Chapter 14: Tension Rising

Cara was worried. Cef hadn't been himself during the past week. He seemed more isolated and tired. Dark rings surrounded his eyes, his hair had grown a good deal longer, now brushing past his shoulder blades. He merely went about each day, muttering to himself and not talking to anyone. He hadn't trained with Cara either. Cara instead practiced on her own, but she still missed Cef there instructing her. She had barely even kissed Cef since the incident when Cef had woken up late at night thrashing about in his room. Cara walked into Cef's room one day, trying to see if there was anything she could do to help.

"Cef?" Cara asked tentatively as she entered the room.

"What is it? What do you want?" Cef asked hastily.

"Cef, I'm worried about you," Cara said, sitting down on Cef's bed next to him.

"Don't worry about me, worry about you," Cef said, averting his eyes from her.

"What?" Cara asked, "Why shouldn't I worry about you?"

"I can take care of myself, you can't," Cef said.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Cara said angrily.

"There are many people that are stronger than you. They can hurt you," Cef said.

"Fine, if you don't need me, then I'll just leave," Cara said as she got up, but she couldn't stay mad at Cef when she knew he was just looking out for her. She bent low and kissed him on the lips, "I love you," Cara told him.

"Don't worry," Cef said, and for the first time in a week, he smiled as he looked up at her, "Everything will be fine soon." But for some reason, the smile that Cef gave her didn't warm her heart like his smiles usually do. In fact, that smile seemed almost bone-chilling. Cara stood up and left the room and began walking down the corridor to her own, until Aeris approached her.

"Hey, Cara?" Aeris asked.

"What is it?" Cara answered.

"Cef has been acting strange lately," Aeris said.

"I've noticed," Cara said.

"I'm worried about him. He's never acted like this before," Aeris said.

"I know," Cara said, "I've known him since we were both five."

"I just wanted to ask you," Aeris began, "If Cef says anything, about why he's acting the way he is, or anything else that worries you, I want you to tell me. Okay?"

"Alright," Cara answered.

"Thanks," Aeris said, smiling.

Cara ran back to her room and got the wooden katana Cef had given her before running up to the deck and beginning her daily training. Even though she was trying her hardest, she wasn't thinking about the sword moves she was practicing. Her mind was focused on Cef, and why he was acting the way he was.

---

"When can we end this?" Cef asked aloud.

"Why is that so important?" his mother answered.

"Cara's upset. I want her to be happy," Cef said.

"Of course," his mother said, "You would do anything for her."

"I just want this to end. Aeris has been worried too, if I end this, then they'll both be happy," Cef said.

"Alright," his mother said, "Where is the airship now?"

"I don't see why that matters," Cef said.

"Just tell me."

"It's over the ocean, heading north."

"Towards the northern continent?"

"Yes, it will be there tonight," Cef said, "Why is that so important?"

"It's nothing, merely a safety precaution, but tell me," his mother began, "When will it be over the northern-most part of the continent? For my plan to work, that's where we'll need to be."

"Around midnight," Cef said.

"Good, then just before midnight, you can end this."

---

"Cara?" Cloud said, stepping onto the deck of the ship.

"What?" Cara asked, wiping some sweat from her forehead.

"Why aren't you training with Cef?" Cloud asked.

"Cef's been acting strange lately," Cara said, "He barely does anything anymore, so I practice on my own. But I'll admit that it's a lot lonelier this way."

"Y'know," Cloud said, "I could practice with you."

"Really?" Cara asked.

"Yeah, believe it or not I do have some skill," Cloud said.

"Okay then, let's get started." Cara and Cloud practiced sword fighting for the rest of the day. Truth be told, Cloud hadn't even touched his sword since the tournament. It would be good for him to get some practice in. He started out slow, Cara easily beating him, but soon he got the hang of it again and was moving at his full skill level. Cara was putting up quite a challenge. Cef had taught her well. However, for all her skill, Cara lacked raw power. Her thin frame made it hard for her to withstand harsh strain, so, once Cloud got back into his groove, he won their matches by simply outlasting her. The sun was setting, and the two were exhausted, yet the north air kept them cool. They fell back on the deck together, laughing and panting at the same time. Cara sat up and saw Cef looking at her through one of the portholes. He had an extremely scornful look on his face, like he was angry and vengeful. Then she realized he wasn't looking at her, he was looking at Cloud.

"I'm exhausted," Cloud said, sitting up, "Let's go back inside and get something to eat. Besides, we'll catch a cold if we stay out here to long."

"Yeah," Cara said, turning her gaze back at Cloud away from the porthole, "Let's go inside." When Cara looked back at the window, Cef was gone.

---

"Good night, Cef," Cara said, kissing Cef on the cheek and walking out of the room.

"Good night Cara," Cef said just before she left. Cara took one last look at Cef before closing the door. When Cara's footsteps had fallen out of earshot, Cef's mother began to speak to him.

"You need to sleep," she said, "It'll rejuvenate you."

"But it's almost ten," Cef said, "I won't be able to wake up in time."

"I'll wake you up, now fall asleep!" Cef was out before his head hit the Zu-Down stuffed pillow.

Cloud, meanwhile, was laying face-up in his bed, half awake. He was exhausted and ready to fall asleep, but something kept him awake. Some bad, foreboding feeling that told him he couldn't fall asleep. He laid there until eleven, until finally, he fell asleep.

At 11:55, Cef bolted into a sitting position from his sleep. He quickly got dressed, pulling on his boots and clipping his sword sheaths onto his belt. He drew one blade out and slowly walked down the hallway. He quietly pushed open the door to Cloud's room and walked up to Cloud's bed. He stared at the sleeping blond-haired man for a moment, thinking of all the pain he had caused him, and how things would be better once he was gone. Cef raised the sword above his head, twirled it so he was holding it upside-down with the tip pointed directly at Cloud's chest, hesitated for a moment, and thrust down.