What is Love, Anyway?
(Part 5)
By Alria
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the FF 9 characters or settings.
Author's Note: (Sigh) My review box looks so empty. I used to have so many(sniff) I'llI'll be okay. But I'm begging you, PLEASE review. It'll make me so very happy!!
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Vivi was clenching his fist so hard his round knuckles were a snowy white. This man, Ravendor, had taken away everything he held dear. His home, his friends, and almost his magic! Vivi scowled at Ravendor as the tall monster laughed menacingly.
"It has been awhile, hasn't it, mage? What, about ten years? You gave me a nasty jolt back then. I still have the scar. But in attacking me, you only displayed your full range of power. When I awoke, I knew I had to have that magic," he said, grinning wickedly. "You sealed your own fate by escaping, in a way." Eiko scowled at Ravendor.
"I don't know who you are, but nobody talks to Vivi that way!" she growled. Ravendor looked at her quizzically.
"Really. And what are you going to do about it? Kill me?" he asked. Eiko eyes narrowed into deep green slits.
"If you did anything to hurt him, or are planning on it, I just might. I don't care how good you are at black magic, my eidolons will do that job," she snarled. Vivi felt the hairs on his arm prickle when he saw the familiar, bloodthirsty look in Ravendor's eyes. If Eiko didn't stop, there was going to be a battle. And, considering Ravendor had the combined powers of untold amounts of black mages, he was pretty sure who would win. Vivi couldn't let Ravendor take someone as dear as Eiko away from him. Not when they had just found each other again. Vivi loved her more than life itself, and he wasn't about to let that be stripped from him like a balloon caught in the wind. And so, in an act to protect Eiko, Vivi stepped defiantly in between the two opponents. Ravendor looked at him with a scowl.
"Get out of the way, mage! I'll get to you when I'm finished with this little brat," he snarled. Vivi stood, unmoving, golden eyes fixed firmly on Ravendor.
"No."
Ravendor looked at Vivi with a startled look on his face.
"What? Do you dare challenge me? When I captured you, I told you it would hurt less if you cooperated. The same is true now," his lips curled into a wicked sneer. "You know what I can do."
Vivi stood, unwavering.
"I love this woman more than anything in the world. If I let her die, I could never forgive myself. I don't care what you do to me," he snarled. Ravendor help up his hand, and it began to glow a dull black.
"Love? Puh. You are a soulless killing machine. You don't have feelings, only the desire to destroy. You can't feel love," he said coldly. Vivi felt his knees quiver as he forced back the tears. Could Ravendor be right? So many had been hurt by the black magesso many families torn apart. So many hated and loathed him for what he was; a monster. And EikoVivi bit his lower lip so hard it drew blood as he tried to keep the tears back. How could Eiko love something as vile as him? Vivi's shoulders sank, and he bowed his head. Perhaps Ravendor was right.
Ravendor sneered at Vivi.
"There's a good mage. Now, stand still while I complete the task you interrupted me from," he ordered. Vivi sighed. It was probably better this way. After he died, there would be no more back mages. No more hurt and painit was better that way. He had nothing left to fight forif Eiko didn't care about him. It was over.
Suddenly, Vivi felt a light touch on the back of his shoulder. What? Startled, Vivi turned to see what was going on. There, staring up at him with green eyes filled with concern, was Eiko. A lone tear rolled down her soft cheek, and Vivi felt a tinge of sadness deep in his heart. He had vowed earlier to never make her cry againhe had promised to always make her smile. The sight eating away at him, Vivi slowly lifted his hand to her face and wiped the tear away. But before he could draw his hand away, Eiko placed her hand on it, forcing him to leave it against her cheek. The princess closed her eyes and squeezed his large hand, letting it caress her cheek.
"That's not true, Vivi," she whispered, her voice like soft clouds. "I know you love me. And I love you; more then you can imagine. Not listen to that monster. You can feel love; better then anyone I know. Please, please don't give up now. I love you," she whispered. Vivi stared down at her, and as he gazed into her warm green eyes, he felt himself soften. Eiko, his precious Eiko, believed in him. That in and of itself was all he needed to continue. Vivi smiled.
"EikoI love you, too. Forgive me," he said. Eiko grinned, her eyes still wet from crying.
"Of course. How could I say no to those eyes? Vivi, I don't know what that man did to you, but I want you to know that whatever you choose to do about him, I'll be by your side," she said. Vivi sighed.
"You don't know what that means to me. I'll need all the strength I can get to defeat him," he explained. Eiko smiled and gave his hand a small kiss.
"Then, good luck. May the gods protect you." She murmured, and then gently let his hand go. Vivi, filled with new hope and vigor, turned to face the enemy of his past.
Ravendor stood, arms crossed, looking quizzically at Vivi.
"Touching, really. But how are you planning on defeating me? You know I'll simply crush you," he said. Vivi clenched his fists.
"You think you're so powerful, but I will show you that love will always prevail," he said firmly. A coy grin curled on Ravendor's lips.
"My, my, how cliché. But I find it quite amazing you actually believe you have a chance at winning. Hmmwe shall see who's ideals are stronger; great magical abilities or your petty emotions," he said. Vivi nodded.
"Fine by me," he growled. The two stood for a few moments; eyes locked in a dangerous scowl. Then all of a sudden, Ravendor whipped his hand out and hurled a large fireball at Vivi. Vivi quickly dodged, and it harmlessly hit the wall behind him. The fateful battle had begun.
Back and forth the two exchanged spells, neither making a direct hit. By then the walls were hopelessly charred, splattered with hideous black splotches. After only a few minutes, the two opponents were both drenched with sweat and dusk. Vivi was breathing heavily, his chest heaving in and out. As Eiko watched, she began to get worried. Vivi looked really exaughsted. She knew he probably wanted to fight on his ownbut she couldn't let him get hurt. If anything happened to himEiko squeezed her eyes shut. Nothing would happen. Vivi would be just fine. And so, Eiko watched on, forcing herself not to interfere. She had to let him do this on his own.
"FFLARE!" Vivi cried, sending a burst of energy towards Ravendor. The powerful man artfully dodged the blow, sending it harmlessly past his shoulder. Vivi, soaked to the bone with sweat, felt his shoulders sink a little lower. He was truly exaughsted. It was clear he couldn't keep this kind of attack power up much longer. It was taking everything he had to draw the power for his spells. How much longer did he have until his strength gave out completely?
Vivi, muscles straining to the max, barely dodged being hit by a blast of ice. Vivi groaned softly. His legs ached so badly he could barely stand. One could only push himself so hardand Vivi had hit his limit a while back.
Vivi watched, powerless, as Ravendor rose his hands a second time. They glowed a brilliant black color as he pointed his fingers at Vivi. The mage's eyes widened in terror. There was no way he could avoid it, the muscles in his legs simply refused to move. This was itthere wasn't any way out. He was going to be hit by the black lightning.
Vivi watched as a stream of coal-black magic shot out of Ravendor's fingers like a cannon. The beam hit Vivi square in the chest. The force in the blow was so great, that it lifted Vivi off of his feet and sent him flying. When the black mage's back hit the thin stone wall, the magic didn't hesitate. Like an unstoppable force the black power threw Vivi against the stones. He could feel the rock cracking and breaking against the force, and he gritted his teeth as he felt the rock shards slicing into his back. With one sudden surge of power, there was a deafening crack as the rock wall split open under the force.
The black magic threw Vivi to the outside ground like a ton of bricks. Vivi lay where he fell, gasping for breath. His clothes were horribly tattered from the sharp rock shards and were coated with warm blood. A sharp, throbbing pain in his right arm took his breath away as he lay limp on the warm grass. Everything inside of his body ached with pain, and simply breathing was agonizing.
"VIVI!!!"
Eiko's desperate cry echoed in his ears. Soon, the young mage felt tender hands against his dusty, sweaty cheek. Vivi smiled inwardly. This was surely the touch of an angel. Suddenly, Vivi felt a warm, wet drop land silently on his cheek. It rolled slowly down the side of his face, mixing with the sweat and dusk. Vivi felt his soul crumbling. How he longed to hold Eiko close to him and tell her not to cry. He didn't want her to cryher smile was too beautiful for her to cry. He couldn't bear to know she was crying
Eiko gently leaned over and placed her lips to his ear.
"I'm here. Hang on, II'll make it better. We're going to go get you some strong healers, and everything will be okay. Just hang on a little longer."
Her voice sounded so desperate, so terrified. Vivi felt the familiar wall of tears building up behind his amber eyes. He didn't want her to be sad, not now or ever. She was too beautiful to hide behind a mask of tears. If only he had the strength to tell her. Tell her how much he loved her. His feelings were bubbling within him like an ocean. Vivi felt a wet tear roll down his cheek. But he couldn't tell her. He was too weak, too wounded to even make a sound. As the tears of frustration rolled down his cheek, Eiko tenderly wiped each one away. For a few moments, Eiko sat there and washed each sparkling drop away with her gentle touch. Vivi sighed inwardly. Was he in heaven? He had to be, if he was being caressed by an angel.
Suddenly, Eiko let out a quick scream as her soft hands were yanked swiftly away from Vivi. He heard a dull thump as she landed on the ground about two feet away. All at once, a firm hand grabbed Vivi by the shirt collar and yanked in up off of the ground. The black mage's amber eyes flew up with shock as a tremendous surge of pain pulsed through his tattered body.
The first thing Vivi saw was Eiko, standing a few feet away, tears streaming down her angelic face.
"Ravendor, what are you going to do to him? Pleaselet him go. You have enough power, just let him go," she pleaded. Ravendor scowled at her.
"I will do nothing of the sort. First, I am going to drain him of his power. Then I am going to throw him over the edge of this cliff," he said, motioning with the hand that wasn't holding Vivi towards the rocky drop behind him. Vivi, every muscle in his body throbbing, turned his head to look behind him. Sure enough, the soft grass dropped abruptly down a steep crescendo. Slowly, a plan hatched in his mind. If he could manage to use his weight to pull Ravendor overtrue, he would be sacrificing his life as well, but he was as good as dead in Ravendor's hands anyway. It might just work
Vivi's gaze slowly turned to Eiko. She was staring at him with big, teary eyes, her soft cheek smeared with dirt. If he managed to throw Ravendor over, he would be protecting her from his wrath. She could live, and be happyand smile. Eiko would be free to smile forever. Vivi did his best to manage a smile. It didn't matter if he wasn't there to see her in person, for he knew he would always be with her in her heart. And so, his decision made and too weak to say his good-bye in words, Vivi closed his eyes.
Eiko, I love you. You taught me how to feel, how to breathe, how to live. And I would rather die now, knowing that you love me, then live a hundred years without you. Do not cry for me when I'm gone, for you're too beautiful to hide behind a mask of tears. I will always be with you in your heart, and every time you smile, your radiant smile, I will be smiling, too. Farewell, my dear angel, I promise we will meet again.
And with that last prayer, Vivi grabbed the back of Ravendor's shirt and threw himself over the rocky edge, carrying the monster along with him.
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"No! Vivi!" Eiko's desperate voice pierced through the silence as she ran towards the cliff edge. As she peered down into the dark crevasse, she saw nothing of her precious black mage. Filled with overwhelming despair, Eiko sank to her knees in shock. Vivi, her considerate, loving Vivi, was gone.
Suddenly, something caught her eye. A flash of dark blue flashed from a small, gnarled twig. Curious, Eiko leaned forward and grabbed the blue. With a firm tug she yanked whatever it was free from the old twig. Eiko stared, dumbfounded. There, resting like a ghost in her hands, was Vivi's tattered blue cloak.
As she hugged the ruined cloth to her chest, her first impulse was to cry. But something inside her said otherwise, and as she sat there at the edge of the windy cliff, Eiko's ruby lips curled into a warm smile
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I know, this is a depressing chapter. But keep reading, alright? Rthanx!