Chapter 2: So that's it?

Disclaimer: ..IT!! *sob*

A/N: First, I would like to thank all of you who have taken the time to read this. It means a great deal to me. Second I would like to say a very appreciated thanks to Blue Fire Kitsune for being the first person to review and encouraging me in this fic. You really do not know how much that means to me!! So I am slightly dedicating this you Kit! I'll write you a chapter worthy of your praise soon! Again thank you everyone!!

'Am I dead?....no, I'm…floating….what is that noise…..I…I don't….no…NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!'

The scream tore out of my mouth as I forced myself up, eyes snapping open. Limbs flailed as I tried to untangle myself from whatever was holding me. Another scream ripped through me, and my sight became blurred. A distant sound caused my already frazzled nerves to jump, my breathing becoming ragged and uneven. Choking down a sob, I looked around and came to a brief conclusion that I was not at my apartment just as the door to my right slammed open.

A flurry of motions and events happened.

The first was the mass of people that came rushing into the room, causing me to scream again and fall off the bed I was lying on (I'll assume as it squeaked when my weight left it) which then lead to hands grasping at me. I slapped the offending appendages away from me, yelling at whatever it was. Jumping up from the floor, I immediately began pressing myself as close to the wall as I possibly could. Tears streaming down my face as I tried to calm myself down. A soothing voice broke through my racing thoughts, and I latched onto it without hesitation. One more sob forced itself thought my lips, as my breathing regulated itself out. Blinking several times helped to clear my vision.

I gazed at the people that now crowded the room, pressed against the opposite walls. The first person my eyes landed on was a girl with long, flowing orange hair. Bright, brown eyes stared at me with concern. I took in her body next. Soft, pale skin seemed to glow from beneath her school uniform, and her legs seemed to go on for miles. A petite waist and a very full bosom…this girl had to be a model. After looking back up to her face and seeing the blush threatening to flame her face, I shifted my gaze to the next person.

A short, petite girl with raven hair met my stare full on. Violet eyes with a burning flame clashed with my own. A small stature, yet her stance projected raw power. She was not as full as the first girl, but that only seemed to enhance the innocence of her childlike body.

The person I next encountered shocked me. Flaming red hair and bold tattoos immediately held my attention. A deep scowl was set on the face, and as I let my gaze drop down I realized that it seemed to correspond with body language. Arms crossing in the front that also housed bold tattoos and a firm body were passed. I blinked thinking of the reasons why this person would want to call attention to themselves like that, when a small cough caught my attention.

I slide my gaze to lock onto the person slightly closest to me. Lean, withdrawn, yet reeking with power as well, the boy it seemed was also evaluating me. Just as I was doing with his….friends, I presume. Analyzing and storing blatant information. He seemed to be the smarts of the group. I made sure to keep him in the forefront of my mind.

My next assessment put me in such a state of shock, that I briefly stopped breathing. Tan skin, built physic, tall stature, and a mess of shaggy brown hair enthralled me. What caused my heart to almost give out were not these observations however. It was the soulful brown eyes that made me catch my breath. Something about them caused a memory deep within my mind to come up.

Flashback

A young girl of the age 6 is walking down a beaten-dirt pathway. Her hair, pulled into a high ponytail, is a deep brown, on the verge of black, and shines from the sun positioned in the sky. Sweat pours down her face and as she raises a hand wiping some of it away, she slows her steps. Ears picking up on distant cries cause her to become curious and making up her mind, she follows the sounds. After her walk of ten minutes, she picks her way through a few bushes, only trip on a half buried root. Closing her eyes, she braces herself for the impact.

Falling to the ground, she rolls a couple of times, coming to stop in front of a small cavern. Sitting up slightly, she assesses the damage she took from her fall. A bruise on her left leg and a multitude of small, bleeding scratches on her hands, arms, and legs show her that she is a little banged up, but nothing serious.

Until she tries to stand up.

A sharp cry falls from her mouth as a throbbing pain sears through her right leg. Shifting so that the majority of her weight is on her left, she lifts up the edge of her sky blue and rich lavender sundress. Looking down at the point where the pain is most extreme, she sees that her ankle is slowly starting to swell and a nasty bruise is forming around the hurting area. A soft sigh passing her lips is the only reaction that she makes upon the conclusion that she has indeed sprained her ankle…horribly.

Praying that her aunt will understand later on, she swiftly reseats herself on the ground and deftly tears a lengthy strip of material from the bottom of her dress. Deftly tying it around her ankle, she nods in satisfaction at her handiwork and looks at her surroundings. A small grove surrounds her and a small lake to her left leaves her breathless and eyes shining. A small sob brings her back from her admiration of the beauty around her and she remembers her original purpose for coming here.

Getting herself up and adjusting her center of balance, she makes her way to an opening in the forest near her. Peering down, she sees a small figure shaking with sobs not heard. Her heart leaps to her throat as waves of immense sorrow engulf her, bringing her down into the depths of despair. Throwing caution to the wind, she goes forward; encasing the small body in her arms and begins softly stroking the mess of hair atop.

Cooing soothing words in the child's hair, she gently rocks them. The body stiffens at first contact, but then clutches her to them, drawing more deeply into her body, seeking the warmth and security that she is providing. Briefly looking up, watery, deep brown eyes, begging for relief, lock with hers before ducking back to the warmth of her body. Sinking to the forest ground, she remains silent, allowing the child to cry into her bosom.

When silence begins to creep, she gently pulls the child away from her, to discover that they are asleep. A burning warmth that she has never experienced before swells within her bosom, causing tears to unknowingly fall from her eyes as she sweeps some of the obscuring hair from their face. Air is sucked back suddenly as she gazes upon the child's face. Milky, smooth tanned skin, full lips, and drying tears greet her. A shuddering breath goes in and comes back out from pressed lips, and she makes the sudden decision that she will protect this child to her dying breath.

Adjusting the child just so, she carefully maneuvers herself into a standing position, by using a nearby tree. Making sure to keep as much weight as possible off her hurt ankle, she slowly begins her journey back home, with her precious bundle tucked securely in her arms.

Clouds drift across the sky and as twilight sets, causing reds, oranges, purples, and soft blues to meld together, she looks up thanking whoever maybe watching over them, that she has found a reason to keep living.

End Flashback

Gasping for air, I look wildly around. Tears streak my face again, a whimper works its way up my throat, and I suddenly feel that everything is constricting me. I lock back on widened eyes and a sob racks my body hard. I hear a scream rip through the room and I cry out as well. My vision darkens, and my body sways slightly. A shout makes me focus briefly on the same shock of orange hair from before and I sluggishly move my eyes down to meet the owner's gaze.

Flashing dark eyes catch mine and my lips tremble from the effort of not calling out to them. A sudden pain flares in my midsection. Gasping, I move my hands to grasp at it, slowly looking down. Another cry is made, but I don't heed it. Crimson is the first thing I see and I slowly look back up, locking once again on the same dark orbs. I blink once, twice and everything blacks out.

Warmth surges through me as two lean arms stop my descent to the tiled floor beneath me. Cradling me gently to a hard, yet soft body, whoever has me shakes me gently, trying to keep me from falling back into the darkness that threatens to consume me again. The same voice shatters my mind and I blink rapidly, trying my hardest to fight off the black that cuts off my vision. Another ripple of raw pain has me arching from them, a deafening scream ripping from my throat. My eyes snap open and are immediately drawn to the wide eyes above me. I vaguely taste blood in my mouth, and the eyes widening more confirm my suspicions. A handsome face fills my view and as the tears begin to obscure the face once more, I whisper the last thing that flits though my mind, before I finally give into the gripping pain and shadows.

"So…that's it then…"

Okay, so how was that for a second chapter eh? Got ya even more curious now? Well, the only way you will get another chapter is by….wait…wait for it….YOU ARE CORRECT SIR and MADAM!!! Reviewing!! All suggestions and comments are greatly appreciated and if there is something that you do not like about this chapter, please PLEASE tell me so that I can reframe from it in future chapters. ^^ thank you!