Twisted Temptations
Story by: Kidria
Title Ownage: Celos
Disclaimer: Vana'diel and such belong to SquareEnix, the characters' personalities belong to them and myself, the story belongs to me, title to Celos. Do not steal. I have no rights to Vana'diel, San d'Oria, or any areas/elements belonging to SquareEnix.
Rating: PG-13 for violence, language mostly.

NOTE: Please check out Celos' own FF11 story at h.t.t.p:././.w.w.w.fanfiction..net./.u./.1.5.4.4.8
(without the periods of course)
Eeeek I'm so sorry for the long wait Here ya go, and forgive me.

Chapter 10: You and I

Daleth threw his and Kidria's few belongings over the saddle of the chocobo as Sagome readied her own mount. Robius stood a little ways aside from group, face emotionless but eyes soft. Kidria was mumbling softly a gibberish they had long stopped trying to understand. Robius watched Daleth look at Kidria and saw every ounce of the Dragoon's will used up to smile at her.

He lies too much. Robius thought bitterly.

Sagome stood in front of Robius, almost as if she materialized right in the air. The Dark Knight blinked several times, looking down at her. She sighed.

"Rob, in case we never see each other again—"

"Stupid words. I never thought I'd hear you say something so stupid."

Sagome looked at him sharply. "In case we never see each other again, I wanted to say I'm sorry…and that I hope that if we die, we die with no ill feelings for each other."

Robius looked away, then back at her. "I do not hate you."

"Do you love me?"

"No. Go, Sagome." Robius ordered softly. He knew he'd never see her again. He just didn't want to admit it…because even if he had no true fear of death, he was still afraid. Afraid because this was a death he didn't know why was going to happen.

"I—"

"Go Sagome."

The Hume girl looked away, then walked to her chocobo and climbed up. Daleth's chocobo knelt down and he swung his left leg over it easily, and then pulled Kidria onto it in front of him. He wrapped his arms around her as she shrunk back against him and grasped the handle of the saddle. He turned the chocobo and went over to Robius.

Robius reached up and took hold of Kidria's hand. "Angel, be safe."

Kidria looked at him, and smiled. For one moment, she was completely herself. "Don'tcha worry, Kaiser! I'm gonna be the best out there—I gotta be alive for that!"

Daleth stared at her, and yet fought down his rising hopes. Later she will lose it again, and he wasn't going to keep getting hurt about it. "Rob, be careful."

"You too, old man."

With that, Daleth turned the chocobo and with Sagome next to him, rode out of the city. The Dragoon swore to never return to Jeuno. He'll never return.

Daleth knew no one would.

Sagome groaned as they passed another mound of rock and dirt, falling a little behind Daleth and Kidria. They were headed to Windurst, technically the farthest away from Jeuno. Kidria slept against Daleth's chest as their chocobos walked on, sluggishly lifting their feet and moving on. They only stopped twice to feed and water the birds as the three ate. Kidria had gone off on another raving before falling asleep under the last piece of shade they'd find for miles. She had yet to wake up.

Daleth balanced his and Kidria's weight on the tired chocobo as it trekked through Tahrongi Canyon. Kidria slumped against him, her head tucked carefully under his chin. Daleth pulled his free arm around her tightly, holding her close.

I have to protect her. I failed to protect Taea…

Daleth fought back more tears as that horrid image of Taea flashed in his mind. He shook his head, willing it away. Sagome caught up to Daleth and moved their birds close so she could speak quietly.

"We have to stop," Sagome said. "The chocobos must rest."

"We're almost there." Daleth muttered, fatigue slapping him as he spoke for the first time in hours.

"We don't want to pay fines, do we? Here, stop at these bones, you two can sit on them and tie the chocobos to them as I get their water and food out." Sagome compromised.

Daleth sighed, no will to argue and sidled his chocobo up to the remains of the giant dragon bones. He carefully dismounted, then pulled the still sleeping Kidria off and carried her until he sat down on the dry, warm bones. He adjusted her in his lap and held her up in what he hoped was comfortable for her. Sagome tied the birds to a thin but strong bone that protruded out of the ground, and gave them water and food. The chocobos nearly attacked each other trying to get to their nourishments.

Daleth briefly wondered how Celos and the others were doing. He bit at his lower lip as he tried to calm himself. They should be all right. They had to be all right. He pulled his link pearl out of his pocket and in vain tried to call one of them. There was no answer. He sighed and tucked it away, pulling Kidria into a tighter embrace, fearing of losing another friend.

Who's next to die?

Daleth unconsciously grabbed Kidria's hand and squeezed it tight. It became a habit when he was upset not too long ago. Although she didn't grip his hand back like she usually did, he still felt a little bit of comfort.

A light crack of bones made him drop her hand in surprise, but Kidria did not wake. Quickly, without Sagome noticing his panic, Daleth surveyed Kidria's hand. He only made her knuckles pop. The Dragoon sighed in relief, and then felt the load in his lap move. Kidria sighed, leaning her head on Daleth's shoulder. He looked down intently at her, eyes focused on hers. Soon hers did open, and they were still the dull gold since Taea's murder.

Kidria took one of her hands to brace behind her as she sat up more, but as soon as her palm touched the warmed bone under them, she sat up quickly and abruptly, her forehead slamming into Daleth's cheek. The impact and the shock caused Daleth to jerk a bit and Kidria screamed.

"Death!"

Robius scowled, shoving through the crowd. What was going on that everyone on each level of Jeuno was gathering around the airship dock for Windurst? He was still inside the payment center when the guards rushed in and out, exclaiming and demanding all should leave the scene. Robius, in his dark armor, slipped into the shadows in the corner, and when the last guard left through the door after everyone went inside.

He stopped when he saw a purple gauntlet on the ground before his feet.

The Dark Knight's eyes widen slightly as he slowly looked up, seeing the pathway painted in blood, droplets of it falling into the sea. Bodies laid in pieces, strewn all over. Tendons and small fibers were purposely pulled out to hang out of the pieces of arms and legs; torsos had guts spilling out and tied to the railing. Heads were staked on posts, helmets of armor still on.

Robius recognized each and every one them. They were from his linkshell. His friends were murdered.

"But why…"