Disclaimer: As the same with all the other chapters, we don't own anything we didn't come
up with. That belongs to Square. We do this for no profit. Blah, blah, blah.
Chapter 19: Shadows Of The Past
The trip back to Garden went without incident from anyone. Vira piloted the Ragnarok
back to FH, with a minor amount of difficulty using the controls, while Dorin sat silently near
by, and Seifer and Quistis sleeping down in the conference room. When they had arrived back, they
all were welcomed back to Garden, where Dr. Kadowaki insisted on seeing Quistis, Seifer, Selphie
and Irvine for any lingering injuries, and Squall looking extremely relieved they'd made it
back. He had been doubtful that Vira and Dorin could find them, but had still kept hoping
regardless. The fact of the matter was that despite their arguments, Vira and Dorin worked well
when they got along and had been closer to the Ragnarok than anyone else at the moment he needed
them. As he was on his way back from Galbadia Garden he had called to instruct them that Seifer
and Quistis were most likely located near Winhill and if the Ragnarok was finished with its
repairs, it'd be the best thing to find them. Neither Vira nor Dorin had objected to the
assignment, although Vira was a bit apprehensive taking the controls of the ship. Squall had
assured her it was no difficult to pilot and had told her the basic functions over the radio.
Luck had been with them as everyone arrived back at Garden safe and sound, ready to collapse
from exhaustion. Without an immediate plan to go after Xana, Cid had told them all to rest for a
little while, to regroup their strength. None of them had objected to the well deserved rest and
all had begun to spend a few days resting.
A few days later, the group sat enjoying a relaxing lunch. The warm sun beamed through
the glass skylight dome above them and the sounds of happy students talking as they ate filled
the air. Zell sat with a plate of hot dogs piled in front of him while Squall and Rinoa sat next
to each other, eating quietly. They spotted Selphie and Irvine entering the busy cafeteria and
waved them over.
"Man, I've missed these hot dogs so much! I haven't had one since..." Zell said through
a mouthful of food, pausing to think.
Rinoa chuckled. "Not since five minutes ago."
Zell cocked an awkward grin at her, trying not to open his mouth that was stuffed full
of hotdogs.
"How you doing?" Squall asked as Selphie and Irvine sat down.
"Okay. Dr. Kadowaki's been reeeeeally nice." Selphie flashed her trademark smile as she
touched the spot on her chest that the bullet had hit her.
"That's good," Rinoa smiled at Selphie. "It's been very rough lately on everyone,
hasn't it?"
Squall nodded. "But it isn't over yet. There's still a lot we have to deal with."
"Don't ruin the moment, Squall," Irvine piped in.
Squall arced an eyebrow at Irvine, the flashed one of his all too brief smiles. "Yeah,
well. Where's Seifer and Quistis?" he asked, changing the subject.
Irvine shrugged. "Haven't seen them since they got back."
The cafeteria suddenly quited down a bit and Squall looked towards the entrance as
Seifer and Quistis entered, arms linked. He glanced over at the Trepies and Raijin and Fujin,
who all looked like they had seen the second coming of Hyne.
Seifer and Quistis walked up to the table and sat down. "Sorry we're late," Quistis said.
Squall pointed to the spectators who's jaws had dropped. "Causing quite a scene, aren't
you?"
"What's your point, Squall?" Seifer asked, smirking.
Zell swallowed a mouthful of hot dog and chuckled. "It's just kinda funny to see
everyone struck speechless," he said, motioning to the Trepies and the Disciplinary Committee,
still in shock.
Seifer turned and waved casually to them. The Trepies looked quickly back down to their
meals. Fujin nodded and smiled prettily, while Raijin made a face. Fujin saw it and kicked him
in the knee. "CUTE," she said before dragging him off out of the cafeteria.
Selphie and Irvine laughed to see Fujin dragging Raijin off. "Looks like Fujin doesn't
have a problem with it at all," Selphie commented, half giggling.
"The Trepies looks like Seifer was going to beat them up if they continued looking,"
Irvine pointed out, grinning from ear to ear.
Quistis looked at them both. "Alright, that's enough you two."
Selphie and Irvine exchanged knowing looks, but quieted down. Seifer rather pleased and
a little embarressed by it all.
"So what's the news with Vira?" Seifer asked.
"Well, she's half sorceress." Squall said, taking a drink of water. "Dr. Odine ran a few
tests and confirmed that she's half Draconian, half Galbadian, and a half-Sorceress, however
that happens."
Seifer whistled quietly while Quistis arced an eyebrow. "I thought sorceresses inherited
their powers from another."
Rinoa nodded. "They do. But in Vira's case, it's a little bit special."
"Like how special?" Seifer asked.
Zell nodded to the entrance. "Looks like you'll find out from Vira herself." The group
turned to see Vira walk in, her all-black figure easy to recognize out of the dark blues of the
cadets.
Vira looked as she usually did, her face void of expression, except that her eyes looked
a little more tired than usual. She nodded to everyone and took a seat. Seifer grinned at her.
"Hey, Vira. Heard some stuff about you lately."
Vira shrugged. "So?"
"Could be worse." Seifer slapped her on her back jokingly, causing Vira to lurch forward
in her seat a little. "You could be related to Xana or something."
Vira immediately looked at him, her eyes wide, and asked, "Where the hell have you been?"
"The woods," Seifer answered. "Why?"
The Squall and Rinoa gave him a pointed glare while Zell cleared his throat.
"Umm, she got her powers from Xana. She's Vira's mother," he said quietly.
Seifer turned the deepest red and looked down. "Ah. Sorry, Vira. My bad. Ummm, I'm gonna
get something to eat. Want anything?" he said, turning to Quistis, not wanting Vira to see his
face.
"Just a salad and some milk." She smiled at him and squeezed his hand as he got up and
beat a hasty retreat to the cafeteria line.
Vira shook her head. "I hope everyone isn't going to do that."
"You can't blame him. He didn't know," Quistis said, turning her head to look at him on
line.
"I don't," she answered. "But I just don't want everyone making a big deal out of it."
"Well, it will raise quite a few eyebrows," Zell said. "You understand, though, right?
Most of the people here don't know you the way we do." The rest nodded their heads in agreement.
"All I'm saying is I have enough to deal with without being pointed at by everyone
around me. I'm not used to that kind of attention," Vira replied.
"Not everyone is going to ask about it," Squall said. "Still, there's a lot of this that
doesn't make sense."
"Yeah," Vira agreed. "One thing that keeps bothering me is this whole half Draconian
thing. You know those people..." She trailed off, shaking her head.
Seifer came back with a tray and sat down next to Quistis, handing her her food.
"Yeah, where is Mr. Iceman by the way? I haven't seen him since y'all got back," Irvine
said.
"I think I saw him up near the dorms on our way over. He was walking back to them,"
Seifer replied as he opened his milk carton.
"He is awfully quiet, isn't he?" Rinoa said, brushing a stray hair out of her face.
Zell grinned at her. "It's not like we don't know the silent types around here."
"Very funny, Zell." Squall rolled his eyes.
Quistis thought for a second. "Well, it's not like he hasn't seen a lot in his life.
From the sound of it, it's like he's been in the military since he was fifteen."
Vira nodded. "I saw some pretty young officers on horseback there. I guess it's
customary for the sons of nobility to be officers in the Legions."
Squall shook his head. "It's too bad kids can't just be kids."
Rinoa turned to Squall. "What do you mean?"
Squall stayed silent for a moment before he spoke. "Well, when you think about it, what
does Garden do? Yeah, we give the kids an education, but we also train them to fight at an early
age. My first foray into the Training Center was when I was twelve. Selphie, you junctioned for
the first time at ten. So why should we look down on the Draconians for having teenagers in the
army when we pretty much do the same thing?"
"He's got a point," Vira agreed. "But, they can get very...uptight about things."
Selphie nodded. "I felt like if I took one wrong step in Dorin's house that I would
break some sort of rule and get kicked out."
"They've got a very set way of doing things, I noticed that," Seifer said.
Irvine chuckled. "Yeah, you couldn't help but notice. But still...they were polite and
stuff."
"I thought it was way cool." Selphie said, grinning lightly.
"Sure, if you discount the hostile wildlife." Quistis said, grimacing.
Seifer grimaced as well, remembering their encounter. "Yeah, that wildlife..."
"Wait," Zell looked at Vira. "If you're the daugther of Xana and she's actually Anarix
who lived in Draconia and ruled there does that mean...?"
"No," she quickly answered back. "It doesn't. And it won't. Don't even finish that. I'm
just dreading how they're going to react. This is really improper."
"Good point," Squall said. "But we should probably worry about that when it happens."
Quistis nodded, and poked at her salad. "So where is the mystery man anyway?"
Vira pointed behind Quistis and replied, "Try right behind you."
Quistis turned to see Dorin standing there, his arms crossed, his demeanor betraying
nothing.
"Were you there the entire time?" Seifer asked.
Dorin shrugged. "I saw no need to announce my presence."
"Well, we know you're here now," Zell said. He motioned to a nearby chair. "So why don't
you have a seat?"
Dorin shook his head. "No thank you. I just wanted to know what our next action was."
Squall shrugged slightly. "We haven't decided yet. The Siren is still out there and
another encounter with Xana is inevitable. But...we're not sure how to go about this."
Dorin nodded slightly and turned with a swirl of his trench coat and left.
"Guy's colder that a Blizzaga spell," Irvine commented.
"Know's his business, that's for sure," Rinoa replied.
Zell shook his head, then took a bite out of his last hot dog. "Well, he still coulda
sat down for a minute. I mean, what's he gonna do now? Go sit down and wait?"
"Maybe he's just gonna..." Selphie trailed off, her face contorting in thought. "You're
right. Where is he going?"
Vira shrugged. "Don't know. I'll follow him and find out."
Dorin walked back to the dorms, his boots clicking lightly on the shiny tile. He ignored
the acknowledgments from the cadets and entered the dorm area, entering the room that had been
designated as his own for the duration of his stay.
He opened and shut the door quickly, shrugging off his coat before he let out a deep
breath. He still didn't like being in the laid back atmosphere of Balamb, but there was no
getting away from it. There was only one place where he could truly be alone with his thoughts,
and that was here.
He went to his dresser and pulled out the familiar wooden box. He set it on the floor in
front of him and sat on his bed, regarding it for a second. Slowly, he bent down and opened it.
Immediately, the holographic image of his mother popped up in front of him, her smiling face
looking as pure and serene as when he was young. The haunting music of her favorite song floated
to him, bringing back memories of long ago. Vulkan's fire, how long had it been? Five years now?
Six? He closed his eyes as he remembered that day in early April...
-That day in April, when the flowers in her gardens were blooming, and she called you to
her room, the day when she said good bye and you didn't know what was going on...-
Young Dorin walked down the wall to his mother's room. She had been shut up there for
weeks, with only his father and the doctors coming to see her. He didn't know what was going on,
and his father had said nothing, only that "mother was resting". So, he had been entertained by
Uncle Dravere and little baby Alexai was taken care of by the maids.
Dorin walked up to the door and knocked lightly. Uncle Dravere opened it a crack and
nodded to him. "Your mother's wanting to talk to you, Dory. Take all the time you want."
Dorin nodded, but he didn't know why Uncle Dravy was so...sad? Dorin took note of it and
walked in. He saw his father sitting next to the bed and he looked up at Dorin. He smiled at
Dorin and quietly left. Dorin watched him go as Uncle Dravere left with him and shut the door
behind him. Dorin was confused. Did he actually see his father...crying?
"Dorin?" His mother's soft, strained voice came from the bed. Dorin turned and walked up
to the side.
"Yes, mother?"
His mother turned to him and Dorin gasped in shock. In all his thirteen years, he'd
never seen her this way. Her fair skin was almost paper white, her beautiful blond hair laying
in wisps around her face. She looked almost skeletal, her lovely blue eyes sunken into their
sockets. She smiled, though the effort seemed to exhaust her.
"Dorin...I want you...to take care of Alexai." She seemed to struggle to get the words
out. "I want you to be good for your father...and Uncle Dravy. I want you to...grow up and...be
strong and proud...like my son should be."
She touched his hand and hers felt ice cold to the touch. Dorin was starting to become
worried and rather frightened for his mother. Why was she telling him all this? What was wrong
with her?
"I will, mother. Are you alright? What's wrong?"
His mother smiled and laughed slightly, but then she began to cough. And as she coughed,
some black liquid began to dribble from the corner of her mother.
"Mother? Mother?! MOTHER!!!" Dorin began screaming her name and his father and Uncle
Dravy rushed in as his mother began to cough up more and more of the black liquid.
"Get Dorin out of here! And get the bloody doctor!!" his father shouted to Uncle Dravy.
Uncle Dravere picked up Dorin, who was wailing, calling over and over to her...
Dorin stared back at her image, the memories still fresh in his mind. He learned later
that his mother had contracted the Black Fever. She had become weak because the delivery of
Alexai had been hard, and she had caught it easily. Almost six years ago. Six years...
He heard a soft tap at his door. Dorin sighed. "Come in," he said.
Vira stepped in slowly. "Hi," she said quietly, shutting the door behind her. "Everyone
was wondering why you...umm...left so quickly. You okay?"
Dorin nodded absently. "I got my answer, I needed nothing else." He was still staring
at the image, the music floating from the music box.
"Okay," Vira answered, still sounding quiet. "They just thought it was odd that you
didn't want to sit down for a minute. But...if you're all right...I guess I should be leaving
now..."
Dorin shook his head. "No, that's alright." He paused for a moment. "What day is it?"
"23rd of April. Why?"
Dorin nodded. "Six years since she died," Dorin said quietly, nodding to the image.
Vira glanced at the image briefly, then back at Dorin. "I'm...sorry," she said, for lack
of anything better to say.
Dorin nodded. "Thank you."
Vira stood there for a moment, feeling awkward. "Pretty song" she said, not sure what
else to say.
"Used to be her favorite song," Dorin said, motioning for her to sit down. "She used to
sing it to me every night before I went to bed."
Vira sat down slowly. "That's very...nice," she said, still not sure what to say. "You
two were...very close?"
Dorin nodded. "Yes. We all were." Dorin looked down. "I think I told you she died of
Black Fever."
Vira nodded in reply. "Yes, you did mention that..."
"She was in the final stages...when she called me to her. She was telling em to be good
and such when she...went cataract. Started spitting up the contaminated black blood..." Dorin's
voice began to waver. "She...never...got the chance to say good bye...or I love you..." Dorin
fell silent, the words choking in his throat.
Apprehensively, Vira patted Dorin's back gently. This was something completely knew to
her, and Dorin showing emotion was about as unusual as she doing the same. She would just have
to act on instinct, if she had any for this situation. "I'm...very sorry, Dorin. I'm sure she
meant to say it..."
Dorin nodded. "I know...I know..." He wiped away a tear that ran down his cheek. "Sorry
you have to see me in such a state."
Lightly, Vira patted Dorin's back once more. "It's all right. No need for apologies. We
all have...things we have to deal with..."
Dorin began to regain his composure, his breathing becoming more natural again. "I know.
I know. Are you still going to be alright?"
"Umm..." Vira quickly looked down to the floor. "I...don't really know. I'm trying not
to think about it as much as I can. I mean, I'm not going to do...what I tried back in Esthar.
If...it comes down to it...I'll just stop her. Anyway I can..."
Dorin nodded. "Yes. That we will." He put an arm around her and looked back down at the
music box, staying silent.
Vira sighed. "There's still so much that I don't know..." she said softly, looking at
the music box. Questions swirled in her mind, the one most prominent was what happened to her
father. How did Xana kill him? How could she?
Dorin nodded. "What are you thinking?" he asked presently.
"Just...about what happened to my father. What Xana did to him..." Vira answered.
"Did she say anything about it?" he asked, letting his arm fall.
Vira shook her head. "Just that she killed him."
"I wonder if there is some way we can find out who he was..."
"I don't know," Vira said, shrugging. "I don't know his name. Guess it doesn't matter in
the end. I want to get this all over with...the wait is beginning to get to me."
"Still," Dorin said, "it might be a bit before we see her again. It might be worthwhile
to find out."
"I don't know how we would," Vira replied. "Besides, even if we found out what his name
was, that doesn't explain what happened. I feel like...the only thing I can do is...talk to...
her about it. She knows."
"Well, he was Galbadian, correct? Can't we access the Galbadian archives from Galbadia
Garden?" Dorin suggested.
Vira shrugged. "I suppose..."
Dorin shrugged and closed the music box. "Well, then we could start there and see where
that takes us."
"I guess..." Vira said, rising from her seat. "But, I'm serious, this waiting thing is
wearing on my nerves."
"I know. This is starting to bore me too. I almost wish we'd hear something."
At that moment, the intercom beeped. "Would Dorin Vachon and Vira Eronwil please report
to Headmaster Cid's office immediately."
Dorin smirked as he picked up the music box and place back on his dresser. "Ask and ye
shall receive."
Vira walked over to the door, opening it for the two of them. "Uncanny timing..."
Dorin and Vira walked into Cid's office, Cid nodding to them as Vira saluted and Dorin
bowed.
"Vira, Dorin. I won't waste any time. This came over the TV just a little bit ago." Cid
walked over to the large in-wall TV and turned it on. An image of General Caraway flickered to
life.
"My fellow Galbadians, in our fight against the evil Draconians, there is one person
that we must be on the sharp look out for. She is a SeeD and a Galbadian. However, she has been
consorting with the enemy, and as such, is a traitor to our cause. Therefore, she must be hunted
down and arrested."
A mug shot of Vira replaced Caraway on the screen. Caraway continued to talk. "If there
is anyone with information leading to the arrest or death of Vira Eronwil, please notify
Galbadian Military officials. Also keep in mind that anyone harboring the traitor will be
arrested and executed as well. All loyal Galbadians, please aid us in this time."
The image faded to the Galbadian emblem and faded to black. Dorin looked over to Vira,
who merely shook her head.
"So now I'm a wanted criminal. Perfect."
"I wouldn't say that," Cid said. "Technically, you're not a traitor. It's just a ruse
for Xana to get at you."
"Like she needs an excuse," Dorin snorted. "She's just invaded Draconia for no reason
and killed thousands of people. I wouldn't think she needed an excuse for this."
"Remember Dorin, she has the entire population of Galbadia brainwashed, but she still
has to put on the act of it being semi-legitamite too," Cid answered.
Vira sighed. Of all the things she needed... "Well, I guess I should keep a low profile
until then. Not that I had a high one in the first place."
Vira saluted Cid and walked out. Dorin looked at Cid and shrugged. "She's been through a
lot lately, sir."
Cid nodded, tapping his thick chin with one finger. "I know. Keep an eye on her, Dorin.
You seem to know her better than anyone here."
Dorin nodded and bowed. "I will, sir."
With the new information she had, Vira couldn't help but feel completely trapped.
-Just like an animal. Hunted, sought after...and killed.-
She wandered down the halls, now trying to let in another heavy situation sink it. Vira
had been getting used to the feeling that her mother was Xana, and almost had come to terms
with her half sorceress heritage, but now everyone was after her. And she had never wanted to
be the center of attention, much less a wanted criminal from one of the largest countries in
the world. Now all those Black SeeDs would be hunting her, as well as the Galbadian Army, and
any brainwashed citizen of Galbadia. Xana was good at making her life miserable, that was for
sure. Slowly, the feeling of Death stalking her began to gnaw at her stomach, making her think
that there was no way she'd even live through the entire week. Vira pushed the sickening feeling
deep into her, trying to lock it away with nearly everything else she ever felt. She knew this
wasn't how to deal with feelings, it didn't seem right. But, sadly, it was the only way she
knew how. So she shoved Death's grasp deep inside where she had put the angel of Misery and the
green eyed monster of Jealousy not too long ago. And Vira hoped she could just keep them there
until it was all over.
"Vira!" Dorin called as he caught up to her on the second floor walkway. She turned and
looked at him.
"Something wrong?" she asked as she turned. Dorin silently cursed to himself.
-Vorhallan's Blade, is she going to be difficult again?-
"No, I was just seeing where you were going," Dorin replied mildly.
Vira sighed and shrugged. "Nowhere. Just walking around."
Dorin smiled slightly. "Indeed. But you can't take on the entire world by yourself. Even
I know that," he said, turning serious.
Vira arched an eyebrow at him. "It's not the whole world. It's just all of Galbadia,
Xana, and the Black SeeD," she replied sarcastically. "I haven't pissed off Esthar or Dollet
yet."
"You don't see Draconia going after you either," Dorin said, starting to get rather
irked at her defeatist attitude.
Vira laughed ruefully. "Well, they don't know my heritage, do they? Once they do, I
think they won't be so considerate of me."
Dorin shook his head and sighed. "My father could've had you arrested on the spot when
you told him. He could've had you thrown in prison and tried for warcrimes, but he didn't.
We're not all the intolerant bastards you make us out to be."
Vira looked down and nodded. "I know. It's just...so hard right now..."
Dorin lifted her head up with one finger and looked her in the eye. Unconciously, Vira
could feel her stomach clench as she looked back at him. His icy blue eyes studied her dark
brown ones deeply, as if he was trying to read what she was thinking. His eyes looked
concerned, although Vira couldn't understand why anyone would looked concerned over her
problems. "I know. Believe me, I know. But you-"
Something caught Dorin's eye, and he looked towards the classroom hall to see the back
of someone turn the corner. Someone who looked familiar.
"What is it?" Vira asked, turning in the direction where Dorin was staring.
"I'm not sure. I think I just saw someone I recognized..." Dorin said, trailing off in
confusion and surprise. He stepped past Vira and jogged around the corner. At the end of the
hall, the person entered the observation deck and shut the door. Dorin managed to get a
glimpse of him and recognized him in an instant: the long sleek black hair drawn into a pony
tail, the pale, finely chiseled features, and the aura of malice about the man.
-Hyne, it can't be-
"What is it, Dorin?" Vira asked as she joined him. Dorin turned to her.
"Call Headmaster Cid, we have an intruder in here."
Vira looked at him, not really understanding. "Who? What do you mean?"
Dorin turned and began jogging to the door. "Someone I used to know. Just go."
Dorin walked out onto the observation deck, his hand on his honor blade. It was empty,
the bright late April sun beating down gently on the weathered marble. Dorin looked around for
the man, seeing noone.
"Bloody hell, I know I saw Yuri..." Dorin muttered to himself. Maybe his eyes were
playing tricks on him, but he was almost certain he saw the little Geezard's ass walking
through the door.
Dorin looked around again and sighed.
-There's no one here. You're getting paranoid, man. Next you'll be swearing that the
second coming of Hyne is at hand...-
"Hello, Dorin me lad."
Dorin whirled around, instantly recognizing the oily, malice-filled voice. From above
the entrance lept down a man cloaked in the black trench coat of a Draconian officer and a
strange black uniform, almost like a SeeD's. His black pony tail whipped lightly in the breeze
as he unsheathed his long, straight honor blade.
"It's been a while, Vachon," Yuri Zhukov said, grinning arrogantly.
""Not long enough, Zhukov," growled Dorin as he shed his trench coat and unsheathed his
honor blade. "So what do I owe the honor of your presence, traitor?"
Yuri spat at Dorin's feet. "My vengeance and Sorceress Xana. You see, she wanted me to
go and kill someone. But since you happened along, I think you'll do well."
Yuri attacked, slashing overhanded at Dorin, who parried the blow easily and countered
with a cut that Yuri ducked. Yuri grinned and laughed in his high-pitched chuckle. "You think
I'd be that simple, Vachon?"
"Funny, before you used to hide behind your brother and let him do your fighting for
you."
Yuri smirked and took up his stance. "My dear brother Mikhail was a great fighter, but
not much on brains. It was almost too easy the way I pit him against you."
Dorin took up his own stance and circled Yuri. "But look where it got you. Exiled,
disowned, and the little lackey of a power-mad bitch."
Yuri's face contorted in rage. "Maybe, but my revenge begins now!" He attacked with a
series of blows that forced Dorin back.
-Hyne, he was never this good with the blade before.-
The man had been practicing the two years since he had been exiled, and it was showing,
Dorin not having the chance to mount any offense as he was backed to the railing.
Yuri strikes at him with a thrust that Dorin bats to the side and reverses the direction
for a cut. Yuri dodges and leaps out of Dorin's circle of attack. "Not bad, Dorin my
boy. You've been practicing."
"So have you," Dorin mutters, taking up stance again. "You never were one to fight with
a blade."
"Ah, but I've had time to practice. And with Xana's help, I'm more powerful than even
you, Dory. Once I've finished with you, I can kill that little tart and be off."
"You won't get Vira." Dorin growls menacingly.
"Vira? Oh ho no, my boy. I'm supposed to kill a little wench named Rinoa. I guess she's
a sorceress of sorts, so I'll have to kill her."
Dorin blinks in surprise.
-Rinoa? What does Xana have against her except...-
"So Xana can be the only sorceress living, correct?"
Yuri laughs again. "Very good, Dory! Now you're catching on! But I'm getting tired of
chatting. Come, boy, let's dance!"
Dorin attacks, cutting and slashing repeatedly, his blade flashing brilliantly in the
bright sun. Yuri parries every blow, then catches Dorin's blade on his own and punches him in
the jaw. Dorin staggers back, stunned and Yuri takes the advantage. He leaps into the air and
hits Dorin with a powerful kick that sends him over the railing.
Dorin twists in mid air and sees the glass dome of the cafeteria coming up fast to meet
him.
-Shit, bad thing very bad.-
Dorin twists so his shoulders will take the brunt of the impact and then hears the
shattering of glass and the bone-jarring impact of his body on the glass and hopes to Hyne
there wasn't anyone underneath him before he hit something hard and blacks out.
"Attention! Security to 2nd floor observation deck. I repeat, security to 2nd floor
observation deck."
Several SeeDs got up from where they were sitting and jogged out of the cafeteria. Seifer
and Quistis looked at each other with interest as Squall arced an eyebrow. "What do they want
security up there for?"
"Dunno, must be something hot, though," Irvine said as he finished his meal.
Squall sighed.
-Man, I can't even have a decent meal in peace.-
He stood up, pushing his chair back. "I guess I'll be called up there in a few minutes,
might as well get a head start," he said ruefully.
Rinoa laughed as she got up with him. "The duties of the leader of SeeD, right?"
Squall gave scowl and shook his head. "I just wish they'd give me time to eat once in a
whi-"
"HYNE, LOOK OUT!"
The shout came from Zell and then there was a glittering shower of glass. Squall threw
Rinoa to the floor and joined her, shielding her with his body. He heard Seifer cursing and
then the sound of something hitting a table with a loud thump.
Squall looked back to see the inanimate form of Dorin laying in the broken, glass strewn
remains of the table they had just been sitting at.
"Is everyone alright?" Squall shouted as he stood up. There were grumbles and curses
from all except Dorin. Squall knelt next to him, hoping that he was just knocked out.
Dorin groaned and his eyes fluttered open, his gaze focusing on Squall. "Am I too late
for the lunch rush?" he said groggily.
Squall grinned in spite of himself. "You sure know how to make an entrance."
Dorin sat up, feeling the back of his head and his hand came away bloody.
"Are you hurt?" Rinoa asked as she joined Squall.
"I'm alright-LOOK OUT!!" Dorin shoves Squall and Rinoa out of the way as he rolls out
of the way before a man in black flies down through the shattered dome.
Squall sits up and sees the man has a similar blade to Dorin, and when he speaks, he has
the same accent as Dorin, though his voice is rather high and mocking.
"Really, Dorin, you must learn to control your balance. It's quite embarressing to see
you fall down so easily."
"If it isn't the fall that's giving me the headache, it you're voice," Dorin spits back
as he kicks up and brings his sword around in a slash. The man parries it and strikes back,
Dorin and the man going back and forth with a flash of parries, cuts, and thrusts. Squall has
never seen Dorin fight before, and it is quite a sight. However, he notices the man has a
similar style, and he seems to know Dorin.
-Hyne, and there's no weapons allowed in the cafeteria either...-
Irvine crouches next to him and pulls out the Exeter. Squall looks at him. "I didn't
think you could bring that in here."
Irvine looks at him out of the corner of his eye as he pumps a shell into the chamber.
"Are you going to object?"
Squall shakes his head. "Not at the moment. Can you get a clear shot?"
Irvine grunts and sights. "Not yet. It's gonna have to be close though."
Dorin cuts and parries around the ruined cafeteria, the cadets and SeeDs keeping their
distance as they watch the deadly dance. Dorin is still hurting from the fall. He is still
dazed a little, and he is sure his left shoulder is dislocated, so he is fighting with one
hand, putting him at a disadvantage with the two-handed Yuri.
The room is silent, save for the sharp ring of metal on metal as the two blades flash
at each other. Dorin is parrying every blow, but he is getting tired, and the fall has taken
a lot out of him. Still, he can't let Yuri find out who Rinoa is, and that meant he has to
keep him busy.
"So Yuri, how did you get mixed up with Xana? Did she just pick you out of a gutter
somewhere?"
Yuri laughs, his annoying high-pitched cackle beginning to wear on Dorin's nerves.
"Well, actually, she contacted me while I was in Dollet. Rather strange actually, but I won't
bore you with the details." Yuri thrusts for Dorin and he parries it again, Dorin backing up.
Yuri grins evilly and attacks more aggressively, his blade coming down in a swift
overhand strike. Dorin catches it, but is forced back against a table. He is bent back, Yuri
forcing his blade down against his, down towards his throat.
"Time to die, Dorin me lad." Yuri spat through clenched teeth.
"Irvine, take the shot!"
Irvine scowled at Squall as he aimed. "Gotta aim perfect or else the shot'll go through
both of em."
Squall almost grabbed the gun out of his hand and took the shot himself. "I don't care,
just do something!"
Irvine smiled slightly. "Okay."
Dorin hears a gun fire, and Yuri gasps in pain. Yuri lets off of Dorin and Dorin kicks
him back.
Yuri staggers and regains his balance, then turnd to see Irvine pumping another shell in.
"Think you just oughta stop and drop the sword," Irvine says. Dorin nods his thanks to
Irvine and looks back at Yuri, who is holding his shoulder where the bullet has grazed him.
"This isn't over, Vachon," Yuri growls as he turns back to Dorin.
"You're damned right it's not," Dorin spits back. Then, as he watches, Yuri says a word
and the air around him seems to shake and vibrate, and then he is gone.
The SeeDs began to talk excitedly amongst themselves while Squall and the rest walked up
to Dorin.
"Who was that guy?" Zell asked.
Dorin only half heard him. He turned, then brought his blade crashing down on a nearby
table in anger, cutting the thing in two, startling the group.
"Someone I should've killed a long time ago," he said as he stalked out of the cafeteria.
Author's comments: Mysterious, eh? Want to know more about who Yuri is and why he hates
Dorin so much? I'm sure you have an idea, but the whole story will just have to wait. In the
next chapter, things escalate when Xana comes up with a new plan. The rest, well, you'll just
have to wait. Let us know what you think of this chapter by R&R, okay? :) Until next time.
