Chrono Cross: Time of Reminiscence

Chrono Cross: Time of Reminiscence

Disclaimer: Well I should say, once again, that I don't own Chrono Cross or the characters or anything in that game, it's rightfully for Squaresoft. 

          *Sorry for the long wait, I just got back from my big birthday vacation at Long Beach. I was gonna put this up back in July, but it seems stuff just came up and kept me busy. And the site was having trouble, so my timing right then was bad. But anyways, thanks for the reviews. It really encourages me to write more. Well anyways, enjoy 2nd chapter! And, just in case, this is my first fanfic story of Chrono Cross. So be easy on me, 'kay?

 

Chapter 2- Arni Village: Remembering the old days and recalling dreams come.

          "Kidd, hang in there. I'll take care of you. Just hang on! Don't leave me!" Footsteps where heard running fast in the grassy plain.

          "Oh, its you Serge, why are you running so fast like that? Oh my, who's this?"

          "Sorry, I can't talk right now. I'm in a hurry to help her." A door swung open with a loud smack. "Mom, are you here!? Kidd needs help!"

          "Serge, why are you home early? And who is this… Kidd? Wait...don't tell me that the young girl you're holding is-"

          "Yeah mom, she needs help!" A squeaky door opened, entering a room with two wind chimes that made a mystical sound from the rhythm of the wind. Movement suddenly protruded her body and someone laid her on a soft thing.

          "Kidd, don't worry. I try my best to get you well." Something warm came on her cheek and footsteps started to fade away.

          Kidd opened her eyes, after recalling the sounds and feelings she felt and heard during her knock out. "Oi...what just happened to me...?"

          She slowly sat up, looking around. "How did I end up here? Wait, me amulet!" She looked into her pouch but didn't find her belt and her dagger. "Where the bloody hell is me things? Agh, my over-shirt is gone too. Whoever stole me stuff is gonna get their arse kicked," she retorted and leaped out of bed crossly.

          But instead of landing, she stumbled and fell to the ground, almost hitting the nightstand. "Oof! Bugger, I'm still weak in the legs!" she retorted again. A picture frame fell on her face, as she was about to get up. "Agh, what the...! Err...stupid thing! I'm gonna..."

          Kidd was about to throw it until something caught her eye. She slowly glimpse at it. "This...is," Kidd slowly fingered the image, dazed, "...a picture of...all of us...before we went off to defeat the Devourer of Time..." gasped Kidd in surprise. "But only all forty-two of us have this picture so we can remember this whole adventure in our hearts. So...this must be Serge's room." She heard the little wind chimes, glimmering in the sunlight as it made its mystical sound with the sea breeze.

"Well, that's stupid of me. I shouldn't figure it out by now with the wind chimes. I guess this is what I get for being unconscious for...sometime. Come to think of it, where's Serge?" 

With nothing else to do until Serge comes back, Kidd started to explore his room. She never had a chance to look in his room with all the adventures around. Frankly, the things he collects and his room all neat somehow amazed Kidd; books in shelves and two on the desk, the surface of his drawer full with pictures and shells that look beautiful, a chair near the balcony, looking towards the ocean, and many stuff that she couldn't name.

"So this how Serge's room looks like. Oi, it's cleaner than Korcha's, no offense of course. And more of those pictures too."

She picked the nearest one on the drawer and began to look at it. Without a doubt, it was Serge when he was three with his father Wazuki. "Aww, how cute Serge was. He'll probably be embarrassed when I show him these. But, it's sad that he lost his father at a young age. Poor Serge."

Kidd started to pick another one after putting back the first one. This time, it was a picture of Serge and Leena at the age of seven, smiling at Opassa Beach. "Cute too. I guess they were swimming at Opassa Beach when they took this pic. Wait, this scene looks awfully familiar. Ah well, on to the next one."

Another image she picked up is when Serge was seventeen, with his mom and Leena at age sixteen. "I wouldn't say anything about this pic but he sure is taller than his mom."

The last picture she saw on the drawer was a pic of Serge, Glenn, and herself at the entrance of Termina, posing. "Hehehe, I remember this day. We went to Termina to get some drinks before kicking the arse off of the Devourer of Time. I was pretty sure that Serge and Glenn got real drunk with Sake that we got kicked out of the bar."

Kidd walked around a bit and sat back down on the bed, her legs feeling weak. "What's wrong with me today? I feel all jittery and weak." She leaned back on the pillow and looked up the ceiling, thinking about those memories. Her eyes darted around the room until to her surprise; another picture was on the nightstand, near the bed and facing Kidd.

"Huh, what's this?" She sat up and looked at it. "Wait...a minute...this picture...it's..." stumbled Kidd as she blushed. The picture showed a picture of Serge and herself, on Korcha's boat with the ocean to their backs.

          From out of nowhere, a loud kicking sound that came from the balcony made Kidd jerk and alert in her position. She gently put the picture back on the nightstand and cautiously walked over there, keeping a watchful eye of her every move. 

          Another sound was heard when Kidd was close enough to see, but not close enough to be seen.

          "Whoever's there is gonna get their arses kicked so hard, IT will kiss the moons!" retorted Kidd, prepared for action.

          Moments passed and there's nothing coming out of Serge's balcony. No movement, no noise; just plain quietness with the sound of the waves.

         

          "Err…I thought there would be some action. Bugger, I hate quietness. It gives me the creeps. What the bloody hell is goin' on?" She started to walk over to the balcony; her heart beat increasing its throb. Kidd looked over warily and slowly fell to her knees in relief, her heart beating normally again.

          Serge was sitting on the rails, gazing into the horizon with the sea breeze flowing through his ocean color hair. He seems not to notice Kidd behind him.

          "Oi Serge, don't scare me like that. At least tell me you were there, mate."

          "…"

          "Eh? Are ya listenin' to me or are ya deaf? C'mon on mate, talk to me!" There was no answer again, making Kidd steam up in the back.

         

          Kidd began walking violently, with a huge angry glare at Serge, who was still in the depths of his reminiscence. She leaned towards Serge and realized the problem.

          "Tch, no wonder. He's in his own world again. Well, I guess it's back to the old trick all over again," sighed Kidd, starting to look around. Somewhere around the balcony, she found something that made her smile uncanny like.

          Kidd picked it up and with one heave…

          "WAH!" yelled a very freaked out Serge as he felt the cold salty water soaking into his skin. He started to move crazy, trying to keep his balance on the rails. With one thud, he landed on the floor, his right arm and leg straight above his face.

          Kidd began to laugh, seeing his face all soaked and his eyes swirling. "Grrr, what did you do that for?! I wasn't screaming FIRE and running like a mad man or any…any…ACHOO!"

         

          She continued to laugh when Serge was walking out of his room, unaware that his wet shoes are making mouse-like squeaks.

          Marge was looking out the village when she heard that squeaky sound, her face turning pale. She went over to the cabinet and quickly grabbed a broom.

          Serge was coming downstairs, minding his own business when…

          "AHHH! YOU STUPID MOUSE! GET OUT! GET OUT!" yelled Marge, whacking a broom on Serge's head.

          "Agh, Mom!"

          "I SAID GET OUT, YOU STUPID MOUSE! OR IT'S CAT CHOW FOR YOU!"

          "But…ow… mom-"

          "Serge, don't bother me right now! Can't you see that I'm getting this mouse out of our house?" pleaded his mom, still whacking away.

          "I can see that mom. But, you're-"

          "Serge, don't make me...repeat…my…self?" Marge finally opened her eyes.

          "Mom…I… can… see… that… but there's only one problem. I'M THAT BIG FAT SQUEAKY LITTLE MOUSE WHO HAPPENS TO GET A PIECE OF CHEESE!!!" yelled Serge annoyed. Besides being all soaked and filled with straw on his hair and mouth, several bumps formed on top of Serge's head.

          "Oh my! I'm sorry, Serge," said Marge, sweat dropping. "But, why in heavens are you-"

          "Don't even ask mom," replied Serge, grabbing his towel and headed back upstairs with nothing more to say.

          "Aww, did the poor little mouse get whacked by his mommy," teased Kidd.

          "Err…shut up! It wasn't my fault that my shoes sounded like a mouse," retorted Serge as he dried his hair roughly. "And it wasn't my fault that I got wet since SOMEONE got me wet with a pail full of water."

          "Sorry, mate. That was the only way to get ya out of yer trance. And besides, I did that to ya numerals of times before."

          Serge finally had his hair dry and began walking to his drawer. Kidd looked away, glaring at the picture near the nightstand again. "Serge, I guess you still remember those days, eh? What took you so long to remember me?" asked Kidd, fumbling the sheets on Serge's bed.

          "I guess you can say that I couldn't recognize you in that white gown and your hair down. And I couldn't tell if you were you or I might make that my ten-thousandth time for misunderstanding," said Serge, now putting on a fresh black shirt and shorts. "But, somehow I don't really like your girlish-"

          "What?! You don't like me new style?!" interrupted Kidd with a anger tone in her voice.

          "No, no. I don't mean that. You look…cute in it. But, you look even cuter in those clothes."

          Kidd began to blush as she heard the compliment. Instead of thanking him, she laughed out the embarrassment away, which is a usual routine of hers whenever someone compliments her. Otherwise, if the compliment was right-down bad, she'll kick their arses with an upper punch for extra.

 

           "So Serge, how you doin' after all these months that passed by without me?" asked Kidd, turning to see Serge sitting by her, fully dressed in his usual clothing.

          "Pretty good so far. Sometimes tiring too when it comes to chores around the house. I never really have the time to go to Termina or anything with Leena convincing me to get her Komodo Dragon scales for her."



          Kidd bowed down her head as Serge mentioned Leena, her very thoughts rushing into her mind while listening to Serge talking. The thoughts that rushed through her skeptical mind made her feel melancholy and hurt inside. Kidd never thought she would get this feeling ever again.

          "Kidd, what's wrong?" asked Serge, leaning down, looking directly at her. "Are you still a bit knocked out from the fight at Opassa Beach?"

          "Opassa Beach, that's where everythin' had started. Where Serge and Leena talked about their life before he was stripped into Another World where I first met him,' thought Kidd, remembering that day.

          "Kidd…? Kidd!" called Serge, shaking her from her thoughts.

          'They…were meant to be together after all these months. They've been friends for a long time and he's closer to her than he is with me. But…why does it hurt?

'

          "Kidd, answer me. Are you alright?" asked Serge.

          "Huh, what?" said Kidd, shaking her head from her feelings.

          "You all right? You seem kind of…occupied," said Serge, now with a tone of concern and his blue eyes full of worry.

          She glanced at him and smiled, "I-I'm okay, mate. I…just got a lot of things in me mind right now. No worries mate."

          Silence protruded between them, Kidd went to her thoughts again while Serge looked her, still with concern and worry in her eyes. He knows that if he snaps her out of her trance, she'll get angry.

          "Serge…I guess you and Leena are really together from now on, aren't ya?" asked Kidd solemnly.

 

          "What?" Serge looked at her, his eyes wandering from worry to surprise, widening by every second.

 

          "…You married Leena by now, ain't that right? Don't worry, I won't come between you and her. Besides, you know her more than me…and I understand that."

          "What are you saying?" asked Serge.

          Tears began to form in her eyes, showing the hurt from her broken heart. Of how much it's broken and how much pain she suffered. But, Kidd tried to hold them back.

          "Maybe I am just a copy of my mother. I can't even kill a simple kind of monster. I'm nothing more than a useless life form that was only born for one purpose in life without dreamin' about their future! Maybe I shouldn't gone with Lucca, to be with her in the skies above instead of seeing how everything turned out bloody bad in me life."

          "Don't say that Kidd! It's not like you to be like this," said Serge, finally come to terms of what Kidd is talking about. He grabbed her hands suddenly, looking into her light blue eyes that reflect the summer skies.

          "I think your misunderstanding things. I never married Leena, Kidd. Never did, never will. At that time of the adventures we both gone through, I've been distancing from her and we never gone back to the way we were before I was gone to Another World where I met you." Kidd looked up in his determined blue eyes, her tears returning to her.

         

          "And that battle with that Giant Gloop, you'd usually beat it til it dies, but somehow you declined. I guess the penalty looking for me really did put away your fighting spirit. Probably something is holding back your spirit from fighting. And… I thought…I lost you again, when we…finally found each other." Serge looked away from her, thinking.

          Utter silence once again went in the room, making the two feel uneasy. Changing the subject, Kidd finally spoke out.

          "Serge…when you left me…after defeating the Devourer of Time and releasing my mom from its bloody grasp, I felt…lonely again at that very moment. Remindin' me of my past with Sis leaving me, my friends leaving me, and now, you leaving me. Everyone who I hold dear is leaving me." Kidd could no longer hold the tears that she held so long. Without a doubt, she let them streak down her cheek.

          "Huh?"

          "I've been…searching for you all this time. You're the only one that have ever been

me best mate. The only…one who understands me. I just couldn't…couldn't," stumbled Kidd, her heart beginning to feel the pain she felt when she was lonely, her very weak spot taking over her strong mentally feelings. She couldn't bear any longer with the pain, so she started crying. Serge never saw her like this. Crying like a fragile baby, helpless in her part.

          "Kidd…it's okay, don't cry," said Serge, wrapping his warm, strong arms around Kidd, hugging her. "Don't say everyone is leaving you. Probably its just your own feelings giving false thoughts about you, but I'm gonna say this. There are friends all around here in this world like Glenn, Orlha, Steena, Greco, Guile, Marcy, Karsh, Nikki, Miki, Korcha, Macha, Mel, and so on and so forth; they're all here. If I still have my memories of the past, they should remember also. They will be there for you Kidd. I will be there for you," said Serge, gently rocking Kidd back and forth, comforting her with his hug.

          Kidd, on the other hand, was taken back by surprise with Serge's hug. But, she started drifting with his movement, beginning to feel at ease. At that moment, Kidd started to realize the point in Serge's words.

 

"Yer…right Serge. Even though Lucca and my old friends are no longer around, you and the others are still around and you guys will always be there for me. Why am I crying like a sissy? I should live on with me life, thinking that I am not alone and move on to a brighter future," said Kidd, feeling the confidence in her words.

"Feeling better?" She nodded and lifted her head up from Serge's shoulder. He smiled down at her, seeing the old Kidd back to normal.

'I was so caught up with worries that I couldn't kick the scrony arse off that Giant Gloop. This time around, when I fight, I'll surely beat any creature with me dagger around.'

Kidd leaned back her head into Serge's shoulder. The two stayed like that, hugging each other for any remains of their troubles. Kidd wanted this touchable moment to last.

Few minutes later, Serge broke the hug and started walking to the door. "We better head down there before my mom comes here. You better get your stuff back on before going downstairs. It should be dried up by now. Later." He disappeared downstairs, leaving Kidd alone in the room.

          Kidd sat there for a moment, absorbing his warmth in her skin, feeling cozy and secure. "This is the first time…he ever did that to me. What changed him all of a sudden? Well, I better do as he says." She finally stood up and started to put on her stuff.

          Meanwhile, Serge and his mom were sitting down near the window, talking a bit. "Did your friend Kidd recovered consciousness?" asked Marge worriedly.

"Yeah, she's out of it and regained consciousness. No broken limbs or sprains. I'm just glad she's all right."

"That's good to hear. There's something I want to ask you Serge. How do you know Kidd? I never seen her around Arni."

"What? Well…err…uhh…that is…you see-" Kidd walked in, greeted Marge with a smile. "Phew, saved by her," thought Serge, sighing in his chair.

"Hi, Mrs…?"

"Just call me Marge, Kidd. It's nice to see you well. After that incident a few hours ago, I thought you might never regain consciousness. Please sit down." Kidd took her advice and sat on a chair near Serge. "I see you are not from around here. Are you new to these islands?"

Kidd looked Serge for a moment, showing an expression of nervousness. He only smiled at her, reassuring her that his mom is a nice and trusted person. "Urm…yeah, sort of. I travel a lot to different islands and continents on me own."

"You, a young girl traveling alone? Doesn't your family worry about you?"

"Mom!" interrupted Serge, giving her the look that she shouldn't mention Kidd's parents.

Kidd looked down, her long blonde bangs blocking her eyes. "I…actually…don't have any…family. I was an orphan all my life."

"Oh my, I am terribly sorry about that," apologized Marge. Kidd gestured her and smiled convincing Marge it was fine.

                  

          "Don't worry. I've been alone for all these years that I'm used to it." Complete silence protruded the house again.

 

          "…Kidd, you may stay here as long as you want. I never met a young girl that is so brave like you with the horrible past behind your back like that."

          "Umm…well…T-thanks." Kidd glanced at Serge who showed a wide grin.

         

          "Oh my goodness, you two must be starving. I'll go fix up dinner right away. Gosh, it must be five o clock right now."

          Serge stood up quickly, glaring at his mom. "Err…Mom, do you need any help?"

         

          Marge turned around and shook her head. "It's okay. You go ahead and talk to Kidd. After all, she is your friend, right?" Marge disappeared into the kitchen.

          "Right, mom," said Serge. He glanced at Kidd for a moment. He noticed that she was fond of Arni Village, seeing her glistened with interest. "You look like you never seen Arni Kidd."

          Kidd turned and smiled, "It's not what ya think, mate. When I look at yer home, it sorta reminds me of my home. People living peacefully with kids playing without a doubt in their minds. Yeah, it really does remind of home."

          "Your home? What is your homeland like Kidd? I only heard you mention about Lucca and your friends. But not your homeland."

          "Well, it's probably long gone by now. I'm not sure what really happened why, but if you want to know, I guess so." She turned around again, looking up the blue sky. "My…homeland is in the mainland named Guardia."

          "Guardia?! That name, it sounds so familiar…" thought Serge as he laid his hand on top of his chin.  "Radius explained that to me once, the Radius in Another world. He said Guardia went through a major downfall. But, I'm not sure what. Kidd was sick with Hydra poison when I heard of this, so she couldn't of known."

          "But, I know for the fact that it's already in shambles now," said Kidd, turning to the thinking Serge. "Did you know Norris and the Porre Army lives close to Guardia?"

          "Huh, the Porre army? Living close to Guardia?"

          "Before we were all born, I think it use to be a little village called Porre near the south region of Guardia. Sis told me once that every thousand years, a festival is held at a square called… Leene Square."

          "Leene Square?!" said Serge in surprise.

          "Yeah, to celebrate the battle between Guardia's King and Queen Leene and a group of beasts from their leader Magus. Well, I never actually been to the fair, but Sis and me buds usually go there to see Leene's Bell ringing beautifully."

          "Leene's Bell? Oh no, the one in Dead Sea…it couldn't be…" Serge looked at Kidd surprised.

          "Hehehe, mate, yer funny sometimes. You look like a small kid who's confused right now," giggled Kidd.

          "…"

          "Serge? You all right, mate? You look pale. Are ya comin' down with a cold? If it has to do with the water thang, sorry 'bout that, mate."

          "N-no, it's not that. I'm just surprised that you actually told me your homeland's name without breaking out." 'And the thought you actually know about Guardia and Leene's Square…'

          "Nah, I'm used to it mate. It was a long time ago, so no worries about me mate. Just stick with yer life style now and everythin' will be all right like you said to me before."

          "Hehehe, I just got a lot of things in my mind that's all." Serge got up and sat across from where Kidd is sitting.

          "A beautiful day, isn't it?" asked Serge, staring at the same direction as Kidd.

         

          "Yeah, a good day for fishin', swimmin', and probably a good day to travel to Termina."

          "You think? Probably we could see Glenn and the others…Hey, that's not a bad idea."

          "Whaddaya mean, mate? Go swimmin' is a good idea? You know, it's not my kind of month to swi…"

          "No, no. I mean, go to Termina. It's been a while since I been there, you know. We can spend our time there and we could see all our old friends again. We may even borrow Korcha's boat to see Marbule and Guldove. Hehehe, not unless you want that wife-to-be deal with him again," said Serge.

          "AH! Don't even think 'bout remindin' me about that! I'd be caught dead marrying that guy! Or I'll kick yer arse to the moons if you mention that one more time!"

          "Sorry, sorry. Hehehe," giggled Serge.

          "Did I hear you say your going to Termina, Serge?" said Leena from behind. Serge and Kidd suddenly jumped from their seats as they heard Leena's voice.

          "Don't you ever knock, Leena? You scared me half to death there," panted Serge.

          "Well, we're friends aren't we? So I don't need to knock."

          "Not knocking, eh? That's not a bad idea," thought Kidd with a sly smile running through her mouth.

          Leena looked at Kidd suspiciously as she sat on a chair next to Serge. "Who is she?  I never seen her around before?" asked Leena, pointing one finger at Kidd.

         

          "Aw… don't ya know it's rude to point at people? It will discourage a lot of people that way." 'Or kick her arse in some point.'

          "Only to those who wear skimpy little skirts and shirts that are so revealing to men like yours," said Leena with a skeptical grin.

          "Grr…what DIDJA SAY!?" retorted Kidd, a stress mark appearing above her head.

          "You every well know what I mean, tom-boy. No, rat girl, hahaha." Kidd's emotions are starting to explode in mid-air after Leena insulted Kidd's way of dressing and personality. And, of course, being called a rat girl.

         

          "Umm…umm…Leena, I wouldn't say that if I were you," said Serge nervously, turning his head left to right, sweat dropping frantically. "I knew there's gonna be something going on with these two."

          "Well, at least I don't make friends do stuff for me every single day of their lives, even when they have a busy day. Or drag people to Opassa Beach when they don't WANT to!" said Kidd, trying to cool down her rage.

          "WHAT! That's absurd! I don't drag my friends to places! But I did drag Serge a few hours a…Hey! How do you know I dragged Serge to Opassa Beach!" yelled Leena angrily.

          "Oh no," sighed Serge in frustration, bobbing his head down. 'Why am I always in the middle. Aiyaaa…'

          "It happens Serge told me about it," said Kidd, folding her arms across her chest.

          "Serge, is it true?"

          "…"

          "There you go with your silent thing again. What's with you?"

          "Can you just leave him alone? He had a tough day today for being me lifesaver."

          "Lifesaver? How is did he save your…Wait a minute. Don't tell me that this…this rat girl…" Kidd began to fire up with a grunt after being called rat girl again. "…is…is that loon sitting in the water?!"  At that moment, Serge could feel how Kidd's feeling at that moment. Leena calling her a loon and a rat girl wanted was his last straw.

          "It happens to be her, Leena. And she has a name too you know. Her name's Kidd and she's my friend that you don't know about," said Serge calmly.

          "WHAT!?" yelled Leena, in a crying tone of voice, running up to Serge with those puppy-like eyes.

          "It's not what you think, Leena. We're just friends."

         

          "Just friends, eh?"

          "How do you know her, Serge? You actually made friends with that…that…loon without compromising with me?"

          "Yeah, yeah. Well, we'll see you later, Leena. Come on Kidd," said Serge, Kidd and him walking outside to Arni quickly.

          "HEY WAIT!!!" called Leena from behind. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

          Outside, Serge and Kidd walked side-by-side as Leena tagged along. "Serge, you didn't answer my question. Tell me who she is and where she came from!" yelled Leena. The people outside looked at Serge and Kidd who were trying to avoid Leena.

          "Oh boy, Leena's at it again," said an old man.

          "Yes, every single girlfriend friend that Serge makes, Leena is always on his case. Or either that, she drank too much Sake that her mother brought from Termina," said Leena's grandmother.

          "No, I'm not telling you," said Serge.

Few minutes have passed and now, Serge, Kidd, and Leena pass by the pier.

          "Come on Serge, please?"

          "No!"

Another few minutes, they pass by Leena's place. 

          "Pretty please, Serge? With sugar on top?"

          "NO!" Kidd began to giggle as she watched the whole scene.

After thirty minutes of thirty-two no's and fifty different questions, the three are in front of Serge's home, still trying to avoid Leena.

          "Okay, okay, Sergey. You can play house with us. I even can let you be the baby," said Leena.

          Serge abruptly stopped in his tracks, completely dumbfounded of what Leena just said. "W-what did you say?!"

          "HeheheHAHAHAha, Serge, a baby? HAHAHAHA!" laughed Kidd as she fell to the ground.

          "Err…Leena! Don't you think we're a little too OLD for that game?!" said Serge, glaring at Leena, a angry mark forming. "No, let me fix it. We're A LOT too OLD for that game!"

          "Huh? I thought you said you wanted to play that game with me? And you said you wanted that part."

          "Leena! YOU wanted that part! Besides, I never really wanted to play with that game. Never did, never will!" said Serge.

          "Oh well. Hey, can you still fit in that pink dress now?"

          "AHH!" cried Serge as he fell to the ground aggravated.

          "Heh, it must be the Sake," said Leena's grandmother. 

          Soon, another thirty minutes has passed. Serge and Kidd sat down in relief that Leena went to the pier for baby-sitting. Kidd still giggled after the thought of Serge dressed as a baby, wearing a pink dress with a matching pink bow.

          "If you're thinking about that, don't you say that to the others when we meet up with them."

          "Sorry, mate. I can't get the thought of you as a…HAHAHAHA!"

          "Everyone's picking on me today," sighed Serge, breathing in deeply. Marge came out with a smile crossing through her face.

          "You guys had fun?" asked Marge warmly.

          "Yeah, loads of fun, mom. I had the best time of my life!" said Serge sarcastically.

          "Umm…okay…Well, anyways, its time for dinner."

          An hour or so later, Serge and Kidd went up to his room and talked while Marge deals with the dishes. Serge looked out of the balcony looking into the horizon with the sun setting into the boarder of sea perspective. Kidd stared at him for a moment, admiring how mature he grown and how he became even sweeter than before. Even though Leena just blurted out an embarrassing misunderstanding to Serge.

          "Kidd, I'll be right back. I just need to do something at Cape Howl," said Serge as he went out the door. "Well, later."

          She smiled and nodded, seeing him off and closed the door gently behind him. "He looks like he needs to be alone for a bit." Kidd jumped out of bed and looked out the balcony. She noticed the sun setting into the horizon, an orange-like line lighting the edge of the sea. She sighed and sat on Serge's bed, thinking. "I'm guessing mate forgot to tell his mom about travelin' to Termina." She leaned down on the pillow, breathing in Serge's scent. Kidd smiled as it tickled her nose happy it smelt good. "I wonder what Serge is goin' to do at Cape Howl?"

          Kidd looked up the ceiling and closed her eyes. "What should I do Nel? If yer up there lookin' down at me…right now."

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          *Just so you know, if you put in Kenshin's "Departure" Theme, it will fit in with this part. You don't have to put it in if you want; it's just my opinion. Well back to the story

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          At Cape Howl, Serge walked along the rocky ground, looking out into the now moonlight night. Without a doubt he was deep in thought, sighing countless of times. "Nngh…" Serge clinched his eyes shut as flowing images swiped through his mind.

                    The End of Time, a place where different portholes of timelines stood in straight and dignified lines. Stood there, an old sage looked at the timelines, seeing the events occurred in each one.

 

          "Serge, a new kind of evil suddenly appeared after the massive battle between the Devourer of Time. Shortly, he will try and disrupt our peaceful world. He will kill everything, including the women and children he will kill. His feelings have nothing more than deep abhorrence to this world and he will stop at nothing to conquer it.  But, most of all, no matter what path or decision you make, Serge, "HE" will be after your life."

          Serge looked on as he gasped with the sudden tragic words that will determine his Fate. "Why is this person after my life?"

          The old man stepped out of the dark and into the light, revealing himself the inventor of the "Neo Epoch"; the person who told Serge about the Parallel Worlds of El Nido Archipelago.

          "Belthasar?" said Serge in surprise. The "Guru of Reason" disappeared, leaving Serge through the flow of his vision.

         

          "Serge…" said a voice from his head.

          A flash image of Kidd, sitting at his side, looked down with worry. Another image flashed and he sees Kidd talking to Doc, a doctor from Guldove. "Doc, you gotta tell me what's wrong with Serge. He was so hot, you can actually cook an egg on his head. He collapsed all of a sudden in front of me own eyes and there wasn't any heat stroke nor he was seasick."

          " As it turns out Kidd, it seems the Pa…crackle" Doc's voice was unclear and Serge couldn't comprehend the unfinished word.

          "What!? But… how!? Serge!" cried Kidd, her eyes suddenly turned from worry to utter surprise.

          The scene disappeared and he now overlooks Termina. Kidd, Glenn, Leena and Korcha were with him, walking along the booths with the clustered crowd along the road. Again, the scene disappears and he sees only Kidd with him, heading back west from the merchant booths. At that very scenery, a mystery man, darkened in the scenery, bumped into Serge, abruptly, with a huge grunt.

          "I am awfully sorry sir," apologized the mystery man, turning around to Serge as he bowed down in deep regrets.

          "Nah, that's okay." Serge turned around and looked at Kidd who was smiling.

          "C'mon mate. Let's meet up with the others." That scene vanished and the scene reappears with Kidd, Leena, Glenn, and Korcha on the boat, drifting into sea.

          The image began to blur as he felt a sharp pain in his stomach and head. "Serge, you all right, mate? Don't tell me yer seasick? And I thought you like the ocean," said Kidd as she patted his shoulder.

          He smiled and nodded at her, his gaze returning to the sea. The pain started to increase as Serge grasped his stomach. Soon, the sudden pain disappeared from his stomach and he sighed as he enjoyed the ocean breeze.

          From behind, he could hear Kidd arguing with Korcha about the marriage deal and Leena and Glenn started talking. He was happy to see the old times returning to him.

          Suddenly, out of the blue, the pain returned to him so quickly that he agonized with pain like a spear piercing through his flesh. This time, the pain was in his head. The tenderness kept on increasing, making him feel weak in his legs.

          "Serge!" cried everyone in unison. The first was Kidd to come up to him as she tried to hold him still. "Mate, you all right? Serge!"

          Serge could hardly hear Kidd's voice. He started clutching his forehead as he began to stumble backwards, backing away from Kidd. Subsequently, the soreness began to throb harder and harder, making Serge clutch his temples with both of his hands, sinking into his knees with his head bowing down like a worn out rag doll.

          "Serge? Serge!" cried Kidd. With one last breath, he fell to the wooden floor head first, his consciousness finally fled away from him.

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          Serge looked on to the horizon, the ocean breeze blowing through his blue hair swiftly, recalling the dream this morning that he never told Kidd about before they met again at Opassa Beach.  "That…dream. What is it all about? Could it be that my fate is to die at just a short age?"

          He looked on as he stared into the starry sky. Soon, he sat down on the grounds of Cape Howl, trying to fit the puzzles of his dream. His eyes harden as his emotions began to play with his mind. "What does Belthasar mean by his words of wisdom. Everything seems fine to me. Damn, could this be my true fate?"

          Serge looked away and stared at the dark horizon. "Just who is this evil? And why he wants to take my life away?" The wind began to blow violently as he thought about his new evil nemesis. With his eyes turned to his look of determination, he breathed deeply into the sea air. "Whoever it is, I'll stop HIM!" he said at the top of his lungs. With that, the wind started coming in rapidly, circling around him as if Nature knew what he is talking about.

          Kidd, standing afar from Serge in the shadows, looked on as his ocean colored hair swayed through the raging wind with worry in her bright blue eyes. "Serge…"