DIMENSIONS
by
The Ionic Butterfly(aurelia_@yahoo.com)
Ranwolf(ranwolf@hotmail.com)
All Gargoyles characters belong to Disney/Buena vista studios. Characters
from the Final Fantasy series, Chronotrigger etc. belong to Square and Squaresoft.
The Characters of Nic Maza and Miyabe Tendo belong to Ranwolf and Ionic,
respectively. C&C are always welcomed. Flames will be read, considered, laughed
at, then burned. (Get it? Flames? Burned? ^_^)
CHAPTER 4: 4: A DAY AT THE RACES
Nic awoke later that night in Miya's arms. He was burning with a need. If he didn't
find a bathroom soon, his bladder would burst. He looked at Miya. She seemed to be
so peaceful. He wiggled out of her arms carefully, so he would not wake her. He looked
about the room. He vaguely remembered being led into it. It was the creepiest room
he had ever seen in his life. It looked dank and dreary, cob-webs were in every corner
of the room. Ragged tapestries hung from the ceiling, showing gruesome depictions of
death. Despite the appearance the room was warm, the bed soft and comfortable. It was
all for show. He saw a door in a corner, and guessing it was the bathroom, went to it.
He guessed correctly.
He relieved himself and then turned to the basin. He almost smiled at the fact that
a statue gargoyle held it up. He washed his hands and then his face, then stared in the
mirror. He looked tired, ragged, he always looked the same after he "Raged". It was
something he would never get used to seeing.
Then he remembered everything...
It all came back to him at once. Strangely, it wasn't bothering him as much as he expected.
He returned to the bed, carefully sitting down and crossing his legs. His back was to Miya
as he began to think about the day's events with a calmer mind. He had panicked, that
was all. Nothing was really wrong, he had went into a rage and then came out in a
panic. He wondered if the Arena Master was okay. Miya had been right, it was not
entirely his fault. He blamed that damned Tonberry for that. If he had not have tricked
him with Miya... It saw his fear of going into a rage and hurting someone he cared for.
Tonberry wasn't going for a physical victory but a mental one. And, in that sense, it won.
Nic sighed deeply. For some reason, his thoughts went to his own world again, all
the hell he had been through, and mainly to Alex Xanatos. Alex had been his brother
in all ways but blood, and had given his life for Nic to use the Dim/Time Machine. Nic
remembered Alex's last words to him before pushing him into the temporal vortex,
"Give Mom a kiss for me." He winced with the very thought, and felt an arm creep
around his shoulder.
It was Miya. Her chin was soon resting on his shoulder and her arms hugging him.
He took hold of one of her hands and kissed it gently. "I'm sorry about earlier," he said.
"Are you okay?," she asked at the same time.
They both smiled. "I'm a little shaken, Beloved." he said.
"You don't have to apologize." she said.
A silence fell between them for a few moments, then Nic said, "I could never hurt
you. I know you saw the way I tore into that thing, but I knew it wasn't you after a few
moments."
"I didn't worry about it, hon. But how did you know it wasn't me?"
"I could see that light in him, her, it, whatever...," Nic said. After a moment, he
added, "And there was some... things said."
"Like?"
"Don't worry about it. I don't even want to repeat it," he said truthfully.
"Onegai...(Please...)"
Nic sighed. "Something about you not loving me and wanting to have an affair with
Cloud."
Miya laugh softly behind him. "Well, you know that's not true... though now that you
mention it...," she said, grinning.
"Tifa would kill the both of you," he said. "Then she'll probably come after me." Miya
loosened her grip on him as he went back to his thinking.
He thought about Hyena, not Hyena-Tonberry, the real one. He had no idea how to
make the hellish thoughts stop. He tensed when Miya's hand slowly crept across his
back, to that one spot between his shoulder-blades. Nic felt her kiss his back, he let
out a soft, shuddering breath. He suddenly needed her badly.
"Miya..." he said, turning to face her. She only looked at him in reply. "I need you,"
he said. A moment later, he added, "Badly." She stared into his eyes for a few
moments. "I mean it," he said.
She grinned at him. "Well, what are you waiting for? Christmas? It will be here in a
few moments...," she got out before he smothered her words with his open mouth.
He was a little frenzied, and hurt her a little once or twice, but she didn't mind. The
rest of his lovemaking definitely made up for it. Gentle and passionate all at once.
Afterwards, they laid on their sides, Nic's head laying on her shoulder. She had
whispered something about loving him with all her heart, and fallen asleep. His mind
was not as troubled now. It thought of much more pleasant things.
He realized that Miya was his soul's relief. That she was somehow his reward for
surviving all the hell he had been through. Miya made his life worth living. He loved her
so damn much. Not for the first time thinking, My life, my soul, my very being, for you.
/* "Don't Wanna Miss a Thing" Aerosmith *\
(Ranwolf: A-re? Why'd you pick that song, Ionic?
Ionic Butterfly: Wait and watch :) )
He played with her braid with one hand. He adjusted his position until he was lying
on his side beside her, instead of halfway on her. Now his hand was above her left
breast, feeling her gentle heartbeat. He was tired, but he didn't want to go to sleep.
He noticed that her eyes were moving behind her closed lids, and he knew she was
dreaming. She was smiling slightly. He didn't want to move, ever. He wanted
to stay there with her just like that forever.
He wondered what she was dreaming about. With her smile, he hoped genuinely
that she was dreaming of him. He gently kissed each of her eyes, smiling himself. He
was so glad just to be with her. Whatever god had put him there in her arms, he wanted
to thank. He laughed softly to himself as he thought about how he really, really did not
want to move or go to sleep. If he went to sleep, then the night would end. And he might
miss Miya. And he didn't want to miss a thing.
(Ranwolf: O_o That was very cheesy, Ionic.
Ionic Butterfly: *Bonks Ranwolf upside the head with a mallet* I like it so it's staying.
Ranwolf: *Holding a ice-pack to his head* Anyone have a Aspirin? )
A few hours later, Miya opened her eyes slowly. She smiled to see him still awake
and smiling at her. "What are you doing, you loon?" she asked softly, reaching up to
wipe the hair from his eyes.
"Watching you," he answered. Miya laughed and rolled on top of him. He pulled the
blankets around her bare shoulders, it had gotten cold in the room. "And what are you
doing, you beauty?" he asked.
Miya laid her head on his chest in response. Nic rubbed her back, scratching gently
with his talons. She giggled a bit. He stopped. A few moments later, she was kissing
his shoulder. He used his tail to rub her legs. She began giggling again. "Quit that,"
she said.
"Nope. Not gonna happen," he said teasing her and trying to keep a straight face.
His tail moved a bit higher.
Miya gasped. She raised her head up and stared him in the eye. "I said quit that."
she said still giggling. He let his tail go limp with a pout on his face. She kissed him,
and soon they found themselves making love again.
*****
Miyabe awoke the next morning to find Nic staring at her again with a smile on his
face. She looked at him and hid her face in the pillow they had somehow shared.
"What?" he asked innocently. She was tired, and her body was too. Her body was
also pretty sore from the night before.
"Miya, hon, are you all right?" he asked seriously.
She looked up at him and debated telling him the truth for a few seconds. "Yes,
I'm fine. Just a bit sore," she said in a half-truth.
"Oh geez, I'm sorry...," he started before she put a finger to his lips.
"Don't you dare apologize, Anata. That would be an insult. Almost like saying you are
sorry for loving me," she said.
Nic nearly apologized again, but Miya grinned at him to let him know she understood.
He kissed her, and rolled out of the bed. Miya was just a bit quicker than him though.
She ran past him into the bathroom and slammed the door in his face.
"Miya! Please hurry, hon," he said, banging his head against the door. He sighed
and pulled on his jeans and shirt. As he heard the shower water turn on, he walked
outside the room to find some of his friends, thinking one of them would let him borrow
their bathroom for a minute or two. Miya was likely to take another hour or two, or a
week.
He heard a baby crying above all the fiendish screams and bellows that came with
the territory. Hoping it was Tomas, he knocked on a room door. Aeris answered. He
smiled to see her.
"Nic, are you okay?" Cloud asked, a screaming baby in his arms.
Nic nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine. Do you know where any spare bathrooms can be found
here?"
"Miya locked you out? Tifa shut me out too. Go down to the lobby, past the clock
is a public bathroom," Cloud said smiling.
Nic smiled back at him and headed for the bathroom. He had not noticed how
ornate the hotel was the night before. Blood red carpet, a deep, rich colored oak
banisters, ghastly portraits hanging on the wall... It was all so gothic, he loved it. The
lobby was full of people, and some seemed to recognize him.
"Hey, that's him." he heard people say. He just walked past them and went to take
care of his business.
He returned to his room to find Miya dressed. "I hurried, hon, did you think I was
going to be long?" she asked. He smiled and gave her a kiss on the cheek as he went
to take a shower himself.
*****
Miya hit the ground yet again, this time flat on her bum. Instead of Tifa at her side,
it was Nic. She didn't want him seeing her fail, and wished he would leave. She knew
better than to ask him though. It would hurt his feelings too bad right now.
Her body was so sore from the night before, it hurt to even get on the chocobo.
As Nic helped her up, she groaned.
"What's wrong?" Tifa asked.
Miya glanced to Nic. "I'm just sore," she admitted.
Tifa looked at Nic trying his best to hide a blush that was quickly spreading. She
sighed. "Out," she told him, pointing at the door to Atmas' stable.
"What? No, I'm staying," Nic said, folding his arms in defiance.
"Do you want me to help her or not? I can't do it with you here," Tifa said, folding
her arms mockingly.
Nic looked to Miya who was biting her lip. He realized she wanted him to leave.
He sighed. Jamming his hands into his coat pockets, he sulkingly made his way out
of the stables.
"He give you a rough time, last night, did he?" Tifa asked smiling, walking toward
Miya. She held her hands up and they turned green. After a few seconds all of Miya's
discomfort vanished. "I had to learn to do that to live with Cloud," Tifa said with a wink.
Cloud and Yuffie suddenly barged in, with Nic right behind them. "If they can come
in, so can I," he justified.
"One more thing Miyabe. It might help. Riding a chocobo has the same rhythm as
riding...," she stopped looking at the people in the stable. She whispered something in
Miya's ear.
Miya's eyes widened and she covered her mouth with her hand. "No!" she laughed.
Tifa nodded.
"What?" Nic, Cloud, and Yuffie demanded at the same time.
(Ranwolf: Yeah, what? *blinking*
Ionic Butterfly: *rolls her eyes* )
Tifa and Miya just smiled. "Don't worry about it," Tifa said.
Miyabe hopped back on Atmas. This time she stayed on as the thing began moving.
She knew she would not fall off again. She laughed as she took the chocobo around
the stable at a faster pace.
*****
At two o'clock, Miya was on the back of the golden chocobo known as Atmas. She
was nervous, but very determined. If she lost this race, then all that Nic had went through
the night before had been in vain.
She glanced to her side at Teioh on his black chocobo. She's been told he was
really good. He looked back at her with a sly smile on his face. He had given all the
women a rose before the race, "In way of apology when I win." He said. Miya had
thrown the rose to the floor and stepped on it, crushing it beneath her foot.
"Beautiful AND feisty, oh I love it." Teioh said. He reminded Miya of a Zorro reject
in his black cape, hat, and mask. She had to admit though, it did make him look pretty
good.
Nervous warks came from the chocobos as they waited for the flash of light that
signaled the start of the race.
"You can do it, Miya!" Miya heard Nic shout from the sidelines. She smiled and
looked toward him. The light flashed, and Atmas took off, nearly throwing Miya. She
struggled to stay on, using Tifa's advice.
She watched as Teioh took off in front of her, looking at her and tipping her hat to
her as he passed. His arrogance made her mad. She squeezed the chocobo with her
legs like she had been taught to make him go faster. Soon, all the other racers were
behind her, save for Teioh, who is less than four yards ahead.
Teioh's chocobo warked with glee, and missed a step, making him stumble. Miya
kept pushing Atmas, and when she passed Teioh, she smiled at him and flipped him
off casually. She could be arrogant too.
Miya and Teioh took turns in the lead, Miya was in front as the finish line came
into view. She could see Teioh in the corner of her eye, gaining on her. She squeezed
the chocobo hard, and it warked. It took off at tremendous speed, leaving Teioh way
behind.
She was so relieved when she crossed the finish line first. Nic was there. He helped
her down off Atmas and hugged her tightly. "We're going home!" he whispered to her.
A crowd gathered around them, trying to congratulate her. It had been a while
since Teioh had been beaten. Nic hoisted her up on his shoulder and carried her
through the crowd. She could not stop laughing.
*****
"Well, you've won the set. But if you don't mind, I'd like to make a big production
of it. I can make a little more money that way...," Dio said.
Miya looked at Nic. He grinned at her. "Everything's a profit," he said. "Sounds like
Xanatos."
"Nandate?!(What did you say?!)" Miya said in mock anger. "That's my boss you're
talking about!"
"Profit? Nah. The money made here goes to towns still trying to rebuild themselves
from the wars," Dio said.
"Really?" Miya asked.
"Oh yeah. He sponsors so many charities it ain't funny," Barret said. "I'm surprised
he didn't win any humanitarian awards or somethin'."
Nic shrugged. "We can stay or leave, Miya. Your choice." he said.
"You guys can have free passes to any attraction here if you want them, and you
can stay another night at the hotel," Dio offered.
Miya grinned. "Set it up then."
END PART 4
by
The Ionic Butterfly(aurelia_@yahoo.com)
Ranwolf(ranwolf@hotmail.com)
All Gargoyles characters belong to Disney/Buena vista studios. Characters
from the Final Fantasy series, Chronotrigger etc. belong to Square and Squaresoft.
The Characters of Nic Maza and Miyabe Tendo belong to Ranwolf and Ionic,
respectively. C&C are always welcomed. Flames will be read, considered, laughed
at, then burned. (Get it? Flames? Burned? ^_^)
CHAPTER 4: 4: A DAY AT THE RACES
Nic awoke later that night in Miya's arms. He was burning with a need. If he didn't
find a bathroom soon, his bladder would burst. He looked at Miya. She seemed to be
so peaceful. He wiggled out of her arms carefully, so he would not wake her. He looked
about the room. He vaguely remembered being led into it. It was the creepiest room
he had ever seen in his life. It looked dank and dreary, cob-webs were in every corner
of the room. Ragged tapestries hung from the ceiling, showing gruesome depictions of
death. Despite the appearance the room was warm, the bed soft and comfortable. It was
all for show. He saw a door in a corner, and guessing it was the bathroom, went to it.
He guessed correctly.
He relieved himself and then turned to the basin. He almost smiled at the fact that
a statue gargoyle held it up. He washed his hands and then his face, then stared in the
mirror. He looked tired, ragged, he always looked the same after he "Raged". It was
something he would never get used to seeing.
Then he remembered everything...
It all came back to him at once. Strangely, it wasn't bothering him as much as he expected.
He returned to the bed, carefully sitting down and crossing his legs. His back was to Miya
as he began to think about the day's events with a calmer mind. He had panicked, that
was all. Nothing was really wrong, he had went into a rage and then came out in a
panic. He wondered if the Arena Master was okay. Miya had been right, it was not
entirely his fault. He blamed that damned Tonberry for that. If he had not have tricked
him with Miya... It saw his fear of going into a rage and hurting someone he cared for.
Tonberry wasn't going for a physical victory but a mental one. And, in that sense, it won.
Nic sighed deeply. For some reason, his thoughts went to his own world again, all
the hell he had been through, and mainly to Alex Xanatos. Alex had been his brother
in all ways but blood, and had given his life for Nic to use the Dim/Time Machine. Nic
remembered Alex's last words to him before pushing him into the temporal vortex,
"Give Mom a kiss for me." He winced with the very thought, and felt an arm creep
around his shoulder.
It was Miya. Her chin was soon resting on his shoulder and her arms hugging him.
He took hold of one of her hands and kissed it gently. "I'm sorry about earlier," he said.
"Are you okay?," she asked at the same time.
They both smiled. "I'm a little shaken, Beloved." he said.
"You don't have to apologize." she said.
A silence fell between them for a few moments, then Nic said, "I could never hurt
you. I know you saw the way I tore into that thing, but I knew it wasn't you after a few
moments."
"I didn't worry about it, hon. But how did you know it wasn't me?"
"I could see that light in him, her, it, whatever...," Nic said. After a moment, he
added, "And there was some... things said."
"Like?"
"Don't worry about it. I don't even want to repeat it," he said truthfully.
"Onegai...(Please...)"
Nic sighed. "Something about you not loving me and wanting to have an affair with
Cloud."
Miya laugh softly behind him. "Well, you know that's not true... though now that you
mention it...," she said, grinning.
"Tifa would kill the both of you," he said. "Then she'll probably come after me." Miya
loosened her grip on him as he went back to his thinking.
He thought about Hyena, not Hyena-Tonberry, the real one. He had no idea how to
make the hellish thoughts stop. He tensed when Miya's hand slowly crept across his
back, to that one spot between his shoulder-blades. Nic felt her kiss his back, he let
out a soft, shuddering breath. He suddenly needed her badly.
"Miya..." he said, turning to face her. She only looked at him in reply. "I need you,"
he said. A moment later, he added, "Badly." She stared into his eyes for a few
moments. "I mean it," he said.
She grinned at him. "Well, what are you waiting for? Christmas? It will be here in a
few moments...," she got out before he smothered her words with his open mouth.
He was a little frenzied, and hurt her a little once or twice, but she didn't mind. The
rest of his lovemaking definitely made up for it. Gentle and passionate all at once.
Afterwards, they laid on their sides, Nic's head laying on her shoulder. She had
whispered something about loving him with all her heart, and fallen asleep. His mind
was not as troubled now. It thought of much more pleasant things.
He realized that Miya was his soul's relief. That she was somehow his reward for
surviving all the hell he had been through. Miya made his life worth living. He loved her
so damn much. Not for the first time thinking, My life, my soul, my very being, for you.
/* "Don't Wanna Miss a Thing" Aerosmith *\
(Ranwolf: A-re? Why'd you pick that song, Ionic?
Ionic Butterfly: Wait and watch :) )
He played with her braid with one hand. He adjusted his position until he was lying
on his side beside her, instead of halfway on her. Now his hand was above her left
breast, feeling her gentle heartbeat. He was tired, but he didn't want to go to sleep.
He noticed that her eyes were moving behind her closed lids, and he knew she was
dreaming. She was smiling slightly. He didn't want to move, ever. He wanted
to stay there with her just like that forever.
He wondered what she was dreaming about. With her smile, he hoped genuinely
that she was dreaming of him. He gently kissed each of her eyes, smiling himself. He
was so glad just to be with her. Whatever god had put him there in her arms, he wanted
to thank. He laughed softly to himself as he thought about how he really, really did not
want to move or go to sleep. If he went to sleep, then the night would end. And he might
miss Miya. And he didn't want to miss a thing.
(Ranwolf: O_o That was very cheesy, Ionic.
Ionic Butterfly: *Bonks Ranwolf upside the head with a mallet* I like it so it's staying.
Ranwolf: *Holding a ice-pack to his head* Anyone have a Aspirin? )
A few hours later, Miya opened her eyes slowly. She smiled to see him still awake
and smiling at her. "What are you doing, you loon?" she asked softly, reaching up to
wipe the hair from his eyes.
"Watching you," he answered. Miya laughed and rolled on top of him. He pulled the
blankets around her bare shoulders, it had gotten cold in the room. "And what are you
doing, you beauty?" he asked.
Miya laid her head on his chest in response. Nic rubbed her back, scratching gently
with his talons. She giggled a bit. He stopped. A few moments later, she was kissing
his shoulder. He used his tail to rub her legs. She began giggling again. "Quit that,"
she said.
"Nope. Not gonna happen," he said teasing her and trying to keep a straight face.
His tail moved a bit higher.
Miya gasped. She raised her head up and stared him in the eye. "I said quit that."
she said still giggling. He let his tail go limp with a pout on his face. She kissed him,
and soon they found themselves making love again.
*****
Miyabe awoke the next morning to find Nic staring at her again with a smile on his
face. She looked at him and hid her face in the pillow they had somehow shared.
"What?" he asked innocently. She was tired, and her body was too. Her body was
also pretty sore from the night before.
"Miya, hon, are you all right?" he asked seriously.
She looked up at him and debated telling him the truth for a few seconds. "Yes,
I'm fine. Just a bit sore," she said in a half-truth.
"Oh geez, I'm sorry...," he started before she put a finger to his lips.
"Don't you dare apologize, Anata. That would be an insult. Almost like saying you are
sorry for loving me," she said.
Nic nearly apologized again, but Miya grinned at him to let him know she understood.
He kissed her, and rolled out of the bed. Miya was just a bit quicker than him though.
She ran past him into the bathroom and slammed the door in his face.
"Miya! Please hurry, hon," he said, banging his head against the door. He sighed
and pulled on his jeans and shirt. As he heard the shower water turn on, he walked
outside the room to find some of his friends, thinking one of them would let him borrow
their bathroom for a minute or two. Miya was likely to take another hour or two, or a
week.
He heard a baby crying above all the fiendish screams and bellows that came with
the territory. Hoping it was Tomas, he knocked on a room door. Aeris answered. He
smiled to see her.
"Nic, are you okay?" Cloud asked, a screaming baby in his arms.
Nic nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine. Do you know where any spare bathrooms can be found
here?"
"Miya locked you out? Tifa shut me out too. Go down to the lobby, past the clock
is a public bathroom," Cloud said smiling.
Nic smiled back at him and headed for the bathroom. He had not noticed how
ornate the hotel was the night before. Blood red carpet, a deep, rich colored oak
banisters, ghastly portraits hanging on the wall... It was all so gothic, he loved it. The
lobby was full of people, and some seemed to recognize him.
"Hey, that's him." he heard people say. He just walked past them and went to take
care of his business.
He returned to his room to find Miya dressed. "I hurried, hon, did you think I was
going to be long?" she asked. He smiled and gave her a kiss on the cheek as he went
to take a shower himself.
*****
Miya hit the ground yet again, this time flat on her bum. Instead of Tifa at her side,
it was Nic. She didn't want him seeing her fail, and wished he would leave. She knew
better than to ask him though. It would hurt his feelings too bad right now.
Her body was so sore from the night before, it hurt to even get on the chocobo.
As Nic helped her up, she groaned.
"What's wrong?" Tifa asked.
Miya glanced to Nic. "I'm just sore," she admitted.
Tifa looked at Nic trying his best to hide a blush that was quickly spreading. She
sighed. "Out," she told him, pointing at the door to Atmas' stable.
"What? No, I'm staying," Nic said, folding his arms in defiance.
"Do you want me to help her or not? I can't do it with you here," Tifa said, folding
her arms mockingly.
Nic looked to Miya who was biting her lip. He realized she wanted him to leave.
He sighed. Jamming his hands into his coat pockets, he sulkingly made his way out
of the stables.
"He give you a rough time, last night, did he?" Tifa asked smiling, walking toward
Miya. She held her hands up and they turned green. After a few seconds all of Miya's
discomfort vanished. "I had to learn to do that to live with Cloud," Tifa said with a wink.
Cloud and Yuffie suddenly barged in, with Nic right behind them. "If they can come
in, so can I," he justified.
"One more thing Miyabe. It might help. Riding a chocobo has the same rhythm as
riding...," she stopped looking at the people in the stable. She whispered something in
Miya's ear.
Miya's eyes widened and she covered her mouth with her hand. "No!" she laughed.
Tifa nodded.
"What?" Nic, Cloud, and Yuffie demanded at the same time.
(Ranwolf: Yeah, what? *blinking*
Ionic Butterfly: *rolls her eyes* )
Tifa and Miya just smiled. "Don't worry about it," Tifa said.
Miyabe hopped back on Atmas. This time she stayed on as the thing began moving.
She knew she would not fall off again. She laughed as she took the chocobo around
the stable at a faster pace.
*****
At two o'clock, Miya was on the back of the golden chocobo known as Atmas. She
was nervous, but very determined. If she lost this race, then all that Nic had went through
the night before had been in vain.
She glanced to her side at Teioh on his black chocobo. She's been told he was
really good. He looked back at her with a sly smile on his face. He had given all the
women a rose before the race, "In way of apology when I win." He said. Miya had
thrown the rose to the floor and stepped on it, crushing it beneath her foot.
"Beautiful AND feisty, oh I love it." Teioh said. He reminded Miya of a Zorro reject
in his black cape, hat, and mask. She had to admit though, it did make him look pretty
good.
Nervous warks came from the chocobos as they waited for the flash of light that
signaled the start of the race.
"You can do it, Miya!" Miya heard Nic shout from the sidelines. She smiled and
looked toward him. The light flashed, and Atmas took off, nearly throwing Miya. She
struggled to stay on, using Tifa's advice.
She watched as Teioh took off in front of her, looking at her and tipping her hat to
her as he passed. His arrogance made her mad. She squeezed the chocobo with her
legs like she had been taught to make him go faster. Soon, all the other racers were
behind her, save for Teioh, who is less than four yards ahead.
Teioh's chocobo warked with glee, and missed a step, making him stumble. Miya
kept pushing Atmas, and when she passed Teioh, she smiled at him and flipped him
off casually. She could be arrogant too.
Miya and Teioh took turns in the lead, Miya was in front as the finish line came
into view. She could see Teioh in the corner of her eye, gaining on her. She squeezed
the chocobo hard, and it warked. It took off at tremendous speed, leaving Teioh way
behind.
She was so relieved when she crossed the finish line first. Nic was there. He helped
her down off Atmas and hugged her tightly. "We're going home!" he whispered to her.
A crowd gathered around them, trying to congratulate her. It had been a while
since Teioh had been beaten. Nic hoisted her up on his shoulder and carried her
through the crowd. She could not stop laughing.
*****
"Well, you've won the set. But if you don't mind, I'd like to make a big production
of it. I can make a little more money that way...," Dio said.
Miya looked at Nic. He grinned at her. "Everything's a profit," he said. "Sounds like
Xanatos."
"Nandate?!(What did you say?!)" Miya said in mock anger. "That's my boss you're
talking about!"
"Profit? Nah. The money made here goes to towns still trying to rebuild themselves
from the wars," Dio said.
"Really?" Miya asked.
"Oh yeah. He sponsors so many charities it ain't funny," Barret said. "I'm surprised
he didn't win any humanitarian awards or somethin'."
Nic shrugged. "We can stay or leave, Miya. Your choice." he said.
"You guys can have free passes to any attraction here if you want them, and you
can stay another night at the hotel," Dio offered.
Miya grinned. "Set it up then."
END PART 4