Chapter 5: Roses of Victory

Part one:

Hollie woked up and stirred. She was kind of knocked out last night and just currently found herself lying in her bed, which she has no idea how she got there. She remembered saying "leave it to me" on someone... was it Eliza? and then everything's gone.. just like that... well she currently somehow remembered that she was running.. but she could've sworn she was half asleep by then.

"Mornin'" she said with a sigh.

"Uhn.." Ryu said as well.

"Why are you guys looking like your mouth's about to fall off to the ground?" Riku asked.. trying to cheer her two children. She could understand Ryu's side view.. but Hollie's as mysterious as trying to figure out the Bermuda Triangle.

"Nothing, mum. Just dead beat. Exhausted... scared... freaky.." he answered.

(Very scary.. where'd that painting came from anyways?) Dark asked inside.

"Gem, I read," he answered as quitely as possible.

Hollie almost jumped after hearing her other side's name. She was rather confused too. Last last night she heard Mellania and now it's Gem? What is it really?

The bell rang in the household and Hollie ran up to get it. She want to avoid her family as much as possible and this can be taken as her excuse for suddenly leaving. Opening up the door, she saw a blue-haired kid and a brunette one.

"Just my luck... when I thought I had escaped.. the two block heads appeared"

"Hehe.. don't worry Hollie..." someone called within.

"Ne.. is that you Gem?"

"Yep... nice to meet you Hollie! I'm Gem... or Mellania.. which ever you preferred," she said.

"Sigh D'ya think I can move freely with you in my head?"

"Sure do kiddo.. I respect my soulmates. I'll talk to ya when it's important," she said.

"By the way, concerning last night.. what happened? Uhnn.. Gem? You there?"

"Move it slow poke! I need to get to school.." Ryu said with an undertone.

"Well, same here.."

"I can't believe it... who the heck is Gem?"

Hollie once again jumped.. scared to death of being exposed. But if she kept it cool, I guess she can handle it.

"I can handle it, right? I can take this-"

"Don't worry. Don't jumped so much. Everyone's going to be talking about me at school. Keep your cool. If you can't, I'll have to take over before you get a high fever." Gem said, reassuring her other soul.

"Thanx Gem... you're the best.."

The walk was kind of dull. Everyone was passing silently.. and even the twins are quiet. The brunette dude, Stephen, was quietly glancing at every girl he passed on, while the blue-haired dude, Sephen, read his book and also try to snatch sights of Hollie.

"Who are you looking at?" Ryu suddenly said to Sephen when he noticed him looking at their direction. He was also suspiscious that he might do something to him. He had to be really sly and careful.

"None of your business," he said and went back to reading.

"So quiet..." Stephen and Hollie said in unison, trying to break the tension between everyone. They both placed their hand and digged it in their school uniform's pocket.

Inside her pocket was the hand that she searched frantically about two days ago. she held it tight... hoping that it would give her courage.

"KYAA!" she yelled... quickly throwing the hand out of her pocket.

Everyone looked at her, then the object she just threw.

"What's wrong?" the three asked.

All of them looked at the hand. A couple of seconds later.. the hand moved.. opening and closing it, trying to catch something.

All most them looked terrified as they all ran away from it.

All of them were panting hard when they reached school. Hollie was hugging both Sephen and Ryu, and Ryu was clutching Stephen's uniform while Stephen was grasping Hollie's arm.

"Aww.. look at family..." everyone cooed as they passed by.

All four suddenly realized what their position was and let go.

"Uh.. yeah.. I'm not that scared.. I'm just holding you guys for support.." the boys said.. not as exactly as what I had written but somewhat similar.

"Sure..." she said and rolled her eyes. She then went off to her own first class (second class was homeroom) and before she was out of sight, she yelled at them.

"CHICKEN!"

"YOU TOO!" her brother yelled out of frustration.

"Aurgh.. I've been called chicken by the girl I like-"

"What did you say?"

"Nothing.. well look at the time! I have phys. ed. Goodluck!" Sephen said and ran off before he get anymore in trouble with Ryu.

"What are you starring at?" he suddenly turned his focus on the other twin.

The other twin was not focusing his attention to him but rather on a group of girls.

"Never mind.." he whispered and headed toward his own classroom.

"Aurgh! I've been called a chicken!"

"Don't take it to heart... she called me that too," Stephen said, couldn't care less about his brother but to stop him from whining.

"Look dude! Get off! Go whine on that pole!" he suddenly hollered when Sephen suddenly hugged him. Looks a bit awkward.. really does.

LUNCH TIME!

"Hurry up, Ryu! You're making us all late for lunch," Jake hollered.

"Nah, I'm staying in the lab. You guys can go ahead.." he answered.

"What'cha workin' on dude?" Miguel asked, coming in to see what was happening.

"Oh, umm.. I'm not sure. But I just want to stay here,"

"A'right. Suit yourself," both friends said and left to go to the caf.

Ryu perked his hearing and heard his friends talking about how Miguel got dumped by Camille when he confessed. He let out a snicker and then started a conversation with himself and Dark.

(Author's note: bold refers to Dark and normal refers to Ryu speaking with one another)

"Alright... what happened last night?"

"I lost to that new thief..."

"You seem kinda ok with it,"

"Nuh-uh! I'm kind of mad that I lost to a girl. But when you do look at it, she took most damage for a painting. She took like 5 bullets? And then she took that painting even if she's like about to faint. You have to say, she's courageous. If I was her, I woulda just give up on that painting and come back next time."

"Yeah, your right I guess. What puzzles me, why would she give it to us?"

"That's what I would like to know. I've never met any thief who would actually do that. Unless they are not in their right mind!"

"Well... hopefully, tonight would be successful,"

"I like your guts kid. Your dad's always whining and saying he doesn't want to steal and everything. If only he was like you,"

"You can't say that. Everyone's different. Beside, I'm just doing this to impress Grandma and everyone,"

"Admit it, you're lonely because they usually have their attention to Hollie,"

"I suppose.."

Ryu then started thinking those time when he was around 4. Everyone's focus was on Hollie and no one even came to him when he needed attention. He despised Hollie so much! Day and night, it's always Hollie. His dad and mom would always say sorry to him and then go back to Hollie. Only his grandmother would come to him and train him to be strong. He never knew the purpose but he was always happy when she comes and play with him.

Then one night, he came to her room to yell all her emotion at her. He wanted to say how he despised him so much and how he wished that she would just disappear. But he couldn't do it when he saw her sleeping face. The room was like a hospital. There's a dextrox attached to her and it was like she was in a test tube.. only she wasn't in a tube. He seldom see her everyday and now he saw her and he felt pity.

At the age of 5, he saw Hollie come out of the room for the first time. She was able to walk and talk a little. She was very cute. Yet, he still despise her. Riku and Daisuke are now barely at home due to work and Ryu would sometimes cry because he never really felt any parent connection. Then one night, while he was crying at his room, someone entered and asked, "Brudder?"

He turned around to see Hollie, crying as well, clutching the victorian doll their aunt gave her. She then walked shakily towards and hugged him.

"It's ok, brudder.. momma and dada would come back,"

"Don't you hate me? I despise you," Ryu whispered with anger.

"Nope. momma say brudder was esial (special)," she said soothingly.

Hands suddenly reached from behind and hugged him. Ryu looked around to see Hollie looking at him with worried eyes.

"What's wrong? I saw Miguel and the others but you weren't there. Anything I can do?" she asked.

"Nothing... just having self reflection. Did you eat lunch?" he asked.

"Uh-huh!" Hollie said cheerfully, and then handed a lunchbox at him.

"I made this for you this morning. Eat up and get plenty of energy!" she said and ran off to meet her friends.

"Wow... feels like you guys are newly wed!"

A sign beside of the door said "bang head here" and Ryu went and bang his head many times.

"Ahh, stop!"

"Take that back!"

"Ok ok! Don't give me amnesia!"

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Hollie wondered around the lunch area outside of school to see if she can spot Misha anywhere. She spotted her sitting on the floor beside a large oak tree.

"Hello!" she said cheerfully.

"Hi!" Misha greeted with a sweet voice.

"May I?"

"Sure"

"About last night.. what happened?" Hollie asked in a serious tone.

Misha placed her burger down and looked at Hollie, clutching her legs and looking down at the hard working ants.

"Gem stole the painting, and set free the butterfly souls that was trapped in each. From Eliza and the Blue Cherry Blossom painting," she stated in such a low voice.

"Anything else I need to know?" she asked.

"Like?" Misha asked.

"Like... what happened to the injury Gem took... who gave the painting to Dark.. how'd you guys know who Dark is? And why is that painting in my brother's room? Unless..." she said, her voice started shaking.

"I myself am not sure," her friend said, "I healed Gem's injury so that you and her would be ok. As for the painting, I suggested to Gem to give it back to Dark after Eliza gave it to her. And certainly, none of us knew who his true identity is. I just asked my brother to give it to Dark. He has the power to teleport things to the person, just the person with or without information to whom or where he is. The object can find the person it was originally being transmitted to. As for that painting ending up at your brother, who knows? Maybe he was there at your house last night and left without knowing," she explained.

"And the note?"

"Gem asked to add it."

"Alright then... I suppose that answers my question," she said, standing up.

"By the way, when talking about Gem, let's call her Mellania. That way, no one would suspect," Misha said.

"Wouldn't that be too confusing?" Hollie asked.

"I suppose.. how about G?"

"Come over my house tonight and we'll discuss this," Hollie said, inviting her friend.

"Oh yes, I forgot. You dropped this early morning," Misha said, handing her the object she dropped in the morning. The hand.

Hollie backed away from it for about a mile and Misha giggled.

"Scared of a tiny hand? It wants you, you know," she said.

"Eww... it's moving! Get it away from me..." Hollie whined.

"But, it wants you..." Misha said.

"I don't want to.. it will want anything it can get.."

"Can you please consider this doll's hand's feelings?"

"It has feelings?" Hollie asked, shocked.

"Of course," Misha said with a smile.

"Oh.. alright," Hollie said, bravely inching closer.

She grabbed a handkerchief and covered it as much as she can. Then she placed it in her bag, at the most edge pocket.

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"Alright, kiddo! Tonight's the night I get to steal again!" Dark hollered inside Ryu's head.

"Take it easy," he thought back.

"Where's Hollie?" he asked.

"Went home early with her friend,"

"Is she cute?"

"Dunno.. I only saw her once," Ryu said.

"Can I ask you something? Why are you always asking for Hollie?" Ryu asked.

"Nothing in particular.."

"Sure..."

Ryu went inside the house to see three girls in the kitchen. He looked around to see Hollie, and two girls who looked identical except for their age. Seems like their age gap was about 3 yrs.

"Hello," he said, making his presence known.

"Oh hi, brother! I want you to meet my new friends!" she said cheerfully.

Both sisters stood up and bowed their head.

"This is Misha Hinoto," Hollie started, introducing her to a girl about his age, "and this is Mayura, her sister."

"Hello," they said and bowed their heads one more time.

Ryu looked at Mayura and then started blushing. Was it love at first sight?

"Get out, kid! Now!" Dark yelled and Ryu rushed to his room, locked it and look at the mirror.

He saw his reflection as Dark instead of his self.

"What happened?" Ryu asked.

"DNA trigger. I usually come out when love comes in. That's why Daisuke's always mad at me when he sees the twins," Dark explained.

"How did mom and dad cope with that?" Ryu asked.

"Well, Daisuke and Riku fell in love with one another, and that's how I left, waiting for the next generation, which is you-" Dark began and suddenly realized his mistake.

"Are you.. no.. you aren't! Ryu.. I'm too young to leave!" Dark whined.

"Well.. if Mayura fell in love with me, then I can't help it. You just have to go bai-bai!" Ryu explained, "unless I find another person to fall in love with."

"I hate you! I'll make your life miserable!"

"Do that and I'll make yours miserable as well!"

"Ryu! At 7 ok?" Emiko yelled from below.

"What's at seven, grandma?" Hollie asked as the three head up towards Hollie's room after having snacks.

"Oh, I want to go out with him somewhere," she said.

"Oh alright! Imma go out at seven with my friends too grandma, is that ok?"

"Sure, just be back before 10," she said and left.

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"Alright, guys. Now what?" Hollie asked.

"I found the next butterfly," Mayura began and took out a jewel. A girl suddenly appeared in it.

"Do we know her?" Misha asked.

"Nope, just a random person with a butterfly. I talked to her this afternoon before coming here. She desire for the Angelic Sapphire," she described.

"Lucky it wasn't what Dark was targetting," Misha sighed.

"What does he want?" Hollie asked, needing more information.

"I'm not sure.. but it's red and right beside the angelic sapphire. I saw it in the news," Misha said.

"Am I the only one who doesn't watch the news?" Hollie stated in a form of a rhetorical question.

"Alright, back to business... where is this sapphire located?"

"At the museum outside of Tokyo..." Mayura answered.

"That far!" Hollie said, surprised if she can make it home by 10 by then.

"Yep..." Mayura said, flipping magazines.

"So where's the girl?" Misha asked.

"Somewhere near that museum,"

"How'd you talked to her then?" Hollie asked.

"Teleported," she answered.

"Wow.. geez.. the Hinoto family sure has such powers," she said.

"Wait until you meet the triplets," Misha said calmly, amused to see her new friend shocked.

"Triplets! How many are you guys?" she asked.

"6" both said in unison.

"Wow.. hopefully I get to meet you all! Well, it's 6:30. guess I better get going before 8," she said and stood up.

"Oh yeah! Hollie... there's 3 things that can bring Gem out, so careful," Mayura said.

"What are they?"

"One, when she feel a butterfly infront of her, like last night, and second, when you touch the bite mark she made," Misha explained as Hollie placed her hands in her chest.

"What's the third?" she asked.

"Love and affection," Mayura answered.

"Meaning?"

"Well, let's say your family's in trouble.. she'll half way come out.. and when someone's in really in danger.. she'll-"

"Mayura, that's enough," Misha said and stood up to tend Hollie.

Hollie looked at each of them. She really hated it when people are trying to keep an important information from her. But there's no helping it. She can't force them to speak and she might have regreted it later when she knew.. if she ever come to that part...

"Here," Misha walked towards her, handing her the hand, "you'll be needing this today."

"Thanks," Hollie said and accepted the hand without fear.

"Alright, I'm off," she smiled.

Mickiz Notes:

It's a long chapter once again! I'm so sorry! But I need to clear things up from the last chapter since I rushed the ending. I am placing two chapters!

Next Chapter:

Roses of Victory Part 2

Continuation of the part where they are heading towards the museum!

Disclaimer:

I don't own Dn Angel. The rest are mine though...

P.S: Misha's character is someone you can relate to Hanajima from Fruits Basket

Please review! It will always give me the courage to write some more chapters, knowing that there are people who actually read it.

Yours truly,

Mickiz