Chapter 10
The next morning Raven wasn't to be found anywhere, when the others all got up.
"Evan where is Rave?" Hotaru asked, as she walked into the living room, with the lads behind her.
"She dashed out this morning." Evan answered, "Has a few things to do before meeting up with Keith at the club. She also has a few errands. Lela and Kane are getting a bit much for the others with their family. Seems Annabel asked Rave to pick up a few things for them. And I was asked to ask you Master Quatre what is going to be happening with the puppies."
"Well I don't think we'll be able to keep them all." Quatre smiled, "I think we'll have to get them good homes somewhere."
"Be a good idea to keep at least one for Lela and Kane." Annabel said, walking into the room and hearing the conversation, "And I think I know which one."
Quatre nodded, "Would you be able to find homes for the others?"
"I'll do that. Just make sure once I have, that Lela and Kane can rejoin you. It seems they miss you a great deal."
Quatre smiled and nodded again.
"Now that's settled, can we get some breakfast." Hotaru sighed, "I know it's gone eight but I'm in no mood to cook myself."
"Nancy was rustling up something in the main kitchen." Annabel told her, "I'll see if she has any spare for you all."
Hotaru thanked her and sat down on a sofa. The lads joined her. All of them seemed over tired. But for no real reason.
Six o'clock that night, Hotaru peeked into the study, and found Raven was sat talking with a tall blonde haired guy. Diego and Leon were sat beside her.
'Must be the architect.' She thought before disappearing off.
Raven heard the door shut, and smiled.
"So you will be able to begin the building once the materials have arrived?" She checked.
"Yes. But you do need builders as well." The architect said, "Apart from that, I will supervise the building to make sure it is done to the layout we agreed on."
"That's great. We have the builders on standby ready." Raven replied, "Thank you for coming over and sorting everything out for me."
They all stood up. Raven shook hands with the architect and he left with Diego and Leon. Once she'd heard the front door, Raven slipped out the study and ran the full length of the mansion to the indoor swimming pool. Once there she stripped down to the swimming costume she had on and dived into the water.
"Rave did you just…" Hotaru muttered, and stopped as she saw her in the pool.
Trowa and Wufei had walked in behind her.
"I take it your business went well." Wufei smiled, as Raven surfaced near them.
"Incredibly." Raven laughed, "The building will begin on Tuesday once they've marked out the area. I get to advertise for employees to run it all. So it's almost done!"
Hotaru giggled.
"I take it you have a few secrets that you're keeping from us all." Trowa sighed.
"Well it's meant to be a surprise." Raven argued, "Besides, Harry and the builders have strict orders to prevent anyone, but myself, Evan and Terry from going near the building site."
Trowa and Wufei shook their heads. Quatre, Duo, Heero and Evan walked in.
"Diego and Leon have left with the architect I guess." Evan said.
"Yes, they were getting a lift off him into town." Raven explained, "Leon's car is in the garage."
"Well I will get the Study tidied then." Evan replied, "Then I believe I will lock up and head to bed."
Raven nodded and sank underwater. Evan left the room, followed by a still giggling Hotaru. The lads followed them out, leaving Raven to have her swim.
Two weeks later, the building was progressing. Raven was constantly on her laptop during her Pacifism lessons. Much to Relena's annoyance. The lads had tried and failed to find out what was being built. Hotaru had laughed at their attempts.
"Raven can't you tell us what it is that's getting built?" Duo whined, during lunch at college.
"Duo, the building may have progressed to a level where you can see part of it from the manor windows. But that doesn't mean I will be telling you what is getting built." Raven replied, typing on her laptop, "You'll find out soon enough as it is."
"Rave, I take it the people that keep visiting you are something to do with what's going on." Hotaru guessed, opening a bottle of water.
Raven glanced at her, a smile on her face. But she didn't say anything.
"Peacecraft alert." Wufei warned, laying out beside Hotaru.
The subject was changed, and everyone began eating their lunches.
"Sohmara a word please." Relena said.
"What about?" Raven asked, "I'm a little busy."
Before Relena could say anything, Raven's mobile went off. She answered it.
"Hello! Yes… okay. Wait a minute then."
Raven closed the top of her laptop down and moved it onto the grass.
"Be back in a minute." She said to Heero, and gave him a kiss on the lips.
She then walked off and carried on with her phone conversation.
"Are you going to stand there waiting till Rave has finished on the phone?" Hotaru asked, "As you're blocking the sun."
Relena moved then glared at Hotaru.
"Are you so vain you need the sun's light to shine on you to show off your looks." Relena scoffed.
"I advise you leave now before you anger anyone." Wufei stated coldly, surprising the other lads, "As I'd say I'm close to getting extremely angry with you."
Relena glanced at him shocked. She then walked over to where Raven had just finished on her phone.
"Great now she's collared Raven." Quatre sighed.
"At least she left us alone." Hotaru muttered, squeezing her bottle of water tight in her hand.
This caused the water to spill over the top and soak her whole arm.
"Dammit!" She swore, and flung the bottle aside.
Raven walked over and saw what had happened.
"Taru on your feet now." She ordered.
Hotaru stood up, slight anger flickering in her eyes.
"Go get yourself sorted out." Raven said, handing over her car keys, "You'll find the jeep to be faster then your car."
Hotaru eyed her. Then took the keys and ran off.
"What are you waiting for, Wufei?" Raven asked him, "An invitation? Follow her. I don't think the college would be very impressed if she put bullet holes in the walls."
Wufei stood up and ran after Hotaru.
"Is there something going on between them?" Trowa questioned, as Raven sat beside Heero.
"They're dating." Raven answered, "Got together during a training session in the gym back home. And before you ask Duo. Yes I have warned Wufei to look after Hotaru. Unlike Trowa, he didn't get a sword to the throat."
"Go on…" Quatre coaxed, "Although I have a feeling I don't want to know."
"Let's just say he won't ever want to get in the same pin again. Or he will get his neck broken." Raven said, innocently.
"You caught him between your thighs." Heero sighed, "Ouch!"
"How is that bad?" Duo asked.
"Add the fact that she can cross her legs over twice and you have one hell of a tight pin." Trowa answered, "But I think there may have been something else."
"Just a small dagger against his groine." Raven added.
All the lads cringed.
"Raven I must admit you certainly know how to stop anyone from hurting your friends and family." Trowa muttered, "Mind you I guess that goes for Hotaru too."
"You got that right." Heero murmered, "She collared me later that night we'd worked out the financials for the building. Frigging shit me up."
"How so?" Duo grinned, "Do tell! Must be interesting for you to get scared."
"How do you like to wake up and find a stick on dynamite strapped to you, whilst your tied down!" Heero argued.
"Okay, that's not scary." Duo smirked.
"Add the fact the dynamite was lit. And yeah you get scary." Heero muttered, "That flame got right near the end of the wick before Taru put it out."
Raven looked at him, and then glanced round the others.
"Sorry, I forgot to mention Taru has a thing for dynamite." She said, casually, "Not to mention anything that explodes. Reckon it's because her Father, my Uncle made his own fireworks. Mind you Mother said I always followed after Father. Always in the garage playing with engines. Where as Sere followed after Mother. She loved playing with Yoyo's and learning how to use them to do tricks."
All five lads stared at her. Raven shrugged and carried on eating her lunch. Her mind trailing to thoughts of Serena and what she was up to. The five months were up. Would she return or would she remain in the past. Raven hadn't reminded Hotaru of the date. Preferring to worry over it alone.