Disclaimer: I don't own Wutai, Lord Kisaragi, the Turks, SOLDIER, Midgar, the slums, ShinRa Electric Power Company or its executives. Those all belong to Square Enix. What does belong to me are my Original Characters, Camryn and Miyuki, and the story itself.
Pre-story A/N: W00t!! 2 chapters on the same day!!
Read and Review, please!
Midgar, ShinRa Tower
The Mako intervention had been hellish, with injections of the green substance pushed into their veins. It had in fact given them terrible muscle spasms, fever, and Tseng had actually convulsed for a brief but terrifying moment, prompting nurses to watch over the two Turk recruits with a vigilant eye.
But hours had passed, and the men finally stirred from their disturbed and painful sleep.
"I didn't know you had tattoos, Rude . . ." Tseng hoarsely commented from the neighboring cot. Rude had taken his shirt off, feeling feverishly hot, and revealed an astonishing design of extensive tattooing along his back and shoulders. The tattoos were of a tribal design, inked in solid black, and formed a geometric pattern that went from the top of his back down to below his waist.
Rude sighed; while he still felt overheated, he was beginning to feel a bit better. "I have tattoos years now. You OK?" he asked, dark brow furrowed as he sat up, glancing at Tseng's yellowish pallor. The Wutaian snickered, "How can you get up already? I feel like there's a Chocobo stampede in my head." Rude looked confused, "Chocobo stampede . . ?" Tseng whistled between his teeth, giving a disturbingly accurate imitation of a Chocobo's happy trill. Rude looked aghast for a few seconds, but began to laugh. He had to stop quickly, though, as he began seeing spots before his eyes. Tseng groaned and retched, dry-heaving on his already empty stomach. Rude thought about what would help them through this insane stomach and body ache: his father's herbal tisane, an herbal tea that was almost unbearably bitter, but would cure all that ailed a person in half an hour. Thing was, he couldn't get up to get the necessary herbs to prepare it, not to mention he had no idea where he could get those herbs here in Midgar.
Tseng was breathing shallowly now, to ease his stomach, and Rude thought to distract him, "Dot on your head, tattoo?" The Wutaian nodded, "Since I was a little kid. A type of spiritual entrance ritual, even though I kinda lost my religion somewhere along the way." Rude yawned, feeling immensely tired yet unable to sleep with the muscle spasms and nausea. He asked, "Fear?" Not really understanding Rude's intentions, Tseng didn't know if he referred to fear for his current condition or fear for his lost spirituality. He answered to both, "Nah, I think we're over the worst of the Mako reaction. And again, nah. I don't really feel scared at not being spiritual at all. It's more like a sadness, like growing up and realizing a lot of things you thought were so important are all just make-believe." Rude was silent for so long Tseng thought he'd gone to sleep, but then came his deep voice, "Too young to think like that. Need more 'life experience', like Veld says." Tseng smiled in the dark at this small echo of the Turk's leader, "Maybe. I dunno."
He shuddered again, groaning quietly. Rude watched him, anxiously remembering a person he'd lost back in Mideel, someone so special to him it still hurt to think of him. Someone who had shuddered and vomited, groaned in pain Rude couldn't help him with. Rude had lied at his first interview, or perhaps not so much lied, as omitted something.
He hadn't always been an only child.
He had a younger brother who'd died of a rare, incurable disease, or at least, incurable according to their limited resources at his humble hometown. Rude's father had asked the ShinRa army garrison's help, but it had arrived too late, and his brother was lost. Rude had signed on to become a part of ShinRa Company a mere month after his brother's death. SOLDIER, Turk, it didn't matter to him what he ended up as, as long as he could speed up helpful processes to those who needed them most.
He hadn't really lied, then. His brother was dead, making him an only child by default.
Meanwhile in the Wutai jungle, Miyuki laughed happily and threw herself into Shintaro's arms. He'd said yes, he'd wanted her to have that baby! She was exuberantly happy, but terrified at the same time, and so was he, as he embraced the woman he'd introduced to these kind villagers as his consort, his common-law wife. Shintaro mused, "I must be crazy . . ." while petting her hair, while Miyuki laughed, crying a bit at finally redeeming herself of the other children she had cast out of her body in the previous years.
The announcement that not only was Miyuki pregnant, but that the guerrilla would take the villagers offer and remain in the village until the following spring was acknowledged with wild, happy cheers. A few of the men in the guerrilla group treated her differently, more respectfully, and the village children adored her, calling her "O-nee san" and following her whenever she went, although their mothers still somewhat resented Miyuki's joining the guerrilla and saw her as an unfit role model for the young girls.
A/N: Hey, guys! I hope you've liked the story so far!!
I'm pleased to announce I'll be presenting in my University about the importance fanfiction reading and writing has to second-language learners. I submitted my proposal with some misgivings, thinking I would probably get passed over in favor of the more literary, scholarly projects, but lo and behold! Last week I got my confirmation letter, asking me to present!
