Chapter 10: Gilgamesh Enters!

"Come on!" Zidane said impatiently, "How far did Kupo, Vaan, Lightning go anyway? Onion Knight, Firion, Squall, and Warrior couldn't have gone far!"

"Don't worry, Zidane," Terra said, "I'm sure they'll be back soon."

"Terra's right," Cecil said, "Try to be more patient, Zidane." Zidane pouted.

"I just don't want to get involved in a fight with someone. I want to save all my energy for Shinryu." He glanced over at Bartz, who seemed to be a bit unsteady.

"Hey, Bartz, what's eating ya?"

"..." Bartz didn't seem like he heard him. Zidane cocked his head to the side and walked over to his friend.

"Bartz!" Zidane said, shaking his shoulder. Bartz blinked a few times.

"What? Oh, Zidane. Sorry, I didn't hear you."

"What's wrong? You seem a bit unsteady."

"I just had a strange feeling. Ever get that feeling someone's watching you? Or that feeling that something is wrong?" Bartz asked resting his hand under his chin.

"Yeah," Zidane nodded, "What about it? You think somethings going to happen?"

"Maybe. I'm not too sure."

"Bartz, get ready. I'm coming for you. I'll finally beat you today!" Gilgamesh said to himself. Exdeath seemed to notice his look. He chuckled.

"Don't get too careless, Gilgamesh. Remember, I'm the one who's going to kill Bartz."

"Yeah, yeah. Just don't hog all the fun! Besides, I won't hurt him. Much. I'll just play with him a little. Maybe brake a bone or two. Nothing TOO serious," Gilgamesh chuckled.

"Just don't fail," Exdeath warned him.

Unaware of the approaching danger, Zidane sighed.

"I'm so tired of waiting for everyone to get here! Why don't we just go looking for them?" he didn't wait for a response from his friends as he started walking to find the other Cosmos Warriors. The others , realizing that they couldn't stop Zidane, reluctantly followed him. Bartz couldn't shake the feeling that something was going to happen. He kept a close eye out for anything suspicious. He stopped, whiched caught Cloud's attention.

"You okay?" he asked him. Bartz shook his head.

"No. I can't get this feeling away from me. I think I should stay behind and wait for you guys to return," he said. Cloud nodded.

"Alright. If something happens, Bartz, don't die," he said. He followed the group. Bartz sighed.

"Don't die, huh. I wish that was easier said than done." He looked around, "Alright, I knew you're around here somewhere. Come out already!" For a moment there was nothing, then he heard a familiar chuckle. Gilgamesh walked out of a portal in front of Bartz.

"Hey, Bartz," he smiled. Bartz glared.

"Gilgamesh! I should have known."

"Hey, what's with the glare? You're always happy to see me," Gilgamesh said.

"I know that someone is with you. Just what are you planing anyway? Is this some kind of trap?" he asked. Gilgamesh smiled a bit devilishly.

"Maybe I'll tell you. If you fight me, that is. But that depends on when I feel like telling you. Now pick up your sword, Bartz! This is the day when I finally beat you!"

"Aww, geez," Bartz sighed. He had some kind of plan, Bartz was sure of that.

Gilgamesh pulled out Excalibur and Bartz pulled out the Buster Sword.

"How long I have waited for this chance!" Gilgamesh said. He realized that Bartz said the exactly same thing, in the exact same voice too!

"Grrr, stop mocking me!" Gilgamesh said. Bartz said it too, in the same voice!

"Maybe he knows me too much?" Gilgamesh thought to himself. He cracked his knuckles.

"Okay, Bartz! Ready for the pain?"

"Of course I'm ready! I was wondering if you were!" Bratz smiled. "I have to remember not to use my crystal. I have a feeling that Exdeath is around and waiting. They'll probably taking turns. Gilgamesh fights me, then when I began to tire Exdeath will show up. I ave to be cautious and make sure that doesn't happen." He thought to himself.

"Warrior," Firion said as he and Squall walked up to Warrior of Light," We've been talking about it. You haven't been yourself lately and we want to know what it is that's bothering you."

"Oh," Warrior said, "I apologize. I didn't mean to cause such a concern. I would much rather talk about it with all of us present. But...Never mind, it's not that important."

"Don't give us that crap," Squall said, "You're going to make us all worried if you continue to avoid talking out a problem with someone."

"I just don't want you all to be concerned," Warrior said.

"We can't judge that concern until we know what it is," Firion said.

"...I," Warrior started, but the other Cosmos Warriors showed up.

"Finally! We found you guys!" Zidane said. Warrior frowned.

"Zidane, where is Bartz?"

"What? Bartz is with us. Where else would he-" Zidane began, but he too noticed that Bartz was gone.

"Bartz? Where is he? I thought he was with us."

"Bartz knew there was trouble, so he stayed behind," Cloud said. Warrior stared at him.

"What? We can't afford to be seperated. We don't know when Shinryu or the others might attack! Come on, everyone, we have to find Bartz before something bad happens!" The Warriors rushed back to find Bartz.

"Bartz, please be safe!" Zidane said to himself.