Disclaimer: I OWN THIS FANFIC! ... But nothing else to do with Final Fantasy: Unlimited... or FF:U After...
Thank you guys, for the reviews. I didn't really expect any... but I got some cool comments! Natalie, that doesn't mean you! But it does mean Laura, mannryu, silveroasis1 and milleniumduelist01 thanks!
I was checking reviews this morning, and I have a few things to say: LAURA! Stop laughing in your reviews! And I hate LisaxMakenshi! Ya know if you hate LisaxKaze that much you don't have to review. Seriously, everyone who reviews this story, I wanna know what you think is better LxM or LxK? You don't have to answer but think of it sort of like a poll. I vote Lisa and Kaze for ever and ever and ever YAY!
milleniumduelist01, don't worry I don't have anything mean to say to you, but yeah I know it's kinda strange...okay really strange how Kaze caught up, but he is Kaze after all, and I think (I should remember, it's my story after all lol) there were a few weeks in between Lisa arriving and leaving the base because Cid had to make the train. Yeah I'm still not quite comfortable with Kaze being in the Outside world myself, but I think once the story really gets started it will be fine...I hope...
Wow! That was way too long, so on with the story!
Chapter 3:
The Wedding
Crux waited quietly on the hard chilly ground of the abandoned subway, hoping for the train to arrive soon. It was now late hours of the night. She didn't want to be trapped in this foreign world, at least not without Makenshi, the one in all the worlds who understood her.
After losing track of Lisa, she had decided to follow the twins around, managing to stay hidden, but only just. After counting up three days, she snuck, unnoticed by anyone, back to the unused subway station. And now, she waited patently for the train to return.
Suddenly, a freezing wind rushed through the calm underground. Crux felt a shiver run up her tiny spine. The sound of spinning wheels echoed throughout the whole station, and a light was seen in the distance.
It steadily came closer, as the noise got louder, rumbling. Then, in a blur, the train had arrived, screeching to a stop. The doors slowly opened, disappearing into the side of the train.
Then, Makenshi exited. He smiled sweetly at Crux, as he approached her. Next, Kaze appeared, a rather grim look on his face.
"Did you manage to follow her?" Makenshi asked softly. She slowly and sadly shook her head. "That's fine." she gave her a gentle smile.
Kaze stood behind him, scanning the area. It was dark, damp and cold. Makenshi turned to him.
"Crux doesn't know where she is."
"I don't need any help."
Kaze growled, the scowl on his face deepening.
"Then I guess we should leave." he turned to Crux "Come, Crux."
he held his hand out for the tiny doll, who gladly took it.
Kaze watched the two silently, as they passed him, to the train, but just as Makenshi was about to take a step in, the doors appeared at the sides, slamming closed before him. The train whistled, then began to move, Makenshi stepped back, pulling Crux with him. It began to pick up speed, and with a flash of blinding light, disappeared.
Kaze turned away from them. When he vowed not to fight, he didn't mean to form some undying friendship, just to stay away from him. Looked like he wasn't getting away so easily.
He slumped down against a grimy wall, he had to plan something before he walked out into the busy streets. He admitted, he should have thought of that before, but he wasn't giving up.
Lisa glanced at her watch, it was nine thirty. Uncle Takashi had asked her to come visit around this time, but he wouldn't let her know why. She stood up from her chair at reception, walking over to the desk.
"Excuse me," she tried to catch the receptionists attention, the lady nodded, without so much as lifting her head from her work "may I please visit Mr Takashi's room." the woman looked up at her.
"Family member?" Lisa nodded, the lady began typing on the computer beside her "Room 286 B, he's in a critical condition."
"..Thank you."
Lisa thanked somewhat unsurely, before leaving to go find her uncle.
After wandering the busy hospital for about fifteen minutes, she finally found her uncles room. She entered, to be greeted by nothing but beeping machines. Her uncle was asleep. His breathing was shallow, she could tell the cancer was effecting him greatly.
"Uncle, wake up."
she whispered in his ear. He must have been sleeping only lightly, because he began to stir. Soon enough, he opened his eyes, a shocked expression visible on his face.
"It's about time you got here! I fell asleep waiting for you."
he said weakly. He was only just holding on.
"I'm sorry uncle."
she apologised, tears forming at her eyes.
"What's wrong?"
he asked her, loosely gripping her hand.
"I'm going to miss you..."
Her voice broke, and she began to sob.
"Sit down Lisa, we need to talk."
his speech was slow and interrupted by short breaths in between words.
Lisa sat down on the chair next to the hospital bed. She took in deep breaths trying to calm herself, but why did she lose so many people close to her?
"Lisa. First, I have to tell you, you'll be fine without me. We have lived in different countries for so long now, in a few weeks, you won't even notice." he smiled at her, taking in some more breaths before continuing. "You know everyone has to die someday, and then when it's your time, you'll meet your mother and I again."
"...And Kaze..?"
she whispered, barely realizing.
"Who's this?"
He uncle suddenly questioned. She looked up, wide eyed in surprise. She sighed, she may as well tell him.
"...He was just a man in Wonderland, he sacrificed his life to protect this world."
"And you feel deeply for him?"
Takashi asked, trying to tighten his grip on her hand.
Lisa nodded, before bursting into tears again.
"I just lost him, and now you."
she cried through uncontrolled sobs, hot tears falling from her eyes, down to her chin, then dripping onto her one hand on her lap.
"There, there Lisa. I have some more news for you."
He waited for her sobs to slowly soften and subside.
"Remember the marriage?" he asked, she nodded "I've chosen the perfect man for you. Remember when your mother died, and I got custody of you? I'd decided that if you were not married or engaged by the time of my death, I would choose a man for you."
"Uncle, I don't want to marry a stranger."
she told him.
"This man will take good care of you, and he is wealthy. Don't you want that?"
he asked
"I want love.."
she whispered softly.
"I'm sorry Lisa.. You know if I could give that to you I would. But I want to insure you a safe future, with someone I know will take care of you."
Lisa nodded, a small frown upon her face.
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door, loud and forceful. A tall man entered, wearing a suit. He had neatly brushed light brown hair, dull bluish grey eyes and a rather expensive looking gold watch on his left wrist.
He held his hand out to Lisa.
"Hello Lisa, I'm Greg Miners, your fiancée."
Joe looked at his watch. It was almost ten o'clock. The Hayakawa's had gone out for a late dinner, then ice cream. Now they walked together down the busy streets of Sadogashima.
"Well, we'd better be getting home now, it's getting late."
"Aww, but daddy, it's Friday." Ai complained "Can't we go look at the subway or something?" she begged.
Mary smiled, looking over to Joe. He sighed, giving in.
"Fine, but only quickly."
"Yay!"
Ai cheered, skipping ahead. Yu laughed, running to keep up with her.
It was only a very short walk to the abandoned station, and basically no one but the twins ever went down there, at the fear that they would disappear.
Ai and Yu arrived first, ducking through the hole in the rotten wood blocking the entrance. They ran down the concrete stairs.
Hearing fast footsteps and voices, Kaze quickly rose from where he had been sitting, he whipped his red shotgun out, ready to shoot. Only when the targets came into sight, they were two children, Ai and Yu.
"Mister!"
Ai cried in surprise. Yu came almost falling over beside her in shock.
"H-how are you alive?"
he stuttered, pointing at the tall black cloaked man.
Kaze lowered his gun. Within moments Mary and Joe came down the steps, utterly shocked to see him standing there.
Seeing it was safe, Makenshi came into view from behind a concrete post, returning the Maken to his belt. Crux followed him, as he came to stand a short distance from Kaze.
"And Makenshi!"
Ai gasped.
Yu's mouth dropped, his finger was still pointed at Kaze.
There was complete silence for almost a whole minute, as Kaze and Makenshi stood waiting for someone to speak.
"Uh... why don't you come stay in our house until the train comes back, then you can explain everything."
Mary suggested
"More like Makenshi can.."
Ai muttered, smirking.
Makenshi hesitantly nodded in agreement, but Kaze stood completely motionless.
"Come on Mister! Lisa's gonna want to see you again ya know! She was sad ever since she woke up after the explosion you guys caused!"
Ai exclaimed, crossing her arms, waiting for him to give in.
As much as he wanted to see Lisa, he didn't want to follow people like that. He would feel weak and needy if he let them take care of him.
"Would you rather be stuck down here?"
Ai asked, now tapping her foot.
Kaze scowled, taking a step towards them.
"Great!"
Yu cheered happily.
"I want you two to go back to Japan for the wedding." Takashi breathed "Tomorrow morning."
"What?"
Lisa cried franticly.
"Great. Thank you Mr Takashi, I will that good care of your niece."
Greg thanked in his American accent.
"What about you?"
Lisa cried, staring through tears at the uncle
"I don't want you to be around here to watch me die." he smiled sadly at her "Could I have a moment with her?"
he asked Greg, the man nodded and left the room.
"Lisa, I'm sorry. I want you to go back to Japan, and be happy. If that man, Kaze was alive, even if you hadn't returned I would have loved you to stay with him and be happy, but because he is... gone, you have to make the best of what you have." he paused for a moment, frailly lifting his arms and pulling her into a soft embrace. "If it doesn't work out... there is always the option of divorce... but I hope you can learn to love this man. Your mother and I will be watching over you."
Lisa held him, speechless. She gently let go, standing up straight.
"I love you uncle."
she whispered.
"I love you too, now go."
he told her softly.
So Lisa left the room, to be taken away to a hotel for the night by a complete stranger. Her future husband.
The Hayakawa's took Kaze, Makenshi and Crux through the shadows of alleyways, back to their house. Unlocking the door, Ai and Yu rushed inside, followed by Mary and Joe. Makenshi and Crux slowly entered the foreign building, with Kaze trailing behind them all as usual.
Yu flung off his shoes and jacket, heading straight for the phone. Just when he was about to pick it up, it began to ring. He picked it up, holding it to his ear.
"Hello?"
He asked into the receiver.
"Yu? It's Lisa."
Lisa said over the phone.
"Lisa! I have some really great news! Guess who-"
he was cut off when Ai came over, covering his mouth.
"Shhh! It has to be a secret!"
she hissed into his ear.
"What is it Yu?"
Lisa asked.
"Um.. nothing. Why did you ring?"
he asked.
"I have some..." she paused for a moment, then continued "important news."
Suddenly, her voice was heard throughout the room, Ai had put the phone on speaker phone. "I'm getting married." Everyone in the house stood silently in shock "... My Uncle is dying, and he said that if I wasn't married or engaged, then he would choose someone for me. So he did."
"Ai! Take in off!"
Mary whispered. Ai slowly pushed the button, and there was silence in the room again. Kaze kept a straight face, but he felt like he'd missed the chance of a lifetime.
"I'd like you guys to come.."
Lisa told Yu, she was having trouble pretending she was happy, but Greg was in the room. Suddenly, he stood up, walking over to her.
"I'm going to get some food."
he said, then turned and left.
"Lisa?"
Yu asked
"Um... he just left." she was quiet for a while "I really don't want to marry him.."
she whispered.
"Where are you?"
"China."
"What!"
Yu gasped, when did she go to China?
"That's where my uncle is. Anyway I'll be coming back tomorrow, and the wedding will be in three days, do you know Sadogashima central hall? Apparently the wedding has already been organized and it will be held there at three o'clock. Do you think you guys can come?"
"I'll ask if its okay." he turned around to Mary, Joe and Ai "She says the wedding will be in three days at Sadogashima cental hall at three o'clock, she wants us to come."
"I guess so."
Joes considered
"It sounds nice.."
Mary said quietly
"We'll be there."
Yu told Lisa before hanging up.
"Yeah! And just as they are about to say 'I do' Mister comes busting in, and takes Lisa away! 'Cause we all see the big bad love storm brewing up!"
Ai cheered, punching her fist in the air. Kaze stared at her, he couldn't believe what was going on. It made him really wish he had made an effort to become closer to Lisa.
"Ai, we aren't going to ruin the wedding."
Mary sighed.
"But Lisa doesn't want to marry him, and you saw how sad she was! She wasn't like that while we were looking for you, she used to at least make it look like she was happy, but when Kaze was gone she couldn't even hide it anymore, everyone could tell she missed him!"
Yu cried. Everyone froze at his sudden outburst.
Kaze stood staring at the ground. She had really missed him that much? He had told himself time and time again not to get close to anyone, because it would only end up hurting them and himself. But Lisa had broken down the barriers around his heart and let herself in with ease, and she hadn't even noticed because he hadn't let it show. He had thought of it as a weakness to himself to be distracted by such things as love. Now he didn't care about weaknesses, he wanted to let her in, but didn't know how.
"Okay kids, off to bed."
Joe said, scooting them upstairs.
"Goodnight Kaze! Goodnight Makenshi!"
"Yeah, goodnight!"
the twins yelled as they disappeared up the stairway.
Kaze yet again slumped down against a wall, he felt trapped in this house. He couldn't leave though, he began thinking about the wedding.
Over the weekend not much was said about Lisa and Greg, the Hayakawa's were sent invitations to the wedding, so they went out to buy a present. Apparently Greg had wanted an American style wedding.
On Monday morning Mary rang Sadogashima Elementary school to say Ai and Yu wouldn't be coming, and then began preparing them for the wedding.
It was almost one o'clock. Lisa stood in front of a full length mirror in a room of the hall she would be married in. She wore a dressing gown. She was so overwhelmed at everything that had happened within the last month. It was hard to believe today was her wedding day.
There was a sudden knock on the door and a lady entered, she was perhaps a few tears older than Lisa, with short blonde hair and green eyes.
"Hi Miss Lisa, I'm Joanna, Greg's sister."
she greeted
"..Hi."
Lisa said, watching as she directed two other woman into the room, carrying make up and a huge plastic wrap covering the wedding dress.
"Now lets get started on your make up." she sat Lisa down on a chair and strangely, began moving her hands over her face "Mm, you have a pretty face, but lets see what the make up can do for you!"
she grinned cheerfully, motioning for the others to bring the make up over. For the next half hour or so, they put on and took off make up, until it was finally finished.
Lisa looked in the mirror, she didn't really care much about this wedding. She just wanted to stay with her uncle. The make up was over done in her opinion, they had put everything possible on her face, but she didn't complain.
"You like?"
Joanna asked, raising her eyebrows in anticipation.
"Yes thank you."
Lisa said, putting on a fake smile. She knew she shouldn't, but it was more like a white lie at the moment.
"So, has Greg told you when you two are going to America?"
Joanna asked
"America?"
Lisa gasped, she didn't want to go to America, she didn't think her uncle had known about this either.
"Oh.. sorry. I guess he hadn't told you yet." she said, sounding sympathetic. "Well, we had better let you get this wedding dress on, come on girls!"
All of them left Lisa alone in the room. She sunk into a chair unable to move. This man didn't plan to take care of her, she could tell. She looked at the clock again, it was almost two o'clock, she had better get the wedding dress on.
She slowly stood up, stripping off her dressing gown, and taking the dress out of the bag. She unzipped the back and slipped her legs into it, pulling it up her hips and waist. Then, carefully pulling it up to her chest, she zipped up the back.
She looked into the mirror. The dress had thin straps over her shoulders, and clung tightly to her body until it got to the bottom of the waist, where it flared out because of the petticoats underneath, there was a thin white veil too, but she would put that on later. She couldn't sit down now, in case she crinkled the dress, so instead she paced around the room she was nervous now.
For the next hour she stood listening as Greg's family and friends came crowding into the hall, taking their seats. Then finally Greg's father came into the room, just as she had put her shoes on.
"Come now, it's time to walk down the isle."
He took her hand, leading her out to the main hall where a red carpet was laid out down the middle. Everyone stood up and slow organ music began to play. She slowly made her way down the long isle, linked arms with Greg's father. Everyone's eyes where focused on her.
The hall had been decorated, it looked really beautiful, with white flowers at the end of every row of seats, but no matter how beautiful, this wedding had no meaning..
She got to the end of the isle to where her soon-to-be husband was standing. She saw the Hayakawa's in the front row of seats, and smiled faintly. The priest began to speak.
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to celebrate the bringing together of these two-"
the elderly man drabbled on, but Lisa wasn't paying attention at all.
"Do you, Greg Miner, take this woman to be your wife, to love and to cherish?"
"I do."
Lisa was brought back to reality when Greg took her hand in his.
"And do you, Lisa Pacifist, take this man to be you husband?"
Lisa stared into his face, he was just waiting for her to be his.
"I-"
Just then the double doors at the front of the hall swung open with a loud 'bang'. A man with long crimson-brown hair, cloaked in black stood in the doorway...
Okay, so sorry to leave it like this, but I wanted to get the wedding into this chapter, but I'll update ASAP!