Chapter Five:

For the rest of the evening Nami and Kie were busy exploring their vacation area. Nami had insisted on touring the while settlement before they would go to the inn and Kie reluctantly agreed. He had promised Zidane to keep her safe, and that's exactly what he planned to do. They were currently taking a break under one of the many verandas that dotted the seemingly never-ending tree.

"Kie, just look at the view!" Nami said excitedly leaning over the railing as far as she could. Kie approached the edge and peered over it slowly. He had never been a fan of heights.

From where he stood Kie could see over the tornado of sand that again enveloped the tree. He could see the surrounding plains all the way to the dot that was surely Burmecia, judging by the storm clouds that hovered over it. He could even see, to the northeast, the North Gate, though it was only a sliver in the distance. And off to the west was the sea. It's blue lengths covering the land beneath it for who knew how many miles.

He gulped uneasily and put a shaky hand on Nami's arm. "Why don't we go sit down," he said to her, his eyes remaining on the ground many miles below.

"Okay," Nami said. She swung herself back from the rail, making Kie tense, and took a seat on the cushioned bench that was behind them. He too, sat down, sighing with relief.

"I love it here Kie. I'm so glad Freya decided to take us here for our trip."

"Yes," Kie said absentmindedly.

"Kie," Nami said with a new seriousness to her tone. "What's wrong? Ever since father left you've been different. You seem, worried. Is there something you want to tell me?"

"Well, not really. I just haven't been feeling well lately. I have a bad feeling. But it's nothing to worry about. Nami?" Kie suddenly said what he looked at his friend. She wasn't looking at him at all. In fact her eyes were staring into the distance with a glazed look to them. Slowly she stood and took a careful step to the edge of the veranda. Again she took a step, seeming almost mechanical.

"Nami what's the matter? Do you see something?" Kie asked but she ignored him. Again she took a step, gong ever closer to the edge. Kie suddenly became scared.

"Nami," he grasped her arm and she didn't respond, she only tried to take another step. "Nami, snap out of it!" Kie said forcefully. He held both her arms and shook her hoping it would do some good. "Nami!"

"What?" she said blinking. Her eyes went back to normal and she almost slouched to the ground but Kie held her up. She gripped his tunic tightly, eyes wide with fright. "What happened?" she asked.

"You were in come kind of trance. You wouldn't listen to me and you kept going toward the rail. Nami are you alright?'

"I think so," she said shakily. When she stood on her own she put her hand to her chest and looked again to the edge, worriedly. "Something-" she began, but stopped.

"What? Something what Nami?" Kie probed but she only shook her head.

"It's nothing. Let's go back to the inn." She wrapped her arms around herself and made her way down the wooden path to the inn. Kie looked back, over the twisting cloud, and into the west. There was nothing. His mind full of puzzlement, he followed her.

The next morning breakfast was set for them in the main room of the inn. There was every kind of breakfast food you could ask for, and Nami didn't touch any of it. Her eyes were fixed out the closest window, arms wrapped tightly around herself.

"Nami don't you want to eat?" Fratley asked offering her a plate of eggs.

She glanced at them for a second before saying, "No thank you," and resumed her stare out the window.

"Nami you don't look so well," Kie said worriedly.

"I didn't sleep, that's all," she replied quickly. Kie and Freya exchanged quick glances before going back to their meal.

"How long are we staying?" Kie asked, suddenly hoping it wasn't that long.

"Three days," Fratley said simply. Three days, that wasn't too bad. Kie could keep an eye on Nami until then. Maybe it was just the air that was causing her to lose her appetite. Somehow, however, he knew that wasn't the real reason.

For the rest of the day Nami didn't seem herself. Kie would catch her with her eyes boring into the sand cloud that surrounded them and always into the west. She hardly spoke at all and the playful energy she had when they had arrived had vanished. Kie constantly asked her if something was bothering her but she only shrugged him off with "I told you, I didn't sleep well."

That night, when the moon was high in the sky Kie crept into Nami's room. He just wanted to make sure she was getting her sleep. If she wasn't maybe there was something he could do. When he opened the door he saw her lying in bed, her chest rising and falling with her rhythmic breath. She seemed to be fast asleep. He smiled. Yes, tomorrow would be better. She just needed to get used to her new surroundings. Little by little he closed the door and returned to his room.

Had he stayed a while longer he would have seen Nami sit up, letting the covers slide off her. Judging by her wide, staring eyes it was obvious she hadn't gotten any sleep, and she hadn't been asleep. Slowly she put one foot on the ground, then the other. She moved silently to the other side of the room; to the window; to the west. She put her hand on the window and stared.

Nami, came an echo across the expanse of her mind. As soon as it was there, it was gone, like the warm summer night wind that passed over the world.

Nami, is sounded again. All night, she watched the window, without moving an inch. Finally there was a knock at her door.

"Nami, it's time for breakfast," came Fratley's voice. She didn't answer. She didn't even respond until she heard the creaking of her door being opened She turned to see Kie standing in the doorway looking worried.

"You didn't sleep last night did you?" he asked.

"I wasn't tired," she said.

"That's a lie. You're eyes are red and you look like you can hardly stand. Nami, what's going on?"

"I told you yesterday-"

"You couldn't sleep," Kie finished. "Then why didn't you sleep last night?"

"I wasn't tired," she said again, moving her eyes back to the window.

"Nami look at me. Nami," Kie strode over to her and gripped her by the shoulders, making her look him in the face. "What is going on?"

"I told you it's nothing!" she yelled wrenching her arms from his grip.

"Nami I only want to look after you," Kie said quietly, slightly hurt. She had never yelled at him before.

She merely turned away from him, back to window. Reluctantly he hung his head and left the room giving her one last look in hopes that she would say something, anything. She did not. She just stood, staring through the glassy pains at something only she could see.

I need to tell Zidane, he thought as he made his way outside. He had passed up breakfast as he had a lot of thinking to do. Maybe Zidane could help. The only problem was how was he supposed to get message to him when he was the message boy and he had to stay with Nami. He, now, felt similarly to Zidane. Something bad was coming.