Author's Note: Please…please support me while I write Outbreak. Outbreak is way out of my usual genre…so I'm just conducting an experiment. Anyways, I'm saying it through this fic because I know people read it. Anyways, enjoy!
Tainted Hearts
Chapter 10-The Search for Kirika Tribal
1:00 A.M.
Kajin:
As we were scooped up in the talons of Amaranthine, I couldn't help but look at Ryuujin. Ryuujin was out cold, her distress having played a part in it. Did she care about me so much? I extended my arm out to her and sighed. I almost killed her. I almost killed my darkness. Amaranthine dropped the both of us on a balcony and flapped away. She was tired.
I couldn't blame her, seeing as me and Ryuujin fell quite a long distance before she caught us. And air currents did not flow around Lindblum Grand Castle.
"Kajin…are you ok?"
I didn't bother to look at the speaker. My shame was too great. I moved over to Ryuujin's side and pulled her limp body up as I got to my feet.
"My mother…when she died, I used to cry a lot. Ryuujin was like a mother to me. So much that she hit me and cursed me for everything that went wrong," I said as I dragged Ryuujin inside.
Once inside, I sat her down in a chair and made sure she was comfortable.
"I used to hate her with all of my heart. I called her my darkness, the side that I swore I would imprison in my mind forever. But now…she truly cares."
I turned to face Zoë with a grim look on my face.
"I want to find my Mother. I want to tell her what kind of horror I really am."
Zoë:
Kajin's words echoed in my mind as she exited the room. She wasn't a horrible person. Neither was Ryuujin. I don't think I'll ever see Ryuujin so afraid and concerned in my life. She was so calm…naturally.
"You are worried about the both of us, aren't you?"
I glared at Ryuujin.
"Don't you ever sleep/"
"I told you…Kajin takes care of the rest. But seriously…I'm going to rest tonight."
"Good, now do so."
Morning
Ryuujin:
The morning sun assaulted my eyes, making me cry out and hide in the shadows. I had forgotten about the vampirism that had attacked Kajin…it affected me as well. So…to wake up lightly frying was a concern. Oh well…I can reverse that, I thought as I walked into the dining room. Everyone was present except for Kajin, which I thought was strange.
"Oh…Ryuujin…your eyes."
The first comment came from Zoë. I made no show of trying to cover them up. I knew they were red and blotchy. That always happened in the morning…no matter what.
"They are fine. So…where's Kajin?"
Everyone shrugged.
"We were hoping you knew. But apparently not," Kuja said softly.
Damn…Kajin was full of surprises today.
"Any report from the guards?" I asked.
"Just this note."
Kuja pushed a piece of paper across the table and sighed. I picked it up and scanned over Kajin's pretty script handwriting.
"'Gone to find my Mother…may not be back,'" I read aloud.
It took a few minutes for the truth to kick in.
"What the hell was she thinking? The Invincible ruins haven't been touched in years! Ugh, I'm going to find her!" I shouted, melting my calm demeanor away.
"You can't go alone I won't let you," Zoë said softly.
"What can you do? Breathe?" I snapped.
I could read the immediate hurt in her eyes. I had indeed struck a nerve.
"So what if I can't use magic? It seems that all I am good for is breathing! I am capable of more than that if you just let me. But no! I don't have magic! I'm not good for a damn thing!"
And then, she stormed out, leaving a whining Amuro in Kuja's arms. But most of all, she left me with a sense of guilt. Kajin won't approve. All of a sudden, a dragon call sounded and the retreating form of a dragon was seen. Kuja's jaw dropped.
"Silver was waiting on me upstairs," He muttered.
"Zoë."
I reached in my pocket for my dragon whistle and…nothing.
"Apparently, Zoë is a bit multitalented. She learns things fast. So thieving must come natural."
Zoë:
I brushed away my tears of anger and held on for dear life as the dragon dipped below the clouds. It was a wonder she understood me. But maybe it had something to do with the dragon whistle. I stole from Ryuujin's pocket. Well…of course, it did. It was a dragon whistle for heaven sake. Silver dipped her head into the ocean and brought it out, crying out in what seemed to be joy. Although I was soaked by movement, I laughed.
"You are a wonderful creature, indeed. I wish we had things like you on earth."
Kajin:
(A/N: Because I'm feeling lazy, the ''s represent dragon thoughts or…whatever. I'll tell you.) 'Mommy, Silver's approaching. Think its Ryuujin?'
I blinked and stared up at the sky. I didn't feel Ryuujin/Kajin's presence so…
"It can't be who I thought it was."
Silver landed down in a part of the forest with a welcoming cry.
"Kajin?"
It was. Zoë walked into the clearing with a gratified smile on her face. I had to wonder how she got here without Ryuujin.
"How did you get here?" I asked, holding Amaranthine's muzzle back with my hand.
"With this."
She held up a small whistle.
"The Dragon Whistle," I breathed.
"I 'lifted' it off of Ryuujin's hands."
I couldn't help but blink in surprise. The thought of Zoë stealing from Ryuujin was surprising. And highly amusing.
"That's amazing. It seems that Ryuujin isn't as vigilant as we all think. But why were you so compelled to fly back here?"
Zoë's expression darkened.
"Kajin, I want you to teach me magic."
I blinked.
"You are joking, right? Zoë, you don't need magic. It's a lot of unnecessary trouble."
"No. It'll make me useful. It seems that I can't do anything without magic here."
I frowned, despite myself.
"That's not true. But if you want to know magic, I'll teach you."
Zoë smiled and nodded gratefully.
"But, I can't really teach you anything at all. You have to harness the energy inside your body."
Zoë frowned.
"But I'm not a genome like you."
I smiled and rocked back on my heels, making Amaranthine growl protectively.
"You don't have to be. The energy is born within you. I'm sure it's a bit different on Earth, but on Gaia, people are full of energy. It all depends on how you harness it."
"Mmm…so you just focus right?"
I nodded.
"Save that for another time. We need to get to the ruins by nightfall."
Nightfall~Invincible Ruins
Ryuujin:
I knew even before I stepped on the island that something was in the air. Or rather, some spirit was manipulating the air around us. Kuja felt it too, but Amuro did not cry, surprisingly enough. But I could tell that it wouldn't take much to make her cry.
"These ruins have become increasingly unstable throughout the years. I don't know how many fiends or darker things lurk there. I pray Zoë is alright," Kuja muttered.
"Silver will go straight to Amaranthine, so she's probably with Kajin."
Still, I wasn't sure what my other half was up to here. Her Mother had long since been gone from these ruins. I would know since I was a spirit, myself.
"Come on, we'll fly over the island. No doubt, my other half is knee deep in mischief or trouble."
Kajin:
After several hours of tireless walking, we descended into the basin where the Invincible 2 met its fate. Multicolored orbs floated around in the air around us, reminding me that spirits were still about. Spirits that were potentially dangerous. I used to think I was uber powerful, but then…there were more destructive spirits in the world that could topple me. So I held the spirits in high respect.
"It's eerily beautiful," Zoë whispered.
"So this is what took my mother's life."
Zoë shook her head.
"These orbs are spirits, right? One has to be your mother, right?"
"Wrong."
"Wrong?"
I shrugged.
"I don't know what happened to my Mother's spirit."
I walked up to the larger part of the ruins and sat on it. Spirits rounded me as usual, wondering who would dare wander into their home. I had to wonder how I was able to live this long hoping for someone who wouldn't come back.
"We should go back home," I said softly.
Zoë saw my expression and frowned.
"Mommy, why can't you come back to me," I whispered, tears pouring down my face.
An uneasy feeling crept through my stomach and I forced myself to calm down. The feeling intensified immediately. Someone was preparing a spell and I couldn't even detect it. I groaned and slapped my forehead and turned to face Zoë. She was quiet and calm as she waited for me. An outline of flames popped up from the ground and then…I knew where the spell was headed.
"Flare!"
"Zoë, get down!"
I jumped at her and pulled her out of the way of the flames. Zoë's screaming and the roar of flames filled my head. It seemed like all of my senses shut down at that one moment. When the spell died down, I found myself lying on the side of a worried Zoë.
"Kajin, are you alright?" She asked, visibly frightened.
"I-I'm fine."
Evil laughter echoed off of the basin walls.
"Feeling a bit out of it, daughter of Lady Kirika Tribal?"
I sat up slowly, noting the pain in my head. I didn't exactly understand why I had a headache. I didn't hit anything and my powers were at rest. So…what happened the moment my senses died? My eyes immediately fixed upon the thin ghostly figure of my green eyed father, Myou. I could have died at that moment. I couldn't believe he attacked me.
"F-Father?" I asked.
Myou smirked and laughed.
"Who?"
I bit my lip to keep from snarling and picked up a small rock. Upon doing sos, I thought of a spell…perhaps Meteor.
"Meteor!" I shouted as the spell took almost immediate effect.
Dozens of rocks crashed down from the sky, some with Flare in them and some with Blizzaga. They distracted the ghost of my father enough so that I could close the distance. And with a mighty cry, I sent him flying. My body was aching from the effort or so my mind thought. Myou got up quickly and threw a spell directly at me.
It hit, but I didn't register it at first. I just sat there with all of the explosions going around my ears. And then, the pain hit. I fell backwards screaming as it all set in. I couldn't believe this. I know it's not him, but I want to believe it.
"For just a little while," I choked out as I got to my feet.
Myou attacked again, this time, slapping me with the force of a thousand chocobos. I was propelled back several yards into the dirt. I didn't bother to get up this time. There was no point.
Ryuujin:
When we first saw Zoë, we thought she was excited to see us. However, that was not the case.
"Where's Kajin?" I asked, getting to the point.
All of a sudden, a body flew over the ruins and landed roughly in the dirt. To make matters worse, a spell followed after it, sending the body up into the air and back down. A flash of pain struck my body, making my knees wobble.
"Ryuujin," Kuja started.
I cut him off with a shaking hand.
"Protect that body! Hurry!"
Kuja reached the body before the rest of us and we knew…that Kajin was not doing well. In fact, she was almost dead. That was not good for me.
"Ah…interference…that's good. And the girl's other half."
I whipped around, placing myself between him and Kajin.
"Imposter! You are not Myou Tsukihi!" I shouted.
"He's drawing energy from Kajin," Kuja said softly.
Slowly…killing her. I know that's what Kajin wanted. She was going to give up. It would be fair to let her go. Kirika Tribal would not like to see her daughter in such a pitiful state. It was my decision to let her fade or florish.
"Ryuujin hurry, she's going to die!" Zoë shouted.
"Send that spirit straight to hell, Kuja," I said firmly, reaching down to support my light.
