Chapter 34:Home again..
Sitting in a topless jeep riding back to the Balamb Garden was Auron, Riku, Rikku and Fira. They all seemed abit depressed on the way home.
" I can't believe the mission was canceled." Fira said leaning on the door staring out the window.
" Yeah it was abit odd." Riku said with an arm out the window of the passagers seat.
" For a mission to be canceled is an extremely rare case." Auron said. " It's best not to question it. As SeeDs you must be prepared for anything."
" Yeah" Rikku, Riku and Fira said all at the same time. Before long they returned to the Garden's parking lot and they all got off and walked in through the parking lot side of the Garden.
" Look on the bright side guys atleast it's good to be home." Rikku said walking between the two of them. They all walked out into the main hall of the Garden as usual the garden halls were filled with students trying to make it to they're next classes. Rikku took off running.
" See you guys later!" Rikku said waving, " And Fira please try to call me for more missions I'm always left out." She said blowing a kiss then running off into the student traffic.
" Hey what's that about." Riku said nudging Fira in the arm abit.
" I seriously don't know." Fira shrugged.
" Whatever superstar." Riku said walking off into the student crowds. " Later."
" Yeah later." Fira said waving. " Man being back at the Garden is sooo boring." Fira said putting his hands behind his head and walking down to the quad. He made it to the quad and down the stairs, Cloud was on his way up the stairs holding Tifa's hand.
" Fira whoa is that you?" Tifa said running up the stairs to meet the young keyblade master.
" Yea hey Tifa hey Cloud." Fira said waving.
" Man where have you been, rumor has it you dropped out." Cloud said.
" Nah I was on a SeeD mission." Fira laughed with a shrug. " I wonder where that rumor came up at."
" Beats me I just heard it from Paine." Cloud replied. "Well we gotta go see ya in class tomorrow Fira."
" See ya guys." Fira waved to them then walked off to the bench he usually sleeps on during the day. He sat down then leaned his head back as he stared up at the clouds. The sun reflected off of his snowboarding goggles as he stared up aimlessly. He pulled down his goggles down to his neck as his long black hair covered down over his marble black eyes.
" Is this seat taken?" A familiar voice said suddenly. Fira jumped at the sudden answer and he looked up to see a girl with long auburn hair.
" Uh Utada.. hey um no the seat it's open haha..." Fira said rubbing behind his head.
" Hm thanks." she stroked her hair and took a seat beside him. Fira was at a loss for words, he raised his finger and just as he was about to ask her something, he instantly forgot at the site of her cute face then dropped whatever he was about to say.
" It's been along time hasn't it." She smiled then stared at him.
" Um yea it has." Fira said smiled back then stared forward at a tree as the leaves danced in the wind.
" You've been on your mission for over a month you know that? Then when you finally get back you can't stop by and say hi to any of your friends?" Utada said nudging him.
" Oh sorry." Fira blushed alittle as he rubbed his arm.
" Your hair..." Utada said noticing it's new length. Fira's hair was past shoulder length like usual. His bangs covered his eyes and you could only see pieces of his eyes they were long enough to touch his lips. He even had a little facial hair on his chin. Utada giggled then parted his hair. " It's like a jungle... Are you gonna cut it or keep it." She smiled and Fira blushed.
" I'm gonna keep it this way." Fira said taking one of the strands of his hair and pulling on it lightly.
" Good choice." Utada said taking her hands from his bangs.
" So Utada... I just need to know..." Fira said remembering back to the time where he and Sephiroth clashed.
" Yes?" Utada said with a smile.
" Are we... ok?" Fira said looking over at her. She stood up the second he asked then she stretched.
" Yeah we're okay now." Utada said turning around as her long auburn hair sparkled in the wind. She showed a big smile then started up the stairs. " Come on Fira."
" Huh?" Fira said surprised and scratching his cheek alittle.
" Your back the others have been wondering about you. Kiako's been worried sick." Utada replied. Fira stood up and straighted his jacket then started up the stairs after Utada.
" Hm? How come?." Fira said.
" You promised you'd write us remember? Kiako's worried your like a big bro to her ya know." Utada said as Fira stood beside her. "And I was worried too mister." She said poking him on the cheek then ran up the stairs. "Hurry up ya slow poke!" She said taking off into the hallway.
" She's changed." Fira said running up the stairs as well. He ran out into the hallway to see Utada waiting on him. The both of them ran straight into the cafeteria. They walked over to a group eating lunch at a table.
" Oh my god!" Yuna said with wide eyes. " Fira?"
" Hey guys." Fira waved.
Yuna, Selphie, Irvine, Aerith, Zell and Tidus stood up.
" Man you look totally different." Tidus said punching Fira in the arm.
" Yeah." Fira said rubbing his shoulder.
" But still wears the stupid keyblade master cloths... when will you cut that cosplay out?" Paine said walking up from behind slapping Fira over the head.
" Hey I like these cloths." Fira said. " Sora was a hero ya know these cloths make me feel like a hero too."
" Yeah a Fira reply." Utada said nudging him abit.
" So where have you been all this time?" Aerith asked.
" Yeah dude I heard you dropped out." Zell said shoving a hotdog in his mouth.
" No I was out on a mission." Fira said with a glare to Paine as she just smiled and shrugged it off.
" A mission you've been gone for like a month without a word! Utada was worried you ran off with Rikku to get hitched or something." Yuna said running up and nudging Utada. Utada pushed Yuna away.
" No I wasn't." Utada said assuringly.
With that everyone laughed.
" But seriously dude I'm glad you ran off with Auron though I had a paper due for him the next day and I seriously didn't have it." Zell said spitting up hotdog.
" Zell your so gross don't talk with your mouth full you barbarian." Selphie said slapping Zell over the head.
" Hey Fira you hook up with Rikku now or what?" Irvine asked. With that everyone shut their mouths and peered at Fira.
" What! No way, I just asked her to come along because she seemed to be free at the time." Fira replied.
" Oh." Everyone said at the same time. They began to whisper amongst themselves as Utada pushed Fira out of the cafeteria.
"Um guys we'll see ya later." Utada said.
" Yeah see ya" They all waved then sat back down to eat. Utada and Fira then walked to the Library. In the library sitting at a table doing reports was Rinoa, Squall, Miko, Fujin, Raijin and Seifer.
" Heya!" Utada said walking over.
meek tone " Hey Utada whose that guy?" Miko asked.
" Huh? Miko you don't remember me?" Fira said.
" Is that Fira?" Rinoa laughed.
" Yeah who else?" Fira said. With that everyone stood up and walked over.
" BANISHED?" Fujin said.
" Nah I was out on a mission." Fira said waving it off.
" Man you've been gone for quite the time dipface." Seifer said crossing his arms to his chest.
" Same ol Seifer." Fira said placing his hands on his hips and shaking his head.
meek tone. "Fira I'm glad your back everyone has missed you. I knew rumors weren't true." Miko smiled and gave him a gentle hug.
" Uh thanks Miko." Fira nodded.
" But you look way different almost charming." Rinoa said.
" So I wasn't good looking before?" Fira said shrugging.
" Well you weren't hot nor were you not you were just...there." Utada said laughing.
" What she said." Rinoa laughed as well.
" Right..." Fira said drooping his head low with a big sigh.
" Lighten up we're only joking." Rinoa said.
" Well I hope while you were out on your little mission you got stronger ya know." Raijin said poking him in the chest.
" Um I guess." Fira said rubbing his chest.
" Alright then me and you a fight in the Training Facility... Midnight be there or be dead." Seifer said pushing past Fira and Utada with Fujin and Raijin following.
" Seifer still a jerk." Utada said sticking her tongue out at him as he walked away.
" I can see that." Fira said rubbing his chin.
" You gonna go to the training facility?" Squall asked.
" I got no choice he'll never let me live it down if I don't" Fira said with a shrug.
meek tone. " Fira be careful you just got back." Miko said narrowing her delicate eyes at him.
" I'll be fine see ya later guys." Fira waved as Utada began to leave.
" See you in class!" Rinoa waved.
They walked out of the library and started down the marble halls. The halls weren't so busy anymore it was now 6:00pm and class was over for today. They walked past a bulletin board that had the words FiraxRikku.
" What?" Fira ripped the paper off of the bulletin board. " Where do people get the assumption that I'm going out with Rikku?"
" Well the fact that you guys are roommates. And you guys are always together." Utada said with some what of a scowl.
" I can't help that, the school put us together in that room. And Rikku is just a friend of mine we just hang out when we have nobody else to annoy." Fira said as they walked past a trash can. Fira dropped the balled up paper in the trash. " So uh.. where too next?"
" Training Facility." Utada said taking his hand.
" Wait but Seifer said midnight." Fira said.
" No silly Kuro, Kiako and Avalon are training there." Utada said pulling him along. They reached the training facility they walked inside and took a left walking through the jungle like forest to see Kiako, Kuro and Avalon surrounded by Neo shadows.
" Gimme a break." Avalon said slapping a Neo shadow away with his millenium rod.
" I'm out of MP anybody got any Ethers?" Kuro asked as the neoshadows drew closer.
" Looks like they're in trouble come on Utada." Fira said as the Kingdom key appeared in his hands out of nowhere, he then took off towards the group. Utada smiled as she watched Fira charge towards the heartless without so much as a plan or thought. " He's so prodictable." She drew her katana from the sheath tied to her back waist and started running behind Fira.
Fira flipped out of the bushes slamming the keyblade on one of the Neoshadows causing it to explode in black dust. " Don't give up guys." He said.
" Who are you?" Kuro asked.
" Kuro not you too!" Fira said slapping his forehead.
" Fira nii san!" Kiako said happily.
" Alright somebody remembers me... well no time for chat let's get em!" Fira said as Utada sped out of the bushes as well slashing through three heartless.
" Utada chan too." Kiako said more than surprised.
" Alright the old group is back together again let's kick some ass!" Avalon said. Fira and Utada stood back to back then ran side by side " Pyro Cross Slash" They said at the same time making a large X flaming path as they crossed slashing all nearby in half. Kiako performed afew handseals then transformed herself into a ball. Avalon hit the kitty ball into the air and Kuro jumped up and batted the kiako kitty ball down to the ground causing a big shockwave to spread through the area destroying any remaining heartless.
" We did it!" Kiako said jumping onto her feet recovering from the last attack. " Fira nii san!" Kiako tackled him aside before he could say anything to her." What happened to those letters you jerk!" Kiako said pulling on his ears.
"ow ow ow! I'm sorry!" Fira said as his ears were being pulled.
" Ok then." Kiako said getting up.
" Ugh..." Fira said standing to his feet.
" Man I can just barely see your face. Your hair has grown alot." Kuro said crossing her arms.
" Yea and dammit man you got facial hair before me dude." Avalon said rubbing his own chin then stomping.
" It's only afew strands" Fira said rubbing his chin.
" Man it's so good to see you again nii san I say we have a celebration." Kiako said punching the air.
" Um to celebrate what?" Fira asked dumbfounded.
" Yeah that's Fira...a complete airhead." Kuro nodded.
" Your homecoming of course man." Avalon said punching him in the arm.
" It's not that important." Fira said with a shrug.
" Sure it is." Kiako smiled. Fira smiled then laughed to himself.
" You guys are the best friends a guy could ask for." Fira laughed.
" Oh god not this friendly crap..." Kuro said starting towards the exit of the training facility. Everyone began to laugh as Kuro walked out of the training facility with her want across her shoulder like Squall.
(Midnight at the Training facility)
" Where is that loser!" Seifer shouted.