Lomachislots War - Lost Childhood (Original) ~

[Kasawa Lanford]

With the door closed, Anise could only think of Sakura and cry at the same time, held in an embrace by Rin."She's ok..." Rin said, although she to was crying as well.

It wasn't quiet, most of the students in the shelter either cried or whined. The teachers went around calming everyone down also giving students something to drink. WIth the Air Raid Siren still sounding, it was going to be awhile before the doors could be opened.

Lurea was standing near the exit of the shelter. "What a damn time for them to be attacking..." she grumbled. "This is to much of a coincidence.." teacher said as he turned and looked at the students. "This is to much for some of these kids to handle..."

[Director of Music]

Andy held the drink in his hand, and paced around.  He was mumbling to himself.  Phineas looked at Andrew.  He had never seen his friend act like this before.  He stood up and walked over to Anise and Rin and sighed.  He sat down next to them, still watching Andrew.

"Anise, Rin.  You two should drink something.  I daresay we'll be down here for a while..."

For Andy, thoughts kept on circling inside his head.  She's the youngest in our group! Why did SHE have to be the one under there?  Why wasn't I fast enough?!  Teeth grinding, Andy paced around for a full 10 minutes.

[Kasawa Lanford]

Anise nodded, it was easy to tell she had been crying as her face looked terrible. She picked up the cup of water that the teacher had set down on the ground and took a sip, Rin had also picked up her cup but hadn't taken a sip. After some minute's Anise laid her head down in Rin's lap and slowly, she fell asleep.

Rin sat there on the ground and stared toward the exit, she wondered what was going outside. Not even the sound of the air raid made it through once the outside doors closed - and those could only be closed by those outside so she knew someone was out there.

Under the debris

Sakura wasn't sure how much time had passed, but the one thing she did know was that she was slowly lossing streangth. She could feel the numbness slowly creeping up her body, she had told herself several times not to cry, but for once she didn't tell herself this and was instead crying - but more out of pain than anything else. The smell of copper was present in the air, she didn't know what it meant but it did make her gag a bit, she had managed to get her right arm loss and was able to pull what little remained of her torn uniform over her face.

She had looked at the person was on top of her - lifeless and immobile. "Hey...." she managed to say, it taken her awhile to realy say anything as she had been in shock the whole time. "W-wake up..." she said and placed her hand on his face, it felt cold to her touch. She also noticed a red liquad dripping from his mouth, "W-w-wake up... p-please... I don't like being alone..." she said with tears in her eyes. After she tried for several minute's she gave up, assuming the person was asleep, not realizing that he was actually dead.

[Director of Music]

Andy gave up storming after awhile and drained his cup of water.  He knew that was rather stupid, because he had no idea how long they were going to be here, but at this point, he didn't care.  He sighed and sat next to Phineas, not saying anything.  He looked over at Anise and Rin, both  whom had fallen asleep.  He ran a hand through his already messy hair.  What was going on?

[Kasawa Lanford]

Nine Tails was watching the horizon, the sun was starting to descend below the clouds and a subtle rain began to fall. "Tell me again why can't intervene?" Nine Tails asked the person beside him.

The girl shook her head. "Because, even our country considers magic users to be enemy... its taboo for us to get involved in they'll instantly turn their weapons on us and possibly kill us," she said and looked down at the destroyed auditorium.

Firefighters and soldiers were going through the debris, despite the air raid sirens still going off. "Gutsy they are..." the girl said.

"at least they can act..." Nine Tails commented.

"Not our fault we can't do a damn thing because the politicions are fearful of what they don't understand," the girl sighed and looked at the nine tailed cat next to her. Nine Tails shook his head and sat down, taking his paw up to his face and licking it before running it over his head, "you know... thats not sanitary..." the girl said, disgusted.

Nine Tails smiled. "Hey, I'm a cat ok? Well.. I have the form of a cat, and besides its a lot easier to bath in this form than in my human form," he said and began to wash behind his ears.

Enough idle talk you two! Lurea shouted telepathicaly. What's the status on the survivors?

"I can see only nine hearts beating... thats ten less than before I reported..." The girl snarled. She balled up her fist and slammed it into the bell, causing it to let out a violent ring that made her and Nine Tails grab their ears. "You idiot!" Nine Tails, barely able to hear now thanks to the ringing in his ears.

Lurea shook her head. kids.... she grumbled.

Disaster Site

Sakura wasn't sure how long she had been under the debris, only that it was longer than she hold her bladder. She was whimpering now due to the accident she had, but knew that there was really no way around it as she was still stuck under seveal pounds of debris. "I hate this.." Sakura said, sniveling.

A foul odor had also begun to permiate the room, at first she thought it was coming from her but then she realized that it was coming from the person who was on top of her, his body was giving off an odor that made her vomit.

As she laid there, she thought she had heard something. "Huh?" she said as she strained to listen, however because she had blood all over her left ear, and because her right ear had cuts all over it, she had a difficult time hearing anything except her own heart. "I... must be hearing things..." she said in a sad tone and closed her eyes.

Above her, a firefighter crouched down; his face to the debris. "Anyone down there?!" he shouted.

Sakura's eyes opened wide - she wasn't just hearing things. "H-help me!" Sakura whimpered, tears pouring from her eyes.

The firefighter was amazed. "H-Hey! We got a survivors here!" he shouted as several of his fellow companions rushed over to him. "I can't see them," one said.

"She might be on the very bottom, if these floor plans are right, this area is where the stage used to be." Another fire fighter said, opening up a blue print on the debris. "Ok gents, let's take this slow and easy... everyone becareful, Mark, Julian, continue to search for survivors... if you hear any let me know." The fire chief said as he took the blue plans and looked them over. "Ok, get some equipment from the trucks and lets start excavating this area.. be very careful."

"The voice sounded like a little girl.." The firefigher who had heard Sakura say.

"Then be extra careful, I don't want us to be known as the department that killed a little girl because we rushed and didn't take proper safety measures," the fire chief said. His fire fighters all nodded, knowing what to do, before going off to do their tasks. In the distance mighty storm clouds had gathered, "It'll be raining soon..." the chief said to no one in particuler, with a sigh, he went back to work.

[Director of Music]

Another hour passed and Andy and Phineas both were getting rather restless.  Andy got up and started pacing around again.

[Kasawa Lanford]

Finally the doors to the shelter were opened and medics came in. "Anyone injured?" one called out and noticed several students lying on mats. "We've got a few hurt here, some are in the back," a teacher said and pointed.

The medics nodded and sent some of his men toward the back. "What about everyone else?"

"Most of the children here just want to get out and go home to their parents..." A teacher said, noting some children who are cried themselves to sleep. The paramedic smiled, "I understand. We'll take the injured out first, then we'll start moving everyone to the schools gym so they can wait for their parents."

The teacher nodded and started going around to the other teachers to relay the plan.

Anise and Rin were both asleep when the teacher noticed them, she didn't have the heart to wake them up though and asked another teacher to help her carry them to the nurses office where they could sleep in a warm bed until their mother arrived.

***

For Sakura, the firefighters had managed to remove much of the debris that was on top of her, but some of it they couldn't remove due to improper tools. The Rain that had begun to fell thirty minute's ago had found its way into the small hole that Sakura was trapped in. The water level had risen above her neck, she feared for her life until a slap of the ceiling was moreved and a firefighter jumped down into the hole.

He placed the oxygen mask around her face, noting that she had numerous deep cuts that were trickling blood. He could tell however that she was very weak right now, her face while bloodied, was very pale. "Chief, this young girl is lossing blood but I don't know from where... we need to cut her out of her quick!" he said over his radio.

The firefighter looked at the teenager who was on top of her and placed his fingers against his neck, but alas he felt no pulse and was forced to looked away. "We also got a DB down here..." he said over the radio.

He ran his hand over the girls wet and bloody hair. "You'll be fine," he said to her, she gave a weak nod and stared straight up toward the sky.

[Director of Music]

Andy and Phineas were both greatly relieved.  They followed the group to the school gym.  Andy looked over at Phineas.  "Do you want to come to my place? I-"

But Phineas declined.  "No...I..think I'll have to..um...check up on...my father."

Andy nodded his head.  Finny never talked about his family.  And when he did, it was the least information possible.  Andy had never even SEEN Phineas's dad.  Phineas started walking out.

Andy said, "Hey...isn't your dad coming to pick you up?"

Phineas shook his head and continued walking out.  Andy bit his lip.  In about 30 minutes, Greg Baldwin came rushing in, his face pale.  "Andrew!"  He said.  Andy ran into his dad's open arms.  "Are you alright?"

"Yea."

"Where's Finny?"

"He...left."

"His dad pick him up?"

"I..er...yea."

"Alright.  Let's get home.  Your mother is worried sick."  Andy nodded, then stopped.  "Dad...Sakura.."

He turned around and looked at his son.  "What's wrong?"

Andy sighed.  "Can we wait for a moment to see if Sakura is alright?"

His father shook his head.  Gently, he said, "I'm sorry, Andy.  I have to get back to work and figure this mess out.  I'm sure she'll be alright."

"Okay..."
-------------------
Phineas arrived home, grimacing.  He knocked on the door, and his father, drunk like usual, opened the door.  "Where the hell have ya been, boy?!  Swaggerin all over town wit your rich friends?!"

Quietly, Phineas answered.  "School had an emergency."

His father laughed. "Pbth.  Emergency.  Some dumb kid set off the fire alarm or somethin?"

"No." Phineas said, irritated.

His father stopped and looked at him.  In a low voice he said, "You been hangin wit that Baldwin boy, havent ya?!"

"So what if I have been?"

"I Tol ya hes a bad influence!"

Aggravated beyond all means, Phineas replied, "He's a better influence than your are... father"

Slap

Phineas stepped back.  A red handprint on his face.

"GET OUT!"  The man yelled.

"Gladly." Said Phineas.  And he did just that.  Walked out in the rain, trudging back towards Andy's place.

[Kasawa Lanford]

Several an hour of cutting, the support beam that was on top of the debris was finally removing, allowing for the debris that was on Sakura's leg to be removed granting access to her legs. Sakura's rescuers took several towels to wrap what remained of her legs together, then the firefighter who had been with her gently picked her up.

She smiled slightly and watched as her surrounding's went by her, she was feeling rather weak and was barely able to keep her eyes open. When she was handed off to a paramedic she blacked out, unable to keep her eyes open.

Loaded into an await ambulance, she was rushed to the children's hospital and into emergency surgury.

***

Anise and RIn had been sleeping in the nurse's office when their big sister and mother came. Like the nurse, they didn't wake them up and instead thanked the nurse for taking care of them.

Loading them into the car, their mother drove them home where they were put to bed.

An announcement would soon be made that the Academy would not be opened tomorrow or the day after pending an investigation of what happened.

[Director of Music]

Andy arrived at home with his father.  His mother had been fussing over him when the doorbell rang.  Andy ran to get it.  He opened the door, very shocked to see Phineas standing there, drenched.

"Finny!  What happened to you?"

Dryly, he said, "It's raining, Andrew.  I walked over.  I hope you don't mind?"

"'Course not, but hey-...What happened to your face?"

Phineas's left cheek had turned a deep shade of purple.  "Oh.  I just...banged it into something."

Andy's father came up to greet Phineas.  "Hello, Finny.  You're soaking wet, come on in!"  He also noticed the bruise.  "Are you alright?  You have a nasty whack on your cheek."

"I'm fine, Mr. Baldwin, thank you.  I just ran into something."

"Mmkay..."  He replied, but he knew better.  Andy got Phineas a towel and some extra clothes to change into.  Andy's mother forgot about Andy and started fussing over Phineas.  While Phineas was being checked over, Andy got the phone and dialed Anise and Rin's phone number.

[Kasawa Lanford]

The ringing of the phone brought the twins older sister, who answered the phone. She realized who it was base on the number, "I'm sorry Andrew, but Anise and Rin are asleep right now.... you'll have to call them tomorrow," she said and hung up. She stood there and sighed before hearing her mother, "who was it?"

"One of the twins friends," She said and walked into the kitchen. "A hell of a thing to happen to two ten years olds.. to witness such a disaster."

"I heard what happened to Sakura from her mother, she asked if the twins could come by tomorrow to see her, provided she's not in surgury," her mother said. "If they are awake," the big sister said. "Anyway, I'm heading to bed.. today's been rough, good night..."

[Director of Music]

Andy hung up, dejected.  However, at least he knew that they were alright.  Sakura however...he had no clue what had happened to her.  He sighed and went over to his room where Phineas was.  Phineas just stared at the ceiling in his own thoughts.  Andy layed down on his bed and did the same.  The night seemed to never end.

The next morning, Andy and Phineas trudged to the kitchen.  His mom replied rather brightly.  "Morning boys!  No school today, have some breakfast!  Your father should be coming back shortly.  He has some news for you two.  Mr. Baldwin came 5 minutes later.  "Andy, Finny-"

Both boys said in unision, "Is Sakura alright?"

Andy's father raised his hand.  "She's fine.  She's at the hospital recovering."  He didn't want the boys to know all the details.

"Can we go visit her?"

"Er.  I suppose so, yes, yes of course."  He grabbed his jacket while the boys scoffed down their breakfast.  In another 30 minutes, they arrived at the childerns' hospital.

[Kasawa Lanford]

In the main lobby, Rin sat on a chair alone. Her older sister was talking with a nurse while she sat there thinking about Sakura, all she knew was that her friend wasn't out of surgury yet.

[Director of Music]

Andy and Phineas rushed into the hosptail ready to barge into Sakura's room.  However, they stopped short when they saw Rin.

[Kasawa Lanford]

Rin's older sister nodded at the nurse before walking over to Rin and sitting next to her. Rin leaned over against her sister who hugged her.

***

The doctors wiped the sweat from their foreheads. "Eleven hours of work..." One said as he finished stitching up the wound. "Now we can only hope that her body doesn't reject her new legs.."

"She's lucky we can make biogene legs here, but I can assure you she'll be in for weeks of rehab..." Another doctor said as he put his surgury tools down.

"Nurse, take her to her room but she needs some rest so if anyone comes to visit tell them they'll have to wait until tomorrow or the day after," the head doctor said as he took his mask off.

The nurse wheeled her out of surgury and toward an elevator, taking her up to the third floor and into her room.

In another lobby, the one used by families, her mother had been awaiting the news. She had been told that her daughter had survived surgury and that she was now in her own room asleep and well, "the drugs will wear off sometime tomorrow," the doctor said to her. "Can I at least see her?" Sakura's mother asked. The doctor nodded and lead her to Sakura's room, but along the way she saw Rin.

"Rin?" Sakura's mother said and walked up to the young girl, "your here to see Sakura aren't ya?" she asked.

Rin nodded, Sakura's mother smiled. "I'm glad she has such a great friend," she said before noticing the two boy's staring at Rin.

[Director of Music]

Andy and Phineas both walked over to Sakura's mother.  Andy smiled that half smile of his.  "Hello ma'am.  I'm Andrew Baldwin."  He pointed to Finny.  "And this is Phineas Williams.  We're friends of Sakura..."  Here, his smile faded.  "How is she?"

[Kasawa Lanford]

Sakura's mother smiled. "The doctor says she's fine," she said and gestured for the two boys and Rin to follow her. The doctor lead them to Sakura's room but instructed them that they could only look through the glass, that they couldn't enter her room since they weren't family.

Rin looked through the glass as her friend, Sakura an IV bag hooked up to her arm, and a blood pack hooked up to the other arm. "Why'd this have to happen...." Rin mumbled. Sakura's mother sat down next to the bed and squeezed Sakura's small hand.

***

Lurea watched from outside, using Rin's eyes to see what was going on inside. "So... your saying her voice caused it?" Lurea asked Nine Tails, who nodded. "Evidence certainly points to her..." Nine Tails said.

"What did Yoko say about the military?" Nine Tails asked, but he both liked and didn't like the answer that he was given. "From what she could see... it seems they moved their plan of attack back at least six weeks.... but from what I hear instead of a troop movement it'll be a full scale bombing campaign to whip out this town.."

Nine Tails scowled in disgust. "Bastards.... and here we can't do a damn thing to warn these citizens because then we'll be made the bad guys.."

"I'm... always working on a way of warning them.." Lurea said, referring to Anise, RIn, Andy, Phineas and Sakura. "In the next few days they'll begin to have dreams, they'll be pleasant dreams at first.. however those dreams will progressively show a darker side as time goes by... eventually leading up to showing them what will happen six weeks from now.." Lurea said. She stuffed her hands into her left pocket and pulled out a pair of sun glasses and put them on.

Nine Tails just shook his head. "What a way to warn them..."

[Director of Music]

Andy completely flinched while Phineas's mouth just twitched.  This was unbelievable.  This could have happened to any one of them, and it happened to the youngest.  One moment, she was singing, vigorous, full of energy...and now...

[Kasawa Lanford]

The doctor looked at the boy's and Rin, she then looked at Rin's big sister. "You said you wanted us to dispatch a doctor to your house right?" he asked her. Her big sister nodded, "Come on Rin, we are going home." She said to her little sister who nodded.
 
"Take care Andy, Phineas.." Rin said in a not so cheerful mood as she followed her big sister.

[Director of Music]

Andy nodded vaguely.  Phineas just kept staring at Sakura.  The doctor gently put his hands on both their shoulders.   "Come now, boys.  Your friend will be alright.  You two should go back home."

With that, Phineas nodded and Andy followed.  Mr.Baldwin was on the phone, furiously talking with someone on the other end.  When he saw the boys, he immediately hung up.  He opened the car door for them without saying anything and they drove back to the Baldwins.