Prologue
Kiyoko closed her eyes in relaxation. She was all snuggled in one of the Balamb Garden trees outside, somewhere under the stars. The garden was sailing across the ocean like a rose pedal on a smooth stream. All was calm, peaceful and quiet. She breathed in the ocean air and fell sound asleep.
* * *
Chapter 1: Let's play 'I spy'
Roc stretched hi hands over his head while walking to the dorms. Behind him was Zell. They had been in the training center for four in a half hours straight. And it was done with no bathroom breaks. "That's what I call a hard-core work out!" Zell said, as he stretched out his legs on a near by railing.
"It's like you live to fight, man." Zell commented.
"I do." Roc simply said.
"You're not a talkative person, are you?"
"Nope."
"You crack me up."
"I do? I don't see you falling apart."
"It was a joke...lighten up."
"....?"
"Nevermind. We need to work on your people skills any way."
* * *
Kiyoko's ears suddenly perked up, then snapped towards the noises that she heard. Two masculine voices were slowly moving down the hall towards the dimly lit dorms. She distinctly could tell whom the voices belonged to. Zell's voice was unquestionably loud, and with his "Yo's" and "Wassups!", you could easily tell him apart from the crowd. Roc's voice, on the other hand, is deep, smooth and somewhat quiet; yet firm and to the point. Not much of a socializer, but Kiyoko is trying to work on that problem. She wants him to open up more. Except for the fact, that from time to time he does like to call her "Kitty" for the amusement of anger to appear on Kiyoko's face. Her teeth gritted at that moment of the thought and she glared at no one in particular. How she hated to be called,… that pet name. In the mean time, Zell and Roc were talking; well 'talking' in Roc's definition meant making guttural sounds; but anyway…they were talking when Zell suddenly bombed Roc with a certain topic: girls. "Aw man." Kiyoko groaned inwardly. She doesn't care for the human race that much but she doesn't want to hear about how fabulous the females are. "I'm not sure I want to hear this…" She thought to herself. She's so not the type to sit through a conversation between males that discuss how bad the females are at their habits or how good they are in bed. Putting them down or turning them on; all this from a male's perspective, a guy's point of view, is just plane vile!
Roc stopped walking in answer to his topic, and just blankly stared at him.
"What about them?" he finally said. Zell wanted what Kiyoko wanted: to open up, express himself, and he thought this particular topic was perfect. He jokingly thought: "Who would have sooo many things to say about women?" Of course Roc, on the other hand, had apparently nothing to say. Zell gently pinched the bridge of his nose in annoyance, trying to think; possibly about changing the subject. But that didn't cross his mind. "Exactly my point." He responded to Roc's question, still in his stance.
"Are you talking about...a particular girl?"
"YES!" Zell spazed, but then straighten himself.
"I'm lost."
While Zell was groaning, Kiyoko lay very still at where she was. For the guys had stopped at a tree, her tree. Kiyoko's sleeping spot. Unfortunately they were standing five feet from it. Fortunately though, they didn't face the tree and didn't seem to notice a giant cat girl getting a cramp in her leg. She moved around a little, trying not to whimper at her pain. She grabbed some branches near her, trying not to make too much noise with the rustling of the leaves. Finally, she sat down on a near by thick branch which could support her weight. She let her legs dangle as she watched their movements. There was a great chance of her being seen but there was no place else in the tree where she could get a better view and besides, considering her surroundings, she'd be ok. The moon wasn't out tonight and except for the soft glow of the dorm lights down at the end of the hall, it was almost completely dark. Also to top it off, She was wearing flexible clothing, so she could move around without making a sound. Well, actually she was wearing a black sports bra and a pair of shorts, but hey...they were comfortable. It was better than wearing nylon! With they exception of her, ahem, nighttime wear, her print on her peach fuzz skin was well blended in with her environment. As long as she was quiet, she'll be fine.
"How about I start with me first?" Zell desperately started off.
"Whatever..." was Roc's response.
"Hmmm...I guess leaving him with Squall was a bad idea..." Kiyoko thought.
"Well I myself like that library chick. She's been one of my little crushes for quite some time now." Zell said rather proudly.
Kiyoko then sighed to herself. "See what I mean?" She scolded herself once more.
"What about you?" He continued on.
Roc stood there, in deep thought, like he was about to decide life or death. He wasn't much of a thinker. About simple subjects, that is. Kiyoko waited for his answer. Almost to the point of no patience. "C'mon! Hurry up already! I wanna hear who it is!" She would like to know who this mystery person is so she could throw something back at him when he calls her Kitty. That nickname for her is really starting to piss her off.
"Hmmmm... That is a good question."
"Yes it is." Kiyoko thought with a smile.
"I suppose...no one. I have no crush on anyone if that's what you're asking. But I do like Kiyoko. She's been my first real friend after I turned rebellious from the Black Seed. Also she's the first one who made me laugh in a long time.....especially when I call her Kitty. That just cracks me up." Roc finished with a smirk on his lips.
Kiyoko made a big grin. "He he he, I'm his friend.....wait a minute.....did he just make fun of me?" She sat there confused yet angry at the same time.
"Speaking of Kiyoko-" Zell said, interrupting her thoughts.
"Excuse me, but I'm trying to figure out what Roc just said..." Kiyoko thought bitterly at Zell.
"Hey.....they're talking about me!!" She thought with a firm face.
"Are you two uh...-"
"No, we just travel together. She's more of a little sister to me rather than a girlfriend."
"Little? Do you just call her that cuz she's short?"
"Who's calling who short!?" Kiyoko burst in with her thoughts.
"As I recall, aren't you short Zell?"
"No Roc I have what's called a 'late growth spurt'."
Roc didn't get it. He continued on anyway.
"Just in case you're wondering, She's about a thousand years old."
"A thousand!? How?!"
"Long story. Time basically stopped on Kiyoko's body when she was frozen."
"Frozen? How old was she when this happened?"
"Seventeen. So she's mentally and physically that age."
"Well how old are you?"
"Twenty-five."
"Ok...that's more than I needed to know...but thanks anyway."
For the first time that night, Roc began to laugh. Neither Kiyoko nor Zell could figure out why, but he did.
"Um...ok. What just happened?" Kiyoko mumbled to herself.
"Dude...you freak me out." Zell laughed. They both turned and headed for the dorms. Roc still giggling and Zell making weird glances at him, yet laughing at the same time.
Kiyoko leapt out of the tree when she was sure she was out of earshot. She then slowly started walking to her own room, retracing the thoughts in mind; trying to figure out the events of their previous, strange, freaky conversation.
Kiyoko closed her eyes in relaxation. She was all snuggled in one of the Balamb Garden trees outside, somewhere under the stars. The garden was sailing across the ocean like a rose pedal on a smooth stream. All was calm, peaceful and quiet. She breathed in the ocean air and fell sound asleep.
* * *
Chapter 1: Let's play 'I spy'
Roc stretched hi hands over his head while walking to the dorms. Behind him was Zell. They had been in the training center for four in a half hours straight. And it was done with no bathroom breaks. "That's what I call a hard-core work out!" Zell said, as he stretched out his legs on a near by railing.
"It's like you live to fight, man." Zell commented.
"I do." Roc simply said.
"You're not a talkative person, are you?"
"Nope."
"You crack me up."
"I do? I don't see you falling apart."
"It was a joke...lighten up."
"....?"
"Nevermind. We need to work on your people skills any way."
* * *
Kiyoko's ears suddenly perked up, then snapped towards the noises that she heard. Two masculine voices were slowly moving down the hall towards the dimly lit dorms. She distinctly could tell whom the voices belonged to. Zell's voice was unquestionably loud, and with his "Yo's" and "Wassups!", you could easily tell him apart from the crowd. Roc's voice, on the other hand, is deep, smooth and somewhat quiet; yet firm and to the point. Not much of a socializer, but Kiyoko is trying to work on that problem. She wants him to open up more. Except for the fact, that from time to time he does like to call her "Kitty" for the amusement of anger to appear on Kiyoko's face. Her teeth gritted at that moment of the thought and she glared at no one in particular. How she hated to be called,… that pet name. In the mean time, Zell and Roc were talking; well 'talking' in Roc's definition meant making guttural sounds; but anyway…they were talking when Zell suddenly bombed Roc with a certain topic: girls. "Aw man." Kiyoko groaned inwardly. She doesn't care for the human race that much but she doesn't want to hear about how fabulous the females are. "I'm not sure I want to hear this…" She thought to herself. She's so not the type to sit through a conversation between males that discuss how bad the females are at their habits or how good they are in bed. Putting them down or turning them on; all this from a male's perspective, a guy's point of view, is just plane vile!
Roc stopped walking in answer to his topic, and just blankly stared at him.
"What about them?" he finally said. Zell wanted what Kiyoko wanted: to open up, express himself, and he thought this particular topic was perfect. He jokingly thought: "Who would have sooo many things to say about women?" Of course Roc, on the other hand, had apparently nothing to say. Zell gently pinched the bridge of his nose in annoyance, trying to think; possibly about changing the subject. But that didn't cross his mind. "Exactly my point." He responded to Roc's question, still in his stance.
"Are you talking about...a particular girl?"
"YES!" Zell spazed, but then straighten himself.
"I'm lost."
While Zell was groaning, Kiyoko lay very still at where she was. For the guys had stopped at a tree, her tree. Kiyoko's sleeping spot. Unfortunately they were standing five feet from it. Fortunately though, they didn't face the tree and didn't seem to notice a giant cat girl getting a cramp in her leg. She moved around a little, trying not to whimper at her pain. She grabbed some branches near her, trying not to make too much noise with the rustling of the leaves. Finally, she sat down on a near by thick branch which could support her weight. She let her legs dangle as she watched their movements. There was a great chance of her being seen but there was no place else in the tree where she could get a better view and besides, considering her surroundings, she'd be ok. The moon wasn't out tonight and except for the soft glow of the dorm lights down at the end of the hall, it was almost completely dark. Also to top it off, She was wearing flexible clothing, so she could move around without making a sound. Well, actually she was wearing a black sports bra and a pair of shorts, but hey...they were comfortable. It was better than wearing nylon! With they exception of her, ahem, nighttime wear, her print on her peach fuzz skin was well blended in with her environment. As long as she was quiet, she'll be fine.
"How about I start with me first?" Zell desperately started off.
"Whatever..." was Roc's response.
"Hmmm...I guess leaving him with Squall was a bad idea..." Kiyoko thought.
"Well I myself like that library chick. She's been one of my little crushes for quite some time now." Zell said rather proudly.
Kiyoko then sighed to herself. "See what I mean?" She scolded herself once more.
"What about you?" He continued on.
Roc stood there, in deep thought, like he was about to decide life or death. He wasn't much of a thinker. About simple subjects, that is. Kiyoko waited for his answer. Almost to the point of no patience. "C'mon! Hurry up already! I wanna hear who it is!" She would like to know who this mystery person is so she could throw something back at him when he calls her Kitty. That nickname for her is really starting to piss her off.
"Hmmmm... That is a good question."
"Yes it is." Kiyoko thought with a smile.
"I suppose...no one. I have no crush on anyone if that's what you're asking. But I do like Kiyoko. She's been my first real friend after I turned rebellious from the Black Seed. Also she's the first one who made me laugh in a long time.....especially when I call her Kitty. That just cracks me up." Roc finished with a smirk on his lips.
Kiyoko made a big grin. "He he he, I'm his friend.....wait a minute.....did he just make fun of me?" She sat there confused yet angry at the same time.
"Speaking of Kiyoko-" Zell said, interrupting her thoughts.
"Excuse me, but I'm trying to figure out what Roc just said..." Kiyoko thought bitterly at Zell.
"Hey.....they're talking about me!!" She thought with a firm face.
"Are you two uh...-"
"No, we just travel together. She's more of a little sister to me rather than a girlfriend."
"Little? Do you just call her that cuz she's short?"
"Who's calling who short!?" Kiyoko burst in with her thoughts.
"As I recall, aren't you short Zell?"
"No Roc I have what's called a 'late growth spurt'."
Roc didn't get it. He continued on anyway.
"Just in case you're wondering, She's about a thousand years old."
"A thousand!? How?!"
"Long story. Time basically stopped on Kiyoko's body when she was frozen."
"Frozen? How old was she when this happened?"
"Seventeen. So she's mentally and physically that age."
"Well how old are you?"
"Twenty-five."
"Ok...that's more than I needed to know...but thanks anyway."
For the first time that night, Roc began to laugh. Neither Kiyoko nor Zell could figure out why, but he did.
"Um...ok. What just happened?" Kiyoko mumbled to herself.
"Dude...you freak me out." Zell laughed. They both turned and headed for the dorms. Roc still giggling and Zell making weird glances at him, yet laughing at the same time.
Kiyoko leapt out of the tree when she was sure she was out of earshot. She then slowly started walking to her own room, retracing the thoughts in mind; trying to figure out the events of their previous, strange, freaky conversation.
