The Secret Garden

Based on: Final Fantasy Record Keeper

Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy. The OCs featured in this fic belong to various friends. Note that while the characters belong to friends, I am the one writing the fic itself. Thank you to my friends for allowing me to borrow your characters. If you wish to appear, please send me a message and we can work something out.

Notes: This is the sequel to Records of Keeper Canti. It's wibby-wobbly, timey-whimy in its execution. I care not. If you care, shut the fuck up and go away. If you don't like it, don't read it.

Warnings: Cursing, potential OOC, OC x Canon, stupid fluffy romance, sex, angst, self-insert author avatar

FIC START!

Chapter Two

Relocation

Cid woke up, rather dizzy and confused. He put his hand on his forehead. He wasn't feverish. Must have been a strange dream, or something like that. That's what he got for staying up to read those science-fiction novels he borrowed from the library after work. He wore just his boxers and a t-shirt, though they were both damp with his sweat. His uniforms for both the Warriors of the Water and the shipyard both hung on the wall. Both were pressed neatly, hanging him. The room itself was plain, save for the family logo - a bright red circle emblazoned with the letters H and W on each half - hanging in the center of the wall directly facing the bed he sat in. He picked himself up, throwing his blankets over to the side of his bed. He needed a cup of coffee if he was going to get his day started. He was just simply too tired.

He reached for his robe instinctively, pulling it around himself as to not appear improper. Cid walked barefoot into the next room only to find his adopted daughter, Cantirena, curled up in a blanket on the couch, snuggling a fluffy white bunny wearing a black mage's outfit. Her blue hair peeked out of the blanket which covered up most of her body. Now he remembered what happened. They were up watching episodes of the Mysidian Rabbit way past bedtime, and she passed out on the couch. Not wishing to wake her, he tucked her in where she had fallen asleep. He knew that if she woke up without him there, she would have panicked and curled up in his bed alongside him, but it seemed as if all was right this morning. Cid made himself a cup of coffee and fired up the stove. He knew she'd be hungry the moment she woke up. He wasn't an expert at it. But having kept her as his own for a year now, he knew a few tricks here and there.

Once he had pancakes started, the smell of them made Canti stir from her sleep. She looked around at everything, seemingly just as confused as Cid was when he woke up. "Papa?" she called to him, rubbing her eyes. Canti could tell he was making her favorite breakfast as she pushed the blanket off of her and sat up. "Papa, what's… what's going on?"

Cid turned away from the stove, putting the pancakes he made for her on a plate. A stack of three bunny-shaped pancakes with a scoop of peanut butter, just like she liked them. He put them on the coffee table in front of her. "Good mornin', pumpkin," he said kindly. "You all right?"

"I'm dizzy, like I've been spun around on a propeller lots of times," Canti answered, proceeding to eat her breakfast. "Feels… weird…"

"Yeah, I woke up like that, too," Cid said, turning back to make himself a stack. "I figure it's because we were up all night watching cartoons on the Sphere again. Can't be too good for developing or decaying minds to binge on cartoons like that, can it?" He flipped the pancakes in the air and caught them again in the pan. "So. They any good?"

"Mhm!" Canti nodded vigorously as she ate bite after bite of her pancakes. "Thank you, Papa Cid!"

"Glad to hear it. So, looks like you'll be starting at a new school tomorrow," Cid said. Once he made his plate, he sat down next to her. His were simple, flat, normal pancakes, ate in a traditional fashion with butter and syrup. "You excited?"

She shook her head.

"What? And why wouldn't you be? You'll be going to the best quality school in the entire country. You passed the entrance exam with flying colors," Cid said as he ate. "Headmaster Leviathan himself even gave you an award for such a high score. Don't you remember?" He pointed up at a plaque that hung on the wall next to the framed adoption certificate Cid signed to formally make the girl he didn't father into his daughter. "I was so proud, I cried liquid pride."

"...I do, I just…" Canti frowned, continuing to enjoy her breakfast. "…I'm scared."

"We all get scared from time to time," Cid said, patting her on the back. "You're gonna be just fine. There's nothing to worry about. Today we'll be going over to the school to pick up your uniform, so you can speak to the headmaster while we're there. Get some of your butterflies out of your system before the big day." He was finished eating far earlier than she was, which he noticed was a common thing in the time they had lived together. All his days in training and living in the barracks had taught him to eat quickly. "Might even make some new friends."

"Friends?" Canti asked hesitantly. "I don't know…"

"Don't know about what? You need friends."

"Papa Cid… do you have friends?"

"Of course I do. You know that I spend time playin' cards over with the boys from the hangar sometimes, Setzer and his wife Daryll are good people. So's that boy, Mid, who just applied to be flight instructor for the cadets over at the Warriors of the Water trainin' center," Cid said. "You need something like that, with kids your own age. Won't do to have you turning into an old grizzled bastard like your Papa before you hit puberty." He sighed. "Friends are a good thing."

"I guess so…"

"I bet you'll meet someone you like..."

"I'll try my best, Papa Cid. If you think I should, then I'll try," Canti said, finishing her plate, finally. She looked up at him and decided it was time to get the day started. "I best wear something nice if we're going up to the school."

"That sounds like a good idea," Cid agreed, picking up the plates. He washed everything by hand, set it out to dry, and picked his clothes out.

Once they were both dressed, they both stood before the vanity to wash their face, brush their teeth, brush their hair. The duo were in perfect sync for that, except for when Cid pinned a moon-shaped hairpin behind her left ear to match the silver lining on her sweater vest and denim skirt. He smiled at her the entire time, and she relished in his affection every step of the way. Cid pulled on his pilot's jacket and scarf and the two were out the door together.

The walk between the neighborhood and the school was about ten minutes. There were many houses of various shapes and sizes all clumped together close by, separated from the streets by stone walls. Most people traveled by chocobo-drawn carriage or on their feet along the cobblestone streets, but there was at least one prototype motorcar over close to the school. Cid identified it as belonging to one of the richer families that lived on the other side of the city, and he kept his biased comments to himself while his daughter was in earshot so he would not have to deal with her repeating his thoughts to someone else and landing her in some sort of trouble later on. A few other families brought their children to the school, but it was not as populated out as Canti feared it would be. She clutched onto Cid's hand when other people got close, and even if her eyes seemed to quiver with fear, she did not once let out a complaint or cry. Cid was proud of her for that, as it was apparent she was legitimately scared by being out, but she did a great job of not letting it control her. At the front desk, Canti put her hands up to lean on it, as the desk was just about at her chin in height. The lady asked her name, not her father, which she didn't expect.

"...Cantirena… Highwind," Canti said, staring at the lady's nose instead of her eyes.

"Ah, yes, you are registered," the lady said. "Says here that you are to report to Headmaster Leviathan himself… he has your uniforms."

"Oh…" Canti said quietly, "…wh-where is he?" She wanted to hide her face. She hated it when she started stuttering.

"In his office. I'll let him know you're here. He'll come get you."

"Th-th-thank… you, ma'am."

"Such a polite little girl," the lady said. "You should be proud, Mr. Highwind."

"Never been prouder," Cid said. "C'mon, let's sit down and wait."

They sat down together to wait, while many other parents with students passed back and forth holding their uniforms all packaged up. Some were obviously from richer families than others, with one Cid was damned sure belonged to the governing body of the country - the Senate. Their son with blonde hair that fell to the floor seemed to get away with everything and had no respect for any authority at all. One Canti recognized as living very close by to their small two bedroom house, a girl with teal hair being led along by an elderly gentleman. Why were they alone made to wait?

Oh, no, there was another pair who were told to sit with them. Canti held onto Cid's hand that much tighter. A girl with pink hair this time who seemed to have a very happy disposition and a very bright smile sat with who Canti believed was her father. The two of them locked eyes for a few moments before a voice caught Canti's attention.

"Uncle Cid?"

Cid and Canti looked over to see a young man with a blonde ponytail standing close to his father. Cid smiled warmly. "Well, if it isn't my good-natured nephew and my…" he stopped himself from saying some sort of an expletive in the middle of a school office. "…of an older brother, Richard."

"School year just started and you're all ready needing to see Headmaster? Seems your daughter is just as much a troublemaker as you were when we were in school," Richard said teasingly, coming over to ruffle Cid's hair. "How are you, little brother?"

"Doing great, when you aren't being… yourself," Cid said, pushing Richard's arm off of him. "Go get your son registered all ready."

"Come on, Kain."

The young man stared at Canti for a few moments, knowing that by law they were cousins, but still drawn to her somehow. He didn't immediately follow his father's commands. Instead he walked over and kneeled in front of Canti. "Don't be scared," he said, putting his hand on her knee. "If anyone bullies you, I'll be there for you, cousin. No one will tease you. I promise. No one dares to put down a Highwind."

"Is that why she's so scared?" the pink haired girl blurted out of nowhere.

"...Hikari, you can't just say things like that!" her father scolded her.

"But, but! I was wondering, and!"

"Don't scold her," Cid said. "Cantirena, she's a bit socially awkward. She was teased a lot when she was staying at the orphanage, so she's… not very easy in situations around people." He gave Kain a nod. "Thanks, kid."

"Any time, Uncle Cid. We Highwinds have to look after each other," Kain said, getting up to follow his father. "See you tomorrow, Canti."

Canti nodded back. "Th-thank you, Kain. Bye."

The wait felt like forever. Canti fidgeted a lot, leaning on Cid and swaying a bit. She had a very hard time sitting still. She didn't like all this sitting with all these people coming back and forth everywhere.

Cid put his hand on her head. "Hey. I just wanted to tell you that you're doing great. I know how hard this is for you. You're going to be just fine," he whispered to her, and she stopped moving to listen to him. "Calm down just a little bit. Just a little longer. We'll be out of here and go do lunch at that Chocobo place you like."

"Papa…" she replied. "…it's hard… all the people…"

"Oh I know it is, baby. Just a little longer."

That's when the door to the office beyond the front desk came open and the Headmaster came out, dressed very formally. He wore robes that moved like water and had hair that looked more like shiny fish scales than actual hair. His chin was pointed, and he smelled of sea foam and sandcastles. He stood between the two daughters and fathers with his arms wide open to them both.

"Forgive me," he said. "I did not mean to make you lovely ladies wait. I am Headmaster Leviathan, and I welcome you to my school. Dagurreo Garden Academy." Leviathan spun around, exchanging looks between Hikari and Canti. "You two are special. You scored the highest overall on the exams. Thus, you are both are honored students here at the Garden. I hope that you two will both be able to blossom in your talents…" he smiled. "Grow strong, my little ones. You'll be able to face anything that comes your way."

"You r-really think… I'm… special?" Canti asked, looking at the floor, staring into the ornate design. "I'm n-not…"

"I have every faith in you," Leviathan whispered. "You were born in my country for a reason." He reached his left hand to Canti. "May you be blessed by the sacred waters, my child." Leviathan passed to her a blue energy, and it seemed to put the little girl at ease. Then, he turned to Hikari, offering her his right hand, and whispering words to her Canti could not hear.

"And with that, my lovelies, I hope to see you both once a grading term to discuss things," the headmaster said, letting them both go. "All right." He snapped his fingers and two ladies from the back brought out massive boxes. "These contain all of your uniform pieces. You can read all the rules in the booklet provided." One box was placed in front of Canti and another in front of Hikari. "Tomorrow is your first day as my precious students. You'll have your schedules given to you at orientation, so do be sure to come a little early."

Cid helped Canti up and was amazed at how easy it was to lift the box. "Good thing the house is so close by," he said. "Come on, darlin'. I promised you lunch."

"All right, Papa!"