Twelve People One Destiny

Chapter Four: A Time for Contemplation

They walked under Hwoarang's direction until they reached a small desolate village. The villager's stared at the strange way the group was dressed. Kaylianna looked down trying to keep her hair over her large ears. Cloud put his hand on her shoulder and motioned her to look at his hair. She laughed and fixed her hair. Makoru tried to avoid Vincent and Hwoarang and walked behind Kaylianna and Cloud.
"I'm going to go get us a room at the inn okay?" Hwoarang said not really waiting for their approval. "You go get something to eat"
"And with what money pray tell?" Vincent crossed his arms. "All Cloud and me have is Gil." He took out a few gold coins.
"I've got Gellas." Makoru took out a few crumpled pieces of paper.
"That stuff is no good here!" Hwoarang sighed.
"Well, I have rupees..." Kaylianna pulled out a small crystal from a pack she kept on her side.
"Perfect! I bet the residents here will die to have that thing!" Hwoarang patted her on the back and continued towards the inn. Cloud snatched the rupee from Kaylianna.
"You use this for currency! Wow..."
"It's very abundant in my world."
"What about the jewel on your necklace?" Makoru queried.
"I don't know what it is made of...a friend gave it to me." Kaylianna blushed. Cloud glanced at her. "! Was it a boyfriend?"
"I don't remember..." A taste of jealousy crossed Cloud's face. "Well, let's get something to eat!" Kaylianna grabbed Makoru's hand and dragged her into a store. Cloud went to follow but Vincent grabbed his arm.
"What?" Cloud turned impatiently towards him.
"What are you doing?"
"Huh?"
"With that elf girl?"
"So she's nice..."
"You're acting like you're in a relationship!"
"What about you! You're mad because Hwoarang is all over Makoru!"
"Hey! This is not about me man!" Vincent stepped back offended. "What happened to being so high on your damn pedestal to help or care about another living person?"
"What are you talking about? I wasn't shut in a coffin for years!"
"Stop changing the subject! You never cared about anything else why change your mind now? Maybe you just want to-"
"Hey!" Cloud turned red and tackled Vincent. Vincent pushed him off. "Who do you think you are? Just because we're stuck here together doesn't mean you have to insult me because you're jealous over some girl." Vincent punched Cloud in the face. Cloud punched him right back and they became entangled in an all-out brawl. Makoru and Kaylianna dropped their bags upon arriving outside the store. They pulled the men away from each other. Kaylianna held Vincent back and Makoru held Cloud. Vincent shoved her away. Kaylianna faced him.
"What were you guys doing? You're supposed to be friends! At least that's what I thought." She wiped blood from Vincent's chin and smiled. Vincent glared at her. How dare she scold him? How dare she turn Cloud against him? His thoughts were changed as his glance switched to Makoru. He smiled at her and took her hand and walked away from Cloud who spit blood at his feet as he walked by.
"What were you two fighting about?" Vincent darkened.
"It's nothing. It's alright I'll fix it."
"Are you sure? Friends don't generally hurt each other..."
"No it's fine. I'll take care of everything." He turned and looked angrily at Cloud and Kaylianna. Makoru leaned on his shoulder and he walked towards the inn.
"What happened?" Kaylianna said helping Cloud get rid of the little blood that had come from the short fight. She said it quietly so that the onlookers wouldn't hear her.
"Vincent was just being an idiot that's all." Cloud smiled at her thinking about what Vincent had said. "What happened to being so high on your damn pedestal to help or care about another living person?" Cloud grinned agreeing with the thought. He was an asshole before this. "Stop changing the subject! You never cared about anything else why change your mind now? Maybe you just want to-" He thought about it. Vincent didn't understand what it was like for someone to like you for how you are and not for your past. But... what am I doing... Cloud joined reality as he heard Kaylianna calling his name.
"Are you sure you're okay?" She was inches from his face. He blushed and then regaining his composure stood up. He picked up the bags that the girls had dropped and led Kaylianna to the inn.
* * *
"Okay so we all agree!" Kaylianna smiled at the group.
"Yup, we'll stick together until we figure out what the hell is going on." Hwoarang said smugly watching Vincent and Makoru.
"Maybe there are others..."