A/N: This is based upon Kain's trial in the Lunar Ruins, from the GBA version of FFIV. Naturally, creative liberties will be taken to make it work better in a story sense, but someone who's played the game should be able to recognize it.

Final Fantasy is the property of Square Enix or something. Definitely not me.

Day 1

Darkness. Infinite, encompassing, yet also comforting. For once, sleep did not bring the dreams, memories, the visions that tormented him so often, both in his rest and in the waking world. He would not need to worry about jerking awake in a cold sweat, or fighting another batch of monsters with black circles ringing his eyes. Bad enough to actively remember what he had done, but the dreams came to him unbidden as always.

Sadly, his dreamless sleep was not to last. A voice pierced the veil of darkness, a familiar voice that brought about conflicting emotions whenever it was heard. "Kain...Kain! Wake up!"

With a grunt. Kain opened his eyes to see the face of Cecil Harvey staring down at him, a look of concern etched upon his visage. Kain squinted from the brightness, his friends gaze wreathed in light from the sun overhead. Cecil's concern for Kain was not unexpected, the Paladin showing a care for others that could survive the blackest treachery. Even Kain's own. Which was why he wore the gold and white armor of a Paladin, of course.

Bringing to bear all the grace that a Dragoon in armor could possess, Kain rose to his feet. To his surprise, he found himself back in Baron, that fact causing him to miss Cecil's question as he looked around a bit to make sure his eyes weren't playing tricks on him.

"Is this...Baron? Why am I here," Kain muttered questioningly to himself. It was a legitimate question since he last remembered being on the Moon.

It wasn't a question he had time to ponder though, as Cecil came up to join him. "I'm glad you're alright," the Paladin commented as he looked Kain over.

The Dragoon, on the other hand, was not one to dwell on his physical state. He felt fine, so Cecil's concern was misplaced, and that was all there was to it. Meanwhile, his attention was drawn to the crowd in front of them. Soldiers bustled about the area, talking to people standing around, and making notes of what they said, while also looking over the surroundings.

"Cecil, what's going on here? What's with all the noise," he asked, his interest piqued as a Royal Dragoon.

Cecil turned his gaze to the crowd as well. "A soldier was attacked last night by an unknown assailant."

"Hm," was the response he got as the two of them stepped forward, nearer to the crowd. Stopping, Kain watched as Rosa, beautiful and eye catching as ever in her White Mage's robes, stepped out of the crowd and quickly walked over to him.

"Kain! Thank heaven's you're alright," she said with obvious relief. Her presence only served to confuse Kain though, as he had yet to see anyone else from their party, such as Cid or even Rydia.

"Rosa?...Why am I here," he muttered to himself yet again, though obviously not quiet enough to escape the hearing of the two standing next to him.

"We were worried about you, so we followed you here," explained Cecil, though it did nothing to explain the question of why Kain was here. "We found you lying there, and the town's in turmoil. There's something strange going on..."

Rosa nodded in agreement. "I heard a soldier was attacked by someone or something. I don't know the details but..."

"I think we should investigate," finished Cecil.

Kain couldn't argue with that, even if it was more from a sense of duty than of his own volition. "Yeah. I agree." With that, they separated to talk to people 8in the crowd. He didn't do much talking himself, preferring to listen in on ongoing conversations and hear what people were saying.

The lack of solid evidence was a problem, though there wasn't much that could be done about it. The eyewitnesses accounts were certainly more interesting to listen to. Apparently the wounds on the dead man had been made by a lance, which limited the suspects somewhat, people had seen someone dressed in black jumping from rooftop to rooftop, and one more...excitable person claimed that he had seen the Grim Reaper. That same figure cloaked in black carrying a large scythe. The man was probably just suffering from shock, but it would be useful in the investigation.

Kain listened silently as a soldier tried to guess who the culprit behind this deed might be, based on available facts, and he found it difficult to argue with the conclusion that it might have been a Dragoon, though Cecil rapidly leapt to Kain's defense, something that Kain felt was not needed.

The conversation was abruptly terminated as a trio of soldiers approached. While the two flanking were unexceptional, the one in the middle wore the polished grey and dark orange armor of a Baronian Captain. The soldiers saluted as he stopped in front of the crowd, while Cecil, Kain, and Rosa bowed.

"Thank you. At ease," said the Captain with a wave of his hand. "Now, let's get to business. Have you found any clues yet," he asked the soldiers in the crowd.

The soldiers glanced at each other before a response came. "Nothing yet sir."

"I see." The Captain maintained his calm in the face of this disappointing news. Noticing the large amount of people that had gathered here, the Captain paused for a few seconds before he resumed speaking to them. "Well folks, as you cam see, the town is in turmoil from the callous murder of one of our brave knights. Do not fear though. All possible efforts have begun to bring the one responsible to swift justice so they may receive the punishment that waits all such criminals. You have my word." His gaze scanned the crowd. "If you happen to find any important information, make sure to let me know immediately. I will be leading the investigation from the training room beneath Devil's Road."

"We certainly will," agreed Cecil.

"Good." The Captain glanced back at the soldiers standing behind him next. "Remind me, have the town borders been sealed off yet? We don't want the killer escaping."

"Yes sir."

The Captain merely smiled. "Good. Make sure to question every suspicious person you come across."

"Yes sir." The soldier to the Captain's left turned and headed for the main entrance to Baron, while the one on his right stepped forward to stand beside him.

"Captain. I think we should ask Sir Cecil and his friends to help us out with this incident," he said.

"What," asked the Captain, turning to face his subordinate.

The soldier explained. "If the suspect has been seen jumping from roof to roof, I think we should ask for Sir Kain's help. He's the only one who can chase the suspect. In case we can't catch him. Sir."

The Captain was silent for a few seconds, his face moving into a disapproving frown as time passed before he responded. "I'm sorry. Are you saying that you want to depend on others to catch this dangerous criminal, even those of Sir Cecil and Sir Kain's skill? What would that say about the City Guard, if we're unable to do our job effectively on our own?"

The soldier took a step back. "Sorry sir. I just thought we could use the support..." Under the Captains withering gaze, he quickly fled eastwards towards his post.

The Captain harrumphed and turned his attention back to the crowd. "I'm sorry you had to see that. Anyways, I would be grateful if everyone could help out with this incident. With your help, we're sure to catch whoever's behind this. So what do you think? Can you give us a hand?"

Cecil stepped forward. "Certainly. Kain was attacked as well. I'd like to see that those who did this are apprehended."

Rosa nodded her agreement. "Yes. Let's get to the bottom of this and clear your name Kain."

"Yeah," Kain responded a bit absentmindedly, though he was a tad peeved at Cecil for offering Kain's own assistance for him, as if he couldn't reach decisions and do the right thing on his own. He didn't want Cecil to be his moral compass, wanted to be able to trust himself.

The Captain grinned. "Thank you very much. This will help us more than you know." He glanced over at the setting sun, as if noticing for the first time the steadily growing shadows. 'You must be tied from your journey. Please go to the inn and get some rest there tonight. I will talk to the innkeeper and have everything prepared."

"Thank you," replied Cecil. As the Captain began to depart, a thought occurred to the Paladin. "Oh Captain, I don't believe we ever caught your name."

The Captain glanced back over his shoulder. "Oh, my name is Garland. Captain Garland." And with that, he was gone.

As things started to settle down after Garland's departure, Cecil walked over to where Kain and Rosa were standing. "Kain, you should go ahead and rest. I'll take Rosa back to her house."

Kain did his best to react impassively, as if he didn't give a care one way or another despite how he was truly feeling inside. "Alright." Hand in hand, the Paladin and White Mage walked off together as if they were made for each other, while Kain stared at their backs as they left. He couldn't deny the twinge of jealousy, of wishing that it was him in Cecil's place, even just once to speak nothing of forever.

As red night fell across the town with the setting sun, Kain gave a sigh and silently returned to the inn. Garland had been true to his word, and the innkeeper quickly directed Kain to a room. Once inside, Kain slowly removed his armor and laid his lance against the wall. Without anything to occupy him, Kain laid down in the single bed and closed his eyes, wishing for a dark and dreamless sleep.