Disclaimer: Don't own Final Fantasy but I really love playing it
So I'm updating. Nothing interesting happened last time. Well, aside from the whacking Pia in the eye and the getting a bolt slammed into poor Lenn's back. Poor girl. Always getting hurt. So anyway! Let's just get on with the story and don't kick me for constantly hurting Lenn! Froosh and away! Ska chan.
Chapter Eight
I turned my torso painfully to stare at the crossbow bolt sticking out between my bodice and skirts. I raised my brows to Meekale as the Goblin Ambusher ran at me, stuffing its dagger into my hip. Meekale glared at the Goblin as he pulled an arrow from his quiver and shot. It was an easy kill for him. One shot between the goblin's beady eyes if I remember correctly. I looked over the dead fiend in shock at its swift end. Meekale kicked it on his way to me. "You okay?" he asked, rubbing my back. I flipped my hand in a so-so fashion and yelped. Meekale dropped the bolt in the sand, asking, "How 'bout now?"
"You enjoy hurting people don't you?"
"Not if it's you I'm hurting."
"Wonderful." I knelt and began praying to the Star Sybil to heal me. Chanting the ancient words of my foremothers, my flesh wounds healed over quickly without even a scar to show. I thanked my god and shook my skirts out. "All right, let's go." Meekale nodded and we started making our way to Windust. -
Windurst, it seemed, had become unbelievably greener over the past weeks I had been separated from it. The trees had shaken their winter bitten leaves and superseded them with bright, fresh leaves and blossoms. The air was sweet with cherry and pear blossoms. Moss was beginning its attack on the stone walls guarding the Federation once again. Sybil I miss home.
The sky was beyond black by the time we entered Windurst Waters. Don't ask how we got into west. I don't need the embarrassment. Anyway, we stumbled through the gates sleepily, the only thing keeping us on our feet being the pots of raw honey I stole from bees. I leaned on Meekale as we made our way to old Chamama's holstery. I would have led Meekale to my mother's but the Woods are far and there was no warp master out at that hour.
I banged against the carved doors, praying some one would wake. I knew I wouldn't be able to Chamama herself. That old Tarutaru won't wake up if you blew a cannon off next to her damned ear! Luckily Pichichi, a good friend of mine, happened to be home and opened the door a crack. "Who in the namie-wamie of Star Sybil are you and why are you banging downy-wowny the holstery?" she glared. She's been working on her speech, trying to become, as she says, worldly.
"Pich, its Lenn. Let me in."
"Lenn? Good heaven- weavens! I thought you went off to San D'Oria or something! You've been gone near-weary two months, you know."
"I know. Now let me in will you?" She grumbled in her tarutaru ways and shut the door to unlock it. She creaked it open and ushered us into the dim light. The Inn still smelled of good food and wood smoke. Sybil, I miss that place. Meekale stood close, fidgeting uncomfortably.
"Wait a second, who's that? You didn't wakie-ake me just to have a room for a few hours and split did you?"
"Pichichi you disgust me." She stared up at me, still waiting for me to answer her. "Ugh. Pich, this is Meekale. He's from Mhaura. Meekale, meet Pichichi, daughter of Chamama and Ranpi-Manpi, owners of the Rarab Tail Holstery." Meekale bent down and awkwardly shook the Tarutaru's small hand, exchanging greetings. "Now can we get a room? Two if you have them."
"Two open roomie-oomies are rare without reservation." My eye lids dropped a little more in annoyance. She always plays with me when I don't want her to. "'Specially this timie-wimie of year."
"Do you have them or not?" I snapped.
She sighed and went behind the short counter. Pichichi pulled out a fat book and flipped through it. "I'll assume it's just for tonight." Meekale and I nodded. She bobbed her round head as she looked through the book and smiled, pulling a key from under the counter. "Come on, then." We nodded our thanks before following her out the other door. Like most Taru, Pichichi has a hard time getting up regular sized stairs so it took us an extra minute to get to our rooms. Not like it mattered much, Meekale and I were having a helluva time getting up them too. Our feet felt as if some one had glued stones to them as we stumbled up the stairs. Pichichi unlocked the big doors and tossed up the keys. "Sleep wellie-ahem. Sleep well!"
We smiled and mumbled a good night to her before crashing through the doors. The rooms we were given aren't exactly rooms and I'm willing to explain if you've never entered the Rarab Tail. It's not like I have anything better to do. The rooms are actually one square foyer with two semi circular rooms attached to either side of it. Thin wood screens close off the open parts of the circles but stop short to make a sort of entrance way. Meekale raised his brows at the oddity of the 'rooms' but shrugged it off, too tired to ask about it.
With a low wave, he entered the opening against the wall with the door. I whispered good night and he gave an incoherent reply, already shedding his armor. I remember sliding through the opening on the other side of the foyer and pulling off my bandana. I gave my hair a good shake and glimpsed a ruby flash from Meekale's room.
I moved away from the opening to hide myself as I pulled off my skirts. Curiosity at the flash stuck to my thoughts, trying to bring my gaze back to Meekale. I knew it was foolish and that I should really have just asked but instead I tucked my hair behind an ear and poked my head out of the opening. I had to bite my tongue to keep an awed gasp down as I took in, not the sight of the red flash, but Meekale. I wasn't tired anymore. Chorded muscles make their way across his scarred pale back. He turned to drop his tunic on his pile of gear and more scars appeared. "How did he get those? Star Sybil that must have hurt like hell," I thought aloud. I gasped, making myself more noticeable, and clamped my hands over my mouth. Meekale whipped around as I prayed he didn't hear me.
My wide eyes grew wider as he looked back quizzically. More scars rip through his muscle packed chest and abdomen. I have to admit, it still surprises me to know that a person as heavily muscled as Meekale can look as thin as he does. Makes me wonder about Tiergan... Anyway! Yes, um, where was I? Oh right. I was blushing, he was confused. "Hi," Meekale said slowly, stuffing something into a belt pouch.
I darted my sight to everything but Meekale. I felt like an idiot. He came over to me and pried my hands from my mouth. I looked down in shame, leaving me to stare at the nine inch scar going from his belly button to a small tattoo just above his right hip. Crimson stained my cheeks as I whispered, "Hi."
After an awkward moment Meekale grinned. "So I was right about you wanting me."
"What?" I yelped, jumping.
"Well why else would you be secretly gazing at me with pink cheeks and bare legs?" I yelped again and pressed my back to the other side of my screen wall, hands over my face in completely embarrassment. I'm still groaning at Meekale's laughter. "I'm sorry! I couldn't help it. I had to." He kept laughing for a moment and eventually caught his breath. "Now what was it you whispered so secretly whispered a moment ago?"
"It was nothing."
"Nothing to you maybe." I scowled. Now like he would have known though. "Come on. Out with it. I won't stop asking until you tell me."
"I thought you were tired"
"I am. But I won't be able to sleep until you tell me."
Deciding sleep was better than being against a cold wall with nothing on but a shirt and bodice while talking to a man with a bare chest, I answered, "I was just wondering how you came to get those scars..." Meekale was quiet. "Meekale?"
"I need to sleep Lenn. I'm sorry." He let out a fake yawn, walking back to his room. I opened my mouth but didn't speak. What was there to say? For Meekale to just shut down... What could have possibly happened to make him react like that? I shook my head and untied my bodice. Slipping into my bed, I thought I heard a muffled sob. Is Meekale- no. No. Another muffled sob came my way and I bit my lip. He was. What have I done? I really am an idiot.
A frustrated sigh escaped Meekale and I sighed myself. I knew what I ought to do but I wasn't sure if I should go to him. What if he wanted to be alone? What if he got angry with me? I shook my head. "There's only one way to find out," I breathed, kicking back the sheets. --
Oh the mystery that is Meekale! Well I'm gonna try and get the next chapter up ASAP for you guys. Please don't kill me for leaving you hanging as usual! I don't wanna die! Ska-chan.
