Tainted fal'Cie

A/N: Another chapter is up! Thanks to everyone for your patience, reviews and support.

For those of you who left unsigned reviews, see my replies below:

Riku91 - I am indeed updating twice a week now. XD I honestly didn't think I would be updating so quickly, but given how things ended up, I suppose that's not a bad thing really. Hehe. I always love exploring the characters, especially through past reminisces and such. There's so much about them we don't know, so these things are just nice little touches to their personality in my opinion. Too bad these won't be too often, with all the bad stuff happening and all. Lol. Maybe I should think about writing an OMAKE series or just a plain other series related to this story but filled with the little moments like that which I could not capture in the main story... Thanks for the comment! :)

Enjoy!

Disclaimer: The characters and the worlds I write in do not belong to me. The stories that I write are intended for entertainment purposes. I do not make any money from them.

*** ~ Chapter 34: The Burden Increases ~ ***

From the earth roared the third of Etro's knights,

The embodiment of her courage, bringing bravery to the fight.

Persistence and resilience, their mantra, unwavering through it all

Adding strength to light's numbers, to bring darkness' downfall.

- the Tablet of the Eidolons

"How long does she have?"

Lightning currently rested inside of the half collapsed house where they had set up camp. The rest of the former l'Cies huddled outside of the house, around the camp fire, all except for Serah. The youngest pinkette stayed at Lightning's bed side, keeping watch over the soldier as she tossed and turned in her troubled sleep. Vanille was able to concoct a quick herbal potion for Lightning, effectively easing the pain she was in, but that did little for the nightmares which plagued Lightning's dreams.

"How long?" The question was repeated.

"I don't know."

"Not good enough!"

Serah and Vanille had slowed the spread of the taint the moment the Pulsian pair scrambled back to camp. But like before, the duo was unable to stop it completely, nor cleanse it completely. The darkness inside of Lightning had progressed too far, having been left unchecked for too long. Perhaps if they'd known about it before, back when Lightning was first branded, Lightning may have had a chance to be free of it. Unfortunately, all they could do now was to slow the pace of the infection. That, and pray.

"We're doin' the best we can," Fang said through clenched teeth. The huntress was on her feet, standing protectively in front of Vanille, staring down Snow.

"Are you really?" Snow rose from the boulder he was sitting on and took a step forward. "Because Sis is not getting any better. She's only getting worse!"

"An' that's our fault, how?" Fang matched Snow's intimidating stance.

"Stop it!" Vanille exclaimed, jumping to her feet. "We shouldn't be fighting with each other!" Tears threatened to fall.

"You know more about this stuff than any of us do," Snow continued, ignoring Vanille's plea. "So fix her!"

"It's not that simple!" Fang's hand clenched and unclenched at her side. She had half a mind to knock Snow's legs from under him, to cut him down a few pegs. But what would that really accomplish?

"We told ya everythin' we know." Emerald eyes narrowed at pale blue. "Do ya honestly think we'd intentionally hold somethin' back jus' ta spite Lightnin'?"

Snow opened his mouth.

SMASH!

Snow's head whipped to the side.

"Don't ya dare blame Vanille!" Fang roared, withdrawing her outstretched fist. She grabbed the dazed Sentinel by the collar and yanked him close to her face. "If there's anyone ta blame, it's me," she said.

"Because after we took away yer brands and stopped Cocoon from fallin', it was my fault the Tainted's l'Cies got loose and almost killed Lightnin'. Jus' like it was my fault she's infected with the taint right now an' it's slowly eatin' her from the inside out. That was all me. Be mad at me!"

Fang shoved Snow backwards roughly, the blonde stumbling to keep his footing. "I am the villain," Fang proclaimed, laughing bitterly. "This is all my fault, yeah?" The spear wielder looked at Snow coldly.

"But let me ask ya somethin.'" Fang narrowed her eyes at them all. "While all of that was happenin', what the hell were ya doin' about it?"

Snow gritted his teeth and looked at away. His hands clenched into fists at his sides.

"Thought as much," came the Pulsian's sharp accent. Fang stormed away from the campsite with her spear in hand. She didn't look back. Vanille followed after Fang a moment later.

Silence.

"It's not their fault you know," Sazh said quietly.

"I know!" Snow said, smashing his fist on the nearest thing he could find. That being the boulder of stone he originally sat on. Bones crunched as his fist met rock, the stone cracking down the middle from the blow. "I screwed up again, alright!"

Hope grimaced, sending a Cure in Snow's direction as the blonde behemoth pulled back his injured hand. Flesh knit together, bones reformed and hardened as if nothing had happened.

"I messed up again." Snow collapsed to his knees, the heavy weight of guilt on his chest. "It's like we're all branded again. Except, this is much worse," he said breathlessly. Snow hung his head. "I'm not even sure we can save Lightning this time."

Serah pulled back from the door frame, having heard the entire argument. She went back to sit in the chair next to Lightning's bed. The soldier shivered, Lightning covered in a cold sweat. Travelling non-stop across Gran Pulse, searching for clues, while fighting against the taint, that was all taking its toll on Lightning's weakened body. Not only that, Lightning's condition was starting to take its toll on the rest of the family as well.

For every small victory, came a great loss. They won the battle against Kokko, yet the people turned against them. They won the battle against Kerberos, but taint inside Lighting got worse. They travelled Gran Pulse to Cheis, only to meet utter devastation. The answers they sought were fleeting and too few, and the tainted l'Cies were many. Their hopes slowly dwindled with each passing day, fading away as the life within Lightning darkened. Even Vanille, the brightest of them all, was feeling it.

Serah herself was not immune to such things either. The argument she had with Fang days ago was still fresh in her memory. She had hit her. She had slapped Fang. What would Lightning think of her once she found out? The Oerban huntress remained tight lipped about the incident, as did Hope. But as thankful as she was about that, Serah couldn't but feel extremely guilty for losing her temper. Fang didn't deserve her ire. Only the Tainted did. Serah sighed. She really needed to apologize to Fang. And she would. Once things settled down a bit.

"Claire…" The youngest Farron moved sweaty strands of hair away from Lightning's face. Lightning shivered again, curling up more under the blanket. Serah reached under the covers to hold her sister's hand.

"Don't give up Claire…" Serah pleaded. "We need you..."

Morning arrived swiftly, the first rays of sunshine peeking over the horizon, smacking Fang in the face much to her dismay. The Pulsian huntress groaned, her face scrunching as she turned away from the sun to catch some more shut eye. That proved difficult for as soon as Fang moved, her air supply was immediately stolen and something soft and warm was pressed against her face. Startled awake by her lack of oxygen, the first thing Fang saw when she opened her eyes was pink. Shoving the object away hastily, Fang gasped for breath before pink crushed against her face again.

"No…" a sleepy voice mumbled. "Light…"

Vanille? Fang vaguely remembered camping out in another ruined house, away from the rest of the group last night. Vanille followed after her, the younger girl in tears over what was happening with their leader. While they both knew Snow didn't mean what he said, it still stung nevertheless. Despite all the knowledge they had when it came to the Tainted, they were still helpless in saving Lightning.

"Don't go…"

Fang grimaced. This was going to be tricky. How could she untangle herself from her partner without waking up the redhead? Fang gently pushed Vanille away by the shoulders, careful not to accidentally touch one of Vanille's tickle spots. It was incredible how ticklish the Medic and Saboteur could be when one found the right spot. When Vanille didn't move right away after Fang pulled back her hands, the lancer thought she was safe. Then Vanille grabbed her again in her sleep and crushed Fang's face against her breast. Vanille was always a clingy sleeper.

"Vahmeal!" came Fang's muffled voice.

Vanille clutched at Fang's head like her life depended on it. It wasn't until two large arms pried the smaller girl from her did Fang get her much needed air. With oxygen flowing into her lungs again, Fang gratefully looked up at her savior only to stiffen immediately at the sight of them.

"What do ya want?"

Snow looked up from Vanille, the redhead cuddling him in his arms. He smiled sheepishly at Fang.

Fang was unamused.

"Breakfast?"

Fang's gaze darted to the ground next to the Sentinel, noting that he had indeed brought breakfast for them. Two wooden bowls filled with porridge and some freshly cooked meat steamed enticingly just out of arms reach. The anger condensing in Fang's stomach dissipated. She raised an eyebrow at the blonde. "Ya can cook?"

Snow's expression quickly changed from sheepish to horrified. "Hell no!" he exclaimed.

Fang blinked.

"I mean…" Snow laughed wearily. "Serah would kill me if I tried cooking again. Me and cooking don't seem to get along too well."

Fang burst out laughing. She couldn't argue with him about that. She and Vanille had heard all about Snow's escapades in the kitchen, all of them ending in madness. If he wasn't trying to set Lightning's house on fire, Hope would be choking on his stew. And if that wasn't happening, something else would be. Some people were fated not to do certain things. For Snow, that was cooking.

"Nyu…" Vanille stirred, slowly sitting up and rubbing her eyes. The shift from cuddling Fang to cuddling Snow hadn't been an unpleasant one. Both were equally cuddleable, though Fang was a bit softer in touch than Snow. Despite that fact, it was actually the change in scent which roused her from her sleep. Snow's natural smell was different from Fang's. Vanille wasn't quite sure how to describe it. Snow gave off the sense of security and power like Fang did, but Snow was Snow, and Fang was Fang. It was as simple as that.

"Snow?" Vanille yawned audibly. "G'morning" she murmured.

Both Fang and Snow smiled. Vanille was really cute first thing in the morning.

"What are you doing here?" Vanille rubbed her eyes again. "Something wrong?"

Snow's expression dropped before turning serious. "Look… Fang, Vanille…"

The Pulsian pair stilled, thinking the worst.

"About last night…"

Fang clenched her jaw. Vanille merely frowned.

"I was scared and angry," Snow admitted. "And I said things I shouldn't have." Snow's gaze was on the ground, the blonde not having the courage to look at the two women in the eye at the moment.

"I know what's happening to Sis is not your fault. I just…"

Fang and Vanille remained silent, waiting for Snow's next few words. He surprised them both when he got down on his hands and knees and bowed his head.

"I'm sorry. Please forgive me."

The Pulsian pair shared a look. Fang was surprised. Vanille, she was smiling. Snow kept his head down waiting for both of them to say something.

"It's okay Snow. We forgive you," Vanille said in her normal cheery tone. "Right Fang?"

Fang crossed her arms over her chest. Vanille scowled at her, though it came out more like a pout. Fang just smirked in the reaction. Nodding her head towards Snow, Vanille made a bunch of hand gestures towards the still bowing blonde. The huntress didn't have a clue what any of those gestures meant, as Vanille often made up her own hand signals for a variety of things, but Fang could pretty much guess what the redhead wanted.

"Oh alright," Fang caved. She wanted Snow to squirm a bit more, but he had suffered long enough. It was probably eating away at him all night anyhow. "Don't worry about it Snow. I said thins too."

The blonde raised his head reluctantly.

"Oh come on," Fang said getting to her feet. She hauled the Sentinel to his. "Stop bowin' to us like we're some Fal'Cie. We're not that scary."

Snow just chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck.

"And the kiddies return," Sazh said with a grin. He had just set his empty bowl down as Snow, Fang and Vanille walked into view. "I see you've kissed and made up. Good."

Snow blushed, scratching the back of his beanie awkwardly.

"Hey now old man!" Fang said, her hands on her hips. "Don't be givin' hero boy here any ideas now. Neither this one either." Fang nodded to Vanille. "I already woke up with her tryin' ta suffocate me with her-"

"Fang!" Vanille squeaked, her face turning red. "I already told you I was sorry! It was an accident!"

Sazh raised an eyebrow at the pair suspiciously. He looked at Hope, the boomerang throwing teen on his second bowl of breakfast. Ah well, he was still a growing boy. Hope just shrugged. Snow laughed wearily, clearing his throat. Sazh's eyes narrowed at the increasing blush on the blonde's face.

"Vanille likes to… umm… cuddle," was all Snow said.

"Snow!" Vanille squealed, absolutely horrified.

"Uh huh…" Sazh said. "Kids…" he muttered shaking his head.

"So where's our two favourite Farrons?" Fang asked, seeing neither of the sisters within sight.

"They're still sleeping," Hope said, finally putting his empty bowl down. He was tempted to eat a third bowl, but decided to leave the rest for the sleeping pair.

Fang frowned, her lips pursed together in a fine line. Lightnin'…

Vanille's expression darkened at Hope's words.

A thought.

"Wait," Vanille said. "If Serah and Light are still sleeping, who made breakfast?"

Both Snow and Sazh turned to Hope.

"Umm… me…" Hope admitted shyly, raising his hand.

The fifteen year old was immediately tackle-hugged by a squealing Vanille. "Hope! It was so yummy! You'd make such a great daddy!"

"A d-daddy?" Hope's face flushed scarlet. "What!"

The rest of the gang laughed.

"We won't be long now, old man," Fang said over her shoulder.

"Yeah, yeah," Sazh said, waving at them dismissively. "I'll be here when you all get back. Just be careful."

Once the Pulsians checked in on Lightning, noting no change from the day before, Fang, Vanille, Hope and Snow set off to search the remains of the waterfall just north of the village. Sazh had been voted as babysitter to the pinkettes (much to the relief of his old bones), just in case something wandered into camp while the others were away. It was unlikely that Sazh would have any trouble though, as they had been in the village for days already with no sign of life aside from themselves. It was almost like the animals and even the tainted l'Cies were afraid to enter this cursed place. But precautions were precautions. It never hurt to be careful.

Sazh idly watched as the quartet became smaller and smaller the farther they walked. When the others were finally out of sight, he got up and stuck his head in the doorway to the ruined house. Both Lightning and Serah slept soundly, Lightning's rest calm and peacefully for once.

BOOM!

Sazh jumped at the sound, a rumble shaking the ground under his feet. The old man had his guns out immediately, spinning around to find the source of the sound. Smoke rose in the distance, the local wildlife near the horizon squawking and fleeing for their lives.

Sazh's stomach dropped.

That was the direction the others had gone.