~Chapter five~
Keladryie scrubbed a fleck of dirt off a sword blade and held it up to check that it
was properly cleaned. The sword gleamed in the artificial light, as clean as the old
weapon would be. Kella slid it into its respective sheath and laid it next to the
others. Stretching her cramped limbs, she looked around at the armoury. All of the
weapons were finally clean and Willard had just gone to sweep out the practise
room. Looking at the clock on the wall, Keladryie groaned; it was five in the
afternoon. Shutting the door to the armoury, Kella walked stiffly into the practise
room.
"Hurry up Trepe." She snapped. "I have other things to do." Willard shot her a
charming smile as he leant on his broom.
"But Miss Keladryie, I don't want this date to end." He drawled. "When I'm not
with you, my heart contracts and cries out for you." His grey eyes twinkling with
merriment as Keladryie rolled her eyes.
"Shut your face Trepe and go hit on some girl that can actually stand to look at
your ugly face." She snapped and stalked out of the practise area. Willard
chuckled softly to himself and put the broom away before leaving as well.
Walking down the corridor, Kella headed for the Garden entrance to get some fresh
air. On her way there, Fureya stopped her.
"Keladryie." She started hesitantly, catching her attention. "Do you know where
Willard went?" Keladryie snorted impatiently as her emerald eyes studied the
shorter youths face.
"Why would I know where that skirt chaser is?" She murmured softly. Fureya
paused, startled by the softness in her voice, before shrugging.
"Was just curious." She said gruffly and shuffled off, leaving a thoughtful Keladryie
behind.
Keladryie sat on a ledge outside the Garden feeling a gentle breeze toy with her
long red dyed locks. Without warning, a pang of homesickness coursed through
her. She missed her father and her mother; even her little brother. Sighing
inaudibly, she hugged her knees to her chest and stared at the cerulean blue sky
dotted with fluffy white clouds. Slowly and softly, she began to hum a song her
father had taught her when she was little. It always reminded her of him and often
lightened her mood.
The noise of someone softly clearing his or her throat distracted Keladryie from her
thoughts. Keladryie turned to face the new comer.
The girl was really short with waves of thick reddish brown hair falling past her
shoulders and framing her thin face. Her green eyes were bright, but didn't
compare to Keladryie's own vivid emerald orbs.
"Yes?" Kella asked, looking the girl over as she tucked a curl of red brown hair
behind her ear.
"I'm Amelia James Kinneas." The girl piped cheerfully. "Weapons Mistress Kumara
sent me to look for you. She said that you would be able to show me around
because like my mother, I transferred from Trabia Garden to take the SeeD exams
here."
Keladryie looked the girl over carefully, although there was a bright smile across
her lips, it didn't quite reach her eyes. Her eyes were sombre and seemed to
contain a sad shadow within their depths.
Keladryie sighed and hopped off the ledge, she knew if she didn't do it the
Weapons Mistress would probably assign her some other menial task.
"Sure, c'mon then." She said lightly deciding to make the best of it.
Half an hour later, Keladryie waved a tired goodbye to Amelia and retreated to the
sanctity of her dorm. Amelia had chattered endlessly during her tour and had only
paused when Keladryie had explained something. Afterwards, Amelia had insisted
that they eat dinner together. It was a slightly taxing chore, but it did pass the
time.
Keladryie flopped down on to her bed and exhaled noisily. Stifling a yawn, she
rolled over to face the wall and it wasn't long before she'd nodded off to sleep.
~*~
"Almasy and Hanover." Barked the weapons mistress. "You two have been way to
dangerous with your weapons as of late. I want you to use dulled practise
weapons. Also, you two will be sparring partners today and I hope you both use
this chance to get the itch out of your hands."
Keladryie and Fureya groaned and entered the armoury. Keladryie grabbed an old
gunblade and hefted it. The edge had dulled enough to be considered good for
beginners, same with the Naginata Fureya grasped. Although the blades were
dulled, the were still capable of cutting through less resistant materials like cloth
and so forth. Sifting through the practice swords available, Fureya thrust a short
one in her belt after deeming it suitable.
Without bothering to follow any sort of sportsmanlike custom, the pair began their
battle. They fought with a ferocity that proved the Weapons Mistresses words to
be correct; they had an itch in their hands to fight. They circled around each
other, parried blows, thrust dulled blades at each other and defended. It was
almost a monotonous cycle of blows.
Finally Keladryie broke through, landing a glancing blow on Fureya's shoulder.
Fureya cried out with pain as her shoulder flared in hot pain. Gritting her teeth she
attacked with a renewed determination.
Keladryie let out a war cry she'd learned off her father and swung the gunblade
over her head and bringing it down towards Fureya. Fureya thrust the Naginata up
to parry the blow, but at a slightly crooked angle. The wooden part of the weapon
took the force of the downswing and shattered into two main parts as well
countless little splinters. The bladed end fell and thudded on to the ground with a
noise that caught everyone's attention.
Fureya discarded the remnants of the weapon she still held and drew her short
sword swiftly. Keladryie smiled grimly and whipped her blade in crescent circle, a
move the revived the duel.
The fighting continued on for longer, Fureya handicapped by a shorter range and
an aching shoulder was starting to tire.
Skipping forward after dodging a downward swing, Fureya thrust towards her
opponent. Kella responded quickly by jumping aside and yanking her blade in an
upwards swing. The edge of Keladryie's gunblade tore open Fureya's shirt as well
as slicing through the material of the binding that kept her breasts hidden.
Fureya dropped her weapon and stepped back as the onlookers were instantly
hushed.
"You're a girl." Stuttered Keladryie as she stared at the person she'd thought she'd
had a crush. Shame fuelled her anger as she realized she'd been duped.
Willard came up to stand next to Fureya as she stared at the crowd with saucer
like eyes as the weapons mistress came up.
"What is the meaning of this disruption?" She demanded as she glared at them all
in turn before seeing the problem. "Oh I see. Willard, I recommend that you go get
your mother." She ordered tartly, waiting as he reluctantly complied. Shrugging off
her tunic, she handed it to Fureya who gratefully put it on. They waited in silence
until the Headmistress arrived.
Quistis strode in and zeroed in on Fureya who offered an apologetic smile.
"Fureya Leonhart. You're father is tearing up the countryside looking for you." The
blonde woman said furiously, drawing surprised stares from the class. Keladryie
narrowed her vivid green eyes at the girl.
"Your Leonharts brat?" She demanded, ignoring the silencing glance from Quistis.
"No wonder your such a freak." She spat in disgust before the Weapons Mistress
shut her up.
"Fureya collect your weapons, your belongs and go to my office. I'm sending you
home." Quistis growled her eyes flashing with anger. Fureya bit her lip and squared
her shoulders.
"I can't go home. I have a SeeD exam to take and you have no right to expel me
when I have committed no wrongdoing. Disguising one's sex is not in the rule book
so therefore it is not against the rules." Fureya stated tartly, catching the older
woman off guard.
"Seeing as your right, I assume that you stay." Quistis paused as the girl grinned
proudly. "But I will be informing your father of your whereabouts." With that last
remark, Quistis strode out of the practise room and left a silent class in her wake.
"Oh no." Groaned Fureya as she rubbed her forehead. "Father will kill me."
Keladryie grinned smugly at her.
"Serves you right Leonhart. You should have never come here." She said snidely
and turned her back. Willard narrowed his grey eyes and hugged Fureya
comfortingly.
"Miss Leonhart." Growled the Weapons Mistress. "Go back to your dorm and
change your clothes. You are released for the afternoon." Kumara paused and her
eyes flicked across to Willard. "Take Mr Trepe with you, he can help you move out
into a female dorm." She said stiffly.
~*~
Quistis Trepe's fingers hovered over the button that would connect the call
between her and Squall. She was hesitant to tell him because she knew he'd
developed a temper; a temper that would be brought down on herself and Fureya.
Squall would be furious that Fureya was here and furious that Quistis hadn't
noticed her right away. Headmistress Trepe did admit that she had been lax in her
search by looking for a girl with long raven hair; hair can be easily cut and as
proved a sex disguised. Steeling herself, Quistis stabbed the button and squared
her shoulders as Squall's weary face appeared on screen.
"Quistis?" He murmured wearily. "What's up? There's been no news of Reya if
that's what you're calling about." Quistis quivered slightly and shook her head.
"I know." She murmured softly. Squalls grey eyes sharpened and he shot her a
curious look. "I found your daughter Squall." Squall's features froze, he'd been
waiting for those words so long that he could scarcely believe they'd been said.
"You found Reya?" He nearly shouted. "Where was she? Where is she now?"
Quistis flinched and drew a breath.
"She was enrolled as a student at Balamb." Quistis looked away as Squall's
features went white with fury.
"A student at your establishment?" He growled. "How could you let her enrol and
not know it was her? How could you not recognize your own goddaughter!" Quistis
flinched and sighed.
"Squall, she enrolled as a boy and she cut her hair. You never let her visit for
nearly 6 years, people's appearances change in so long, how the hell was I
supposed to see my goddaughter in a grown up male?" Her curt voice rang out
causing Squall to flinch and narrow his gaze.
"Don't blame me for your blindness Quistis." Squall growled in a low poisonous
voice.
"My blindness Squall? What about your blindness? You were so busy fawning over
your precious Kaddar that you didn't have time for your little girl." She paused,
sucking in a deep breath. "It is as I thought, you do blame her for Rinoa's death.
Don't you Squall? You keep telling yourself that you should of left Fureya in the
car and saved your wife. Now you can't even look at her because she's a spitting
image of her mother, with your eyes. But for that reason, you want her around.
Because sometimes, you can pretend its Rinoa-" She was cut off when a crimson
red Squall cut in.
"You shut your mouth Quistis Trepe." He snapped furiously. "You know nothing.
You hear me? Nothing! I will be there in a few days and I will take my daughter
home." And with that he cut the connection.
Quistis sagged back, tears of fury pricking her eyes. She had a few days respite
before he would be here, bringing his rage with him.
Keladryie scrubbed a fleck of dirt off a sword blade and held it up to check that it
was properly cleaned. The sword gleamed in the artificial light, as clean as the old
weapon would be. Kella slid it into its respective sheath and laid it next to the
others. Stretching her cramped limbs, she looked around at the armoury. All of the
weapons were finally clean and Willard had just gone to sweep out the practise
room. Looking at the clock on the wall, Keladryie groaned; it was five in the
afternoon. Shutting the door to the armoury, Kella walked stiffly into the practise
room.
"Hurry up Trepe." She snapped. "I have other things to do." Willard shot her a
charming smile as he leant on his broom.
"But Miss Keladryie, I don't want this date to end." He drawled. "When I'm not
with you, my heart contracts and cries out for you." His grey eyes twinkling with
merriment as Keladryie rolled her eyes.
"Shut your face Trepe and go hit on some girl that can actually stand to look at
your ugly face." She snapped and stalked out of the practise area. Willard
chuckled softly to himself and put the broom away before leaving as well.
Walking down the corridor, Kella headed for the Garden entrance to get some fresh
air. On her way there, Fureya stopped her.
"Keladryie." She started hesitantly, catching her attention. "Do you know where
Willard went?" Keladryie snorted impatiently as her emerald eyes studied the
shorter youths face.
"Why would I know where that skirt chaser is?" She murmured softly. Fureya
paused, startled by the softness in her voice, before shrugging.
"Was just curious." She said gruffly and shuffled off, leaving a thoughtful Keladryie
behind.
Keladryie sat on a ledge outside the Garden feeling a gentle breeze toy with her
long red dyed locks. Without warning, a pang of homesickness coursed through
her. She missed her father and her mother; even her little brother. Sighing
inaudibly, she hugged her knees to her chest and stared at the cerulean blue sky
dotted with fluffy white clouds. Slowly and softly, she began to hum a song her
father had taught her when she was little. It always reminded her of him and often
lightened her mood.
The noise of someone softly clearing his or her throat distracted Keladryie from her
thoughts. Keladryie turned to face the new comer.
The girl was really short with waves of thick reddish brown hair falling past her
shoulders and framing her thin face. Her green eyes were bright, but didn't
compare to Keladryie's own vivid emerald orbs.
"Yes?" Kella asked, looking the girl over as she tucked a curl of red brown hair
behind her ear.
"I'm Amelia James Kinneas." The girl piped cheerfully. "Weapons Mistress Kumara
sent me to look for you. She said that you would be able to show me around
because like my mother, I transferred from Trabia Garden to take the SeeD exams
here."
Keladryie looked the girl over carefully, although there was a bright smile across
her lips, it didn't quite reach her eyes. Her eyes were sombre and seemed to
contain a sad shadow within their depths.
Keladryie sighed and hopped off the ledge, she knew if she didn't do it the
Weapons Mistress would probably assign her some other menial task.
"Sure, c'mon then." She said lightly deciding to make the best of it.
Half an hour later, Keladryie waved a tired goodbye to Amelia and retreated to the
sanctity of her dorm. Amelia had chattered endlessly during her tour and had only
paused when Keladryie had explained something. Afterwards, Amelia had insisted
that they eat dinner together. It was a slightly taxing chore, but it did pass the
time.
Keladryie flopped down on to her bed and exhaled noisily. Stifling a yawn, she
rolled over to face the wall and it wasn't long before she'd nodded off to sleep.
~*~
"Almasy and Hanover." Barked the weapons mistress. "You two have been way to
dangerous with your weapons as of late. I want you to use dulled practise
weapons. Also, you two will be sparring partners today and I hope you both use
this chance to get the itch out of your hands."
Keladryie and Fureya groaned and entered the armoury. Keladryie grabbed an old
gunblade and hefted it. The edge had dulled enough to be considered good for
beginners, same with the Naginata Fureya grasped. Although the blades were
dulled, the were still capable of cutting through less resistant materials like cloth
and so forth. Sifting through the practice swords available, Fureya thrust a short
one in her belt after deeming it suitable.
Without bothering to follow any sort of sportsmanlike custom, the pair began their
battle. They fought with a ferocity that proved the Weapons Mistresses words to
be correct; they had an itch in their hands to fight. They circled around each
other, parried blows, thrust dulled blades at each other and defended. It was
almost a monotonous cycle of blows.
Finally Keladryie broke through, landing a glancing blow on Fureya's shoulder.
Fureya cried out with pain as her shoulder flared in hot pain. Gritting her teeth she
attacked with a renewed determination.
Keladryie let out a war cry she'd learned off her father and swung the gunblade
over her head and bringing it down towards Fureya. Fureya thrust the Naginata up
to parry the blow, but at a slightly crooked angle. The wooden part of the weapon
took the force of the downswing and shattered into two main parts as well
countless little splinters. The bladed end fell and thudded on to the ground with a
noise that caught everyone's attention.
Fureya discarded the remnants of the weapon she still held and drew her short
sword swiftly. Keladryie smiled grimly and whipped her blade in crescent circle, a
move the revived the duel.
The fighting continued on for longer, Fureya handicapped by a shorter range and
an aching shoulder was starting to tire.
Skipping forward after dodging a downward swing, Fureya thrust towards her
opponent. Kella responded quickly by jumping aside and yanking her blade in an
upwards swing. The edge of Keladryie's gunblade tore open Fureya's shirt as well
as slicing through the material of the binding that kept her breasts hidden.
Fureya dropped her weapon and stepped back as the onlookers were instantly
hushed.
"You're a girl." Stuttered Keladryie as she stared at the person she'd thought she'd
had a crush. Shame fuelled her anger as she realized she'd been duped.
Willard came up to stand next to Fureya as she stared at the crowd with saucer
like eyes as the weapons mistress came up.
"What is the meaning of this disruption?" She demanded as she glared at them all
in turn before seeing the problem. "Oh I see. Willard, I recommend that you go get
your mother." She ordered tartly, waiting as he reluctantly complied. Shrugging off
her tunic, she handed it to Fureya who gratefully put it on. They waited in silence
until the Headmistress arrived.
Quistis strode in and zeroed in on Fureya who offered an apologetic smile.
"Fureya Leonhart. You're father is tearing up the countryside looking for you." The
blonde woman said furiously, drawing surprised stares from the class. Keladryie
narrowed her vivid green eyes at the girl.
"Your Leonharts brat?" She demanded, ignoring the silencing glance from Quistis.
"No wonder your such a freak." She spat in disgust before the Weapons Mistress
shut her up.
"Fureya collect your weapons, your belongs and go to my office. I'm sending you
home." Quistis growled her eyes flashing with anger. Fureya bit her lip and squared
her shoulders.
"I can't go home. I have a SeeD exam to take and you have no right to expel me
when I have committed no wrongdoing. Disguising one's sex is not in the rule book
so therefore it is not against the rules." Fureya stated tartly, catching the older
woman off guard.
"Seeing as your right, I assume that you stay." Quistis paused as the girl grinned
proudly. "But I will be informing your father of your whereabouts." With that last
remark, Quistis strode out of the practise room and left a silent class in her wake.
"Oh no." Groaned Fureya as she rubbed her forehead. "Father will kill me."
Keladryie grinned smugly at her.
"Serves you right Leonhart. You should have never come here." She said snidely
and turned her back. Willard narrowed his grey eyes and hugged Fureya
comfortingly.
"Miss Leonhart." Growled the Weapons Mistress. "Go back to your dorm and
change your clothes. You are released for the afternoon." Kumara paused and her
eyes flicked across to Willard. "Take Mr Trepe with you, he can help you move out
into a female dorm." She said stiffly.
~*~
Quistis Trepe's fingers hovered over the button that would connect the call
between her and Squall. She was hesitant to tell him because she knew he'd
developed a temper; a temper that would be brought down on herself and Fureya.
Squall would be furious that Fureya was here and furious that Quistis hadn't
noticed her right away. Headmistress Trepe did admit that she had been lax in her
search by looking for a girl with long raven hair; hair can be easily cut and as
proved a sex disguised. Steeling herself, Quistis stabbed the button and squared
her shoulders as Squall's weary face appeared on screen.
"Quistis?" He murmured wearily. "What's up? There's been no news of Reya if
that's what you're calling about." Quistis quivered slightly and shook her head.
"I know." She murmured softly. Squalls grey eyes sharpened and he shot her a
curious look. "I found your daughter Squall." Squall's features froze, he'd been
waiting for those words so long that he could scarcely believe they'd been said.
"You found Reya?" He nearly shouted. "Where was she? Where is she now?"
Quistis flinched and drew a breath.
"She was enrolled as a student at Balamb." Quistis looked away as Squall's
features went white with fury.
"A student at your establishment?" He growled. "How could you let her enrol and
not know it was her? How could you not recognize your own goddaughter!" Quistis
flinched and sighed.
"Squall, she enrolled as a boy and she cut her hair. You never let her visit for
nearly 6 years, people's appearances change in so long, how the hell was I
supposed to see my goddaughter in a grown up male?" Her curt voice rang out
causing Squall to flinch and narrow his gaze.
"Don't blame me for your blindness Quistis." Squall growled in a low poisonous
voice.
"My blindness Squall? What about your blindness? You were so busy fawning over
your precious Kaddar that you didn't have time for your little girl." She paused,
sucking in a deep breath. "It is as I thought, you do blame her for Rinoa's death.
Don't you Squall? You keep telling yourself that you should of left Fureya in the
car and saved your wife. Now you can't even look at her because she's a spitting
image of her mother, with your eyes. But for that reason, you want her around.
Because sometimes, you can pretend its Rinoa-" She was cut off when a crimson
red Squall cut in.
"You shut your mouth Quistis Trepe." He snapped furiously. "You know nothing.
You hear me? Nothing! I will be there in a few days and I will take my daughter
home." And with that he cut the connection.
Quistis sagged back, tears of fury pricking her eyes. She had a few days respite
before he would be here, bringing his rage with him.