'Par Un Sourire (By One Smile)

Bonjour Tristesse' (Hello Sadness)

La Vie Immédiate. P Éluad.

Final Fantasy Eight

BY ONE SMILE

JetNoir

CHAPTER TWO

Cole: "Its not right."

Kidnapped Man: "I've been saying that all day."

Alien: Resurrection

We lay there all night. Almost. All night.

The moon was setting, its ethereal glow radiant as it flashed along the sea. However, in a few moments rain began pouring from the heavens, starting a flood that any good Water caster would be proud of. I was instantly struck by a choice.

Should I rescue Illyana or the painting first?

Instinctively, I moved towards my precious painting, then, reconsidering my tender groin, moved towards Illyana, picked her up, gently taking her inside. I placed her on the bed, and then ran back outside where the rain was rapidly becoming torrential. I grabbed my slightly smudged work and ran once again inside the dark house. Funnily enough, I felt that it actually looked better now. Strange.

Maybe it was just me.

The sex was as good as always – even with sore extremities – but our intimacy seemed to have taken on a darker tone.

Sometimes, I wonder why I put up with this. By morning she seemed completely reconciled to the idea to my painting. Perhaps she realised how much it meant to me. Perhaps she realised that I couldn't paint with rain pouring like there would be no tomorrow. Funny how little statements like that can become so...apt.

"So, darling, what do you plan to do today?" she asked, her voice huskier than usual.

"I had a dream last night," I murmured, "just a hunch, but I want to see how it plays out."

"Sure?" she replied, smiling slightly, "sure you don't want to stay here with me? I'll make it worth your while..." The teasing temptation lingered in the air in-between us, and already I felt myself responding to her.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, "but I have to go. My stipend is going to run out soon, if I don't find results. I have to go, but later. Well, lets just say I'm very willing." She smiled at me, so I grabbed a coat, and slipped out the door.

In my dream, I recognised the place that had been its location. It was a few miles away from my house, and so as I pulled away in my car, the rain thinned away. It was still early, and in this place – microclimates permitting – a thick mist hung close to the ground.

My work at the University seemed to be the choice of the Head, as a mildly controversial scholar, he seemed almost too eager to get rid of me. My belief was that somewhere in the Galbadian continent is a Lost City; and my goal is to find it. I believe that my paintings are useful in that they are an outpouring of my soul, and some 'radicals' in the University have traced my heritage to those so-called 'denizens' of the so-called 'lost city'. It was a compromise that my allies sought, because the Head merely wanted my dismissal. I never knew what I had done to offend him, but it seemed that this compromise was the easiest way to protect me, yet many also wanted to know more.

It took me some time to arrive, and by now the mist had lifted and the rain had caught up with me. I parked the car, got out and locked it. Before me lay a new beach, with a large expanse of caves and cliffs stretching far into the ether. I smiled slightly with a slight sense of recognition, even though I had never been here before in my life.

I tightened my coat, and hurried along the now damp sand, towards what might be seen as my destiny, or what others might see as the foolish error of a desperate man.

Note: The Lost City is revealed next chapter! Hope you enjoyed it, and please review!

Disclaimer: All the characters are copyright to Square Enix; and the story to me. This story has been written on the understanding that you may read it and print it out; but you may not pass it off as your own, hire it out, or sell it for money. You also may not put it on your own or any other web page without my express written permission. Thankyou!

JetNoir