Boring Legal Disclaimer: Squaresoft owns Fu. Squaresoft owns FF8. Squaresoft owns you. Oops, scratch that last one.
She sprawled across her parents' bed, and witnessed the awful event of her own father attempting to put on a tie. It seemed hilarious that a man of such esteem and potential could fail to accomplish this simple chore. Fujin giggled at his frustration.
Her being only six years old in a couple of days, this didn't bother her father at all. He had to focus on tonight's ceremony.
He had waited years for this day. Constantly being away from his family would come to an end for a well-deserved vacation, when he finally would receive recognition for his vital work and research. It would be a tremendous honor. His homeland would be proud.
This is what he was trying to explain to his little daughter. He ended up babbling with terms and concepts that the child didn't understand.
" .... technology, and weapon advancement that will change the world. Upon activating the trigger, the air molecules around the intended targets will shift.... and it uses far less energy with more power than common armaments," the middle-aged man rambled.
Fujin sighed, obviously bored. He was talking too elaborately. And she didn't share his scientifically passion, even if she was almost six.
All this meant for her was a tedious "big-people's" party and her daddy actually being happy about it.
He hugged his daughter goodbye, and for luck, and left early. Her and her mother had plenty of time, and would join him at the celebration later.
" Fujin?" the woman called kindly behind her bedroom door, making the name sound like a blessing. " I bought a present for you."
Without waiting for an invitation, she entered the room with a large box in hand. Fujin eyed the box warily, cautious of her mommy's nature.
The woman noticed her hesitation and crossed her arms. " It won't bite. What are you waiting for?"
Fujin gently opened the box. Folded nicely, was a silky dress. Pastel lavender and embroidered with little silver spiral symbols that looked like a wisp of a wind. A small flower jewel shined on the neckline. The quality kind of dress a girl like a Dollet empress would wear. She lifted the dress from the box and the bottom hem softly fell to the ground. It was beautiful, no doubt. But what selfless deed earned it?
Without warning, the mother wrapped her arms around her in a hug.
" I love you."
The child was too surprised to respond. She still was suspicious if the woman was up to something.
" What's wrong, Ann?" she asked the scared Fujin. A deep sadness glinted in the lady's azure eyes and she shook the child faintly with fear. " Tell me please!"
" Tell you what? Who's Ann?" Fujin found the courage to speak. Confused, she struggled against her mother's grip.
The woman stared off for a moment. Once she regained some composure, she stood and patted Fujin on the head, then left the room.
Alone, Fujin continued getting ready.
–
The ballroom was cluttered with people, chattering unnecessary. That's what the newly-called Deling city was known for. All gossip and talk, but nobody seemed to mind.
Except for poor Fujin. It was just damn boring. She hated these social situations, so she followed her mother blindly as she gabbed with her too-many good friends.
" Oh, hello Julia. Caraway been treating you well?" her mother greeted.
" He's been very busy lately. I hope he'll be able to hear me sing tomorrow night," the lady in a burgundy dress worried. Not paying attention until then, Fujin heard the lonely woe in her voice.
" I'm sure he will. That man adores you."
" Congratulations Mrs. Raelene on your husband's achievement," another woman said.
" Why, thank you! Call me Ann, Miss?" her mother smiled, delighted.
" Ms. Kazeno. My father owes the company that sponsored your husband's research. Quite impressive work."
" Kazeno Enterprises? How wonderful to meet you!"
" Who's this little lovely lady?" Ms. Kazeno peered down at Fujin. It was the first person who had acknowledged her during the whole party.
" I present to you, Fujin Raelene," her mother introduced her.
Ms. Kazeno bent down to Fujin's height to get a better glimpse. " Hi Fuj."
" Hello Miss," Fujin forced out.
" So, what do you think of your dad?"
" Um.... he's smart. And nice, I guess," she stuttered. She was a daddy's girl, of course she thought well of him.
" Lovely girl, a bit shy, but sweet."
Her mother jumped in, " She gets that from me."
Within the next few moments, the conversation wavered back to gossip and dribble. Fujin was jealous that Ms. Kazeno managed to sulk away while she still stood there. Life was unfair.
A loud static noise came from the podium. " Testing.... testing... one-two-three!"
A formal man went to the stand and tapped the microphone. Finally he was ready to make a speech. Fujin rolled her eyes.
" Pay attention Fu," her mother told her.
" Thank you all for coming. We at Kazeno Enterprise are very grateful for your attendance. The future has came, my acquaintances. For the past eight years, we have entitled a trust to one of the brightest scientists in Galbadia. Born in Esthar, and growing up an assistant to Dr. Odine himself, he migrated to Galbadia in hope for a life to build. He came to Galbadia as an awkward lad, with no money to his name. He met and married a Deling resident named Ann Zabac, daughter of a proud solider. An interest in technology was sparked. He struggled to find money to support his new aspiration, and Kazeno Enterprises scouted him out. Over the years, his wife bore him a daughter. He found time for both his family and his ambition. The current project is done, but there's work far from completed. I present to you, Professor Noel Raelene."
The people applauded, and a familiar face walked towards the podium. The man who made the dull pointless speech, backed away and clapped.
Her father smiled and glanced out into the loud crowd until he waved to his wife and child. Fujin waved back, grinning.
" Thank you, thank you," he started when the applause quieted down. " I've been waiting for this day a long time."
He stepped up to the podium. With an unrehearsed, but casual tone, he spoke.
" After this celebration, I'm taking a hiatus. Maybe vacation back to Esthar with my family. Or Dollet. Oh well, anyway. I'll be leaving Kazeno Enterprises soon. I'm very grateful for the encouragement and for having faith in what seemed impossible. I'll miss every single of you. Without everyone's full dedication, I wouldn't be standing here now. Thank you."
The crowd started to applauded again, and he stepped down from the microphone. He waved once more to her as he started to head backstage.
A low pitch whistle nipped through the air, barely distinguishable to the human ear. It was so odd, that Fujin almost rejected it as an actuality, until she heard the thud on the stage and the alarm of the audience.
Her mother was the first to snap out of shock and began to push through the horde to her husband's broken body. " Noel!"
Fujin just watched, petrified where she stood. The evidence was there to see, but it had to be wrong.. Unreal. Imaginary. An aimless fantasy.
She jumped at the touch on her shoulders. It was Ms. Kazeno.
" Let's go outside," Ms. Kazeno suggested, but the girl dared not move or speak. Her eyes were still focused on the body. She couldn't stop peering at it.
" Come on. It'll be okay," she beckoned, " You don't need to be here."
Fujin broke from the zealous gaze. " Huh?"
" Hurry, let's go." The woman took her arm and tugged her through the distracted masses. They passed out the heavy golden doors, and onto the ivy courtyard. The cold night air swiped Fujin's hair back.
" You stay on the steps. I'll be right back!" the woman said, and ran towards the golden doors again, pulling out a cell phone.
Fujin sat on the stone steps, the reality of what happened starting to come to her. She didn't feel any sadness or sorrow. It hadn't caught up to her.
The woman paced back and forth several feet behind her. She was whispering loudly on her phone, obviously in a frantic.
" Did he.... anything? Are you no... saw?" Fujin could depict from the distance.
" I have ... little.... in my custody.... I'll interrog..., but I think.... nothing."
She glanced over her shoulder at the lady, then twitched her head back when she realized the lady had noticed her movement. Fujin closed her eyes and twiddled her fingers anxiously, as the loud clicks of moving high heels came closer.
" Fuj?" the lady touched her shoulders. "Your dad's going to be fine."
" He is?" she looked up cheerlessly at her. The woman smiled.
" Of course, you know your dad. Hell-bent. Introverted."
Fujin sniffed. " Kinda."
She kneeled down besides the girl. " Did your father ever tell you anything about the Kazeno-Deling project?"
She shook her head. Even though he'd try to explain the research in laymen terms, she didn't pay a lot of attention. It didn't make too much sense to her. She was just a kid, going on six. It didn't interest her yet. True, she didn't understand, but her father also knew the significance of secrecy. The little things he told her, she had promised to never admit to any soul, not even to his wife. There will risks too great, and Fujin didn't comprehend that until now.
She sprawled across her parents' bed, and witnessed the awful event of her own father attempting to put on a tie. It seemed hilarious that a man of such esteem and potential could fail to accomplish this simple chore. Fujin giggled at his frustration.
Her being only six years old in a couple of days, this didn't bother her father at all. He had to focus on tonight's ceremony.
He had waited years for this day. Constantly being away from his family would come to an end for a well-deserved vacation, when he finally would receive recognition for his vital work and research. It would be a tremendous honor. His homeland would be proud.
This is what he was trying to explain to his little daughter. He ended up babbling with terms and concepts that the child didn't understand.
" .... technology, and weapon advancement that will change the world. Upon activating the trigger, the air molecules around the intended targets will shift.... and it uses far less energy with more power than common armaments," the middle-aged man rambled.
Fujin sighed, obviously bored. He was talking too elaborately. And she didn't share his scientifically passion, even if she was almost six.
All this meant for her was a tedious "big-people's" party and her daddy actually being happy about it.
He hugged his daughter goodbye, and for luck, and left early. Her and her mother had plenty of time, and would join him at the celebration later.
" Fujin?" the woman called kindly behind her bedroom door, making the name sound like a blessing. " I bought a present for you."
Without waiting for an invitation, she entered the room with a large box in hand. Fujin eyed the box warily, cautious of her mommy's nature.
The woman noticed her hesitation and crossed her arms. " It won't bite. What are you waiting for?"
Fujin gently opened the box. Folded nicely, was a silky dress. Pastel lavender and embroidered with little silver spiral symbols that looked like a wisp of a wind. A small flower jewel shined on the neckline. The quality kind of dress a girl like a Dollet empress would wear. She lifted the dress from the box and the bottom hem softly fell to the ground. It was beautiful, no doubt. But what selfless deed earned it?
Without warning, the mother wrapped her arms around her in a hug.
" I love you."
The child was too surprised to respond. She still was suspicious if the woman was up to something.
" What's wrong, Ann?" she asked the scared Fujin. A deep sadness glinted in the lady's azure eyes and she shook the child faintly with fear. " Tell me please!"
" Tell you what? Who's Ann?" Fujin found the courage to speak. Confused, she struggled against her mother's grip.
The woman stared off for a moment. Once she regained some composure, she stood and patted Fujin on the head, then left the room.
Alone, Fujin continued getting ready.
–
The ballroom was cluttered with people, chattering unnecessary. That's what the newly-called Deling city was known for. All gossip and talk, but nobody seemed to mind.
Except for poor Fujin. It was just damn boring. She hated these social situations, so she followed her mother blindly as she gabbed with her too-many good friends.
" Oh, hello Julia. Caraway been treating you well?" her mother greeted.
" He's been very busy lately. I hope he'll be able to hear me sing tomorrow night," the lady in a burgundy dress worried. Not paying attention until then, Fujin heard the lonely woe in her voice.
" I'm sure he will. That man adores you."
" Congratulations Mrs. Raelene on your husband's achievement," another woman said.
" Why, thank you! Call me Ann, Miss?" her mother smiled, delighted.
" Ms. Kazeno. My father owes the company that sponsored your husband's research. Quite impressive work."
" Kazeno Enterprises? How wonderful to meet you!"
" Who's this little lovely lady?" Ms. Kazeno peered down at Fujin. It was the first person who had acknowledged her during the whole party.
" I present to you, Fujin Raelene," her mother introduced her.
Ms. Kazeno bent down to Fujin's height to get a better glimpse. " Hi Fuj."
" Hello Miss," Fujin forced out.
" So, what do you think of your dad?"
" Um.... he's smart. And nice, I guess," she stuttered. She was a daddy's girl, of course she thought well of him.
" Lovely girl, a bit shy, but sweet."
Her mother jumped in, " She gets that from me."
Within the next few moments, the conversation wavered back to gossip and dribble. Fujin was jealous that Ms. Kazeno managed to sulk away while she still stood there. Life was unfair.
A loud static noise came from the podium. " Testing.... testing... one-two-three!"
A formal man went to the stand and tapped the microphone. Finally he was ready to make a speech. Fujin rolled her eyes.
" Pay attention Fu," her mother told her.
" Thank you all for coming. We at Kazeno Enterprise are very grateful for your attendance. The future has came, my acquaintances. For the past eight years, we have entitled a trust to one of the brightest scientists in Galbadia. Born in Esthar, and growing up an assistant to Dr. Odine himself, he migrated to Galbadia in hope for a life to build. He came to Galbadia as an awkward lad, with no money to his name. He met and married a Deling resident named Ann Zabac, daughter of a proud solider. An interest in technology was sparked. He struggled to find money to support his new aspiration, and Kazeno Enterprises scouted him out. Over the years, his wife bore him a daughter. He found time for both his family and his ambition. The current project is done, but there's work far from completed. I present to you, Professor Noel Raelene."
The people applauded, and a familiar face walked towards the podium. The man who made the dull pointless speech, backed away and clapped.
Her father smiled and glanced out into the loud crowd until he waved to his wife and child. Fujin waved back, grinning.
" Thank you, thank you," he started when the applause quieted down. " I've been waiting for this day a long time."
He stepped up to the podium. With an unrehearsed, but casual tone, he spoke.
" After this celebration, I'm taking a hiatus. Maybe vacation back to Esthar with my family. Or Dollet. Oh well, anyway. I'll be leaving Kazeno Enterprises soon. I'm very grateful for the encouragement and for having faith in what seemed impossible. I'll miss every single of you. Without everyone's full dedication, I wouldn't be standing here now. Thank you."
The crowd started to applauded again, and he stepped down from the microphone. He waved once more to her as he started to head backstage.
A low pitch whistle nipped through the air, barely distinguishable to the human ear. It was so odd, that Fujin almost rejected it as an actuality, until she heard the thud on the stage and the alarm of the audience.
Her mother was the first to snap out of shock and began to push through the horde to her husband's broken body. " Noel!"
Fujin just watched, petrified where she stood. The evidence was there to see, but it had to be wrong.. Unreal. Imaginary. An aimless fantasy.
She jumped at the touch on her shoulders. It was Ms. Kazeno.
" Let's go outside," Ms. Kazeno suggested, but the girl dared not move or speak. Her eyes were still focused on the body. She couldn't stop peering at it.
" Come on. It'll be okay," she beckoned, " You don't need to be here."
Fujin broke from the zealous gaze. " Huh?"
" Hurry, let's go." The woman took her arm and tugged her through the distracted masses. They passed out the heavy golden doors, and onto the ivy courtyard. The cold night air swiped Fujin's hair back.
" You stay on the steps. I'll be right back!" the woman said, and ran towards the golden doors again, pulling out a cell phone.
Fujin sat on the stone steps, the reality of what happened starting to come to her. She didn't feel any sadness or sorrow. It hadn't caught up to her.
The woman paced back and forth several feet behind her. She was whispering loudly on her phone, obviously in a frantic.
" Did he.... anything? Are you no... saw?" Fujin could depict from the distance.
" I have ... little.... in my custody.... I'll interrog..., but I think.... nothing."
She glanced over her shoulder at the lady, then twitched her head back when she realized the lady had noticed her movement. Fujin closed her eyes and twiddled her fingers anxiously, as the loud clicks of moving high heels came closer.
" Fuj?" the lady touched her shoulders. "Your dad's going to be fine."
" He is?" she looked up cheerlessly at her. The woman smiled.
" Of course, you know your dad. Hell-bent. Introverted."
Fujin sniffed. " Kinda."
She kneeled down besides the girl. " Did your father ever tell you anything about the Kazeno-Deling project?"
She shook her head. Even though he'd try to explain the research in laymen terms, she didn't pay a lot of attention. It didn't make too much sense to her. She was just a kid, going on six. It didn't interest her yet. True, she didn't understand, but her father also knew the significance of secrecy. The little things he told her, she had promised to never admit to any soul, not even to his wife. There will risks too great, and Fujin didn't comprehend that until now.
