Hi, there! I think I'm getting the hang of this, hopefully.
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters from Wolf's Rain, but I own White Rose and her family, but not the last name, since all but the father are OCs based on an RP with my friends.
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Returning to the Highest Plane
Previously…
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Even though I'm back in the Dream realm, I was uber plain worried about my first friend's daughter. After a dream-like battle against Darcia's spirit, she, by request, played a melody that soothed her former enemy into a phase before purgatory. It looked like she passed the Trial with flying colors, but she ended up in a strange sleep that stopped her growth for a while. Luckily, a familiar man found her and took care of her for a few days until she woke up. Immediately, she changed back to her robes, and headed out the door…
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Toboe's POV
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I strolled through the concrete veranda, pre-peeled potatoes and some picked rosemary, from my garden, in my hands. In a split second, a collision caused me to drop my grown produce. I figured that a simple bump and a spin caused my imbalance from a vague sight of a long-haired girl running past me.
"Sorry! I'm in a hurry!" She shouted in short breath.
Her voice sounded awfully familiar, like the one from my recent dreams these past few nights. Wait… The wind blowing through her long brown hair, the folds flexing from her strange, baggy clothes, and the initiating conversation using her silvery chime-like voice. By the time I stopped spinning, she was gone and into the big city. A door, which was Tsume's, was open. I assumed the girl ran out from his apartment. I picked up my ingredients and entered the living room, putting them away in the kitchen.
"Tsume!" I dashed to him with greater concern. "Why did you do that?"
"Do what?" He asked, semi-clueless.
"Let her leave! I wanted to talk to her!" I spat.
"So go find her." He pointed out of the doorway.
Immediately, I decided and ran to find her throughout the streets. Instead of going down the stairs, I leapt over the steel railing and grabbed a pipe to slide down like a firefighter. I landed on the concrete and ran out of the alleyway. I avoided most of the pedestrians in the way. As I ran along, I spotted her, saving one of my peers from a fatal run-over of a vehicle.
I had to admit, she is faster than I thought. Maybe faster than me.
I saw her clearly this time. Her valiance and face gave me a funny feeling instantly.
No…I can't just tell her my feelings so soon. She'll freak out.
I shook my head and noticed most of the folks seeing the girl's deed. She seemed nervous and ran away once again and into the same alley near Tsume's apartment building. My pursuit resumed, only for the failing phase approaching seconds flat.
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Blue's POV
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Moved into another city. How adventurous. I'm currently a new student, and a little nervous when my peers are either being nice or just plain naughty due to my charismatic appearance. It was past a half an hour since dismissal. While my buddy is on his way with an after school snack, I've walked down the residential street with my friend, Jessie, on our way homes.
"Hey, Blue. Heard about the super quick kid in town?"
"Hmm, I think so. Is she the talk of the city this afternoon?"
"Uh-huh. I'm telling you, that kid's got footwork."
"Don't be ridiculous, Jess. How can a kid a bit younger than us can run uber fast?"
Jessie spotted her house on our right.
"That's' my house. We'll talk via net." She said as she opened the gate and closed it when she entered. "Later, Blue."
"Bye, Jess." I waved my hand. Being the new kid is…I dunno.
I continued walking down the slightly empty street, minding the silence. That is, until I heard fast footsteps and a familiar shout.
"Hi, Blue!"
"Hello, Hige." I responded his greeting and smiled. "Forgot to save another after school snack for me again?"
"Nope, not this time." He nodded as she reached his hand into his green knapsack. He then took out a bag with an aroma of chocolate churros.
"Thank you." I muttered as I bolted the churro down and gulped. "It's kinda weird that everyone in class looked at me, an average girl from the country, trying to adjust her surroundings for a while."
"They must notice your resplendent beauty." Hige failed his poetic grammar.
I simply giggled. "I like you. You've got a decent sense of humor."
He smiled at me, saying, "Thanks. I like making you laugh. It's like music."
"To your ears?" I asked.
"Yeah." He answered.
"Heads up." I looked at the corner of my eye.
"What. Is that another…" He turned to the same direction.
Both of us saw a girl running toward us. Instead of ramming us, she jumped over us in a somersault. She landed on her feet and resumed dashing.
"…compliment?" Hige finished.
"Okay, so Jess was right. There is an uber fast girl in town. She oughta join the Olympics one day." I said.
"Yeah" he agreed.
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White Rose's POV
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The reheated soup truly gave me a boost to my energy. I would have to thank the lady one day. So far, I sensed some light energy, but I wondered where it originated. Whenever there is light energy, there would be my departure to Heaven. Yet, I've worried about my two comrades, who are still lost out there. I decided to ask the fellow angels or even my relatives if they know their whereabouts or even find some clues.
My feet took me to the source of the energy; a rather rundown and abandoned subway station. The doorway to the stairs seemed boarded up, so I examined it closely. Strange as it may seem, the nailed lumber was rotten and nails are falling apart from the rust. I tapped for a weak spot using my crosier, but the wood was still sturdy. Having no other choice, I attempted my rarely used telekinesis on the nails, pulling them out and moving the wood aside the doorway. I looked into the stairway; it seemed dark and a long way down. But since my Trial ended, I have to go back home by trekking though the old station. Instantly, the exploration commenced.
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Toboe's POV
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I felt hopeless as I tripped and fell down. The scratches from concrete didn't bother me at all, however. The words on the girl's trail entered my ears, along with streets that she ran through. Immediately, I followed these directions personally. Three minutes later, I saw the barricaded door was open and some footprints on piles of sand and dirt. I placed my own foot over it, and it's the same size. And then, fear arrived into my mind. I've heard about strange incidents that occurred years ago, and my friends from grammar school knew stories and legends about the subway. I shook my head again as I dashed into the haunted station. Luckily, due to recent power failures back in the neighborhood, my flashlight sat in my knapsack, so this was a good time to use it.
This place gives me the creeps… The fuse probably blew a long time ago.
I couldn't believe that the girl would come here alone without a flashlight. As depth increased, darkness enveloped, yet the light revealed the path for me. And then, a rather horrid thought came to me. I've also heard info regarding a gang mugging or even kidnapping bystanders whenever they tread near the subway. I've even heard that they'll abduct attractive young girls. The vision of her innocent beauty worried me…
The closer I walked off the stairway, the louder I heard someone else's footsteps and strange laughter of more than one person. Four, to be exact. A blonde-haired girl broke the laughter.
"Heh. It's so easy to get away from those morons out there."
"Yeah, all those grown-ups dunno any better than telling us what to do. Too hectic, don't you think?"
"Would be sweet to live here, but those pesky cops would find us."
"I agree. Not to mention that they'll be sent by our folks."
"Hey, uh…"
"What, Terry?"
"I think I heard something. Footsteps to be precise."
"Let's be on our guard. Might be a trespasser."
"Hold it. It's just a young girl in weird clothes."
My heart pounded like a falling girder from a crane and rising scrap metal by a magnet from a junkyard. Then, shivering started in my body, being paralyzed for a brief moment.
"It's alright. I'm just passing through."
"Then why would an intruder attempt to pass our turf?"
"I'm merely finding a pathway to the other side of this station."
"Why can't you get out and go around the building?"
"The pathway's down here, probably somewhere in the ancient tunnel."
"Come to think of it… We did see something shiny in the tunnel, but the gate's tightly shut. We tried everything to open it. Dynamite, crowbars, jack hammers, diamond drills, and even a normal log as a battering ram."
"I…can take you and maybe show you how to open it. I've seen these before."
"If that's true, then okay. But…"
"A catch, right."
"In a sense. Go out with me for a month."
I usually never go insane when hearing phrases like that, but I sneaked closer. I might have to jump into the fray if things go out of control. The tremble in my legs finally stopped.
"Um, I might. Please take me to the gate."
"I suppose 'might' is better than 'yes'. C'mon."
"Thank you."
"No. Thank YOU."
For some reason, the big cheese of the gang made me nervous. The whole gang went with them, so I followed them into the tunnel.
"Okay, pretty girl. Let's see if you're for real by opening the gate."
"Alright."
The girl took out something shiny which appeared to be a pendant of some kind. She held its chain in her hand close to the gate.
"Well? Will it work?"
"Be patient, everyone. It IS decrepit, after all."
Several seconds later, a spark literally flew from the gaps between the doors and their frame. Immediately, these doors vanished into thin air, causing the gang to flinch by the light shinning from the doorway.
"Too bright! Am I going blind?"
"Way unbearable to enter! Let's get outta here, gang!"
"Didn't you say the girl will go out with you?"
"Forget it! I've changed my mind!"
The gang left but I still stood with my shades just on. Even without them, the light doesn't seem to bother me at all. Quickly, I followed the girl into the gate. Dangers or surprises had yet to appear before me.
To my surprise, I was standing in a road on the clouds. At first, thoughts about being in the sky came in my mind. But before me were not just the girl, but two winged guards standing in front of a golden gate.
"Halt! Identify yourselves, please."
"White Rose Kenobi."
"Um…" I was speechless by her and my mistake by curiosity. "Toboe. Toboe Zephyr."
White Rose seemed confused, while one of the guards smiled at me and said. "Okay, kids. You may proceed. And Zephyr. Though you're the first human arrived in Heaven, you're alright by the Almighty's approval. After all, her highness helped you a long, long time ago."
'Her highness?"
"Yeah, are you blind or something? She's standing beside you."
I thought I was dreaming again, so I pinched myself to see.
"Ouch."
"You're not dreaming, kid. Just enter the palace and details will be heard. Just don't worry about it and go."
"Okay…"
I walked to keep pace with the princess, and blushed from being a bit too close. Even she blushed. I turned my head away to see various beautiful plant life arranged among the brick walkways, arbors and a labyrinth of hedges. Many angels worked on the plants and some picked fruits and veggies from the garden and its orchards. They flew to the gate and exited to resume their work.
"We angels have a somewhat a busy lifestyle as well as relaxing our minds when we're not laboring our wings out." She said as we took a small set of stairs into the grand doorway.
"I thought those who arrived to the afterlife and become angels relax day in and day out."
"That's an option. It's one of the choices for the dearly departed , of course."
"So, this is where you live, your highness?"
"Uh, yeah. And don't call me by that boring title."
"Oh, sorry, princess."
"Don't call me that, either, please?"
"Okay, okay…White Rose."
"Thank you."
A smile spread on my face for her. She smiled back.
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To be Concluded
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Like what you read so far? If so, tell me if you do. I know the chapters are long. I just to need to work on my skill, and it's hard to find a beta reader...
