A/N: Goddamn it. I'm getting distracted again, this time by Dead Fantasy. Unfortunately my computer doesn't have sound so I've been watching it listening to it with FF battle music. It kicks ass, though I want to watch the whole thing, sound included. I wanna find out what happens with Tifa.
Anyway, here's chapter 4. Hope you all enjoy it! And please review! Thank you Balthierfan6828 and The Great Daifuku for your reviews! I love you guys!
"Balthier?" Vaan stared up in utter disbelief at the man standing before him in the doorway. He almost felt like joining Penelo and the old woman in passing out.
"Will you stop gawking?" Balthier growled, tired of the blondes dumbfounded look. He took a step forward but found everything spinning and hurting, aching. Vaan, still terrified, caught him by the arm to prevent him from falling. The boy helped Balthier to the ground, where he rested his head on the wall. "Goddamn, I fell like hell."
"Do you remember anything?" Vaan asked, looking the man over. His veins were still very bold, though not a lighter grey than black. It was the bite on his arm that worried him the most. There were no bite marks. His skin around the area was still black but the marks were gone completely. Balthier shook his head, regretting it when more nausea came.
"No. Last I remember was running around Sochen. Did a fiend knock me out or something?" Balthier asked, rubbin his temples. He then looked down and finally noticed the extremely unhealthy color of his arm. "What the hell happened?" Vaan wasn't sure how to answer. Given the fact a man who was dead was up and walking about made him all to unsure if he was even awake or that any of this was real. Or maybe he passed out himself. The boy swallowed and stuttered.
"W-well, for one, you d-died." Balthier just stared at him before he started to laugh.
"Yes, of course Vaan. I'm dead. Hence why I'm walking about," Balthier laughed before covering his mouth, heaving. Vaan moved just in time to avoid being vomited on. Moments later, Penelo had the misfortune of waking up. The first thing she did was scream.
"Stop screaming dammit," Balthier yelled, wiping away the vomit from his chin. His hands were shaking terribly. A sense of panic and dread washed over him. He couldn't remember what happened, but he prayed to every god he could think of that Vaan was wrong. He hadn't, wasn't dead.
"What is wrong?"
"We heard screaming."
Vaan heard the two eldest travelers returning, so the boy left the pirate's side and rushed outside, meeting a surprised and confused Basch and Fran.
"Balthier!"
"What about him? Why was Penelo screaming?" Basch asked, pushing past the boy and walking into the crumbling house. Penelo was sobbing on the couch sitting next to elderly woman, who was still unconscious. Fran and Basch's eyes the traveled to the floor, to Balthier, who was struggling to stand. Fran instantly ran to his side.
"He's alive?" Basch muttered, looking at Vaan to make sure he wasn't hallucinating. Vaan nodded, still not believing. The two blond men then went to Penelo, trying desperately to calm her.
"Ah, Fran dear. Would you be so kind as to explain what's been happening?" Balthier asked, his voice trembling with panic and confusion. Fran took his wrist into her hands and checked his pulse.
"I do not know. But you died in a way that no magic could restore you and have been dead for almost an hour," Fran explained, her heart sinking. There was no pulse.
"But he's alive, so some magic must've worked," Penelo mumbled from Basch's chest. Fran shook her head.
"No, he is still quite dead." Balthier looked up at his partner with the widest eyes she had ever seen.
"What do you mean?" Basch questioned, looking Balthier over. He looked extremely ill, but very much alive.
"His heart no longer beats, nor does he breath." Balthier's hands went up to his chest. He hadn't noticed it, for breathing was not something people really think of doing, but he indeed was not breathing, nor did he feel any need to. His finger went to his neck, praying that Fran was wrong, that there would be the faintest heartbeat. None came.
A/N: Oh poo, I forgot all about Ashe. Oh well, I'll remember her in the next chapter hopefully.
So anyway, now we know that A) Balthier is now walking about B) He is still very dead and C) Penelo is very annoying. Anyway, Penelo used to be one of my faves, but now she's plummeted. First is naturally Balthier, then Fran, Vaan, Larsa, Dr. Cid, Reks, Basch, Al Cid, then Penelo and Ashe. I have strong disliking of Ashe, I really do. Anywho, a new chapter'll come out soon enough so please stick with me. Also Life Starts Now will be updated sometime this week as well!
Thank you all and please be kind and review!