Tracing the Outline
Update!
Reese flicked Maniac off as she exited the room, making an angry Maniac chase after her, with Jason and Robin close behind.
Sasuke tossed a glare over to Gaara, who at the time was staring curiously at his hands.
The sound of shattering glass echoed through the room, startling Gaara somewhat.
"I'm gonna-" Sasuke started.
But Gaara was already half way down the hall.
…
As they both entered the medical room they found that a near by vase had shattered. Naruto was on his knee's picking up the pieces when Sasuke snapped at him.
"What did you do?"
"Nothing."
"It wasn't him. I just wasn't expecting him to come in, and the vase sorta broke," Raven said skeptically.
"Uh, yeah, what she said."
"So what's going on downtown?" Raven asked, changing the subject.
"I'm not-"
Before Sasuke could finish his sentence, the window shattered.
"What the?"
"Look," Naruto pointed. "A shuriken."
Sasuke stared at the small knife jutting out of the wall. "There's something written on-"
Sasuke's eye's widened. "It's a-"
KABOOM!
Sasuke was throne back into the wall. The 2nd hospital bed flipped over and landed on Gaara, shoving him onto the other bed with Raven.
The bed collapsed under the combined weight slammed into the ground. The sound of the crash rattled the medicine cabinet, causing it to topple over on top of the 2.
Naruto was sent sliding across the floor into the fallen medicine cabinet. The wood rattled and a piece of the ceiling collapsed onto the group.
KABOOM!
The wall exploded with enough force to blow a chunk the cabinet off of Raven, crashing into the wall, with her close behind.
Raven groaned as she propped her self up with her elbows. It had all happened so fast. She couldn't have protected herself if she tried. Getting to her knees she tried to get to her feet. Her arms wobbled and gave way, sending her crashing to the floor. She felt a tingling sensation in her arm that wasn't there before. Moving her hand to her other arm, she found a large gash leading up to her elbow.
She was bleeding heavily. Raven gritted her teeth as she tried to heal her arm. Blue light swept over the room and her arm stopped bleeding.
The room was a disaster. Flames shot and burned everything it touched. Glass was scattered all over the floor. The roof was ready to heave and crush them all. But still, she tried to get up.
These people had saved her life once or twice, it was time to return the favor.
She desperately scrambled to Sasuke, only to see he was just unconscious. Naruto had a slight wound in his leg, enabling him from moving.
Raven grasped his leg and healed it quickly. "Get up," she muttered.
Her eyes madly dashed about the room. Gaara? Where was he? Was he still under the medicine cabinet?
Raven forced her powers to lift the cabinet a foot above the ground before it collapsed again. Sweat poured over her brow as the flames from the explosion crackled in her ears. The heat was intense, burning her every fiber. She needed to get out now.
Raven tried again with her powers. Yet she was still unable to move anything. The heat was getting to her. She felt weak. She shouldn't have tried her healing powers before. And now because she had, they were all going to die.
Raven eased herself to her feet and trudged slowly to the cabinet. She had to find Gaara. The sand should have protected him from the explosion. He should be able to help. But where was he? Was the fire getting to him to?
With the last of her energy, Raven gave an effortless shove to the cabinet. She couldn't do it. Every shred of her being was telling her to give up.
Another explosion sent Raven into the wall. The cabinet blew off Gaara with ease, and was sent hurtling into Raven. Her head jerked back from the impact into the wall and tossed her into unconsciousness.
…
"Hurry up with the medicine."
She was somewhere cold. The air was thick and heavy. Her head was pounding with an unimaginable force. Her body felt weak and stiff, as if bricks were piled on her. What was this place? Where was she now?
There was a sharp tinge in her cheek, then a loud whirling noise that wouldn't stop. Her head throbbed under pressure, yet her body somehow felt lighter, and the heat of the fire came spinning back. Then the weight was back, and so was the cold.
What was happening? Where was she? She tried to open her eyes, but she was so weak, so tired, she just didn't have the strength.
"What's wrong with her?"
Reese?
"Dunno. But she's sweating up a storm. And this ice is not helping the wounds."
Maniac?
"You're doing it wrong!"
"Move."
Again Raven tried to open her eyes. Yet she could only see the fuzzy outline of Maniac's face several inches away, with Reese standing behind her. Everything else was a blur. "Your visions going to be a little jacked up. Since you've been asleep for 3 days and all. You're like, all tired."
"3 days?" she said as loud as she could. 3 days? That was- Cough.
"Now your going to have a coughing fit. You inhaled some soot during that fire; it's going to be hard to talk for like a week. You got some 3rd degree burns. Nothing too serious. Didn't help your arm any though.
Miracle if you can ever be a righty again. And when you like hit your head or something, it hit a nerve and now your powers have been on the frits, probably be better in about a week, or 4.
And your ankles twisted, so you're not going to be able to walk on it. And you've got some pretty bad cuts, they're somewhat infected from the debris from the fire. They should heal up in a couple of days though. And we've tried ice, but it's not workin."
Maniac poked Raven's arm with a smirk. Raven hissed in pain.
"Thought we lost you there bud. After Gaara got you out of there, you had a meltdown. Think you'll be okay now though."
Maniac turned for the door and sighed. "Damn her to hell, Reese ditched me." Maniac dug her heel into the ground and rubbed the back of her head anxiously.
"Oh, and your buddies are okay to. Your- cough- boyfriend- has been in here for the past 3 days. He's asleep right now in the other room. I'll tell him you said hi ya."
Raven nodded. "Wait. But-"
"Chill. I took care of the whole demon sleep problem thingy. I'm a miracle worker, not an idiot. You get some sleep now."
Raven nodded and eased back into the hospital bed.
"Cause I don't want to lose you to this guy," Maniac mumbled.
…
"What are we going to do about this?" Reese questioned. "4 people were here and all this happened. I am not redoing the med lab again."
"Yeah, as fun as that was, uh no," Beastboy said tiredly.
"I told you what has to be done," Sasuke said simply. "We have to go back to Konoha. There's over 1000 ninja's there, we'll be able to give Raven better protection, especially now since-" Sasuke touched his neck. "Since the curse mark has appeared on her neck."
"What is it exactly? The curse mark I mean?" Maniac queered.
"It's a mark Orochimaru puts on your neck I'm not exactly sure what it's for, but if you get angry or something, then it can take over."
"Sounds like Trigon. When Raven would have any strong emotion, Trigon could exploit it and control her," Maniac said to herself.
"Others in the village have the curse mark, they could help," Sasuke continued.
"Then I guess we're going to Japan," Gerard added.
"Road trip!" Maniac and Reese cried.
…
"Miss Suzy had a steamboat
That steamboat had a sail
Miss Suzy went to heaven
The steamboat went to
Hello Operator
Give me number nine
And if you disconnect me
I'll kick you from
Behind-"
"You guys done singing?" Jason asked Maniac and Reese hopefully.
"Who's flying this plane?" Maniac questioned.
"You are."
"Who built this plane?"
"You did."
"Who knows where the parachutes are?"
"You do."
"Exactly, I'm not done singing."
"To bad, we're there," Naruto claimed, pointing out the front window.
"I don't see nothing."
"Down there," Naruto pointed.
"What?" Reese cried. "Why didn't you say that 5 minutes ago?"
"Now we got to circle around and try again," Jason sighed.
"Nope," Maniac said, handing her brother a parachute.
"We're gonna jump?" Jason exclaimed.
"Yep. Everyone grab your carry-on's, back packs, and anything you can carry. When this thing makes contact, we're all dead."
Maniac pulled on her parachute and then went in search of goggles. "Well I'm going first," she said enthusiastically, securing the goggles over her eyes.
"I'm not jumping out of this plane," Raven shrieked. "What about-"
"You'll be fine," Maniac said, referring to her arm.
"Who's flying this thing anyway?" Beastboy cried.
Maniac turned back to the cockpit and frowned. The door had been shut, and knowing Maniac it probably locked from the inside. With no one to fly it the plane gave a sudden jerk, and Maniac raced to the door. Reese beat her there and started shoving her friend out of the way for the right to jump first.
"It was going to crash anyway why are you fighting me?" Maniac cried.
Jason flung the door open and pushed them both out with him close behind.
Gerard and Greg jumped next with Beastboy flying away in the form of a bird. Starfire floated out the door of the falling plane with Robin at hand. Cyborg grabbed the closest parachute and jumped. Naruto shot out of the plane with Sasuke close behind, both wanting to get out of the plane as fast as possible.
"I'm not jumping out of this thing," Raven said stubbornly. "My powers aren't working, if the parachute fails then this isn't going to end well."
"If you don't then when the plane meets the ground you'll die," Gaara said calmly. "I'll jump with you. If anything happens, the sand will protect us."
Raven nodded skeptically. Gaara wrapped his arms around her waist and fell out of the plane backwards with Raven in his arms.
Raven held tightly with her arms wrapped around his back. Her head rested on his chest lovingly as they hurtled towards the ground. The wind whistled in her ears in a deafening way as they plunged. Her hair whipped around her face, and the air stung her skin.
Gaara pulled the string to the parachute quickly as they came close to the ground. They were jerked back as the wind caught the fabric and they were lifted slightly back up in the air before they continued their decent to the ground.
And for a moment, they were floating, as if all the past pain had been lifted. And for a second, Raven felt as if she was someone different. Someone like Maniac, without a care in the world. Just floating, together in each other's arms. Just her and Gaara. As if it was meant to be.
But time doesn't last forever, and neither does perfect moments. As soon as it had started, they had touched the ground.
…
In a matter of minutes the group was standing outside the gates of the village. Maniac turned and gave the titans a once look over. She wasn't going to stand out like usual. This was an undercover mission, no one was to know who they were, if they ever could know. Maybe American news didn't get to Japan.
Maniac looked to Raven, who had changed into regular clothes like the rest of the titans. She was now in tight black Capri's and a black tank top with a sleeveless jacket that came down to the top of her belly button. She was now riding piggyback on Gaara's back with her legs wrapped around his waist and her arms around his neck.
Her ankle had not gotten any better thanks to the jump.
Beastboy was forced to wear long sleeved clothes and a high collar to hide his skin color. He ended up with a brown trench coat and black slacks. He was going for a suspicious detective look.
Cyborg had slipped on his ring and turned into stone. He was in a regular pair of jeans and a blue t-shirt.
Starfire on the other hand had only changed her mini skirt in for jeans. Other than that, she had done nothing with her appearance.
And last was Robin. He too had refused to change his costume. Which pissed Maniac off badly.
Maniac gave a crude glare at Robin and motioned for everyone to follow her. With one push she was able to make the 50-foot doors fling open, scaring several people in the process. "Table for 14," she said jokingly.
Naruto took the lead of the group as they headed to the heart of the village. Gaara and Raven were bringing up the rear, with Raven resting her head on top of his. She had nodded off several minutes after they had gotten to the ground. Evidentially the excitement was a little too much for her in her current condition.
He had that feeling again. He still wasn't sure what it was. Was this really love? He had saved her life several times now, and he was paying extra attention to her. He was always thinking about her, and worried for her health, which wasn't to great right now. Was this love? Caring for someone like this. Was this what love felt like?
"Gaara!" Maniac called. "Pick up the pace, after this we're getting some food. I'm dying of starvation."
Many people in the village gave the group dirty looks as they passed by. And many of the children giggled when they saw Gaara with Raven on his back.
They were soon standing outside the Hokage's office. "Wait here. Wait here," Naruto said excitedly.
"I want to come!" Maniac cried.
"I'm gonna go, I'm special," Reese shouted.
"Special Ed."
"Shut up."
"You shut up ass wipe."
"Butt munch."
Maniac shot her hand forward and jabbed it into Reese's stomach.
Reese reached for Maniac's earrings and pulled. Maniac did the same, and soon enough, they were both on the floor with a cloud of dust picking up around them.
SLAM!
Both girls stopped abruptly as a woman that seemed to be in her mid twenties stepped out into the hall with an angry glare piercing the crowd before them.
Maniac kicked Reese in the head as they tried to untangle themselves. Reese tugged on Maniac's earlobe in return.
"Owe!" Maniac shrieked. She grabbed a chuck of Reese's hair and pulled hard. Reese smacked Maniac across the face angrily. Maniac popped Reese in the jaw.
"Cat fight!" Jason cried.
"STOP!"
The girls broke apart and shot up on their feet. Jason started laughing to himself.
Maniac glared and snapped her fingers. Jason stopped laughing and straightened up with the rest of ASAP.
The young woman raised her eyebrow and gave a sideways glance at Maniac. "I like your style. Why don't we chat in my office?"
"But old lady Tsunade-" Naruto began.
But the woman and Maniac had already closed the door in his face.
"Guess we have the rest of the day off," Sasuke said simply.
"Why don't we go see Kakashi sensei? He always know what to do," Naruto cried.
"We need to drop Rae off somewhere though," Jason said softly, referring to the young girl on Gaara's back.
"We can leave her at my apartment. In the mean time I can show you around!" Naruto exclaimed.
"Without Maniac? It won't be no fun though," Reese said with tears streaming from her eyes.
"It'll be a lot of fun," Robin said smirking.
"I'm not leaving without my bestest friend!"
"Fine, stay here," Gerard snapped.
"I'm tired," Beastboy complained.
"Me too," Greg moaned.
"I think we could all use some rest and, maybe, some food?" Cyborg said hopefully.
"Sounds good to me," Jason said yawning.
"Yeah," Reese agreed, "Jumping out of a plane then walking like a mile and a half does wear you out."
…
"So what you're saying is?" Tsunade queered.
"Yes."
"But-"
"But nothing. From what I've heard this Orochimaru guy is not only after Raven. In fact, by sending your group of ninja's after my sis, you played into his hands," Maniac said mystically.
"How so?" Tsunade asked as she leaned back into her chair.
"Think. Raven is not the only half demon is she? You have Naruto, Gaara, and from what I conquer, Sasuke is in a way thanks to the curse mark. Why would he only want Raven?"
"Because she's the daughter of Trigon."
"I think, he wants all 4 of them. I'm thinking he's somehow working on a way to control all of them."
"How? What do you mean?"
"Well. Think. Raven's a half demon, so is the rest of the kids. One group lives in Japan, Rae lives in America. I think, he wanted you to find out about his so called plan, then you would send your own clever little group of ninja's to protect her. And since he knows you he knew which ones you would most likely send. Then he would have them all in one place."
"If this is true, then why didn't he just kidnap them while the numbers were down? You told me there was a fire when Raven got the mark. Why didn't he take them then?"
"Because. Gaara was there. He was still fighting. Orochimaru wanted to get out of there before the Titans and ASAP got home. Question is, Roachy is evidently much stronger then Gaara. He could have taken him. So I'm thinking, Roachy was missing something. Evidently he wasn't going to kidnap them just yet."
"Why's that?"
"Because, he's still missing something."
My god, I've typed for who know's how long. I'm sorry if this chapter is crappy. I was just trying to get everyone to Japan. I'm working on the plot still, so everything is shit. I'm having the slits. Don't give me flames please. I'm working on this, and at the same time I'm having a crisis of my own. I don't think I can handle flames. So please only kudos, or confusions. I'll be happy to explain anything you guys don't understand. Some people still don't understand that I'm the one who came up with ASAP and that their my original characters.
So if you have questions, feel free to ask. I'll clear up any uncertainties. Thanks. R&R!