A/N: Sorry, dearest Squinoa fans. But fear not! All will ends shall tie...
As with my shoes. The reviews are wonderful... Seriously, you guys rock my
world. And if my girlfriend is reading this, you rock my world more, ok?
Ok. Cool.
(You know it's sad when you respond to your own questions... ^_^")
Oh and Aurra-Glow, great to know some people won't hesitate to poke my lazy
butt every now and then... Sometimes I need it!
I should be updating weekly from now on. Probably on the weekends. Depends
on how I'm feeling. And what I'm doing.
Chapter 5: Remembrance Day
"Well well well.... Would you look what crap rolled in off the street this time." The tall blonde's words cut crisply through the air.
"....." Rinoa stood there, and avoided my eye. Yet, she still wanted to find a way to get back at me. Of course, she grabbed Seifer's arm and led him to the table directly in front of me. She sat facing me. Wonderful. Now I couldn't even look up...
"Ignore them. You're better than them. And trust me, one day she'll wake up and see that she screwed up." Selphie tried to cheer me up. It's good to have at least some people on your side.
"Hey, want to go to the docks? You could play for us or something." Zell implied. I didn't feel like playing. I was feeling really crappy. But, then again, I wouldn't have to stare at my old angel's face... So, I reluctantly accepted.
I said nothing, but stood and threw some cash on the table to pay for the coffee. They got the idea. We left.
"Two, three four..." I muttered to myself. My amplifier rumbled lightly as I began plucking the strings. Two, five, five two-pull-open..... my fingers played by memory. Small interlude, and it was time for my voice to pick up.
"So close, no matter how far. Couldn't be much more from the heart. Forever, trust in who we are. And nothing else matters." I sang in a low voice. "I never opened myself this way. Life is ours, we live it our way. All these words, I don't just say. And nothing else matters." I stopped suddenly. "Haven't thought up anything more yet."
They stood wide-eyed. Just staring at me. I flushed.
"Welcome to stardom." Irvine gasped. The other two just nodded in sync.
"I'm not that good..." I countered, a little more red.
"Hell's yes you are!" Zell shouted. I, yet again, felt the heat rising up in my face.
I knew it. Not all was good. Selphie just stood there, expressionless. Like I normally do. She knew it. It was all about... her. She could see it in me. I could see the thoughts in her. I could see right through those naïve eyes. This time she wouldn't be fooled. But... it stung. The extremely sharp pain in my chest, between my lungs. I wanted to pacify it... with something...
"... to think I would be friends with this all high and famous guy!" Zell was still talking.
"Let's just go back." Selphie said, rather coldly. Even I was shocked. But the looks on Zell and Irvine's faces were priceless. Enough to make me almost smirk. But, then the pain returned, and that was it.
"Uhg..." and, with a loud thud, I hit the ground. I started clutching my chest and forehead, feeling the pain surge through my body. Then, there was this feeling. It made me feel like I was going to pass out. Because, I felt something else touching my forehead. I lowered my hand into view. It was touching my hand, too. My eyes filled with red. Blood. It was blood.
-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~- ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~
I awoke. I didn't dare open my eyes; my forehead hurt enough as it is. It was excruciating. Unimaginable. Yet, after mustering enough courage, I cracked open my eyes. Slowly. I winced as the light poured into my eyes, painfully. I was lying in a bed. Looking into the eyes of three surgeons. Well, this was scary. Just one more thing to screw me over.
"Close your eyes. They're not ready for the light." One said in a deep voice. I followed the directions. My eyes hurt enough as it is. That and, they seemed to be doing something to my forehead. I assumed they were closing the cut or something... judging from the pain of needles and scalpels. I was freaked... This wasn't the first time it had happened. It happened the day that she broke up with me, as well. And that day, many horrific events happened. Maybe it was a sign...?
Before long, the pain of their utensils had stopped marking a path down my forehead. There was light muttering coming from across the room. They must've crossed the room so they were just out of my earshot. Yet still, having undergone the training that I had, I could still pick up every couple of words.
"... could've caused this. It's so..." One muttered.
"Oh, and the..." A higher, feminine voice came in, "...to have gone on its own. Could there be any..."
"... still quite possible. He should be monitored at all times. Maybe he shouldn't leave the safety..." said the deep voice I had heard when I first opened my eyes.
I decided to disrupt their annoying chatter that made me feel ever so comfortable. "Can I open my eyes now? What are you doing? What's going on?" I said stupidly. I must've sounded worse than I actually was. But, then again, I hadn't known what they were doing, or what was going on. And I did want to see where I was.
The female voice addressed me, "Not until we dim the lights. Sit tight for a moment." And, with that, I could just see my eyelids get darker. So, I opened my eyes and sat up. I was wearing a gown. Laugh at me if you will. They took my clothes off. Perverted bastards. They weren't doing anything to anywhere but my face, I think. This just wasn't right,
"How are you feeling?" One asked.
"I'm not saying anything until I know what's going on here." I interrupted.
"Well, you were brought here unconscious and bleeding from an incision in your head. You seemed to have a clean cut; No visible marks from a weapon or object. Just an opening. Could you tell me what has happened?" The deep-male spoke, as-a-matter-of-factly.
"Not yet. What did you do to me?" I wasn't to be easily interrogated.
"We inspected, then closed the wound." The female said, rather annoyed.
"Where am I?" I asked, assuming I was at a hospital.
"You're in the Balamb Garden Infirmary."
Shock. And I was brought here instead of a civilian hospital... why? "Remind me who brought me here."
Dr. Kadowaki walked in at that very moment and answered my question unintentionally. "Ah, is it done? Well, Mr. Leonhart, as soon as you get some clothes on, Zell, Selphie and Irvine are to be visited in the lobby." She motioned for the surgeons to follow her out.
"Alright." I didn't get questioned further as they hustled out of the room so I could get changed. I put on some simple black jeans and a camouflage t-shirt I found next to me. I remember. I was wearing these at the time of the incident.
After changing, I walked out of the room to greet my comrades. "Hey..."
"It's about time! You've been in there for weeks! You had twelve blood transfusions!" Zell screeched.
I just stood there dumbfounded.
-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~- ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~
"This is it." Irvine said.
"Holy shit..." I looked up at my new home.
"I had them furnish it for you so you could start living in it immediately. The people you hired for the bar called several times, so I told them you'd call them to begin work as soon as you returned." He informed politely.
"Give me the tour. But first, what time is it?" I asked, eager to find out whether or not he had screwed up my home.
"It's around 0900. You can open tonight, if you're feeling up to it." He told me, and then led me indoors.
"Wow..." I barely managed to get out. It was perfect. Except the shavings from wood and drywall being cleared away at this very moment.
"I found concept pictures you drew in your pocket. They were sticking out when you hit the ground, so I took them out before you lost them. And, three weeks later, it was finished, top to bottom." He motioned to the stairs.
"You've got this living it up thing down-packed," He told me as we walked up the stairs. I reached the top, and continued on my own. Bathroom, then kitchen... wait, bathroom?
"There's a-"
"I noticed you didn't have a bathroom up here, so I told them to put one here instead of a laundry room." He interrupted.
"And my laundry room is..."
"Watch." He led me into the master bedroom, where I found most of my belongings in boxes around the room. I found two doors at the back of the room that I didn't plan out. Maybe all wasn't perfect...
One door opened. Laundry room. Cool, I thought. No harm done. Then, the other door. Walk-in closet. Luxurious. That word played in my mind, on repeat.
"How much did this cost me?" I asked, not really wanting the answer.
"I'm gonna guess that that was rhetorical, but I'm going to answer it anyways." He defended. He knew me well. "Nothing. Cost me some couple grand, but I had extra."
I smacked the back of his head. "Dumbass goes and spends his money on a guy in coma. Smart. Thanks, but unnecessary." I said.
"Well..." He said, scratching the back of my head.
"And out the door, to the left should be an office, then a band room. Right?" I asked, unsure if whether or not that was, yet again, rhetorical.
"That's the only thing I changed, buddy. I didn't screw around with your decision THAT much." He stressed.
-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~- ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~
0730. The bar had been open for an hour and a half. My first performance was due immediately. Shaking, I flicked on the microphone and amplifier. Everything was set. And I was about to puke.
"Here, performing for the first time is the owner of this joint. Give him a hand!" I heard Cindy, one of the waitresses say. The curtain was still down, and the lights dimmed. And that's when everything changed.
"Hey, a new place! And it looks like we walked in at the right time!" A feminine voice exclaimed. I knew that as the voice that pacified me as I went to sleep for nights on end. Years ago.
This day shall NOT be known as my Remembrance Day. Not now. Not ever.
A/N: Well well well... Would you look what crap rolled in off the street this time. Well, maybe it wasn't that bad. The song used in this and the following chapter is the legal property of the gods of rock, Metallica. Not me. Still. One day... R&R!
Chapter 5: Remembrance Day
"Well well well.... Would you look what crap rolled in off the street this time." The tall blonde's words cut crisply through the air.
"....." Rinoa stood there, and avoided my eye. Yet, she still wanted to find a way to get back at me. Of course, she grabbed Seifer's arm and led him to the table directly in front of me. She sat facing me. Wonderful. Now I couldn't even look up...
"Ignore them. You're better than them. And trust me, one day she'll wake up and see that she screwed up." Selphie tried to cheer me up. It's good to have at least some people on your side.
"Hey, want to go to the docks? You could play for us or something." Zell implied. I didn't feel like playing. I was feeling really crappy. But, then again, I wouldn't have to stare at my old angel's face... So, I reluctantly accepted.
I said nothing, but stood and threw some cash on the table to pay for the coffee. They got the idea. We left.
"Two, three four..." I muttered to myself. My amplifier rumbled lightly as I began plucking the strings. Two, five, five two-pull-open..... my fingers played by memory. Small interlude, and it was time for my voice to pick up.
"So close, no matter how far. Couldn't be much more from the heart. Forever, trust in who we are. And nothing else matters." I sang in a low voice. "I never opened myself this way. Life is ours, we live it our way. All these words, I don't just say. And nothing else matters." I stopped suddenly. "Haven't thought up anything more yet."
They stood wide-eyed. Just staring at me. I flushed.
"Welcome to stardom." Irvine gasped. The other two just nodded in sync.
"I'm not that good..." I countered, a little more red.
"Hell's yes you are!" Zell shouted. I, yet again, felt the heat rising up in my face.
I knew it. Not all was good. Selphie just stood there, expressionless. Like I normally do. She knew it. It was all about... her. She could see it in me. I could see the thoughts in her. I could see right through those naïve eyes. This time she wouldn't be fooled. But... it stung. The extremely sharp pain in my chest, between my lungs. I wanted to pacify it... with something...
"... to think I would be friends with this all high and famous guy!" Zell was still talking.
"Let's just go back." Selphie said, rather coldly. Even I was shocked. But the looks on Zell and Irvine's faces were priceless. Enough to make me almost smirk. But, then the pain returned, and that was it.
"Uhg..." and, with a loud thud, I hit the ground. I started clutching my chest and forehead, feeling the pain surge through my body. Then, there was this feeling. It made me feel like I was going to pass out. Because, I felt something else touching my forehead. I lowered my hand into view. It was touching my hand, too. My eyes filled with red. Blood. It was blood.
-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~- ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~
I awoke. I didn't dare open my eyes; my forehead hurt enough as it is. It was excruciating. Unimaginable. Yet, after mustering enough courage, I cracked open my eyes. Slowly. I winced as the light poured into my eyes, painfully. I was lying in a bed. Looking into the eyes of three surgeons. Well, this was scary. Just one more thing to screw me over.
"Close your eyes. They're not ready for the light." One said in a deep voice. I followed the directions. My eyes hurt enough as it is. That and, they seemed to be doing something to my forehead. I assumed they were closing the cut or something... judging from the pain of needles and scalpels. I was freaked... This wasn't the first time it had happened. It happened the day that she broke up with me, as well. And that day, many horrific events happened. Maybe it was a sign...?
Before long, the pain of their utensils had stopped marking a path down my forehead. There was light muttering coming from across the room. They must've crossed the room so they were just out of my earshot. Yet still, having undergone the training that I had, I could still pick up every couple of words.
"... could've caused this. It's so..." One muttered.
"Oh, and the..." A higher, feminine voice came in, "...to have gone on its own. Could there be any..."
"... still quite possible. He should be monitored at all times. Maybe he shouldn't leave the safety..." said the deep voice I had heard when I first opened my eyes.
I decided to disrupt their annoying chatter that made me feel ever so comfortable. "Can I open my eyes now? What are you doing? What's going on?" I said stupidly. I must've sounded worse than I actually was. But, then again, I hadn't known what they were doing, or what was going on. And I did want to see where I was.
The female voice addressed me, "Not until we dim the lights. Sit tight for a moment." And, with that, I could just see my eyelids get darker. So, I opened my eyes and sat up. I was wearing a gown. Laugh at me if you will. They took my clothes off. Perverted bastards. They weren't doing anything to anywhere but my face, I think. This just wasn't right,
"How are you feeling?" One asked.
"I'm not saying anything until I know what's going on here." I interrupted.
"Well, you were brought here unconscious and bleeding from an incision in your head. You seemed to have a clean cut; No visible marks from a weapon or object. Just an opening. Could you tell me what has happened?" The deep-male spoke, as-a-matter-of-factly.
"Not yet. What did you do to me?" I wasn't to be easily interrogated.
"We inspected, then closed the wound." The female said, rather annoyed.
"Where am I?" I asked, assuming I was at a hospital.
"You're in the Balamb Garden Infirmary."
Shock. And I was brought here instead of a civilian hospital... why? "Remind me who brought me here."
Dr. Kadowaki walked in at that very moment and answered my question unintentionally. "Ah, is it done? Well, Mr. Leonhart, as soon as you get some clothes on, Zell, Selphie and Irvine are to be visited in the lobby." She motioned for the surgeons to follow her out.
"Alright." I didn't get questioned further as they hustled out of the room so I could get changed. I put on some simple black jeans and a camouflage t-shirt I found next to me. I remember. I was wearing these at the time of the incident.
After changing, I walked out of the room to greet my comrades. "Hey..."
"It's about time! You've been in there for weeks! You had twelve blood transfusions!" Zell screeched.
I just stood there dumbfounded.
-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~- ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~
"This is it." Irvine said.
"Holy shit..." I looked up at my new home.
"I had them furnish it for you so you could start living in it immediately. The people you hired for the bar called several times, so I told them you'd call them to begin work as soon as you returned." He informed politely.
"Give me the tour. But first, what time is it?" I asked, eager to find out whether or not he had screwed up my home.
"It's around 0900. You can open tonight, if you're feeling up to it." He told me, and then led me indoors.
"Wow..." I barely managed to get out. It was perfect. Except the shavings from wood and drywall being cleared away at this very moment.
"I found concept pictures you drew in your pocket. They were sticking out when you hit the ground, so I took them out before you lost them. And, three weeks later, it was finished, top to bottom." He motioned to the stairs.
"You've got this living it up thing down-packed," He told me as we walked up the stairs. I reached the top, and continued on my own. Bathroom, then kitchen... wait, bathroom?
"There's a-"
"I noticed you didn't have a bathroom up here, so I told them to put one here instead of a laundry room." He interrupted.
"And my laundry room is..."
"Watch." He led me into the master bedroom, where I found most of my belongings in boxes around the room. I found two doors at the back of the room that I didn't plan out. Maybe all wasn't perfect...
One door opened. Laundry room. Cool, I thought. No harm done. Then, the other door. Walk-in closet. Luxurious. That word played in my mind, on repeat.
"How much did this cost me?" I asked, not really wanting the answer.
"I'm gonna guess that that was rhetorical, but I'm going to answer it anyways." He defended. He knew me well. "Nothing. Cost me some couple grand, but I had extra."
I smacked the back of his head. "Dumbass goes and spends his money on a guy in coma. Smart. Thanks, but unnecessary." I said.
"Well..." He said, scratching the back of my head.
"And out the door, to the left should be an office, then a band room. Right?" I asked, unsure if whether or not that was, yet again, rhetorical.
"That's the only thing I changed, buddy. I didn't screw around with your decision THAT much." He stressed.
-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~- ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~
0730. The bar had been open for an hour and a half. My first performance was due immediately. Shaking, I flicked on the microphone and amplifier. Everything was set. And I was about to puke.
"Here, performing for the first time is the owner of this joint. Give him a hand!" I heard Cindy, one of the waitresses say. The curtain was still down, and the lights dimmed. And that's when everything changed.
"Hey, a new place! And it looks like we walked in at the right time!" A feminine voice exclaimed. I knew that as the voice that pacified me as I went to sleep for nights on end. Years ago.
This day shall NOT be known as my Remembrance Day. Not now. Not ever.
A/N: Well well well... Would you look what crap rolled in off the street this time. Well, maybe it wasn't that bad. The song used in this and the following chapter is the legal property of the gods of rock, Metallica. Not me. Still. One day... R&R!
