Didn't think I'd be continuing this one, and I'm not sure where I'm going with it because it's been so long I don't remember the plot I had in mind months ago when I started it. A few notes before we begin: don't expect characters to be perfectly in character because they won't be. I don't own em' and its rated M, reviewing lets me know someone is reading and updates are needed.

One Last Look at My Sacred Heart

Chapter 4: Poison and Blood

The Giza plains were flooded and covered with streams that had swelled into tiny little swamps. Vaan wasn't used to the rain, and he didn't like the clammy way it made his skin feel as it poured down upon him. He wasn't in the best of moods, not that any of them were at that point, and he wished with everything he had that they could just go back to the Strahl and wait out the wet season. Balthier was a few steps ahead of him, clutching his dragon whisker tightly with ringed fingers, his hair falling into his eyes. He was in a worse mood than Vaan was. He was soaked through and through, cold, and tired. He was also annoyed because of Vaan. He had lusted after the boy, sure, but somehow lust had turned into something different in the past few days.

"Please tell me you know where we are," he grumbled, seeing the confused look on Penelo's face as she studied the map.

She looked up at him, obviously annoyed with his question, "I can't tell anymore, this map is so soaked it's falling apart."

"Let me see it," he offered, making an attempt not to take out his anger on the girl.

He studied the map for a moment, Penelo had been right; it was so soaked through that he could barely make out the smudgy lines, "I don't think this is going to help us." The others were standing a short distance ahead of them, all except for Vaan, who had wandered even farther off into the distance.

"Maybe we should back track," said Penelo, "Retrace our steps back to the Strahl."

Balthier shook his head, "I don't know about you, but I doubt I could tell which way we came in this mess. We should just keep going."

The rain was pouring so hard now that he could barely make out Vaan's figure in the distance. They walked on ahead, joining up with the others.

"Any suggestions on which way we should go?" asked Basch.

Balthier shook his head, "Vaan went that way," he said pointing on ahead, "Might as well just follow him."

It seemed as good a suggestion as any, so the five sloshed their way in the direction Vaan had gone. Balthier was the first to see it, a strange glowing in the distance. He was about to ask the others if they could see it, when he caught sight of Vaan. Something was wrong.

"Shit," he cursed as he saw that the strange glow was surrounding a fierce looking beast, and that Vaan was fighting against it as hard as he could.

He took off in the boy's direction as fast as his feet would carry him, sparring only a second to shout for the others to follow him. He had almost reached him when the beast's razor sharp talons raked across Vaan's chest. The boy hit the ground hard just as the beast disappeared. Not ran away…disappeared into thin air, and panic rose in Balthier's chest as he rushed to Vaan's side.

"Vaan! Come on, Vaan, Please!" he begged, as he pulled the bloody heap of a boy into his arms. The boy's chest was ripped open, and there was blackish green pus oozing from the wound. His eyes were open, but he didn't seem to be able to see Balthier leaning over him.

"What the hell was that thing?" asked Basch, who had fallen to his knees at Vaan's side.

Balthier shook his head in a panic, "I…I don't know. Fran! Fran heal him!"

The Viera slung a cure spell in the boy's direction…nothing happened.

Balthier's panic intensified, and he quickly grabbed his pack in search of a potion. He found it quickly, and gently pried Vaan's lips apart so that he could get the liquid down his throat. He already had most of it down when Vaan started to foam at the mouth.

"No, no, no…Vaan please," Balthier begged. He looked up to Basch for answers as the boy started to convulse, "I don't know what to do! Basch? What do I do?"

Basch had never seen Balthier look so afraid. He remembered the way Balthier had pulled Vaan into bed with him the night before, and suddenly it all made sense. He tried to make his voice sound more sure than he felt, "I don't know. Just calm down."

"Calm down? Basch he's dying Goddamnit!"

Balthier's eyes were searching his, begging him to tell him that Vaan was going to be fine, but Basch couldn't bring himself to lie to him, "It looks like there's poison in the wound, we need to get him back to the ship. I can't see in this rain."

"We don't know the way back," whispered a panicked Penelo, "We'll never make it in time."

"There is an abandoned shelter not far back," said Fran, "We should take him there."

Basch started to pick the boy up, but Balthier grabbed his arm, "I'll get him."

The look in the pirate's eyes warned him not to argue, so he only nodded and let Balthier pick up the boy's limp body and cradle it against his chest. Fran had been right; there was indeed a poorly built shelter just a short ways back in the direction they had come.

Once inside Basch could examine Vaan's wounds more closely, he tried various spells and remedies but nothing seemed to work, "There's definitely some type of poison in here," he said, his tone somber, "But without knowing what did this there isn't much I can do."

Balthier sighed and grabbed his weapon, "If I find it, and bring it back, can you help him?"

Basch thought for a minute, "If I knew the type of poison, I believe I could. Finding out what did this could save his life."

Balthier nodded, "If I'm not back, and he starts to get worse, you get your ass out there and find whatever did this to him."

"I'm coming with you," said Basch, "You're going to need my help."

Balthier didn't argue, he was grateful for any help he could get. He wasn't sure why the thought of Vaan on the brink of death made him feel as if his very heart were being ripped out, but he knew that if Vaan died, part of him would die with him.

To Be Continued…

Bear with me; it's been so long that I don't remember much about where I was going with this one. Please review and stay tuned.