Get out of Town…Please
Corbeau was propped up in bed as if she were a princess with Hana, Renji, and Sajin on the bed with her. She felt pretty good all things considered. Apart from feeling sore and bruised, there was really no pain left. A knock on the door caught their attention and they immediately stopped talking. Hana went to answer the door.
"I'm the Sheriff," they heard the man announce. "I need to speak to the girl who was attacked."
Corbeau slowly stood up when Hana's blue eyes met her brown ones. A hand on his shoulder assured him that she was okay so he moved out of her way. She tucked her wings in as tightly as she could against her body before she appeared at the door. "Yes?" she inquired, staring down at the man.
"Miss, can you please come out here and talk to me?" he requested, backing away from the RV.
Corbeau stared at the tall white haired man in the gray police uniform that was two sizes too small for him. It was stretched so tightly across his broad chest and brawny arms that she was afraid the material would shred with one too many flexes of those muscles. Her eyes stayed on his face as she dismounted the steps to stand in front of him. She could not see the color of his eyes because of the mirrored sunglasses he was wearing and refused to take off. When he turned in front of her to walk further away from the RV, she followed. Her gaze slid down from his broad shoulders to his backside. He had a nice behind but it seemed inappropriate to have it displayed so nicely in the police uniform. He whirled around suddenly causing her to take a few steps back.
"Are those real?" he inquired skeptically, attempting to get a glimpse of her wings. He walked around behind her to look for himself.
Corbeau suddenly fully extended them with a loud 'whoomph' sound that caught the Sheriff off guard and sent him stumbling backwards to fall on his behind. That wasn't the first time she had that effect on a man. She giggled because she would have sworn she heard fabric ripping.
"OH DAMN THOSE ARE REAL!" he yelled in awe, scrambling to his feet. He carefully skirted the edge of her wing when he walked back around to be in front of her.
"Yes, and those hillbillies from hell tried to rip them off and break them to pieces last night," Corbeau growled, scowling fiercely at the Sheriff as he scribbled in his little police notebook.
"Well, we know who did it. All three of those boys are in the hospital. One lost his hand. The other will most likely have his foot amputated. The third was the least damaged with a broken back," he informed her, flipping his notebook closed and tucking it back into his breast pocket. He finally took off his sunglasses to reveal dark eyes as he stared down at her. "Ma'am, the best advice I can give you and your friends here is to get out of town. Please."
"But what about those three who attacked me?" she asked, folding her arms across her chest.
"You don't get it do you?" he inquired, putting his hand on his hips while he glared down at her. "Those three can bring charges against all of you people including first degree assault and attempted murder. Despite the fact that those three are idiots are immensely big assholes, they are local boys here. Y'all are a bunch of freaks. To use an old redneck phrase, we don't take kindly to strangers round these here parts. One of those boys' daddies is the judge who would be presiding over your case. Now tell me little missy, what ghost of a chance do you think you stand of winning?"
Corbeau lowered her gaze from the intimidating Sheriff who was absolutely correct in saying they would stand no chance in a court of law here. The best and surest way that everyone would win would be for them to pick up and get the hell out of town. "I see your point Sheriff. Can we have until tomorrow morning to leave?" she asked, looking back up at him.
The Sheriff put his sunglasses back on and took a deep breath. "I suggest you get out of here by nightfall. If you don't, something bad might happen to that guy in the dog suit. But you didn't hear that from me," he muttered, turning to leave.
Corbeau silently watched him walk away. She would have laughed at the ignorance of the dog suit comment if it had not been for the ominous danger he had warned of in the end. Apparently, the townsfolk were planning on breaking out the torches and pitchforks for good old fashioned lynching and Sajin was the target. "Dammit! We've got to get the hell out of here. Renji!" she yelled, able to hear the panic in her own voice.
"Miss?" the Sheriff called, turning back to look at her.
"Yes?" she inquired impatiently. She needed to get to the RV to tell everyone they had to leave.
"By the way, my name is Kensei. I know you have those three orphans from the town. Will you just please let me know from time to time how they're doing? I did everything I could to help them, but…"
Corbeau nodded sensing he was at a loss for words. It was easy to see that emotional matters were not his strong suit. He seemed to be a nice man and he was actually doing them a big favor by allowing them to leave town without arresting anyone or without taking the children away. He had even warned her about the threat that would be headed their way that night. She smiled at him as he quickly walked back to her.
"Thank you. Here," he said, handing her his card. "You can send letters to that address. It's the police station."
"Okay. I'll do that. Thank you, Sherriff," she replied, turning to leave. "For everything."
"You people aren't bad. Just different," he stated plainly. "I'm sorry this happened to you."
Corbeau stole a glance at Renji as he drove with his eyes fixed on the road. He had barely said two words two her in the many hours they had been driving. She kept telling herself it was because he was tired and worried. They had hurried to pack up and get out of town before a bunch of backwoods vigilantes came to exact their own form of justice against them, the people who where actually the victims. She still bore a few bruises and scrapes from her ordeal. She had refused to let Hana weaken himself any further by healing a few silly scratches and discolorations.
"Renji?" she called receiving no acknowledgement whatsoever from him. "Renji, I love you."
"Raven, I love you too," he replied, sounding as if he were taking a deep breath for the first time in hours. "I should have been there and I wasn't. I didn't protect you."
"Please, stop," she implored him. "We've been through this. There was nothing you could do. I don't blame you for anything. I understand."
"I blame me!" he blurted unexpectedly and loudly with anger. "I don't understand! Why was I so weak? Why couldn't I help? I'm glad Sajin was there or I might have lost you. Dammit!" He yelled, punching the steering wheel to abate his fury that simmered over.
Corbeau did not understand this either. She kept her mouth shut allowing him to have his moment. Apparently it was one of those man things where their ego has been damaged in some way and any thing she says or does will only make it worse. Their journey continued in silence.
The freak show caravan had driven all night long to get as far away from that little town as possible. It was mid-morning when they stopped to take a break and stretch their legs at a city park wherever they were at this time. Needless to say, the troupe of unique individuals had attracted quite a crowd of curious children and their parents at the little park.
Corbeau had wandered off by herself to a secluded area of the park to get away from Renji. She had stretched out on a blanket in the sun to relax. After enduring hours of strained silence, she desperately needed to unwind. Her whole body ached from the tension. The warm sun was soaking into her sore muscles and soothing the leftover pain from her injuries.
"What's wrong, Raven? Why do you look so sad? Where's your boyfriend?" Ichigo asked when he found her.
"He's in the RV taking a nap," she answered without opening her eyes to look at him.
"You've got an audience you know," he remarked, referring to the big group of young children standing nearby.
"Yes, I know. As long as they don't bother me, I won't bother them," she snapped, feeling his shadow fall over her. "Can you move? You're in my sun."
"Well, excuse me, ma'am," he sarcastically shot back. Just for that he decided to drop down on the blanket beside her so he could pester her some more. It wasn't like her to be in a bad mood. He was the kind of person that thought irritating the crap out of someone was the best way to improve their mood.
"How long do you think he will sulk and be in a bitchy mood because he wasn't there?" she asked, biting out the last few words with a harshness to her voice that Ichigo could not ignore if he tried.
"Raven, you have to understand that although we may act like we've got it all together and we're downright full of ourselves, our egos are very fragile and tender," he explained, resisting the urge to get up and run away when she turned her furious gaze on him.
"Naw! Say it ain't so! Men are so full of shit!" she yelled, venting her anger at him.
"I don't have to sit here and take this you know," he snarled back without moving. "But I will because you are important to me and I know you've been through a horrible ordeal. I also know that Renji loves you and just wants to look out for you. How would you feel if something happened to him and you felt there was something more you could have done to help?"
"You're right. I'm sorry," she apologized so gruffly it sounded insincere. "His anger is just wearing on me. It's hard being locked up in that RV with him for hours on end. Where are we going? Are we there yet?"
"Yeah, almost," he laughed, nudging her in the side with his knee. "You've got a fan walking up."
Corbeau raised up on her elbows to see a little boy of about four years old standing beside the blanket. She smiled at him as he nervously stubbed a toe in the ground and blushed.
"E-e-excuse m-m-e, lady," he stuttered. He looked so cute with his spiked blond hair and big blue eyes as he twisted his fingers together nervously. "A-a-are you an a-a-angel?"
"What do you think?" she asked pleasantly putting friendly smile on her face. She sat up all the way, allowing her wings to straighten out behind her and extending them to their full span of about eight feet. It hurt, but she wouldn't dare react to the pain. Her smile was unfeigned when the little boy's mouth dropped open and his big blue eyes got even bigger.
"Oh, I think you are," the child said without a stutter this time while he marveled at her. "Can I hug you?"
"Sure," she replied, happily accepting a hug from the little boy. This started something because suddenly a line formed behind him with kids waiting to receive hugs from the angel who made a special visit to their park. The parents did not seem to mind and even broke out their cell phones to take pictures.
As the line dwindled, Corbeau saw a very much adored redhead at the end who looked like he needed a really big hug. She got to her feet standing so close to him her breasts grazed his chest with every breath she took.
"Can I have one of those?" Renji asked, sliding his hands around her shoulders.
"You can even have a kiss too," she replied, putting her arms around his waist.
"I love you," he said, stealing the promised kiss from her lips.
"I know, you big dope. Don't ever push me away. I can't stand being without you," she whispered, looking up at him.
"Yeah, I feel the same way about you," he rejoined, staring down into her eyes.
"Oh, for god's sake! Ask her to marry you already you idiot! It's the perfect romantic moment!" Ichigo yelled like a spectator from the sidelines at a sporting event.
It was the perfect romantic moment. Corbeau and Renji both laughed, hugging each other tightly.
"So what do you think, Raven? Would you marry a freak like me?" he asked, holding her face in his hands.
"You better believe I would," she answered, anxiously awaiting his kiss. There was no ring to seal the deal but his passionate kiss would do nicely.
"Hurry up and get her pregnant! Kids love her!" hollered their personal cheerleader.
Thanks, Ichigo.