~Chapter Sixteen~
Jan was sitting in the cockpit of the Ragnarok II, his eyes focused forward as he regarded the strange girl who had dragged a still Kaddar to the ship. She'd told him with a serene innocent face that the Sorceress had injured this boy and the others were busy holding their own against her to help him. She'd told him worriedly that they should go to Esthar to treat him; Esthar because they dealt best with Sorceresses and everything to do with them.
They were now crossing ocean to Esthar and he could see the girl cradling Kaddar's head in her lap, stroking his hair gently. Narrowing his hazel eyes, he couldn't help think that something was a miss. For starters, Kaddar didn't look visibly injured he was just out cold but Sorceresses powers were unpredictable. While the boy was unconscious, Jan felt he had to do as the girl asked, it seemed too much a risk to take.
Squall narrowed his eyes and drew his gunblade and attacked the shield viciously, firing of a few shots. The shots rang out loudly as the ricocheted off the shield.
"Jesus!" Willard swore as he dropped to the ground with the others. The icy form of Shiva appeared and froze the bullets in mid air as they headed for the other side of the shield.
"Carbuncle." Shiva ordered as the frozen bullets fell to the ground. Carbuncle squeaked and uncovered his ruby eyes before jumping up into the air. Placing his furred green feet on the barrier, he let out a high-pitched squeak and the shield shattered.
"Why didn't you do that earlier dude?" Macen enquired as Squall raced into the bar, demanding use of a phone.
~*~
Back at Balamb, they stood in front of the Balamb Headmistress.
"Jan and Kaddar are okay." She murmured. "Jan caught onto the Sorceress before he reached Esthar. He resisted her and ended up crashing into the Estharian desert. They are at the Estharian Sorceress Memorial with only minor injuries, but the girl escaped. We've found her name is Kalasin Finity and some of the other information we've received is really bad." Quistis took a breath, glancing at a relieved Keladryie. "Kalasin was born the day Rinoa died which means she isn't herself. Her whole personality is a mixture of all the previous Sorceresses. Which means she must be captured." Fureya chewed her lip for a moment before stepping forward.
"Headmistress. We can finish this." She stated clearly. "We have been endowed with the powers of Hyne's children and possess the ability to wipe out all traces of Sorceresses in this world, but we'd have to kill her to draw the power out of her." Quistis's eyebrow rose and she nodded slowly.
"I'm not sure what you mean, but according to Squall's report I think it may be possible." She murmured thoughtfully. "I'll send you to tear's point. It's where she was last seen, she can't of got far and President Loire made it impossible for her or anyone to leave Estharian land."
~*~
Keladryie paced in her dorm restlessly before exploding in a fury of curses.
"Damn that Sorceress." She shouted, not noticing as her dorm door slid open. "Damn her to all things painful!" She ran fingers through her dyed hair impatiently and tugged at the end.
"Are you alright, Kella?" Fureya murmured softly, startling Keladryie. Keladryie looked up at her huffily.
"Of course I'm alright! It's your stupid brother that's not!" She fumed, her shoulders shaking fiercely. Impulsively, Fureya crossed the room and hugged her sometimes friend.
"I have an idea." She murmured and pulled back, looking into Kella's green eyes. "There's a small Aerial Fighter that Quistis keeps for emergencies,, we should go give my brother a few lumps and meet the others at Tear's Point." Keladryie looked down at her, a smirk on her face.
"I'm all for it."
~*~
"Fureya did what?" Willard exclaimed as Quistis coolly handed him a note.
Dad, Will, Auntie Quisty.
Gone for a little trip with Almasy.
Meet you at Tear's Point tomorrow.
- Fureya.
P.s – Took spare fighter.
Squall rubbed his forehead as Willard shredded the note calmly.
"I'm going after her." He hissed coolly and tossed the paper on the floor.
"No." Quistis said sharply. "They took the last available transport, you have to wait til Jan tomorrow when we leave by the first train." Willard narrowed his eyes at his mother, knowing she was right. There were no more available trains for today. Stalking out of the office, he clenched his fists in severe annoyance as he thought about what he was going to do to her. First he was going to shake her, then lecture her and then kiss her. Running white knuckled fingers through his hair, mussing it up.
"This is not good." Squall remarked quietly as he watched the door slam shut behind Willard. Quistis nodded in agreement and turned her gaze to her desk, punching in a few numbers in her numpad. A few seconds later, Laguna Loire's face appeared on screen.
"Father." Squall spoke up impatiently, not allowing Quistis to get a word in. "Fureya has taken our spare aircraft and is more than likely headed for Esthar. If she crosses through the barrier, can you inform us of when and where she's headed?" Laguna's eyes widened in slight shock.
"Sure. I'll get Kiros on it right away." He paused and glanced at the pair. "Quistis, Squall." He nodded politely before ending the transmission.
Willard's patience had almost completely worn out with Fureya. Sitting down on his bed, he clasped his head wearily in his hands and sighed. A mottled blush spread across his cheeks as he remembered their time spent together in her dorm. He also remembered the emotion in her voice when she had said one of the words that were silently forbidden between them. Fureya had said she loved him.
He scrubbed his face with his hands, silently annoyed.
"She loves me." He whispered. "She gives herself to me, she tells me she loves me and then she leaves me here." Annoyance was a sour taste on his tongue and fire inside his belly. He had a few good words to say to her. But also, he wanted to be with her and make sure she was safe, not that he doubted her capability, just worried.
On the other hand, he was a little unsure about his feelings to her. He didn't know if he loved her, he needed her and wanted her. Was it just lust like the other girls, but then again he'd never felt so attached to another girl.
Growling, he stood up and tugged at his hair furiously.
"If I don't love her then why do I feel so empty and annoyed that she left me here?" He demanded to the wall.
~*~
Fureya laughed insanely as she switched the aircraft off and stood up, working the kinks out of her back.
"Now that was a wild ride!" She cheered brightly. Keladryie reluctantly let go of the bulkhead she was clinging too and stood up.
"You are insane!" She blurted out and darted down the thin ramp that lead down to the ground. "Oh solid ground!" Fureya grinned brightly and closed up the aircraft and ran up the Memorial Steps.
"Hurry up or I'll have to kill my moronic brother!" She teased. Keladryie grimaced and raced up the stairs.
"Not if I can help it!" She challenged and overtook a laughing Fureya.
"Kella?" A soft voice enquired as she entered. Keladryie turned to see Kaddar sitting on the ground, his left forearm wrapped in a heavy bandage.
"Kaddar?" Keladryie raced over and dropped to her knees, hugging him tightly. "Your okay!" His chest muffled her voice.
"Of course I am Kella." He murmured and ran a hand over her hair lightly.
Fureya grinned slyly at the pair before taking a seat next to the other person in the quiet memorial.
"Jan Fionn right?" She asked. He nodded.
"Fureya Leonhart, granddaughter of the Estharian President." He replied cheerfully. Fureya nodded.
"Guilty as charged." Pausing, she looked at his cheek. "Kaddar patched you up, didn't he?" She asked, pointing to the crooked sticking plaster on his cheekbone.
"Yeah, how'd you know?" Jan asked surprised, ignoring Kaddar and Kella as they kissed. Fureya reached up and pulled off the plaster, making Jan jump slightly.
"Because it's on wrong." Changing positions so she was sitting on her knees, she reached for the kit that had been pulled from the totalled Ragnarok II. Carefully, she cleaned up his cheek and the rest of his wounds.
"Thanks." He murmured as she sat back down. "Why are you here anyway?"
"To rescue my bonehead of a brother before he drove you insane." Fureya grinned as he laughed.
"Just in time then." He teased and leant against the wall tiredly.
"Was she as twisted as they said she was?" Fureya asked softly, focusing on her hands. Jan looked at her for a long moment.
"Yeah, she is." He murmured simply and patted her shoulder lightly. "But don't worry, I have faith in you guys. Nobody can stand up to trained SeeDs for too long." Fureya smiled up at him affectionately.
"Thanks." She paused. "So why are you waiting here anyway?" Jan grimaced.
"Estharian aircraft are doing sweeps of the area and told us to sit tight until morning." He grumbled. "How'd you get here anyway?"
"Stole Balambs emergency aircraft." She said cheerfully. Jan let loose a roar of laughter and shook his head.
"You are so going to catch it for that!" Fureya grinned and nodded.
"Yep. And I get the sinking feeling Willard will get slightly mad at me for leaving him behind." She sighed wistfully. "But I believe I can be cute enough to be forgiven." Jan laughed again and shook his head.
"Your crazy." He murmured and ruffled her hair.
~*~
They spent the night there, Kaddar and Kella cuddled up together and Fureya and Jan huddled for warmth; the Sorceress Memorial had been abandoned since Rinoa was decreed the only living Sorceress.
Waking up the next morning, all their clothes wrinkled and their hair mussed, Keladryie stood up and tried to smooth wrinkles out of her black trench coat and smooth her hair down.
"I can't fight the Sorceress looking like this." She whined.
"You never know." Commented Fureya, stretching. "You might scare her to death." Keladryie glared at her as Kaddar and Jan stifled laughter.
"You are so not funny Leonhart." She snorted and walked outside to get some fresh air, with Kaddar trailing behind her. Jan grinned down at her and offered her a hand up.
"You going to come to Tears point with us?" Fureya asked as she stood up. Jan shook his head.
"I was told to wait here. Unlike you, I think I might obey orders every now and then." He said wickedly causing Fureya to blush.
"I do follow orders!" She retorted before finishing the sentence under her breath. "When it's convenient."