Chapter 11
The next morning, Sephiroh woke early, as usual, and went into the kitchen. Angeal sat at the table, munching on a bowl of cereal.
"Morning, Seph," he said cheerfully.
"Angeal."
"President Shinra went back this morning."
"Any strange, off-hand orders?"
"None that you'd want to hear."
"Good man." Sephiroth got a bowl of cereal for himself and sat down. "And the girls?"
"They got in last night but I guess they were just in other circles. Cloud too. Oh, and you guys can meet Missy today. She should get here later this morning."
"Are the others still asleep?"
"Yeah," Angeal chuckled. "So I was thinking we could do whatever this morning then meet back up for lunch and go from there."
"That's fine."
They crunched in silence for a bit.
"You and Yanna have a good time?"
"Angeal."
"I'm just asking."
"Yes, for a man you call 'socially inept,' it was enjoyable."
"I've never said that!"
"To my face." Sephiroth stabbed at his cereal. "Yanna invited us to the Warrior's Walk tonight. It's a memorial service."
"Yeah? Oh yeah, I remember now."
"And you were going to tell me when?"
"Sorry, Seph, I thought you knew. It's a big honor though. It's a very private ceremony."
"She said anyone who had a problem with it could go on one of the other walks, which means that someone does have a problem with it."
"Since when do you care what other people think? It was her choice to invite us, you know."
"I know." Sephiroth washed his bowl and put on his gloves. "I'm going for a walk before it gets too crowded. Call me when you decide what to do."
"Yep, have fun."
Despite the hour—the sun had just barely risen—the areas that served as the various marketplaces were already teeming. He remembered from the diagrams the order of the product lines and the variety was impressive. Avenues of weapons, clothes, food, jewelry, farming equipment, tack, tools, blacksmiths, seamstresses, tattoo artists, kitchen equipment, and any other product from the towns and tribes snaked around wrestling pits and massive roasting animals. Vendors cried out to him in Kalani, Common, and something in between. He made a point not to look at anything or anyone too long as he wove his way through the crowd.
"General!"
He spotted Yanna at a nearby stall of jewelry and stepped out of the main path.
"You're up early," she said. "Good morning."
"Ma'am." He shifted, unable to find a spot that didn't put him in someone's way. Yanna laughed and took his hand.
"Come with me."
She led him further into the marketplace then out towards the stockyards. People gave trail to them, bowing slightly or saluting, but a few Kalani shot baleful looks at Sephiroth when he passed. Others cast such looks on the shiushan. That was…unsettling.
"Here we go." Yanna pulled him to an area with nothing around but fences, animals, and the odd barn or two. "Better?"
"Much."
"What are you doing out so early?"
"I'm always up this early. You remember Wutai."
"I thought that was just because we were sleeping on rocks."
"No. What are you doing up?"
"Oh, running the world is never done, you know that. Anything you would like to do today?"
"You're the local." Sephiroth swept his gaze over the field, rolling his shoulders. "I am so far out of my element."
"You don't really do vacations, do you?"
"You remember Wutai."
She laughed and started walking towards a large barn down the hill.
"I'm assuming the others are still asleep?" she asked.
"The plan was to meet for lunch."
"Okay. I can show you some real Kalani street food. Just don't ask what's in it." She hauled open the creaking barn door and led him inside. The thick, heavy smell of hay and animal met his nose as they walked down the stalls.
"Agreed." Sephiroth neared one of the stalls and tilted his head at the creature inside. A narrow head sat at the end of a thick, sinuous neck, powerful shoulders melting into long legs and flanks. Full, thick hair stretched down the neck and emerged from the rump, swishing against the thickly muscled haunches.
"I don't know what you call them," Yanna said. "But we call them 'arana.' This one's Mika."
"How fast can they go?"
"Forty miles an hour, by your count, with a rider. Faster if they're scared or hungry." She came to stand next to him and held out her hand. The arana shook its man and nuzzled her palm, huffing. Short, coarse hair in a white and brown pattern covered the body, speckling into tan on the mane and tail.
"There used to be herds a couple thousand strong that ran the plains but now the herds are small and hide in the valleys."
A shrill whistle came from behind them and Yanna smiled.
"Oh, someone's awake." She crept to a stall in the corner and peeked over the door. A cream-colored arana sat curled on the ground and a tiny, spindly-legged infant with a white patch over his eye wandered up to the gate.
"This one was born yesterday," she said. "They haven't picked a name for him yet but his mother's Sasha."
Sephiroth hung his hand over the side and the little one sniffed his hand then sneezed.
"He doesn't like leather," he said.
"Guess not."
"You said yesterday?"
"Yes, they can stand within minutes of being born, run within a couple hours. Predators."
A great black beast raised his head in the next stall over, watching them with dark, wary eyes.
"That's Nado, the father. Threw a fit when they tried to put him outside."
"Are they always so protective?"
"Usually."
Suddenly her phone started ringing, scaring the foal. Yanna winced and snatched it off her belt.
"Sorry, sorry, hello? Uch, the signal. I'll be right back, General." She hurried out of the barn, leaving Sephiroth and Nado staring at each other.
"So will you sneeze on me too or will you bite?" he asked, leaning on the stall gate. The father blinked then snorted and bent his head to his trough.
"Nado doesn't like people."
Sephiroth turned at the new voice as a curvy, dark-skinned woman came in. She wore the same halter/skirt combo as many of the other women but in loud reds and yellows and decidedly lower cut. Beads dangled from her clothes and hair, clacking with her stride.
"Pleasure to meet you, General Sephiroth," she said in a thick accent. "My name is Tala."
"Ma'am." He bladed himself to her and Nado raised his head. "What can I do for you?"
"I…well, it's kind of embarrassing. I'm a great admirer of yours and I wanted to give you this." She held out a woven necklace of shells and polished stones.
"Oh. Thank you." Just a fangirl then. He took the necklace, fully expecting her to either start gushing or run away. Instead, she stood there expectantly and he realized she wanted him to put on the necklace.
"Technically, I'm not allowed to wear jewelry."
Sill that dopey look. He looped it around his wrist, tried an awkward almost-smile. Tala grinned and bowed.
"Many thanks, General." And she ran out. Sephiroth looked at Nado, who snorted.
"You too?"
A few minutes later, Yanna came back inside.
"Sorry about that," she said. "World was going to end if I didn't take it."
"Of course it was. Where to next?"
"Well, I was thinking we could see the smithy's a little further up and—What. Is. That."
"Oh." He looked at his wrist. "A woman gave it to me just now. Said she was a fan. She stared at me until I put it on."
Yanna grabbed his arm.
"What did she say? Who was it?"
"She said her name was Tala."
"Tala?!"
The beasts around them grew agitated.
"What did she say it was for?"
"Just a gift. What's wrong?"
Eyes flashing with more passion than he'd seen in months, Yanna ripped off the necklace and, with one quick twist, shattered it. Stones and shells flew everywhere.
"That was a betrothal necklace," she growled. "Putting it on meant you accepted."
"What?" It took a second for the sheer audacity to register. "Shiushan, I would never—"
"It's considered in very poor taste to go for someone outside the tribes and it's illegal to trap someone like that." Her grip tightened. "Don't accept any more jewelry from anyone, and for Wolf's sake, don't put it on."
"All right. I'm sorry."
That seemed to shake her and she dropped his arm.
"It's not your fault," she said, sighing. "It's hers. Sorry."
Sephiroth stayed quiet and fell in step with her as they left the barn, a bit indignant over the whole situation. The Banorans would call it 'tacky' but Sephiroth thought 'outreageously deceitful' was closer to the mark. He hated liars.
A rapid thundering made him tense. Glancing up the hill, he saw a cart rumbling down, goods flying off, people screaming and running after it. Sephiroth grabbed a still livid Yanna just as the runaway cart barreled past.
"Sorry!" A man yelled, sprinting by.
"It's okay." Yanna pulled away, blinking. "Thanks. I didn't even hear it."
"Clearly. Are you all right?"
"Yeah. Yeah, thanks. You?"
"Fine." Something glinted in the grass by her feet and he reached down to pick up what appeared to be a silver pendant.
"Oh, that's mine!" Yanna snatched at it but he held it out of reach. The pendant sat in his palm, an interwoven, six-pointed star.
The symbol of his rank.
"Oh, Shiushan. Tell me you're not a member of the Silver Elite."
Yanna blushed bright red and grabbed at it again.
"It's just a distraction," she protested. "I like reading the forums."
"Do you have anything else?"
She wouldn't look at him.
"You do," he said. "Show me."
"No, just give it back."
"Show me and I will."
She stood, fluffing up like a little chocobo.
"Don't you bow up at me." He stepped closer, pulling his height into play. He could feel her breath on his chest and was almost grateful when she growled and stepped back.
"Fine." She picked at her skirt and showed her ankle, or rather the charm bracelet on her ankle bearing an apple, a book, a dog, a chocobo, a sword, and another star.
"You have all of them?" he asked.
"I like reading what people say!"
"But the Study Group?"
"I like starting fights, okay? Couple months ago, I posted a big long rant about how Loveless is just a bad copy of Wicked."
"That was you?" A smile pulled at his lips. "Genesis was in a frenzy for weeks. Kept swearing about some ignorant bastard on his phone."
"Really?" Yanna preened a little. "Yeah, that was me. He got so mad in those posts. Sometimes, I'd argue with him even when his points made sense."
Sephiroth chuckled and handed the necklace back.
"I approve," he said, waiting for her to put on the star before walking off.
"Am I forgiven?" she asked.
"Yes. So long as I'm your favorite."
"I never said that."
"Do you have a necklace for the others?"
"Shut up."
He laughed again, enjoying the feeling, and followed her to the weapon's lane. She was kind of cute when she was flustered.
?
"So what sounds good to you guys?" Angeal draped his arm around the slender woman with black curly hair and blue eyes as Genesis haggled over some trinket or another. Celeste Abarthe, otherwise known as "Ms. A" or "Missy" to her students, had just arrived and was now chatting animatedly with Cissnei.
"I don't know," Missy said, pausing in her rant about third-graders and looking up girl's skirts. She kissed Angeal on the cheek, which met with fake gagging from the redhead.
"Hush, Gen," Angeal admonished. "You know the food better than we do. Something roasted or lizard on a stick or something?"
"I was thinking chocolate-covered bugs." Genesis loomed over Cissnei, who swatted him, but he pulled her into his chest. "I hear some of them are still moving."
"Eeewww…" Missy wrinkled her nose.
"Or we could do pocket pies."
"That sounds better," Angeal said. "As soon as Yanna and Seph get here, we'll start hunting."
"Have they been together all morning?"
"Think so."
"Ooohh," Missy crooned. "Do I hear a little something goin on?"
"Not to hear them tell it."
"Oh, goddess, Angeal, let it go." Genesis slung his arm around Cissnei's shoulders and started walking down the lane of…well, they weren't sure what this lane was for but it was sparkly and smelled good.
"Will the urchins be joining us?" asked the redhead.
"If you mean our students, no, they're over there with the other youngsters."
"Oh, cause you're so old," Missy said. "Hey, is that her?"
The elementary teacher pointed down the lane to where Sephiroth and Yanna were standing by a fire-eater. Yanna wasn't hanging on him, by any means, but the General let her much closer than usual and they seemed to be laughing about something he said.
"About freakin time," Cissnei muttered.
"Oh, who's the nosey one now?" Angeal said.
"You two are pathetic," Genesis said. His phone beeped and he swore at the message. "That stupid Wicked idiot posted again. What crap did you say this time, you cretin?"
By then, Sephiroth and Yanna had walked up, Yanna showing the general something on her phone.
"Perfect," he said. "Ms. Abarthe, good to see you."
"Hello, General."
"Right," Angeal said. "Yanna, this is my friend, Celeste Abarthe, third-grade teacher at Middleton. Sweetie, this is Yanna, a shaman of the mountain clan and head of the land rehabilitation program."
"Oh, I just water the plants," Yanna said, stepping forward to give Missy a hug. "Wonderful to meet you, Celeste."
"Missy, please. All my students call me that."
"Okay. After lunch, I know a girl that can hook you up with some belly button rings."
Missy blinked in shock.
"How did you—"
Yanna just smiled and hugged the others in greeting. Or she tried to hug Genesis but the redhead was furiously typing a response.
"Infuriating son of a whore!" he yelled. "I'll show you 'tepid and unsatisfying.'"
"Are we still talking about a play?" Missy asked.
"Don't mind him," Angeal said. "He's butt-hurt over something."
"Oh?" Yanna and Sephiroth both looked like they were trying hard not to laugh, a bigger smile on Sephiroth's face than Angeal had seen in a long time.
"Should we tell him?" The shaman squeaked.
"You can."
Yanna collapsed in a fit of giggles and showed them her phone, the most recent Wicked post in all its offending glory.
"Holy—Gen!" Angeal covered his mouth. "Gen!"
"Not now, Angeal. I must educate this useless cur on the finer things in life. Rashomon, my ass."
"Well, I was going to put Ju-On but Sephiroth said this was better."
Genesis blinked.
"No."
The woman put her phone away, beaming.
"You?" Genesis asked. "I've been fighting with you the whole time?"
"Well, I helped today." Sephiroth nudged her and she reluctantly showed them her charm bracelet.
"You've been trolling us?" Angeal asked.
"For months. And, Angeal, you really should watch how you say things. Those girls are taking it the wrong way."
"You are…pure evil…" Genesis appeared to be having an aneurysm, wide-eyed and still. "Marry me!"
He pounced for her and she screamed, hiding behind Sephiroth, who laughed and shoved him away.
"I'm hungry," he said. "Cissnei, control your woman."
That launched an entirely new argument, the six of them bickering over each other until Yanna made an executive decision as The Hostess and led them to a stall by the lake. Then, bags of pocket pies—and a few obligatory sticks of meat—in hand, they hiked over to the rocks overlooking the lake and watched people jump into the still-cold water.
"What do you want to do after this?" Angeal asked.
"I saw some swords I wanted to check out," Genesis said.
"And I saw some really cute dresses closer to the stadium." Cissnei picked absently on an unidentifiable piece of meat. "I could hide Rekka in most of them."
"That's just frightening." Genesis threw a piece of burnt crust over the rocks. "Okay fine, we stuff our faces then you girls can be girly and we'll, I dunno, fight bears or something."
"That's hardly fair to the bear," Sephiroth said. "Don't you want to get some earrings?"
"You know you're just jealous."
"Sure, Gen."
"I do get all the girls."
"You want to jump in, Yanna?"
"No, thanks."
"Why, did you two duck behind a tent?" Genesis started making a club-beat noise and Yanna punched him in the arm.
"Nothing happened. And you!" She pointed at Sephiroth. "Stop smirking or I'll push you in the lake."
"Yes, ma'am."