Kamui: and so here we are with another chapter. I rushed this a bit, so I'm not too sure how it turned out since I'm kind of tired lol. I've been recovering from acute bronchitis and a respiratory infection... ah it totally sucks being sick during ones birthday. well I hope you enjoy this chapter everyone!


Chapter 7: Emotion

A childish sleeping face… a face I've grown to enjoy looking at over the two month period I've been here now. Noctis, the Prince of this Kingdom was fast asleep in front of me. When was it that I grew to enjoy watching this man sleep? What is it that seems to draw me to you whenever I see you? It's no longer because he reminds me of Hope… it's something different all together. "I wonder if it really is Stockholm syndrome… or if I really am…" I trail off as I continue to watch Noctis sleeping soundly.

20 Minutes Earlier

"Light-San, can I ask you a favor?" Ignis asks me. "Sure, what is it?" I reply with a slightly puzzled look upon my face. "It seems like Noct is still asleep in his study, could you go wake him up for me while I help the maid's prepare breakfast?" is Ignis' request. "I can take care of that." I reply as I get up from my seat in the library. Walking down the halls, I look at the various paintings on the wall. Each one I walk by is unique with their own color tones, themes, and style. But one picture in particular catches my attention… a picture titled "Etro" that's at the end near Noctis' study.

The beguiling painting almost seems so sad as I look at it… the tale of the lonely goddess that was cast aside during her creation because what Buhnivelze had created was the exact thing he feared… Mwynn. Just because she was born in her image, she tore her body apart and the resulting blood that had been spilt created us human's. Truly a sad existence… one that has only known suffering is being targeted by the man she ordained as a guardian. Along with Fang and Vanille's fate, I want to rescue Etro just as well… maybe that's another reason I've aligned myself to her… the reason I've agreed to be her knight.

Snapping out of my trance, I knock on the door to Nostis' study. "Noctis?" I call out, but receive no response in turn. Turning the knob of the door, I find it to be open before peeking my head inside.

Present

And that's how I found myself here, staring at Noctis' childlike sleeping face. No, matter how many times I see it, I still can't believe that this man can fight with the zeal and chivalry of a proper knight. But then again… that very noble being has a silly, yet shy side as well. Truly an interesting, childishly straightforward Prince. Noctis stirs slightly from his slumber as his eyes slowly flutter open. Once his vision seems to focus, he's staring at my face in a slightly puzzled manner. "Morning Noct." I say to the Prince with low blood pressure in the morning. "Morning Light… Light!" Noctis yells out slightly surprised as he falls backwards out of his seat.

Noctis landed with a loud thud as he crashed against the back table followed by senseless groans of pain. I stifle a laugh at the sight, but it seems like he can see me which causes him to blush in embarrassment. Righting himself in an instance while gaining his composure, Noctis slowly rises to his feet. "How are you this morning." Noctis says after a brief cough to clear his throat. This is what I was talking about… it's a bit silly how he tries to act like none of that happened, but at the same time it's cute… maybe my time with Hope and everyone else has softened me up when it comes to people like him.

Like I've said before, people with his personality type normally piss me off, but over time, I guess its grown on me. "I'm doing fine Noct, but how about you, are you okay after that?" I ask with a hint of concern in my voice as I walk over to him. "Yeah… I'm doing okay." Noctis replies in a somewhat defeated tone. "Sit down and let me take a look at your head." I order the Prince. Without a word, Noctis sits down in his chair as I walk forward to check on him. Grasping a hold of Noctis' head, I gently run my hands through his hair to check for any damage. 'Noctis' body seems tense.' I observe in my thoughts as I wonder why, but the sensation of his warm breath against my chest makes me realize how I'm holding him.

Feeling my cheeks flush slightly, I hurriedly finish my inspection before releasing him. "You seem fine… c'mon, let's go get breakfast." I try to sound as natural as possible. "Y-yeah…" Noctis replies as naturally as possible. Taking a glance back as I exit the door, I notice his cheeks are flushed a little bit too. 'I can't be that clumsy can I… To have held him like that unconsciously…' I find myself thinking as we make our way to dining room where the entire group was waiting. "Oh, you two are finally here!" Gladiolus gleefully calls out. "Eh… what's wrong? Both of you seem to have gained a bit of color in your faces?" Prompto says from behind Gladiolus.

"I… it's nothing!" Noctis hurriedly replies before taking his seat. Everyone looks at each other before shrugging it off, but I have a feeling that they have a general idea of something having happened. Taking my seat, Ignis comes out with some of the maid's to help serve everyone. Breakfast goes along smoothly with the maid's joining us at the boy's request. Gladiolus and Prompto were eating as much as they usually did which continuously leaves me baffled. Just where is it that the food goes when those two eat? I swear, their stomachs are like black holes.

My time here so far has certainly been interesting… I've grown accustomed to my lifestyle here thus far, but the knowledge of what awaits me in the future grips at my hearts sometimes. I find myself wavering the more time that I spend here… living this peaceful life. Well maybe not so peaceful. Caius' attempts to get to me have become more aggressive as of late. He's had time to gather energy, but it seems like it hasn't been enough to form himself in this world. I can tell just by looking at them when they come home… fatigue is starting to wear on them as they destroy the dimensional distortions that continue to sprout around.

Caius' effort has certainly spread fear into parts of the city as rumors of Bahamut cultist disappearing to revive the Dragon King float around. I know better and so does Noctis, from the information we've shared with one another. Yeul… the girl fated to be a prophet for Etro, Caius… a guardian left with the task of watching the one he's supposed to protect die over and over again to be driven into insanity. Etro truly is a clumsy goddess when you take these things into account. By ripping me from my very timeline to fulfill one of her wishes, she caused a huge ripple effect.

Today, I'm out on patrol with Noctis as we find ourselves well beyond the city walls. "We've been getting reports from a delivery service lately about things coming from out here being delivered into my Kingdom. From some reports, the things being shipped are dragon bones, among other things." Noctis says as we climb a hill to find an excavation site. "Are they allowed to be out here?" I ask as I notice the look on Noctis' face. "Things that are within a 25 mile radius belong to my Kingdom and things like these are usually reported to our council… this mission came from my father which means this isn't something that wasn't authorized." Noctis answers my question. "Get down." I say swiftly as I drop to the ground while dragging Noctis down with me.

"What is it?" Noctis asks as he looks over the hill with me. "That." I say while pointing at a symbol belonging to the cult. "Oi oi… they can't be this stupid can they?" Noctis asks as he sighs a little bit. "I'd have to agree… either they don't care, or they're setting up a trap for us." I say as I look at a convoy exiting the site. "Might as well spring it then to see what happens." Noctis says as he gets up. "Are you out of your mind!" I ask harshly. "Maybe a little, but I can't sit around if this site is supplying the cult in the city somehow." Noctis says as he begins walking forward. "Hey!" I call out while trying to catch up with him.

I didn't think he would be rash like this… what's he thinking by running in head first without a plan? I read the reports about how he's handled the other missions he's gone on by himself and I seriously have to wonder how he's survived this long. I get that he wants to protect his people, but at what cost? If it's something that really irritates me about him, it would be this. He can be as rash as Snow at times… maybe that's what irritates me about him. Fools that rush in head first without a thought or care about the actions… Noctis didn't seem like that type of person, but I guess I was wrong.

Just as I catch up to him, a tremor runs underneath us as a surge of energy gathers in the site. "Guess that answers whatever questions I was going to force out of them." Noctis says as he looks ahead. The pressure of the air changes as everything goes still… What stands in front of me forces my eyes to widen. "Hello Warrior Goddess." Caius says with a smile on his face. The world around me has turned grey, the flow of time seeming to have stopped. "Caius." I say the man's name as I draw my blade. "I've come to take you back… is what I want to say, but I'm not fully stable here quite yet." Caius says as he walks forward.

"Hello Caius!" I hear Noctis' voice as he takes a swing at the man with his blade, the blade passes through the body as if nothing were there as Noctis stands in front of me. "The boy is here too… now that is a surprise. I created this space for just me and the Etro's chosen, but it seems like you can move freely here." Caius says. "I'm a special case it seems like… since I'm a chosen of Etro as well in a sense." Noctis says as he straightens his posture.

Caius' face sharpens slightly as he tries to comprehend the knowledge given to him by Etro's heart. "I see… guardian of a crystal that grants you power… much different from a l'cie… you aren't given a focus, but you have the ability to use it nonetheless." Caius says with a smirk appearing on his face. "Etro is doing more things that will harm our own world and quite possibly your own boy." Caius continues. "That may be so, but until it directly affects my Kingdom, I will fight by her side." Noctis replies. "Why are you here now if you're not going to be taking me back?" I ask as I withdraw my blade.

"I came to give you a fair warning, knight to knight." Caius says respectfully. "A warning?" I ask as the man nods. "I will fully form in this world within a couple weeks time it seems like… I no longer need the cultists to help me either because it's only a matter of time now." Caius says as he smiles at us. "I'm sure the Warrior Goddess has at least told you what I am when I'm serious in a fight, boy." Caius says as he paces in front of us. "Bahamut…" Noctis trails as he holds his gaze on Caius. "That's right… or at least a different facet of the Dragon King. The thing that was excavated here is none other than a dragon's egg… this will allow me passage into your world. I wouldn't bother going there now either since it's evacuated now." Caius says as he stops.

"I'm sure that you know that a Dragon's egg in your world cannot be destroyed by conventional means, you could even try to destroy it with the strongest weapon your world has to offer, but it won't even put a crack in it. It's only a matter of time before I can be born in your world to drag that woman back with me." Caius says as he looks at the site. "That's fine… I'll be here to stop you from doing so because you'll have bared your fangs at my Kingdom, my people, and the one I vowed to protect." Noctis says with a confident look on his face. "Caius… I'll meet you on the field of battle." I say respectfully as my way of saying thanks for the warning.

"Until then Warrior Goddess…" Caius trails off as he's walking away. Caius stops for a moment, "Boy… I hope you're prepared for the consequences your actions will have in the future!" Caius calls out before fading away. The world slowly shifts back to real time as the grey turns to color. "I'll be waiting Caius." Noctis says as he turns around to face me. "Because I've sworn to protect those that live in my Kingdom." Noctis says as he walks by me. That cheeky little… I'm still irritated by his actions earlier! Before I know it, my hand launches out to grasp a hold of Noctis' wrist. With one swift motion, I drag him back towards me before flipping him over my shoulder. I have to get this off my chest… the rash action he took earlier to charge in like an idiot has really pissed me off.

"What were you thinking when you decided to charge in there without a plan?!" I yell as a puzzled Noctis takes a second to piece together what had happened. "I'm trying to defend my people Lightning! I can't afford to let them suffer by any account!" Noctis yells right back. Now here's a change, I've never seen the sleepy Prince angry before. "So does that mean you should sacrifice yourself like this? What if it was a trap you couldn't survive, what then? Who would be there in your place then, huh? I read the report about the Ghoul Dragon you had to fight and you barely managed to survive that. Do you know how worried we all were?" I yell as I grab Noctis by the collar.

'Argh… damnit, he's found a great way of pissing me off!' I think to myself. It's natural that I'm worried, we all are. "I know that…" Noctis says quietly. "Then why are you so reckless?" I ask in a toned down voice. "I guess now is as good a time as any to talk about myself a bit more." Noctis says as he straightens himself out while sitting up. Noctis began explaining his past to me in detail… about his near death experience, the light that comes from the door of the dead, and the one thing he couldn't protect that drives him into reckless abandon. "If you've noticed… I only have my father left… my mother was killed during an attack from a rival nation. They attempted to kidnap us to ransom for the crystal, but it was a failed attempt as one of the men accidentally shot my mother while she tried to shield me." Noctis explained as I pieced things together.

"I was powerless back then… unable to protect her as she was taken from me by that incident. After I gained my abilities from the crystal, I swore that I would protect everything that my mother held dear in her lifetime…" Noctis continued. "And that was the Kingdom and the people wasn't it?" I ask to which Noctis nods. "You're such a fool." I say straight out. Noctis' eyes sharpen at the comment, but he holds his tongue to listen to what I have to say. "And do you think she would be happy if you, her son, sacrificed his life to carry that wish out for the people? Do you think you can protect anything when you're dead? Just because you have power from the crystal doesn't make you invincible Noctis, you also need to consider the feelings of those that you're going to leave behind should you fail." I say as I sit down next to him.

"Boldly walking into a trap is something I can't condone you know… only an idiot that's looking to get himself killed would do such a thing." I continue as I look out at the skyline. "I can handle myself." Noctis says as he looks out with me. "But you don't have to do everything by yourself… you have Gladiolus, Ignis, and Prompto by your side… and me." I say the last part quietly. Noctis seems to sigh a little before falling back onto the ground. "I'm sorry." Noctis says as if he's lost in thought. "You're right… I've been doing things in a rather selfish manner haven't I?" Noctis asks.

"You got that right." I say bluntly. "I'll be more careful from now on… but I want you to also heed your own advice Lightning… I'd be sad if you disappeared in such a way." Noctis says as he smiles at me. 'I can't fight that smile… that's a bit unfair you know.' I think to myself as I calm down. "That'll never happen to me, but if the time comes, I want you to snap me back to my senses." I say. "I'll keep that in mind." Noctis says as he gets to his feet.

Once we got back home, Noctis was summoned to meet with the King, which leaves me sitting in my room thinking to myself. I've been pissed before with Snow for the same things, but for some reason, it was worse with Noctis than it was with Snow. I find myself thinking about the possible reasons. "If it were Serah, I probably would have done the same thing…" I say to myself as a sudden realization strikes me. I love Serah as family… but with Noctis… could it be that I scolded him in a harsher way than I would have scolded Serah because I have those types of feelings for him?

Could it be that I've slowly fallen in love after spending these two months with him? What about him is it that I fell in love with if that's the case? I guess it would be that silliness he has to him, the shy attitude he has… especially when he's flustered, but there's also his zeal, and the way he feels about those around him. The way he tries so hard for his people, for those that are technically strangers. I guess it's a culmination of these things that I've had the chance to see that's slowly drawn me to him.

I find myself sighing to myself as I look at the ceiling, "A couple of weeks from now and it'll be all out war…" I say to myself. Etro… I don't know how things will turn out, but I hope you'll give me some protection for the day Caius arrives. I slowly close my eyes, exhaustion overcoming me as I fall asleep. Faint words ring in my ears… words I can't hear… that voice… Etro?

"I have given you the protection you need in the form of Noctis Lucius Caelum.

I wanted you to enjoy something I could never have.

That thing is love Lightning.

Not the love you would have for family.

No… what I wanted you to experience was a love that I could never obtain… to love another person to be loved by that person as he holds you close as he tells you everything will be all right.

I can feel it in your heart even from here in Valhalla… you really have fallen in love with him despite what your confused mind may think.

And I'm sure he's come to the same conclusion."