Final Fantasy XIII: Cursed Past

Chapter 29 of my Final Fantasy XIII story, enjoy.

Reviews

Jlbean: Thanks, glad you are enjoying it, it's Caius and no Sazh doesn't work for him, he works for someone else in the Guardian Corps, although as you'll see, someone is working for Caius.

Miya: Yup, they are, thanks, glad you are enjoying it, here is the next chapter.

Beloved Nightmare Union: Thanks, actually no, it isn't Caius, Sazh is talking to, although Caius has got someone working for him, as will be revealed in this chapter. Yeah you were right about Alyssa too, well she's free now and won't stir up trouble again.

Note: This chapter is set at the beach so I will describe some character outfits and leave ther est to imagination, although for Serah, she is wearing her swimwaer DLC from XIII-2, just to clarify things.

Now onto the story.

Disclaimer: Final Fantasy XIII belongs to Square Enix.


Chapter 29: Happy Birthday

It was Saturday 11 February 3 APW, it was Hope Estheim's 16th Birthday. It was planned to take place in Bodhum as a beach party with a barbeque set up for the food, it was taking place on the beach, not to far from the Farron Residence. Hope and Nora had already arrived and the others were arriving now. Fang and Vanille, all dressed for the beach and inseparable as usual, Fang was in a black bikini and Vanille was wearing a dark red one, both wore sandals and were chatting away to each other as they arrived. Hope smiled as they walked over.

"Hey guys." He greeted, they both smiled and hugged him, "Happy birthday Hope!" Vanille replied cheerfully.

Fang smirked, "Happy Birthday kiddo, trust me, today's gonna be a great day." Hope laughed, "I can tell."

Fang and Vanille set themselves up as Hope went to greet the NORA crew who had just arrived. Gadot and Lebreau had of course teased him about not growing any taller but he brushed it off, he was still talking to Maqui and Yuj when Noel arrived.

"Hey, what's up guys?" Noel greeted as the others turned to face him; Hope couldn't help but smirk, 'Everybodys happy today and for once we're actually having such amazing weather on my birthday.'

Shortly later Sazh, Edna and Dajh arrived too; Sazh and Edna had volunteered to man the barbeque grill and, given the frequent trips to the diner they were friends anyway so of course Hope invited them without having to think about it.

About ten minutes later, after everyone had set everything up, Snow and Serah arrived, naturally dressed for the beach, Hope however noticed that they seemed concerned about something.

"What's wrong?" He asked, Serah sighed, "It's Lightning." Hope gulped, "Is she okay?"

"She seems, hesitant to come here, I don't know, she just…Something's bothering her."

Hope thought for a moment, "Hey, don't worry about it, I'll go talk to her."

With that he hurried to the Farron Residence. When he arrived he found that, just as planned the place was set up for everyone to stay the night after the party. He finally found Lightning standing in front of the bathroom mirror.

"Light?" She spun around, surprised and Hope blushed and looked away, she was only in her underwear.

"Hope," She sighed in relief, "I'm sorry I…"

Hope shook his head, "What's wrong Light, why don't you wanna come down to the beach?"

She looked tense, nervous and finally she sighed, "I have to wear that," She said, gesturing to a black tankini before continuing, "Which means, I'll be showing more of my scars than ever and…"

Hope finally understood, Lightning's self-consciousness with her scars always plagued her and now she was stuck. Hope smiled and, overcoming his own insecurity of seeing Lightning in just her underwear, he walked over to her and hugged her.

"It's all right, don't worry," He lightly traced one of the scars on her upper arm, she looked at him, he could see the doubt in her eyes and continued.

"There's only two people whose opinion should matter, mine and yours." Lightning gulped and looked nervous again. Hope smiled and kissed the same scar he had been tracing with his finger. He kissed the one next to it before then confirming, "And I don't care how badly scarred you are, you're still beautiful to me."

Lightning smiled and then kissed him before pulling back, "Thank you, I'll, I'll be down in a minute, just, let me get ready."

Hope nodded and returned to the beach as Lightning got herself dressed for the beach.

Sure enough, shortly after Hope returned Lightning emerged and joined them. To her relief there was no buzzing speculation, no staring, if anyone noticed her, now more visible, scars, they didn't say anything. As she joined the group they were interrupted by a phone ringing, it was Noel's.

"I'll be right back," He said as he walked off to a quieter part of the beach and answered it.

"Yeah," He greeted the person on the other end of the phone with casual familiarity.

"Anything I should know about," The person on the other side asked, Noel sighed, "There was a possibility she slipping back into her shell, due to her conflict about her scars but, Hope reassured her, she's out with us on the beach now."

"Good, I'm glad to hear she's finally getting a life beyond being a soldier." The person paused before adding, "Thank you for continuing to keep an eye on her for me."

Noel sighed, "I never really understood something, why are you so worried about her?"

The person chuckled lightly, "She lost her parents because of the war, she joined the Guardian Corps, angry, burning for revenge, but she didn't lose herself completely, thanks to her finally getting a Father figure, me…So call it, Fatherly concern."

Noel nodded, "I get it now, thanks. Wait, if you are so concerned, why don't you come check on her yourself?"

"Because I am a relic of war, a war the people, would rather forget…Lightning does not need me anymore, even if she can't admit it to herself."

Noel sighed and nodded, "Alright then, I'll continue to keep an eye on her…Caius."

Caius Ballad gave another small chuckle before hanging up. Noel also hung up and returned to the others, putting his phone back with his belongings, as he walked over to them Vanille called out.

"C'mon Noel hurry up, we're gonna have a swimming race."

Noel smirked and joined the others as they got ready, Hope didn't have to compete, special privilege of being the birthday boy, but he wanted to take part anyway so they all got ready and prepare for their race as Nora and the Katzroy's watched them happily.

Eden

Rygdea sneaked along the corridor and hid behind the nearest pillar, he had a clear view now of Dysley's office. He could see the Primarch; he was talking to the two shadowy figures again, the Grand General and the High Inquisitor.

"So, all matters are progressing swiftly then." He asked them.

"Yes sir," The High Inquisitor replied, "I have almost finished with the augmentations to the troops and our experimental weapons are close to completion."

Dysley nodded and turned to the Grand General for his report, "I have drilled the troops and prepared everything, we will be ready to act immediately on 5 March."

"Good, soon we will be able to end our charades," Dysley announced, "Soon we will be prepared to make our true selves known."

With that he smirked and the Grand General and High Inquisitor stepped out of the shadows, revealing their true identities for the first time.

Rygdea gasped, 'No way, it's not just PSICOM that's back…High Inquisitor Jihl Nabaat, and Grand General Yaag Rosch, it's them.'

At that moment Dysley looked up and glared, "It seems we have an intruder."

Rygdea then realized he had been found. With a casual press of a button Dysley sounded the alarm and Rosch drew his sabre and headed straight for Rygdea's hiding place.

"Uh oh."

Rygdea ran and managed to dodge the sword blow but suddenly Nabaat was there and, charging up her officer's baton she delivered a devastating blow, allowing Rosch to attack with his sabre, injured and bleeding however Rygdea managed to escape them and, in desperation leapt in the small skiff airship he found before flying away.

Bodhum Beach

The group was laughing having just finished their swimming race. Thanks to all the training Lightning had given him, Hope had actually beaten Snow, much to everyone's surprise. Although he had lost to Lightning herself, who had won the race. They had just finished drying off when Sazh called over to them.

"Okay guys, foods ready, come and get it!"

They all hurried over to the barbeque. After getting their food they all sat down and ate, talking, joking laughing, enjoying themselves. Lightning and Hope sat together, Hope smiled and delicately kissed another of her scars, Lightning closed her eyes, enjoying the feeling.

"So," She finally said, "Enjoying your birthday Hope."

"Yeah, all the more, with you here," He replied causing her to blush. After a brief pause she finally spoke again, her voice softer than he had ever heard it, "Hope, I wanted to thank you."

He looked at her, confused and she explained, "You're the only person I've trusted enough to see my scars, and you didn't…You actually, made me feel good about them, there a part of me now, I have to accept that…but with you, it's easier for me to do so."

He smiled and this time kissed her on the lips, "I'm just happy that you're happy."

The others smiled as they watched the touching scene and the other couples took their chance to kiss their loved ones too.

Guardian Corps Medical Bay

Rygdea was currently undergoing treatment for his injuries, they were worse than initially thought, while running he didn't realize that he had been targeted and struck by magic. He grit his teeth and glared up at the doctor.

"I need to talk to Cid," He said, the doctor shook his head, "You are in no shape to do anything just now, it'll have to wait."

"Dammit it's urgent!" Rygdea shouted but the shouting made the pain worse.

"You need to recover first, then you can talk to Cid," The doctor explained calmly before sedating Rygdea so he could begin healing him.

Farron Residence

Everyone was now ready for bed, Hope smiled at Lightning.

"Well, night." He said, she smiled and nodded, "Here's hoping I don't end up with a repeat of last time."

Hope nodded; she was referring to the sleep over at his place where she had woken up screaming from nightmares.

"You know, I could, sleep with you, just in case." He said hesitantly, Lightning smiled, "That's, not a bad idea, thanks."

So the group all lay down and drifted off to sleep, Lightning had to admit she felt a lot calmer with Hope sleeping with her, just within arms reach, she smiled and reached out, he seemed to feel her and clasped her hand with his, still smiling Lightning finally drifted off into a, for once, nightmare free sleep.


End of chapter, this is also the end of the Love and Bonding Arc, next up we move into the Action Arc where things pick up, more fights, secrets revealed and the long awaited confrotnation arrives. Hope you enjoyed it, read and review please.