Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Final Fantasy IX characters but my
characters are my own creations and I do own the rights to them.
Chapter Twelve: New Challenge
It was Market Day at the castle. Phina, Garnet, Vivi, and Eiko left the castle early that morning so they could get a jumpstart on the days shopping. They all talked merrily on the way down to the docks. Phina was excited about going. For the first time since Emma had died she could buy what she needed rather that steal it. When they reached the marketplace they found that even though they had left early it was still packed.
Bright colors were everywhere. They could smell bread baking and the spices from some of the more exotic dishes made their mouths water. Over the din that covered the entire square, stall owners and customers could be heard haggling over the price of cloth or other items. The group was jostled everywhere they went but they didn't mind.
"Can we go play with the kids over there?" Eiko pleaded pulling on Garnet's leg. She laughed at the small girl before nodding her head. Eiko grabbed the black mage and pulled him over to two girls playing jump rope. Vivi waved goodbye to Phina and Garnet who returned to their shopping.
"So what do you think of Zidane?" Garnet asked slyly, examining an orange she had picked up from a stall.
"What do you mean by that?" Phina asked, looking at her out of the corner of her eye.
"Do you like him?" Garnet demanded impatiently.
"Well of course I do. If I didn't like him I wouldn't be friends with him," Phina said wondering where this was going.
"That's not what I mean."
"Well, then what do you mean?" Phina said, throwing her hands in the air.
"I mean, do you feel something more than friendship."
"That's none of your business!" snapped Phina. She felt a blush coming on when she remembered the kiss Zidane had given her a two nights ago. She quickly fought it and turned her attention back to Garnet.
"He-he. That means you like him," Garnet teased with a giggle.
"No it doesn't! It means that it's none of your business!" Phina yelled losing what was left of her short temper.
"Whatever you say," Garnet replied smugly. She turned her back to Phina and continued searching for oranges that she might want to buy. Phina growled under her breath trying to convince herself that there was nothing between Zidane and herself. She tried to convince herself that that kiss had meant nothing to either of them. She wanted to believe that she wasn't happy. She didn't want to lose anybody else like she had lost Emma and her family.
~Are you sure you felt nothing?~ A nagging voice in her head asked. She flashed back to that night he had kissed her. She was happy. Hell, she'd even kissed him back. But she didn't want to think like that. She had been hurt already and didn't want to have it happen again. Shoving all of her incriminating thoughts to the back of her head, she looked around to find Garnet heading to a back alley stall. Her senses went on high alert from habit. Phina followed Garnet to the stall, looking in every direction.
"Isn't this cloth beautiful?" Garnet cooed, holding up a bright bolt of fabric.
"Yeah," Phina stated absently. She walked away from the stall while Garnet purchased the cloth. Phina turned the corner and found herself facing a man. He was tall and lanky with dark hair and brown eyes. Just looking at him gave Phina the chills. A small beeping sound ensued from his trouser pocket.
He put his hand in and pulled out a beeping contraption. Looking up, he gave Phina an evil grin.
"Well, it looks like I've found the witch that the wizard is so afraid of," the man sneered. The grin didn't fade as he pulled out a knife. Phina's eyes widened and her mouth became a scowl.
"What are you talking about?" she demanded, drawing her sword. If it was a fight he wanted then he would get it.
"Someone wants you dead. And I'm the one here to do the job."
"Who wants me dead. Tell me!"
"You'll have to defeat me first. And even then I may not tell you just because that's the way I work," he replied with a bragging tone.
"Fine. We'll do it your way."
^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
Yet another cliffhanger. Don't worry though. The next chapter will be up soon.
Chapter Twelve: New Challenge
It was Market Day at the castle. Phina, Garnet, Vivi, and Eiko left the castle early that morning so they could get a jumpstart on the days shopping. They all talked merrily on the way down to the docks. Phina was excited about going. For the first time since Emma had died she could buy what she needed rather that steal it. When they reached the marketplace they found that even though they had left early it was still packed.
Bright colors were everywhere. They could smell bread baking and the spices from some of the more exotic dishes made their mouths water. Over the din that covered the entire square, stall owners and customers could be heard haggling over the price of cloth or other items. The group was jostled everywhere they went but they didn't mind.
"Can we go play with the kids over there?" Eiko pleaded pulling on Garnet's leg. She laughed at the small girl before nodding her head. Eiko grabbed the black mage and pulled him over to two girls playing jump rope. Vivi waved goodbye to Phina and Garnet who returned to their shopping.
"So what do you think of Zidane?" Garnet asked slyly, examining an orange she had picked up from a stall.
"What do you mean by that?" Phina asked, looking at her out of the corner of her eye.
"Do you like him?" Garnet demanded impatiently.
"Well of course I do. If I didn't like him I wouldn't be friends with him," Phina said wondering where this was going.
"That's not what I mean."
"Well, then what do you mean?" Phina said, throwing her hands in the air.
"I mean, do you feel something more than friendship."
"That's none of your business!" snapped Phina. She felt a blush coming on when she remembered the kiss Zidane had given her a two nights ago. She quickly fought it and turned her attention back to Garnet.
"He-he. That means you like him," Garnet teased with a giggle.
"No it doesn't! It means that it's none of your business!" Phina yelled losing what was left of her short temper.
"Whatever you say," Garnet replied smugly. She turned her back to Phina and continued searching for oranges that she might want to buy. Phina growled under her breath trying to convince herself that there was nothing between Zidane and herself. She tried to convince herself that that kiss had meant nothing to either of them. She wanted to believe that she wasn't happy. She didn't want to lose anybody else like she had lost Emma and her family.
~Are you sure you felt nothing?~ A nagging voice in her head asked. She flashed back to that night he had kissed her. She was happy. Hell, she'd even kissed him back. But she didn't want to think like that. She had been hurt already and didn't want to have it happen again. Shoving all of her incriminating thoughts to the back of her head, she looked around to find Garnet heading to a back alley stall. Her senses went on high alert from habit. Phina followed Garnet to the stall, looking in every direction.
"Isn't this cloth beautiful?" Garnet cooed, holding up a bright bolt of fabric.
"Yeah," Phina stated absently. She walked away from the stall while Garnet purchased the cloth. Phina turned the corner and found herself facing a man. He was tall and lanky with dark hair and brown eyes. Just looking at him gave Phina the chills. A small beeping sound ensued from his trouser pocket.
He put his hand in and pulled out a beeping contraption. Looking up, he gave Phina an evil grin.
"Well, it looks like I've found the witch that the wizard is so afraid of," the man sneered. The grin didn't fade as he pulled out a knife. Phina's eyes widened and her mouth became a scowl.
"What are you talking about?" she demanded, drawing her sword. If it was a fight he wanted then he would get it.
"Someone wants you dead. And I'm the one here to do the job."
"Who wants me dead. Tell me!"
"You'll have to defeat me first. And even then I may not tell you just because that's the way I work," he replied with a bragging tone.
"Fine. We'll do it your way."
^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
Yet another cliffhanger. Don't worry though. The next chapter will be up soon.
