With bandages sticking out from under his jacket. A constant reminder of the unpleasant experience he'd had in this world hitting him in the face, Setzer was ready to leave this place behind him. But it seemed as if Radiant Garden wasn't done with him yet.
As he approached the gangway he saw a familiar figure blocking his path. In other worlds it had been pretty girls. Here it was a humorless man with a scar across his face.
"Come to make sure I leave?" Setzer said as he approached.
"Not exactly." Leon said.
"Then why are you here?" Leon didn't answer at first. Instead he took a slow and cautious glance around. As if he didn't want passersby eavesdropping on the conversation. Once he was confident that that wasn't the case he took a step closer to Setzer.
"I was going to ask you about our mutual friend."
"What about her?" Leon assumed he meant Tifa. But he was wrong.
"Not her." Setzer blinked in response. And it only took him a moment to look at Leon's scared face for him to the defeat he suffered at Leon's hands Setzer couldn't help but let out a laugh.
"I knew it." He confirmed." I knew the second I saw that scar." Leon moved his hand to his face as if he was trying to wipe it away. Remembering that he couldn't, he brought his arm down again.
"Where is he?" He asked more straightforwardly this time. His mouth was hard and tight. Setzer's curling into a sneer of a smile.
"Last I saw him he was in Twilight Town."
"Twilight Town." Leon repeated. Much to his annoyance the explanation wasn't done.
"He was getting on a Gummi Ship to set off on an adventure. A 'Warrior's Quest' or something he called it." Leon's scowl deepened.
"Where is he now?"
"Couldn't say." Setzer admitted honestly." It was a very long time since I last saw him. And a long time since I see him again I'd wager."
"One can hope." Leon said clearly speaking more for himself. Setzer let out a 'Hmph' before swinging the bag over his shoulder.
"Well I'd say our business here is concluded." He said as he did so." I have a ship to catch and an adventure to continue." Leon simply nodded in response to waiting for Setzer to make his grand exit out of his home." I'll be glad to leave this stupid little place behind me. But you should come by Twilight Town sometime and I'll give you a real homecoming."
"Don't count on it." Leon replied. He had heard enough of Setzer's prattling and didn't know how much he'd have to suffer if the man was leaving. He turned and began marching away. Sensing his annoyance at the situation, Setzer only continued to smile.
"Suite yourself, Squall." He said. The name made Leon suddenly stop in his place. Like he'd hit an invisible wall. Swiftly he turned around now finally ready to continue the conversation Setzer so wanted to have. Instead he saw the man marching up the gangway to his gummi ship. Ready to leave Radiant Garden behind him.
Fuu was grateful to have this alone time with Seifer. She only wished it could have been under more pleasant circumstances. They'd only been in this world for five minutes when Rai was suddenly carried off into the Jungle.
So the duo spent the rest of this afternoon trailing after their lost friend. Hours of nothing but tall trees and thick brush. All until there was at least something sign of civilization.
"Look!" Seifer pointed." Up ahead." Fuu smiled at the sight. A tall golden tower, taller than the trees. Rising up like the sun.
"Civilization." She said. The Village they encountered earlier was nothing but huts and cottages. She found the idea of a Castle more inviting. However as they moved it closer things were not as they originally appeared.
The castle was in ruin. Walls crumbled, stones cracked, towers broken. There wasn't even a roof to this place leaving it open to the hot sun.
Seifer poked his head around the crumbling pillar. Fuu mimicked him a moment later. They tried to be as slow and quiet so as not to be heard. But as they drew closer they realized they could be less cautious. With all the noise they heard nothing short of an elephant stampede would give them away.
"What's going on here?" Seifer questioned in angered confusion." Some kind of party?"
"There!" Fuu pointed. Seifer looked to where she was pointing. The center of the courtyard where there was a stone chair. And someone was sitting in that chair.
"Oh you've got to be kidding me." Seifer sighed in disbelief.
Rai sat on the throne. His stupid, goofy smile spread across his face. He clapped and stomped his feet out of tune to the beat around him. A crown of leaves and fruits was on his head making him look happy and as stupid as a clown.
Finally amongst the music and fun a round, or game orangutan used his long arms to leap across the courtyard to land before Rai.
"Havin fun?" He questioned with a smile.
"You know it!" Rai replied with a laugh."This is really cool, ya know."
"Good, Good." King Louie said rubbing his hands together." Have a banana!" He said showing them again. He didn't wait for a reply and squeezing them in his hands sent them flying from their peel-able skin and sent them flying towards Rai.
Like a dog jumping for a frisbee Rai opened his mouth wide to catch one and then the other. Swallowing both in a single bite.
"Good catch!" Louie clapped his hands.
"I have poor hand eye coordination, ya know." Rai told." But I have a big appetite." Louie scratched his head confused at the comparison." Keep em coming, ya know!"
"I will! I will!" Louie said clapping his hands together. He pushed himself off the ground and landed on the armrest of the throne." But first you do something for me."
"Sure!" Rai agreed although it was clear he didn't know what exactly he was getting into."I'd give the shirt off my back if it meant I could have another banana ya know." The gleam in Louie's eyes increased. As it turned out, that's exactly what he wanted.
"Good." He said leaning forward with his knuckles resting on the armrest.
"Come on." Seifer said waving to Fuu." Let's get down there before he breaks something."
Leaving the docks behind him Leon returned to the place he meant to be. At Tony's fixing his roof.
But while he went off to hanger his personal matters he wasn't so thick headed to not leave someone behind to get the job started for him.
Turning his gaze upwards he saw Sir Kay and Yuffie hard at work.
She was sitting crossed legged while he had his legs spread out across the roof. Yuffie held the board down while Kay hammered.
"We'll look who decided to show up!" Yuffie called after glancing down to see Leon walking around the side of the building. He said nothing in response." Did you get rid of that loser?" Leon grabbed the ladder to steady it before he stepped on.
"He's gone." He said. When his head poked up over the roof, between the duo Yuffie continued.
"Did you fight again?"
"No." Leon said setting his feet onto the roof.
"Do you think you would have won again?" But Leon was not ready for another set of questions on the matter. Quickly he changed the subject.
"I'll take over from here." He said with a nudge of his leg to Yuffie's side.
"We're fine thank you." She quickly answered but kept her attention on the knight across from her." Someone's gotta do all the work around here."
"Someone's got to make sure it's finished too." Leon responded. Yuffie poured her annoyance but the seemingly gave in.
"Fine." She said with a shrug jumping to her feet." I think we're do for a break anyhow." She looked to Kay." Maybe we can go-"
"We still have work to do." Leon said taking Yuffie's place across from Kay. Yuffie was about to say something but Leon and Kay continued where she had left them off. Hammering nails into wood. So the great ninja decided to take a big leap off the roof and onto the ground below." Show off." Leon commented on her exit.
Kay said nothing for a few moments. Just continuing to bang the nails in. Neither of the two men were big on conversation but even Leon could agree the constant booming of bang, bang, bang in his says would get annoying real fast. So got once he tried to start the conversation.
"I think she likes you." It sounded like something Tifa would say. But Leon had no idea what else to say. Kay was equally as confused. He dropped his hammer and looked across the roof with a confused look.
"Huh? What?"
"Nothing." Leon said feeling awkward. Desperately he tried to change up the conversation." So... King Arthur is your brother?" The sad, solemn look cane over Kay's face again. He'd seen it the first night they met.
"Adopted brother." Leon repeated nodding his head." And your father?" The new ruined seemed to make Kay sadder then mentioning his brother. "He's a knight too."
"Yes." Kay answered quickly. Hoping to distract himself from the conversation he began to swing down the hammer again. But he swing too hard and after only two strong swings cracked the board that was meant to cover the whole in the roof. Even worse he hammer slipped from his grasp and went crashing down through the roof. Bouncing off one rafter to break another before crashing in the middle of Tony's restaurant.
Leon and Tony leaned over the hole to see the damage done.
"Don't worry about it." Leon said breaking the silence as he turned back to the knight."That's why we're here in the first place." Fuming Kay stood up and began stomping around. At first he began by punching at the air, but then began to voice his frustrations.
"I can't do anything right! No wonder I'm such a failure." He continued to March around, acting as if he was on solid ground.
"WATCH OUT!" Yelled Leon. Jumping forward he reached out and grabbed Kay by his arm. Glancing down the knight saw he was just a step away from walking off the roof. Carefully Leon pulled him back.
"See." Kay grunted. But his voice was more sad then angry at this point." Can't even see where I'm going." He crossed his arms and sat down on the roof with such a racket that Leon felt he'd fail straight through." Oh I'm no good for anything. Nothing but a failure."
"If you want to see a failure. Look at me."
"YOU?!" Kay spat. He sounded angry but envious." No! That can't be true."
"It is." Leon nodded affirming his point. While the two had not known eachother long they knew the other to be straightforward and blunt." I don't deny it." He settled himself down next to the Knight." This place." He brought a hand up and passed it along the rooftops." Was much different that what you see now. I..." he paused." was different." He could see the disbelief on the knight's fave. And he knew to prove his point he would have to tell him the truth. "I never knew my Mother. And I don't remember much of my father. But I do remember my sister."
"You... had a sister?" Kay asked curios. In his head he simply pictured Leon with longer hair. curlier too.
"Yes." He nodded." Her name was Ellone." He paused to point into the distance." We lived just there at the foot of the castle." That home was gone now. Destroyed along with most of the world.
"Where is she now?" The Knight had to ask.
"Gone." Leon admitted with a sigh. Even after all these years the pain was still there." I searched for them." Leon's mind was not set solely on his sister in that moment. He remembered another woman. With hair sake as night, brown eyes. A gentle nature. And a kind heart. This did not go unnoticed by sir Kay.
"Them?" Asked Kay. At once Leon realized what he'd said. He promised to tell the truth. Though he did not feel the need to say all of it.
"I am no different from any other person here." He continued." Everyone is here because they lost something or someone." I lost everything he wanted to say. The pain would be easy to bare, the guilt less so. The guilt of knowing he could do nothing." All this time I've done everything I could to try and get everyone To forgive and forget. To move on with their lives the best they can. But the truth is I can forget, and I need to forgive myself. Truth is I haven't." He paused to swallow a breath." I don't know that I ever will. Loss will never be easy." Leon told." It's a daily discipline. If only you knew what it cost me." He looked down solemnly to the ground." Ellone. My Rinoa." A silence lingered In the aftermath of his words.
"The Witch." Kay broke in." Did she give you this." He ran his finger along his face, between his eyes.
"No." Leon admitted." That was another fight." But he was not ready to tell that story here and now.
"Well if she was here. If you could, would you fight her?" Leon raised an eyebrow at him." For your revenge?" Not exactly the question Leon had expected yet he knew the answer right away.
"No."
"NO?!" The knight jolted." But she ruined your life. Took everything from you like you said."
"If she was here." Leon answered." She'd undoubtedly be up to no good. And I would stop her from doing evil. But for revenge" he shook his head." No." Looking at Kay it looked like the knight needed more clarification." It wouldn't change anything. It wouldn't bring anyone back." To that Kay let out a deep exhale.
"I think..." he began slowly." I think" it seemed as if the words were hard to say but he said them all the same." I understand."
"I think you do." Leon agreed. He reached out a hand and put it on Kay's shoulder. After a friendly pay he spoke again." Come on, we've done enough work for today." The knight smiled a wide, goofy smile.
"Hehe sure." He agreed." What's say we go to Seventh Heaven for a few Mint Sodas-WHOA!" So eager he was that he took a wide step forward. Nearly falling off the roof. Lucky once more Leon was there to catch him.
"Let's not start that again." And he pulled Kay into a safer distance.
"Wait!" Fuu let out, putting her arm forward and stopping Seifer in his tracks.
"What is it?" He asked, confused. Fuu was silent for a few seconds but before long explained her sudden behavior.
"There!" she pointed ahead. Seifer looked forward to see a shadow stretching across the wall. Tall and wide, with arms swaying from side to side. It could only have been the shadow of Rai as he rounded the corner. Seifer breathed a sigh of relief glad to be getting out of here sooner rather than later.
As the shadow turned the corner while it might have walked like Rai, talked like Rai it was clearly not Rai.
"Hey there guys, ya know." Louie said, pushing off his knuckles and flying through the air before landing before them. Rai's orange shirt was too long for him and could have counted for shoes he wore on his hands rather then his feet which only dipped and dangled when bounced off his arms. The chain around his neck clicked and clanked whenever he moved.
"Oh My" Seifer sighed, slapping a hand to his face. He wasn't in the mood for this.
"The names Louie. The King of the Swingers. And this is my part of the jungle cuz."
"Swingers?" Fuu questioned." What is a swinger?"
"He's just a dumb monkey." Seifer waved dismissively." Don't take him too seriously." Louie pouted in response.
"That's not true." He protested." I'm a man just like you. See" he pulled at the shirt that loosely clung to his person." A shirt. And I got the shoes, ya know." He said rearing up on his long arms to show the untied shoelaces he had.
"Well you smell like Rai that's for sure." Seifer said, waving the smell away from his nose. Fuu pitched is her's shut." Come on!" Seifer said, pushing his way forward, sending the King of the swingers to the ground in the process." Let's get out of here. I'm sick of this jungle."
"Sick of it." Fuu repeated. The two rounded the corner leaving Louie to pick himself up from the ground.
He pushed himself up on his arms only to look down and gasp realizing he'd ripped his new white shoes. His long fingers poked out of them like gloves. Not only that but his orange shirt was ripped straight down the middle, making it look like he was wearing a towel. But at least his pants still fit.
Happily Louie pulled up at his belt, pulling his pants up as high as they could do. His chest. But he gave them too hard of a pull which caused them to split right between the legs. Showing the heart shaped boxers he had underneath.
"RAI!" Seifer yelled as he emerged into his courtyard. At the sound of his call the music and singing came to a sudden halt. And at the sight of him the monkeys all scattered and ran in every direction they could. Leaving only one remaining.
"Hey Seifer!" Rai chuckled happily. They saw his head poking out from behind the throne they'd originally seen him in." There you are. And Fuu too." The duo watched as a long, naked leg poked itself out from behind the throne." You're both here ya know." As he spoke he stepped out from behind the Throne and showed himself. Fuu and once shielded her eyes behind her hands. Seifer red with second hand embarrassment looked anywhere but forward.
Rai was standing there, lucky enough not naked as the day he was born. But he wore a leaf around his waist. Rai himself of course didn't seem to have any problem with this.
"Want a banana?" He offered his friends.
"NO!" Seifer replied, slapping it to the floor." We're leaving NOW!"
"Oh C'mon." Rai pouted." Things were just getting good, ya know."
"We're leaving!" Seifer repeated.
Following the conclusion of their work day Leon and Kay returned home.
Kay at once sat down on the sofa to at once be joined by Yuffie. Seemingly appearing out of nowhere only to bounce onto the empty cushion beside him.
Leon made his way toward one side of the kitchen counter. Where opposite him Tifa was standing drinking a glass of water.
"Where's Merlin?" He asked as a form of greeting. Tifa took a sip of her water before answering.
"Haven't seen him." Leon rolled his eyes annoyed.
"Well let me know when you see him." He turned and looked over this shoulder at Kay." There's something I want to ask him."
"Okay." Tifa nodded though Leon didn't see it. He slowly turned around to face her. Though this time she didn't see him, too busy cleaning out the cup she just drank from." How about we go do something?"
" I think you'll find me less useful then a Wizard for whatever you have in mind." She said with a soft chuckle. Still she hadn't looked at him.
"No I mean-" he paused a moment. His voice caught in his throat." Just you and me."
Finally Tifa picked her head up and looked at him. When he did he thought someone else was looking at him. But Their eyes were different colors.
"We could go for a walk." Leon said. It had been the first thing that popped into his head. Their smiles were similar too. All teeth, all happiness.
"I'd like that." She said pushing a strand of hair behind one ear.
