AN: Hmm..what is the deal with this website anyways? Gots waayy too many problems. Sorry for the delay peeps, I place the blame squarely on them. Seriously, it's their fault..hehe.. Anyways,don't forget to read the Author's note at the end.

-Bamboo Chapter 4: Voice-

Over the days and weeks that followed that summer we would grow to love and appreciate Mr. Larug more. He would always have something special for us to drink and another story to tell from the holy Kedas. Most of all, he always had time for us. Of course we quickly told the rest of the "Orphanage Gang" all about the mysterious Shumi and they acquainted and got to know of him as well. However I would always know that what Seifer, Quistis, and I shared with him was more special, perhaps a more deeper bond. He was the one adult in town that we felt as a friend. I knew somehow also that he missed his own children very much.

A couple of years passed by and as we grew, so did the bamboo that Mr. Larug had planted. Bamboo spreads quickly, and by the time that I had turned ten years old—both Quistis and Seifer were already eleven—it had crept out over half our old playground nearly half way to the orphanage home. The land had used to be a field, but now it had resembled more a miniature forest, a forest of bamboo. However, by then I had more pressing matters than places for spirits to hide.

I was in love with Quistis.

It was not some sudden revelation as it seemed, but a gradual realization that even as a child I had been in love with her. Certainly we were always together, but I had never known until then how sweet her voice was, how gentle her smile. I often entertained the thought of telling her how much she meant to me, but my personality had always been reserved and it would have simply been out of character for me to say such a thing, to admit such emotion, so I did not.

Another reason I did not, and perhaps the true one I admit to myself, was that I had begun to notice how Quistis hung on to Seifer more than she hung on to me when we played. How she was always concerned with where he was going and what he did than anyone else. How they often sometimes disappeared for hours.

This confused and hurt me. Seifer was growing up manly as ever, still the strongest at the orphanage and it was apparent that he would grow up to be a powerful man. However I was beginning to grow as well, and while lacking Seifer's strength, I made up for in speed, agility, and finesse. I would need these qualities whenever I fought Seifer, which happened more and increasingly often, and which grew harder for Matron or even Quistis to stop. I would not call it hate that drove us to fight, but more of a competitive spirit between us, however I imagine, for different reasons. While I fought out of provocation by Seifer, and also I admit, out of jealousy for what he shared with Quistis, I never knew exactly why Seifer acted the way he did, why he fought. This ever-present, but concealed, antagonism between us would begin to also strain our friendship, turning it to the beginnings of a rivalry.

Regardless of everything though, we were still friends first and no fight was great enough that would threaten that fact. It was those times that were the best parts of my life, our age of innocence. I would sometimes wonder what could possibly end it all. Until it came.

Matron.

That voice still haunts me.

We were all inside the orphanage that time of the day, getting ready for a trip to Mr. Larug's place in order to listen to some more of his amazing stories. Even though all of us were older—though with Zell you weren't ever quite sure—we still enjoyed the old Shumi's company. It wasn't just the stories, or the drinks, but for myself, I felt that we had a connection, as if we were related. I knew that Seifer and Quistis would agree with me when I say he felt like the grandfather we never had.

As we were getting ready to leave, I suddenly got an odd feeling, a cold sweat in the small of my back. It was a warm day, but it suddenly felt as if a cold wind blew in through the window, which was impossible since all the windows in the house were closed to protect against insects. I looked around to see if anyone else had the same feeling as me. In the living room Irvine was preoccupied with looking in the mirror while twirling the toy gun he received from Cid last spring as a gift. Seifer was too busy pushing Zell around next to the window closest to the door, with a furious Selphie hitting Seifer's back trying to get him to stop. Cid was striding over to them about to break up the fight when I clearly heard the voice again.

"Matron!"

I burst through the front door and something must have shocked everyone with the look on my face because Cid and the rest of the others followed close behind me wondering what was happening. I had clearly heard the voice this time. What I met with as I slowed down to a jog then to a stop gave me a sight I doubt I would ever forget. Sis was on the lawn staring down at the ground with a shocked expression, mouth half-open forming an o. At her feet was Quistis sobbing, bent over a pale unresponsive Edea.

"MATRON!" This was a collective shout from all of us, excluding Cid. They had all followed me to the lawn shouting questions as to why I was running, until they slowed to a stop frozen in shock by the scene. Even Seifer had followed us.

Cid stared with a dumb-founded expression at the prone form of his wife, his face quickly morphing into a look of desperate fear—and dread also?—before he sprang into action and ran to Edea, pushing aside Quistis as he did so. Quistis hurriedly got up running to Sis and burying her tear-streaked face into her chest as Sis's arm's wrapped around her comfortingly. Sis's face was a study in contrasts, the planes smooth, with deep undercurrents of countless emotions running the gamut, threatening to erupt and destroy the illusion of serenity she tried to project.

"Oh no, oh no, oh no, this isn't good, this isn't good…" Zell was repeating this mantra over and over again as he swayed back and forth, holding his arms around himself as if to embrace his own form, his gaze locked onto the figure of Edea, our "mother" in everything but name, our Matron. Seifer was noticeably silent, his knuckles white as he struggled visibly to control his emotions. Hyne knew what he was going through at that moment, what we were all going through.

"Damn!" Cid swore, uncharacteristically out of control, then he paled as he checked her pulse. "She's out cold! Hurry, one of you go to that old Shumi, our neighbor—he knows what to do. I'll tend to Edea until then. Time is wasting, now go!" His last look—a desperate one—was meant for me, and that look meant serious business. So I got.

I took off running towards Mr. Larug's house's direction, the adrenaline pumping through my bloodstream at a feverish rate, all I knew was that I needed to hurry. Blood pounded in my head creating a mantra that responded only to my sped up heartbeat, my peripheral view shrinking as I ran towards one goal, to get to Mr. Larug and be on time, effectively giving me tunnel-vision. All that was in my mind at that time was Edea's prone form, face drained of life, corpse-like even, with Quistis tear-streaked face shouting, trying to wake her. What exactly had happened? Why did Cid need Mr. Larug? This questions whirled through my mind as my feet flew over the miniature bamboo forest as if strapped to them were the wings of the mythical Quezacotl itself. In a record short period of time I had reached my destination.

Mr. Larug was outside again today tending to the bamboo again, watering the plants as a cool breeze wafted through the air. On the porch, beside the chairs and table, all neatly arranged, were pitchers of lisca and half a dozen cups in anticipation of the company that was planning to come visit later. A plan that would now have to be deferred because of the obvious circumstances.

He looked up as I approached, my chest heaving from the run, hands placed on my waist, mouth dry, gasping trying to coherently form a sentence. His deep-set eyes widened with alarm, an interesting centerpiece framed by draping white eyelashes, when I finally was able to explain what happened. After I was finished, he wasted no time going inside and then began gathering materials from the house.

"Squall, drink some lisca while you wait, it will restore your endurance and you will need some because we must hurry," Mr. Larug advised me through the open door as he carried what seemed to be a sack, in which he placed various items into. I recognized one of the items as a large book with foreign lettering—perhaps the writing system used in Shumi?—but I wasn't able to see what else he was bringing. My breath still came in gasps as I half-stumbled to the porch, then finally slumped next to one of the pitchers.

I was worried about what was happening at the orphanage. Could Cid do anything to help Matron? Were they all depending on me? These thoughts were busy running through my mind burdening me with the knowledge that maybe it did all depend on me. There was no hospital for miles and if this was a life or death situation, then it all depended on what items Mr. Larug was bringing, if he could heal her at all. I had doubts as well about that, but this was the only chance Matron possibly had. And we had no choice but to take it.

Glancing at one of the pitchers of the lisca and remembering Mr. Larug's advice, partly to do what he was said, and partly to take my mind off the potential consequences of what would happen, I poured a glass of it and drank it straight down. It was nice, soothing, a balm for my dry throat. Not only that but I could feel my body begin rejuvenating, my lungs no longer feeling flat, but expanding and contracting strongly with cool air, my heart speeding up then beginning to beat normally, my aches vanishing from my legs, the kinks from my neck, everything. I looked at the empty glass in wonder. I never knew the healing properties of the lisca, but then I remembered that Mr. Larug said that one of the ingredients was elixir. So that was it. Maybe this was why Cid sent me. This boosted my flagging confidence about going to Mr. Larug and gave me optimism that whatever the old Shumi could do may work after all for Matron.

Mr. Larug came through the door. Over his broad shoulders was slung the sack filled with the items he had placed for the sake of healing Matron. He glanced at me seeing if I was ready, and when I nodded, he said, "Good Squall. Now what you tell me is a serious thing, so we must get there in haste. Unfortunately we will not get there in time at our fastest pace on foot, even if we were not to stop. Fortunately for us, we will not have to." And before I could question him on what that meant, he signaled with his fingers to a spot on a diagonal from me about one hundred feet away next to a particularly large outgrowth of bamboo, and what stood there I did not even notice.

"A chocobo!?" I gaped. Indeed, a full grown, sun-colored, green eyed, warbling monster of a bird stood there. It stared at me with eyes devoid of intelligence, but full of curiosity as well as vitality. It warked then trotted over to where we were standing. The Shumi briefly scratched the back of the golden bird's ears with affection. Apparently they knew each other.

"Time is wasting Squall. Let us depart now," And with that, Mr. Larug smoothly mounted the bird in one graceful motion, right hand going over the chocobo's neck, while he braced the sack on his left hand. He looked at me when he was settled in and held out his long fingered hand in invitation. He smiled. "Do not worry, you will not fall. I have ridden many chocobos and it is safe to say that I am an expert rider." He grinned his gap toothed smile again.

I looked in askance at the yellow feathered beast. I had never ridden a chocobo before and the example of what had happened with Zell all those years ago made me hesitate. For all I knew this was "Mama's" little chocobo all grown up, ready to savage me if I made a wrong move at it. However, I reminded myself that Mr. Larug apparently knew what he was doing. And it would be faster than just simply running all the way back to the orphanage. The chocobo stared at me with it's Hyne's cursed bright green eyes as I was making my decision. Then it warked as if to tell me to hurry up.

I shrugged throwing caution to the wind, then I hopped onto the back of it with Mr. Larug helping me up. I held onto the Shumi's narrow waist as he readied the chocobo to go by gripping the space below its ears in a rider's fashion.

Strangely at this time I wasn't thinking about the chocobo, nor of the contents of Mr. Larug's knapsack, or even of what would happen. I was thinking about the tears on Quistis's eyes, Seifer's clenched white knuckles as he looked in disbelief at what was happening, of Cid's desperate plea for me to hurry to get help, the smooth face hiding the world of Sis, emotions threatening to erupt through the smooth façade.

"Let's go," I heard myself saying faintly, my arms tightening around Mr. Larug's waist as the chocobo bounded off in loping strides through the bamboo towards the orphanage.

And the one thing that disturbed me most deeply.

The one thing that only I had heard. The soundless voice.

-End Chapter 4: Voice-

AN: Hehe, I had to leave it like that. I know I promised something in this chapter but you guys need to know that this chapter was getting so big that I'm cutting it right here since the body of the text is nearly 2500 words. So this chapter is about at the "half-way" point. I felt that this was a good place to leave off and I hope you guys agree with me. By the way, who do you guys think the voice is of? I'm curious.

To my reviewers thank you a lot. Your words really mean something to me, and it also inspires me to be greater, so that's why I always choose quality over quantity any day.

Savage Daydream: Thanks for the kind words. Yes I did try to put a whole "nostalgic" vibe into it since I wanted this to sort of be a "coming of age" story. Hehe Hopefully by the end you will still enjoy it.

Thugstra: Hey thugstra, I liked that you put the specific types of elements that you liked in the story since it helps me out. Thanks. You will definitely see what that tale has to do with this story, and there's a BIG hint how it's shown already. You've probably already figured it out though, huh..hehe I am also glad that you find Mr. Larug so mysterious! I don't know if he will grow any more or less mysterious as the story wraps up though.. We'll see what happens.

Easy kid: Thanks eazy kid hehe, I try to be original. One thing that you'll see of in my future stories as well as this one is that I will always make sure it's great quality, and I always try to be original with my ideas. I hope you continue to enjoy and you stick around to the end.

And to the rest of the people reading: R/R! Just tell me if I'm doing good, if I can do better, anything. And I hope you guys stick around with me. I'll see you guys next chapter! No spoilers this time though hehe..

And to everyone:

HAVE A HAPPY HOLIDAY WEEKEND!

(I sure am)