*****
Destiny's Call - 12
By: Liv (aka LGStrife)
Kenshin raced over to the crowd near the entrance of the Cosmo Canyon. Excitement was filling him...until he couldn't hold it much longer. "KAORU-DONO!!!"
The crowd broke up revealing a woman who seemed to have fought her way to Cosmo Canyon. "Kenshin!!!" She shouted back. Setting all her pain aside, she rushed towards Kenshin and threw herself to his arms. "Kenshin!"
"Kaoru-dono..." Kenshin whispered back, happy to have the woman with him again. "I was so worried...I was SO worried..." He didn't want to let go.
"Kenshin..." Kaoru spoke. "Back in that treacherous building, I prayed to the gods to let me live...so I could see your face one more time." She choked as she began to cry.
"Daijoubu de gozaru yo, Kaoru-dono..." Kenshin whispered. "...aishiteru..."
Her ki... It's different...
"Aishiteru...Kenshin..." Kaoru tightened her embrace as tears fell down to Kenshin's gi.
Cloud slowed down finally catching up with Kenshin.
Yahiko's emotion was unexplainable happiness. "BUSU!!!"
Kaoru's teary eyes turned to Yahiko. She smirked. "Baka..."
"BUSU-CHAN!!!" Yahiko dropped his weapon and rushed over to Kaoru and hugged her tightly hiding his face on her kimono. He ignored the tears that formed in his eyes. "You're okay!!!"
"I know..." Kaoru was laughing. "Someone helped me out..."
"Who??" Yahiko's face lifted. He wanted to thank whoever this someone is.
"He said his name is Zack." Kaoru turned around to the approaching man.
Zack stopped in his steps and nodded with a smile to Yahiko. "Hey,"
Kenshin smiled at Zack. "Arigatou gozaimasu, Zack-san..."
"Um...what's that supposed to mean?"
Yahiko laughed and wiped away his tears. "Kenshin and I are thanking you for bringing Busu back." He felt a soft hit on his head. "Itai!" He rubbed his head and heard Zack laugh.
But she acts like her... Kenshin thought to himself. Something's not right...
"I see..." Zack turned his attention from Yahiko to a man at the back. "Hello, again...Cloud..."
"Nanda..." Yahiko spoke. "You're..."
"We're old friends."
Kenshin turned from Zack to Cloud, whose eyes were almost as big as dinner plates and mouth was open. "Kuraudo-san..."
Cloud couldn't speak, let alone move. He was seeing the man who he thought was dead. The man who the heartless SOLDIER shot on the cliff near Midgar. He had taken his weapon and left his body to rot. "Z...Zack..."
Even Sephiroth was surprised...
*****
"Auntie Elmyra! Auntie Elmyra!!" A young child with brown hair entered the house and pulled the skirt of her caretaker. "Auntie Elmyra, you have to look!"
"What is it, dear?" Elmyra Gainsborough switched off the faucet and wiped her wet hands on her apron while looking at the child.
"Someone's outside!"
"Marlene, what is it?"
"Someone's lying outside!!"
"Oh my, what could have happened?" Elmyra calmly left her home followed by Marlene Wallace.
Outside was a crowd near the inn. It began to break when Elmyra entered the scene.
"My goodness!" Elmyra knelt beside the woman whose face was kissing the ground. "Miss, are you all right?"
There was no response.
Elmyra stood up and faced the crowd. "I'll take her to my home. Don't worry." She watched the crowd return to their homes putting all their trust on Elmyra.
One man stayed and offered his assistance of carrying the stranger into Elmyra's home. Elmyra nodded. "Thank you."
*****
She escaped...
"Yes...she did..." Hojo answered while looking at the empty cell. "Forgive me, Jenova..."
Apologies accepted...
Hojo turned around looking strangely at the form. "W, what?"
What does she take me for? A fool? Ha!
Hojo was weirded out. What could Jenova have done this time?
That hole she used to escape...I placed it there...
"You what?"
Let her suffer as she struggles to inform her beloved about our plans...I'd like to see her suffer...and lose...
Hojo did not speak. He wanted to listen more.
Sagara is a fool...I have just convinced him to bring me the boy later night...within three nights, the boy will succumb to me...and the pathetic woman will come by the next hour...
"What about Cloud, Jenova?"
Zack will kill him...
"And if Zack does not kill him within three nights?"
Both he and Strife will die...and the Cetra will be mine for the taking...
Hojo revealed an evil smile as the form laughed maniacally. "You are truly brilliant, Jenova..."
*****
"How...how did you..."
"Managed to live?" Zack continued Cloud's sentence. They were alone in the inn. "I woke up after a long comatose. It was then that I learned that I'm in Mideel. The people there told me some guy from that town saw me and brought me to his home where I was aided. I have tons of scars in my body."
"But they shot you like mad!"
"That's not like you, Cloud." Zack pretended to be hurt. "You want your best friend dead? I can't believe you!" He pouted.
Cloud slowly wore a smile. "You're still that easy going guy I know..."
Zack's pouting face soon wore a smile.
The two friends burst out to laughter. Cloud stood up and hugged his friend. "Damn it! I missed you so much!"
"Yeah?" Zack patted his 'little brother'. "Well you got me worried sick! On my rest in Mideel, you made me think of bad stuff that could have happened to you!"
"Well, I'm all right, Zack." Cloud sat beside him. "But...going back to the question, how did you live despite all the bullets you received?"
"Oh, some I missed. Never thought of that, didn't you??" Zack smiled at him challengingly. He laughed when the younger man scratched his head. Still laughing, he rested his left hand on Cloud's shoulders. "As for that time the soldier shot me face to face, it was only my limbs that were hit, not really my vital parts...so, how've you been?"
"Oh, me?" Cloud faced Zack. "I've been doing okay, lately. What happened to me months ago...you...wouldn't wanna know."
Zack laughed again. "I can't say I have all the time."
Cloud smile...happy Zack was still that laughing officer he knew.
"So..." Zack crept closer to Cloud and whispered. "How's Aeris?"
"Oh, her? She's um...she's doing great, yeah!"
"You've been hitting on her lately, right?"
"What?! Me?? Ahhhh..." Cloud looked away from Zack looking for an answer. Goodness gracious! This is her first love!! Then again, there was that friendly laugh. "Huh?" She turned to Zack. "You're...laughing?"
Zack laughed on. "Cloud!" He finally silenced down. "Aeris is not a fool to wait for a dead guy to come back! She has to move on!" He punched Cloud softly. "I'm glad you were there for her."
A smile slowly formed on Cloud's face. "Heh...well, yeah. We're...you know..."
"Hahaha! Still young at heart, aren't ya?" Zack smiled at Cloud. He heard knocks on the door and a creek. Looking at it, he saw Aeris peeking.
"You...wanted to see me?" Aeris asked meekly.
Zack nodded.
Cloud stood up. "Hey, ummm..." He walked backwards to the door. "I'll...leave you two alone." He hadn't noticed he already bumped into Aeris. "Oh, whoops! Sorry." He stepped aside allowing Aeris to enter before he left while waving.
Aeris giggled while waving. "Bye..."
"Aeris..."
Aeris turned around and saw Zack already standing. "Zack...!" She whispered before she took Zack into her arms and buried her face on his chest. "Zack...!!"
Zack embraced Aeris back and smoothed her hair. "It's okay, Aeris...it's okay..." His innocent face slowly wore an evil smile.
Cetra...
*****
Cloud climbed his way to the canyon where he and Aeris had a romantic experience yesterday.
"Strife."
"Huh?" Cloud noticed the silver haired man looking at him on the canyon.
"I knew you'd come back to this spot..."
*****
"So, what is it?"
"Zack." Sephiroth said stoically while he stood behind the seated man.
"Zack?" Cloud lifted his head to look at Sephiroth. "What about him?"
"I'll be frank to you." Sephiroth bent his neck to face Cloud. "I don't trust him."
"Don't trust him? What do you mean?" Cloud's eyes followed Sephiroth who sat beside him. "He was your most trusted officer before."
"I'm glad you said 'before'." Sephiroth's snake eyes met with Cloud's huge blue ones. "There is a big difference between before and now. I don't want to be judgmental. I just want to warn you."
"Sephiroth," Cloud fixed his seating position to face Sephiroth in an easier manner. "I know we're not alone--"
"Watch your back." With that, Sephiroth disappeared into flashes of light that disappeared into the sky.
*****
The same green ring surrounded Kaoru as her pony-tailed hair was blown by the wind. She moved her wooden sword upward slowly with her right hand and slashed downwards causing an explosion of electrical energy to finish off a robot she encountered.
Vincent was surprised as to how Kaoru managed to destroy such enemy with a mere Bolt 1. This was only the first time she had used materia...
Kaoru stood still. She began to move dizzily and fell backwards.
"Kaoru-dono." Kenshin, who was beside Vincent, came just in time and caught Kaoru before she could hit the ground. "Daijoubu?"
"Hai...tsukareta dake..." Kaoru admitted while she held her forehead and closed her eyes. "It's throbbing..."
"I'll take you to your room." Kenshin carried Kaoru into his arms, like she was his new wife.
"Kenshin!" Kaoru called immediately. "Please...stay with me?" She begged with pleading eyes.
Kenshin nodded. "Aa de gozaru." He walked towards Cosmo Canyon leaving Vincent alone...replaying the event of Kaoru's spell casting.
*****
"Kenshin...Kenshin..."
"Auntie Elmyra! Auntie Elmyra! She's saying something!!" Marlene jumped up and down when the dirty woman spoke of a word...or a name, mayhaps.
"Tasukete...!"
"My goodness, what is she saying?" Elmyra rushed over to her room.
Kaoru was perspiring, her hands held tightly on the quilt while her head turned left and right. "Onegai...tasukete..."
"Miss..." Elmyra nudged the woman bending slightly.
"Kenshin...!"
"Miss."
"Tasukete..."
"Miss, wake up!"
"Yamete!!!"
Marlene shrieked when the woman woke up and shouted at Elmyra.
Kaoru panted, calming down from the nightmare. "...d, doko..."
"M, Miss..." Elmyra called again. "Are you all right?" Somehow, she wished the stranger would understand her.
Kaoru nodded slowly. "H, hai..." She shut her eyes and opened them again. "Yes...I'm okay..."
"Thank God..." Elmyra sighed in relief. Happy that the woman is okay and that she can understand her.
"W, where am I?"
"You're in Kalm." Elmyra answered. "We found you lying by the entrance. Marlene here informed me about you."
"Mm-hmm!" Marlene nodded with a wide smile.
"Oh...I see..." Kaoru smiled gently at Marlene. "I'm sorry...did I shout at you?"
"That's okay. I can understand."
Kaoru laughed very softly. "I'm very sorry...I was have a bad dream..."
"We're used to that..." Elmyra stood straight and turned around looking away. "My daughter told me of her nightmares when she was still young..."
"Really?" Kaoru saw Elmyra nod. "Who's your daughter?" She asked. She wanted to sit so as not to be a disrespect to the woman. But her head aches.
"She's a flower lady! I know her!" Marlene bragged joyfully.
Elmyra sighed. "Her name is Aeris Gainsborough. She's with her friends now, she said she'll stop the upcoming threat and come back when it's done..."
"E, Eirisu-san??" Kaoru spat sitting up. "You're Eirisu-san's mother??"
Elmyra turned around, surprised Kaoru knows her. "You know Aeris??"
Kaoru nodded. "We're good friends. She helped me and my friends when we stumbled into this strange world."
"You know flower lady!" Marlene rejoiced. "Then maybe you've met Papa?"
Kaoru turned to Marlene. "Maybe...who's your papa?"
"He's a very big man! He loves to carry me on his shoulder! Have you seen him?"
Very big man...
"Barret-san?!"
"You know my Papa!" Marlene jumped up and down. "Is he okay??"
Kaoru was bewildered as to how a dark colored man could have a daughter that has a very different skin tone from him. More over, she is surprised that Barret HAS a wife! "He's...okay..."
Marlene showed a rather sad face. "Are you sure...?"
"Oh!" Kaoru shook her head with a small smile. "I'm just surprised that...Barret-san has a daughter...yes. He's doing very well."
"Really??" Marlene began to smile again.
"Yes!" Kaoru nodded. "I don't remember seeing him hurt."
"Yay!!! Then Papa was right! He said he'd be okay!!"
"Ummm...miss..."
Kaoru turned to Elmyra with a questioning look. "What is it?"
Elmyra stuttered. "W, what about...my daughter?"
Kaoru smiled once more. "I'm sure Kuraudo-san is taking good care of her..."
*****
"Sano! Are you totally sure about this? It's so cold out here!!"
"Che! Of course I am!" Sano was running outside Cosmo Canyon, now with Yahiko. "She said she wants ta meet you!"
Yahiko groaned. "I hope this is good..."
Sano stopped from his run once he is sure that they are far away from the town. "Elizabeth??"
"Elizabeth? What kinda name is that?" Yahiko asked sarcastically. He received a soft hit from Sano. "Itai...!" He rubbed his head while Sano went on looking for Elizabeth.
"Sano?"
"Huh?" Sano turned around and saw the woman hiding behind the canyons. "There you are, why are you hiding?" He approached the woman who left her hiding place shyly.
"I'm...afraid of crowds..."
"No one's here but us and Yahiko..." Sano held Elizabeth's arms.
"Yahiko?" Elizabeth looked around. "You mean the boy?"
"Yup!" Sano nodded and turned to Yahiko who was just staring at them. "Yahiko-chan! Come over here!"
"DON'T CALL ME CHAN!!!" Was Yahiko's usual reply.
"Shhh! They'll hear you!" Sano reminded the boy who sighed and approached them. He turned to Elizabeth. "That's Myoujin Yahiko."
"Oh, I see..." Elizabeth smiled and nodded at Yahiko. "Hi, I'm Elizabeth."
Yahiko was in awe of Elizabeth's face. She's beautiful...
In the 3rd night...the boy will join me...
- End of Part 12 -
El terms:
1. materia - a small spheric object (much like a gem) that when equipped,
enables the holder to cast any spell it (materia) holds. It comes in different
flavors-- colors! Green is for magic (earth, fire, bolt, ice, et al), yellow
is for command (slash-all, double cut, death blow, enemy skill, et al),
purple is for independent (HP Plus, MP Plus, long range, counter attack,
et al), blue is for support (all, elemental, sneak attack -- I didn't
get not even know this, HP absorb, et al), and finally, the most superior
among all the materias is the red one or the summon materia. It enables
you to summon Shiva, Ifrit, the Knights of the Round, Bahamut, et al...
for more info for materia (and FF7 for that matter) go to http://www.ffwa.org/ff7/index.html.
2. Hai...tsukareta dake... - Yes...just tired...
3. Kalm - a town (very peaceful one) northeast of Midgar.
4. Cosmo Canyon - Red XIII's hometown. It's somewhere near...Nibelheim.
Just cross the stream and pass the forests, you should see a town on top
of a canyon.
5. tasukete - help (me)
Liv: And while I was scanning through the materias in ffnet.net, I never knew how MUCH I missed!
Cloud: What do you mean? You said you're satisfied with your materias!
Liv: May I stress: MUCH
Cloud: Eh?
Liv: I CAN'T believe, that the most WORTHLESS materia I bought is sold for BLOODY 700,000 GIL!!!
Cloud: What?! You mean the Exit Materia?!
Liv: YES!!! The thing that is used to escape the battles! It costs SO MUCH, I could have SOLD it and bought that friggin' villa in Costa del Sol!
Cloud: You mean that 300,000 Gil Shinra Villa??
Liv: YES! And with 400, 000 Gil left, think of all the stuff we could have done in Gold Saucer!
Cloud: I...think you were thinking of using 400,000 Gil to feed the Chocobos...
Liv: ...oh...BUT STILL!
Onna: *sighs*