The Secret Garden

Based on: Final Fantasy Record Keeper

Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy. The OCs featured in this fic belong to various friends. Note that while the characters belong to friends, I am the one writing the fic itself. Thank you to my friends for allowing me to borrow your characters. If you wish to appear, please send me a message and we can work something out.

Notes: This is the sequel to Records of Keeper Canti. It's wibby-wobbly, timey-whimy in its execution. I care not. If you care, shut the fuck up and go away. If you don't like it, don't read it.

Warnings: Cursing, potential OOC, OC x Canon, incest, stupid fluffy romance, sex, angst, self-insert author avatar

FIC START!

Chapter Seventeen

Cid was up incredibly early the next morning, sipping a cup of hot coffee while watching a morning news broadcast on the Sphere. He pushed his bangs out of his face, though they just flopped right back where they were before he bothered. The sun hadn't even come up yet, and all he was hoping was that Leviathan's promise would be realized. Canti slept all through the night. He just needed her to wake up and be back to herself.

"Senator Kinoc proposed Motion 34 again," the news program reported. "The bill proposed by the Yevonite religious group from the wealthy district. Kinoc is well known for being a zealous believer, and rumors abound that they will once again submit this bill."

Cid rolled his eyes. He spent a little time every night by himself taking care of his business, and he couldn't imagine being able to go to sleep without it. He sipped his coffee again.

"...Senator Matteo Palamecia spoke out against this proposition several times…" the program continued in the background.

Hearing that name didn't make Cid feel much better. He just flicked the button on the control panel to turn the Sphere off. All the thoughts running through his head, it was better not to even think about the governing body's incredibly shitty elected officials. He wondered for a split second how Palamecia and Kinoc ever were voted into positions of power, and then he figured since he lived on the poorer side of town, he probably would never understand those who lived in the northern district.

Suddenly, the Sphere let out a large ringtone, and Cid tapped a button on the panel to make it stop before it woke Canti earlier than she should be up. The monitor revealed his older brother, Richard, sitting there with a frightful expression on his face.

"Oh, good, you're awake," Richard said sternly. "I need to talk with you, little brother."

"I'm jacking off with glee," Cid replied, crossing his arms. It was far too early to deal with his asshat of an older brother. "Speak."

"Fuck you, Cid. Listen. I know you're a mechanic down at the ship-yard, and some of the men who went on patrol last night reported to me that there is suspicious activity going on," Ricard explained worriedly. "I need you to go down there and find out exactly what since you have access to everything there."

"My daughter is recovering from being sick! I'm not leaving her in this condition alone!" Cid said, the apathy for the situation rife within his tone. "I am not falling for one of your pranks again."

"You won't be leaving her alone. I'll send Kain and Erina over to keep watch over her," Richard said much more sternly. "As a Warrior of the Water and Defender of this Realm, I need your assistance. This is not some sort of jest, Cid. This is serious. Your home is closer to the ship-yard than mine. Think of what could become of this if it is not stopped as soon as possible. Your daughter could be in more danger than just falling ill and missing her classes. I know you wish to be there for her, but she might need you to help with something bigger than just herself." He sighed. "I've treated you like shit for far too long, and I apologize. But you are one of the most capable warriors in our ranks and qualified to access the place unlike most of us. As your brother, and as the Grand Dragoon… please."

Cid nodded. "You better send Kain and Erina, then."

"You have my word."

"All right, all right," he said. "Let me get equipped. I'll be there as soon as I can to investigate."

Richard smiled. "Thank you, Captain Highwind."

"Fuck off…" Cid muttered as he gathered his uniform for the Dagurreo City-State's military organization, the Warriors of the Water, and his trusted Venus Gospel spear. He didn't expect to be called in like this so early, especially not for Warrior duty, but Richard mentioned the one thing that always made him get off his ass and do right. "…if it weren't for the fact that I want to keep my baby girl safe, I wouldn't even bother…"

"Heh. Well. It was because of that reason that you even joined up in the first place," Richard said as he stepped back away from the camera. "I'll see you in a bit."

"Roger that." It might have been not-so-subtle manipulation, but Cid wasn't very much of a subtle man himself. Sometimes he needed things beat into his head, blunt force trauma style. He pulled on his uniform quickly, making sure everything was in its proper place, and traded out his favorite goggles for a hat that looked like it fit too tightly on his head. Well, there was a reason why back in bootcamp, they called them jugheads. Cid turned with his spear strapped to his back, only to find a pajama-clad Canti standing there with her big stuffed bunny in her hands.

"Papa?" she asked sleepily as she rubbed one of her eyes.

"Hey, kiddo," Cid said, bending down to kiss her forehead. "I have some serious work to get done this morning, but don't worry. Aunt Erina will be by to make sure you're all right to go to school right quick."

"...you only wear that uniform… when it's an emergency…" she said as she yawned.

Cid nodded. "They don't know if it is yet, but… it could be. Hey. I'll be home as soon as I can, I promise." He gave her a quick hug, holding her close for that moment. "Don't be scared. I'll get 'em, whoever or whatever it is."

Canti blinked up at him tiredly. "I'm not scared, Papa Cid. You'll protect me, as best you can, right?"

"Of course I will! You're my baby girl!"

"Then it'll all be okay," she smiled as he let her go, heading towards the door. "I believe in my Papa Cid."

"It may not make much sense, but hearing that… I feel stronger," Cid said as he pushed the door open. "Cantirena. I love you."

She waved as she watched him walk out. "I love you, too, Papa."

As the front door closed, Canti walked up to it and locked it. Here she was, all alone. She looked up at the wall, noticing that Cid took his Venus Gospel with him. He only took that down when fighting was a sure thing, as he swore of fighting for simple fun quite a long time ago. She wasn't sure of what he was going to fight, but as much as she knew it would upset him to know… she did lie to him. She was a little scared. Why wouldn't she be? Canti couldn't forget her nightmares of a creeping, looming darkness, and now, here in the early morning hours, she woke up to hearing her uncle calling on the Sphere to ask her papa's help. Was this… was it coming?

Canti went back to her room to change, then she went to the tiny kitchenette to make her breakfast on her own. Even if Cid said her Aunt Erina would be over, she didn't care. Canti could take care of herself. There was nothing hard about making her own simple pancakes. There was nothing hard about showering and changing on her own. She was fully ready to go to school around the time dawn had cracked. And while she was ready, waiting for the rest of the country around to catch up to her, so she could move on with her day and not feel so damn stagnant, her thoughts engulfed her mind.

She climbed up into the little attic, and from there, climbed up higher onto the roof of the little house. The dark blue sky looked like a painting, with the streaks of sunlight beginning to cross the sky as if directed by a large paintbrush. A masterful hand of the craft at work with a bright palette against the ever dark canvass. As she stared straight up, the moon overhead still shined brilliantly. It wasn't being overshadowed by the sun just yet. It was a mystical, pale white, much like Canti's extremely pale skin. She put her left hand on her right shoulder, gripping the mysterious birthmark she'd been left with, knowing that underneath her uniform blouse and cute little tartan vest, there was a crescent moon etched into her skin. And sitting here, under the vast sky that seemed so large that it could fall down on top of her at any moment, Canti wondered one thing.

Why?

Why was Papa Cid called to investigate strange happenings? Why was he awake at such a time, ready to go? Why would nightmares follow her, when she barely remembered her days at the Westside Orphanage. And… why did she have a birthmark that looked like a moon? Why was she told to study Mysidian with Minwu? Canti wrapped her arms around her knees, pulling them underneath her chin, and felt utterly alone underneath that breathtaking early morning sky.

"Cousin?!" Kain's voice came screaming out of the nearby window. "Mother and I have been looking everywhere for you! We were panicking! With all the news of strange happenings, and our fathers going to investigate it… I thought- err… we thought… something might have happened to you, Canti!"

That is, until Kain refused to simply let her be alone.

Canti turned her head a little to see Kain's face awash in concern. "I'm sorry, Kain. I just needed a moment alone," she said. "Please don't yell."

"I'm sorry. I got worked up there. Can you please come inside? Mother wants to make you breakfast."

"I made pancakes all ready," she said shyly. "And I'm all ready dressed to go to school. Can't you just leave me alone? I can take care of myself."

"Canti…" Kain said, pulling himself out of the window to sit next to her on the shingled roof. "You can't mean that… You don't really want to be alone, do you? Aren't you just scared because Uncle Cid has to go check on whatever happened at the ship-yards?"

She suddenly cut him a sharp glare. "No, Kain! You don't get it!"

"What is it that I don't get?" Kain asked, trying to be as kind as possible. He reached for her hand, to offer her comfort. Canti found Kain's hand to be warm and soothing, oddly enough. "I won't understand you if you don't explain what's wrong." That tone didn't sound like something that came from a family member, and Kain didn't quite understand it himself. Something in him felt much different than usual, like his overprotective nature here wasn't just because of their familial relation. "Secrets can be a burden. Let me lighten it for you."

"Kain?"

"Come on… what's so bad that you can't tell me? Aren't I your best friend?" he asked, gripping her hand tighter.

"I don't know… you're my overprotective cousin."

"Cantirena," Kain said, feeling his heart beating much harder than usual. He wondered if perhaps his classmate Minwu was correct on the assessment of his feelings, and that worried him immensely. "I care about you." As he let all of these feelings, these conflicting emotions of attraction to her and wanting to be a loyal, dependable someone she could always count on, come to the forefront of his mind. "And… I love you." But that love wasn't romantic or anything, he thought to himself. No, no, nothing like that.

"Kain, you're blushing…" she said, blinking at him curiously. "…there's no need for that. You're my cousin. I love you, too. I love the Highwind family for taking me in and accepting me, when you had no reason to."

Oh, good… that didn't come off as being really weird and incestuous, Kain thought in relief. But… wait… what she said is true. Canti is my cousin by adoption… is that why… Could it be that I'm… that I like her this way? I've always known she's… not really… a Highwind…

Canti giggled as she reached over to poke that nose on his mopey, blushing little face. "Why are you so cute, cousin?" she asked. "I've never seen you like this before, and it's so cute. Like a baby dragon that's confused about the world around him. It's okay, baby dragon. You have a nice family to look after you and care for you."

Kain blushed harder at that. "S-so do you!" he exclaimed. "You're a Highwind. No matter who you were before Uncle Cid adopted you, that's who you are now!" He said it to comfort her, and also reaffirm his own conflicting thoughts. He never wanted to hold a girl close before, and now it was awakening in him, in this bizarre morning under both the sun and the moon alike. Kain never cared much about girls, and here he was… finding those blue curls and that pale, moon-like skin, and that soft, melodic voice… nothing short of enchanting. "So… let Mother take care of you! You're family."

"But I all ready ate, cousin…"

"Yeah, but your hair is a mess."

"Kain. It's always a mess!"