IT. IS. ALLIIIIIIVVVVV-
Yes, I am alive, faithful, patient readers! And I finally got a burst of inspiration and drabbled out this little thing. OTL Forgive me! I was determined to get another chapter up before May 16, because May 16 is the one-year anniversary of "Ordinary Day"! (Such a momentous occasion, I know.) So, here it is, May 3, and I am FINALLY updating. Thank you all for your kind words and perusal and encouragement of my other stories while I worked through my Writer's Block on this one. I LOVE YOU ALL. SERIOUSLY. THE COOKIES AND MILK ARE ON ME.
Anywhoo... I'm going to try to update again before the one-year-iversary, but I can't make promises T.T Finals are just around the corner and... Well, you know how it is. I find it wonderfully coincidental that Chapter 50 would come so close to the one-year mark. So special, I think. I don't really think much of this chapter, but now I've got a bridge to the next leg of the journey, so YAY. I'm so sorry that I left you all hanging for so long! *cough* Fourmonths. *cough*
To everyone who has been reviewing, thank you so much! Thank you to Blehlove, NiNjAgIrL113; my regulars, Sayonara, run4life, and ShatterTheHeavens; and new reviewer evilly-innocent! Some quick replies before we got on with this!
ShatterTheHeavens: O.O If there were to be a cake made of these characters, I think I would die. Seriously. XD That would just be too epic to handle! bahaha Two full days? Oh dear! XD Sorry about that! haha Thank you so much!
Sayonara: Seriously, right? Poor Kiku! And Zack! And Cloud! SHINRA SHALL DIE INDEED. Lemme at the power tools and automatic weapons... XD Thank you so much!
run4life: Megaaaaan! AHH I love you, seriously. XD An addiction? Whooops! hahaha Cloud's life is just... I mean, no wonder he turns out somewhat emo! :O heh You're right about Zack, I have to say. He's just this kinda happy-go-lucky, optimistic kinda guy, and then all this crap happens because people and organizations he believed in basically just turn their backs on him, and he has to pay the ultimate price. SO STOOPID. Ha, glad you trust me with the ending, eheh ^.^; bahaha The hyperventilation thing is something that's really happened to me! Apparently, it happened to my mom too when she ran track in high school/college. Yay for hereditary things that cause lack of proper breathing. -.-; haha Nibelheim is definitely one of the greater Shinra cover-ups, I'm sure. I mean, how on earth did they do that? I suppose that's Shinra for you... HA I haven't seen all of Last Order yet, but I know what you mean XD I shall read more fo your story VERY SOON! As soon as I get some projects/assignments out of the way ^.^ Thank you so much! :D
evilly-innocent: EEP! I'm so glad you like the story! Honestly, your review is part of what helped me get up and write this new chapter! XD You are a very special person indeed! Your review made me smile so big, and gave me new determination to see this thing through. So THANK YOU! And I'm sure the other readers will thank you as well for helping me drag myself over to the story file and WRITE hahaha I hope you continue to enjoy it! Thank you so much!
OOKAY. Here goes nothing! Sorry if it seems short T.T More to come soon (I hope)! Thank you all again so much! Love you all!
-Chapter 50-
Kiku
The chill night air tugged a few tears from my eyes as we sped through the countryside. I watched hills roll by, looking like waves stuck in slow-motion. I saw a few chocobos snap their heads up when they heard the motorcycle's engine roaring. I might've stopped to think about how beautiful it all was if I hadn't been more worried about the person I was hanging onto, and the person riding in the sidecar next to me.
Cloud still hadn't moved. He sat still, almost slumped over, rocking and swaying with every turn and bump in the road.
I wondered where we were going, but I didn't want to shout to ask. My throat was too lazy, and I was too tired. Hope I don't nod off, I thought, looking out at the hills again. That would be disastrous.
I don't know how long we drove down that dusty road, headed toward Gaia knows where, but dawn was breaking when we had to stop. Our tentative plan was to travel at night, and rest during the day. (A plan similar to the one we'd had when escaping Nibelheim.) That way, even though we were traveling on a crazy-loud motorcycle, it would be harder to track us.
I pratically fell off the back of the bike, landing on my side in the grass that covered the floor of the small clearing. I took deep, grassy breaths as Zack tugged Cloud up and out of the sidecar. He carried him over to a nearby tree, and set him down, leaning his back up against it.
Zack exhaled and looked around. The only things I could hear were some birds calling, and maybe a few squirrels climbing around the trees. I was just hoping none of the birds or squirrels worked for Shinra.
I guessed that Zack didn't hear anything else, because he breathed a quiet sigh of relief. He looked down at me, smiling tiredly. "You look beat."
"I feel beat," I replied, suppressing a yawn.
Zack chuckled softly and sat down in the grass next to me, Cloud still leaning up against the tree to his left. He leaned back against the tree behind him, sighing again. "You should get some rest. I'll take the first watch."
I blinked up at him. "No, I will. You've been driving for hours. You must be more tired than I-"
"Kiku," he interrupted. He smiled, mako-blue eyes gleaming in the early morning sun. "Go to sleep."
I blushed a little and sighed, pretending to be annoyed. "Fine," I mumbled. "But only for a few hours. Then wake me up so you can get some rest, too."
He nodded. "Okay, sure."
I pushed my upper body up off the ground and scooted myself closer to Zack. I curled up against him and rested my head on his chest.
Zack laughed softly and I smiled. "I suppose you might as well be comfortable..."
"Exactly," I replied. I closed my eyes, blocking out the sunlight streaming through the treetops. I yawned. "Remember," I said, "only for a little bit. Then wake me up."
"Right," he said, laughing a little. "Sure."
I didn't believe that he would really wake me up to take over the watch, just because it was Zack I was talking to, but I was determined not to let myself sleep for long. Certainly not until nightfall.
My head gently rose up and down with each breath Zack took, and I could faintly hear his hearbeat through his shirt. He raised his gloved hand and put it on my head, gently running it over my hair. I sighed contentedly, allowing sleep to overtake me.
But only for a little while, as I'd assured myself.
;;;;;
The next time I opened my eyes, the sun was still shining. Yes! I thought. I didn't sleep through the whole day!
I once again felt Zack's hand on my hair. "You awake?" he asked tiredly.
I sat up and stretched my arms above my head. "I am, but it doesn't sound like you're going to be for much longer."
He sighed heavily. "You're right... I'm so tired!" His voice was edging on whiny.
I rolled my eyes. "That's what you get for not sleeping first."
"I had to let you sleep," he insisted, rubbing his eye sleepily. "What kind of boyfriend would I be if I selfishly slept first?"
I shook my head. "Whatever. Just go to sleep now. I'll wake you up when night falls."
He nodded. "Mm. Right." Then, before I could move or object, Zack laid down...with his head in my lap.
I stared down at him in flustered surprise. "I- What- You- Hey- I-" I couldn't even stutter out a sentence.
"Do you have an objection to something, Kiks?" Zack turned his head to look up at me, and he smirked. "You're bright red, y'know that?"
I clamped my mouth shut and gave him a look.
He laughed and turned on his back, his head still in my lap. He raised a hand up towards my face, running his fingers along my jawline. He smiled. "Now you're even more red."
I turned my head away, crossing my arms over my chest.
"Aw, come on. Are you really upset with me?"
I didn't look at him. I was too busy yelling at my blood for rushing to my face at a time like this.
Zack sat up and looked at me. "Look, I'm sorry I laughed at you." He smiled and moved his face closer to mine. "You know I can't help but laugh when you're all flustered and cute."
This, of course, only caused me to blush again and stare at him with wide eyes. Would you cut that out? I thought at him.
He chuckled. Oh, relax. It's not like anyone can see us.
You don't know that! And Cloud's right there.
Like he cares.
I'm sure he does! Very much! We probably scarred him for life last time, geez...
Zack laughed and brushed some hair out of my face. "Have I told you lately that I love you?"
I blushed and smiled a little, trying to suppress it to keep up the act that I was annoyed with him. "You...mighta mentioned it earlier..." I said quietly.
"Well, it bears repeating. I love you." He put his hand on the back of my neck and kissed me.
I smiled at him as he pulled away. "Well...then I guess I can't stay mad at you..."
He smiled, victorious. "Yes!"
I rolled my eyes. "Now go to sleep, you puppy."
He laughed softly as he rested his head back in my lap.
I laughed as well and took his hand in mine. "I love you, too."
He smiled up at me. "Don't worry about anything, okay? I promise we'll make it out of this, even if it kills me."
I shook my head. "Well, let's just hope it doesn't come to that, shall we?"
He nodded, smiling. "Right. Remember, wake me up when night falls."
I nodded. "I got it. I can handle myself until then." I gently ran my fingers through his spiky black hair. "So get some sleep."
He smiled and closed his eyes, looking completely content.
When I was sure he was asleep, I leaned back and looked up at the clouds passing overhead. They crossed the sky lazily, at their own pace, not a care in the world. That's silly, I thought. Of course clouds don't have cares. They can't think or...
I stopped myself and looked at Cloud, still slumped over next to me. His eyes were closed now, and I guessed that he was sleeping too.
I fought back tears, hoping and praying once more that Cloud would be alright. I didn't much care about my own personal safety right then. I just wanted Cloud to live. He had to find Anna, if nothing else.
I looked up at the sky again. That huge expanse of blue that I had once desired to see more than anything else in the world was the only thing I could look at without tears threatening to spill from my eyes. I couldn't even look at Zack without feeling some twinge of sadness. Everything was so uncertain right then. We were wanted fugitives, escaped lab samples, rouge experiments -take your pick. We weren't sure how long we'd been in those tanks, but it could've been a long time. I wasn't sure where we were, or where exactly we were headed. I didn't know what we would find along the way, or who would try to come after us. I didn't know where Anna and Clay were or what they were doing. I didn't know if they were still looking for us, or if so much time had passed that they'd given up.
They wouldn't give up, I thought. There not that sort of people. But...then again, I wouldn't really blame them. As far as Shinra is concerned, we're dead anyway, right? At this point, it would be hard not to believe the reports.
So I looked up at the sky and tried to push all these things from my mind. I looked at the brilliant blue sky, the puffy white clouds, and the green treetops forming a circle over our heads. I looked at the colors, thinking that it seemed like such a very long time since I'd seen anything but darkness.
Maybe there's still hope, I thought. It's like Zack said, we'll make it out of this. And we will. We're strong. We're capable. Well...most of us at the moment. But I've got to believe him. I have to.
Because giving up has never been my style.
;;;;;
As the blue of the sky turned pink, and the white of the clouds turned orange, I figured it was time to get up and get ready to leave. I looked down at Zack, running my fingers through his hair. "Zack," I said quietly. "Zack, come on. The sun's going down."
He stirred a little and turned, touching his forehead to my stomach. "Five more minutes," he mumbled.
I sighed and looked at Cloud. "Think you could give me a hand here?"
Still no reply from him. But his eyes were open and he was off muttering nonsense once more.
I sighed again, hoping we'd find a way to wake him up soon. I looked back down at Zack. I shook him, threatening to roll him right off me. "Get up, Zack Fair. We've gotta mosey."
He smiled and wrapped an arm around me, pulling himself closer.
I blushed, but tried to fight it. "The heck are you doing, Zack?"
"Curling up with my pillow," he said, still smiling.
"Hey! I'm not your pillow!"
"Well, if I'm you're pillow, then it certainly makes senese that you're my pillow."
"You know what, I-!" I had no response to that logic. Anything I could've said would've sounded dumb.
He grinned. "Remember, I love you."
I shook my head and half-heartedly pushed him off me. "Yeah, yeah..."
He chuckled and ran a hand through his hair, smiling at me apologetically.
I smiled and looked away.
"How's Cloud doing?"
I looked at Cloud. "Well, he still hasn't woken up, per se. But his eyes are open again."
Zack grunted quietly as he pushed himself to his feet. "I guess that's the best we can hope for at this point." He looked around. "We'd better get out of here while there's still a little light left to see by."
I nodded and stood, tightening my sheath around my waist as Zack picked up his Buster Sword and sheathed it on his back. He lifted Cloud up off the ground and put him back in the sidecar, telling him that we had to cut the nap short if we didn't want to get discovered by the Turks.
Though it still made me want to cry, I loved that Zack was still talking to Cloud and asking him his opinion as if he could actually hear and respond. His hope that Cloud was still in that mako-poisoned mess gave me hope, too.
"Let's go," Zack said, getting on the bike.
"Right." I walked over and got on behind him, wrapping my arms around his waist again. "I wanted to ask you before..."
"What is it?" he asked, looking over his shoulder at me.
"Well, where are we going?"
Zack was quiet for a moment. "Well...our ultimate goal is to get back to Midgar."
I blinked at him. "But...can we risk going that close to Shinra Headquarters?"
"I don't give a damn about Shinra anymore." He rested a hand over mine. "Not after all they've done, all that I've been blind to. All I care about now is finding Anna and Clay, and making sure the two of you are safe." He swung one leg over the bike so he was sitting sideways in the seat. "I promise you that much. I can't promise it'll be a quick or easy trip, what with the Turks out after us and Gaia knows who else. But I swear we'll find some way out of this, and some way to fix up Cloud." He squeezed my hand tightly in his own, and he shook slightly.
I put a hand on his arm, trying to comfort him. "It's okay, Zack," I said quietly. "Just remember you're not alone out here. You don't have to take full responsibilty for us, or totally disregard yourself either." I blinked away tears. "Because I care about your safety, too."
He chuckled once and put his arm around my shoulders. He gently kissed the top of my head and said, "Thanks, Kiku." He leaned back and smiled at me. "Shall we?"
I smiled back and nodded. "Yeah. Let's get outta here before Cissnei pops up and demands we return this bike."
Zack laughed and sat facing forward again. I grabbed onto him as he started the bike. He carefully turned it around, headed back toward the earthen road we'd been traveling on.
He'd given me another shot of hope with those promises. But...I still knew that I shouldn't get too excited or anything. We had a long way to go before we even reached Midgar. And who knows what (or who) we'd run into along the way?
I looked up as we sped along through the dusky air. I watched as the sky and the clouds grew darker with every turn of the tires.
