A/N: Thanks Skilhv for the wonderful constructive criticism! :D I hope this chapter clears some of the vague ideas I left in the previous chapter.
SUPER EFFING LATE NOTE EDIT: I'm effing irritated at myself. Seriously. It's been so long.
OOC Explanation: I know you guys might have been wondering why the F Reborn, Skull, Mammon and Verde are a bit 'off' character. Actually, this is entirely AU people, AU. So it could possibly mean that their personas might have little glitches. But I'm doing my best to keep them in character though. I just can't find the right expression, especially with the occupations that I have put to them. Don't worry; I'll keep them in check. ^_^
THE RAINBOW'S GUIDANCE
© Danielle Luna Soulhart
November 2012
GUIDE # 4.5: Knowing more
Luce was in a good mood and she was having a taste of great amusement at the sight that she was seeing right now.
In front of her were two of the most stubborn people in the world: Skull and Reborn.
It was lunch time when her source of entertainment came. Surprisingly enough, the actor and the professor came in together; both with a pair of creased eyebrows and when they sat on their chairs, and did identical crossed arms at the same time. The other occupants were surprised at the action but didn't elicit any word or reaction that might cause ruckus at a very fine hour. There was only one reason for it, and that was the sight of a very familiar child who was currently gobbling food in his wake.
"I told you guys, he'll return here." Luce said as-a-matter-of-factly. She wiped off the smears of cream from the dirty child's face and chuckled.
Skull and Reborn were beyond pissed. They simply couldn't understand why their boss got so interested in the dirty child, when there were hundreds of children in the orphanage that she could pay attention to. Although to Skull's perspective, he really didn't like the idea of Luce taking care of kids or adopting one. Aside from preventing her experience the same pain years ago, he generally couldn't stand children. As for Reborn, it was simple: he doesn't like children not because of their existence, but because of their weakness. They were troublesome, weak at heart, and carefree. And it will not be their fault if the children lurking around the streets got killed because of one: their stupidity; and two: their stupid parents' stupid irresponsibility excuse.
The other occupants in the room made no comment at what Luce said. Fon and Colonnello tried to steal the child's attention away from the food but it was futile. Lal was growling at Colonnello for bothering the child. Viper was busy counting her finances. Verde was scribbling down at his notebook (although his ears were partly listening since he was interested in taking the child as his live experiment). The dining hall was relatively silent since only Luce, Fon and Colonello were the ones talking, while Lal on occasional bursts when her pathetic student tried flirting with her again. The child was nothing but a mixture of dirt and creamy mess, and Luce couldn't help but giggle.
After like seemingly long eating hours, Luce decided to take the child to the bath. As usual, the child made no fearful expressions instead his curiosity on the things that Luce kept holding increased. Luce chuckled and wanted the child to hold the things she held, but she needed to make things faster so that the child wouldn't get cold and get sick from it. After fifteen minutes, she took the child out, dried him, and gave him a new set of clothing. This time around, it fitted him nicely.
And it seemed that the bath calmed the child out, so he fell asleep in Luce's room. Luce smiled and placed pillows around him to make sure he wouldn't fall off the bed. Then she left.
Luce really didn't expect the other occupants of the house to stay in the dining hall after lunch. The dining table was clean and Viper had already taken care of the washing. Then the rest were silent. She sat down and looked at everyone before releasing that sigh.
"You know there is a reason why I decided to look after that child." She started.
Seven pairs of ears listened, although only Fon and Colonnello were looking at her, eager to hear what she was trying to reach out.
Luce smiled at her two friends before continuing, "That boy reminded me of everything; of how one should be living with a smile on his face. It also reminded me of the cruelty of the world and that children like him should be taken care of."
"If you know those, Luce, then you should have thought otherwise!" Reborn spat. He was not going to bend to her wishes.
"I know that, Reborn." Luce said. "But you seem don't understand. That boy is pure. If he was a member of some syndicate or someone forced him to go here, do you think we're still here, talking?"
Reborn didn't reply, but he snarled at Luce's statements. But what made him thoroughly think was this:
"When you met him for the first time, Reborn, did you ever feel threat? The child merely stole because he was hungry. Did he do anything more to you?"
The others thought about that too. Reborn was a very strong person and without a blink, he could kill. He didn't become one of the topnotch gunners for nothing. Reborn could have killed the child on the spot. On the other hand, if the child was anything dangerous, even though Reborn was strong, the child could still have left scratch marks before getting killed. But here Reborn was, unscathed, and the child was the only one with injuries when he came into the household.
"Not to mention," Fon broke the silence, putting his crossed arms on the table, "The child seemed to possess terrible injuries. I saw it the time I had the chance to get close to him." Then he looked at Luce and smiled sadly, "That child is also a victim of this harsh world. And we, being capable people, must at least try to alleviate his suffering."
"But that child will cause us problems!" Viper exclaims. She was afraid of losing the money that all of them have worked hard for. She was afraid that when people found out that they have been keeping a child, he will become a key so that outsiders will be able to get to them.
"You don't know that." Colonnello mumbled. He knew he wouldn't win against Viper. She has an ability to foretell future. But, saying those words made him pity the child. It was not easy to live in the streets all by yourself, without knowing the reason why your parents just suddenly disappeared without notice. He looked at Viper who was fuming and said, "You can't just tell that, Viper. People are different from each other."
"That's not true!" Skull exclaimed. The other Arcobaleno stared at him in surprise. Skull was one not to show this kind of behavior even though he was being bullied for so many times already. "People are all the same, Colonnello! Even those brats! They are all evil!" He said until his voice became softer, like a sob, "They are…evil. I hate kids." The others knew how hard it was for Skull. Ever since he was a kid, they knew how hard Skull endured the harsh treatment of everyone. It was just a good thing that he tolerated the teasing and insults of Reborn and Colonnello. He hated kids because it did mirror him, but there was a deeper reason why he hated them.
Reborn and Colonnello simultaneously smacked Skull at the back of his head. "Idiota. That was a lame excuse, lackey." Reborn said, adjusting his fedora down. Even though he was harsh to Skull, he was one of the people who kept on saving the actor from bullies when they were young.
"I hate to say this but Reborn is right, kora." Colonnello seconded. Crossing his arms, he huffed and looked to the side, continuing, "People are different in their own right, kora. They might have done the same thing, but their reasons are different. Their personalities are different. So, that means that whatever life they have lived are also different from the others."
Verde was just sitting silent as the others conversed. He thought that it was a useless waste of brain cells to join this kind of conversation. What mattered to him was to have that child be his live experiment. After all, he was giving the kid a life, no, more like a purpose as to why his dumb parents let him live in this cruel world.
Luce looked at the party and she couldn't help but smile. Even though that they were now debating whether to help the child or not, it was a refreshing sight to see that they were together, sitting at the dining hall and talking. This was one of the rare days, indeed. But, things must end accordingly and so, she laid down her final ace.
"I saw something in that child." She said, bringing the others to silence. She smiled sadly and continued, "When I had my miscarriage, I was devastated. You all know that. It was as if my life stopped when my little girl died inside my womb. I blamed myself for being careless and getting kidnapped, being the result of my miscarriage." But then, instead of crying, she sighed and her smile turned a shade brighter, "When I saw that child, I felt at ease. His eyes held something. I thought that it would be a waste if he'll just stay out in the streets, or if not, will stay by all himself in the orphanage." Then she chuckled, "Although it's not a guarantee that he will stay in the orphanage as well. But, really, if we couldn't get him, we could always help him. It's all I ask. Just to help him. We wouldn't know, one day, this child might help us greatly."
The whole household fell into silence, weighing the pros and cons of what Luce told them. For Fon and Colonnello, they have no objections on taking care of the child. From that small interaction, they thought that the child was not a problematic child, except on the fact that the child had great escaping abilities. For the others, especially Reborn, they couldn't help but feel conflicted on the situation since they have witnessed many kidnappings that almost put Luce on the death row. True, Fon and Colonnello witnessed kidnappings too, but the others were simply overprotective of Luce.
Reborn huffed and glared Luce, then stood, saying, "I won't be responsible for what will happen in the future, Luce. He's your charge."
Luce's eyes widen at what Reborn said and watched him walk away. Fon smiled and Colonnello grinned, exclaiming, "Yatta!"
Skull didn't like any of these, but this was Luce talking. He didn't want to see her sad just like before. He couldn't take the sight of Luce crying everyday as she reminisced that ungrateful moment, which took away her child's life. He stood as well and he said, "As long as that kid will stay away from me, we'll have no problems."
Luce chuckled in a low tone to hide the tears of joy that was threatening to fall down on her cheeks. She nodded and watched Skull go.
Viper was still fuming, although she found relief when she tried looking onto the future, there was no danger coming. But it didn't mean that she'll accept the child. "Whatever. You owe me for this, Luce. And the child owes me too with interest." She said and walked away.
Fon and Colonnello sighed. Viper was so thrifty and greedy when it came to money. But for Luce, money was nothing compared to the fact that she could keep the child now.
And there was Verde who was about to speak, but even before the doctor could speak, Fon and Colonnello were already looking at him. Fon sighed and spoke, "Verde, your mind works like crazy. Don't ever think of experimenting on the poor kid."
"If Verde experiments on the poor child," Luce started, eyes gleaming dangerously at Verde, whose sweat fell in time, "I shall destroy your cultured microorganisms."
Because of that declaration, Verde hastily stood from his seat, fixed his glasses and picked up his things, "But of course, Luce." He said, knowing that it would be very dangerous if he displeased Luce. With a soft huff of breath, he turned his heel and went to his room to prepare.
"You can be really scary sometimes, Luce." Fon commented as he amusingly watched Verde's retreating form.
Luce laughed. "It's entertaining that way."
Colonnello snorted, "Seriously, Luce, you can be surprisingly unpredictable."
"Like the sky." Fon finished and chuckled, then he drank his remaining tea and stood, "Well, I should go."
"Take care, Fon. Say hi to I-pin for me, will you?" Luce said sweetly, watching Fon nod and bow in front of her before leaving.
"Heh. Fon is always the calmly reserved one." Colonnello remarked, making Luce smile and nod, and stood. "I should get going. I have to see my minions' progress."
Luce chuckled and stood as well, "Don't be too harsh on them, Colonnello."
Colonnello grinned and waved a hand before running upstairs to prepare for the day.
Luce smiled. She was thankful that finally she could take care of the poor child. There were many things that she wanted to know about the child. She could feel tremendous mystery shrouding the tyke and she had this weird tingling sensation that the child was far more than what he was right now. She shrugged and stood, gathered all the teacups and went to the kitchen to wash the cups.
Time would tell them who the child was.
She chuckled. She was excited.
A/N: Ah, this is rather short, but all I wanted to show here was the feeling that the Arcobaleno are keeping. I think this is to clear things up from the previous chapter? I am not so sure though. Hahaha. Oh well, there are still chapters to wait for and I am terribly sorry for not updating sooner.