Transgression
Konichiwa! I'm back, guys! Not as soon as I would've liked, but alas, not having a computer for nearly 3 months can do that to ya! Anyway, I've decided to continue, at least to an extent, my I'll Protect You series. This is it's prequel, Transgression. From the name, you can guess that it takes place during the War, 500 years ago. However, I'm experimenting with a new writing style. This story will have little excerpts that are set after Undying's epilogue. Part of me just doesn't wanna let go, I guess. The story will also tie up loose ends that my other two left open, and explains the reasons for why certain events occurred.
Pairings are dependent on the time-frame, but, for the "current" time, all the pairings from Undying are evident, with perhaps the most development occurring between Gamenern and Lebreau, as much of the flashbacks are from Gamenern's perspective, and are told to Lebreau. Fanille will be featured at some point in the past, but it won't be what you're expecting. Other OC pairings appear, so beware.
So, with that said, enjoy Transgression!
Word Count: 3355
Disclaimer: I do not own or have a say in any Final Fantasy video game. I don't profit from this story or it's characters. This is a work of fiction, not to be taken as canon.
Transgression
Chapter One: Mourning
It was early in the morning in the small town of Oerba. The sun had yet to rise over the mountains, so everything was illuminated under a hazy grey tone. Birds had yet to awaken from their nighttime slumber, and most nocturnal creatures were preparing to hide away for the day.
But, even in this transition period between night and day, one man was awake, kneeling in what looked to be an old, worn out graveyard. The man was dressed in a black shirt and pants, with a large, red axe slung over his back. His head was held down as he muttered a silent prayer in his native language, a prayer to the dead.
He was getting up when he felt a presence behind him. Smiling, he opened his eyes and sighed. "Lebreau."
The woman in question held the hand of a young girl, one that looked tentative at being here. The place creeped the young girl out. Lebreau approached the man's side and looked down at the tombstone. She didn't understand the Pulsian Script as well as the man did, but she did recognize the clan names. "Family of yours?" She asked lightly. The man sighed again.
"Yeah." He answered, turning to the pair. With a feigned smile, he picked up the girl, his daughter. "They died when I was only Penelo's age." He spoke, his voice strained. It was a complete 180 to the man's normal attitude. He normally was always laughing and joking, very laid back. To see him like this, his true emotions flooding to the surface, was almost heartbreaking. "I never got a chance to tell them goodbye, either." His voice cracked, never telling anybody about that fateful day, over 500 years ago, when his family was torn apart forever.
"Gamenern…" Lebreau sighed, pulling the man into a loose hug. He threatened to break but never did, his control wavering but not failing. A few moments later and he collected himself. Even his daughter tried to comfort him, not understanding why her father was so sad.
Gamenern sighed heavily, clearing his emotions, and pulled away slightly. "We never stood a chance. It happened so fast, we never saw it coming." He breathed, looking back down at the tombstone. He looked back to a time he'd rather forget, straining to keep a straight face as he spoke.
Nighttime had always been a frantic time for the people of Oerba in the wake of the war with Cocoon. It wasn't as if anyone had been worried: They had the protection of the fal'Cie Anima, and they also were aided by a large force of military that would be able to fight any threats Cocoon made against them.
Despite this, two children were playing in their backyard without a care in the world. They were playing tag, a boy chasing a girl about his own age. The way the acted with the other made it seem as if they were brother and sister, and they were wearing similar clothing, in tradition with Yun clan garments.
The boy had very unkempt, brown hair, with matched his brown eyes perfectly. He was only 7 years old, but he had the intelligence and maturity of someone around 10 or 12 years old. He was very proud of his heritage and older siblings, while equally protective over his younger siblings, one of which included the girl he was currently chasing.
She had even wilder black hair that contrasted with her bright green eyes. She was taller than her older brother, though she was only 5 years old. Unlike her brother, she was not as mature, acting more her age than her brother acted his. Currently, she was wearing a blue, silk sari. The biggest feature she had was a black mole under her right eye.
The boy finally caught his sister, tackling her playfully with a fit of laughter, some his and some hers. Despite his maturity, the boy was still just a kid, and he acted it whenever he was playing with his younger siblings. His family said he would make a great father in the future, and would be a perfect husband.
They were less inclined to compliment the girl on her attitude. She could be fairly rash at times, sometimes trying to follow her older brother or father out on dangerous hunts, or try to get out of the backyard of her house. She was a free spirit, one that would be hard to tame. Many people who had known her said that she would need someone very patient if she planned on having a family.
They were getting back up, dusting themselves off when a woman, obviously their mother, called out, "Fang! Gamenern! Time to get ready for dinner!" The girl groaned, but when Gamenern poked her in the side and took off, she chased him to the door without letting up.
Inside, there were several people, most of them younger than 18 years old. The Yun clan that lived in Oerba were the last remaining members of the dwindling clan of hunters and nomads. This particular line had decided not to head down that path, and, though still avid hunters and fighters, had adopted a more domestic lifestyle.
The house was the home of 5 children, including Gamenern, and the two parents. Despite being taken in as a member of the family, Gamenern was not directly related to any of the others by blood. His family had died in a hunting accident 2 years ago, leaving him orphaned. In keeping with Oerban traditions, he went to live with his only remaining clan relatives. They had treated him like their own child, raising him with as much love and care as any of their real family.
Their father was a man named Kain. He had adopted the nickname "Highwind", as he was at his greatest in flight, fighting his enemies in the air. He was a tall, slender man with white hair that he usually kept in slicked back to stay out of his face, which was hardened by battles but still kind and soft.
Their mother was named Ashe, an abbreviation of Ashelia. She was known as a kind yet determined woman, who had a very dirty blond hair. She had kind green eyes, darker than her youngest daughter's, but not as dark as Gamenern's.
Vaan was the oldest of the children in the household, at age 17. He was a kind young man, always looking out for his family, especially Gamenern, who was closest to the boy. The man had his mother's hair tone, though it was more yellow than his mom's, with blue eyes. He hunted with a very simple sword and shield.
The next oldest was the oldest of the two girls, Tifa. She had just turned 15, and was nearing the age of marriage in Oerba. With this in mind, she was to meet with other clan males around her age to find her a suitable husband. She had black/brown hair that went down to her hips, and brown eyes like her adoptive younger brother.
The next child in line was the younger of the girls, Fang. She was the girl who had been playing with Gamenern outside only a few minutes past, and was now cleaning her face and hands for the company they were having over.
The youngest of the children was a boy named Reks. He was only 3 years old, so he had yet to don a true personality yet. He was naïve and kind, like most kids his age, and had hair that matched his oldest brother's, though his was more white than Vaan's. He was currently being held by Ashe as she maneuvered through the kitchen past Vaan and Tifa, helping their mother cook the meal of the day.
Today, the Dia clan was coming over. The eldest of the Dia daughters, Aerith, was to meet with Vaan, in an attempt to marry off the brunette teenager. She was kind and cheery, like most Dia, but she had been neglected by several boys for her fairly plain features. Both families hoped that Vaan might take on some interest in the Dia girl.
The door bell ringing let everyone in the household know that the Dia's were here. Ashe had set Reks down with Fang and Gamenern, telling them "I'll be right back, okay?" before going to answer the door. Several greeting were sounded, and Kain had come out to greet the adults of the Dia clan. Gamenern had caught a glimpse of the family as they walked in. It was only 4 people. 2 girls, one barely older than Reks and one about Tifa's age, and then the two adults.
"Wonder who the brat is?" Fang asked amused as Reks tried to have a conversation with Vaan, though it was mostly just random words that the little boy could put together, though Vaan was great at making it seem like he was interested in what Reks was trying to say nonetheless. Gamenern gave Fang a playful nudge, causing the younger Yun to lose her balance, falling onto her rear. "Ow, that hurt…" She whined, sitting up on her knees and rubbing the area she landed on.
Gamenern smiled lightly, hearing the conversations getting louder, and turned around to great their guests. Ashe, who was talking, stopped as her adopted son walked up. "Ah. Yuna, this is Gamenern. Gamenern, this is Dia Yuna. She's and old friend of mine. Her husband is Tidus." She motioned to the male who was beside Yuna, and Gamenern extended his hand out, shaking the man's hand with a firmness unusual for his age. The man chuckled at the grip. He had blond hair, much blonder than Vaan did, and blue eyes, similar to his brother's.
Yuna had brunette hair that was cut short and clean, just above her neck. Her eyes were very unusual. Gamenern never saw anyone with two different eye colors. Yuna had one green eye and one blue eye, making her seem out of place, but it almost seemed to fit the woman well.
"This is our oldest daughter Aerith." Yuna said, motioning for the brunette teen to approach. She gave a light bow, returned by the boy. She had her brown hair tied back into a ponytail that rivaled the length of Tifa's hair. The two girls were friends at the girls school in Oerba. She had soft brown eyes that seemed to put Gamenern at ease, despite his relaxed persona already.
"How do you do?" Aerith asked as she bowed, smiling when Gamenern returned the favor. He smiled as well, then turned to the young girl who Aerith was carrying. She had red hair, tied into two pigtails, and was trying to sleep, so you couldn't see her eyes.
"The little one's Vanille." Yuna said, rubbing Vanille's back affectionately as the girl cooed, nuzzling into Aerith's neck. Gamenern felt even more relaxed watching the family, though Tidus was currently chatting with Kain.
"This is Fang and Reks." Gamenern said, pointing to the girl and young boy sitting in the dining room. Fang simply gave a half-wave, while Reks waved wildly at the woman. A smile graced Yuna's and Aerith's faces as they watched the little boy, who went back to talking with Fang, or at least, talking at Fang. The girl tried hard to talk back, but she felt like an idiot trying to talk to this kid, despite her young age.
"I'm sure you've already met Tifa." Gamenern continued, pointing at his older sister, who waved at Aerith with a smile, returned by her friend. Then, Vaan walked around the corner of the kitchen with a roast that their father had hunted earlier that day. "And this is Vaan." Vaan turned to Gamenern when he heard his name, then stiffened slightly when he saw Aerith, smiling at him with a kind, warming smile. It held a similar effect over the oldest child as it did Gamenern. He walked over, just in front of Aerith and her mother.
"How are you?" Aerith asked, bowing slightly. Like Gamenern had done, Vaan returned the gesture, a goofy smile plastered over his face. "I'm fine." Was all he could manage, before Kain approached, smiling as he just finished a joke with Tidus.
"Well, now that we all know each other, how about we go ahead and serve dinner? Gamenern, Fang, can you help Tifa set up the table, and make sure that Reks and Vanille get their meals?" The man spoke, placing his glass of water on the spot on the end, the largest and most decorated chair his spot. This was the spot reserved for him, and Vaan whenever he was out on a hunt at the time.
The boy and girl followed the orders of their father, steeping into the kitchen to help their older sister help set up the table with the food. Tifa has to steady Fang on more than one occasion, as the girl had tried to rush and almost tripped on the small aluminum divider between the hardwood of the dining room and the linoleum of the kitchen. Fortunately, she didn't drop anything, and was able to set the table with her slightly older brother.
After doing that, Vanille was set down next to Reks, now awake and taking a liking to the boy she was set down next to. Gamenern and Fang had ushered her and Reks to a small table beside Kain's spot, and Gamenern cut up pieces of meat and vegetables for both children. The kids were talking, using very flamboyant gestures, about nothing really. Most of it wasn't too intelligible, though Vanille seemed to have a much better understanding of talking than Reks, who had been just starting preschool and was learning more about counting and simple writing.
Once the little ones were taken care of, Gamenern and Fang took their spots at the dining room table, now covered with several foodstuffs and practically groaning with the weight on it's legs. Gamenern sat in between Vann and Tidus. Ashe sat at the end of the table, Tifa to her left. Yuna was to her left, directly in front of Tidus. Fang was across of Gamenern, while Aerith was opposite Vaan. Kain cleared his throat, gathering the entire room's attention.
Everyone bowed their heads as they grasped nearby members hands in their own, Kain leading the prayed. "Great Pulse, we thank you for this meal you have so graciously given us. We thank you for you continued protection of Oerba and it's inhabitants. We thank you for allowing us to share this meal with family and friends, and we ask that you wish our son Vaan and Dia Aerith luck in whatever decision they will make. Amen." Everyone in the room repeated the "Amen", though Vaan had a slight blush creeping onto his face as the food was passed around the table. Aerith giggled slightly, which only worked to make the blush more noticeable.
The entire meal was enjoyed with conversations about random stuff, going from Gamenern's mother and father, to how Ashe and Kain met, to talking about Vaan and, later, Aerith. It all made the war seem so far away. Moments like this were what Gamenern enjoyed most about his family.
Dinner was finished about 40 minutes later, with the woman getting up to clean dishes, while the men sat around and talked about random stuff. Even Gamenern participated in the conversations, though he was watching over Vanille and Reks as they ran around the living room, Reks holding a small toy away from Vanille. It brought a smile to Gamenern's face.
His thoughts were broken when Ashe walked up behind him, a soft chuckle exiting her lips. "You will make a very good father in the future, Gamenern." She said with a smile, placing her hand on the boy's head. The boy returned the smile, looking back at the two children playing.
"Thanks, Aunt Ashe." He responded, turning back to look at the table, examining what was currently happening. Vaan and Aerith had walked out the back door, talking while on the patio just outside, enjoying the starlit nighttime. Tifa was talking with Yuna and Tidus about something that had happened at school a few days ago, while Kain was watching the conversation, sometimes chiming in every now and then.
The night seemed to end in a flash, though it had been nearly 4 hours since the Dia family had arrived. Reks and Vanille had both fallen asleep, Reks being tucked in by Ashe in his small room, while the Dia clan made their way out, heading home to go to sleep themselves.
Aerith and Vaan seemed to hit it off fairly quickly. Tifa joked the pair, asking once when the wedding date was. This elicited a laugh from almost everyone in earshot. Aerith and Vaan gave nervous giggles, while Tifa, Yuna, Tidus, Kain and Ashe all laughed openly. Gamenern didn't say anything, despite a smile creeping onto his face. Not many people gave him the credit, but he knew exactly why the Dia clan was here, and why Aerith and Vaan were together. He wasn't mad that Vaan was looking to move away. He was actually happy, and he liked Aerith a lot. She was kind, like Ashe.
Gamenern and Fang had to share a room, since there wasn't anywhere else to sleep. Silently, the two made their way to their respective beds, wishing the other a good night before fading off to bed. Just a few minute after they had drifted to sleep, Ashe had come in to tuck them in a wish them sweet dreams, kissing their foreheads before leaving them.
Sleep was scared out of Gamenern and Fang when a loud explosion was heard nearby. While many people had tried to explain that sound as something else, Gamenern knew exactly what was going on: a fal'Cie was attacking. That explosion was a magical spell, most likely a Ruinga. It was followed closely by the splintering of wood and the groaning of metal.
Before he could even realize what was going on, Vaan entered the room, panic evident on his face. "Come on, we gotta go!" He said urgently. Gamenern practically drug his sister out of the bed, running down the hallway with her in tow.
They didn't get far, because a large explosion engulfed them all. The last thing Gamenern heard was the frightened shriek of his sister Tifa before a deathly quiet covered his ears.
"The next thing I remember, I was in a hospital." Gamenern spoke, the trio sitting on a bench near the graves of Gamenern's family. "When I asked where my family was, the doctors told me that they only found me and Fang in the wreckage of our house." Again, tears threatened to fall but never did. Lebreau listened, feeling sorrow herself. She bit her lip, keeping questions to herself. She knew what it was like to lose your family suddenly.
"I was the one who told Fang." He said after a second. His voice was thick with sorrow, but he continued. "She didn't believe me when I told her. She tried to run off, tried to go home. She got away from the hospital and saw the ruins." He sighed, clearing himself of his emotions. "She broke. Went into a depression. I've never seen her so upset. She couldn't bear it."
Lebreau soothingly rubbed Gamenern's back, in an effort to calm him. It worked to an extent. "It wasn't until after I joined the Army that I learned which fal'Cie attacked us." His emotions went from sorrow to anger, but it was a restrained form of hatred. "It was Barthandelus. Dysley." He confirmed, noting the slight confused look on Lebreau's face. "My family can finally rest."
The sun finally broke over the mountains, casting it's orange glow over the five tombstones of the Yun Clan. Each one seemed to glow, their names barely legible from the over 500 years of weathering they endured.
They were finally at peace.
Well, there's Chapter 1. Next chapter should be up sometime soon, but no guarantees. My current computer doesn't have internet, so there is no way for me to post right after I complete the chapter.
R&R