#08: Winning has its disadvantages
The path to the victory wasn't an easy one and Elen was aware of the difficulties that road would bring, as well as the accidents that could happen during a race. She was aware that luck and misfortune went hand in hand and competitions like that could also meant the end of your life. Yet, she ignored the several warnings from Byakuran who often told her to retreat, but it would feel wrong for somebody like her to give up from the beginning. That wasn't a race what she needed to own thanks to her lover's request or in her mother's honor, but for herself. Elen understood how she felt while piloting and now the girl wanted to feel the pleased feeling that winning gave her. Even if it was like a moment of relaxation, it didn't matter, because the taste of victory was so sweet. That was enough for her to continue compete. That and the fact that she wanted to prove to Byakuran that his time, her destiny would change and there wouldn't be a replay of what happened in other parallel worlds. She promised that to him and the Elen was a woman that kept her word till the end.
Lucky or not, she couldn't sleep at all and decided to look through some documents, so that way her mind would be busy and the race wouldn't keep pestering her. It was better to feel calm, even if in the moment when the start was given her hearts would beat crazily in her chest. She wanted to experiment that feeling, no matter what, to enjoy the excitement before a race once more. Yet, not even trying to work could make Elen think of something else beside the competition. It was like she forgot about everything that happened, but it wasn't that easy to do that. There were enough people back there that could take her place while she was in France, but her step-father wasn't somebody they could handle like that. It didn't matter that they were strong; Elen didn't doubt any of them, but in those situations, different people were required. Maybe it was time to finally free Rayne, because no matter what, she was sure that he could be a reasonable person. It was still early, but it was worth the try. She took her phone from the nightstand and formed a number, waiting for somebody to answer. It wouldn't be that strange not to have somebody to talk to, since some of them also lost the nights and tried guarding the mansion.
When Elen was about to hang up, somebody finally answered her, but that wasn't a voice she recognized, so that only meant that it was a stranger. At first she wanted to say something, but soon enough nothing could be heard. Nothing but a scream that made her pull the phone from her ear. What in the earth was happening there? She wanted to hang up and call again, but this time, there was another person there. Somebody that muttered something that she didn't understand, but Elen thought that she might have formed the wrong number. That was possible, but there were slim changes of mistaking like that. Yet, another try wouldn't hurt, but the girl didn't have the chance of hanging up. The voice that she heard was vaguely familiar, but she didn't remember from where. Elen tried to ask that person who he was, but that seemed to be amusing, since the other was laughing. "I never thought I'd have the great chance of speaking with you, my dear. Too bad that things aren't under your control here, since you left, but…" Elen almost threw the documents from her bed, being really annoyed by what she was hearing. What was happening back there that she wasn't aware of? The girl wanted to ask what was going on there, but the other person didn't let her finish. It seemed that he knew too well the situation from back there. "…I can help you, my lady. If you accept me into your family, I can take care things here until you return. If not, Egil wouldn't mind to use every person here for experiments."
It didn't take long until she remembered that voice. It was Rayne, that criminal that killed for her step-father, but betrayed him in the end, because his ideas were twisted. Maybe Egil thought that he could control him, but it looked like that wasn't the case. Elen trust that man for a reason or other and it didn't matter how wrong it looked that she helped a criminal. He was still a person and if Rayne wanted to help her, she wouldn't refuse. The price was also small. The girl was able to do anything for her family and to stop Egil, but if his former ally was there, she could rest assured, even if it was only a bit. There were several things that were important and their safety was one of them. Even her pride interfered making her feel that if they solved everything on their own, she could rub that in Hibari's face and mock him for being useless in finding the culprit. "Alright! You're in charge until I come back, but even if you are a professional…take care. Now that you are part of my family, I don't want something bad to happen to you."
Elen heard him laugh, before saying something, but she guessed that it was funny to hear somebody tell him to take care, when all the people wished for his death. The girl didn't know what he was thinking in that moment, but when she got back, she wanted to talk more with him. It didn't matter that other persons were judging him so harshly, because Elen didn't think that Rayne was such a bad person. Everybody had made mistakes in his life, even if they were serious or not, even if it were made with a reason or not. She sighed, trying to find something to do until it would be morning, but beside finding a solution for their problem…there didn't seem anything else available. The girl didn't want to wake up Byakuran at that hour, because she had nobody to speak with, yet she could go back to sleep or at least try to do that. It wouldn't be that great to compete while being tired. That wasn't a child's play, but a serious thing and there was another life beside her in the game. If she ship crashed, not only her, but also Reiji would die. Elen didn't want that, because that meant that her promise to Byakuran would be broken and she didn't like to break her promises.
-Meanwhile-
Rayne was still stunned by those words he heard, but at least they assured him that he made the right decision when he decided to join her family. It was a wonder that he was still alive, but Egil seemed to need him and that was the reason to free somebody like him, but his previous boss never expected to be betrayed. That was his trump card, because the mansion was under his control and he could do whatever he wanted, even if a certain illusionist that hang around there was displeased by his presence. Rayne remembered that he wanted to ask Elen is he could kick that mist guardian out, but he knew that there would be an opportunity or the girl would do that by herself when coming back. Yet, he could use all that time to acquire information about his future boss, because she was sure different from other people. And from what he knew about her, it would be more than enjoyable to work for her. Rayne smirked, before sitting in Elen's chair, since he took command, but there was missing something. His element was rain, even if it didn't seem like it, yet he forgot to ask her about a ring, since she had only a guardian.
Working before with Egil made Rayne think that is was a good thing, since he knew his opponent and it would be funny, because he completely modified the whole security system. It hadn't been easy, but now only he and Elen knew about that. He knew that she would receive the information he sent her earlier by mail. Rayne only thought how funny it would be to play with those who entered inside that mansion and tried to use more people for experiments. With a single press of button, most would be dead, but if Egil happened to be in a group of people or alone, he would let that man pass, since he could torture him for information and beside, Elen sure would want to have her own revenge on that man. He began to study some documents, wondering through the drawers, until he found a small box with rings inside. At first, Rayne didn't want to take something, but he needed something to make himself believe that he belonged to that family. Probably Elen would like that, but she was the one that told him to take care of himself, so she shouldn't be that mad at him. But that didn't mean he wouldn't try to kill a certain pineapple illusionist that continued to bother him, even if that wasn't his house. Rayne had to calm himself, because what if Elen wouldn't like that he harmed Mukuro? But he didn't think that was the case, since the girl seemed annoyed in her reply, when he also told her something about the mist guardian.
"What do you want, pest? Elen said that she would be glad if I got rid of you…" Rayne's hand twitched, because he tried to resist the urge not to strangle Mukuro. He was sick of everything from that man; especially that laugh. But at least, compared to others, he was the only one that talked with him with so much familiarity and didn't care that he was a criminal. Rayne could care less about that reason, because he found Mukuro annoying and it wasn't like the illusionist would stop pestering him. But at least, he had been kind enough to eliminate some people that worked for Egil. It would have been even better if somebody found out what those experiments were about, but probably Jolly was working on that since he was absent. That or he had been captured as well, even if Rayne doubted that possibility. "Kufufu, what are you still doing here? You're only a bother to us and Elen wouldn't like to have somebody like you in her house. Beside…" Rayne tried to calm himself and refrain from killing the illusionist, but it was becoming harder and harder. Mukuro knew exactly how to piss of somebody and he was using his ability to its full extent. "I'm the only one that she lets inside this room when she's not here."
Rayne didn't know if he should laugh hearing that or if he should dismiss his words and leave, but it was too funny to ignore what the illusionist had said. Of course, Mukuro was a rather cocky person, so that wasn't something uncommon, but he wondered if he really thought of Elen as one of his friends or 'possession' since he didn't admit that openly or there was something more. His looked rather confident, but Rayne didn't think even one moment about sharing information with him, since Mukuro was not part of the family and the Vongola wasn't their ally yet. Beside, he received no order from Elen tell something to them, so if he could be the one that found out more, it was in their advantage. Sighing, Rayne resumed ignoring Mukuro and looking through some documents he hid well from everyone. They contained almost everything about Egil and his subordinates. It would have been better if they had their boss with them, but since she let him in charge, there was nothing he could do but try not to disappoint her. To be honest, Rayne expected Elen to reject his offer, since he was a criminal and killed even some of her friends, but instead of that, she accepted him nonetheless and even told him to take care.
Seeing that Mukuro made no move to leave, Rayne sighed and looked bored at the illusionist. At least that confirmed his doubts that Mukuro didn't trust him, even if he didn't fear him. "Look! I know that you have nothing to do, but I have to work, fine? I have orders from Elen, so if you don't mind…" He stopped for a bit, pointing to the door. The new rain guardian hopped that the illusionist would get the message, even if it was highly improbable. "Please leave, the door is there. If you want information, ask the Vongola, that's your family, isn't it?" Mukuro didn't like to hear that, since he didn't consider himself being part of Vongola at all. His eyebrow twitched, but Rayne didn't fail to see that, yet he kept quiet, ignoring Mukuro. Of course that he didn't miss the trident pointed at his neck, but kept acting as if he was alone in that room and that seemed to annoy the illusionist further. Yet, the rain guardian was a pro at ignoring people, annoying them, toying with them and so many other things, somehow similar with the mist guardian. "Kufufu, don't associate me with the mafia. I don't belong to Tsunayoshi's family."
"But you are here, wasting Elen's money and acting like a pervert, stupid pineapple…" Rayne whispered those words, but Mukuro heard nonetheless, since that was quite an offense for him, even if his hair style resembled a pineapple. The guardian paid no mind to whatever the illusionist was saying in that moment, because those were angry words from being insulted, but it wasn't like that wasn't the truth. He knew everything that happened in that mansion. It wasn't that hard, since Egil kept visiting him in the days before Elen left and told him what was happening inside. In those moments he felt so hopeless, so powerless, that he never thought that he would ever be free. Even if she was older than Elen and she helped him often before and even now, he doubted that she would accept him in her family. At least no that easily and wouldn't treat him like a comrade, because with Egil he had been treated as a tool the whole time, but the girl was a surprising person. "Now that you're done, please get out or at least help me with these! You're doing nothing but bother Elen, so do something for her!"
-Back in France-
Elen couldn't sleep anymore and in the meanwhile she even took a shower and prepared, no matter how early it was. She was nervous because of the race, since she asked Shoichi and Spanner to make some modifications and she didn't know how it would work. Yet, the girl decided to make the breakfast, to thanks Byakuran for lending her those two good mechanics, since without them they could even lose, because the personal they had wasn't that good. It was unusual for her to ask that nice and all, but he cheered her up and ask her to take care and return alive. Elen had to admit that the Millefiore boss was a good friend, despite knowing her better from other parallel worlds, while she knew almost nothing about him.
Thanks to not cooking for a while, Elen managed to cut her fingers, but thankfully it wasn't nothing sever and she continued to cook, trying to think of something else. She took in a deep breath and focused on what she was doing, but that didn't mean that the girl wasn't aware that Byakuran actually entered into the kitchen, because to be honest, she kept looking through documents, reading books and maybe it wasn't that early as she thought, but there was no way Elen would be late. She didn't know when they started talking, but their chitchat was enjoyable and she was often laughing. At least the girl was calmer now and even their breakfast was ready. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to cook frequently, since she didn't know when she would need that skill. Byakuran seemed to make her open up to him, as she did in other parallel worlds, because it still felt weird to be in front of Elen and try not to do something she wouldn't like, since she didn't know him that better in the world they were currently in.
Looking at the clock, the girl realized that she wouldn't get there on time, since it was pretty late and she wasted a lot with cooking, reading and doing nothing. Elen didn't quite finish all her breakfast, especially since she wasn't that hungry, but focused on asking Byakuran to take her there. She knew how to drive, but all the nervousness might kill her before the race. She didn't know what was happening, because it wasn't the first time, but her whole body was trembling in excitement. Taking in a deep breath, the girl waited for Byakuran downstairs, inside the car. Maybe it was because she wouldn't know he circuit this time or because the race was becoming more competitive. Whatever the reason, she had to calm down before arriving there. It wouldn't be good for anyone to see her like that, nor for her colleague or herself. But she jumped in surprise when something cold touched her neck and she looked at Byakuran, who gave her something to drink. Elen could care less if it was only juice, because that way she could try to calm herself. "Thanks! You really are a life saver, you know? I'm glad that I decided to be your friend here and as well in other worlds!"
Elen was smiling the whole time she said those words, yet she didn't fail to see that Byakuran did the same, because he started to tease her, yet she couldn't get mad. The only thing the girl could do was to pout and resume drinking her juice, but in fact, it was funny. She couldn't help but laugh seeing that fake hurt expression on Byakuran's face, because he was indeed cute. She was glad that they were friends and if it was possible. Elen wished to protect their friendship. It would be good if she could also solve the problems with her step father, because she couldn't help but wonder how Rayne was doing there, alone. Jolly wasn't answering as well, so the girl was worried about her friends. Yet, she wanted to have a positive behavior, since the bad thought could be left for after the race. For now it was important to win and return alive.
For Elen, the road to where the race would be held had been short, as if there wasn't such a distance between them. It didn't matter if her nervousness was the cause for feeling like that, because the girl was focused on finding a strategy to win. This time it wasn't for the sake of money or to prove that she was useful, but for herself. To feel again that joy she felt when she first won the race, when they obtained the first place. It would be harder with every day that passed, even if she and the other competitors made an agreement. There was still Maruko who wanted to be the one that acquired the first place at the end, that was in her way. She was a cruel woman that was going to do anything for her own survival. Elen learnt that on her own, because she asked somebody to investigate her past and from what she found out, nobody could ever compete after participating in a race with that woman. But Elen wouldn't tell anything to Byakuran, because he would stop her for sure and she didn't want to give up that early.
Thankfully, almost everybody was there and she had a faint idea of how the circuit it will be, since she heard rumors, but there was also the possibility of being different. The girl took in a deep breath, before leaving Byakuran's side, telling him to watch closely, because this win would be for him. As the third race in which she participated, Elen learnt a few things and she wanted to apply them. Before she would go on the ship, the girl wanted to greet her friends, but she noticed that neither Julie nor Kotaro were there. In exchange, Makoto had a grim look on his face and that only meant trouble. It seemed that Maruko was involved in their reason for not being present. She was even afraid to answer, but in the end, Elen had the guts to put that question to Makoto. "…She was involved, right? What did that bitch do to them?" She saw him clench his fists and it didn't take too much until she realized that they were hurt pretty badly. That fueled her anger that she felt towards Hibari and redirected it to Maruko for the moment. That woman would lose not only that race, but also the remaining three. "Kotaro is…quite alright, he managed to avoid the accident, but his arm is broken and his nerves were damaged. They said that if he wanted to ever use his arm again, he must give up piloting."
Elen was at loss of words hearing that, because Maruko went too far. They almost died, but it seemed that Julie was in a worse state than Kotaro, if Makoto was hesitant about telling what happened to the other girl, but she wanted to know. She was enraged and wanted to win the competition no matter how hard the races will be. Clenching her teeth, Elen tried to look as normal as she could, because if wasn't good if somebody noticed how bad they felt. "Julie is barely alive…They don't know if she will be able to survive…And this is only thanks to that bitch! I-" But this time, Makoto had been interrupted, because Elen put a hand on his shoulder squeezing it gently, before muttering some words. "Don't worry…I'll make that woman pay, even if that means that I'll have to crash…Good luck in the race. I hope we'll see each other at the finish line."
The girl didn't let him say something, because she went to her ship, getting in with only one goal: to win that race. Of course that Reiji didn't know as well and she wanted to hide that from him, because it was enough if she had to carry the burden of not taking into calculation what could happen if Maruko lost the race. She bit her lip, before preparing the ship to fly. "I'm counting on you, Reiji. Let's win this race as well for our friends who were unable to come today. I can't wait to tell Julie and Kotaro that Maruko had lost once again." She smiled, since there was a small screen through which they could see each other, but she did that only to mask her anger. It wouldn't be that good if he, who was more impulsive than her, would find out. Reiji would start firing from the second he start was given and that could represent a disadvantage and might lead them to their deaths. That was what Elen tried to avoid at any costs, since she promised to Byakuran that she would return alive. She had to respect that at any cost.
When she heard the given start, Elen didn't hesitate in speeding from the beginning, but she had to slow down, or not only their ship would be destroyed, but also they would lose their lives. This time a single wrong move and it would be over. A part of the circuit was made of steels blades that were really sharp and could cut even through the hard material of the ships or could get stuck, but either way, it meant the end of the race for whoever was unlucky to get the right timing. It was a dangerous move to make, but Elen closed her eyes for seconds, before opening them again and using the turbo motors for the time being. It was harder to control the ship that way, but it was easier to pass through that obstacle and have a change to defeat Maruko. She asked Reiji to look where was Makoto, but it seemed that not even him wanted to let that woman win, since he followed her example and was using the turbos. She was glad that he didn't give up like most would do, but their friends had been hurt and it wouldn't be let at that. Since he passed that, she could stop worrying and go on with the race.
"Turn left now and fly at a small distance from the round, since you'll enter in a tunnel. Take care." Elen barely responded to what Spanner had told her, because by doing that, she would lose a lot of time and that meant more advantages for Maruko. It was dangerous, indeed, but she kept flying straight, stopping the turbo motors. In front of her was a field that was an imitation of a thunderstorm and it would be hard, but she piloted once during a storm, so it shouldn't be that difficult. Taking a deep breath in, Elen accelerated a bit, being forced to turn in an angle of 180 degrees to avoid a thunder. She did all those moves without notifying Reiji, who hit his head when she had to turn to a 360 degrees angle. Of course that she laughed at that, before avoiding the final obstacle that was like various thunders in one place. This time she accelerated again but told Reiji to hold onto something. He didn't have much time, because she sped too quickly for him, yet they managed to get out safely from that trap. He sighed in relief, while Elen watched carefully for other obstacles that could appear. But, fortunately, Maruko was right in front of them, while Makoto managed to get out of that tunnel, but his ship didn't look that well. It seemed that even there were traps. In that complete darkness.
The closing gates were the next obstacle, since every pilot had to find the right time to pass through, since they kept opening and closing. Elen thought that it would be easy, but she felt like laughing when she saw that Maruko failed to pass through them. Her ship was crushed under the gate, but the people inside were safe, since they managed to get out in time. "We'll win this race. Makoto, if you'll have the second place, so hurry up!" Elen didn't wait for anybody else, but used the turbo motors, despite what Shoichi told her. They didn't have that much combustible, yet she did whatever she wanted, but it wasn't like that would be a loss. Yet, before leaving that place, she heard an explosion behind, but it was too late even for her to completely dodge Maruko's firing weapon. It looked like she wasn't keen on loosing a third time, but it had been enough that she destroyed their turret and one reactor. The worse part was that in that split of second the turbos were turned on and she had a hard time trying to stabilize the ship. There was no way something that that could defeat her, because there were other things that she wanted to do.
Thanks to the turbo motor, the only one left, Elen had a tough job to do, since there were still obstacles there, like the infrared sensors, that could be seen only from the inside of the bases from where their manager was. She was glad that Spanner and Shoichi sent her the rest of the map, so now the girl knew what to do and what path to choose. That if they got in one piece to the finish line, because it was impossible to do something in that state. "We'll land forcefully…hold onto something as tight as you can…" Elen almost managed to mutter those words, because despite the difficulty of passing the infrared zone, she couldn't stop the turbos anymore. Trying as much as she could to stop the ship, the girl didn't manage to do anything until they passed the finish line and hit the wall in front of them. Even her had hit her head and lost conscience thanks to the impact. The second place had been occupied by the overly damaged ship of Makoto, but he was alive and the first thing he did was to see what happened to Elen and Reiji.
It was hard to see in that smoke, but he managed to go to them, while other people gathered around them. He saw that Elen was unconscious and tried to wake her up, but seeing all that blood, he thought that she died, letting alone Reiji, who wasn't even moving since he got there. "We're…alive, dummy…" The girl managed to mutter at a certain point, forcing herself to get up, but all her body was hurting, yet she looked at Reiji, who by then was leaning on his chair. He started to laugh and she joined him, because they were alive. Hurt, but alive. Who would have thought that people like them would get involved into such a race? It seemed so impossible.
Yet, there was another person that was frowning when she got off held by Makoto and that person as Byakuran. Elen only smiled at them and tried her best to get to him, before practically embracing him tightly. She was glad that she didn't broke the promise she made and that despite probably not liking what she did, he was happy that she was alive. That was all that mattered in that moment. "See? I told you that I'd come back alive and defy everything that happened in other parallel worlds!"
"Today's winner is Elen Garland, with Makoto Ryuji in the second place!" The voice of the presenter was heard through there, but she could care less, because by then, the girl was enjoying the fact that she was alive and another person's warmth. "The judge also decided to make tomorrow race the final one, since there are only 3 competitors left! The one who arrives first at the finish line is the winner, but their winnings or defeats from before won't be taken in calculation! Good luck!"
This time Elen, who was paying attention knew that everything would be worse tomorrow. The next day meant the beginning of the end of that race and as well the deciding moment where the final winner would be selected. And she would do anything to be that person that won the first place. At any costs.