ThunDaGa: Wow, you sure know how to threaten someone!  Haha.  I don't like yans that much (when I was trying to find the friendly yan I was killed off many times by the not-so-friendly ones).  ^o^

Elendil Star-Lover: I completely agree.  I hate the slang that people use today, mainly it's because I can be such a grammar freak (as long as it isn't me speaking…kinda hard to explain).  Anyway, slang bothers me to no end.  I don't use it, and most of my friends don't use it.  -.-  For which I am truly grateful.

Jkateel: The good news is that I am getting better at drawing anime/manga.  The bad news is that I'm having problem with expressions and hair.  Do you have any tips?

Tereterhomdark2003: I will promise right here and now that Mikoto is and always will be the main character in this story.  However, because in order to make an actual story, there needs to be characters, so, please, bear with me.  There will be quite a few original characters, but none of them will ever, ever, ever (quadruple emphasis on ever) take her place.  ^o^

A/N: I truly love all of you guys!  ^o^  I think this story has won the award of most violent reviewers, haha!  And I love it!  It keeps me entertained.  ^o^  Sorry it took so long to post.  A friend of ours, Virginia (chocolatecreme06) wrote a poem for this story, so even long after I finished writing it, she was still perfecting her poem.  I'm sure you'll all agree it was worth the wait.  (Vivi (what we call her) is going to be a poet one day!)  Check out more of her poetry on her fictionpress account!

Chapter Five: Somebody to Love

"Come again, Ms. Tribal!" the item shopkeeper called after her.  Mikoto smiled emptily at him and pulled the hood of her cloak over her head.  In her arm she had many fliers and applications.  She was hanging up a lot of them on her own, but a couple shops offered to post them as well.  The papers advertised an expedition for anyone who was interested in going treasure hunting.

In her first day of being in Lindblum, she had managed to conquer the biggest part of the city.  She had fliers stapled everywhere in the Business district.  It was already mid-afternoon, and she was feeling hungry.

Her black cloak flowed behind her as she walked to the air cab station.  Most of the food related shops were in the newly built Industrial district.  She would buy some groceries and then eat at the bar.  Mikoto wasn't in the mood to cook anything for herself.

"Hello ma'am.  Where will I be takin' you?" the air cab engineer asked, tipping his hat.

"The Industrial district, please."

"You've got it," he smiled.  She felt the vessel lift off of the ground and smoothly move forward.  "So what will you be doing in the Industrial district?  There's not much up there.  Are you visiting family?"

"No, just getting some food."

"You live here?  I've never seen you before…"

"No.  I'm here on business."

"Wow…they're getting younger and younger.  Just how old are you?"

"Fifteen," she lied.  Garland built her body to stop aging at fifteen, just like Zidane stopped at seventeen and Kuja and twenty.

"So where are you originally from?" Mikoto understood he was trying to be polite, but she didn't like talking to strangers.  Unlike Zidane, she was very anti-social.

"Around Dali," she lied again.

"Ah, so you're a country girl.  How do you like the city?"

"It's nice."

"Dali…I have some family down there.  Beautiful town: great scenery.  Very friendly people down there."

"Yes."

Finally, she felt the air cab slowing down.  The craft jerked forward lightly and came to a complete stop.  "Enjoy your stay in Lindblum!  And be careful in this district after dark," he smiled.

"I will."

The engineer pulled a lever that opened the doors and let her get off.  When she had gotten completely out an old woman stepped in. 

"Why, hello Mrs. Johansson!" the man said happily.  "How's your husband's broken ankle?"  then the doors shut and muffled the rest of the conversation.

Mikoto rolled her eyes as she walked up the stairs leading to the district's square.  The statue of Cid XII still stood proudly in the middle of the square.  Zidane used to talk about him.  Mikoto wished she had met him.  He sounded like such a wonderful man.

The Genome exhaled and looked around.  The grocery store wasn't too far away.  A sign hung outside of the door, saying: Sale!  All Mandragora products 50% off!

"Sounds good to me," she said quietly to herself. 

The store was dimly lit, noisy and full of customers.  "Welcome!" the shopkeeper yelled at her.  "Can I help you?"

"No.  I'll be fine." Mikoto picked up a basket, put her fliers in it then wandered aimlessly around, pulling random products that looked appealing off of the shelves.  Everything in the store looked ten times better than any of the food offered in Treno.  When Mikoto had an assortment of fruits, vegetables, and meat she walked up to the shopkeeper.

"Is this all for you, ma'am?" the woman asked.

"Yes," Mikoto answered.

"Okay, then…" the woman began counting up the prices, "That will be 300 gil."

The blond Genome handed over the money.  As the shopkeeper placed all of the food in bags she asked, "Are you having a party or something?  This sure is a lot of food."

"No."

"Big family?"

"No."

"Oh…well, thanks for coming!"  she smiled, handing Mikoto the bags, then she saw the fliers and applications in the bottom of the basket.  "Are these yours?"

"Yes."

"Would you like me to pass some out?"

"If you don't mind, that would be fine."

"Of course I don't mind."

"Thank you."  Mikoto bowed her head and left.

When she was outside of the shop she noticed the sun had set and the sky was turning a murky shade of purple.  Her stomach grumbled.

Bobo's bar is just down the street.  That was Zidane's favorite place to eat when he came here.  Arms laden down with several grocery sacks, she trudged along the road.  She wasn't a block from the bar when she heard fast footsteps coming from behind her.

"EXCUSE ME!" a voice yelled.

Even for as agile as Mikoto was known to be, she couldn't think fast enough to move out of the way and she felt someone slam into her back.  The grocery bags went flying from her grasp as she plummeted to the ground.  Her face had scraped against the concrete but healed immediately, just like all the other times. 

Whoever ran into her had landed on top of her.  "I am so sorry!" he said, getting off of her.  "Oh…your groceries!  Here, let me help!"

She sat up and her hood fell off, allowing her to finally got a good look at the culprit.  He had long shaggy brown hair, dark brown eyes and appeared to be a little older than what she looked to be.  "I didn't mean to knock you down…I was just in a hurry…I'm always late to work and I was determined to get there on time today…" he continued to ramble as he picked up an apple and placed it back inside the bag.

"I-It's okay!  I've got it."

"Nah, it's no problem.  It's my fault you fell in the first place."

He looked at her and smiled, his dark eyes swept over her.  They seemed to freeze her to her spot.  Unlike most people she saw in the city, his smile wasn't forced.  It was a genuine smile.  One that was so pure she wanted to return it with the same feeling behind it.

"Say, you're kinda cute," he said, getting up.  "I'm Ryuu.  What's your name?"  He offered her his hand.  He wore black gloves with the fingers cut off.

Mikoto felt all of the blood rush to her face and turn as red as the apple he had been holding.  She cringed, closed her eyes and grimacing held her hands to her ears.

"Are you all right?" he asked.

Her heart was pounding violently in her chest.  This is it, she thought to herself.  This was by far the strongest emotion she had felt since Zidane died.  This would be the emotion that triggered Kamikaze.  Oh God, just let it be quick.  A single tear rolled down her cheek.

"You okay?  Can you get up?  Do you need me to carry you?"

Mikoto clutched her heart, then grabbed her groceries and ran to the air cab station.  Having forgotten all notions about food, she was just thankful that she didn't go into Trance.

Ryuu watched her run off, a confused look on his face.  Then he looked at his watch.  "Shit.  That's it.  I'm fired.  The boss'll never let me get away with this one."  He shook his head and started running anew, finally making it into the restaurant he had been working in for the past month.

"Hey, sorry I'm late, but-"

"Glad you could make it, Ryuu.  Your shift started fifteen minutes ago," a bulky man spat.

"I know, Mr. Tonaga.  But let me explain.  You see there was this girl…and-"

"Don't give me that crap, Ryuu!  You're late every day!"

"No I'm serious!  I ran into her and made her drop all of her groceries..."

"You're fired!" the employer yelled, spit flying from his mouth. 

Ryuu cringed.  "Aww…c'mon Mr. Tonaga!  I'll never be late again!"

"That's what you said last time!"

"But I mean it this time!  I really, really do!"

"Get out of my restaurant!"  Without another word of argument, the teenager did as he was told.

"Sheez," Ryuu grumbled, kicking at a rock on the sidewalk.  "Why can't I keep a job for more than two months?"  He kicked the door to the grocery store open.

"Welc-.  Oh, hello, Ryuu," the shopkeeper laughed.  "What can I get for you?"

"A job would be nice."

"Fired again?"

"Yeah, that's the eleventh time this year."

"Hun, I think you may have set some sort of crazy record."

"Maybe.  Hey, d'you have any butter?  Mom wanted me to pick up some on my way home."

"Sure do."  The shopkeeper walked into the back of the shop and returned with a small carton of butter.

"Thanks, Mrs. Gerone."  He slammed five gil on the counter and started to walk away.

"Wait!  Ryuu!  I think I have a solution for your job problem.  I had a strange character come in today.  She left these with me to hand out.  Looks like she's getting a treasure hunting posse together."

"Really!!?"

"Yeah."  Mrs. Gerone handed him a flier and an application.  "According to that, you can either turn the application to me and she'll pick it up, or you can turn it directly in to her.  She's staying in the inn across the street from the air cab station in the Business district."

"M. Tribal…" Ryuu read off of the flier.  "Wow, this is great news!  Thanks again, Mrs. G!"

"Anytime, Ryuu!"

The excited boy ran out of the shop, with the butter and application in tow.  Treasure hunting was something he'd always wanted to do.

4-24

From the start, our fates were set
Head over heels, heart and soul
But the fact is I can't have you
And it's beyond my own control

Yet I wanted so badly to fall into you
With those eyes as clear as night
The need for you was overwhelming
But it was a feeling I'd have to fight

So I made my heart as cold as stone
And insisted you didn't matter
Yet your face reappears before me
As my guard begins to shatter

And then somehow I fell in love
and you stole my heart away
And I know I need to take it back
Yet I want for you to stay

So I'm torn between my one true love
And the promise that I made
But that decision just gets harder
As my defenses slowly fade

So please forgive me for my farewell
And for everything I did
I didn't mean to lead you on
I just want for you to live

The words were scrawled on the first page of Mikoto's journal.  Her first entry was a hastily written poem about the stranger.  His ability to crack her emotional shell scared her, but even then she had an urge, a craving, to see him again.

It wasn't until after she was safe within the walls of her hotel room that she realized she had forgotten to eat.  It was a good thing she was staying in a suite.  In her room she had a small kitchen, a sofa, a radio and a bed.

Still, she didn't feel like cooking, so instead she ate some fresh fruit.  After snacking, she fell into a peaceful sleep, the first one in a long time.

The sleeping Genome was awoken by a persistent beating on her door.

"Hello?  Is anyone in there?  I'm looking for an M. Tribal!" the person on the other side was yelling through the keyhole.

Mikoto tiredly lifted her head, her blond hair was tangled and obstructing her sight.  Hurriedly she tucked a strand behind her ear, enabling her to see the digital clock on her right.  It was almost noon.

"Oh God," she muttered.  Never in her life had she slept in that late, never was she able to.  Her dreams always made sure that she woke up early.

"Hello?" the person continued to beat on her door.

"I'll be there in a minute!" she yelled in the direction of the door.  The knocking stopped abruptly.

"Good!  You are there!"

Mikoto sighed and slid into some slippers, then wrapped her robe around her.  As she walked to the door she ran her hands through her hair, getting as many of the tangles out as possible.

She unlocked the dead bolt on the door and heaved it open.  There on the other side was the very person who she had been thinking about for the majority of the night.  Her heart began racing.

"Hey!  You're th-" he started, pointing a gloved hand at her, but before he could say anything else she slammed the door.  She let out a shuddering breath and leaned her back against the door.

Was it him?  No it couldn't be him because that would be too ironic.  Her mind was playing tricks on her.  That's what she told herself.  Wearily she opened the door again.  Once more the brunette stood on the other side.

"Ya know?  The one I ran into…"  She slammed the door a second time.

"Okay, that was funny the first time.  But now I'm kinda confused…"

Nope, it was him.  There was no doubt that he was the same boy.

"I wanted to turn in my application to you!  Mrs. Gerone at the grocery store gave me this application to go treasure hunting…" the voice continued, despite the fact that a an inch and a half inch of wood separated them.

Her eyes widened even more.  He wants to go treasure hunting?  There's no way, I couldn't be around him for that long…it would be too dangerous!  Still, on the other side of the door Ryuu continued to talk.

"…And I got fired from my job yesterday.  But that doesn't mean I wouldn't try my hardest at treasure hunting!!" 

Mikoto took a deep breath and calmed down.  "Please hold on a moment.  I'll be with you shortly," she said professionally, running into her bathroom.  "The door is unlocked, come on in and make yourself at home."  There was no way she was going to let him see her like that again.

She slipped into a pair of jeans, tucking her tail into her right pant leg.  She didn't want anyone to know about it.  After Zidane had been given a proper burial ceremony word had gotten out that he had a sister who looked like a female version of him and had a tail.  The last thing she wanted was for some maniac to do something crazy because of her 'problems'.  

Next, she slipped on a black spaghetti strap that she had recently bought and strapped on Zidane's old belt with the dagger and sheath attached, only feeding it through one belt loop so that it hung off of her hip.  "Keep it together, Mikoto," she told herself.  Her hands gripped the marble sink in the bathroom and she leaned forward until she was inches from the mirror.  "Stay strong.  You can do this."

Calmly she picked up a brush and pulled it through her untidy blond hair.  She lightly placed the brush on the sink and opened the door.

"Sorry to keep you waiting," she said, avoiding making eye contact.  "Please have a seat and excuse the mess."

"Oh, this is nothing compared to my room!" he said, sitting on the unmade bed.

Mikoto sighed and pulled a wooden stool from the kitchen in so that she could sit across from him.  Once she was situated Ryuu handed her the application.  Her clear blue eyes scanned over it.  'Ryuu Lucchesi.  Age 17.  Height 5' 10''…'

"Okay, Mr. Lucchesi," she said, still not looking him in the eye, "I have to interview you, standard procedure."

"All right," he said, gripping the mattress and swinging his legs back and forth.  HE tried to catch her gaze but she was apparently too preoccupied with the application.

"What is your employment history?  How many times have you been involuntarily terminated from an employer?"

"Uh…you mean fired?"

Mikoto nodded.

"Do you mean in the last year?  Or…ever?"

"Ever," she stated simply.

Ryuu folded his arms across his chest and began thinking and tapping his foot.  "Well…that's pretty hard to answer.  This may take a while."

"Then in the last year."

"Eleven," he smiled uneasily, rubbing the back of his head.  "Um…it's only because I have a tendency of being late…but I try my hardest to be on time!" he added hastily.

Mikoto sighed mentally.  She now had a valid excuse not to hire him.  But she continued the interview to not make this obvious.

"What kind of salary do you think you show start at?"

"Oh, anything is fine really.  Just as long as it's above minimum wage."

"What is the best way to contact you?"

"My house.  The address and phone number are in my contract."

"All right, Mr. Lucchesi.  I think that's about it.  Just one last question."

"I'm ready."

"What is your reason for applying as a treasure hunter?"

Ryuu began fumbling absentmindedly with the zipper on his jacket.  "Well, you see…my dad was once a member of the Lindblum army, but he was wounded and he's unable to work.  My mom had never worked before, so two years ago when dad was injured she thought it too late for her to start.  My older brother and I have been working to support our family, but his job doesn't pay too well.  My family relies on me to bring in a lot of the money."  When he had started talking he seemed proud, but as he continued, Mikoto noticed his voice gradually get softer.

She couldn't help it anymore, she looked up from the application to look at him.  He was still smiling and she wondered how.  "I try to be optimistic though," he continued, almost as if he could read her thoughts.

"Well…" she started slowly.  He looked into her eyes and again as much as the Genome tried, she could not look away.  Her heart began pounding.  She wanted to say, 'Sorry, but your employment history is atrocious,' but she couldn't bring herself to refuse him.

His brown eyes, so full of life, continued to stare into her helpless and empty blue ones.  "…We leave for the Forgotten Continent in a week."

"You mean I'm hired!!?"

"Ye-" but before she could finish her one word Ryuu had completely lunged forward to embrace her.  Mikoto's heart was pounding so fast now it seemed that it would self-destruct.

"Thank you so much, Ms. Tribal!  You will not regret this!" the he pulled away.  "You have no idea how much this means to me!"

Mikoto smiled half-heartedly and stood up.  All she could think of was I'm digging my own grave.  There is no way I can win.  "Here is a list of things you will want to bring," she said handing him a piece of paper.  "We're leaving at five a.m.  The vessel will wait for no one, so if you're late you will miss it."

Ryuu nodded importantly.  "Then I'll be early!"

She watched helplessly as he ran from her hotel room.  He was incredibly happy, and she felt good that she helped with the reason behind the big smile on his face. 

After she saw him bound down the hall she shut the door and leaned against it.

"Good going, Mikoto…" she sighed and padded into the kitchen.  "You're fighting a losing battle."  With a sigh she poured herself some coffee and sat down at the small circular table.  Yesterday's paper was spread across the surface, the headlines did not appear too interesting though, and so with a swipe of her hand she knocked it into the wastepaper basket.

"Well, if he has a history of being late he'll miss the ride," she told herself, holding her face close to the mug and allowing the steam from the hot beverage to warm her cheeks.

As she sat at the table, thinking and enjoying her coffee, someone began knocking at her door again.  This time it startled her so much that she spilled the hot liquid down the front of her black shirt.  Wincing, she held the hot fabric away from her skin.  "Yes?"

"Ms. Tribal?  Are you going to come out any time soon?  We need to clean your room."

It's just the maid, she sighed.  For a second there she thought it might be that boy again.  Though, deep down inside, she sort of hoped it had been.

Quickly, she dried her shirt to the best of her ability and opened the door, still rubbing a white hotel crested washcloth against her shirt.  "I'm sorry ma'am, I'll be out of your way in a minute," Mikoto said uneasily.

"Thanks sweetie," the maid smiled, stepping into the room.  Mikoto grabbed her cloak and threw the dirty towel into the laundry basket the maid pulled into the room behind her.

"Thank God I wore black today…" the Genome murmured to herself as she walked down the staircase, still examining the wet spot.

"See you again tonight, Ms. Tribal!" the inn-keeper shouted after her as she bustled out through the door. 

What a weird feeling, she pondered, I'm not sure what it is.  I want to see him again, but I know that I shouldn't.  He's so dangerous, and he is utterly unaware how.

The sun was beating down on her fair skin.  It was going to be a miserably hot day, she could already tell.  There was no way she could wear the cloak all day without passing out, so instead she draped it over an arm while she walked to the stores distributing the applications.

The closest was the item store.  She walked in and approached the counter.  "Ms. Tribal!" the owner exclaimed.  "Are you here to pick up the applications?"

"Yes, I am."

The plump man handed her a small stack of papers.  "I had quite a response!  A lot of people were very interested."

"That's good to hear," she said.  "Thank you, sir.  I'll contact the applicants for interviews soon."  As she was readying to leave she heard the door fly open.

"Hey!  Mr. B!  Is that M. Tribal guy here yet!?"

"Hey boys.  Great timing!  She just got here!"

"She?" one of the boys asked confusedly.  He then looked at her, and gasped.  "Oh, so I guess M. Tribal isn't a guy…" he concluded finally.

"No shit, genius," his cohort rolled his eyes and elbowed him in the ribs.  The two seemed like clones of each other.  They were completely identical.  Both had dirty blond hair and green eyes, and each had a silver earring in his right ear.

"These two also turned in applications.  I have to say they were probably the most excited about the job," the shopkeeper laughed. 

"I'm Blaise," one smiled, offering his hand.

"And I'm Blade," the other finished, offering his as well.

"They're twins," Mr. B. announced.

"Thanks for stating the obvious," Blade chuckled.

Reluctantly, Mikoto shook the boys' hands.  "So…I suppose that you want an interview?" she asked.  I don't have the same feeling when I am around others…she thought, what is it about that boy?

The twins looked ecstatic.  "Yes!" they exclaimed, giving each other a high five.

"Well then, if you will follow me…" she said walking out the door.  Before she closed it she cocked her head to the side and said, "Thanks again, sir!" and waved.

She led the two boys to a nearby fountain and sat on the rim.  Blaise and Blade sat on a bench facing her.  "What is your employment history?  …"

Completely drained, Mikoto sauntered into her hotel room.  It was nearing midnight, and most of her day had consisted of interviewing applicants.  She opened her refrigerator and pulled out a small carton of yogurt.  As she ate, she looked at the applications and thought: Days until the expedition; seven.  Treasure hunters hired: five. 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

By the way, the characters Blaise and Blade are characters from my short story that is posted on fictionpress (still under the name CuteMooglez).  It's a very short read (only seven pages); if you are interested check it out!  It's called 'Pardon the Parody'.  And be sure to review!

Also, if you enjoyed the poem, be sure to read Virginia's (a.k.a Vivi-chan) poetry!  Go and check it out!   The poem she wrote for this particular story is called 'Shattering Stone' and if you are interested in reviewing her, I'm sure she'd really appreciate it.

Review away!  ^o^  As always, flames and feedback are greatly appreciated!