadow, Shadow. When will you learn?" a painful voice from the past rang through the area.
I noticed all the pilots looking up at something, so I followed their gazes, not that I needed to. I recognized the figure walking out of the dark shadows of the forest. Looking back down at Heero, I realized the Perfect Soldier wasn't my worse choice right this moment. Standing up slowly, I glared at the black-eyes man, who glared in return.
"Are you not talking now? Poor Shadow, did someone cut out your voice box before I got to them?" he said, his body slowly moving toward mine. I felt cold fingers brush across my cheek before traveling down to my neck in a caressing manner, causing me to glare at the man who dared to touch me. He had a lot of nerve, showing his face where he wasn't wanted, but he seemed to do that a lot. "You know I just love hearing you scream. I'd be disappointed if I couldn't get you to do it again." His thumb brushed over my bottom lip, pulling down at it, his black eyes trained on it as if it was his heart's bittersweet desire.
Disgust rolled off the pilots in thick waves, but none of theirs matched mine. Before I could stop myself, I lunged up at him, my dagger grazing his cheek, my body twisting around and performing a round-house kick to the damaged cheek, causing the fresh wound to open further. I twisted around again, my dagger meeting his, as it blocked the would-be blow to his neck. My mind instantly went into my soldier mode, my other dagger out of its hidden sheath in a flash and swiped at him, barely grazing his thick, black hair as he ducked from the blow.
"Temper, Temper my dear, we don't want you to lose control," his voice mocked.
Anger died, his words catching me off guard for a moment. I jumped back, flipping myself in the air, and landed behind the group of pilots. I gave all of them a passing glare, but my eyes locked with the endless black void of his eyes. I gave a mock salute to them before dashing off into the thick forest.
I reached the opposite end of the forest, my mind racing with thought of the bastard. Black. He was nothing more than scum, and he needed to be dealt with. Professionally. I lunged up a tree and flung my body on top of a nearby roof. I began jumping rooftop-to-rooftop, trying to clear my mind of my life's biggest problem.
Reaching the mansion, I slid into my room and lay down on my soft bed. I gaze up at the black ceiling, decorated with silver stars. I knew that all this was going to plague my mind, and I wouldn't get any sleep, so I stood up and changed into a pair of baggy, pajama pants and a tank top before walking out of my room and heading for the kitchen for a midnight snack.
Upon arriving at the kitchen, I opened the fridge and noticed a Mountain Dew. Snatching the carbonated beverage, I opened it and took a sip just as a knock sounded on the front door. Walking over, I opened the door and felt the entire beverage in my mouth spew out, showering the new arrival in the process.
"What the hell?" I felt myself ask.
"What the hell?" I felt myself ask again as I lifted my head up from the desk.
In front of the class stood a beautiful blonde, her curvaceous body hugged by a yellow summer dress. Her golden tresses pooled over her shoulders in thick curls, emerald green eyes filled with excitement as they traveled around the class. I locked eyes with her and could see she was about to scream, but shot her a warning glare. Her body relaxed, exhaling the air she had took in to scream, before she turned her attention to the questions asked.
"Well, Miss Pierce, why don't you sit between Mr. Rose and Mr. Maxwell," I heard Mrs. Howard instruct the blonde before realizing that the old woman placed her just in front of Heero.
I instantly buried my face in my folded arms, my hooded sweatshirt capturing my body's warmth. Ever since last night, I couldn't help but feel disgusted. He's back, which means there's trouble. Dumb bastard set me up last night.
"Hi!" a familiar, peppy voice greeted, causing my eyes to move up.
The blonde stood above my desk, "What do you want?"
The blonde grinned, "My name is Katrina, who are you?"
"Raven."
"Your answers are short," the blonde turned out.
"No shit."
"So, who's he?" she asked, pointing to the ever-so glaring Heero.
"Heero Yuy, he's just a kid."
"Heero's anything but a kid," I heard Maxwell insist.
I couldn't help but inwardly grin, my cool composure remaining, "If you say so."
"Well, is he your new boyfriend?" the blonde asked, my eyes widening in the process.
What the hell? She's completely insane; she knows I can't have a relationship. I could hear Maxwell's laughter form even before his mouth opened, hysterical fits of laughter leaving his lips.
"Heero? A girlfriend? That's the greatest thing I've ever heard," he said between fits of laughter.
"Shut it, Maxwell!" Heero demanded coldly, his eyes glaring harshly at Maxwell before turning to Katrina and myself, causing the blonde to flinch.
Ok, so I figured, maybe he wasn't cold outside of battle. I was wrong, I suppose. Looks like I have a new mission.
"Honestly babe, Heero's anti-social," Maxwell explained, making the cold pilot glare harsher.
I heard multiple gasps as Heero whipped out a gun, pointing it at Maxwell. I couldn't believe he treats his fellow pilots this way. I noticed Katrina move in front of Maxwell, her eyes glaring at Heero. If there was one thing I admired about Katrina, was that she hated guns more than I did. She was naive and hated fighting, but fought so others wouldn't go through what her and myself had to go through. I realized that she hadn't changed a bit.
"Put it down! What's the matter with you? He was only joking," she growled harshly, which was far beyond her usual nature, when handling a situation such as this.
I noticed his relucntancy to put away the weapon, but did so without replying to her statement. He grabbed his things and left the room, slamming the door behind him. I gazed at Katrina, who's eyes immediately returned the glance. Shaking our heads we both followed the Perfect Soldier, leaving the room, but went to the Library instead. We found a study room, so we wouldn't be bothered.
"Ok, really, who is he?" she asked immediately.
"Him and his four companions are the infamous Gundam Pilots," I found myself rolling my eyes at the statement. "Most would now him as the Perfect Soldier."
"I could tell, but even you aren't like that outside of battle," she replied.
I nodded in agreement, the wheels in my mind turning as thoughts progressed through it. I snapped out of my thought whenn I noticed she looked different. Her eyes were filled with an emotion not meant to be felt by her. Sorrow.
"What happened?" I found myself asking.
"I tracked Black here, but lost the others. Lex, Trin, and Mat are somewhere out there still, but I haven't heard from them since the accident," she informed me.
"Accident?"
"There was an explosion at the shuttle port that the four of us were at. I had been on a shuttle already, but I don't know if the others made it out of there ok," the emerald-eyed beauty replied.
"I see. Looks like I'll have to put aside my search for the moment, and send out a search party for them. I'll have the Rose boys round up a few crazy cats. We'll find out anything within a few months," I immediately formed the plan, rubbing her back as tears ran down her cheeks, causing me to become uncomfortable.
"Thanks Rae. Hey, I have to go, I'll see you in Gym," she said, brushing off her tears, pulling out a pocket mirror and fixing her running mascara.
I nodded and stood up, leaving her to do her personal things. I instantly went to my next class, finding my seat in the back beside a bruised Quatre, and began writing. Finishing my poem, I gazed out of the window, thinking about a certain Perfect Soldier. I wondered how he had these wonderful friends, who are willing to put their lives on the line, yet he brushes them off like nothing. The way he had acted last night showed he cared for their well being, but how he treats them seems unjust. Yes, my mission is obvious. I will b-
"Miss Raven," a voice beside me stuttered out.
I turned my eyes to the blond boy standing beside me, his backpack draped over his shoulders, blue-green eyes gazing at me warmly. I noticed a slight scratch on his neck, and decided Black must've harmed him somehow.
"What?" I asked harsher than intended, for I never like my thoughts to be interrupted.
"I'm sorry, but the bell rang. I believe we have Gym today. I heard we are doing Martial Arts," he apologized quickly.
"Thank you, and I am sorry for snapping. I was thinking of something important," I replied, standing up while grabbing my books.
We both walked to Gym, parting our ways for the locker rooms. I changed into a pair of black sweatpants and a dark, purple, three-quarter sleeve shirt. I walked out of the lockers and noticed the mats lying on the acrylic floor. Katrina instantly greeted me, and pulled me over to the guys, my mind instantly recognizing Quatre, Maxwell and Heero.
The fourth guy seemed somewhat familiar, his chin-length black hair was slicked back into a ponytail at the nape of his neck, traditional style for the Dragon Clan of L5. His onyx black eyes held a high sense of justice and intelligence far beyond those in their age group. I noticed he wore white, martial arts pants and a blue tank top, feet bare as can be.
The last guy was wearing simple sweatpants and a tank top, his light brown hair cut in a strange style, one of his dark, forest green eyes seemed to be covered at all times. His presense was calm, but felt deadly, causing my body to instantly tense up defensively. He gazed at me like he use to.
I forced a smile as they each greeted me in their own manner, nodding my greeting in return. I sat cross-legged at the edge of the mat, waiting for the coach to begin instructions. It seemed like we were having a tournament, which meant I was actually going to have some fun here.
"Our first match will be Katrina versus Duo!"
I watched as Katrina stood up, Maxwell following her sheepishly. They both stepped on the mat, Katrina bowing respectivelyrubbing the back of his head.
"Coach, I don't feel comfortable hi-"
"Fight!"
Katrina lunged at him, fist aimed for his jaw, but he dodged. I noticed he seemed against the fight, causing me to become curious. I watched as he quickly dodged more of her attacks, "Come on Maxwell! Fight me!"
"I'm not comfortable," he ducked from a kick. "fighting a girl."
What! You have to be kidding me. He's not fighting because he has morale. I couldn't help the smirk of pity that rose on my lips as he didn't realize who he was talking to. I watched as the blonde's emerald green eyes turned an icy-jade color, before she dashed toward him, faking a punch, her knee successfully catching him off guard and making contact with his stomach. He kneeled forward, not realizing it until it was too late. Katrina kicked him in the face, causing him to fall backwards. The match was called in Katrina's favor, who stood on the mat, tapping her foot in anger and disappointment.
"Katrina, you will now fight Raven!"
I realized her eyes widened, my lips instantly curving into a grin. I gracefully made my way to the mat, bowing respectively before positioning my body in a fighting stance. I allowed her to make the first move, which she took the offer, and aimed a kick. Ducking, i immediately punched her in the gut. Making this fight end quickly, I elbowed her in the spine, her body toppling forward, and I flipped over her back. Turning around, I dropped to the ground and took her feet out from underneath her, her chin hitting the mat. The match was called in my favor, which Katrina grudgingly bowed with respect before leaving the mat.
The fights progressed and the period was over. The coach had announced the finalist in the tournament were myself, the Chinese kid, the brunette and Heero. I nodded, noticing I would have to fight the Chinese kid, before fighting Heero. I would teach the Perfect Soldier that he did not have everyone walking on eggshells around him.
School was over and I found myself walking out of the building. I had found myself walking to the mansion, remembering it was nice this morning so I had left my ride there. Walking down the street, I found myself gazing at the many small shops along the way. A breeze blew against me, a familiar, putrid scent filling my senses.
A young girl screamed, her heel slamming down on the foot of her holder, before she ran off, heading toward the burning building. She yelled, called out and received nothing but the screams of many people. Her eyes widened with fear before she heard a familiar scream closer to her. Turning around, she met a familiar pair of beautiful, sappire-blue eyes as an older woman was held in place, her captor holding her by her throat. A sudden tearing sound of skin greeted the little girl, her mouth opening, she yelled.
"No!" I felt myself lunge up, realizing I wasn't in my room, nor outside. My hands gripped around a person's neck, before my eyes focused on the pair of onyx eyes that gazed back at me.
"Chang?"
Rae: I realize that this chapter might be shorter, but I thought that this would be a good place to leave off. R&R
