**We are not promoting underage drinking, smoking or gambling in any way, shape or form!**
A/N: Keeping in mind that we are American, when we say football in this chapter we are referring to the American version of it (you know, where the foot is hardly ever used…). Hopefully this will lessen some confusion as the chapter progresses.
Tereterhomdark2003: Thanks for pointing out the typo, I'll go back and fix it. ^o^
Jkateel: We noticed that Ryuu was starting to sound a lot like Zidane, but we're trying to really develop his character so that he is unique and they aren't too similar.
Robshi: Yes, I will update before the next millennium. See? It only took a few weeks this time. Hehe. Sorry for the wait, but writer's block had me there for a while. And, by the way, Virginia had a reply for your message, it's in her review for chapter five of this story if you want to check out what she said. ^o^
IMPROVED Uber Rei Model 06: I don't try to take forever with posting, I really don't. I only try to take as much time as it should take to produce a quality chapter. I don't want to post a crappy chapter, and I'm sure no one else wants me to do that either.
A/N II: It was actually amusing how many people are worried about whether or not Ryuu's going to make the vessel in time. But, you'll just have to read this chapter to find out. This is more like an introductory chapter, allowing readers to get to know the treasure hunters a little bit. We'll probably post some of the concept drawings that BreeAnne and I did on our website (and if anyone has drawn a picture of the treasure hunters, Mikoto, Ryuu or anything Final Fantasy related, they can email them to us at CuteMooglez@hotmail.com and we'll post them on our site as well!)
Chapter 6
Mikoto picked up her mug of coffee and carried it to her bed where many pictures were spread across the sheets. With a soft clank she set the mug on her bedside table and began to cut a piece of backing board into a square, just big enough to create a border around a picture of the old Lindblum chapel. This scrapbook project was started many years ago, it was Zidane's idea. He wanted photos of places through the centuries to see how much they changed.
The chapel was a great example that sometimes even the most beautiful things cannot be preserved. While most of the chapel remained untouched, on one side there was green spray-painted graffiti that read 'Jack loves Amber'. But apparently, Jack changed his mind, because he tried to cover up his love declaration with a thin coat of blue spray paint.
As she pasted the picture down she hoped that the city council would cover up the graffiti and restore the chapel. Just as she set the scrapbook on the table to dry, her wristwatch beeped. It was nearing seven. Tonight, the night before the expedition, she was taking all the treasure hunters that she hired out to eat. It would be the last real meal they would get for a while.
She stepped out of her room and locked the door behind her. Four days she had spent in town and she could almost swear that Ryuu was following her. Coincidence or not, he seemed to be everywhere she went. When she went shopping for rations, he was conveniently there as well. He also happened to be in the weapon store, the armor store, even the item shop when she was. After so many encounters, she learned to run the opposite direction whenever she heard someone cry, "Ms. Tribal! Ms. Tribal!"
Every time they ran into each other, he would thank her over and over again, offer to carry anything she was holding at the moment, and above all, make her an uncomfortable wreck. For some reason, whenever she was alone around him she felt both happy and scared, her heart sped up and it was difficult to speak.
Shaking all this from her mind she opened the door and looked around the darkened streets. There was no sign of the young man…yet.
She was supposed to meet the treasure hunters in Bobo's bar, so, making sure her dagger was still at her hip, she walked to the air cab station.
Before long she walked into the smoke filled bar. A young man with silver hair sitting alone at a table waved at her, she nodded in his direction and joined him.
"How are you, Seth?" she asked, sitting across from him.
The man leaned back into his chair and took a drag from his cigarette. "I'm fine."
Seth was a man of very few words. Mikoto knew this from experience. He had actually been a part of her treasure-hunting group a few years back. The man exhaled the smoke through his nose and sat back up to flick the ashes into an ashtray.
"I'm here!" came a singsong voice. Mikoto looked up to see a girl with multicolored highlights and blond hair plop down into an unoccupied seat. Her hair was up in a ponytail and her long bangs covered up one of her eyes. Blaise and Blade were the next to enter, and Ryuu was last, showing up fifteen minutes late.
The group of six sat around a circular table. "Okay, time for introductions," Mikoto sighed. "My name is Mikoto Tribal; I will be your boss for the next few months."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" one of the twins exclaimed, hitting his arms against the table. "Interviewer, I could understand. But where's our real leader? Is he your dad or something?"
"I don't understand…" the Genome said slowly.
"Not only are you female, but you're the youngest out of all of us!" Blaise shouted. "You don't look like you could hurt a fly!"
Mikoto chewed on the inside of her lip agitatedly and pulled the daggers from her sheaths. She spun them easily around her fingers and stabbed them into the table, pinning the boy's sleeves to the wood.
Everyone stared at her wide-eyed, except for Seth who muttered, "You don't want to piss her off."
"I-I take it back!" the twin gasped.
"Good," Mikoto stated, yanking her weapons from the table. "Someone else introduce themselves."
Ryuu beamed at everyone, "My name is Ryuu Lucchesi, I'm seventeen and I love motorcycles. I have two. One I bought and one that I built myself."
"Motorcycles?! That's awesome!" Blade exclaimed.
"Okay," the girl started up. "My name's Kashiya O'Malley and I'm twenty years old. I will be serving as your medic; I've studied mainly in the fields of alchemy. I am very interested in horoscopes, astrology and mythology. I can guess anyone's star sign accurately if I know them well enough. Also, I have mastered the use of over ten different weapons. However, I won't be fighting."
"Wow…" the twins said in unison.
"Impressive," Seth agreed, dragging on his cigarette.
"Okay, I'm Blaise Monomitsu…"
"And I'm Blade…"
"We're eighteen years old," they smiled, putting their arms around each other's shoulders and holding up peace signs.
"Our hobbies include drawing, fighting and pulling pranks."
"We are Pisces and also enjoy taking long walks on the beach," Blaise finished, winking in Kashiya's direction.
"Well, aren't you two an interesting bunch?" Kashiya asked, rolling her eyes. "Sorry, but I don't date younger men."
"Alright, you last…" Mikoto said, looking at Seth.
With a sigh he sat up straight and jammed the butt of his cigarette into the ashtray. "I'm Seth Sevacas, twenty three years old, and I have a gun."
"That's…nice…" Ryuu said, smiling nervously.
"Actually, I have three…" he continued, "but only one is with me."
The table was awkwardly silent for a while until a waitress came over to them. "What can I get for ya?" she asked around her chewing gum.
"Go ahead and order, it's on me," Mikoto said.
"Beer, please," Seth said, leaning back again.
"I'll have a salad," Kashiya smiled. The waitress scribbled down the orders and looked back up at the posse.
"Steak!" the twins said simultaneously. "And beer!"
Ryuu scanned the menu, "Everything is so expensive."
"Don't worry about it," Mikoto said.
"Uh…I'll have a hamburger and fries," he said eventually.
"Anything for you miss?" the waitress asked.
"No, thanks."
"So, Mikoto," Seth began with an unlit cigarette hanging from his mouth. "How old are you know? You look the same." He then cupped a hand around his mouth and lit the new cigarette.
"Fifteen," she answered, out of habit.
Seth furrowed his eyebrows, blowing out a new puff of smoke. "You were thirteen last time, then?"
"Yeah…" she said slowly.
The young man shrugged and flicked the cigarette's loose ashes into the ashtray a second time. "You look the same," he said simply.
"That's strange…" Kashiya said. "She's in the age group where she should be changing rapidly."
"Yeah, you've had too many smokes, Seth. She's had to have changed over two years," Blaise said, elbowing the older man in the side.
Now everyone was staring at her, almost asking her to clarify their statements with her own input. In these situations, she found that sarcasm was the most useful tool. "I met a troll under the Lindblum bridge and he trapped me inside this body," she said, her voice absolutely dripping with sarcasm.
Seth chuckled and everyone else laughed.
"I knew they existed!" Ryuu yelled, slamming his fist on the table. All eyes were on him. "Just kidding, sheez."
"Riiiiight," Blade said, furrowing his eyebrows. "So dude, about your motorcycles!"
"Boys, aren't they entertaining?" Kashiya said quietly to Mikoto, using her hand to cover her mouth.
The Genome merely rolled her eyes. It was going to be a long night, and it was just beginning. While the twins and Ryuu talked excitedly about how ecstatic they were to be leaving the next day, Mikoto listened to Kashiya as she talked about a new legend she heard over the weekend. Seth was staring in the direction of a radio where someone was broadcasting a football game between Treno and Dali.
"Hey, Seth, twenty gil says the Dali Dragons win," Blaise shouted, slapping some coins onto the table.
"Those hicks? You're on," Seth put another twenty gil in the middle of the table.
"Anyone else betting?"
"Yeah, my money's on the Dragons too," Blade laughed, putting more money in the middle.
"How about you Ryuu?" Blaise asked.
"I'm not betting," the brunette smiled, "I don't like either of those teams."
"How about you, Kash?"
"My name is Kashiya," she rolled her eyes. The twins hadn't known her for more than thirty minutes and already they had a nickname for her. "Who's playing?"
"The Dali Dragons and Treno Garudas," Ryuu answered.
"Treno, definitely!" she said, placing some of her own money down.
"You going to place a bet too, Mikoto?"
The Genome shook her head. "I don't know much about sports," she admitted, slowly.
"What?" Kashiya raised her eyebrows. "What kind of sheltered life are you leading, dear? Oh my, we'll have to teach you one of these days. Football is the greatest sport ever!"
"TOUCHDOWN FOR THE GARUDAS!!" the announcer's statement roared over the static in the radio. The entire bar erupted in cheering except for a few people who groaned and slouched forward.
Ryuu laughed and looked at the twins, "I can't believe you two are placing a bet on the Dragons."
"Oh ye of little faith."
"Don't you worry what we do with our money," Blaise finished with a smirk.
"Thompson is barreling down the field only to be stopped by Davis. Oooh, he's going to feel that one in the morning."
Seth smiled victoriously in the direction of the radio and took a drag on his cigarette. "You might as well give me your money now, boys."
"What makes you say that!!?" Blade yelled.
"First ten minutes of the game, score: 14-0."
"What's your point?"
"The Dragons suck!" Kashiya yelled, sticking out her tongue.
Mikoto leaned back in her chair and smiled. Treasure hunters had the most fun assortment of characters. She was getting ready to break up the small brawl when the brightly clad waitress appeared with the food.
"Is there anything else I can get you?" she asked, setting the tray of food down. Everyone reached for their orders.
"I think we're good for now," Mikoto said.
"All right," the waitress smiled and picked the tray back up from the table. "Call me if you need me."
The five treasure hunters scarfed down their food like it was their last meal, and Mikoto stared off into an unoccupied corner of the bar.
"You remind me of Kisata," Kashiya said slowly, looking at the Genome.
"Huh?" Mikoto started, snapping her attention away from the empty barstools.
"It's a tale from ancient Madin Sari lore. Kisata was a beautiful young maiden, but she was always very timid and slightly paranoid. Everyone always said that she was the most powerful of Summoners, but she feared her own power. She feared battle and the thought of dying the most."
Mikoto looked at Kashiya awkwardly, how did she know her so well when they seemingly only just met. "What about me reminds you of her?"
"Well…" the girl thought for a minute and took another bite from her salad. "You seem very uncomfortable and you don't seem like you want to open up to anyone."
"What happened to this…Kisata?"
"Well, you see, she didn't like to fight or summon for that matter, but her parents had come from a very prestigious family and they made her study it anyway. One day, on the night of the destruction of Madin Sari…"
Mikoto felt her cheeks redden. She knew who was behind all that, even if they had done it on accident.
"It is fabled that balls of fire shot from the sky and burned the houses. Many of the Summoners tried to flee over the water, but most stayed behind to protect their race. Kisata tried to escape by boat with her friend, but she was forced to stay behind and fight because of her parent's delusional thoughts of honor and nobility. Eidolons swarmed everywhere, trying to attack a 'giant eyeball' that was only visible between clouds, but nothing they did worked."
By this point, everyone at the table was listening. "Then?" Ryuu pressed her on. "What happened next?"
"Come on, you all know what happened to the Summoners," Kashiya rolled her eyes. "She died, the city was destroyed, no one survived."
Mikoto felt her like someone had ripped her heart out and replaced it with a thirty-pound barbell. She felt it sink into her gut.
"Then what the hell was the point of even telling that story!?" Blade shouted.
"I never said that she was going to have the same fate!" the woman yelled back. "I merely said that she reminded me of her!"
However, many thoughts were running through Mikoto's head. Maybe she would have the same end; it wouldn't surprise her. Deep down, she knew she would not be able to completely stop the destruction of Gaia; it was inevitable. She was only postponing the tiny planet's demise. But she hated thinking that way! It was too…painfully true.
"Hey…" someone muttered in her ear. She jumped when she felt a hand clamp around her shoulder. "Are you all right? You look pale."
Her blue eyes looked to her left and she automatically saw Ryuu's brown eyes staring into her soul, full of concern.
"Yeah, I didn't mean to scare you," Kashiya said, her lavender eyes begging for forgiveness.
"No, I'm fine…" Mikoto stuttered, putting a hand to her forehead. She just wished that Ryuu wouldn't look at her like that; she couldn't think clearly.
"TOUCHDOWN DRAGONS!" the announcer shouted, interrupting everyone's train of thought.
"Hah! Told you! We're catching up!" the twins exclaimed, giving each other a high five.
"Catching up!?" Seth laughed, flicking his cigarette and reaching for his mug of beer. "It's their first touchdown."
"So?"
"And that leaves us with the score 38-7. We'll continue our coverage after a quick word from our sponsors," the announcer said, then a commercial came on about a sale somewhere.
"38-7? That's just pathetic," Kashiya giggled. "You two should reconsider your bet."
"No way!"
Seth shrugged and added more of his money to the bet. "Whatever, it's your money."
Everyone else added more to the bet. Now, Mikoto estimated that there was about two hundred gil in the center of the table. Not that much money, but it was a decent amount.
"What're you gonna buy with your half of the money, Ms. O'Malley?" Seth asked, with a small smirk.
Blaise stood up and pointed a finger at the older man. "Don't get cocky!! You haven't won yet!" he shouted.
Even after Mikoto paid the bill, after Seth and the twins had consumed two mugs of beer each, and the bet had increased to one hundred gil per person, they still sat around the table. Seth kept upping the bet with his own money, saying there was no way in hell that the Dragons would win, even after everyone else stopped raising their bet.
Mikoto glanced at the clock on the wall; it was almost nine thirty. "Tomorrow is an early day, we should be heading home…" she said, standing up.
"Shh! Shh!" Blade shushed her.
"…intercepted by Simmons, he's tearing through the field with the Garudas following behind. Oh my! I can't believe this! It's history in the making, folks!" the announcer yelled over the roaring of the crowd. "The score is tied, 45-45!"
Seth sprayed his beer from his mouth, sending the liquid in all directions. "How the hell did that happen?!"
"Keep it together, defense!" Kashiya shouted, though she knew it was pointless. It wasn't as if they could hear her.
"Overtime!!?" a man shouted a few tables away. "Against the stinking Dragons?!"
Mikoto shook her head and grabbed her purse and cloak. "I'm leaving," she announced, "and if you intend on making the vessel tomorrow I suggest you all do the same."
"Yes ma'am," Kashiya smiled. "I'll be leaving after I hear the outcome of the game."
"Us too," the twins said together.
Though Seth did not answer she knew it was likely he would do the same.
"Ms. Tribal! You're leaving!?" Ryuu asked, jumping from his chair and following her to the door.
"Yes. I'll see you tomorrow," she said as she slipped into her cloak, careful not to make eye contact.
"I'll walk you home."
Mikoto stopped in her tracks and her eyes widened. "No. I'll be fine."
"But there's all sorts of weirdoes out at this time of night. Especially in this part of town."
You're one to talk about 'weirdoes', she thought. "I'll manage. I've lived in Treno before."
"I insist. I wouldn't feel right allowing you to walk home alone in this district after dark."
"But…" she thought desperately for an excuse to walk alone, but her mind was clouded. Still keeping her eyes averted to the ground, she consented, "…fine…"
Ryuu's eyes lit up in happiness and just as the two walked out the door they heard a simultaneous groan resonate through the bar. "Hah! Pay up!" Blade shouted to the angry Seth.
Ryuu laughed as the two walked out of the bar, "I guess the Dragons won after all," he finally concluded, beaming. "Man, it feels good to get out of there! There was way too much smoke. Fresh air never tasted so good!" He threw his arms up and stretched, then folded them behind his head. "So, why did you choose the bar above all other places in Lindblum?"
"It was my brother's favorite restaurant," she said quietly.
"Was?" he stopped walking and turned to look at her. She ignored this gesture and continued past him. "Is there a reason you used the past tense in your last sentence?" Ryuu pressed on, running to catch up with the Genome.
"He's dead."
"Oh…" he bit his lower lip and shoved his hands into the pockets of his faded jeans. "I'm sorry to hear that. That has to be tough on your family."
Mikoto sighed and said nothing. Ryuu glanced over at her, expecting her to say something but she never did. "So, you live in Treno?"
"Sometimes."
The brunette raised his eyebrows. "How does that work?"
"I have lived almost everywhere at least once."
"So…does your dad's job require him to move a lot?"
Mikoto remained silent.
"…Did I say something stupid again?" he grimaced. "Please, if I am, by all means tell me to shut up, it won't insult me."
"You're fine."
"Are you sure? Because if you think I talk too much, all you have to do is tell me…"
Without even realizing it, Mikoto smiled.
"Ahh!" Ryuu grinned as well and pointed at her. "So she smiles? How cute!"
The Genome automatically let the smile fade from her lips.
"What a shame," the boy sighed, "You've got a beautiful smile. Why don't you show it off more often?"
Now the blond went back to her previous tactic of not talking and staring at the cobblestone road.
"So…" Ryuu started off again, desperate to make conversation so that the awkward silence would be put to an end, "…how big is your family? I know that mine is relatively small."
Mikoto decided that she might as well say something, and disguise it to make it sound somewhat normal, even though she knew nothing about her past was 'normal'. "I never knew my mom, and for a long time I lived with my father and two brothers. My oldest brother died a long time ago and my second oldest brother took me away from home to live somewhere else. After a few years, I moved in with him."
"Oh, so you're living with your brother?"
"No," she said slowly, "he died recently."
Ryuu stopped again, this time causing Mikoto to run directly into his back. "So, you live all alone?!"
She rubbed the pain from her forehead and nodded.
"You don't have any grandparents or aunts or uncles or even in-laws you can live with?!"
Mikoto could have said that they all died too, but she knew that it would make her story seem extremely morbid and strange; even if it was the truth.
"So, you hunt treasure for a living?"
"No," she said. "My family owns the Auction House in Treno, I get a substantial amount of money from that."
"So, then why are you going treasure hunting?"
"I need more items to put into the Auction House, so it's not necessarily 'treasure' we're looking for, it's more like…priceless artifacts."
"Oh." Ryuu thought for a moment and had a burning desire to ask her whatever happened to her father, but decided against it. Maybe another day she would tell him everything on her own free will. He didn't want to push a subject as touchy as this.
The two finally reached the air cab station and boarded the small vessel. "Man…I have a lot to do tonight before I go to bed. Oh, by the way, where do you suggest I buy a good weapon?"
"You don't already have one?"
"No…I have some money though. I'll buy one tonight."
"Dragoos is a good weapon shop."
"Aren't they really expensive?"
"How much money do you have to spend?"
Ryuu thought for a moment, "Around five hundred gil."
At this, Mikoto almost fell backwards. Five hundred gil couldn't buy him a decent weapon. With a sigh she leaned against the cool glass, "I guess we'll be stopping in Treno before we make it to the Forgotten Continent."
"Why?"
"You'll need a weapon, won't you?"
"Well…yeah…but…"
"My brother…collected weapons. I'll let you use one. What kind of weapon would you prefer?"
"I don't know."
Mikoto thought, tapping her lip. The air cab stopped and the two got off. "Your body structure is similar Zidane's. Would you be able to handle a double sword?"
"Whass'at?"
"Two swords connected with one hilt."
"Most likely…"
"I'll let you use one…" she said uneasily, as they neared the inn, "As long as you take care of it."
"Of course!" he declared. "I don't know how I could ever repay you." The two stopped in front of the inn. If he misses the vessel tomorrow he won't have to worry about repaying me.
"Goodnight, m'lady," he smiled, bowing. She watched him and locked eyes with him only when he stood up. She felt her heart leap into her throat and she barely managed to goodnight before stumbling into the hotel.
"Well, he's a good lookin' boy," an elderly woman chuckled as Mikoto walked past.
"Is he the same one that was following you, Ms. Tribal?" the innkeeper asked. "Is he your boyfriend?"
The blond turned and glared at the man, his only response was to laugh. As she walked up the stairs she yelled, "By the way, Mr. Mitchell, I'll need a wake-up call for four o'clock tomorrow morning."
"Why so early?"
"I'm leaving, I need to be at the airship dock by five to take off."
"All right. Then yes, ma'am, you'll be getting a wake-up call at four," he smiled.
Mikoto did not return this gesture and instead went to her room.
. . .
Blaise, Blade, Kashiya, and Seth stood in a line in front of Mikoto as she paced back and forth before them. The twins' mom had come to see them off.
"Remember, boys, to wash up every day. Change your underwear! I packed enough to last you for a week, but you'll have to wash them! I won't be there to do the laundry for you!!"
"Yes, mom…" Blaise said monotonously, stifling a yawn.
"It's too early for us to retain any information," Blade complained.
The woman glanced at her watch. "I have to be at work soon. Give me a hug…" she lunged forward and embraced the two blonds. "Be careful out there, okay? You aren't invincible, so don't do anything stupid."
"Yes, ma…" they said simultaneously.
The jolly woman waved goodbye and ran out of the airship dock. Mikoto glanced at her watch as well. Ten minutes before take-off and Ryuu hadn't shown up. A part of her rejoiced in the hope that he wouldn't, yet another part prayed that he would come bursting through the doors at any minute.
"So…" Blaise finally said, looking at Mikoto, "you're our leader? You still don't seem very strong."
"Knock it off, you two," Kashiya sighed, pressing a hand to her forehead.
"What're you gonna do? That swirly dagger thing again? That isn't so tough! You just caught me off guard."
Mikoto clenched her teeth and balled her hands into fists. She was really starting to get sick of those two and she had only met them for the first time a week ago.
"C'mon! Show me what you can do!" Blaise continued to antagonize.
Suddenly Blade was aware that Mikoto's hand was glowing red. "Blaise? Um, Blaise…you might want to stop…" he warned.
"I could beat y-"
The next think Blaise knew, Blade had tackled him to the floor and he watched as a fire spell barely sailed over their heads. It hit a nearby barrel and it the wood burst into flames.
"What the f-!"
"Shut up, Blaise!" Kashiya screamed. "You just don't know when to shut your damn mouth!"
Seth got up from sitting on his suitcase and approached Mikoto who was desperately trying to get her emotions under control.
"What was that?" he asked, cigarette hanging from his mouth. She didn't answer, she knew it was best not to.
"It was magic," Kashiya muttered, "but I don't get it. Magic is a lost art! No one can use it anymore!"
Panting, she did not answer, only look at the smoldering barrel. When she managed to calm down, she looked up at everyone. "Let's board the ship."
"But, what about-," Blade started.
"He's late, and I'm not making any exceptions," she said, even though deep down she didn't want to leave him either.
Without arguing, all the treasure hunters picked up their luggage and began to board the Red Rose. Just as she was pulling in the boarding ladder, with Seth's help, she heard a cry of, "Ms. Tribaaaal!! Wait for me! Ms. Tribaaaal!"
Unconsciously she smiled and felt as if a weight was being lifted from her chest, for running full speed toward them was Ryuu, carrying many suitcases under his arm.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Well, there you go! ^o^ Like stated above, any art you have that you want posted on our site, email them to us and we will be more than happy to upload them! Please leave us a review!
(To see Blaise and Blade in action in our short story: 'Pardon the Parody', go to
