Hello all my fabulous readers! I am back with another chapter of The Reason! No I did NOT end it there XDD that was just a teaser for you, it was my way of showing that I love you all very much! XDD
I couldn't believe how many people reviewed on the last chapter though oh my gosh XDDD Have I ever told you guys how much I love you? \^3^/ I think I may have forgotten to reply to some reviews though so I hope you will all forgive me for that ;A;
Okamichan: I'm sorry but there will be no sequel for this story, I hope you will accept these next few chapters in recompense instead XD
Thank you for reviewing!
Lidiaxspears: Haha no it does not end there XD Oh their pairing has an official name now? GErin Lol I like it! XDD
Thank you for reviewing!
Confused Reader: Haha you are right! It is not the end! I hope that you are satisfied with this chapter! XDD
Thanks for reviewing!
ON WITH THE CHAPTER THAT IS IRONICALLY GENESIS FREE XDD
(3 ½ years later)
"There you go, now that wasn't so bad was it, Jeremy?" I comforted the small boy in front of me as I swabbed his arm with alcohol where I'd given him the needle. His eyes which had been scrunched shut for the whole ordeal reluctantly opened. I gave him my brightest, most comforting smile I could muster.
"...No it wasn't..." he mumbled as I put a bright Pokémon band-aid on his arm to cover up the tiny dot of blood that oozed from the poke. His mother who stood beside him to hold his hand smiled assuredly down at her son.
Jumping down from the sterilized bed Jeremy turned to his mother to proudly show off his band-aid, "Look mom! I got a Bulbosaur!"
"That's wonderful honey!" his mom praised him and then turned to me as I shuffled his papers and put them neatly in his folder. "Thank you very much Dr. Lancaster, when would you like us back for the next one?" the mother asked as she held the hand of her young son.
"In one month is when I will need the brave young man to come back." I answered her as I studied some of his medical history that I had in front of me. Sending another winning smile to the young Jeremy who beamed back at me, "I suppose the young gentleman would like one of these?" I said pulling a red sucker from my white lab coat pocket. If it were possible his face lit up even more as I handed him the small candy. Turning once again to the mother I continued, "Well unfortunately I must be off to my next appointment but Samantha can help you book our next appointment. I shall see you both in a month, thank you for coming." I said professionally exiting the small examination room.
Heading to my office I aimed to return the file to its proper place and to catch up on some neglected paperwork. I felt somewhat bad for lying to the woman that I needed to leave for another appointment when it wasn't actually for another two hours. Oh well it provided a convenient excuse for what I needed to do.
Opening the wooden door I was graced with the sight of my small and plain office with a simple wooden desk in the center. Upon my walls I had hanging my graduation certificates from college and from medical school. There was a third frame that hung on the wall opposite to where the other two hung side by side. It wasn't a picture or anything that should have been worth framing. It was merely an old crumpled piece of paper that had three lines written on it. Normally that was not something worthy of the pedestal I gave it. This however was an exception; those three lines are what had fuelled my determination all through medical school.
Those simple lines were what drove me to achieve nothing less than the best. The one thing they taught me was that time didn't wait for anything or anyone. I couldn't afford to wallow around in self pity and live off the hope that he would keep his 'promise'.
So far he wasn't proving very faithful.
Seating myself behind my desk I opened the lowest drawer and neatly put away Jeremy's folder with the rest. I picked up my pen and started filling out the various forms that lay in a perfectly neat pile in the corner of my bureau.
"I'll get lost if you want me to; somehow I found a way to get lost in you."
I threw my pen down with more force than was necessary but it helped to vent some of my frustration. Why all of times was it now that his face had to pop into my head. Just when I was trying to get some work done goddamnit! I massaged my temples trying to relieve some of the pressure building inside of my skull. A knock on the door brought me out of my reverie.
"Yes?" I called.
"Dr. Lancaster, Marie just walked in with her daughter who has had a bad cough and a fever for the past couple of days. They were wondering if you had time for a very quick checkup." Samantha my assistant/receptionist asked from the doorway. I sighed heavily and stood up from my desk.
"Yes of course." I put on my award winning smile complete with a picture perfect mask. That was one thing I learned from my abusive ex was how to perfect the 'mask'. Over the course of the years I had managed to forge my facade with my will, determination and strength. After all, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger right? That's what I believed at least.
So with my head held high, I followed her out and greeted my patient.
When the war of the beasts bring the world's end
The goddess descends from the sky
Wings of light and dark spread afar
She guides us to bliss, her gift everlasting
That night as I walked along the Vancouver water front on my way home I looked out into the bay and was reminded of that night three years ago.
"Who are you?" Genesis asked although it was more like demanded. His voice seemed somewhat strained as if he was in a great amount of pain.
"E-Erin. Erin Lancaster. And you are?" I responded playing dumb.
Shaking my head I tried to dislodge the memory but another one took its place.
"Aren't you afraid?" he asked his voice laced with scepticism.
"Huh? No why should I be?" I countered as equally confused as he but for a different reason.
Growling I tightened my grip on my bag slung over my shoulder and quickened my pace to get home. My mind however didn't miss a beat.
"What kind of man raises his hand to a woman?"He spoke calmly, but with an edge of up I was able to see him standing between me and Jayden holding the wrist of the hand that had struck me down.
The next flashback was more unexpected than the past few, but slightly more welcome.
"You want to know how I know so much. Fine. You said you could tell when I'm lying Rhapsodos." His eyes widened in surprise at her using his last name, "Then you'll know I'm telling the truth when I say that your world is a series of video games and you are a supposedly fictional character in a couple of those games."
Furiously swiping my card across the reader I forcefully banished all thoughts of that man from my mind. Waving politely to my landlady as she passed me on her way out I continued to my own destination. Pressing the button to call the elevator I sat back and waited for it. After only a few minutes it 'dinged' to announce its arrival and I stepped in hitting the button for the twenty-first floor. When I reached the right floor I made my way down to the room number that said 2112.
Stepping inside I barely noted the brown and blue color scheme, or the spectacular view I had of the Pacific Ocean. Instead I threw my bag and keys on a nearby chair and made a beeline for the kitchen.
Opening the fridge I bent down to analyze the contents for something decent to eat or at the very least leftovers. "I thought I put them somewhere back here..."
"Infinite in mystery is the gift of the Goddess..." a breathy voice spoke softly almost a whisper on the wind. But there were two things wrong with that, one I hadn't left any windows open and two, I lived alone. Strangely the voice didn't administer fear in me like I had expected. Rather it... calmed me. It was like listening your mother's voice.
Straightening I slowly turned my head to the side and was graced with the sight of a floating glowing orb. Slowly it bobbed up and down in mid air and I watched transfixed as it began to move away from me. I found myself following it out into the living room almost as if I was attached to it.
"We seek it thus and take to the sky..." the ball started to lead me upstairs to the loft where my bedroom was located. As I watched it, the little sphere now seemed to pulsate different colors. Wracking my brain I tried to determine whether it had done that at first. For the sake of my sanity I decided that no, it hadn't done that before.
Reaching the top it led me left almost as if it had read my mind about my bedroom thought. Or perhaps this was its destination all along. Either way I highly doubted I would ever know.
My bedroom door had been left open and so I followed it inside not noting any of my furniture in the slightest. I was too preoccupied with the glowing ball. The little globe floated without any hesitation to the floor to ceiling window that was situated right in front of me.
"Ripples form on the water's surface..." I blinked and then watched in fascination as the orb melded into the window and ripples formed on the glass as if it were a pond. I continued to watch as the scene gradually began to change into a view that I was unfamiliar with.
"The wandering soul knows no rest..."
When the glass stilled finally I was able to see that I was wrong with my previous assessment. I did know this landscape; in fact I knew it very well. One building in particular stood out from the rest.
This was Gaia, more specifically, Midgar.
My heart thumped so loudly in my chest I could hear it pounding in my ears clearly and my palms suddenly became clammy. For the first time in three years I didn't know what to do. Should I go forward and enter a world I had convinced myself once again was completely fictional? Or should I run back downstairs and pray that this isn't a permanent addition to my apartment? I instinctually grasped the wing necklace that lay against my chest a habit I had gotten into whenever I was faced with a tough decision.
I just about slapped myself. The choice should be obvious; I should go forward and face my fear! Even if the second option was incredibly tempting right now... Despite all the things that I've wanted to say to him for all these years I wasn't quite sure if I was ready to see him again...
A gentle hand was placed on my shoulder and an equally gentle voice whispered in my ear, "Go now child. Do not fear, you are ready for all that lies ahead of you." I swallowed hard and with my head held high I stepped forward into Gaia.
Stepping out of the portal I was able to see that I had been placed in a deserted back alley where no one would notice my appearance. For a second I wondered if I would have to find this place again when I wanted to go home, but felt something slightly heavy around my neck.
It was a necklace with a slightly glowing blue orb on it, and I immediately knew that this little bobble is what would get me home. Tucking it underneath my shirt I realized I hadn't changed out of my work outfit. Sighing I had no choice but to simply accept it because there would be no changing it now.
Stepping out into the main drag I set my sights on the tallest, biggest, most extravagant building in the center of the city and started heading towards it. I figured that the only reason I was brought here was because of that man and I figured it would be as good a place as any to start my search for him. I had a feeling I wouldn't be getting in easily but I had to try. Plus I had the Goddess on my side, not even Shinra could stand up to the power of a deity.
Shaking my head to clear it of wayward thoughts I set my mind back to the task at hand: getting to the Shinra building. Unfortunately since I had no money for a train there or anything it looked like I would have to settle for walking.
Thankfully the building wasn't as far away as I originally thought or as difficult to get in it. For some reason I had in my mind the idea that I would have to come up with some extravagant plan as to how to get in. I was grateful that for once things were easier than I anticipated.
Walking in I found the lobby to be a little bit dark and uninviting but then again this is Shinra, they really didn't have to be warm and inviting. Compared to seeing this in real life was nothing like seeing it in the game though. The architecture was quite impressive, nothing like what I was used to. Although considering I was in a different world that was to be expected. After a few moments of open ogling I was back to business striding confidently over to the reception desk.
The girl running it was a cute little strawberry blonde with bright green eyes and wearing a formal blazer. I couldn't see her legs because of the desk so I was unable to know for sure what she wore for pants, but I assumed it was a cute skirt. When she noticed me approach she greeted me with a wide smile.
"Hello, and welcome to Shinra Electric Power Company, how may I help you today?"
"Ah yes, I'm here to see Genesis Rhapsodos, is he in?" I answered in my authoritive doctor tone. She looked away for a moment to type something in on her computer.
"I'm sorry Mr. Rhapsodos does not have any appointments scheduled for today, was he expecting you?" I shook my head in response, "In that case I might be able to try calling him and seeing if he is available at the moment." She picked up the phone next to her and dialed in a few numbers and then waited for it to ring. After only a few seconds her face expressed indignation and slight offense before she abruptly hung up afterwards (1). "Apparently he is busy at the moment, would I be able to take a message for him?" I nodded slightly put out by the fact that he was likely being an ass again and because of it I wouldn't be able to see him.
"Is Genesis in one of his moods again?" a voice cheerily added in from my right and I froze instantly, I knew that voice. Turning stiffly I was able to see that I had been correct in my assumption.
There standing right beside me with his arms tucked behind his head nonchalantly and a wide grin on his face was none other than Zack Fair himself. His black hair was as spiky as ever and I have to say he looked pretty good in that black First Class SOLDIER uniform, "I'm sorry but I couldn't help but overhear you talking about trying to get in to see the playboy himself. Shouldn't you be looking for someone from the science department though?" he enquired innocently and I glanced down at my white lab coat, right I was still in my work clothes...
"Oh no, I'm not here for a job or anything and I certainly don't work here. I came for a ... social visit I guess you could say." I explained and Zack's expression quickly turned to one of understanding.
"Oh I see, well that explains a lot then!" he laughed nervously, "Well today's your lucky day because I might be able to pull some strings for you! He needs to get out of that office anyways." He grinned widely, "So what's your name? I'll go up there and kick his lazy butt into gear to come see you down here."
I smiled slightly, "Still such a puppy Zack," I said and he gave a confused glance but I continued before he could say anything else, "My name is Erin. Erin Lancaster." My words seemed to stupefy him further because his face went completely blank with shock. Then in the next instant he was smiling wider than I'd ever seen someone smile.
"Angeal!" he cried grabbing my hand and dragging me through the lobby to the elevator.
TAA DAA~! ZACK AND ANGEAL ARE BOTH ALIVE! I couldn't kill them off I just couldn't... they're both just too awesome for that TT^TT
(1) If anyone doesn't fully understand what happened here, Genesis picked up the phone and then just hung up again XDDD what an ass. XDD
WE SEE OUR FAVORITE RED HEAD IN THE NEXT CHAPTER AND THE FATED REUNION OF GENESIS AND ERIN SHALL OCCUR! XDD
Not Over You- Gavin DeGraw