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Hullo!

Erm...hullo? Why don't I just say 'hello' like every other human being? Oh, right, I'm mot any regular human being. I'm insane. So... I'm going to continue this fic just because I love Mush and he is my favourite newsboy. (Bet you all thought it was Spottie, but nope. Mush.)

So... many thanks to everyone who reviewed!

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Disclaimer:

Do I look like I own Newsies? If I did, I wouldn't be writing fan fiction, trust me. lol. Don't sue me, just don't. If you do, you won't get too much money. You might get about a buck, which is about all I own right now.

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Mush and Raelyn didn't even bother running all the way to Tibby's. They pretty much walked there, holding hands.

Raelyn was smiling, even though there wasn't really to much to be smiling about. Mush just walked quietly beside her quietly, the whole time trying to think of what he should say. What if I asked her if she was really blind. No. That wouldn't work. I'd sound like a jerk. What if...

His thoughts were interupted by Raelyn's soft voice. "Yes, I'm blind."

Mush looked up as if startled. "Huh?"

"You were wondering if I was blind, weren't you?" Raelyn asked.

"Yeah," Mush admitted. They walked on in silence.
"It's not a bad thing. Well, it isn't as bad as everyone says. I'm not upset by it. Sure, sometimes I hate not being able to see. But God doesn't give us more than we can handle. I can handle being blind. It's not that being blind bothers me, Mush, it's that it bothers other people. I don't want to be treated differently from any other girl. I still want to love and be loved in return..." Raelyn admitted.
Mush nodded, trying to understand. "Were you always, ya know, blind?"
Raelyn shook her head. "No. I was born with perefect eyesite. I had clear, deep blue eyes. Blue like the rain that falls from the sky."
"So, do you like the rain?" Mush asked.
"I love the rain. I always have. It's almost like it is washing away your troubles," Raelyn whispered. Her mind drifted back to a time when she had her eyesite. A few years ago. I was thirteen then...
The summer rain fell freely from the sky and soaked her skin. It formed puddles around her bare feet, soaked her once curly red hair. Her blue eyes danced and held an impish glow. Like that of a child. A smirk played at the corner of her pale lips.
Her feet danced to the sound of the rain. She danced freely, not caring if anyone saw her.
Her faded blue dress stuck to her legs and arms. She rolled the sleeves up and saw the scars on her arms. Deep and dark. She pulled the sleeves back down over the marks and shuddered.
Please let me forget this. She pleaded silently. Help me get away from him.
Her pleas were lost to the rain. But she tried to forget the pain. At least for the moment. The rain brought a calming effect on her. She sat down and allowed it to soak her. Mind and spirit.
A moment later, pounding footsteps echoed all around her.
"I TOLD YOU NOT TO LEAVE THE HOUSE!" A man's voice was yelling. She covered her ears and tried to ignore the voice that screamed at her.
"DO YOU HEAR ME! I SAID YOU NEED TO GO HOME!" he yelled. She began to shake. She covered her ears, shut her eyes tight. "GET UP AND GO!" He yelled at the skaking form. She didn't budge. "GET OFF YOUR ARSE AND GO!" he hollared, raising his hand threatening to slap her. No move. She shuddered at the impact of the hit. It was more of a punch really... She got up and wiped tears that threatened to pour from her eyes. She turned roughly on her heel and headed home. The man walking behind her making crude comments.

"It was raining the day I lost my eyesite..."
"How did it happen?" Mush asked. He loved a story.
"I warn you, it isn't pleasant..." Raelyn whispered.
"You can tell me," Mush reassured her.
Raelyn paused, but began to speak. "It happened the same day..." Mush didn't understand what she meant at first, but listened attentively to what she had to say.
"I had just gotten home. And he was angry...
'What were you thinking! Someone could have taken you!' He yelled. Secretly she wished someone would have taken her. Taken her back to her real home...her family.
'I wish they had taken me,' she whispered aloud. It was pure accident, but he didn't know that.
'You! You...YOU DEMON! After all I have done for you!' he hollared. She began to cry. 'STOP CRYING!' He hissed. He slapped her across the face again. She just continued to cry. He jabbed her eyes with his fingers, shoving them in the most painful manner.
She screamed in anguish. 'It hurts!' He immediately realized that he had hurt the girl, he called for a house doctor. The man said there was nothing that could be done, unless it healed on its own. He gave her vile medicine. 'This should heal it,' he explained. She took the medicine every day, swallowing it's vile taste.
Yet, something went wrong in the healing process, she became blind. Something formed inside her eye. And she could see nothing but darkness. The man, upon realizing it was all his fault, kicked her out. He shoved her into the streets. He wanted nothing to do with the useless girl.
Hegave her a cane. It had broken the day Mush had found her. That was why she was sitting alone on the walk. She was too afraid to move. But Mush came, and she found a sense of security in his voice. It reminded her of safety. So she went with him.
"And here we are," She sighed. Mush pulled her into a hug. " I'm sorry," he whispered. "Did he...hurt you? Alot?"
Raelyn nodded. "Every day. We had what he called 'Beating Sessions'. I would sit down and he would hit me and whip me. Once he even stabbed me. I had a brother, too. I don't know where he went. I can't even remember his real name. I always called him Savior, since he would often times stop the sessions. The man stabbed one of my brothers eyes out and one night he managed to sneak out. He never came back."
"He's missing an eye?" Mush asked.
"Yeah. It's really too bad that both of us are blind in a way," Raelyn said. By now the two were standing outside Tibby's.
"Still hungry?" Mush asked, still standing in the rain.
"Kind of." Raelyn smiled.
"Well then, M'lady. Let's go eat." Mush matched her smile with a grin.
Raelyn ordered a water and soup. Mush got a hotdog and a small glass of beer.
Raelyn quirked an eyebrow at the beer. Mush shrugged. "We drink it alot at the lodging house. Habbits die hard."
The two sat in a booth by the window while they waited for their food. Raelyn took to listening to the rain as it fell.
"It sounds so pretty," She whispered. Mush nodded.
"I wish I could see it..." she mused. "I wish I could see you..."
Mush smirked. She was so pretty...
"Raelyn, could I maybe...please... if you don't mind, give you a nickname?" Mush asked awkwardly. Raelyn smiled. "I'd love a nickname."
"How does Rain sound?" Mush asked.
"I love it. Very pretty," She said.
"Like you." Mush whispered to himself. Just then the waitress came over.
"Here's your food. Enjoy," She replied. She turned to leave and Mush handed her a nickel.
"Thank you so much!" She exclaimed, her voice happy and excited.
"No problem." Mush looked across the table at Rain who was struggling to find her spoon. Mush handed it to her, and helped her with the soup.
"It's hot!" Rain exclaimed, dropping she spoon.
"Just give it a moment to cool, then," Mush said lightly. Rain nodded. She sipped her water slowly. Just then, the Delancey's entered.
"Well well well what have we here..." Oscar mused, staring Rain up and down.
"Back off, Oscar!" Mush hissed.
"Awww. It's little Miguel. Who is your friend?" Morris asked.
"Rain. Leave her alone! Or else!" Mush warned.
"What are you going to do about it?" Oscar inquired. In truth, Mush didn't know what he would do.
Oscar turned his attention back to Rain. "That's what I thought. C'mon, Toots. We'll show ya around."
He grabbed her and pulled her out of Tibby's.
"Mush!" Rain exclaimed. "Help!"
Mush jumped up and intended to sock Oscar, but he was caught by Morris. "Time to play." Morris grinned wickedly. He grabbed Mush roughly and pulled him outside.
"Why don't we see what Oscar is doing," Morris suggested. He pulled Mush roughly into the alleyway. Oscar was kissing Rain roughly. Mush could hear Rain's muffled screams and cries for help.
"LET HER GO! YOU'RE HURTING HER! " Mush hissed. Morris got into Mush's face. His breath smelt strongly of beer. "What are you going to do to make us let her go?"
Mush thought for a moment, before kneeing Morris hard. Morris' grip only tightened. "That wasn't a good idea." He hissed. He punched Mush in the eye. Then before Mush could even react to that, Morris punched him again, this time just randomly in the face. He punched Mush over and over and over. Mush grimaced and let the blood flow from his face.
"C'mon, Morris. I'm taking her with me..." Oscar was saying, holding Rain tightly. Morris dropped Mush. And, with a final kick in Mush's gut, he followed Oscar out of the alleyway.
"Rain..." Mush whispered. "I'm coming..." He tried to get up, but he was too dizzy. He fell onto the ground, hitting his head on the cold, hard pavement. Consciousness slipped from his grasp.
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Rain was being dragged through the streets roughly by Oscar. "STOP! YOU'RE HURTING ME!" she cried.
"Shut up, Pretty Girl." Morris commanded. Rain kicked furiously. "LET ME GO!"
She was furiously trying to break free from Oscar's painful grasp. After a long time of kicking, screaming, and hitting him repeatedly, she managed to slip out of his grasp. She didn't know where to go, and all she saw was blackness. She ran towards the first noise she heard. Hoping, somehow, by some weird twist of fate, that she would end up back safe with Mush.
A moment later, she felt a hard impact and lots of pain. Screams were coming from all over. It hurt so bad...
Mush where are you?
Suddenly, she heard screams and cries to 'get out of the way' and 'watch out!' but she heard them too late. A moment later, the impact hit. Pain surged through her. She couldn't see what had just happened. The pain began increase and her will decrease. Until finally, she felt and saw nothing.
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Shout outs:

Kaitins:
Glad you like it! Yeah, I realized that. This chapter should help you understand a tad bit better. Most of the time though, Mush was leading her around. Hope this chapter is okay! R&R!

Garen Ruy Maxwell:
Hehe. I'll remember that. I'm working on getting up chapter five of Cracks in the Picture Window. R&R!

KittyKatGoil:

Ahahahaha! Cute. I love the hitmen. ((grins)) Hope you keep reading! R&R!

Cinnamon Spice:

Well, Mush's name can't be Nick, at least not in this story. Since this story takes place in 1899, Nick isn't a name that would be used. Nick is too modern. Back then that name was never used. As for Parker being the last name for Kid Blink, I've heard it used alot before, So I'm just supporting a tradition. What is his real last name? Glad you like it. Sorry if I offended you or anything. I didn't mean to. R&R

ElleestJenn:

I love reader support. ((smiles)) R&R!

madmbutterfly:

Well, it is all how you look at it I suppose... And yes, I used Miguel. I've heard it used many a time, and since it is a name they would use back then, I thought I would use it. Oops. I knew it was Constructice Criticism. R&R!

Splashey:

Yay! Glad you think that this story seems good. I hope it gets better. Right now...I dunno. This chapter isn't really to my liking. I think I might re-write it...hrm... R&R!

RileyHiggins:

((grins)) That makes me happy! Glad you like it. And that is kinda weird... but I hope you review again. R&R!

Mom:

Hehehe. Yes, almost all of my stories are newsies. ((innocent grin)) I love newsies. Love ya! R&R!

SadBeauty-Dot:

Hehe. Thank you. yay! someone who likes the story! ((parties)) R&R!

Ginevrathenewself:

Well, I haven't really had any new ideas lately. This is the only idea I came up with. (See, I had this whole huge plan for this story, then I forgot all about it. So at the moment, I'm trying remember the idea.) R&R!

Chapter end! Next one will be longer. Hope you all enjoyed it. I'm trying to explain Raelyn's past and things a bit more. Sorry if it's a bit etchy and there are alot of spelling errors. Spell check is still down. :(
R&R!
--GiNnY--