Chapter Six---Accidents
Matron made sure all the children were safely in their beds before returning to her own room. Aden would be leaving soon. She worried about how that would affect Dante and Stone. Neither boys accepted change easily. She thought back on Dante's relationship with Cale. The younger boy was never far from Dante's gaze, nor far from reaching distance. How would they fair when Dante also left for a Garden? What would become of her quiet son? Turning out the light, she closed her amber eyes and went to sleep.
Dante sat staring out the window. Matron said they would be given training weapons tomorrow. To prepare them for Garden. He was horribly excited. Aden sat beside him with a small smirk, watching Cale who sat in the corner staring off into space. Aden could tell the boy was in another world, one where nothing was right and he was longing for someone to save him and yet so unwilling to be saved. It would be his downfall someday.
Stone sat still, eyes closed, legs crossed from his position on the bed. It was his classic thinking pose and Aden never tired of watching it. Somehow, the long haired boy was constantly aware of everything and everyone. Nothing ever surprised him or caught him off gaurd. Not even while he slept. Of course, that never stopped Aden from trying.
"What kind of weapon are you getting Aden?" Dante asked suddenly, not looking at the other boy. Aden shrugged.
"I was thinking of a buster sword...of course, the stupid thing will probably still be bigger then I am, even when I'm 18." Stone snickered.
"Everything will be bigger then you." Aden rolled his eyes, just cause he wasn't as tall as the others yet...
"Yea, well what about you Stoney?" Stone's eyebrows laced together in annoyance. Aden always called him that...
"A gunblade." He said simply, cracking one eye open. Dante turned to him.
"Same here. You know what I heard?" Aden looked up with a raised.
"That since the Wars, people been sayin that nobody uses gunblades no more. Said its the sign of a Knight."
"Really?" Stone opened both eyes now and Aden cursed to himself. Dante got the bloody sod to move.
"Yeah. Some people say its bad luck though now. Everyone's scared of another threat rising." Stone seemed to think about this.
" Still wanna gunblade?" Dante smirked.
"Of course! We always said we were gonna be Knights someday. Maybe this will give us a head start." Dante nodded with such finality that his two best friends ended their discussion, firm on their decisions and returned to thinking about glorious futures.
"Boys? Boys are you ready?" Matron peeked into the room to find three sleeping boys sprawled sporadically around the room. Cale sat on the bed with Stone's head in his lap, braiding the long tresses of ebony. Matron hide her smile while Cale looked at her with perfect innocence.
"Boys, wake up! It's time to go." All of them were on their feet in an instant, ready to go. Stone muttered something about the runt braiding his hair as he walked out the door. Cale sat on the bed and watched with sad eyes.
"Matron?" Aden spoke up. Matron turned to look at the young man with a smile.
"I want Cale to come with us." Dante turned and frowned. It had not occured to him that Cale wouldn't be recieving a weapon. Cale went everywhere with Dante and Dante wouldn't have it anyother way.
"Why wouldn't Cale be coming? I won't go without Cale." Dante sat back down, a look on his face that told Matron the boy would not be persuaded.
"Fine then, come along Cale." Matron told him, going into the other room to collect Rae. Cale bounded off the bed quickly, only to have his hand taken by Aden. He looked up at the older boy as Dante stood at his other side, gaze proud and fierce. Slowly, a smile crossed his face.
"Edea! I've missed you so much, its wonderful to see you again!" The blonde embraced Matron tightly and as she looked down to the group of youngsters with blue eyes, a memory sparked in Dante's mind. The night his father died. When Quistis told him his father would never again be there to warm the coldness of losing his mother. And in his mind, Quistis became the enemy.
"They' ve grown so much. Hello. You don't remember me do you, Dante?" Quistis reached out to touch him but Dante backed away with hate in his very being. Quistis pulled back quickly. She'd seen that look far too often in his father's eyes and she knew it meant trouble.
"What about you Eden, do you remember me?" Eden had seen her best friends reaction to the woman. Yes, she remembered. But if Dante didn't like her, then neither did she.
"No." Her voice was cold and firm. She had no idea it was excactly the way her own father had often talked. Quistis sighed and turned back to Matron, not bothering with the other children.
"This way. This is Balamb Garden. Maybe when you're older, one of you will train here. I'm HeadMaster Trepe. And here, is where we issue out our training weapons and other standard items to our students were are just enrolling." Quistis lead them through isle after isle of new and interesting things. However, the three boys had eyes only for one thing. Swords.
"What kind of weapons are you interested in?" Dante glared at her and didn't answer, simply kept on looking. Eden looked over the table and grabbed an item with delight plain in her pretty features.
"I want this one Matron! Please? Oh, please can I?" The weapon she held was a whip, similar to Quistis own Save the Queen. However, the tip was specifically designed to sink in and rip out, causing serious damage to the person on the receiving end. Edea reminded herself to bind the barbed tip to prevent the children from seriously harming themselves.
"Which ever you want dear." Quistis smiled at the girl and turned to the rest.
"I strongly suggest you choose back-up weapons. These should be smaller and carried on your person at all times. You just never know." Eden scanned the table once more but found nothing to her liking so she moved on.
"Cale? Do you see anything?" Dante asked, lifting the boy up so he could see. He was only five, so most of the weapons here would be far to big for him to handle. However, a glimmer of silver caught his attention.
"These!" He held up the gloves for Matron's inspection and she nodded her approval, smiling at Quistis. It seemed that Zell would soon have another matrial artist on his hands.
"Aden? Stone? Dante?" The boys ignored her question. They'd found the sword racks.
"I want that one!" Aden jumped up and down excitedly, his normally calm and cool demeanor shattering.
"Alright." Quistis said nothing of the swords' size as she handed it to Aden and found its case. Aden had difficulty holding the blade up but he managed surprisingly well for someone of his age and stature.
"I want this one." Stone said, pointing to a blade of pure silver. It was slightly smaller then the rest but it gave him an aura of deadly power.
While the others went about choosing back up weapons, Dante perused the rack again and again. Finally, he chose one. The ensigna on the side had captured his interest, though he had no idea what it meant or what the writing meant. It simply called to him.
"Edea, Raijin runs a training school for younger students. Its not far from the orphange actually. Maybe you should take them there. They seem more then ready." Matron nodded and piled her children into the car. Maybe she would seek Raijin's help. Cale sat in the back next to Rae, showing her his new gloves while she whispered something to him. He smiled and nodded while she pulled out the shruiken that Quistis had suggested for her.
"Come on, go put your things away and wash up for dinner." Matron went to call Raijin and in the excitement no one noticed Rae and Cale leave. No one noticed the sky get dark and the wind suddenly kick up.
"Come on Cale!" Rae raced up the stairs of the lighthouse. Everything warned Cale not to follow her, to call her back and go inside. He didn't listen.
"Look! You can see everything from here Cale!" She stood dangerously close to the ledge and she twirled in place, letting the rain soak her. Cale took a step closer, intent on telling her to back away fromt he ledge but his voice refused to work.
Suddenly, the thunder crashed and Rae let out a startled yelp and as she did, she lost her footing, tumbling over the side. Cale's legs sprung into action and he barely caught her hand as she fell. But he couldn't hold on forever.
"Rae!" Tears streamed from his eyes and mixed with the rain. Rae looked up at him a helpless, knowing look in her eyes. She knew. Warmth flowed from her small hand to his, traveling up his body and settling somewhere in the back of his mind and the pit of his stomach.
"Cale..." Her voice was not soft, for he wouldn't have been able to hear her over the growing storm. The waves crashed violently ont he jagged rocks below them. Cale looked down at her, his grip on her slipping.
"No! RAE!" His screams were drowned but the roll of thrunder as Rae slipped from his grasp and tumbled into the raging sea below.
A.n: Awwww such the sadness!
Sorcerss Fujin: -chews happily- Yay! I'm glad you like. And chappie two was great. I'm pretty sure I reviewed already lol. Enjoy! I do feel so very much like a child hehe. I can just imagine, you sitting at the computer desk typing away and giving me random bits of candy and occasionally smiling at me cause I'm so very silly while I sit on teh floor with a lap top and skittlez near by. Hah. Vaguely amusing.
Becca: -wrinkles her nose, unsure if licking is allowed- Yes the twistiness. And no, you may NOT hug my Muse! Reis, she may not be trying to STEAL her...but but...-eyes get all pouty and Selphie like- My Muse! -Runs to Fujin and huggles her close- :P enjoy oh and Alma and Reis; you have my deepest sympathy hehe
Jack Hanek: Nu, Cale is not trying to cross over in anyway. Unfortunately, he will have a fettish for eyeliner, but hey tis schmexy lol. And yes, I did over do it with the eyes. I noticed that too. I do appreciate your criticism though, helps me! Heheeh The part about the lover putting make-up on Cale made me laugh though! And yay! I'm improving. Happy day! Well, I do so hope that you shall be surprised when you find out what the heck is happening. And yes, this chapter was of actual vital importance to the plot and future events. Leave it to me to make the big things seem so useless lol.
Jasmine: No, you haven't reviewed yet to chapter four, but I know your getting to it! I felt bad for leaving you out of my little notes so I had to leave you one. Hope you enjoyed. and please, don't cry all over me for Rae. Cry on Becca. She's probably crying as well. I do so hate getting wet. :P Lol
i Ultimate!