Draconis: Alright now then after a long delay due to unforeseeable circumstances. I'm back with the next chapter of A Retold Tale...now then...where'd I leave off?

Edgar: The battle in Narshe was settled.

Celes: And Terra underwent a transformation.

Sabin: Kenshin chased after her.

Ryuushin: And he comforted her before confessing that he loved her.

Draconis: Ah yeah and Kenshin told Terra he'd explain himself. I get it now.

Final Fantasy VI A Retold Tale.

Chapter 9

Kenshin's Past.

Draconis: Well let's go.

(start)

"Well...actually I should probably start by telling you something else." Kenshin says.

"What is it Kenshin-San?" Terra asks.

"I told you to call me Kenshin dammit." Kenshin snapped weakly. "Anyway my father and I." "Are not originally from this world."

Terra was surprised at this declaration. "What?" "Not from this world?" "What do you mean?"

Kenshin sighs and snaps his fingers. The area around them suddenly shifts into a lush plain with a few trees scattered across it. Terra looked around. "Wow...it's so serene looking here."

Someone walked in between Kenshin and Terra. She squinted at the figure until it turned it's head in her general direction. Her eyes widened and looked over at Kenshin. "H...He looks exactly..."

"Like me?" Kenshin asks. Terra nods.

"Well he should." "These are my memories after all." Kenshin says.

Terra turned back to the past Kenshin who sighed hopping into a tree. "Why was I brought back?" He questioned to no one.

Terra looked over at the Kenshin she knew a questioning look on her face. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"Before this point in time I was pretty sure I was dead." Kenshin says. Terra gasps. "Y-You?" Kenshin nods. "Yeah."

"Where is this?" Terra asked.

"This area is part of the world I came from." Kenshin replied. "It's called Mundus Magicus."

"I...don't follow." Terra says.

"Heh heh." "We'd be surprised if you did." Ryuushin said.

"Anyway shortly after I hopped in the tree I fell asleep sulking." "The next thing I knew I woke up surrounded by Vectorians " Kenshin says.

"Wait...I recall something about the day you were quartered." Terra says.

Kenshin and Ryuushin's curiosity was piqued. "Yes?" They both said.

"Around your body a white tigress and a large black scaled dragon watched over you." "No one could get near you until a man garbed in green appeased them saying he meant no harm." Terra says.

Kenshin smiled nodding. "I see."

"You said you knew what it felt like to be used to me in Figaro." "What did you mean by that?" Terra asks.

Kenshin sighs. "The world I lived in was one constantly caught in some sort of strife." "Before I came here my friends managed the end the cause of it all." "A man named Hottan." "I played a hand in his eventual downfall, but I had to do something I regret to this day...to make it happen."

Ryuushin walked up to him and set his hand on Kenshin's shoulder. "Son...it's OK."

Kenshin nods a solemn look on his face. "Yeah."

Terra wasn't sure why but her heart thumped painfully as she looked at him. "Why does my chest hurt seeing him look that way?"

"What is it?" Terra asks.

Kenshin closed his eyes and pointed at Ryuushin. "In order...to gain Hottan's trust...to be used by him so I'd have the opportunity to investigate his weaknesses...I killed this man."

Terra again wasn't sure why when she gasped and her voice quivered. "W-What?" "But...Ryuushin-San is your father...is..is he not?"

Kenshin nods. "Yeah."

"Y..You must be lying." Terra says.

The scenery around them shifted to a Japanese style home where Ryuushin and Hikari were sitting with neutral gazes on their faces. Kenshin appeared behind them.

"So..." Ryuushin says. "You've decided to go through with it after all...Kenshin."

"Mom...Dad...I." Kenshin says.

"It's OK Kenshin." Hikari says. "We understand."

Focus went to Kenshin's face as he closed his eyes a lone tear trail seeping from his right eye while unshed tears welled up in his left eye. "Understood."

"Hikari." "Leave us." Ryuushin says.

"Hai." Hikari says walking out of the room.

"Just promise me one thing." Ryuushin says.

"..." Kenshin remained silent for a few moments. He sensed someone coming.

"Take care of your mother, and your sisters Yukari and Miyuki." Ryuushin says.

"Understood." Kenshin says his body and voice quivering more tears falling from his eyes.

"Do not fear." Ryuushin says. "This is your path to choose is it not?" "My pain will end here...but it is nothing compared to what you will face." He closes his eyes a solemn smile on his face. "Even though our views on this differ...I am proud of you my son." "You truly are...

Kenshin took his shaking blade and stabbed it through Ryuushin's heart. "A gentle child." Ryuushin finished. Focus directed to Kenshin's face. His teeth gritted against each other in anguish tears pouring from his eyes. Ryuushin's body went limp as he fell forward hitting the floor with a dull thud.

The scene froze and melted away. Terra stared at Kenshin a face akin to shock. "Y...You aren't lying."

"No." Kenshin says looking off to the side. "From there he had me nearly destroy my bonds with my two sisters whom I loved dearly." "A few times I contemplated giving up, but I thought what would my father's death have meant if I did that?" "So then I resolved...to challenge those sisters of mine to a fight...and then let them kill me."

"Th-They didn't did they?" Terra says.

Kenshin shakes his head. "I had a heart condition that killed me then and there." "Before I died...I told them everything I could...and said I will always love them."

Ryuushin smiled at his son. "Nice going Kenshin."

Kenshin turned to Ryuushin smiling. "Thanks...I...just couldn't rest unless they knew." "Is there anything else you would like to know Terra?" He asks turning back to her.

Terra shakes her head. "To even consider doing what you did." "Must mean you've led a difficult life."

Kenshin chuckles grimly. "Heh." "Guess you could say that."

"Now Kenshin." "I believe we should get on to the second reason we're here." Ryuushin says.

"Not yet."

Kenshin Ryuushin and Terra turned and the third began shaking at the sight of Tritoch. Kenshin walked in front of her shielding her. "What do you want?"

"I merely wanted to tell Terra about what she is." Tritoch says.

Terra's head snapped up. "Huh? !" "You mean you actually do know? !"

"Yes." "You are a half-breed." "Born between one of the human race and an esper named Maduin."

Ryuushin narrowed his eyes. Tritoch's sight landed on him. "What is it?"

"Don't use that term." "I've had friends that were known as half-breeds." "It's not a flattering label." Ryuushin says.

"Very well." "What I mean to say was that you are a human born of a human mother and an esper father." Tritoch says.

Terra nods slowly. "O...OK...did you know my father?" She asks stepping up next to Kenshin.

"I did." "He was my apprentice." Tritoch says. "I would tell you more Terra, but I am afraid I was one of the espers that was in this world the day the Esper World was sealed off."

Kenshin narrowed his eyes, but didn't say anything.

Terra nods. "It's...fine." "You answered the question I wanted an answer to."

"Seek out some of the other espers that the Empire hasn't caught yet." Ryuushin says. "One of them's bound to know something about Maduin."

"Thank you Ryuushin-San." "I will." Terra says.

Tritoch turns and makes his way back to where he came from when he stopped. "Kenshin."

"What?" Kenshin says.

"Now that you've had time to accustom yourself to this world." "I will now tell you why you were brought here." Kenshin's body went rigid at the esper's words.

"Are you sure you should so soon?" "Nothing's been fixed yet." Ryuushin says.

"Now that I've brought it up." "He's not going to let me go without an explanation." Tritoch says.

"Shut up and tell me." Kenshin says.

"Very well." "I assume you know of the Warring Triad?" Tritoch asks.

Kenshin narrowed his eyes further. "Yes I do." "But what do they have to do with this?"

"Everything." Tritoch says. "They are the ones who opened the portal underneath you and sucked you in here." "They are the ones who are preventing you from going to your world so you can settle accounts with your friends and family there."

Kenshin glared. "I'm not sure whether I should be pissed off or thankful."

"I understand your indignation if you feel that way." "They neither warned you or requested your assistance." Tritoch says.

"But just what are they?" Kenshin asks. "I've heard of them so thats how I know of them." "But that's about it."

"They are the deities that rule over this world and govern magical energies." Tritoch says. "Without them magic cannot exist and espers whom are beings of magic wouldn't either."

Kenshin nodded. "So...tell me." "Why me?" "I'm not cursing their decision because some good came out of it." "But I'm curious."

"I apologize Kenshin." "Not even I know why they chose you." Tritoch says.

"Tch." "Fucking figures." Kenshin says.

"If that is all I will take my leave." "But Kenshin." "If you desire to go back to your home." "I can arrange it." "However I cannot bring you back." Tritoch says.

Kenshin shook his head. "Not right now." "I promised Terra I'd help her." "That's what I'm going to do."

If Tritoch was pleased with his resolve he didn't show it. "Very well."

Tritoch left them and Terra turned to Kenshin. "A-Are you sure you don't want to go back?" "I...I'm sure your family and friends miss you."

"Well...I already talked to my mother." "She's letting them know that I can't leave knowing this world's in conflict." "That and I told you I loved you remember?"

"You talked to Hikari?" Ryuushin asked his skin paling.

"Don't worry Dad she's still alive." Kenshin says. "She somehow was able to make it here and was able to go back."

Ryuushin sighed in relief. "Thank goodness."

"Um...Kenshin..." Terra says.

"Yeah?" Kenshin says smiling.

"What...what is love exactly?" Terra asks.

"Oh that's right we were supposed to tell you." Ryuushin says.

"Well...Terra." "What do you feel when were together?" Kenshin asks.

"Comfort...Warmth...a strange sense of happiness." Terra answered.

Kenshin smiled again. "Do you find yourself thinking of me when were apart for no reason?"

"H-Hai...but it wasn't for no reason." "Wh-When we got separated I was worried you might not come back." Terra says.

Kenshin closed his eyes chuckling. "I see." "What about before you passed out just now?" "What did you feel then that you couldn't understand?"

"My...stomach had this weird tingling sensation." Terra says. "And my heart wouldn't quit pounding in my chest."

"Now this ones gonna be hard and my last question." Kenshin says. "When Kefka stabbed me." "What did you feel?"

"My heart was in pain." "Tears wouldn't stop coming out of my eyes." Terra says her eyes beginning to mist over. "I thought you were going to die." "I was shocked...and relieved when you were OK."

Kenshin nods. "I see."

"But Kenshin you still haven't answered my question." Terra says. "What is love?"

"I'll take this one son." Ryuushin says.

"Ryuushin-San?" Terra says.

"Terra." "Love like Kenshin's referencing is being happy when your around that certain someone." "When you're apart you constantly have that person on your mind." "When you kiss a sensation takes over your whole body." "And when their on the edge of death you can't stand the thought of losing them."

"Like Kenshin's referencing?" "There's others?" Terra asks.

"Yeah." Ryuushin said. "But you know." "I think you should find out what those are for yourself." "It's not that hard."

Terra nods. "OK." "Thank you Ryuushin-San."

"Don't mention it." Ryuushin says. "Now I'm going to go off and take a nap." "See ya."

"Later Dad." Kenshin says.

Ryuushin walks away and Terra turns to Kenshin. "What is it?" Kenshin asks.

"Kenshin...do you feel that way about me?" Terra asks.

Kenshin averts his eyes smiling. "Do you really want me to answer that?" "Just having found out about love and all?"

"Yes." Terra asks walking up to him.

Kenshin takes her hand. "OK then." "Yes." "I do." "I've enjoyed our time together." "When we were separated...I constantly worried if you would be OK." "When we kissed I felt the same way you did." "And if you were in my position back there against Kefka I would have fought still, but I'd have felt the same way you did."

Terra's cheeks tinted with a pink hue. "It...will take me some time to come to terms and figure out everything, but...I'm sure...I love you back."

Kenshin's smile widened. "I can wait for you." "Take all the time you need."

Terra recalled seeing a woman do something for a man back in South Figaro and her saying she loved him. She slid her fingers underneath his chin and pressed her lips softly against his cheek.

Kenshin cracked an eyebrow upward. "You...said."

"I figured I'd give you a little something...for staying with me this long." Terra says smiling.

Kenshin blushed at her smile and scratched the back of his head. "Ok." "Whatever you say." "I'm going to go ahead and get out of your head now." "See you when you wake up."

Terra waved. "Bye bye."

On the outside Kenshin opened his eyes and smiled down at her moving his hand to cup her still fur covered cheek. "You can lean on me all you want to Terra." "I'll always be there for you."

(break)

Back in Narshe.

The group had gathered in Smith's house after Terra and Kenshin took off. Locke awoke in a bed. "Uhhhnn."

"You're awake?" He turned his head to find Celes looking at him.

Locke hopped out of bed and shook off his drowsiness. "Where's Terra and Kenshin? !"

Celes hung her head staring sadly at the ground. "She...turned into a something...a...and took off." "Kenshin took off after her." "She looked like...a." Celes took a few steps back from Locke. "She looked like an esper."

Edgar entered the room and immediately ran up to Locke. "Locke!" "You're OK!" He looked in between the two a few times. "Something happened to Terra." "There seems to be a connection between her and the espers." "And now that I think about it...there's something...otherworldly about Kenshin."

Celes stared at him oddly. "What do you mean by that?"

Edgar turned to her. "Because." "While everyone was resting I had one of my councilmen bring census papers for the whole world." "From Jidoor to Thamasa there is no registries of anyone named Kenshin Kuroshi nor of any family or clan named Kuroshi at all." "And he says the technique he and Kefka were using was called Ryuujin's Avarice or Dragon God's Greed." "Obviously now Kenshin is the only one who can make use of it, but he mentioned those in his family could."

Celes nods. "Yes." "That's right." "You don't think..."

"No." "I don't think he is an esper." "If he was he would have filled us in on them a long time ago." Edgar says.

Locke narrows his eyes. "So what are you saying?"

"What I'm saying Locke...is that Kenshin may have not been born in this world at all." "That some force we know nothing about...brought him here." Edgar says.

Locke walked past him. "Then what are we waiting for?" "Let's go find them and ask Kenshin ourselves."

"Yes." Edgar says. "Witnesses say they saw her and Kenshin screaming across the sky to the west." "We should search for clues there."

Locke walked out to the main room of the house. "Let's go everyone!" "I promised those two...I'd."

Celes looked on as Locke hung his head. "Locke..."

Edgar nods. "Alright." "Now think." "The Empire wants the espers." "And now that Terra is out there looking like one and Kenshin's power has returned that paints a huge target on both of their backs."

Sabin nods. "Banon needs our help too though."

Locke turns away still hanging his head. Cyan sighs. "A couple of former Vectorian soldiers." "Still it makes no difference." "We must carry on and help them." He declares.

"Alright." "We have two duties." "Whomever isn't looking for Terra is staying here to guard Narshe." "My castle can shuttle us to the western continent where we can make way to Kohlingen and Jidoor."

"Seeing as I'm the one who brought up Banon needing help I'll stay." Sabin says.

"Gau...Gau want stay too." Gau says.

"I have something to ask Nemesis if what you were saying about him is true." Cyan says. "I'm going."

Locke nods. "So am I."

"Same here." Celes says.

Edgar nods. "Very well." "Sabin, You and Gau-San will hold down the fort." "Meanwhile the rest of us will search for Kenshin and Terra."

"Got it." Sabin says.

"So let's go!" Locke says rushing out the the door.

Edgar and Cyan sigh and follow him. Celes was about to when Gau tugged on her coat. "Hm?" "Gau-kun?" "What is it?"

"Are you close to Papa?" Gau asks.

Celes nods already knowing about Gau's bond with Kenshin. "Yes." "You could say I'm his sister." "Even though we're not related by blood."

"O-OK." "You bring Papa back?" Gau asks.

"Hai." Celes says. "I will." "And...if you want." She blushed slightly at what she was gonna say next. "You could call me Auntie."

Gau smiled brightly and embraced her. "OK!"

Celes patted Gau on the back. "OK then...Now I have to go." "We'll be back soon."

"OK." Gau says. "Bye bye Auntie."

Celes smiled and walked away. "See you."

(break)

A few hours later.

Figaro Castle.

Edgar's Chancellor rushed up to him as he and the others neared the castle. "My lord!"

"Dammit Edgar I hate your kingdom sometimes." Locke says.

"Oh stow your complaints Locke." Edgar says. "This is the only way we're going to find Kenshin and Terra fast enough."

"Geez." "Could you two give it a rest?" Celes says.

"Seriously Locke-San." "I'm wearing armor and I'm not all that bothered by this heat." Cyan says.

"What is it you need Edgar-San?" "And if you don't mind where is Kenshin-San and that girl he was with?" The Chancellor asks.

"That's the reason we're here." "They got separated from us and took off toward the west." Edgar says. "We need to go toward Kohlingen."

"Very well." "Come inside and we'll get started."

The party walks inside the castle and it begins to submerge. "This will only take a few moments." Edgar says. "Don't get too comfortable."

"So Edgar." "What made you turn your back on the Empire?" Celes asks.

"Same reason as these two." "They killed someone important to me." Edgar says keeping turned away from her. "What about you?"

"I realized what they were doing was evil." Celes says. "And Kenshin is like a brother to me."

"I see." Edgar says. "Get ready we're rising up from the sands."

"Alright." "We are at the western lands." "Be careful out there." "The beasts are stronger there than they are on the main land."

"Duly noted." "Alright first we should probably make way for Kohlingen." Edgar says.

Locke walked on ahead. "Back there again..." "Dammit..."

(break)

A while later.

Kohlingen.

"Alright." "You know the drill." Edgar says. "Split up and find any clues as to where Kenshin and Terra took off."

"Right." Cyan Celes and Locke say.

The four split up. Celes approached Locke as he began walking aimlessly. "Is something wrong Locke-San?"

Locke jumped. "Ah!" "C-Celes!" "Don't sneak up on me like that!" Locke says.

"My apologies." Celes says. "Although you seem troubled." "Is everything alright?"

"Am I that easy to read?" Locke thought. "I guess you could say I was reluctant about coming here."

"Why is that?" Celes asks. She notices them making their way toward a house. "Wait...you don't live here do you?"

"You could say that." Locke says as they entered the house. "I...wasn't able to...protect her...when she needed me." Locke says a faraway look in his eyes.

Celes set her hand on his shoulder. "If you want to talk." "I'll lend an ear."

Locke sighs. "A few years back I was out in a cave with...a friend hunting for treasure." "Her name was Rachel." "I crossed a bridge as soon as we entered and the ground began to quake violently." "She rushed forward and shoved me off the bridge and fell down herself." "I jumped down myself and found her." "When she came to back at our house...she was amnesiac." "She couldn't remember anything at all."

Celes nods. "I see." "That sounds rough."

"Heh." "Trust me it was." "When her father found out he demanded I leave her and never return." Locke says. "Especially...since we were engaged."

Celes let a short gasp past her lips. "Oh my...that's."

"Horrible?" "Yeah." "She agreed with them because she didn't know who I was anymore." Locke says. "All I could do was hang my head and leave." "I stood outside her house everyday...hoping she'd remember." "My friends...and hers told me just to leave her alone." "My being there wasn't helping her." "But how could I?"

"You were in love with her." "And that love was suddenly taken away from you." Celes says.

"Right." Locke says. "The...worst part is..." "A year later...I checked in on her..." His fists clenched as tears welled up in his eyes. "And she perished in an imperial attack." "She had...gotten...her memory back by then..and the last thing she said was...my name." "I should have never left her side...I failed her."

"I see..." "My condolences." Celes says. "If it means anything I'm sorry."

"Thanks." Locke says. "Come on." "Let's go meet with the others."

Locke and Celes exited the house and met with Edgar and Cyan. "So what did you guys find out?" Locke asks cracking a forced grin.

"We found out that they did fly over here." "But took off toward the south." "Let's go check Jidoor." Edgar says.

"Alright then." Locke says.

Edgar and Cyan took point in front while Celes and Locke hung in the back. "Hey Celes."

"Hm?" Celes says.

"Thanks." Locke says smiling at her.

Celes felt her cheeks heat up as she brushed her hair to the side. "Don't mention it."

The group of adventures made their way toward Jidoor where the hoped to find some answers.

(chapter end)

Draconis: I've sandbagged this long enough. Time to post.

Kenshin: Ya think? And wouldn't my past being revealed here spoil the plot for the other story?

Draconis: It might not go like that what I've described.

Kenshin: Whatever.

Draconis678 out