Chapter One:

The sun (if it had been visible behind the constant rain clouds) rose early over Burmecia. Nami sat up and stretched long and hard before she was really awake. She made her bed, which she did first thing everyday, and dressed. After tying her hair into a braid, which she also did everyday, Nami ran out into the hall to make her way into the dinning room. Before she could get very far however, someone called her name.

"Nami!" came a familiar voice from behind her. She whirled around with a bright smile upon her pink lips to greet Kie.

"Kie!" she called ecstatically. She bounded over to him enveloping him in a tight hug, before exclaiming, "I didn't see you yesterday!"

"I was on an errand," he gasped.

"An errand? What errand?" she asked, eyes round with excitement. She knew what it usually meant when he used the word errand. It meant a letter from her parents.

Sure enough, Kie pulled a letter sealed with Alexandria's royal seal from his pocket and handed it to her. She grasped it excitedly anticipating the contents. Letters from her parents were always a joy to read, they made her feel at home. Years ago Zidane and Garnet had sent her to live in Burmecia. They said she needed to be hidden for a while, though they didn't say why. For a while Nami had hoped that they would tell her in one of the letters they sent, but that hope was quickly faded. On the few occasions they were able to write to her, it was mostly about how they were doing and that they hoped she was happy and how much they missed her. It would seem that she would just have to wait until she could ask her parents herself why they sent her away.

"I think you'll be extra happy with today's letter," Kie continued, jostling Nami out of her thoughts. "King Zidane said it would please you very much."

"I thought you weren't supposed to call him King. You know it makes him uncomfort-able," Nami said putting her hands on her hips. Kie had been sent over with her as a friend and message carrier. He was a close friend of the families and even closer to Nami.

"He's not used to people fawning over him."

"Oh, right. I'm sorry, I just forget. He is the Ki-" Kie began but stopped when Nami stomped her foot. "Never mind," he said with a smile. "Just read the letter."

Nami replaced her frown with a beaming smile and tore into the note. The two sat on the floor as Nami spread the parchment across her knees so it could easily be seen. Silently they read, as they always did together when Nami got word from her parents. The letter read as such:

Dear Nami:

I'm happy to let you know that your mother says I can visit. She regrets to say it's too risky for us both to come, but she wishes dearly to see you. I should be arriving in a few days. I'm going to Burmecia for government business, or so I've told everyone. Tell Kie to keep an eye on you until then. With Love,

Your Father

When she finished reading Nami looked up at Kie open mouthed. She screamed with delight and toppled over Kie in yet another hug.

"He's coming to visit!" she said happily. "Father is coming here!"

Kie smiled and returned the hug (though it was hard to do so with Nami sitting on top of him). Nami crawled off him, a little red in the face and said, "Sorry."

"It's alright, you have a good reason to be happy." He took her hand and gave it a squeeze. "You can squish me all you like."

Again Nami squealed out in joy and enveloped him an embrace. Quickly she stood up bringing Kie with her and began running down the hall. "We have to tell everyone. They'll be so happy to know my father is coming."

Kie stumbled after her as she tore through the corridors, eagerly looking for any inhabitance of the household. Finally they entered the dinning room where they saw Freya speaking with someone. Nami bounded over to her, waiting anxiously until Freya was done speaking.

"Freya!" Nami screamed when they were done talking. "Freya, you'll never guess-"

"What is it child?" Freya said, wiggling her mouse like nose. "You have even more energy than usual."

"It's father! He's coming to visit!" Nami said holding the letter up to her caretaker's eyes. Kie stood in the back, shyly tapping his foot on the stone ground. He had never been the most social person around and he still wasn't very familiar with any of the Burmecians.

"Well, well. Zidane is coming at last. It's been a long time since I've seen your father."

"Exactly four years, three months, and seventeen days," Nami said. "Same as me."

"That's right. He hasn't been here since he brought you to stay with us. It will be good to speak with him again. Now, is that all the news you have for me?" Nami nodded. "Then I suggest you go about your day. I have a lot of things to do. I'll speak with you at dinner Nami. Kie," Freya said in acknowledgement. Kie nodded but said nothing.

"Oh Kie isn't this wonderful," Nami said when Freya had left. "Do you think he'll be surprised at how much I've grown? My hair is much longer than when I left you know."

"I'm sure he will."

"I just can't wait. 'A few days'. How many do you think that is precisely?"

"I wouldn't know," Kie said following Nami as she chatted her way to the breakfast table. Though Nami was almost always in a good mood, it was nice to see her so happy about something. When Nami was happy, Kie was happy.

They ate together while Nami continued to show her excitement over her father's visit. Kie only listened intently with a small smile on his lips.

That night when Kie lay in bed, he had the most peculiar dream.

He saw Nami standing a few feet away.

Nami, he called, but she didn't react. She merely looked at him, but her eyes seemed empty. The sparkle they usually had was gone. He called to her again but this time she turned away and began walking to a strange wall of mist.

No Nami, don't! Kie yelled but she wouldn't listen. She just kept going, closer to the fog, farther from him. He tried to run after her but his feet were stuck to the ground and he couldn't lift them.

Finally, Nami stopped, inches from the wall of mist that towered menacingly above her. She turned again to look at him, but this time there was something in her expression. It seemed to say 'I'm sorry'.

Suddenly fleshy hands emerged from the mist with the intent on grabbing Nami. Nami! Look out! But it was too late. They had taken hold of her and within seconds she was sucked in to the mist and he would never see her again.

At that instant Kie awoke, drenched in a cold sweat. He jumped out of bed and flung open his door that lead into the hall. He sprinted down the corridor until he came to Nami's room and opened the door.

There she was, sleeping soundly in her bed. She was perfectly safe.

Kie strode over to her and put his hand on her forehead. It felt perfectly fine. Giving her one last glance Kie left her room, closing the door firmly behind him. When he was back in his room he sat heavily onto his bed, thinking.

That dream had been so strange, and it had felt too real. What did it mean, if anything at all?

With a sigh he rolled back under the covers and after a few more minutes of uneasy thoughts, fell back asleep.