Disclaimer: No, I do not own Infinite Stratos or any of its characters.

Ever since Charlotte Dunois's "Ichika no ecchi", my fondness for this character has grown since. So I ended up writing a fanfic on this favourite character or mine! So please do enjoy, read and review! Do provide me with constructive criticism as well...
Now on with the story...

"So its true?" the middle-aged man asked, his brows furrowed in a tight knit.

"Yes, Charles has revealed his... I mean... her identity," another younger man, replied, a hint of worry shown in his eyes.

The older man slammed a fist on his table, mumbling out profanities under his breath. It took only a few months for her to reveal herself. To think she was a member of the Dunois family - an embarassment was what she was. He closed his eyes in an attempt to calm himself down. With a swift motion, he pressed a button on the telephone neatly placed on his desk and gave his order,

"Get the S-16 Revive model out. Find our best IS pilot and send her to IS academy. By hook or crook, I want ISPN900 back... I don't care whether dead or alive, NOW!"

A timid shrilled voice replied back and with that, the Rage Revive was sent out and on its way to IS Academy.

"No, don't!" the blonde fifteen-year-old screamed as she awoke from her nightmare.

The same nightmare was happening all over again. After having revealed her true identity, those nightmares stopped returning. She thought it was the end of it, that the nightmares wouldn't occur again. But for some strange reason, it came back. Her face white as a sheet, she grasped the bedsheets in horror, her knuckles white. Her face was stained in tears.

Flashes of her memory sparked itself in her mind.

The electric shocks sent through her veins. Her screams that were unheard. The electrodes fixed on her temples sending numbing pain on her head. She, struggling to release herself from the cold metal clasps. Her wrists and ankles bleeding from her endless struggling. The thumping noise in her head that she couldn't shake off. Her voice, hoarse from all the screaming and pleading for the torture to end. Her relief, when it seemed that the day's session was over. The tears that streamed unknowingly down her cheeks. The complete and utter fear, once again, when tomorrow arrives and the entire process repeats itself.

And all this to boost her IS capabilities.

She wondered how anyone could survive such horrendous treatment. She wondered how she survived. She reckoned other IS pilots did not have to suffer the same way as her.

Her jagged breathing... her vision fading... everything was a blur.

She took deep breaths, to calm herself down. Everything was over, at least thats what Ichika had said to her. Suddenly, she felt a hand on her shoulder, only to find her blue-haired friend sitting on her bed beside her, brows knitted with worry.

"Char, you okay?" he whispered, gently caressing her hair.

She was shaking uncontrollably but managed to regain her composure. Taking a swallow, she mumbled out words in French. She probably didn't make any sense to him, but at that point of time, she wasn't even thinking straight.

"Charlotte..." he called out her name, pulling her into his chest, rocking back and forth, back and forth, "Its okay, I'm here, you're safe..."

He could feel her detense in his arms. Her arms wrapped themselves around his back.

"Ichika... Ichika..." he heard her mumble.

Soon enough, the violet-eyed girl fell into deep slumber. Ichika knew what had happened - Charlotte had told him of the nightmares. Like he had promised her, he would protect her, he definitely would. He leaned her down into her bed, tucking her in. He wiped away the tears on her cheeks with his thumb then wished her a good night, at least, he wanted her to have a good night.

Finally, he carassed the girl's cheek, ensured that she was really okay, before returning back to bed. He, himself, needed his sleep. After all, tomorrow he had promised a certain brunette that he would do training with her at 9 in the morning. If not, he was sure, she would bash him up real good... That was after all... Houki.

"Ichikaaaaaaaa..." the crimson-eyed teenager heard a familiar voice calling out his name, "Wake up NOWWW!"

Who was that so early in the morning? He opened his eyes, getting ready to give this said person a dressing down.

"H-H-H-Houki?" the dawn of realisation hit him.

What time was it? He looked at the bedside clock, 10:00AM. Just then, it felt like a part of his life disappeared.

"You made me wait for an hour... YOUUUUUUU!" a katana was swiftly lifted up by the blue-eyed girl, her threatening eyes staring reproachfully at his crimson ones.

How many times has this felt like deja vu, he thought to himself. This time, he might not even survive. A head concussion, brain damage or something. He might die... by the hands of this violent woman. He knew this day would come, but not that early. His entire life flashed before his eyes.

"Char, Charrr, save me!" he shouted in immense fear, looking towards his companion's bed.

With a quick movement of his hands, he grabbed the katana right before it landed on his head. His expression full of confusion, he looked at his brunette friend then at the empty bed beside him.

"Charlotte... where is she?" he asked, the clueless brunette in front of him shaking her head in response.

He jumped off the bed, towards the bathroom.

"Char?" he knocked on the bathroom door, "You in there, Char?"

No response.

"Ichika, have you possibly forgotten that you've made me wait an hour at the training grounds?" he heard a menacing voice from behind him.

"U-U-Uh, ahh! Ya, lets go now shall we? Let me just take a shower and then we can go," he stuttered, lookin at his childhood friend apologetically.

Whatever it is, I'm sure Char's okay, she's in the academy so that means she's okay... he thought to himself, letting the matter rest. Nonetheless, yesterday night's episode was strange. It had occured a few times before but after having everything settled, it never happened again. Nothing had happened yesterday... nothing bad, nothing that could spark off the nightmare she had been having. Yet, yesterday, it occured once again. He made a clear reminder to search for Charlotte after his training with Houki. For now, he'd better hurry. Houki might cut off his head again for being so slow.

"ISPN900..." the blonde whispered to herself, reading the clear engraved letters behind the IS summoner that hung, like a necklace, around her neck.

"Rafale Revive Custom II", the IS that she was handed with, was a second-generation multi-range IS given to her by President Dunois... her father. She remembered when she was first given the IS summoner. A strange man, one of his father's men, suddenly went towards her, releasing the metal clasps that held her on the experimental table. He gave her a black box, which opened to reveal the IS summoner that hung around her neck now. From a gallery above, she could see the figure of her father, standing behind the glass windows enclosing the gallery.

"Its time for you to go, Charles," President Dunois spoke into the microphone, his voice booming out of the speakers in the experimental station.

That was the first time her father had called her by her name... even if it wasn't really her name. If not, it was either a 'you' or 'that girl' or simply 'ISPN900', the codename that was given to her meaning 'Infinite Stratos Pilot No. 900'.

The wind blew, brushing her cheeks, her hair flying with it. The violet-eyed girl grasped the IS summoner tightly in her hands.

"Je ne veux pas revenir avec vous, mon père... Je ne veux pas..." she spoke, voice determined and full of certainty.

Yes, she definitely won't turn back.

I used Google translate for the last bit... XD

It means, "I won't turn back, Father... I won't...", at least thats what Google told me. (EDIT: Google has fooled me once again, XD! Thanks loads to Kiyomaro-kun for the correct translation~)

I may be busy since holidays are coming to an end soon. Hence, I won't be updating as often. Hope to receive your comments!

=)