Author's note, eh? Shouldn't the story stand on its own? Oh, well. If you're reading this, you've found the first part of the story "As Yet Untitled". There's no prologue or anything--it starts here. I don't know where it's going to end, but it's probably gonna be a while. A few warnings: fanfic characters ahead. Lots of Irvine and Laguna ahead.
I don't like the categorizing systems here. The story has aspects of romance, humor, drama, stuff . . . so what am I supposed to call it? Oh well. Hope you enjoy it. Let me know what you think.
-Rei Helen
Chapter One: Business as Usual in Balamb Garden
A woman stepped off the ferry from Dollet to Balamb, unable to conceal her smile. She squinted as sunlight glared off her glasses, looking at her surroundings. She followed the sign to the item shop and picked up a couple potions, just in case.
"There's a bus that'll take you to the Garden in about a half hour," the shopkeeper said. "It's dangerous for a young lady to go alone."
The woman laughed. "I used to be in the army," she said. "I can take care of myself." She tossed her gold-brown hair and smiled. "But I appreciate your concern."
Selphie Tilmitt, who was also shopping in the item shop, almost dropped her basket of groceries. The woman looked so familiar . . .
"I'm heading for Garden, too," she offered. The woman turned and looked at her, then smiled again.
"You would be," she said. "Selphie Tilmitt, isn't it?"
Selphie blushed and smiled. She still wasn't used to her celebrity status, but it was had to stay unknown when one had saved the world. She began placing her items on the counter and the shopkeeper rang them up. "That's me, all right," she said.
"I don't suppose Irvine Kinneas is at the Balamb Garden as well, is he?" the woman wondered.
Selphie was a little confused. What does she want with Irvine? she wondered.
"Yeah, he's there," she said.
The woman let out a heavy sigh, closing her eyes in an expression of exhaustion and relief. "I have to see him," she said. "I'm--it's important."
Selphie's mind began to fly from one possibility to another. Did Irvine have some other girlfriend back in Galbadia? I shouldn't be jealous--it's not like we're, like committed or anything, but . . .he could have told me! I should have expected this--a guy like him can't settle down with just one girl, I suppose--but . . .
"I should get going," the woman said. "If you don't mind coming with me, it's probably better to go together."
Selphie nodded. "Okay . . ."
"My name's Esarene, by the way," the woman said as they walked through the door. Selphie tried to estimate her age, but found herself at a loss. Probably a little older . . . too old to date Irvine, she tried to tell herself. Maybe they're friends from Galbadia. Like how Ellone's so close to Squall--there's nothing romantic about it! I shouldn't lose faith in Irvine!
But she did feel insecure. Next to Esarene, she looked like an immature little kid--and of course Irvine would rather have a real woman, she thought. He's so slick! Why should I expect him to care about a little girl he had a crush on when he was a kid . . .those things never last in real life.
They took the shortcut across the fields, and Esarene held her own against the Bug Bites and Glacial Eyes with a claw that she strapped onto her glove. After one battle, though, Selphie noticed that she was rubbing her left shoulder and wincing.
"You're hurt," Selphie said. "I can take care of these monsters, y'know, if you want to rest . . ."
"No, it's okay," Esarene replied. "It's an old injury. I'm used to it--besides, a little exercise should do me some good." She shrugged. "I've let myself get lazy--let you SeeDs hog the attention."
Selphie shrugged. "So, uh . . .how do you know Irvine then?"
Esarene blushed. "It's kind of a long story," she said. "I . . ." She hesitated, then made a curse under her breath. "Behind us!"
They spun around to attack the two Glacial Eyes who had crept up behind them, and after that Esarene began to ask questions about the mission and wouldn't let Selphie change the subject back to her relationship with Irvine. Selphie felt as if a storm cloud must have been following her by the time they arrived at the Garden.
"Um, I've got to take this stuff back to the dorms--Irvine's probably hanging around somewhere, but I don't know . . ."
"Thank you for bringing me here. Hopefully we'll run into each other again, Ms. Tilmitt."
"That doesn't sound right! No one calls me Ms. Anything--Selphie is fine. Thanks for helping me out, um, Esarene."
"You're welcome. It was nice meeting you, Selphie."
Selphie felt as if her smile was just a bit forced, and let out a breath she hadn't known she'd been holding when she encountered Zell.
"Man, who was the babe you came in with?" Zell wanted to know. "She was . . .whew!"
"She said her name is Esarene," Selphie replied. "And she's here to see Irvine."
"What for?"
"I don't know. She kept changing the subject." She can't know how I feel . . .unless Irvine told . . .no, he wouldn't do that! He wouldn't make a fool of me, I know he wouldn't!
"So, did you pick up that stuff I asked for?"
"Yeah, you owe me three hundred gil."
"Three hundred?" Zell gasped. "And my SeeD ranking went down today, too . . .you think, after all we've been through, they'd cut me a little slack on the T-board issue . . ."
*
Meanwhile, Irvine was completing his morning routine, brushing his hair in front of the mirror in the restroom of the men's dormitory. Squall walked in. "Well, you're up early, Irvine," he grunted. "What is it? Two o'clock?"
Irvine shrugged. So maybe "morning routine" wasn't quite the right phrase. "I need my beauty rest," he said matter-of-factly.
"Whatever," Squall said, walking into a stall and shutting the door.
Irvine pulled a band over his hair with practiced ease and twisted to look at his ponytail in the mirror. He smiled--perfect as usual--and lifted his hat up onto his head.
I wonder if Selphie's back from Balamb yet.
He walked out of the restroom and down through the dormitory halls, making his way towards the SeeD women's wing. Zell came flying around a corner and almost ran him over.
"There you are, man!"
"Last time I checked," Irvine replied with a cool shrug.
"There's some lady here to see you, and man . . ." Zell grinned. "She is hot."
"What do you mean? Who is she?" Irvine wondered. Squall had emerged from the bathroom and was coming down the hall behind them.
"Yo, Squall!" Zell greeted him.
"Hey," Squall shrugged in reply. He continued down the hall., heading for parts unknown.
"Well, at least I got a word outta him," Zell said. "Some things never change."
"He looks tired," commented Irvine.
"Too many long nights with Rinoa, I suppose," Zell snickered. Irvine thought he wouldn't mind being worn down in such a fashion, but . . .no. It wasn't right. And now Zell had changed the subject.
Irvine scratched the back of his neck. "Really, though, what were you talking about? Some hot lady wanted to see me?"
"Yeah. She came in with Selphie. She told me her name was Esarene."
"Esarene?" Irvine repeated. He couldn't place it--didn't think he'd ever heard the name before.
"Do you know her?" Zell wondered.
Irvine shook his head. "The name doesn't ring a bell," he said. "I don't know. Do you know why she's here?"
"Nope. Selphie said she wouldn't say."
"Huh. Well, I guess there's only one way to find out. Where'd she go?"
"I dunno. Wandering around, looking for you."
Irvine rolled his eyes. "How about Selphie? Where'd she go?"
"Back to her room."
"I'm gonna go talk to her. Alone, if you don't mind," Irvine said.
"All right," Zell replied. "Don't let me get in your way."
"Nothing like that, you know?" Irvine said with his trademark shrug. "I wanna find out what's going on, that's all."
"I see. Well, hope things go well for you. And put in a good word for me with this Esarene. Catch ya later!" Zell jogged away.
*
I'm not sure what I expected, but this wasn't it. Life went on as usual at the Garden that had raised many of the world's heroes. Not Irvine, though. Esarene knew her newspaper clippings well. He was in Galbadia. To think, all that time, he was so close to me and I never knew . . .
Young men and women in uniforms strolled through the halls of Balamb Garden, and Esarene felt awkward and out of place. She couldn't bring herself to speak to one of the uniformed students, and spoke instead to a younger boy who was jogging laps around the complex.
"Excuse me, have you seen Irvine?"
The young Garden student looked up to see a woman jogging along beside him. "Nope," the boy replied. "He's probably still asleep. He's so lazy. Now, me, I'm training hard every day!"
"Good luck," Esarene said, and the boy jogged away. She sighed. I wonder what he's like. She began to hum to herself, a song that came to mind although she hadn't heard it in a long time. I mean, I've read about him in the newspapers, but that doesn't tell me what he's like. He probably won't like me.
"That song," a voice behind her said. Esarene turned around slowly.
"I've always loved that song," she said. She looked curiously into the man's sad eyes. There were just a few wrinkles around those eyes, and she guessed that he might be around forty. The man's casual appearance was enough to put her at ease, though, in comparison to the stark SeeD uniforms. "I can't do it justice, I'm sorry."
"Nah, it just brings back memories, that's all." He pushed aside his black hair to wipe his eyes.
"I think it does for a lot of people--we all think of the Sorceress Wars. Once, I actually saw her perform it, live," Esarene said.
"You mean . . .you saw Julia Heartilly . . .?" the man replied, looking confused.
"Yeah," Esarene replied. "She was so talented, it's such a shame . . ." The man turned his face away.
"There's no point dwelling on what-ifs," he said.
Esarene could see that he was hurting, and she didn't want to pry further, so she changed the subject. "Do you know Irvine Kinneas?" she wondered.
"Yeah."
"Have you seen him?"
"No, I haven't. What do you need?"
"I need to talk to him," she said.
"Well, we might be able to page him on the intercom, if it's important . . ."
"I don't think it's the kind of thing that you'd page someone about," Esarene replied. She blushed. "It's kind of hard to explain." She shifted her weight and winced as she felt pain shoot through her shoulder.
"Are you all right?"
"Yeah. My shoulder's getting back at me for putting it through some exercise it didn't want this morning." She rotated her arm, sighing. "It's not bad, really."
"I understand. Sometimes my leg cramps up on me, and . . .well." He grinned. "You could go see if Irvine's in his room, the men's dormitory is down that hall," he added, pointing. Esarene returned his smile.
"Thanks," she replied.
He looked about the right age to have been involved in the Sorceress Wars, she thought. We all lost so much--everyone knew someone who died. How many times have I wondered what if--
What if I could see Irvine again? What if my brother had survived? What if my parents . . .
But it's pointless. That man was right--'what if's will get you nowhere.
*
Whoa, here comes that lady again! All right--gotta act cool. Zell shoved his hands in his pockets, leaning against a doorframe.
"Um, excuse me, I'm looking for someone," Esarene said.
"Well, you've found someone, haven't you?" Zell replied.
Esarene sighed. "This is the men's dormitory, correct?"
"That's right. I live here."
Esarene squinted at him. "That's right, I guess I have seen you before!"
Of course she recognizes me, thought Zell. I am, after all, one of the saviors of our world! Haha, it's no wonder that--
"You're that boy who was talking to Selphie!"
Zell's attempt at charm was broken. "Whaa--?"
"So you probably know Irvine, too, right?"
Zell exploded. "Of course I do! We went through it all together! Do you know who I am?"
Esarene raised an eyebrow. "Well, um, I . . ."
"I'm Zell Dincht! The Zell, for Hyne's sake!"
Esarene took a step back. "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't recognize you. Please, have you seen Irvine?"
"He's over talking to his girlfriend," Zell said, emphasizing the words. "I don't think we should bug him right now."
Esarene raised an eyebrow. We? What is this kid talking about? "If you say so," she said uncertainly.
"If you want, I could show you around the Garden," Zell suggested. "It's your first time here, isn't it?"
Esarene shrugged. "If you're not busy . . ."
"Oh, no, it'd be my pleasure," Zell said. Esarene blinked.
"Fine. Let's go."
*
"Miss Trepe, I've got to do the Fire Cave. Would you do me the honor of being my support?"
The blonde young lady looked up from her desk to see Lana, a dark-haired Trepie with a ponytail, staring at her plaintively.
"Well, I need to finish up these reports first," Quistis replied, typing notes written in Headmaster Cid's messy scrawl. "Go ahead," I said. "You two deserve a second honeymoon," I said. "I'll take care of the paperwork until you get back," I said. "The Garden's in good hands with Squall and the rest of us," I said. I must've been insane. Maybe I can con Lana into helping me.
"The sooner I get this done, the sooner we can go," she said. "How are you at typing?"
"Not very good," Lana admitted. "But I can try! I'd love to help you, Miss Trepe!"
Quistis shrugged. Better than nothing. "Okay, I just need you to type a couple sheets up for me. Just as it's written, all right?"
Lana squinted at the sheets Quistis handed her. "Did a cat write this or something?"
"Worse. It's the Headmaster's writing."
"I can't even make sense out of this. What the heck is it talking about? Ammonie and Espinxes?"
"That's income and expenses. Forget it." Quistis took the papers back from Lana.
"Can't somebody else do this stupid stuff?"
Quistis remembered the excuses people had given her when she'd asked a similar question that morning.
Selphie: Oh, no, I've gotta go shopping! Like, now! See ya!
Squall: . . .
Irvine: rolling over in bed Mrrrfff. Go away. Or I'm getting the rifle.
Rinoa: But I'm not really a SeeD, so I don't understand that stuff.
Zell: speeding by on his hoverboard What? CRASH! (Xu, in the distance, "Zell, we need to talk.")
"I think I'd rather go fight Ultimecia again. Alone. Naked, with one hand tied behind my back," Quistis muttered after Lana left.
"And this is one of our fine, computer-equipped classrooms," she heard Zell say as the door swung open. "Oh, hi, Quistis."
"When do you suppose--" the woman who accompanied him began, but cut off as she saw Quistis standing up and walking towards them. Her expression was not one of welcome.
"Zell, sit down." She glared at him. "Now. You are typing Cid's notes for the database."
"But I--" Zell gulped. ". . . Yes ma'am."
Quistis and Esarene both hid smiles. "I don't think we've been introduced," said Quistis.
"I'm Esarene. Quistis Trepe, I presume?"
"Quistis, what's this word supposed to be?" Zell wondered, already typing away.
"That's 'velocity'." Quistis said, leaning over to glance at the page to which he pointed. She sighed a sigh of relief.
*
"Really, I have no idea who she is," Irvine said. "I've never met anyone named Esarene--not that I can remember."
"I believe you," Selphie replied. The two of them were sitting on Selphie's bed--just sitting, to Irvine's secret disappointment. "But that just makes it stranger. Why would she be looking for you?"
"I don't know, she might be a fan or something."
"She acted like she knew you, though." Selphie blushed. "I thought that she might be, like, your girlfriend or something."
"No way!" Irvine said. "I've never met a girl who was up to my standards--well, until now, of course."
Selphie blinked. "Oh, really?"
"Yeah," Irvine replied. He smiled.
"And who might this girl be?" Selphie wondered innocently.
"Well, she's always been very special to me . . ." Irvine began, inching closer to Selphie. "You shouldn't even have to ask." Now, he thought. Our first kiss . . . He leaned in close to Selphie, who didn't seem to mind--
"Have either of you seen Laguna anywhere?"
Selphie looked up. "Laguna?"
"Damnit!" Irvine cried.
"Um, excuse me," Rinoa said. "I'll take that as a no."
"Why are you looking for Sir Laguna?"
"Because nobody's seen him since this morning."
"He probably wandered off and got lost or something." Irvine shrugged. "I haven't seen him."
"Great," Rinoa groaned. "Kiros and Ward are mad--there's some sort of important call from Esthar, and he's not responding to his pager."
"Good luck finding him." Irvine phrased it as a dismissal, and Rinoa shrugged and walked away.
*
"Have any of you seen him?" Rinoa asked Quistis and company. Quistis blinked.
"Who?"
"Laguna," Rinoa replied.
"Laguna?" Esarene repeated.
"If you've read the newspapers, you must've heard of Laguna Loire," Quistis said.
"The name sounds . . . familiar . . ." Esarene drifted off.
"About yay tall, with black hair he's usually got in a ponytail, about forty-four years old . . ." explained Zell.
Rinoa coughed. "Forty-five."
"You know that well?"
"I've been hanging out with Selphie lately," Rinoa defended herself. "I can give you all the stats."
"I think I did see someone like that," said Esarene. "He was down in the main hallway."
"When? Where did he go?" Rinoa asked.
"Um . . .he went down a yellow walkway . . .I think . . ."
"The parking lot? Cool. Go catch him, I'll go get Ward and Kiros." Rinoa sprinted off.
"Great, I'll go fetch Laguna." Zell jumped up.
"You're not going anywhere," Quistis said.
"Shit," Zell muttered.
"What was that?" Quistis snapped.
"Um, nothing, ma'am."
Quistis turned to Esarene. "Um . . .do you think you could find Laguna? Just keep him in the parking lot."
"Um . . .okay," Esarene replied softly. "The yellow one?"
"Yes. There's a sign that says 'Parking Lot'. You can't miss it."
"Sure." Esarene sounded unsure, but she took the order anyway. Hey . . .I've got nothing else to do, right?
She stepped onto the elevator. What did I expect when I came here, anyway? I just want to see him . . . to talk to him . . . I don't know if I could tell him . . . how are you supposed to say that to someone, anyway? Hey, I know we've never talked before, but I gave birth to you. So, what's happened to you in the last, oh, seventeen years?
The doors of the elevator opened again, and Esarene stepped through. The yellow one, she thought. I think it was this way.
She had picked the wrong direction, and ended up walking more than half the circle before she came to the parking lot. I hope he's still there, she thought, jogging a bit, though I don't know why he'd just hang out in the parking lot . . .
She pushed open the door. Oh. And then made an odd sound as a kid ran by, giggling madly, and a spray of water connected with her ear.
Slowly she turned to see where it had come from. And saw the man called Laguna, holding a squirtgun behind his back and trying to look innocent.
The kid laughed. "You're in trouble, Mr. Laguna."
Esarene wiped her ear. "Mr. Loire?" she said softly.
"I'm really sorry, I wasn't paying attention . . ." He started walking towards her. Esarene counted four children in the parking lot with Laguna, having put their water fight on hold when she entered. Laguna seemed to be the worst soaked . . .
Rather pathetic, for someone who has so much experience with a machine gun.
"It's all right." Esarene sighed. "I'm supposed to keep you here until Ward and Kiros arrive. There's a call from Esthar."
"Why didn't they page me?" Laguna began, pulling a pager from his pocket. He looked at it, frowned, and tried shaking it. A few drops of water ran down its side to drop onto the cement. "Piece of junk, anyway."
"Can I have it, Mr. Laguna?" a little girl wondered. The children were gathering around Laguna.
"Sure, Iana," he said, giving the pager to the girl.
This is the president of Esthar? She said it aloud before she could stop herself.
"I'm sorry, I don't think we've been introduced," Laguna said, scratching the back of his head with his squirtgun. One of the kids slipped a squirtgun into Esarene's hand.
"Huh?"
"You have to get him back," the small boy explained, giggling.
"But I'm--" she was about to say she was an adult, but the words stopped in her throat. She lifted the gun, feeling strange with the trigger under her finger. She pointed it at Laguna. "Should I, then?"
"It's not gonna make much of a difference," Laguna replied with a shrug. "I'm already soaked."
"Oh, is this lady gonna play with us, too?" the girl who had received Laguna's pager wanted to know.
Esarene stepped closer and closer to Laguna, still holding the watergun straight out from her body, aimed straight for his heart. She stopped when it was only a few inches from his chest.
"Bang," she said, sending a stream of water at his chest.
