Rae: Thanks to those who reviewed.
burgandy3721: Thank you for reviewing, I'm glad i can keep you guessing
PiNkDoT0913: So do I. This just came to me one night, and I'm like hey...I should write something like that
Computer geek michelle: Thanks. I'm glad you enjoyed it. My other story fell out..lost inspiration
Ganki: Glad you liked it. I'm updating as fast as possible.
Rae: Again, thank you to those who updated. I appreciate the support. Here's the next chapter...keep R&R
Disclaimer: Don't own it...i wouldn't be writing this now would I?
Rae: ok, so this chapter has been revised and reupdated. Enjoy
Inner Circle Experiment
Chapter Three
I couldn't help but wonder where I was, and why Chang was here. His eyes were slightly indefferent, but nothing like his friend Heero. I know somehow, Chang seems familiar, I just don't in what aspect of my life. His name, his calm aura, I feel like I've met him before, but where.
"Onna!" his voice broke my thoughts, causing me to glare at him.
"First off, the name is Raven. Second, where the hell am I and why am I here?" I asked, noticing his eyes glared back at me as I slowly moved from the bed I had been laying on.
"I left the school and had been behind you, saw you pass out and I brought you here," he said as if it explained all.
"Ok, so you brought me here. Where is here?" I asked teasingly.
Chang glared at me as I walked passed him and headed for the bedroom door, "You're at Winner's Mansion."
I paused, mentally smacking myself, he was one of the pilots. Well, already knew that. Of course he'd be staying at the mansion with the rest of the pilots, but he still seems familiar.
"Oh, well...thank you," I said graceously, meaning it fully.
He didn't say anything but walked around me and left the room first. I shrugged my shoulders, walking out after him, seeing he had completely disappeared, I turned and headed down the long hallway. I continued to wander, when a familiar painting caught my eye.
I gazed over at the painting, which mounted on the wall between two bedroom doors, never in my life did I think I would see it again. In the painting, a little girl ran out in the fields, chasing after a dog, heading toward two people standing under a tree. The little girl's black hair danced behind her as she ran, the two people under the tree watching the little girl. Under the tree, a woman stood with her long, ebony-hair flowing freely, a man standing beside her. The man's armw as looped around her waist, his blonde hair was tassled, his handsome face glowing with amusement. On the other side of the tree, where the shadows formed, stood a lone figure, long black hair pulled into a thick braid. This lonely girl gazed out on the field which stood on the other side of the tree, another little girl jet-black hair pulled into a braid ran toward the lonely woman, a dog chasing after the little girl.
The ringing of my cellphone caught my attention and I answered it, "Raven."
"Rae! Where the hell have you been?" a voice screeched over the other line.
"Sorry, something happened and I got held up. Hey, you remember De Lune, right?"
"Well duh, he's only the greatest underage artist to live, why?"
"Well, I'm over at the Winner Mansion, and I found De Lune's painting, 'Worlds Apart', I had thought all where destroyed."
"Are you serious? No, only four were made. De Lune was good friends with the Winner Family."
I nodded, suddenly remembering, "Yeah, like a Winner would have the painting destroyed."
I felt bitterness tinge my words, remembering the beautiful artwork, "Well now that I know you are ok, I'm going to go out and shop. When you get home, make sure to keep the porch light on."
"Alright. Good bye Katrina," I said before hanging up the phone, my eyes still on the painting.
"You know the artist?" a voice pulled my attention from the painting.
Quatre WInner stood beside me, gazing at the portait before turning his eyes on me. His four friends stood around him, two glaring, one gazing at me indefferently, and another looking at me with slight worry, which was overtaken with glints of happiness. I smiled sadly, my eyes looking at the painting.
"Carson De Lune is a good friend of mine. He disappeared a few years ago, to paint numerous things. He had given me one of these paintings. Mine was destroyed in a fire," I intaled, my hands clenching into fists, knuckled turning white.
No one said anything, which was good. I hated people who constantly asked questions. I shook my head, before bringing two fingers up to massage my temples, feeling the beginnings of a migrane forming.
"Can you show me the way out? I need to get home," I said turning to the pilots.
Quatre nodded, Maxwell instantly grabbing my hand and dashing down the hall, "Come on. Wu-man and Hee-chan don't know how to treat a lady, Tro-man is too quiet, and Q-ball is too nice. I'll show you the way."
I could feel four glares, some half-hearted, while others were cold as I was pulled down the infinite hallways that made up Winner's mansion.
"Maxwell!" I heard Chang yell out, footsteps chasing after us.
I couldn't help but hide my laughter as we reached the front door. I immediately slipped out of his grasp and stood stalk-still as Chang ran pass me, yelling threats at the braided boy-wonder. I turned back to the more civilized of the bunch and gave them a small smile, bowing respectively.
"Thank you," I said, shaking Quatre's hand.
"It was no problem. Hopefully we can get to know you better," I heard the blond say.
I smiled sadly at his kindness, but didn't answer. Nodding at the quite brunette, I'm guessing Trowa Barton and Heero, before turning and walking off. Turning off the property, I instantly walked a few feet before jumping rooftop-to-rooftop, landing on my balcony and entering the house. Changing into a pair of sweats and a baggy shirt, I left the room and walked toward the kitchen. Seeing Jacques and Marquis, both sitting at the island, I greeted them with a soft smile, walking to the fridge.
"So, what happened?" I heard Marquis ask.
Sighing, I felt my stomach churn at the thoughts produced, "I just got a nasty flashback. I'm guessing something was burning at one of the resturants."
Sympathetic looks greeted me when I turned around, causing me to flinch. I glared at them, the looks slipping from their faces, before I sat down beside Marquis. I silently ate the sandwhich I had made.
"Well, I'm going for a walk, want to come Rae?" Marquis asked.
I nodded, finishing the sandwhich, before following him out the door, Jacques following after us. The three of us walked around the park, talking and conversing about things we each missed. My sensitive senses caught the scent of burning wood, causing me to look in the sky, smoke rising in the distance. Without saying anything I dashed off, heading toward smoke, the guys calling after me confused.
I reached the scene, noticing firemen, policemen and EMTs were at the scene. Flames ingulfed a beautiful church, stained-glass windows bleeding of their color, some already blown from the extreme temperatures. My hearing picked up the sound of a screaming girl, causing me to glare and dash down toward the burning building, breaking through the barrier.
"Rae! Come back!" I heard the guys yell, being held back by a few policemen.
I didn't look back, just ran straight into the burning building. Embers sparked as the flames danced on the walls, carefully but quickly I made my way up the steps. I ran quickly, a sudden burst of flames brushing my arm, I continue to push my way through the building, the girl's cries become louder. Turning into a room, I pick the the small girl up, instantly feeling her arms wrap around the back of my neck. Turning, I sheilded her as I dashed through the growing flames, familiar voices filling the house.
"Maxwell, you check that way, I'll go this way. We should meet in five minutes out the back door." Heero's brash voice could be heard softly against the roaring flames.
They were downstairs, which meant I still had a ways to go. Running through another doorway, I carefully sprinted down the hallway, I could feel the wooden floors beneath my feet weakening. Making it to the stairs, I ignored stairs, which were ingulfed in flames, and jumped over the railing, landing on the floor just after Heero and Duo ran into the room. I noticed they were pausing, tempted to turn around.
"No! Continue running. This place is about to collapse," I demanded, obviously frightening the girl in my arms, for she tightened her grip on my shirt.
The two guys headed toward the back and I followed after them, sheilding the child from any flames. The guys in front of me made it out of the building and I heard a snap. Without looking up, I jumped backwards as the frame of the front doors collapsed in front of me, blocking any way out, except for space where I could see outside. Looking down at the child, I shook her slightly, making her amber eyes gaze up.
"Listen child, I need you to let go. You see that small opening, you can fit through it. I need you to get out of here," I whispered in her ear.
"What about you?" she asked.
I smiled at her, "Don't worry, I'll be right behind you."
She slowly let go of me, I hoisted her up and carefully helped her through the opening, realizing someone on the other side was helping her through as well. I heard a crack and before anyone could react, I pushed the girl into the other arms before the ceiling let out a final snap. I felt something heavy land on my shoulders, pushing my to the ground, my head slamming against the tile floor. My mind instantly went black.
"Papa, where's Mama?" a little girl asked.
"In heaven," a brash voice answered the girl.
"Is Mama a angel?" the smaller girl asked.
"Yes, your Mother was an angel when alive, and that angelicness passed down to you and your sister," he replied, tapping the girl's nose.
"You think I'm a angel? Even if I do something really bad?" she asked again.
"You'll always be my little angel, as long as you promise me, what ever you do, you do it to help others," he hugged her softly.
"So that means you wont be mad?" she asked, looking up at her father.
"Mad about what?" he questioned curiously.
"AURORA!" a angry voice yelled through the house.
The little girl turned from the direction of the voice and smiled up at her father, "I may have switched Barako's shampoo with honey."
Laughter immited from the man's lips as a little boy ran into the room, screaming bloody murder, his hair slicked back, holding an amber, gloosy tint. The little girl jumped off her father's lap before dashing out of the room, the little boy running after her.
"Papa? Where are you going?" the girl asked, a few years later.
"I have to go help people," he replied, kissing her cheek.
"Will you come home?" she questioned.
The man smiled and ruffled her long hair. He didn't answer her but pulled her into a tight hug.
"Papa, promise me you wont leave like Mama did."
The man smiled sadly before nodding, "I'll never leave you."
The man stood up and walked out of the house.
"PAPA! YOU PROMISED!" the same girl shook the man's shoulders, blood gracing her fingertips.
"YOU PROMISED YOU WOULDN'T LEAVE ME! YOU CAN'T LEAVE ME ALONE! WAKE UP!" she cried out, nurses and doctors flinching at the raw anger and sorrow portrayed through the small lungs.
"WAKE UP! YOU CAN'T GO! I DON'T WANT YOU TO BE AN ANGEL! I WANT YOU HOME!" she yelled, her head resting on his bloody chest, tears mixing with the sticky, red substance.
"Papa..." she hiccuped. "You promised..." her tears flowing freely. "Come back..."
Her begging was stopped when a hand gripped her shoulder lightly. Looking up, she saw the sad eyes of the doctor, behind him the nurse craddled the little girl's sister. Her eyes moved to the little boy, who stood in the corner glaring at the cold, limp body.
"I'm sorry child, but your father is gone," the man said gently.
The little girl growled, "NO! DON'T SAY THAT! PAPA ISN'T GONE! HE CANT BE GONE!" Her voice dropped as tears filled her eyes again, bowing her head, "He can't leave me. He just can't"
The doctor did the only thing he could, he pulled the girl into a firm, sympathetic hug. The little girl felt the warmth and burst into a new set of tears, her voice mumbling the word 'Papa' over and over again.
"I can't believe you Barako. This is an all-time low, even for you," the girl yelled, finally the double-digit age.
"Oh, I'm hurt...really," a sarcastic voice shot back.
"You know what? You're right. You are hurt," the girl yelled before lunging at him, her fist making contact with his cheek.
She was pulled off of him by an older woman, in charge of the orphanage.
"Child what is wrong with you? You're always fighting with others. He's your brother," the woman accused.
The girl glared at the woman, "Fine! If I'm such a burden to you, then I'm leaving!"
The little girl ran out of the orphanage, leaving the place she had come to dispise.
I felt myself wake up, eyelids slowly lifting off my pupils, blinking quickly to adjust the lighting. I noticed I was in a pure white room, a nauseating clean stench filling my sense making me slightly dizzy. Closing my eyes, I allowed the events of what happened filter through my mind before opening my eyes again, suddenly feeling another presense beside me.
Laying on the floor, Marquis slept flat on his back, Katrina's head on his stomach while her own stomach pillowed Jacques head. I noticed the pilots surrounded me as well, Maxwell sprawled out on a chair, Quatre laying on the floor beside my bed, Trowa and Chang asleep while sitting against the wall, heads tilted forward, Heero sleeping on the chair beside my bed. In his lap, slept the little amber-eyed girl, her long mahogony-red hair messy and in a tangled mess.
I sat up slightly, my back supported by the elevated bed. I shivered slightly, my mind realizing I was in a hospital. Why I was in a hospital was a complete mystery to me. I gazed at the ceiling, my mind remembering the dream. It wasn't a nightmare, but it wasn't a good dream. Aurora. How long ago was it? Such a young age t-
"You're awake," a cold voice stated surprised.
I looked over at the Perfect Soldier, my eyes looking at the girl, "Is she ok?"
"Minor burn marks, couple bruises, cuts," he said.
I nodded, turning my eyes back the ceiling, "How long have I been here?"
"A day. That was heroic of you," he said, his voice soft as to not wake the others.
"Heroism was the furthest thing from my mind," I replied.
Heero nodded, "How did you know she was in there?"
"Instinct."
"She's quite taken with you," he said.
"That's nice," I said without enthusiasm.
"Are you always getting in this much trouble?" he asked.
"Do you always ask so many questions?" I shot back.
His eyes glared, causing me to sigh, "Sorry. I just don't like hopsitals."
"Your friends were fighting to let the EMT's let them take care of you," he stated.
I nodded, "I would've been better off."
He didn't say anything, so I didn't either. The little girl stirred, her amber eyes opening slowly. I braced myself as she launched her body off Heero's lap and attached herself to me, hanging on my neck. Her eyes were filled with happiness as she hugged me tightly.
"You're awake!" she yelled, waking up the others in the process.
"Rae!" my three usual companions shouted.
"Hey, lay off will ya! I'm injured you know," I said to them.
"Injured my ass," Marquis mumbled.
"What's that mean?" I questioned.
"You have a dislocated shoulder, minor fractures and bruises along your ribcage. The muscles in your back might be sore," Jacques replied.
"In other words, I'm still alive," I groaned out.
I got glares of disapproval, causing me to grin, "I'm kidding. I'm sure after a few shots I'll be ok."
"We aren't taking you to a bar."
I pouted, "Aww, not even for saving her life? I mean living with you, I should be offered an alcoholic beverage at least once a day."
Katrina grinned before ruffling my hair, "Good to have you back Rae, I was worried."
I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow, causing her to blush, "What? My best friend is in the hospital."
"About that..." I started.
"It's good to see you're awake you miss," a stranger's voice said.
In the doorway stood the doctor, his eyes laced with sorrow. I knew that look meant bad news. I couldn't help but glare at him.
"I'm afraid the little girl cannot leave," he said.
The little girl tightened her grip on me, face buried in my chest. I glared at the doctor, "Why not?"
"She's a ward of the state. I'm afraid-"
"No see, she will be leaving with us. Send us the adoption papers in the mail, and we'll sign them," I cut him off, standing up with the little girl in my arms.
The doctor nodded, flinching at my glare before placing the girl on her feet, walking myself into the private bathroom. Changing into the clothing Katrina had brought, I slipped into the black jeans and slowly, as to not agitate my ribs, I slipped the shirt on before walking out of the bathroom and picking up the small girl. I signed my release and by the time Iwas at the front door, everyone had already been outside. I shook my head before sliding into the car Marquis was sitting in. Waving good bye to the pilots, Marquis sped off, heading to the mansion.
"We need a name little one," I whispered as we walked into the house, heading toward the bedrooms.
"My name is Roxy," she whispered. "Can I sleep with you tonight?"
I paused in step before nodding, entering my room and placing her down. She instantly ran and jumped in my bed while I walked to my walk-in closet. Finding a change of clothes, I changed into a pair of baggy, black pajama pants and a tank top. Grabbing a baggy shirt, I walked out of the closet and changed the seven-year-old chatter box. Slipping under the covers, I stayed awake until she fell asleep. Sighing, I closed my eyes, drifting off into the deepest depths of my mind.
Rae: do R&R!
