Chapter14

Heero stared at the board. He couldn't concentrate. Turning his head he saw both Serena and Hotaru were both working. Their pens writing down the sums from the board. Just as he was turning away, he noticed Serena glance at her mobile. Hotaru copied her. Both glanced at each other and shrugged.

'So their worried as well, but trying not to show it.' He thought, 'But why? What's going on?'

Just as the teacher began explaining how to work out a certain sum, Serena's mobile went off. She took it out and answered it, running out the class as she did.

"Clive she shouldn't be able to do that." Relena said, from the front of the room, "It's not…"

"Peacecraft kindly remain quiet." Clive replied, "I have been alerted to the fact that Sohmara may disturb the lesson with a phone call. Due to the fact that her older sister is not well."

Serena entered the room again.

"Sorry about that Clive." She apologised.

"Not at all. Is your sister well?" Clive asked.

"Yes, she is better now. Or at least a bit better." Serena answered, her gaze drifting to Hotaru, "Would you mind if I left a little early? I'd like to pick up something for her, before the shops shut. Seeing as we finish late today."

"Not at all. You may leave half an hour early. And that includes you Sohmara." Clive said, "I know the Sohmara's are your cousins."

"Thank you." Hotaru smiled.

Serena sat back down, and the lesson continued.

Reba growled as someone approached the bedroom door. Raven glanced at the watch beside her. It was only one o'clock.

"Raven, may I come in?" Nancy's voice called, "I have some food for you."

Raven opened the door with her magic and Nancy walked in. She smiled at Raven surrounded by scrunched up balls of paper.

"I take it you've been finding it hard to sit here so long." She said, as she set the tray down, "Mind you your wings look beautiful."

"Thanks. I didn't expect them to be black though." Raven replied, "Evan says it's because we have more of the fighter spirit in us. But there is the purple taint to them."

Nancy giggled, and gently brushed her hand against one of Raven's wings.

"Their still quite damp." She sighed, "Guess you have to wait longer."

"Twenty four hours exactly." Raven muttered, "They appeared around half seven this morning so I have a nice long wait ahead of me."

Nancy shook her head and began to gather up a used mug and plate. That's when she spotted the empty pain killer bottles.

"Raven you haven't taken all the pain killers, have you?" She gasped, "That'll be an overdose!"

"Nancy calm down." Raven replied, "I have taken them all, as the pain was more then I expected. I know I thought it would be bad, but it was worse. Only I haven't overdosed. The bloody things were useless to me. The Angel side of the gene removed all traces of them from my body, even when I hadn't overdosed. We have to bear the pain."

Nancy covered her mouth with her hand.

"I'm sorry." She said sadly, "That must be awful."

"Well at least I get to eat your meals instead of the college's pitiful attempts." Raven smiled, "The pain's ebbed away now. Just a twitch of it every now and then."

Nancy nodded and left. Reba nosed the door closed and Raven locked it again with her magic.

Heero dashed upstairs as soon as he arrived home. Serena and Hotaru had left early. Serena had asked if he wanted her to pick up something for Raven. He'd asked her to pick up some meadow flowers for her. Now he wanted to see how she was. Only as he reached her door, he found Serena stood outside it arguing with Evan.

"Why won't you let me see her?" She was saying, "I wanna check on her."

"Then ask Reba!" Evan hissed, pointing down at the dog sat by the door, "He's not letting anyone by. I can't even get in!"

"Have you checked Reba's pouch?" Heero asked.

Evan and Serena glanced round at him. Both had sheepish looks on their faces. Heero bent down and checked Reba's pouch. Inside he found a small piece of paper folded up. Unfolding it he found a note.

"Please do not disturb me. My back has eased greatly and I am now going to try and get some rest. Raven." Heero read out, "Seems she's trying to sleep."

Serena and Evan nodded. Heero returned the note to Reba's pouch. All three of them then headed downstairs. No one was around when Hotaru sneaked out of Raven's room and headed for her room quickly.

The next day, everyone had slept in late. It was a Saturday and there was no college. By ten everyone was beginning to get up. Heero headed for Raven's room to check on her and found Kane blocking the door. Sighing he headed downstairs.

The others had all followed him. They'd just walked past the main dining room, when they heard someone call out.

"Hey Annabel! Is Nancy doing the shop later?"

Immediately they recognised the voice as Raven's. Something else was said, and Raven walked out of the main kitchen.

"Guess you guys are finally up." She smiled, walking up to them, "Thanks for the flowers. They did cheer me up."

"Raven, are the others up yet?" Evan asked as he walked out the music room, "Ah I see they are. Such a shame. Was going to ask Kolnu to wake them up."

"I don't think they would have liked that." Raven smirked, "Reba's been teaching him a few things. Kane and Lela have gotten him to be their nanny."

Evan laughed.

"Anyway what were you all planning on doing today?" He questioned, "Raven's on strict orders to keep things to a minimum. But what about the rest of you?"

"Would a bare minimum exclude a swim?" Serena asked.

"Definitely!" Evan stated, "Rave may be back on her feet, but I don't want her over doing things."

"Fine." Serena muttered, "Guess I'll swim on my own then."

"I'll join you if you want." Quatre offered, "It'd be something relaxing to do."

Trowa nodded.

"Well I'm gonna train." Hotaru said, "I need some exercise. So my training partner better be up to it."

Wufei smiled and nodded.

"What do you plan on doing that's minimum?" Duo asked Raven.

"I have a little shopping to do." Raven answered, "Best thing is, it'll be home delivery!"

Serena and Hotaru eyed her.

"Rave what you up too?" They asked together.

"I wouldn't ask." Evan smiled, "Just something she needs to do. Heero, Duo would you mind accompanying her?"

"Sure." Heero said.

Duo nodded.

"Good, now breakfast is all ready for you in the living room." Raven stated, "Heero, Duo be ready to go in half an hour. I need to get there before all the best go."

The lads glanced at each other puzzled, before heading for the living room. Sere and Taru lagged behind.

"Any tell tale sign as to what your cravings are?" Sere checked.

"Not yet." Raven sighed, "But Nancy is getting in a variety of things just in case. Plus Evan is on stand by to rush out and get things."

"Just watch your back today." Evan warned, "It will still sting if you get banged around."

"Now that's something I doubt Heero will allow." Taru teased, and ran off to the living room. The others followed her laughing.

Two hours later Heero pulled the jeep into a parking space. They were outside a large covered building. With no signs as to what went on inside. Raven got out and led them all inside. She was carrying a shoulder bag, and munching on some sour sweets she had.

"This way." She told them, leading the way into the building.

The lads followed still puzzled.

Once inside they found the building to be larger then they expected. It was also full of small fenced off paddocks, where horses were stood.

"This is a Horse market." Raven explained to them as she led the way forward, "I heard they had some great horses here for sale."

"Rave what do you want with horses?" Duo asked, as she stopped to look at a mare.

"Well it helps to have some if you have a stable." Raven answered, with a grin, "Or hadn't you worked out that was what has been built back home?"

Duo and Heero glanced at each other.

"You do know you'll need people to look after them…" Duo began.

"Duo, I have already hired the people to look after my stable and forge. As well as the surgery that's with it." Raven cut in, "All of them have moved into the house beside the stables and have already kitted the place out. Now I just need the horses."

"So what you looking for?" Heero asked, leaving Duo to look stunned.

Raven smiled and took out a folded piece of paper from her back pocket. She handed it over to him. Heero unfolded it and had a look. On the paper was the following list:

Stallion – Hanoverian – 17 hands – All black

Stallion – Angelo-Arab – 16 hands – Black

Stallion – Palomino – 16 hands – Golden

Stallion – Thoroughbred – 16 hands – Chestnut brown

Mare – Andalusian – 16 hands – Grey

Mare – Lipizzaner – 15 hands – Grey

Mare – Arab – 15 hands – Dark brown

Mare – Budyonny – 15.2 hands – Chestnut brown

Heero folded the paper back up and handed it back to Raven.

"Guess you did a little research before we came." He sighed.

"Of course." Raven smirked, "Now I have a dealer holding two mares for me to look at. So we need to find paddock sixteen quickly."

All three of them headed off together.

Serena glanced up as Wufei dived into the swimming pool.

'Thought he was training with Taru.' She thought as she swam on her back, 'Perhaps they finished.'

"Hey Sere!" Quatre called.

Serena started and ended up sinking below the surface, before resurfacing and turning to Quatre.

"Sorry was day dreaming." She smiled, "What is it?"

"Wufei says Hotaru got a little tied and went to lie down." Quatre told her, "He also says, she was very stiff in her movements whilst they trained."

Serena nodded, and Quatre swam over to where Trowa was relaxing.

'So it's begun for Taru.' She thought, 'I hope hers don't come so early in the morning.'

She then swam to the side and got out. Intending to relax on a sun lounge for a while. After all, it was only two o'clock in the afternoon.

Raven sighed as she felt the inklings of a craving. They were taking a break from the horse market and were passing the food stalls. Duo was adamant he wanted chips. So they were trying to find a chip stall. Thanks to the lads help, Raven had already bought three of the mare's she wanted.

"Here's a chip stall." Duo grinned, "What you having Rave?"

Raven glanced at the menu. The craving felt stronger. It had to be sedated.

"Not really anything from this stall." She answered, "I'll go get something from another and meet you back here shortly."

Without waiting for a reply she walked off. Her eyes darting to the stall menus trying to find what she craved. The only problem was, she didn't think they'd sell it here.

Evan was just walking into Hotaru's room with a hot drink for her, when his phone went off.

"Must be Rave." Hotaru said, taking the drink off him.

Evan answered the phone.

"Hello? …yes I'm at home. … … … Hotaru's back has started to ache. … … … Only slightly. Not quite as bad as yours was to begin with. … … … It means she's on the verge. … … … What's the problem?" Evan talked into the phone, Hotaru watching him closely, even as she drank her drink, "…That is a bit of a problem then. … … … … I don't think they do any there… … … No there will just be food stalls. Yes they'll just sell food. … … … I'll get Nancy on it right away. But I think you should keep out of sight of the lads for a while. … … … Those cravings won't leave you till you've sedated them. … … No they'll just get worse. … … … Keep looking. I'll try to get some to you in the mean time. … … … … Have you met Stanley yet? … … He's a horse dealer. Also an acquaintance of mine. Can get things for me easily. … … … … I'll give him a ring and tell him to get some fast. … … He won't think it's peculiar. … … Your parents did have some ties with others that were kept quiet. … … … Visit him next. He'll no doubt have a few horses you may like. … … … Okay I'll ring him now. Bye."

Evan hung up the phone then dialled a number and rang it.

"Stanley? … … It's Evan Kaimah. … … Yes it has been a while. … … Listen I need a favour. … … Just like old times. Or should I say exactly like old times. … … … Yes I am serious. … … … The Eldest Sohmara is at the market today. … … … No doubt she'll be buying horses. Has a list of the ones she wants, I believe. … … … That's not it. … … She needs a certain item of food, and quickly. … …" Evan said into the phone, pacing Hotaru's room as he talked, "… … No none of the stalls sell it. … … She's there looking. … … … Desperately. … … Told her to head to you shortly. … … Can you get what I'm after? … … It does, doesn't it? Well you'll find it strange. … … … Yeah I know. … … Anyway she needs some… … hang on I have another call coming in… I'll just put you on hold for a sec."

Evan put Stanley on hold and answered the call.

"Hell…" He began before getting cut off, by his caller, "Thank god… … … Yes get a large bag… … … It has to do you till you've finished there… … … Will do that. Bye."

He hung up and switched back to Stanley.

"Hi Stan? … … Yeah was her… … …Found some there… … She'll be heading over to you now… … … No worries. See ya." He hung up the phone and put it away.

"Well Rave has her craving figured out. And has sedated it for the time being." He sighed, "Best tell Nancy to get baking."

With that Evan hurried out of Hotaru's room, before she could even ask what Raven's craving was.