The Torn Heart
(Yes, I finally updated, sorry about the long wait, I've been busy with my finals, apparently 10th grade is harder than I thought it would be. Enought about me, here's the chapter, I'll update more as soon as my schedule clears up.)
Disclaimer: I don't own the girls or the guys. The belong to Square or whatnot
Ch.7: Shadowed Woods
They could hear the clinging sound of metal in the distance as they ran deeper and deeper into the Macalania Woods, not just to find Cirrus, but to escape the inferno that was building in the Calm Lands.
Paine and Rikku ran beside Yuna, she could hear their heavy breathing; they were all exhausted. Yuna's arm ached from having hung onto them for too long, her legs ached for oxygen, her heart pumping furiously, but all of it was just a blur; her mind was still in shock.
Brother, Buddy, Shinra…Where are you? She cried in her mind. Rikku and Paine had hovered down on Rikku's Machina Maw, so maybe Brother and Buddy could've figured something out. There is no way they could've just di…No, Yuna could not finish that thought, they've got to be alive somewhere. We are after all, the Gullwings, Yuna thought to herself. I'll find them as soon as we get this over with.
Yuna would've stayed behind to look for Brother and Buddy, but Paine had convinced her that they needed to go help Cirrus first. As soon as they had landed next to Yuna on that patch of grass, Paine had jumped down and order the both her and Rikku to enter the forest. Yuna explained all she knew of what had happened, and Paine immediately made her decision with surprising quickness. Yuna would've not listened, but there was just something about Paine's suddenly commanding voice and presence that made Yuna follow her.
Now, here they are, running madly to reach the sound of clashing steel that grew closer each moment. The three ran unimpeded by the hostile tree branches or the wandering fiends, deeper and deeper into the forest, farer and farer off the standard Macalanian trail. Then, just as Paine pushed away the last few branches, they came upon an open pond.
Sephiorth! The hateful man glided gently on top of the pond of water, the fish underneath swam about oblivious to the obvious danger. His once again crackled with blue energy, his long silvery hair billowing around him wildly even though Yuna could feel no wind. In one of his hands, he held his long sword, its edges stained with red dripping blood. In his other hand, he, with two fingers, disdainfully held a much larger sword.
Cirrus! He knelt in the shallow water, clutching at this side. Blood was seeping through his fingers, pooling red the normally clear waters around him. His black wing had vanished, along with that strange wildness in his eyes with it. Now, his eyes held nothing but pure fury and determination as he glared defiantly at Sephiorth.
Unexpectedly, Sephiorth turned to face Yuna, the deep glowing green of his eyes piercing through her soul. She froze feeling a sudden chill in her blood; a sliver of fear and hopelessness crept into her mind. Then, his eyes turned to Paine, and immediately, they widened in total shock and alarm; something Yuna assumed to be exceedingly uncharacteristic of Sephiorth. Then a strange glint or recognition and something else blinked in his green eyes.
Without so much as a word, he cast down the Cirrus's blade into the water, and sheathed his own sword. Gracefully, he hovered over to Paine, and without the usual malice in his eyes; he did the most unexpected thing. His arms flew around her in an embrace. Caught off guard, Paine's face froze in abject terror and surprise. Then, in a blink of an eye, both Paine and Sephiorth vanished.
The trio stood there, it was as if time had froze, the blazing flames of the trees faded, and the terrified chirps of escaping birds fell upon nothing. The sheer silence deafened Yuna.
"Paine?!" Rikku, nervously whimpered, breaking the silence. "Where are you?" Rikku called out, the first time she heard her speak since what seemed to be a million years ago; her voice wasn't the usual cheeriness, but a more profound and sad tune of a lost child.
Yuna didn't wait to see if there would be an answer, instead, she ran to Cirrus. The massive blade now once again sheathed on his back, he still clutched at his side as he stumbled out of the pond.
"You're hurt…" Yuna tried to rip a piece of her pajamas, but the strong material would not pull off, "Let's get you bandaged, then we can go look for Brother and the others."
"Yuna, I'm okay, I'll heal." He sighed slightly, as if unsure how to say this, "Yuna…we should go find Paine and Sephiorth."
"Lets find Brother and the others first," Rikku walked over, trying, almost pathetically, to sound cheerful, "Then, we can go save Paine."
"No, we have to go find Paine first, the living needs us more." His voice was resolute.
"But Brother and Buddy and Shinra are still alive." Rikku protested.
Yuna nodded in agreement, the Gullwings were invincible, so nothing can tear them apart. Both Rikku and Yuna stared expectantly at Cirrus, a wistful longing in their eyes.
Cirrus looked at the both of them, his green eyes glowed with sadness, he seemed to have forgotten his own wound, the blood was flowing freely.
But before he could speak, Rikku started to tug on his free hand, "C'mon let's go find them."
"Yeah," Yuna agreed, "They might be in the ship, we have to go save them."
Cirrus didn't move, instead, he sighed looking at them through somber eyes, "Yuna, Rikku, you both know what happened, Brother, Buddy, and Shinra are gone. You two have to accept that fact before we go after Sephiorth, or else he'll toy with your inner emotions…As he did me." He added, somewhat bitterly, "Then, we can go save Paine, she still needs us more than anyone else right now."
"No!" Rikku yelled, her eyes glared fire at Cirrus, "We have to find them…please." She looked to Yuna for support.
Yuna didn't know what to say, Paine does need her, who knows what Sephiorth might be doing? But Brother and the others also need her; they might be alive somewhere.
Seeing her hesitate, Rikku grabbed at Yuna's wrist, "C'mon Yunie, let's go before the fire spreads even more…." Rikku looked around unsure, "Umm…which way?" Finding her solution in the form of an entrance into the woods, she tugged at Yuna, "C'mon, before it's too late."
"Wait." Cirrus's hand fell upon Yuna's shoulders, forcing her to stop, "Yuna." He looked deep into her eyes, making Yuna tremble; then in a calm yet strong voice he said, "Listen to me, no one could've survived that crash, I realize you love Brother, Buddy, and Shinra, but you must realize, Paine-"
"NO!" Rikku yelled out, the young years of cheery happiness instantly shifting to anger, "Brother is in trouble, he might be hurt, we have to save him! Now, if you don't want to help us, that's fine, let's go Yuna!" She pulled hard on Yuna's wrist, but Cirrus's grip was too strong. Without another word, she whipped out her flimflam pushing it right up against Cirrus's wrist. Grinding her teeth, Rikku said icily, "Remove you hand."
Cirrus looked at her, his eyes widened in surprise, as did Yuna's. She couldn't believe what was happening, panicking, she tried to bat away Rikku's hand, to no avail, "C'mon guys, Rikku, what's happened to you?!" She looked towards Cirrus, "C'mon Cirrus, let's just go help Brother and-"
"Remove it!" Rikku yelled, her voice a shrill screech as she pressed the blade against Cirrus's wrists harder; drawing blood.
Cirrus grimaced, then, in a stronger voice, "I'm sorry for what I must." without another word, his eyes began to glow a haunting white, and an unearthly red aura flooded to his legs.
Sensing danger, Rikku slashed the blade up with all her might, Yuna squeezed shut her eyes before she knew the blade would carve through flesh and bone. Nearby, the familiar screech of a chocobo blared in the air.
Suddenly, she felt something warm and feathery ram into her back hard. She flew forward into Cirrus's arms, her head bumping hard against his chest. Groggily she opened her eyes, the last thing she saw was a bright yellow chocobo and something pink, which she assumed was a moogle. Then, dizziness and darkness closed over her.