Chapter 11
Lightning and Sera both stopped in their tracks. They peeked over their shoulders at the man who addressed them. Lightning rose an eyebrow at him as she took in his appearance. He wore a smile that was as wide as the room they were in, maybe wider. It didn't look like anything could ruin his day, but then again, she could be wrong. He was dark-skinned, his black hair up in a cushiony fashion. She wondered how long it took him to get it like that. His dark eyes were curved in a happy expression, due to his smile. His clothes were bright yellow, matching a small lump of something furry tucked under his arm.
"Did you hear me?" he asked. She was surprised he could speak with his mouth stretched that big. She nodded.
"Sure," she said. He walked over to them with such a bouncy step that she was surprised he didn't just skip on over. He held out his hand.
"I'm Sazh Katzroy. Pleased to make your acquaintance again… um…" he paused, fumbling over words. His eyes lit up in memory and he shook her hand harshly. "Lightning! I can't believe I forgot your name!" he exclaimed.
She tilted her head and stared at him curiously. She didn't recognize him. Then it struck her that she didn't necessarily remember anything from her past, so it didn't justify anything. "Yes. Obviously you know me."
His smile faded a little, but he looked at Sera. "Hello. Who are you?" He grabbed her hand and shook it.
She smiled too. "I'm Sera. Nice to meet you, Sazh."
His gaze returned to Lightning. He eyed her suspiciously. "Is it true what they say you did?" he asked. She frowned, and his face fell. His eyes curved around in sadness. "Don't you remember?"
She shrugged. "No, not really," she informed him nonchalantly. "Sorry."
He breathed in deeply. "You don't remember me? Or anything?" he asked.
"I don't remember anything but my name," she said, walking over to the fallen creature. She kicked it with her boot, making sure it was really dead. It didn't budge.
A choked sound came from behind her and she turned around. She stared in disbelief at the sight she saw before her. The man, Sazh, was wiping his eyes. "Please tell me you weren't crying."
He put his hand up, wiping his eyes off with his opposite shoulder. "A little," he admitted. She gave him a sickened look.
"Why?" she asked in complete disdain.
Another whimper escaped him. "That's so…sad.." he said, putting his face into the yellow, furry bundle in his arm. She rolled her eyes, then quickly looked back over.
"Did that…thing… just move?" she asked, edging closer to him. He pulled the cradled being away, protecting it even more. She huffed. "I'm not going to hurt it."
He slowly moved back, removing his protecting hand. Lightning leaned in closer. Her face was only a foot away from the bundle. There was a sudden jerk from the thing and it's face whipped around to look her directly in the eyes. Her eyes widened when the thing was an inch away from her. She took a step back and stared at it. "Is that a…"
"Chocobi!" Sera screeched in joy. "Oh my goodness! I haven't seen one in forever. It's so CUTE!!" Lightning covered her ears in protection from the shouting girl.
"Yeah, what's so special about it?" she asked, rubbing her temples. Both Sazh and Sera looked at her with hurt expressions. The chocobi was quiet as well. Lightning felt the sense of the emotion all around the room. She shrugged. "Well, it's just here for looks. Why do you carry it around?"
Sazh cleared his throat, apparently holding back tears. "I saved this little guy," he told her. She rose an eyebrow, but he continued. "He was at a ranch in the north, about to be eaten by the Chocobo eater, when I swooped in and started firing at the thing." His eyes were now full of pride of his actions. "And that's when him and I became best buddies."
Lightning looked up at the sky. It was getting darker by the hour, soon to be pitch black out. If they were going to get out, they needed to now. She glanced at Sazh again, not at all surprised to see him and Sera babying the chocobi. Her face turned annoyed and she stepped over to them. "We need to go," she stated. They both looked at her, confused. "Now."
Sazh tilted his head. "Why now? I've been staying here for quite some time," he said. "Actually, since a day after you were banished."
She stopped and looked at the pillars. "Can you tell me something?" she asked. He shrugged.
"Maybe. Depends on what it is," he said.
She faced him and crossed her arms. "Why was I banished?"
He shrugged. "I don't know. I wasn't high enough in the military to hear about it," he answered. "I just heard that you were banished and I got upset. You were a great commander."
Her eyebrows rose in surprise. "Commander?" she asked. She glanced at her shoulder armor. Sera smiled.
"I KNEW that you were well trained," she said. "The way you fight, the armor, and your sense of leadership. That and you're too serious to be normal."
Lightning scoffed. "I'm not too serious."
"I disagree," Sera muttered. The former commander looked at her. Sera put her hands up. "Sorry, but you don't have fun."
Sazh chuckled a little, petting the chocobi that rested in his arms. "Yeah, that's Lightning for you." His voice was quiet, like he was talking to himself, but loud enough for them to hear as well.
She shook her head and went back over to the creature's corpse. She knelt beside it and pulled out a few hairs, slipping them into her bag. She'd do some research when they got back…IF they ever got back. "What is this thing?" she asked, changing the subject. Sazh stopped talking to Sera and straightened up.
"It's called Ifrit," he announced. "A long time ago, people would summon things like him for help in battle."
Lightning, still knelt beside Ifrit, looked back at him. "They used to?"
"Yeah," Sazh and his chocobi sat next to her. "Do you want the story?"
"That's why I'm asking you."
He nodded. "Alright, then. Relax for a little bit, it's a long story."
She sat down, leaned back against Ifrit's comfortable fur. He cleared his throat, peeking back at Sera, who was sat on top of a fallen pillar. "So, there used to be these things called Aeons. They were spirits that helped those still alive, one's that died without fulfilling their life, without doing something to help others. They were powerful beings, trapped inside of small, uncomfortable discs, but when someone called them out, they were released. However, the only way they could be released was if they fulfilled their masters wishes, helped them in battle, carried them on their back, whatever the person wanted them to do." He took a breath, stroking the Ifrit's fur. "A while back, though, when Cocoon and Pulse separated, they were released during the battle of the ruins in the north. The creatures of Pulse released them, ordering them to help destroy Cocoon and it's people." His face was far off in the story. Lightning examined Ifrit again. It's fiery skin was dim and cool. They were in the presence of an ancient being that was prepared to kill them instantly. She was pulled back into the story when he continued.
"All of the aeons went separate ways, each going to an area of Pulse that best suited their elements and needs. Ifrit here is fire, so he came to the desert. I don't know any other aeons, or where they are, but we should be careful wherever we go," he finished.
Lightning perked up. "We? What do you mean "we"?" She watched as Sazh's distant look changed to one of confused pain.
"Well, I saved your life, and I think that I could help you out, since you trained me and all," he informed her. She rolled her eyes again.
"Look, you helped us out, and I thank you for that, but I don't need yet another person trying to help me out," she said. "I work better alone."
"How do you know that if you don't remember anything?" he asked. He had a serene look about him, but she had the feeling he was being sarcastic.
She glared. "I had to fend for myself before I met Sera. I did just fine, alright? I did better than I am now. I didn't have any kids I had to baby sit." Her eyes were fierce and angry. Her annoyance and anger together was so strong that she didn't care what they were feeling about it. She wanted them to leave her. She could find a way out by herself.
Sera frowned. "Yeah, but you would've died from thirst and heat exhaustion if I hadn't found you when I did."
Lightning's eyes pierced into Sera's soul. She shuddered. "I would've been perfectly fine without you," she said rudely. "I can survive. The river was just down the other side of the cliff." Sera's eyes were soft and offended. "I keep having to save your butt anyway."
Sazh sniffed. "Please don't fight anymore. Fighting between friends is sad," he said. Both girls stared in disbelief; Sera's sympathetic and Lightning's disgust. He gulped and pet his chocobi softly. "Sorry, do what it is you want."
"Lightning, just think about it. What if you run into something that you can't handle alone?" she asked. She looked down. "I don't want you to die. You're my friend."
Lightning turned away, staring at Ifrit again. "I'm not your friend, Sera. You're only here to assist me. That's it," she said, examining the creature's face. "And I didn't even want you to come along in the first place."
Sera fell silent, shuffling her feet in a circle. She didn't speak again, and for some odd reason, she didn't care. Okay, so it wasn't so odd. She didn't care about Sera or Sazh. There was no question to why, either. They were both annoying, too caring, too passionate about their friends. In a twisted way, it sickened her. Friends only held her down, kept her from fulfilling her goals. She didn't know why she ever even worried about keeping Sera safe.
She sat down and leaned back against Ifrit, laying her head against it's fluffy fur. She didn't understand why they wouldn't leave. Snow would've, apparently. Why were they so persistent? The thought made her even more irritated.
She felt the heat of someone else's body next to her. Her eyes rolled behind her eyelids. She heard Sera breathe out in defeat. "Do you…" she started. She took another breath. "Do you really want us to leave?" she asked. There was doubt behind her voice, and Lightning wondered why she was even asking, she'd announced it clearly to them.
"What do you think?" she asked, opening her eyes. Her voice was soft, not wanting to offend them anymore. It didn't make her feel any better. Sera sighed, getting up to her feet. She brushed off her skirt.
"I'll tell you what, then…" Her voice wasn't as soft or smooth as before. It was distressed. "We'll leave you alone once we get back to the village, since we're all going to the same place anyway."
"Sounds good," she said, standing up as well. "I'll be free to fight on my own, you'll all be safe, and I'll be better off."
Sazh was quiet, biting the inside of his cheek as he thought, patting his baby Chocobo. "Are you sure you want to be all alone? I mean, you trained me. I could really help," he offered. She looked over at him, her eyes scanning his face.
"No thanks. I'll go alone."
He breathed out, putting his guns in their holsters. "Fine. I'll go to your funeral."
"Excuse me?" she asked, glaring at him. The harshness in her voice returned. He backed up. His eyes were fearful, his free hand up in front of him.
"Sorry, I shouldn't have said anything like that," he apologized. "Please forgive me?"
She sat on the pillar that Sera had been on during the story and shrugged. "Sure." She yawned, laying her head against an upright pillar next to the fallen one. "Get some sleep. We'll be leaving tomorrow morning."
Sazh and Sera nodded, setting up their own spots for the camp out. "Good night, Lightning," Sazh said. His baby Chocobo lay down under his head, allowing him to use it as a pillow. There was a definite loving bond between them, Lightning couldn't deny that. And it was actually somewhat adorable.
"See you in the morning," Sera added, then lay down on the ground against a concrete block from the ceiling.
Minutes later, Lightning heard their light breathing, the breathing of sleep, and smiled. If she could wake up before them, maybe things could go her way after all.