Author's Note: I'm on a roll! I've put out two stories in the past 24 hours prior to starting this piece, and they have gotten me more traffic than I've had in my entire two plus years of existence on this site. I would be remiss to go on without thanking the few fans I have, as they have helped urge me to continue doing what I love.

I don't own the series. There are no OCs in this story, so really I just own my take on this plot. Enjoy.

The Beginning of the End of His Life

Day 10

"There's no way I'm letting this happen to you," Serah screamed. "Get away from me!"

She argued with Snow helplessly in her dining room. She was cursed with the mark of a l'Cie, and wanted nothing more than for him to stay away. She loved him dearly, but her presence could taint him. She didn't want him to share in her curse.

"Serah!" Snow shouted. "Serah, I'm not letting you go through this alone! We can face this, together!"

She backed into a corner and curled into a ball. Snow watched as she clutched her upper left arm, where the Pulse l'Cie brand was burned into her skin. He could sense she was terrified of her future and was determined to keep him from suffering with her. He wouldn't have any part of her fears, he wanted to help her. He was going to make it right.

"Stay away, please!" Serah began to cry. Snow had no idea what to do. He couldn't approach her. She wouldn't let him. But he couldn't stay where he was. He reached a hand forward, and took a single step. It was interrupted with a convulsion from Serah, and a piercing scream. She sounded like she was about to have a baby. He rushed to her side, in fear for her life.

"Serah! Serah, speak to me!" He shouted in vain. The brand on her arm began go glow violently as she convulsed on the floor, writhing in pain. He couldn't do anything, anything at all, and he was horrified. He'd never been so helpless in his life.

"Snow!" He heard her shout. "Snow, can you hear me?"

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Warm light from the fal'Cie Phoenix was plastered about the seaside city of Bodhum. It fell across the waves, tracing bent patterns in the sands beneath the ocean. It pierced the gaps in the tree leaves, leaving behind scattered specks of radiance on the green grass. It did not, however, fall across the bedroom window of Snow Villiers. The blinding light that would usually wake him did not affect him on this morning, and now that it had reached noon the light did not reach his window at all. He missed call upon call, but did not miss when someone came to awaken him personally.

"Snow," a male voice sounded from outside the bedroom door. "Snow, get up. Serah's looking for you."

"Snow," another shouted. "Snow! Wake up!"

Again, nothing.

"Let me handle this," a female voice sighed. The doorframe splintered as the female kicked it in. She found Snow there, tossing and turning in his bed. The two others squeezed past her into the room, and the younger immediately ran to his side and shook him about.

"Snow!" he shouted. "Snow, can you hear me?"

Snow jumped up, nearly hitting the youngster in the face. He was drenched in sweat, breathing heavily.

"Maqui…?" Snow grumbled. "Yuj? Lebreau? How'd you get in here?"

"Violently," The older, blue-haired boy responded. "Maqui and Lebreau called you a few times already, but you didn't answer."

"Sorry, Yuj. I had a rough night. What was so important, Lebreau?"

The brunette girl sighed again. "Serah is looking for you. Tomorrow's her sister's birthday, right? She's going shopping for a present. She's been begging me to find you for her. She doesn't have a key to your place."

"Neither do you," Snow replied.

"She sure doesn't," The smaller, blonde-headed boy chuckled. "By the way, you have a couple doors you might wanna fix." Immediately, he took a couple steps back and stood behind Yuj.

"Okay," Snow grunted, sliding towards the edge of his bed, "Lemme get dressed and I'll be on my way. Lebreau, you owe me a couple doors."

She smiled sweetly as she ushered the others out the door and followed behind them. Snow stood and stretched his shoulders before shuffling over to his dresser. Since his discovery three days ago that Serah had become a Pulse l'Cie, enemy of their homeworld of Cocoon, he was very tense. He had promised her that he would help her complete her Focus, even if it killed him. He meant it, too, but where would he start? How was he to discover her objective and complete it? He had no idea.

As soon as he was dressed he was out the door, phone in hand. Six missed calls, three from Serah. He called her immediately. There were a couple rings and the phone clicked.

"Snow, where are you?" The female voice scorned. "I was worried sick!"

"Serah, I'm sorry," Snow sighed. "I overslept. We still going shopping for your sister's present?"

"Sure are," She giggled. Her voiced seemed to glow through the phone, if that were even possible. "Meet me at the shopping arcade as soon as you can. I love you."

"Love you too," He cooed before the phone clicked again and the line was dead. He took off on foot toward the shopping district.

Rounding a corner from an alleyway, he spotted Serah Farron standing in the middle of the walkway, patiently waiting for him. She looked beautiful, as always, dressed in bright, glowing colors and her hair tied to the side. The band she wore on her upper left arm seemed to match the ensemble very well. Nobody would ever suspect that beneath it was a mark whose very thought struck fear into the hearts of every inhabitant on the planet. If those around her saw that mark, they would run for their lives, tripping strangers in their paths to put as much matter between themselves and the l'Cie as possible. He found it impossible to believe that his beloved Serah was a magic-wielding monster, or that she was capable of mass murder or whatever it was that l'Cie were supposed to be charged with. He couldn't believe that, he just couldn't.

"Serah!" He shouted, jogging up to her, his hand waving to alert her to his location. She stood on her tiptoes, waving back at him.

"We have some shopping to do," She giggled. "Come on!" She pulled on his hand, dragging him into a jewelry store.

Snow watched Serah look through the glass panes at all the glittering artifacts, entertained as she tried to find one appropriate for her sister. Good luck with that, he thought. He looked around as well, chuckling under his breath at the thought of getting Lightning a bracelet or necklace. She'd never wear it. But just the same, he looked. There were lots of intricate pieces, and even engagement necklaces. The collection was quite extensive for such a small shop. Every chance he got, he stepped away from Serah to look at necklaces. A good half hour later, she ushered him out the store, ready to look somewhere else for something she would appreciate.

"Hey Snow," Serah squealed, jumping in place with his hand. She pointed forward and declared, "We should check out the sporting goods place! She'd like something practical, don't you think?"

"Uh, yeah," He answered, hardly knowing what he had agreed to. His mind was in another place, and he was about to go back to get it. "Go check that out, I'm gonna hit this clothing store and find her my own idea of practical, ok? I'll meet you at the sporting goods store."

She bounced away as he stepped toward the clothing store. As soon as she was out of sight, he made a quick change and went back into the jewelry store.

"Back already?" The woman behind the counter smiled. "Can I assist you?"

"Sure can, he responded. "The girl I was here with? Just a moment ago? I'm looking for something for her… for us."

"Ah," She had a knowing look on her face. "Right over here." Snow rounded the counter to the case on the opposite side. There were the necklaces he was looking at before, still there and looking as pristine as ever. "I saw you eyeing these," She giggled, "They're very neutral. Perfect for proposals, good for you, good for her."

She was a great saleswoman. He was beyond sold, even before she spoke to him about it. He had them in soft velvety jewelry cases and hidden in his jacket pocket before he even stepped out of the store and headed to the sporting goods store. When he got there, she was looking into another glass case, this time eyeing a survival knife.

"Like that?" Snow asked. "I know she would."

"Yeah, I agree," She responded, still attentive to the knife, like something about it was about to change. "What about you? Did you get her anything?"

"Nah," He sighed. "Couldn't find anything that said 'Lightning' to me."

"I know what you mean," She giggled, "Try living with her all your life."

"I think I'll pass," was all he could say back.

He looked around on his own while she attracted the attention of the clerk to retrieve the tool and ring her up. He thought about Lightning. He knew Lightning would be just as torn up about Serah's condition as he was, maybe even more so. He had no idea how Serah would break this news to her sister, or what Lightning might say. His thoughts were interrupted when Serah tugged on his sleeve. "Snow, it's time to go." He grunted in agreement before they took off toward another store