Almost finished now. ^^ Took me quiet long again, ne? Sorry, but I had to translate another part of Keimos' fic and I had to kill Squall (Just to piss off Laguna ^^) and, oh well, school sure doesn't help, too. T_T And I'm soo tired right now….

Chapter VII

By Kia

*** ***

"The boss has sure taught you a lesson this time, huh?"

"Oh, shut up, Blank! I don't need to hear that."

"Who cares? It's your own fault. You should have known better."

"I did."

"Then why…"

"Just because. Leave it, okay, Blank? I'm tired."

"I bet. That looks quite painful."

"Ouch! Keep your hands off, idiot! Just leave me alone!"

"Oh, pardon me, your mighty! I just wanted to help. Don't worry, I won't do that ever again."

"….    Sorry. I'm just a little pissed off."

"I see.   Where have you been, anyway?"

"Away."

"To do what?"

"Can't tell you."

"Why not?"

"Because it sounds too stupid."

*** ***

It was going to rain. The sky was dark already, very dark and it the distance, still far away but slowly coming nearer, lightning tore across the sky, a low growling of thunder filling the air, that grew louder with every minute. The room was dark, only the last remains of the day's light fell through the window in an useless attempt to lighten it up.

Blank sat in the old wooden chair by the window, not looking out but onto the floor at his feet. He sat there for hours, when he had entered the room it was bright outside, and the dark clouds had been still so far away.

Now they were hanging above his head as if to never leave there. The boy could hardly see the floor now, soon, all there would be was darkness, but he wasn't really seeing it anyway, only saw Zidane's pale face in his minds eye and heard his voice over the distant sound of thunder.

'Goodbye.'

Marcus hadn't understood what it was that made him break down after the ship had disappeared between the clouds and Blank didn't even try to explain it to him. Still, the angry tears kept falling against his will when he realised that what had to happen would happen and there was nothing, absolutely nothing he could do about it. This feeling of helplessness soon turned to desperation and anger, but beside screaming his bitter curses into the sky he hadn't said anything since then, hadn't even bothered to hope that maybe he was wrong and everything would turn out all right. Somehow, he knew it was over.

*** ***

"Oh, back so early? Something wrong with your date?"

"…  I don't want to talk about it."

"Ha! I knew it! Like any girl would be attracted to someone like you!"

"Oh, like you've got any more luck with girls, huh?"

"The girls love me, they just don't show it!"

"For sure! They wouldn't even look at you when I'm near."

"Really? Then how comes I've never actually seen you with a girl? Nor has anyone else."

"Says who?

"Marcus. And Cinna. Ruby too. You know, I think the girls are running from you…"

"Watch your mouth, little one, I'm still bigger than you!"

"Ouch! Stop pulling on my tail, that's mean! You don't even have one!"

"Lucky me! Now say you're sorry!"

"Never!"

"Zidane!"

"Ouch! Meanie!"

*** ***

The thunder sounded nearer now. Still, there was no rain. But the streets ware deserted already, only very few people could be seen outside their houses and all of them walking in a hurry to get back in as soon as possible.

Blank lifted his head and looked out of the window for the first time in hours. A figure came running towards the building, running to the door. It was Cinna, clutching his hammer as if his life would depend on it. He was keeping his head down so that Blank couldn't see his face from his place above him but he knew, be the way he was moving, by the way he wasn't paying attention to his surroundings, by the way he stumbled into the house what news he had to tell them.

Blank just moved his head and continued to stare on the floor.

*** ***

"It's broken."

"I can see that."

"We could fix it, I guess."

"Yeah, but I wanted to give it to Ruby as a birthday present, maybe than she'll stop being mad at me. But giving it to her when it is already broken won't help, I guess."

"You're probably right, it would only piss her off even more."

"I'll have to get a new one."

"I'm still going to fix this one, not need to waste it. But I'll help you with getting a new one. I mean, it's partly my fault it broke, too."

"To be correct it was your chocobo and my carelessness. But it won't be easy to get a new one so fast."

"Doesn't matter, we'll make it somehow. I think the rich guy who lives near Alice's shop has one. Would be easy to steal it."

"Thank you, Zidane."

"Ha, no problem, I'm the best, forgot?"

"How could I…"

*** ***

Time had passed, but not much, or maybe an eternity, when Blank heard footsteps coming closer. He turned his head a little to look at the door, expecting it to open and it did, letting light fall into the room from outside. Marcus stood there but didn't enter, just stood in the open door and looked at him. Like some days ago he was just a dark shadow outlined by the light and something deep inside Blank was glad, for this made it impossible for him so see his face. He himself just sat there staring back at him and waited motionless and strangely calm for his friend to finally find the words he came here to say.

"Blank…" he began after a while and his voice sounded so alien to him, like the voice of a stranger.  "I'm so sorry…"

Blank just took a deep breath and looked away, to the floor or maybe out of the window, it didn't matter. The door closes again but the sound never really reached his mind as he sat there and wondered why his hand were trembling so hard. He had known it, had known it for so long and he hadn't ever doubted that it was true. So why, why, why did it still hurt so much? What was it that made his hands tremble and his eyes water? Zidane was just an idiot, it was his own fault, his own will, his own stupidity that something like this had to happen. So what exactly was it that made his heart ace so much now?

That made the thought of a world without his seem so impossible to bear?

*** ***

" Where have you been, anyway?"

"Away."

"To do what?"

"Can't tell you."

"Why not?"

"Because it sounds too stupid."

"It can't be that stupid if it made you leave without a word and stay away for almost two month."

"…"

"Zidane?"

"I… I just… wanted to find something, you know?"

"Something? Something what?"

"My… my home…my  family and such…"

"Oh…"

"See? Stupid, ne? I knew I wouldn't find it without remembering more than the colour of the light, and still…"

"Zidane? Are you crying…?"

"…No…"

"Listen, kid. Sometimes it's okay to cry. I promise I won't tell anyone."

"That sounds so strange coming from you, Blank."

"Well, I guess I can somehow understand you. Maybe I would do the same if I was in your situation. It's not so stupid at all. And maybe someday you will find your home, if you keep looking for it."

"Blank…"

"But remember, until you find it this will be your home and we will be your family. A family is more than sharing the same blood, you know? And when you need someone, I will always be there for you. Never forget that.."

"Okay, Blank.

                           Thank you".

-tbc-

September 1, 2002

This didn't quite turn out how it should have. I wish it could have been better but for now I'm glad that it's done. I'm hungry, my head hurts and I'm dead tired. Good night. ^^ Until the epilogue, I hope.

(Hmm, I wonder what exactly it was Blank wanted to give Ruby… ^____^)