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A Place To Call HomeThe first half of the day remained remotely uneventful and finally it was time for lunch. Kerri waved goodbye to Baralai and entered the cafeteria with Wakka. They walked together to their normal table to find Tidus, Yuna, and Paine already there.
"Hey guys!" Kerri chirped as she sat down.
Tidus looked up from his sandwich. "Well, someone's in a good mood"
Kerri shrugged. "Why shouldn't I be?"
"Well after beating up Seymour, I guess you have reason to rejoice," Paine said as she placed her school bag on the floor.
"Hey! He deserved it!" Kerri said defensively.
"No argument there, I just kind of wished it was me," Tidus told her.
Then Gippal came over to the table and put his arms around Kerri's waist and placed his head on her shoulder. "How ya doing?"
No one said anything instead they held their breath and watched them. He doesn't learn, doesn't he remember what happened last time her did that? Tidus thought to himself.
But instead of flipping out, Kerri turned her head to him, kissed him and said, "I'm just lovely and yourself?"
Everyone's mouth dropped. Yuna looked around the table to see if anyone else was as shocked as she was. Did that really just happen. I mean I know they kissed before in front of Seymour, but I thought that was just so Seymour would back off her and leave her alone. Guess not…
Kerri looked at everyone's faces and giggled. Gippal sat up and looked sternly at Kerri. "You didn't tell them?"
Kerri smiled innocently and said, "Sorry…"
Tidus shook his head and asked, "When did this happen?"
"This morning," Gippal replied.
Yuna put her hands on her hips and said, "And you didn't tell me, Ker?"
Kerri bit her bottom lip and replied, "Sorry, I don't know. I felt like a rebel. I knew something you didn't know, so in my head I was like 'Yeaa, I'm a rebel."
Wakka scratched his head. "You beat up Seymour and you feel like a rebel because of that, ya?"
"You got a weird girlfriend there, Gippal," Tidus said.
"Hey I resent that! I am not weird… I'm, um, unique!" she stated in a matter of fact tone.
Gippal laughed. "Ya got that right. You are definitely one of a kind, Ker. And that's the way I like it."
Kerri blushed. "So anyway, um… did anyone hear what happened to Seymour's nose? He wasn't in first period…"
"Why don't you look for yourself, he's right over there," Paine said pointing toward Seymour's table.
Kerri discreetly turned around to get a look at Seymour. When she turned around, he was looking right back at her. She quickly turned back around. "Guys, I think he's watching me…"
"Kerri, don't be so paranoid. I know he's weird, but like… He's not the stalker type," Yuna assured her.
Kerri sighed, "If you say so..." I still think he's watching me…
After lunch the group broke up and went there separate ways. Kerri was walking towards her magic class lost in thought when someone grabbed her left arm. She jumped three feet in the air.
"Whoa, sorry I didn't mean to scare you… just I was calling your name and you weren't answering…"
Kerri turned to her left to find Cee there. She sighed. "Oh, it's just you. I'm sorry I was just thinking, I guess I didn't hear you."
"S'ok, where are you coming from?"
Kerri took a deep breath, her heart was still beating rapidly from the scare she just had. "Lunch… what about you?"
"Gym."
"Cool, I have gym eighth,"
The girls soon reached their magic class and took the seats. Tromell began teaching them how to conserve their energy while casting magic. He told them 'it would take a lot of practice, but once you can focus your energy, your magic become very powerful and you can use it to a greater extent.'
Kerri had been enjoying this class, until…in the middle of the lesson, Cee leaned over to Kerri and said, "Ker, I don't know if you noticed, but that boy with the blue hair has been watching you all class. "
I knew it! Kerri looked up at Seymour who glared at her. She turned back to Cee. "Ew, can we say creepy?"
The other girl laughed. "I think he likes you. I mean why else would he be watching you? Gee, I wonder what happened to his nose."
Kerri shrugged and said, "You don't come to school early, do you?
With the exception of a few glares, the rest of the day was on the boring side. After eighth period the girls: Yuna, Rikku, and Kerri, exited the girl's gym and waited for the boys. Within a few second the three guys, Tidus, Baralai, and Gippal came out of the boy's gym. Gippal ran over to Kerri, picked her up, and swung her around.
Kerri laughed and said, "Miss me?"
He smiled and kissed her nose before replying, "More than anything."
He put her down, took her hand and the group walked out of the building. After everyone said their goodbyes, Kerri, Tidus, and Yuna, got in Tidus' and left. When they dropped Yuna off at home Tidus turned to Kerri. "So you're really going out with Gippal?"
She smiled, nodded, and said, "Yup."
"That's pretty cool." He lowered his voice, "I guess." I'm happy for them and what not, but I hope he doesn't hurt her. She's like one of my best friends, practically family, and I don't want to see her get hurt by him. I knew he liked her, but I don't know- I just this will turn out okay, for both of their sake's.
Kerri just nodded and looked out the window. They got back to Tidus house and upon entering Kerri tripped and hit the floor. Oomph. "Oww…"
Tidus laughed and helped her up. "Looks like Auron's home," he said as he pointed to the giant boot Kerri tripped over.
Kerri brushed herself off. "Well that's a perfect place to leave your shoes, right in the doorway, cause you know, people would definitely expect it…" she sarcastically remarked.
Tidus laughed. "I know, and if I did that, I 'd be in so much trouble, eh guardians, go figure…"
"Tidus, is that you?" Auron called from upstairs.
"Yea," Tidus replied.
"Is Kerri with you?"
Kerri walked to the bottom of the stairs. "Yes I am, Sir."
"Good, now don't go anywhere. I need to talk to you about some things, Kerri. Wait for me in the living room. And please, call me Auron."
"Okidook." She called back.
She turned to Tidus with a questioning expression. He merely shrugged his shoulders. Kerri turned around and headed for the living room. She took a seat on the big couch and waited. I wonder what Auron wants to tell me. He's definitely going to like kick me out of his house. I mean I guess it wouldn't be that bad, because me and Yuna are on speaking terms again. But I think it's more fun here. Tidus is like the brother I never had, I don't want to leave. Oh man, wait… what if it's about the Seymour thing in school. Crap…. I didn't even think of that. Oh crap.
"Hello, Kerri."
Kerri jumped. Third time today. Man I gotta stop doing that. I have to start paying attention to what's going on around me. She looked up at him. "Sir, if it's about Seymour- I can explain…"
"No, it's not… wait, what about Seymour?"
Me and my big mouth… "Nothing… nothing, what were you saying?"
"Oh yes, Ok I really don't know how to say this." He took a seat next to Kerri. "Tidus has already told you that we knew your father, Scott Muratore, correct ?"
"Yes…" She responded. Oh, I don't think I'm going to like what I'm going to hear. But I can't tell if it's good news or bad news, he's had the same expression on his face since I've met him.
He placed one of his elbows on his knees and he kept the other arm free. He looked at Kerri and didn't say anything for a few minutes. " Ok, well, I had originally thought that's who you were when I had first met you. You had his eyes, and you reminded me of him just by your actions and the way you spoke, but I wasn't sure and I didn't want to come straight out and ask you. But anyway, he asked me to do him a favor. He told me that if his daughter was to ever come to Spira, he wanted me to take you in, to be your guardian, kind of like what I am to Tidus. Now, I'm always willing to keep my promises. I have not broken one yet. So it is up to you. If you wish to stay here, then you are more than welcome, but it is your choice."
Kerri just sat there not knowing exactly what to say. She 'knew' they knew her father, but she didn't actually grasp the concept until that moment. She looked up at him and said, "Sir Auron, I would be honored to be allowed to remain in your home."
"You know I have rules that you will have to abide by…"
She nodded. "I understand."
Auron stood up. "Then it is settled, I'll have a room set up for you. You can have your father's old room. It's a rather nice room, with a view of the beach."
Kerri looked up at him. "Sir Auron…"
"Please, call me Auron."
She took a deep breath. "Auron, what ever became of my father?"
He sighed. I knew this was coming and yet, I feel totally unprepared for it. He sat back down. "Ok, Well, about a 2 years ago, a war had broken out between the Al Bhed and the Yevonites. Braska had been called in to go to war. Yuna was very distressed about this, as would any young girl. Only thing is... she had recently lost her mother, so it would be twice as worse for her father to go off. Your father, Scott, well he felt as a way to repay Braska for all the kind gestures he had done for him, he offered to go in Braska's place. Now of course, neither of us had wanted him to go. But, he insisted saying, "My family is back in New York, not here. Braska, you have little Yuna to take care of. She's the same age as my daughter and I wouldn't want her to go through what my kid had to go through. She needs you Braska. I'm not needed here. At least this way, I can feel like I had a purpose for being here. Please. Let me go for you." So reluctantly, we let him go. Before he went though. He had asked me to take care of you, if ever you came here and he said to give you this." He handed her a sphere. "It's a sphere. I never watched it so I can't tell you what is on it."
Kerri eyes filled with tears. "So, he died in war?"
Auron ran his hand through his hair. "We aren't sure. The war ended a year ago and we never heard from him, but his body was never discovered. We assume he died, but we aren't positive. We've never gone to guadosalam to check either. So I can't give you a definite answer… I'm sorry."
"It's ok…" Kerri choked out.
"C'mon, you're going to need something to call your own, so lets get you settled. And what was that thing you were going to explain about Seymour Guado?"
"Heh" Kerri got up off the couch. She wiped her eyes and said, "It's kinda funny… actually… heh…"
Auron gave her a stern look and said, "C'mon, Muratore, spit it out already,"
Kerri gave a slight smile and explained what happened today in the cafeteria.
"So you only gave him a bloody nose?"
"Yea… I'm feel really bad about it though…"
He laughed, "You should have broken it…"
"Yea, I know, I'm really sor… wait…what?"
"I don't trust that boy, so I'm not going to punish you for hitting him, I should punish you for not breaking his nose though…"
Kerri laughed and said, "That's something my dad would say…"
Auron shrugged. "Well I knew him for two years, he lived here, so I guess so of his traits rubbed off. Alright, well go get settled, I'm going to start dinner, so go tell Tidus you're staying and that he has to set the table."
"Will do!" she ran upstairs to Tidus' room. She knocked on the door. "Tidus?"
"Yea, hold on…" He came to the door and opened it. "Yes?"
"Well for starters say hello to your new family member." She held out her arms.
Tidus smiled and said, "You're really living with us?"
She nodded and he hugged her. "That's awesome, Ker!"
"Yea… And, oh yea, Auron says you have to set the table…"
"Way to ruin the mood, Muratore… way to ruin the mood."
"Heh. Sorry. Ok well I'm going to go enjoy… MY room." With that she ran off to her room and threw herself on her bed. Well, at least now I have a place I can call home.
o0o
A/N: heh.. sorry for the really crappy chapter, but I tried … Wow I am really not liking this chapter and I was seriously debating loading it.. wow… like not only is it bad, it doesn't even have length to make up for it…Ok well review.. pwease… lol ok well im off to clean… toodles!
The Earth Mystic: I'm glad you like the last chapter and I hope this chapter is ok too, because I wasn't really feeling it, but I wrote it and was like ehh I guess I'll send it out, if I don't get good feed back I'll just rewrite it, or make up for it next chapter.. Ok well thanks again
Danny: whoa… one word… Weird… lol thanks.. glad u liked it.. heres a shorter chapter so it shouldn't take you as long to read hehe
Yuna-Blueo'Hara: My 100th reviewer! Awesomeness! Thank you I think it's so great that I know I have a fanfic bud that always reviews my story, I continue for you! Lol I know your probably sitting there going, well I wish you wouldn't have done this chapter but shh that's ok.. lol I'm really happy you like the story and I love your stories, don't worry you'll get those high number reviews soon enough, because like is aid your stories are great!