Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy. Squaresoft does. I own this story.
" Oh Hyne! Please don't let me fall!" I gasped.
I stood there, trying to breathe. I can't turn back now. When I calmed down, I reached out for a tree branch. I grabbed it and leapt up. I pulled myself up onto the branch. I slowly climbed down the tree. Finally, I could actually breathe when I touched the ground.
I wandered around for a while until I found the spot where I encountered her. In front of a tavern. It's the only place I could think to go in Deling. I also thought if she traveled, she might stay at the hotel that was in the same building.
I waited for a few minutes, but it started to get cold. I sneaked into the building to get warm. It was fairly easy. There was too many people in the entrance to check any minors. The tavern hadn't exactly opened yet either. I promenaded down the stairs without much care. I looked around. It was my first time being here. But I had heard of it being remodeled.
" So my grandmother performed here?" I echoed to myself.
There was a CRASH from up the stairs. I stumbled upon the stage and hid behind the curtain.
" Irvine! Clean that up now or the boss is going to kill you!" an angry female voice yelled.
" But it wasn't my fault!" a male voice whined.
" Clean it up or I'll be the one to kill you!"
" When am I getting paid? My girls are gonna leave me if I'm broke. Chicks don't want guys that can't take them to places."
" Not today! If you want money, try working and stop flirting!"
" I can't help it. It's my nature!"
" Just do your job or you'll get fired!"
" Okay! But I'm expecting a raise soon!"
" Don't count on it!"
A man, muttering words under his breath, came down the stairs. He was dressed in leather, with a hat to top it off. His clothes seemed shabby, like they needed a desperate wash. The man began sweeping the floor. He stopped and looked at the stage. He sighed and smiled.
" I'll be back up there soon, where I belong. Irvy the cowboy. My fans will want me back. Chip won't last long. Then he'll end up trying to keep his apartment by being a janitor. And I'll laugh," the man said pleasantly.
I wondered what the heck he was talking about. Then I figured I don't want to know, so it would be best not to think about it.
What I needed to think about was how I was going get out of here. The cowboy moron was in no hurry to leave and soon there would be customers flooding in. Or someone using the stage. What if I get caught? How would I explain this? I peeked out again and there was already a few customers sitting down.
There was a soft touch on my shoulder and I jumped. I jolted my head and there was the woman with silver hair and an eyepatch.
" What are you doing here?" she asked.
" I was looking for you. Why are you backstage? Did you see me from out there?" I replied.
" No, I came back here to wait for the dancers. I was going to take a picture for an interview that was done today. But you don't belong here at all," she answered.
" Then help me get out of here," I gave sad eyes. She pulled off her long black trenchcoat and put it on me. She tied the hood on me.
" If we leave the back way, they won't think much of it. Ready?" Fujin asked.
I nodded. She pulled me to a door that led to a narrow hall of dressing rooms. At the end of the hall, there was an exit. We headed down the hall, then one of the dressing room doors shot open. The cowboy from earlier walked out drunk. He stood in the middle of the hall. He glanced at me, then to Fujin.
" I didn't know you had a kid Fujin. Who knocked you up?" Irvine said.
" Excuse me, he's a friend's son," Fujin crossed her arms.
" Then it's all good to me," Irvine tipped his hat.
" Get a life, you loser. Scum doesn't interest me," Fujin replied.
" Wow Fujin. When did you start talking all pretty like?" he wondered.
" Not your problem Irvy boy. So get out of our way," she snapped.
" Hey! I figured out my place in life. On a stage. But what about you?" he yelled.
" I"m a photographer for a global newspaper. And you're a washed up stripper that cleans up after the real stars now. You probably spend your nights drinking like tonight because you realized nobody missed you from the stage," Fujin said, starting to lose her temper.
" Still chasing Seifer?" Irvine smiled drunkenly.
" Just. Get. Out. Of. Our. Way," Fujin said rather calm for her mood.
" What's wrong? Did I say something to upset you? I'm sorry if I upset you! Forgive me if I did upset you!" Irvine began shouting hysterically.
Fujin punched his face. Irvine slumped to the floor. Fujin grabbed my hand and we headed for the exit. I opened the door and passed through into the alley. Fujin was in the doorway when Irvine lifted his bruised head.
" No wonder Seifer didn't hook up with you! No surprise he went after that girl! She was a way better choice than you! He was smart there!" Irvine shouted. Fujin didn't look back at him. She just slammed the door behind her.
" What was that moron talking about?" I asked concerned.
" Nothing to take seriously from that man. Nothing worth a damn," she answered bitterly.
" Do you want to talk about earlier today?" I said. We walked towards a bench and sat down. The sky was vibrant with stars tonight.
" That's why you came looking for me?"
" Yeah, you said you knew me and to contact you because it was important."
" It's hard to clarify it exactly. I knew your parents, Matthew. And when I saw you walking, smiling the way you were, I was reminded of your father. I grew up seeing a smile like that. And I guess it just overwhelmed me. I took your picture without thinking. I'm sorry for that. I was lost in the moment and I didn't want to lose it right away," Fujin explained.
" Do you know if my father is alive?" I looked up at the night sky. Fujin frowned.
" I have no idea, Matthew. No one has seen him in years. But I think he may be alive. He's probably out there. I get the feeling he's stuck or trapped for some reason. I grew up with him so I knew him pretty well," Fujin said.
" What was he like?" I wondered, still tracing the stars.
" Well, he was quite a character. He always had this mysterious confidence that never failed to hold me in marvel. Opinionated. Stubborn as hell. He was handsome, with blonde hair with blue eyes. Nice body too. He acted like a bad boy to get attention or something, but I saw right through it. It seemed like he needed somebody. Like he would fall apart if he felt no one needed him. That's why I chose to stay close to him. So he would know how the posse was better with him there," she gazed at the starlight.
" Did you love him?" I asked. I lowered my stare to her face.
" I always will," she said simply.
" Did he have any serious enemies? Maybe that's why no one can find him."
" Not anymore. He did have a rival and things got critical there."
" Who was that?" I looked straight into her face again.
" I guess it was Squall. Squall Leonhart. They used to fight all the time. They even gave each other scars," Fujin answered.
" How bad of scars? Where?"
" Across their faces. It was quite a sexy scar, but a scar nevertheless. But Squall didn't get in trouble for it."
" Why?" I inquired.
" Squall was the quiet antisocial type, but he was seen as the good guy. The teacher had a definite crush on him too. Seifer was just seen as a troublemaker. Nothing more."
" Did he love my mom? " I asked sadly.
" I'm sure he did. Even after she crushed his heart by dating Squall," Fujin said sincerely.
" She went out with his opponent? Why did she do that?"
" I have no idea why Rinoa did the things she did. But Squall and her fell in love and I guess it was for the best," Fujin told me.
" What happened next?" I nudged her for more words.
" Rinoa found out she was pregnant and told Squall. Squall proposed to her, thinking it was his child, but she had to tell him the harsh truth. Seifer then planned to ask her to marry him. But because he was seen as a troublemaker, he didn't get much of a chance. Both Squall and Seifer wanted her, but she chose neither of them. Then she disappeared for six years, to the Shumi village and you know what happened next," Fujin explained.
" Why didn't he come to the custody battle?" I closed my eyes gently.
" I don't know. You'd think he'd be there. That would be like him to be there. But he wasn't," Fujin said.
" This is a complicated story," I said.
" It was more complicated if you were there. When you felt your world tumbling because of this bizarre situation. Then you could understand why I never want to go back to the Garden, to where it all happened."
" If I was never born, would you be married to Seifer?" I shrugged.
" Don't think it like that. People make their own choices in what they do. It wasn't your fault. He wouldn't have married me anyway," Fujin sulked.
" Why do you think that?" I opened my eyes.
" I don't know. But even though I was always there for him, he never returned too much affection. I was always second best, no matter how much I tried to let him know he was the world to me," Fujin said, like she was about to cry.
" You weren't second best to him. I am. He only visited the village once and I can't even remember that because I was so young. He didn't go to court to claim me. He never, at all, tried to contact me. Maybe I wasn't even second best. Maybe I was just an accident to him, that he wanted to forget. My mother's friends from the Garden haven't contacted me either. My grandfather is hardly around and when he is, he always dodges me when I want to talk about anything serious. Like he's ashamed of me. So they must feel exactly the same about me.," I said to comfort her. But it just made her look unhappier.
" You're not an accident Matthew. And Seifer would never think poorly of you. No one thinks you are a mistake. They do care for you. I don't know why your father's missing, but I know in my heart that he would do anything to get to you," Fujin reassured me.
" Then why have I always felt so empty?" I frowned.
" You won't always feel that way. You can't just wait for someone to piece you together or throw you away. You'll fall apart if you do that. You have to trust yourself and know you will find what you're looking for if you keep searching," Fujin hugged me.
" When I go to the Garden, will you visit me? You're the only one who understands," I replied.
" I promise," Fujin mouthed, momentarily appearing somewhat like a veiled goddess. The moonlight had gleamed off her skin and made her glow slightly. How could anyone treat her so meanly? I suddenly felt like I should be the one to protect her from all that. Like it was an instinct to defend her.
" I have to go home soon," I snapped away from my thoughts.
" We all do," she said to herself thoughtfully. She stood up and offered me her hand. I took it and she guided me back to my house. I hopped up the walkway then turned back to face her at the street. She smiled and waved goodbye.
~Note: Please keep reading this series. I know it's weird, but it's going to get better. Zell's coming up in the next chapter and that should be interesting.~
" Oh Hyne! Please don't let me fall!" I gasped.
I stood there, trying to breathe. I can't turn back now. When I calmed down, I reached out for a tree branch. I grabbed it and leapt up. I pulled myself up onto the branch. I slowly climbed down the tree. Finally, I could actually breathe when I touched the ground.
I wandered around for a while until I found the spot where I encountered her. In front of a tavern. It's the only place I could think to go in Deling. I also thought if she traveled, she might stay at the hotel that was in the same building.
I waited for a few minutes, but it started to get cold. I sneaked into the building to get warm. It was fairly easy. There was too many people in the entrance to check any minors. The tavern hadn't exactly opened yet either. I promenaded down the stairs without much care. I looked around. It was my first time being here. But I had heard of it being remodeled.
" So my grandmother performed here?" I echoed to myself.
There was a CRASH from up the stairs. I stumbled upon the stage and hid behind the curtain.
" Irvine! Clean that up now or the boss is going to kill you!" an angry female voice yelled.
" But it wasn't my fault!" a male voice whined.
" Clean it up or I'll be the one to kill you!"
" When am I getting paid? My girls are gonna leave me if I'm broke. Chicks don't want guys that can't take them to places."
" Not today! If you want money, try working and stop flirting!"
" I can't help it. It's my nature!"
" Just do your job or you'll get fired!"
" Okay! But I'm expecting a raise soon!"
" Don't count on it!"
A man, muttering words under his breath, came down the stairs. He was dressed in leather, with a hat to top it off. His clothes seemed shabby, like they needed a desperate wash. The man began sweeping the floor. He stopped and looked at the stage. He sighed and smiled.
" I'll be back up there soon, where I belong. Irvy the cowboy. My fans will want me back. Chip won't last long. Then he'll end up trying to keep his apartment by being a janitor. And I'll laugh," the man said pleasantly.
I wondered what the heck he was talking about. Then I figured I don't want to know, so it would be best not to think about it.
What I needed to think about was how I was going get out of here. The cowboy moron was in no hurry to leave and soon there would be customers flooding in. Or someone using the stage. What if I get caught? How would I explain this? I peeked out again and there was already a few customers sitting down.
There was a soft touch on my shoulder and I jumped. I jolted my head and there was the woman with silver hair and an eyepatch.
" What are you doing here?" she asked.
" I was looking for you. Why are you backstage? Did you see me from out there?" I replied.
" No, I came back here to wait for the dancers. I was going to take a picture for an interview that was done today. But you don't belong here at all," she answered.
" Then help me get out of here," I gave sad eyes. She pulled off her long black trenchcoat and put it on me. She tied the hood on me.
" If we leave the back way, they won't think much of it. Ready?" Fujin asked.
I nodded. She pulled me to a door that led to a narrow hall of dressing rooms. At the end of the hall, there was an exit. We headed down the hall, then one of the dressing room doors shot open. The cowboy from earlier walked out drunk. He stood in the middle of the hall. He glanced at me, then to Fujin.
" I didn't know you had a kid Fujin. Who knocked you up?" Irvine said.
" Excuse me, he's a friend's son," Fujin crossed her arms.
" Then it's all good to me," Irvine tipped his hat.
" Get a life, you loser. Scum doesn't interest me," Fujin replied.
" Wow Fujin. When did you start talking all pretty like?" he wondered.
" Not your problem Irvy boy. So get out of our way," she snapped.
" Hey! I figured out my place in life. On a stage. But what about you?" he yelled.
" I"m a photographer for a global newspaper. And you're a washed up stripper that cleans up after the real stars now. You probably spend your nights drinking like tonight because you realized nobody missed you from the stage," Fujin said, starting to lose her temper.
" Still chasing Seifer?" Irvine smiled drunkenly.
" Just. Get. Out. Of. Our. Way," Fujin said rather calm for her mood.
" What's wrong? Did I say something to upset you? I'm sorry if I upset you! Forgive me if I did upset you!" Irvine began shouting hysterically.
Fujin punched his face. Irvine slumped to the floor. Fujin grabbed my hand and we headed for the exit. I opened the door and passed through into the alley. Fujin was in the doorway when Irvine lifted his bruised head.
" No wonder Seifer didn't hook up with you! No surprise he went after that girl! She was a way better choice than you! He was smart there!" Irvine shouted. Fujin didn't look back at him. She just slammed the door behind her.
" What was that moron talking about?" I asked concerned.
" Nothing to take seriously from that man. Nothing worth a damn," she answered bitterly.
" Do you want to talk about earlier today?" I said. We walked towards a bench and sat down. The sky was vibrant with stars tonight.
" That's why you came looking for me?"
" Yeah, you said you knew me and to contact you because it was important."
" It's hard to clarify it exactly. I knew your parents, Matthew. And when I saw you walking, smiling the way you were, I was reminded of your father. I grew up seeing a smile like that. And I guess it just overwhelmed me. I took your picture without thinking. I'm sorry for that. I was lost in the moment and I didn't want to lose it right away," Fujin explained.
" Do you know if my father is alive?" I looked up at the night sky. Fujin frowned.
" I have no idea, Matthew. No one has seen him in years. But I think he may be alive. He's probably out there. I get the feeling he's stuck or trapped for some reason. I grew up with him so I knew him pretty well," Fujin said.
" What was he like?" I wondered, still tracing the stars.
" Well, he was quite a character. He always had this mysterious confidence that never failed to hold me in marvel. Opinionated. Stubborn as hell. He was handsome, with blonde hair with blue eyes. Nice body too. He acted like a bad boy to get attention or something, but I saw right through it. It seemed like he needed somebody. Like he would fall apart if he felt no one needed him. That's why I chose to stay close to him. So he would know how the posse was better with him there," she gazed at the starlight.
" Did you love him?" I asked. I lowered my stare to her face.
" I always will," she said simply.
" Did he have any serious enemies? Maybe that's why no one can find him."
" Not anymore. He did have a rival and things got critical there."
" Who was that?" I looked straight into her face again.
" I guess it was Squall. Squall Leonhart. They used to fight all the time. They even gave each other scars," Fujin answered.
" How bad of scars? Where?"
" Across their faces. It was quite a sexy scar, but a scar nevertheless. But Squall didn't get in trouble for it."
" Why?" I inquired.
" Squall was the quiet antisocial type, but he was seen as the good guy. The teacher had a definite crush on him too. Seifer was just seen as a troublemaker. Nothing more."
" Did he love my mom? " I asked sadly.
" I'm sure he did. Even after she crushed his heart by dating Squall," Fujin said sincerely.
" She went out with his opponent? Why did she do that?"
" I have no idea why Rinoa did the things she did. But Squall and her fell in love and I guess it was for the best," Fujin told me.
" What happened next?" I nudged her for more words.
" Rinoa found out she was pregnant and told Squall. Squall proposed to her, thinking it was his child, but she had to tell him the harsh truth. Seifer then planned to ask her to marry him. But because he was seen as a troublemaker, he didn't get much of a chance. Both Squall and Seifer wanted her, but she chose neither of them. Then she disappeared for six years, to the Shumi village and you know what happened next," Fujin explained.
" Why didn't he come to the custody battle?" I closed my eyes gently.
" I don't know. You'd think he'd be there. That would be like him to be there. But he wasn't," Fujin said.
" This is a complicated story," I said.
" It was more complicated if you were there. When you felt your world tumbling because of this bizarre situation. Then you could understand why I never want to go back to the Garden, to where it all happened."
" If I was never born, would you be married to Seifer?" I shrugged.
" Don't think it like that. People make their own choices in what they do. It wasn't your fault. He wouldn't have married me anyway," Fujin sulked.
" Why do you think that?" I opened my eyes.
" I don't know. But even though I was always there for him, he never returned too much affection. I was always second best, no matter how much I tried to let him know he was the world to me," Fujin said, like she was about to cry.
" You weren't second best to him. I am. He only visited the village once and I can't even remember that because I was so young. He didn't go to court to claim me. He never, at all, tried to contact me. Maybe I wasn't even second best. Maybe I was just an accident to him, that he wanted to forget. My mother's friends from the Garden haven't contacted me either. My grandfather is hardly around and when he is, he always dodges me when I want to talk about anything serious. Like he's ashamed of me. So they must feel exactly the same about me.," I said to comfort her. But it just made her look unhappier.
" You're not an accident Matthew. And Seifer would never think poorly of you. No one thinks you are a mistake. They do care for you. I don't know why your father's missing, but I know in my heart that he would do anything to get to you," Fujin reassured me.
" Then why have I always felt so empty?" I frowned.
" You won't always feel that way. You can't just wait for someone to piece you together or throw you away. You'll fall apart if you do that. You have to trust yourself and know you will find what you're looking for if you keep searching," Fujin hugged me.
" When I go to the Garden, will you visit me? You're the only one who understands," I replied.
" I promise," Fujin mouthed, momentarily appearing somewhat like a veiled goddess. The moonlight had gleamed off her skin and made her glow slightly. How could anyone treat her so meanly? I suddenly felt like I should be the one to protect her from all that. Like it was an instinct to defend her.
" I have to go home soon," I snapped away from my thoughts.
" We all do," she said to herself thoughtfully. She stood up and offered me her hand. I took it and she guided me back to my house. I hopped up the walkway then turned back to face her at the street. She smiled and waved goodbye.
~Note: Please keep reading this series. I know it's weird, but it's going to get better. Zell's coming up in the next chapter and that should be interesting.~