Final Fantasy [Begins]

[classy_cat18]

Kite Rowe

I’m such an idiot. All that time I’ve spent controlling my emotions, gone down the porcelain drain in the span of two days. And now it feels like I can’t cool down no matter what I do. I paused in front of the door of the guest room, contemplating snatching up Smashy and just leaving the house for good. But at the sound of footsteps, I went back to running for the front door.

“Kite, wait!” I heard Nova shout. I kept quiet and put my hand on the doorknob just I felt Nova’s hand on my shoulder. “I’m so sorry. She just—“

Something inside me snapped like a twig, and I spun around and threw a punch at his face, which he caught. “Please stay—“ he tried to speak.

I managed to surprise him with a kick to his balls. He cried out as he fell to the floor. “I don’t care if you had sex with her or not!” I shouted, surprised by my own words. I paused in confusion. There was this weird feeling of relief. “Don’t… care… that’s right. Don’t care.”

“Wh-wha?” he grunted while he curled up on the floor.

“Do whatever you want to do,” I said slowly. “I don’t care anymore. Marry her, have kids with her, I don’t care anymore! Do whatever you want to do with your life! Get turned into a cieth, get turned into crystal, whatever! I DON’T CARE! It’s your goddamn life! It’s time I got my own! The sooner this whole mess is over, the sooner I can get away from you!”

“At leaoowwww,” he whimpered as he sat up. “Damn, you’re wearing steel toed boots, aren’t you?”

I chuckled, but was quickly cut short by a wave of dizziness. No food, little sleep, nightmares, stress… yep, need to sit down.

“Kite?” I heard Nova say.

“Not. A. Word. The next word you say to me will be an end to your ability to procreate. And I’ll use Smashy for that to make sure.” I flashed a glare at him. “I mean it.”

“Guys?” I looked up at Jin with the same glare. He gulped and stuttered before speaking again. “Are you two going to be alright?”

I nodded slightly and stumbled to the kitchen. There was a whole basket of assorted fruit for the taking. I had one in my hand when Eden walked downstairs with a neutral look. Jin and I froze, eyeing her carefully as she headed for the coffee maker. At the first sign of danger, I was bolting for the front door. But she was more interested in Nova. She stood next to him and gave me and Jin a look that scared both of us. I snatched the whole bowl of fruit and slipped into the nearest room while Jin ran upstairs.

I ended up in the study that Nova showed us when we first got here. It was a nice room, with shelves of books and a piano. I sat in the corner and started eating the food that I had taken from the kitchen, the ripest and tastiest fruit I had ever eaten. That was probably because I hadn’t eaten since the Parade.

I’m such an idiot. I should have known that blurting out that confession at the temple would’ve made things worse. Now every time we’re together is going to be awkward or violent… oh wait, I said I didn’t want anything to do with him anymore. Not that he probably cares. And we don’t have a lot of time on this world anyway. I stopped eating for a moment.

“And why should it care if I get my life back or not? It’s just going to be more salvage work back at Ramblum. Stuffy military life or no, at least Nova had this. I don’t even have much education to depend on. Just reading and writing, and basic arithmetic.” Cid didn’t see the need for sending a boy with no social skills to school.

“Beep?”

I raised my eyes to look at Babs. “Did we wake you up?” I fed her a berry. “I’ll give you another if you don’t tell anyone where I am. Especially not Eden.”

“Beep!” She opened her beak so I could feed her another.

“Who’d thought a ditchcrawler like me would have the chance to go to Alexandria? If I stepped outside, I’d probably get arrested on the spot. I scream ‘streetrat’. I’m probably some call girl’s child born out of wedlock on top of that. Hardly a dime to my name. If it wasn’t for Cid, I’d be dead on the outskirts of Ramblum. All I could think of was working for him so I wouldn’t be a burden.”

I ate a little more. I was feeling a lot better physically. “Then Nova showed up there one day. This idiot that kept getting into trouble, and shrugged it off like it was no big deal. I took it upon myself to making sure the fool didn’t get killed. But he didn’t care where I came from and was comfortable around me. I guess guys aren’t that picky about appearances. Well, I know there are girls who wouldn’t mind but if they’re not disgusted, then they’re pitying me. Nova probably just thought the burn was the result of an accident on the job. Not sure if he even knows about the missing toes. Not even my personality kept him away, which just about everyone was put off by. I was afraid that if I told him what I felt about him, he’d stay away and that would be the end of our friendship, the biggest thing that existed in my life outside my job. I knew he didn’t feel that way. But I had hoped that I would have a chance. I’m such an idiot. Now I can’t look at him without either wanting to punch his face or…”

I shook my head to clear it, and took a big bite out of another piece of fruit. If I could just concentrate on something else for a while, that would make a big difference. I reached out and grabbed a book, reading as I ate.

[Shadow Wolf]

Jin

Things have certainly gotten lively...

The alarm wasn't ordinary, but it was enough to wake him up. A boy raging as he punched a comrade and a third one protesting as he found out that his friend slept with a girl.

Heh... human interactions...

As Jin stood there watching the show taking place in the house, he wondered if this was the way he had to deal with people when he faced the situations in life. Not that he didn't want to, but his indoors life wasn't of any help when it came to social life. So far, he knew only of a few things. Markus spent the night with Eden, and Nova spent the night -though apparently he didn't have sex- with Alex, which apparently made Kite angry. As he went through these events in his own mind, he was snapped back to reality with a simple question (or more like an order).

"Don't you have something better to do?"

Eden's glare and her tone of voice was enough to make Jin realize that he was in the wrong place. Silently but quickly, he made his way downstairs. Maybe a bit of alone time could be useful...

"...or not..."

He was greeted by another chapter of Trouble at the Myst Manor. Seeing Nova in pain on the floor as Kite blurted the words "I don't care" in anger made Jin felt like once again, he was in the wrong place.

-"Jin, nothing will happen if you don't take the first step man. I know you're used to live a quiet life, but you're missing all the fun in life. Try to be a bit more open OK?"

-"OK boss."

-"Meh, drop the formalities. Markus sounds better."

-"OK... thanks Markus"

As he recalled the advice Markus gave him, he finally gathered the courage to speak a few words.

"Guys?"

He was greeted by a cold stare from Kite, making him panic a bit, but that didn't stop him from at least finishing what he had to say...

“Are you two going to be alright?”

It seems that his words were enough to calm the mood a bit. Kits silently headed for the kitchen to grab something while Jin, offering his hand in help, assisted Nova in rising to his feet again. Peace would only last for a short time, as Eden's prescence made the silent feel like a heavy boulder on everyone's back once more. Kite and Jin tracked her commanding steps as she went to the kitchen and back with a cup of coffe in hand; and as they expected, they both received the commanding glare to leave the area as soon as possible.

Ugh... twice already... she definitely doesn't like me.

The nearest exit was to go upstairs and Jin did not hesitate to take the exit and avoid trouble once more.

_____

"Jin!"

That greeting he was familiar with... Markus was there raising his hand to pick up his attention while Alex was healing his wounds, trying her best to hide her red face.

"Heh, I bet you're surprised about the events right? Don't give it too much thought. You'll get old if you keep that frown man."

"Eh... right. But that's not what's in my mind."

"Well, I'm no psychic. Speak up"

"Uh... where do I start..."

As his words began to flow out of his mouth, Jin spoke to Markus about three issues which were on his mind: The battle with their ex-teammate and how he felt like some sort of barrier protected him from at least some of the bruises he picked up from said battle; how he felt like he hasn't been able to interact much with the crew; and finally, the origin of the weird tattoo he has on his left arm, which he noticed last night before going to sleep.

"Well, I'm not sure if you've noticed, but Alex also has new skills."

Oh yeah... now that I think about it...

"Dont get lost on your head yet Jin."

"Ah, sorry." Jin quickly removed his hand from his forehead to pay attention to Markus.

"We all have new tricks, along with the marks we have in our bodies. As you can see, I also have one." Markus showed the brand on his right forearm as he spoke. "...and I'm sure that Alex also has one somewhere in her body."

"Umm..." Alex's face was bright red as Markus said these words.

"Chill Alex. We won't ask you to show us your tattoo."

"O...OK" Her embarrassment was clearly evident as she was no longer able to hide her blush from the duo.

"This isn't a happy story, however. Even though our abilities are cool and all, we have been branded and are now what some people may call "L'cie."

Jin gaze got a bit lost as he tried to recall if he ever heard that name before.

"You don't know what L'cie are, right? L'cie are pretty much humans, expect they have new perks and are chosen to complete a mision of sorts. Remember that you told me that you felt like a barrier protected you from harm? Well, that's prob one of your new powers. OK, so about the mission... I'm pretty sure you had a vision, right?"

"Yeah, something about a crystal, the beast we fought in the city a few days ago, and a city falling down or something like that."

"Well, that. We need to find out where and how we fit there. If not, we'll end up like our lovely Bella. Things aren't so happy if we complete our mission either, as we'll prob end up turned into crystal statues."

"Hmm... so either way, we lose eh?" Jin's words expressed a bit of frustration as he collected all the info he acquired from Markus. His thoughts, however, were interrupted as he heard a light sound coming from Alex.

"I don't want to..." Alex was visibly shaken by the conversation.

"Hey, don't cry. Look, I'm sorry for this. I just wanted to know what was all of this about. It wasn't my intention to make you cry." For ome reason his hand found a way into Alex's head, maybe as an effort to show support and encouragement for both her and himself. "Look, I don't know how this thing works completely, but none of us wants to see the city destroyed, right? So don't feel sad. We'll find a way." He felt like he had to do anything to make Alex feel better, though he only made her blush once more.

"Hah, not bad Jin. Just don't let Nova know you're hitting on Alex."

"Quit it man."

Markus was now laughing as the scene became a bit awkward by his last words. Despite all of this, Jin was actually feeling better. It was good to enjoy a good laugh after all the trials they have been through in the last few days, even if that laugh wasn't actually his own.

"I'm going to get ready. I'll meet you in the lounge later." Jin was about to enter in the room again when...

"Jin" Alex's voice stopped on his tracks for a moment. "Thanks... for your words."

"Eh... sure." His face was a bit red, though he managed to hide it as he entered the room. As he closed the door, he heard Markus say something to Alex.

"Don't worry. He's quiet but kind. You can trust him."

As he proceeded to get himself ready, and as the thoughts of the impending doom tried to invade his mind, he softly muttered the words that he would say to his trainer, if he wasn't inside his mind.

Thanks Markus.

________

OK, so I apologize for the lack of quality in my post. It's been a while and I feel kinda rusty. I believed I tagged everyone in the post and if it wasn't apparent, I made the suggestion of gathering everyone in the lounge, as I believe not everyone is informed of the plans for the day (I think only Eden, Nova and Markus know of the future meeting with Kara). Feel free to PM me if there was anything odd about my post.

EDIT: OK, so I'm currently trying to make the characters a bit more accurate with their words and thoughts. Thanks for bearing with me as I learn how to write correctly.

[ChobiChibi]

So all of you know I was gonna create a new girly to bring girl/boy ratio up a bit... So here she is! I'll post for her and Nova very soon~

Name: Yuki Kurosawa
Age: 21
Gender: Female
Class: N/A

Personality: Yuki has a very great sense of honour, and is very wary of other peoples’ opinions of her, although she tries not to let this show. At work, Yuki is quiet, respectful and loyal to Kara, always willing to do what is asked of her without question. Away from this, she is very calm, normally quite cheerful, and rarely has anything negative to say. Contrary to her training, Yuki hates verbal confrontation and arguments because she’s not very good at expressing how she truly feels in those heated situations, and would much rather physically fight someone than verbally fight them. She keeps her opinions to herself, especially at work, as she knows one misunderstanding could cause her to lose her job. Despite this, Yuki knows how to relax and have fun when it’s appropriate. She is known to take a long time over making decisions when it comes to other people (she doesn’t want to hurt them, or offend them), but when it comes to combat she is always on the ball. She is fairly easy to talk to, because she likes to listen, but she is very cautious when giving advice.

Appearance: Yuki is rather slim, but her muscles are toned and well defined from years of training. She stands at around 5’6’’, which is quite tall for someone of Japanese/Asian heritage and she is much stronger than she looks. Her dark brown hair is naturally quite wavy and reaches her waste when loose, but it is more often tied into a high ponytail to keep out of the way. It has lighter brown highlights running through it and her fringe is parted to one side. Her eyes are chocolate brown, and she has a few light freckles across her nose and cheeks. At a first glance, Yuki doesn’t appear to dress appropriately for her job, but actually her attire is suitable for her specialism, and makes people unaware of her martial arts training. That and she isn’t required to wear a uniform since she is not part of the military/police. She wears a black tank top, and black leggings that come to just above her knees, with an oversized, thin blue jumper that reaches half way down her thighs and hangs off one shoulder. Although she’d prefer to go barefoot, she does wear purple low-top converse, as they’re the comfiest shoes she can tolerate. The strap from her quiver goes diagonally across her chest.

Occupation: Kara Myst’s personal guard (one of them, at any rate XD)

Weapon: Yuki uses a bow for long range and occasionally a short dagger for close combat. The bow itself is very dark brown, almost black and has no particular features, other than a small, silver family crest at the bottom, barely noticeable to those who don’t know it’s there.

History: The Kurosawa family have been guardians to Ultima’s Representative for generations. At least, this was true until her grandfather made the mistake of giving away some sensitive information about the Representative at the time, causing their family to lose all respect and honour they had gained through the years for doing such an important job. They were forced to leave Alexandria, losing their home and most of their possessions, living in a small town just outside of Ramblum. Eventually, they built up a business strong enough that they could afford to live in Ramblum, so they moved there when Yuki was about 7. She met Kite not long after, when she stopped some older boys picking on him because he couldn’t read or write. Cid’s garage was sort of on route to school/home, so she often stopped by after school to play games.

Despite their loss in fortune, her parents insisted that Yuki be trained in martial arts (this included archery), just as all generations before her had. This started with lessons from her father, and then when they could afford it, she was sent to a specialist school that trained in martial arts as well as general education. She became one of their best students, graduating with the highest award they offered, which is what caught Kara Myst’s attention.

Although she wasn’t alive when her family were disgraced, she still has a great sense of loss of honour from the stories her parents have told her. Therefore when she was offered a guardian position, she took it without hesitation, much to her parent’s delight and Kite’s irritation. This new job meant that her family were able to move back to Alexandria, and although as yet their honour isn’t fully restored, Yuki tries her best to maintain and improve their reputation. She hasn’t spoken to Kite since, knowing full well that he must hate her for taking the job.

Relationships: Was good friends with Kite when they were younger. Vaguely acquainted with Eden and Nova, and has also been sent to spar with Markus on the odd occasion.

Other: Um... I probably should mention that Yuki's fighting style is more offensive than defensive. She isn't built to take hits... So she is really aggressive and doesn't let up to try and avoid being hit herself.

[ChobiChibi]

Nova Myst

He knew she was lying, but he didn’t want to call her out on it. Eden was well practiced in telling little white lies to make him feel better, and as he got older, and situations like this arose, it was strange how he appreciated the sentiment more now than he did when he was younger.

To be honest, he wasn’t really sure who he was angry at. It was against his nature to be aggressive like he had been earlier, so he knew he would have to apologise. And he did like Markus, so he really wasn’t sure why he told Eden she could do better.

That would be Kara’s opinion, not his. But you don’t argue with Kara.

He sat with Eden for a while, taking comfort in the fact that he knew she was just as torn inside as he was.

“I promise I’m going to be less of a dick from now on.” Nova finally said, rubbing his knuckles gingerly from where he’d hit Markus. It had felt so good at the time, now it felt so bitter. “I’ll find Markus and apologise, then round the others up.”

“You’re excited to see Kara?”

“Only because I know she’ll figure out what we should do.” He lied. Partially. He also felt that he could really do with a hug from her, if he was honest.

Nova got up and stretched, taking Eden’s empty coffee mug from her to take back inside. “Please don’t keep secrets from me. I know you only do it to protect me, but I’m 19 now. I know sometimes you think I can’t handle the truth, but surely you won’t know that until you let me try?” He shrugged. “I’m not as stupid as you think I am.”

He began to walk back towards the house, but paused briefly when Eden called to him. “I promised our parents I’d take care of you. I’m not breaking that promise.”

“I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t want you to stop me living my life though.” He said quietly as he walked away, unsure if Eden heard him or not.

The house was fairly empty, so he assumed they were all hiding from the Myst family rage. He could hear Babs chirping away, and someone was hitting random keys on the piano. Wouldn’t be Alex, he thought. She’d be more tuneful than that.

He briefly wondered if she was scared of him now, since he’d hit Markus and got unreasonably angry. Hopefully not. He’d talk to her later. It was shower time, and that was far more important.

He’d picked up his clothes as he went by them in the living room, so there was no chance he’d have to go in his room and disturb Alex. He didn’t waste time in the shower, although he really didn’t want to get out, because he knew if they’d miss the chance to see Kara today if they didn’t hurry up.

Fully clothed and with his hair still soggy, he knocked on Markus’ door with a little hesitation.

Markus opened the door also fully clothed, but looking a little more presentable than usual. He obviously knew where they were going.

Nova held out his hand in preparation for the handshake he wanted to offer. “Markus, I’m sorry for being a prick. You know it’s not like me to attack people like that and... Well... I should really be congratulating you on the fact you finally managed to crack that shell that my sister so expertly puts up. So, before I did myself a hole, I’m sorry.”

Nova shouldn’t have been surprised that Markus shook his hand, but he was. “It’s alright; everyone has been on edge lately. And I’m sorry you found out the way you did. The night wasn’t exactly planned...”

“I could guess that.” Nova chuckled. He glanced down the corridor to make sure no one was listening. “And I really didn’t make any moves on Alex. As much as I want to, right now it doesn’t feel like I should...”

“Who are you and what have you done with the Nova I knew at the Academy, who would take his chances with anything that moved?”

“He grew up.” Nova smirked. “But only a little bit.” He yawned and stretched. “Anyway, will you help me round up the others? We need to leave soon.”
Markus nodded, looking noticeably worried. “This is gonna be interesting...”

Nova shrugged as he walked towards the stairs. “It’s only Kara. What’s the worst that could happen?”

She could kill them all for being l’cie, of course. If it was anyone else, she probably wouldn’t hesitate to. Sometimes being related to Ultima’s Representative had its upsides.

Nova wandered towards the study. He decided to let Markus deal with whoever was upstairs. After he opened the door, he wished he’d picked upstairs instead.

Kite looked up momentarily from the book he was reading and glared.
Not wanting his bollocks crushed by Smashy, he just about managed to stop himself saying anything. Instead, he picked up a pen and piece of paper from the desk. He scribbled a note, hiding it from Kite’s view until he gave it to him.

“’Dear Kite,” He read aloud. “’We have to leave soon, so please get your things together. And I know what you’re thinking, I won’t let anyone throw you out. If they did, they’d have to chuck me out too.’ With a smiley face? Really?”

He shrugged, putting his hands in his pockets.

Kite frowned. “I’ll get ready.” As Nova gave him a thumbs up, Kite’s expression lightened. “You really are terrified that I’m gonna use Smashy on ya, aren’t you?”

Nova shrugged again, but then nodded. Feeling that it might be safe to speak again, he did. “I’m afraid I’ll say something stupid.”

“You always do.”

“Thanks, Kite. Thanks a lot.”

Yuki Kurosawa

Today was supposed to be one of those normal days on the job. She was in all day with Kara, and it was these days she enjoyed the most. They would talk when she wasn’t busy, and it made Kara seem like a normal person, just like everyone else.

She was a little distant today though, but Yuki knew why. She hadn’t heard from her brother or sister since the disaster at the Parade of Lights. She’d sent Yuki down to Ramblum, as she was the one guard that really knew the city, to find them. She was unsuccessful.

She’d visited Cid briefly while she was in the area. He was rushed off his feet since Kite and Nova had disappeared.

It didn’t take her long to realise that they were essentially looking for the same person.

From that moment on, she looked for leads on Kite too, hoping it would take her to the missing Myst boy and his big sister.

She returned late last night with only the knowledge that they had been there, and that they weren’t amongst the dead. Luckily, Kara didn’t seem to hold this against her.

So when Eden arrived late in the morning, it took them both by surprise. But she was alone. Fearing the worst, Yuki remained still and silent.

“I need to talk to you.” Eden stated.

If this were Nova, he would have greeted Kara with a hug, and had a general catch up before imparting any bad news on his sister, but that wasn’t Eden’s style.

Yuki looked at Kara, who said nothing, but looked concerned. “Would you like me to wait outside?” She broke her silence, possibly alerting the two to the fact she was still there.

Eden’s glare was enough for her to know she wasn’t welcome. “Yes please, Yuki. I’ll call for you if I need you.” Kara smiled gently at her; Yuki bowed her head in respect, and quietly left the room, shutting the door behind her.

Now she would spend time with the Crystal Statues of the l’cie Knights, like she always did when she was send out like this. One of her own ancestors was in there, and she would often kneel at his feet and pray for guidance. Today, though, she addressed them all, praying for Nova’s safety and Kara’s continued wisdom.

They were taking a while, whatever it was must have been serious. If Nova was dead, they would have told her by now so that she could inform the relevant people. What had happened at the Parade? Something more than just a Behemoth attack, it would seem.

The door opened, but at the other end of the corridor, and shut quickly. Only those with the correct level of security clearance could get through those doors without supervision. She readied herself, in case it was an intruder.

“Hey Yuki!”

It was Nova! She felt relieved, but also slightly more concerned. If Nova was alive, something else must be seriously wrong for her not to be allowed in the room and for them to be talking this long. Was it Nova’s fault? No, Eden would have arrested him by now.

“You’re alive! I’ve been looking for you. Kara was worried. Where have you been?”

Nova looked past her at the doors behind her. “If they asked you to leave, I probably shouldn’t say.” Yuki nodded, knowing not to pry, but her curiosity was bubbling inside her. “I’m not alone though. There are others waiting in the room I just came from. They’re terrified of Kara, it’s quite funny.”

“You should probably wait with them.” Yuki smiled. “You’d calm their nerves.”
She noticed that he wasn’t really paying much attention to her, but was glancing between all the statues in corridor. “I’m not so sure about that...”

“I’m sure it’ll be fine. Off you go, I’ll come find you when they’re ready for you.”

“Kurosawa!”

“Well, that’s your cue.” Nova smirked. “I’ll make sure they’re ready.”

“Quickly, how many of you are there?”

“Including me? Five. Markus is one of them.”

Yuki nodded and stepped back into the room, bowing again out of habit. She couldn’t read either of them; Eden was always difficult to judge, but Kara had this way of shielding her emotions too when she had to. The normally kind and gentle soul became tough and guarded. She didn’t like it; in a weird way, Yuki saw Kara as a friend, even if the feeling wasn’t mutual, so she became uneasy when Kara wasn’t able to share things with her.

“Please go and fetch the group waiting at the other end of the hallway.” Kara was commanding now, professional as always.

“Would you like me to leave once they are here, Miss?”

“No, you may stay.” Yuki grew nervous as Eden shot her sister a very wary look. Kara turned to Eden. “I trust her.”

It was clear that Eden didn’t, since she rolled her eyes and folded her arms. Yuki left quickly, hurrying to find the people she would have to escort.

It was an odd group, she had to admit. Nova hadn’t lied, Markus was with them. He actually looked as scared as the rest of them did. There was a young man in an Academy uniform, a girl who looked absolutely terrified standing next to Nova, and another man who looked completely out of place.

Oh God, it’s Kite! She quickly got out of his direct eye line, as he didn’t seem to clock her. He would certainly have said something if he’d noticed her there. Well, at least I can tell Cid he’s alive, I suppose...

She let them go first, making sure the door was secure before following close behind. It took a while for Kara to spot her brother; he’d carefully positioned himself behind Markus and Kite, like he wanted it to be a surprise all along. He didn’t visit often, not in comparison to Eden.

“Oh Nova...” Kara’s guard instantly disappeared. This was the most relaxed these people would probably ever see her. “Not you too?”

He shrugged, as if whatever was going on wasn’t such a big deal. He stepped forward and hugged his eldest sister. Yuki coulda sworn he heard him whisper “sorry”...

But then she snapped her mind back into focus when she caught the group’s reaction to this. The girl and the Academy guy seemed shocked, but Kite was fuming. His fists were clenched into tight little balls, like he’d lash out at them at any moment.

She couldn’t let that happen. Not only for Kara’s safety, but for the safety of the guy she used to call her best friend.

She was fast and quiet, so he had no time to react to her actions at all. With a few swift movements, Yuki was holding both of Kite’s hands behind his back with one of hers, and her other hand was clamped over his mouth.

“You need to calm the fuck down, Kite Rowe, or she’ll make me kill you where you stand.” She whispered harshly in his ear. “And you’ll never see Ramblum again. Do you understand?”

---

I purposely left some gaps in time, to give people the chance to fill things in. I was already at 1000 words when I decided I'd finished Nova's section, I didn't think you'd want to read anymore XD

I don't think my brain can explain any more, so please IM/PM me if I've made anything unclear... I'll pass you over to the hostess with the mostess

[Shadow Wolf]

Jin

The thought of thousands of people dying was not a pleasant thought for Jin to ponder about. Of course he would say "No" to such a statement. But when he heard such blunt words from the representative of Alexandria, he found it difficult to hide his emotions. He wasn't sure if he was noticed, but he was clearly angry at Kara for such a cold statement. It was the truth, he had to admit, but it left people surprised. It even left Alex in tears, something that Jin had trouble dealing with -seeing women cry-. But this wasn't the time for irrelevant thoughts. Apparently, there was someone who could help the group with this... focus.

If there's a chance for hope, then I'll take it. But...

As he composed the final words of a letter he was writing, his thoughts wandered through the events which lead to the fate that he must face. Sarcifice or destruction... either way, he'd lose. But before living his life on the edge of a knife called hope, there was something he felt like he had to do. "There's something I need to take care of." His words made Eden frown, but at this moment, he didn't care about it.

"If you're late, I'll kill you."

As usual, straight to the point. Yet Jin was already walking away as her words reached him. For now, no threats would affect him whatsoever.

WIth a cloak to cover his identity, he swiftly moved through the streets of the city. His eyes fixed at the direction of his destination as his hand gripped the words that he would never speak. It didn't took long to find the place he was looking for.

A stare at the second floor...

a stare at the door...

and a moment of silence...

all within seconds as he removed the neck of the cloak to see this place once more. Kneeling to slide the letter just under the door, he couldn't help but feel something tightening in his chest. Yet the only time he had left was to leave.

Making his way through the small steps, he looked back once more. Just one more glance would be enough. But what his eyes caught were not something he would enjoy...

"Hey you, hold it right there!"

He would normally cooperate... normally... but getting caught and being taken for questioning would take too much time and his teammates would not be very happy for him clumsy move. His legs began to move faster as his adrenaline was ordering him to lose the guards. He was a bit scared, but he has seen scarier things, so his determination to run from this one made his excitement brush off the fear of getting caught.

"Don't let that thief get away!"

It was a bad time to be confused for a thief, but he was not willing to let himself be caught by guards. His pulse was rising as his feet drove him through the alleys of the big city. Tumbling between the corners, his eyes didn't dare to look back as he was still hearing the voices of the guards pursuing him. The pressure was not tough, but he knew he had to think fast. If not, more guards would appear and this would definitely guarantee his capture.

Faster... if I could go faster His lungs were pumping the air in an out as his feet kept the pace. Trying to remember what he felt during his fight, he tried to channel his power once more. Jumping over a small ledge, he felt something covering his body... like some sort of protective barrier.

Crap... he didn't felt any change in his speed.

The pressure of the chase being prolonged was beginning to take effect. Jin was feeling like he was was running out of options; his breathing was getting heavy and his legs were beginning to give in to exhaustion. The voices he thought he had stopped hearing for a while made echo in his ears again. If they were drawing closer, it could only mean that his body was slowly but surely succumbing to tiredness. He looked back... big mistake...

"Quick, now's our chance!"

*pant, pant* persintent, aren't they...

He was about to look forward again, when, after taking a corner...

"Wh-mmph, mmph"

His arm signalled a bit of a strain as he felt himself being pulled along and stopped in his tracks. The mix of exhaustion and confusion drew his mind to a daze as his lungs were now gasping for air. His mouth tried to inhale that much needed dose of oxygen, yet was unable to, as his mind finaly recollected the fact that he was being held against a wall and his mouth covered by a hand.

___


"Damn... where did he go? Keep looking for him. Don't let him get away!" Looking between the people around, the guards seemed to have lost sight of the man they were chasing.

What!? So if the guards lost him, then who caught him off guard? Jin was still confused about what was going on. And yet, the confusion began to dissipate when he heard a familiar voice...

"Markus told me that you weren't the type to get into trouble." It was actually Yuki who was standing in front of him. Of all the people he could think of, he would never guess that Yuki might be the one to get him out of that tough spot. Picking up some much needed air, he was finally able to whisper an exhausted "thanks".

"But you know... with the way you're dressed, even I would think you're a thief."
Dropping on the floor while recovering his air, his voice, although tired, expressed his intentions: "I guess... but... I didn't want to be seen."

"Seen?" It was clear that the least he owed was an explanation. After all, she saved him.

"My parents."

"Oh?" He could sense her curiosity with that single expression.

"...They kicked me out, but... they're still my parents."

"Ah, so the letter was for them, right?"

She noticed... wow, she's sharp. And as he got lost again, a poke in his forehead snapped him back to reality. "Hey, don't get lost in your thoughts."

"Sorry. Just thought you were sharp to notice the letter."

"Oh..." She shrugged. Jin could've sworn that he saw a light blush, but maybe it was just his imagination. "Anyway, there isn't much time to waste. We have 15 minutes to catch a train. Let's go!" He was up and running again as he thought of what awaited him later. She was probably the one who sent Yuki after me He would probably find more than a punch in his face from Eden... but that's better than ending up in jail.

"By the way, sorry about earlier." Jin spoke as if he was trying to make a topic to talk about. "Hmm?" Yuki was wondering why the quiet guy was apologizing for.

"I kinda asked too many questions. In fact, I don't even know why I asked you about Kyte. I just... felt like I needed to ask."

"Oh! No worries." Yuki's expression made Jin be at ease.

"I'm still thinking about what Markus said, though." He was still wondering what he meant when he said "...Especially if he knows what’s good for him...


"Oh, that's because I usually defeated him when we trained together."

Jin was astonished. In his time with the Defence Core, he was never able to defeat Markus during his sparring sessions. That's probably why he was finding it hard to believe that someone as attractive as Yuki could actually defeat him.

"I know what you're thinking." Yuki didn't hesitate to prove Jin she was right. Before he could even blink, he was grabbed and smashed right down into the floor. Not only her attack was swift, but silent and effective. Barely any people from the crowd actually noticed that Jin was pinned down on the floor. "Whoa" It was the only thing that came out of Jin as he realized what just happened.

Yuki resumed the walk as Jin pulled himself together again. His vision Yuki definitely changed after what just happened and now, he knew that he would have a valuable teammate. Increasing his pace a bit, he managed to catch up to Yuki shortly after.

"Oh, yeah" Yuki turned around as they continued their march to the station. "You'll look more like a 'normal person' if you take that off." She was pointing at the cloak.

"Hmm... yeah" Oblivious to the light tone of the conversation, he took the cape off as they walked together. And as the two blended into the crowd, Jin's face showed a complete contrast to Yuki's smile while thinking one last time about his family, hoping that he never lays a hand on them nor to anyone.


________

I have to admit that this hasn't been a creative post on my part. I haven't felt too motivated to do anything... and I mean "anything" lately, not even play LoL nor Gran Turismo 4 nor Final Fantasy VIII (which I recently bought a copy of it). Handling Jin had also become tougher than I expected and at some point, I even considered killing him. Overall, I pretty much like a living zombie at the moment. Not an excuse, but thought I should let you guys know.

PS: Tag Yuki and since everyone will porbably meet at the train station, tag everyone in the process.

[Samchu]

Markus
~~~~~

Kara's decision came of no surprise to Markus. He wasn't foolish enough to think that she would cast aside the responsibilities of her station because it was her siblings who were caught up in the mess. In truth, Eden and Nova's involvement in this was probably the only reason they would walk out of that place - and the city - alive. Kara trusted her sister. Trusted her to ensure that everyone of them got out of Eden, got away from the very people they were a danger too. He doubted anyone else would have been granted the luxury of choice. There would be no chance of banishment. Perhaps there would be some probing, some investigations into the l'cie curse, but the end would ultimately be the same; a swift and untimely execution for the preservation of the people.

He was surprised at the opportunity they were given to collect their thoughts. He would never had expected Kara to allow them the time or the freedom to grasp her judgement. That they weren't already being shipped onto a train sat at odds to his perceptions of her. So much so that he didn't realise Eden had drawn close to him until she spoke.

“Aren’t you from the edge of the barrier?”

Markus nodded. “My village is a few hours from the train’s final stop…I think it’s near those ruins actually.”

“How close?”

He grimaced a bit. “Alright, ‘near’ wasn’t the greatest word to choose, but it’s the closest mark of civilization to them. I don’t recall hearing about any scholar livin’ there though.”

“You think I’ve heard of him?”

“You talked to Kara alone.”

Eden shook her head. “I don’t know anything about this scholar, but Kara is rarely wrong about these things.”

"I hope you're right," Markus replied, more to himself than to Eden.

She left him then, as he had become accustomed to her doing. However, her absence was soon filled his old sparring partner, Yuki, and the unfortunately out-of-place Jin. He couldn't help but laugh at the young man's worry regarding his "if he knows what's good for him" comment. He clapped Jin on the shoulder. "You haven't got to worry about Yuki." He paused to examine the young man's face. "We've not long left here, Jin. If there's something you need to do, best to get it done."

Jin nodded and left, leaving Markus to his own thoughts.

If we ride all the way out there Odin knows we'll need a place to sleep, one last respite before those ruins, before reality crushes that last flicker of hope from us. I guess we could put everyone up in the Creaky Shack - if it's still open - or maybe Handel's place. Either way I'll have to go see them. I can't not. By Odin I'm in for a beating. How many years has it been since I left? And it's not like I could've written them a letter. I meant to visit - honestly. I just...I never got around to it. Heh. She'll never accept that. She'll beat me senseless before she lets an excuse like that wash over her. Not that I don't deserve it. I probably deserve worse for waiting so long. But even so. To go there knowing that it'll be the last time. Should I tell them? Would it be worse to lie, to pretend everything is fine? Better to die as a son than as a monster.

He realised then how selfish he had been. He had been so sure of his decision to sacrifice himself but he had never once thought of the family still waiting for him to come home. Had Kara not been sending them into the wilds - not forcing them to face his family - he never would have told them. He would have died, barely a shred of humanity left in him, and they would have still been waiting for him to tell them that he lived.

He jumped as something touched his arm and looked to find Eden at his side. "Come on, we're leaving for the station."

Markus looked around to find that he was in a place he didn't recognise; a small, secluded garden on one of the upper levels. The light had faded considerably. How long was I trapped in my own thoughts? Have I been wandering aimlessly all this time or did I just accidentally find myself here and wait? He nodded to Eden. "Alright, I'm coming."

She lead him to the entrance of the building where the others were waiting. All except for...

"Where's your inquisitive friend?" asked Yuki.

"He had some personal business he wanted to attend to before we left. Even so..." he looked up, trying to gauge the time using what remained of the light, "he should be back by now."

"Is he the type to find trouble?"

"No. More the type that attracts it likes moths to an inferno." He sighed. "I should go after him."

"I'll go," Yuki cut in. "Just tell me where he'll be."

Markus told her where he expected she would find Jin and watched her go. A small part of him was glad she had volunteered to oversee his return. He had to prepare himself to face his own past. He couldn't muster the strength to try carrying Jin right now.

They had agreed to regroup at the station so Markus and the others began moving towards their destination. He found himself lingering towards the back, wrestling between keeping his mind in reality and letting it retreat into itself. It was Eden who noticed it first.

"You're not here."

He looked over at her. For a moment he forgot how good she was at masking her emotions and felt a flutter of awe at her ability to make it look like they were engaging in some manner of standard conversation.

"I'm sorry. I've been...distracted."

"Because of Kara's decision?"

"No. I expected that much from her. No I...I haven't been to my village for a long time. I haven't seen my family since I left home."

"Not even a letter?"

"They can't read. Few in the village can."

"But you can."

He half-smiled. "I had to have private lessons once I started training with the Corps. Still not particularly good at it."

"I always thought you were-"

"Stupid?"

"I was going to say slow but I can use stupid if you prefer."

"Slow would be more accurate."

Now it was her turn to grin. "Yes, it would."

They arrived at the station without incident. The lack of tension between Kite and Nova left a strange emptiness in Markus' mind. It had become something of a distant yet constant presence in the air - sort of akin to a week-long wound. Not that a truce between the two was unwelcome, it just made things feel different. Like how he couldn't look at Eden for too long without remembering what she looked like naked.

And now he was doing it again.

"I hope Yuki found Jin okay," he said aloud, in the hopes of distracting himself more than anything.