(3,340 words) I'm sorry for this being short, but I really couldn't write it, It was total hell even attempting. The next chapter should be easier for me as I'm regaining my Fang obssession (it comes and goes). I'll say this now because I feel a little bad for it considering this is my most popular fanfiction, but it may take awhile for me go give you all another update as I've got two assignments to complete and five other chapters to write before the next one for this.

Sorry about that.

Disclaimer: I don't own XIII, just my fics.

Dance against the wind

Chapter 7: Frustration

Claire lay wrapped up in her many blankets; she'd been awake since long before sunrise. But she didn't even let the thought of getting up pass through her mind. She was in no mood that could qualify as good. She was being troubled by many things, and at the top of the list was Serah.

She'd always seen her little sister as smart, but who she chose to be with made her doubt it, at least in that category. For someone with such a brain on her surely it would seem foolish to give up her life so early on for a man like Snow. Sure, for a girl with her life it didn't yield many options for a future, but she had chances, more than one for someone like her. But she was intent on marrying the blonde oaf and gave them all up just like that.

Claire let out one big sigh, she was comfortable here but for what her mind was focused so strongly on she couldn't enjoy it, not in the least. Maybe she could go run off to her usual place again, the sun was out and the grass would be dry so making a mess of herself wasn't going to happen. Well that was one thing out that would mean less of a yelling from her mother. But as she was still going to the place after so many warnings not to, that in itself was a reason to be yelled at. And even excluding that it was extremely unavoidable she would have someone that would have gone off at her during the course of today. It was simply impossible not to.

For it was the day of her little sister's wedding. If it wasn't for the fact that it was a special day for Serah, she would find a way to get out of it. She didn't want to go, not at all.

Brushing the thought out of her head she got out of bed, and she quickly got herself dressed. She skipped putting on a corset, they were painful in all honesty; she never really bothered with them unless she was forcibly made to wear one. She gave her hair a quick brush and left her room behind, in the direction of her special place.

She made her way down the grand wooden stairs, passing a slave or two as she strode down the long hallways. They looked at her in their usual curiosity, but it wasn't as much as it used to be. There was only one reason she came by this way, and that was because she was going to her little place, banned many times by her mother. They knew she didn't care; she didn't hide her lack of care for what that woman said. Sure they didn't either but they were the ones that had no choice but to listen closely to each and every word.

Claire exited the main house and entered the stone courtyard. The fountain was sputtering water out in fantastic shapes as usual as she past it, heading straight for the little brown wooden bridge at its end.

She'd passed decorations as she made her way here; her mother had waited just enough time so she could go all out on it. The wait had been more than the woman could stand but it had payed off for her in the end.

Claire strode over the creaking bridge and continued her way over the ankle length grass. Her mother wanted it to be cut but she herself had always enjoyed the sensation of the grass against her feet, as like most times she was walking across the green strands barefoot. She dodged between the trees, leaves narrowly missing landing on her shoulders. She'd been in such a bad mood locked up in that mansion of a home but out here she was free to wander in nostalgic memories and the weight of her unwanted life could be so easily lifted off her shoulders, just like that in the beauty of the natural setting around her. It felt so wonderful to her that it almost made her want to skip the rest of the way, but she saw that as too childish of a habit. Even if Serah still did it from time to time, but she was Serah, she could.

Claire rounded a turn in the group of trees surrounding her and she arrived at her usual spot. She stepped towards the middle and took a breath in of the clean natural air, it was so much better out here, at home everything smelt like dust. The wind was cool, not stuffy as it hit her skin. It was wonderful, she never felt better than when she was here; it was why she missed having her darling sister's presence among the trees here.

Humming an old tune to herself, she took a seat on the bench, enjoying each time the cool wind passed by her.

She didn't care much for the time that passed, it was nearing midday and surely someone must have been looking for her by now; whether or not they were concerned about where she was at all. Her mother would have ordered it at some time, taking into consideration what today was she would be positively furious with not knowing where her eldest was. Claire was surprised though that she was yet to be forced back; surely people knew that this was where she escaped to by now since she'd been going here since a young age.

After some time had passed, she heard quiet but noticeable rustling sounds coming from the side of her. Blue eyes targeted the spot it had come from; she figured someone had finally found her. They had taken their sweet time certainly, she wasn't sure if she should be glad over it, all she knew right now was that she still didn't want to go back at all.

Slowly but surely someone was materialising through the trees, one for sure she hadn't expected, not here at least.

"Serah?" She asked for the sake of her puzzlement, this was the first time in years the girl had even dared go near this place, much less come here.

"I thought I'd find you here." She giggled, putting her hands on her hips and looking at her with a childish cheeky grin.

"You haven't come here for years, why now?" Her sister's confusion didn't lift.

She put a finger against her lip in mock thought, with one hand still placed on her waist, humming to herself.

"Maybe because if mother found you here she'd absolutely flip." She crossed her arms still in the same pretend thought. "She would with me of course but you know how she is with you."

Serah placed her arms behind her back, an expression somewhere in the middle of worry and understanding placed on her face.

"You understand what today is, don't you?" Her voice sounded out the worry she showed.

Claire looked back, hurt passing over her face. "Yes, of course I do." She lowered her head to hide her expression, shaking it dejectedly.

"But why him Serah? Of all people, why him?"

She didn't get an instant reply, and she wasn't looking in the direction to see how her sister was looking at her.

"I don't expect you to understand Claire. But I love him whether you like it or not." Her voice held a note of sadness to it. Her elder sister looked back up to see a face of sympathy directed at her.

"But he's an idiot!"

Serah brushed away a stray lock and sighed.

"He's not an idiot; it's just that you don't like him that makes you say he is."

Her sister almost wanted to roll her eyes at that. She couldn't think of Snow as smart, not with him the way he was.

"I still don't…"

"You don't have to understand, because you are not me and you also can't make my decisions in life for me." The younger sister cut in, Claire looked up to her in surprise, she tried to say something but as she opened her mouth Serah interrupted again.

"Look, if I have to marry in life isn't it best to marry someone I love rather than wait for mother to pick a husband for me? I love Snow with all my heart and nothing you ever say is going to change that." Claire saw the sincereness in her sister's eyes, she wasn't kidding about anything.

"And you're going to come back with me right now." Serah's expression changed drastically from her sympathetic one to an almost evil grin.

"And there is nothing you can do about that as well."

If only Claire had the ability to say no to her sister, because if she did the girl wouldn't have taken advantage of that disability. So now she was finding herself stuck getting ready for what was later in the day. Which still she was against going to and certainly didn't want to forcibly be made to look nice for it.

Her mother had ordered two passing slaves to help her because they all knew if left by herself she'd do nothing. Before that part her mother had made her have a bath even though the only dirty part was her feet and it was only a small amount of dirt she'd gotten on them. But that woman who always wanted everything to be perfect said even that was too much. The slaves assisting her in getting ready upon finding she was not wearing a corset she had been urged her to put one on. Jeez, she'd forgotten just how uncomfortable they were. She'd gone for a good long time without one.

The two ageing woman had put make up on her making it all worse before taking a brush and running it through her hair. At least she'd convinced them to let her keep it on the side, it always annoyed her mother that style. Still they tied it with a ribbon, a baby blue to match the dress she was wearing.

Claire was glad when they left; she had time to herself before she was made to leave this little sanctuary she'd made in her room.

She sighed openly and outwardly, placing one hand against her forehead and one on the dressing table to keep her steady. She wouldn't be able to enjoy this minute of silence, not when her mind was racing like it was.

So much was happening at the moment, more than she could stand. Her darling little sister was marrying some stupid moronic idiot at the tender young age of sixteen. Her father was soon going to be made to be sent off into the army to help in the war. He wasn't even much of a fighter, none of the men of even a similar status to his were. But the Pulsian government was getting panicky, so they would take whatever they could get.

Stupid war, why did Cocoon and Pulse have to have a freaking war? They were the same country weren't they? Just different states.

It just seemed too ridiculous; couldn't things have been solved so much easier than having to start a civil war?

If she was any worse at keeping her emotions from showing she had a feeling she'd be growling right now. She could do it quite easily, to make someone think she was happy when she was sad, it was a talent that women like her grew up learning to do; she herself had just never been bothered to use it.

Claire stood up abruptly, it would all start soon, and she couldn't escape now; may as well move downstairs rather than staying up here. Usually the quiet would keep her in a better mood but for this time it was a futile attempt. If she wasn't going to get any better it wasn't like getting out of here would make it any worse. She swore that now even her special sanctuary wouldn't be able to make her calm now.

Nothing stopped her from glaring at the door; she didn't want to have to deal with what was beyond it, not like she had a choice in the matter.

She shook her head like it would rid herself of bad thoughts, when it was all the same she moved towards the door, dreading the rest of the day.

Downstairs those invited were arriving and her mother as always was greeting them. Her father was chatting to some men in the corner; his happiness was almost completely faked right now. Sure he was happy that it was his daughter's wedding but the fact he couldn't be here much longer had brought him down. He'd been pushing it to be allowed to stay to at least be there for her on the day.

She stood by the corner waiting for it to be over and done with and the ceremony could get started. She just wanted today to end; she would never enjoy the thought of Snow marrying her sister, she absolutely didn't want to see it happen. She just wished she had a choice not to go, but that would make Serah unhappy not having her there.

Pushing off the wall she moved away from the gathering crowd, she didn't know much where everyone was sides the amount of friends arriving right now. Getting out of the front hall she spotted the ballroom decorated to make it look like the perfect place for a wedding. It seemed her mother intended to use one of the other rooms for the reception, she had plenty enough for it. Slaves were running about doing the last minute touches, she saw Butterfly looping ribbons around the backs of chairs. It added a nice look but she herself didn't see it as all that necessary. Most would just ignore the couple of girls as they were not seen as much at all by most here, though for her she saw them as better than those rich snobs. They were far too concerned over appearance.

Claire stood by the entrance watching them finish, they didn't take notice of her presence until Butterfly stood up straight and turned around to see her there.

"Ah, Young miss! What are you doing here?" She asked none too quietly. She took a second to notice that that certainly wasn't asked in an 'inside voice'

She blushed and hid her face as it registered with her, she mumbled a sorry as her mind was still to comprehend that the girl in front of her was quite different to what others of the same status as her were. She was simply raised being yelled at by them, no one could blame her.

"You don't have to do that. I don't care how loud you are. You've yelled at me more than once." Claire reminded her in hopes the young girl would calm down.

She saw it visibly that it'd worked. Butterfly gave a slight nod as a sympathetic look placed itself on her face.

"Are you alright with today Young miss?" She asked in a far softer voice than what she'd used previously. She twiddled with her fingers nervously.

"What do you think the answer is?" Anger laced the comment.

Butterfly gave her an understanding look. "I thought it'd be like that. I can see how you feel. I'd hate it if I had a sister that was gonna marry someone I couldn't stand." She changed fiddling with her hands to a strand of hair fallen down.

"To be honest I don't see what she sees in him either. I've only met him once and I didn't even understand one word he said. He seems stupid."

Claire failed to force back a grin at Butterfly's truthfulness. "Glad someone sees it that way other than me."

The small woman in front of her gave a tiny nod. She turned around and ended the conversation. She knelt by the other slave in the room now and told her quickly.

"Georgia, it's good now, we can go before Madam Farron comes in and yells at us for being slow." She tugged on the arm of the even younger girl and made her leave. Claire watched them for one second before leaving herself as there was nothing in the room to pass the time until the ceremony.

Butterfly was never going to stop being paranoid over being yelled at.

Mid-afternoon was when the ceremony began, everyone was made to go to their own reserved seat in the ball room. Claire was by her mother's side at the front on the left. She would have never said it out loud but she felt unbelievably sick right at this second. She really didn't want to be here, she would always rather see Snow suffer some horrid kind of death than see him marry her little sister. This sick feeling wasn't going to go away, not any time soon.

When the piano music started she wanted to run off. She didn't want to be here; she didn't want to watch this, not this.

She wanted to keep her head down, and she could feel her mother's eyes burning into the back of her head for doing so. Why wouldn't she be angry that her eldest wanted to be somewhere else when it was her own sister's wedding? Of course it would seem she missed the fact that it was only because of Snow. If it wasn't for him she would be almost completely fine.

He was standing at the altar, looking happy; she wanted nothing more than to punch him. But she knew she had to restrain herself. Serah was walking down the aisle with her hand in her father's. Her hair had been curled to assist in making her already beautiful waves even more magnificent. She was wearing make-up as well, even if she didn't really need it, it barely added more beauty to her face as she naturally had a great deal in the first place. The dress was stunning, even Claire had to admit that to herself, it had originally belonged to their mother. With the hem adjusted as their mother was anything but tall.

She had her eyes on her, but Claire's thoughts were attempting to escape to somewhere else. She didn't want to be here, nothing would change that.

When Serah got the altar Snow took her small hands in his, smiling so broadly at her. If only it was someone else in his place, whatever had Serah ever seen in him?

Throughout the entire time she tried to look down, she didn't want to witness this moment, it was her little sister after all! Even if it was a man other than Snow she knew and she would admit to herself easily that she wouldn't want to see her get married. It was like she was being taken away from her. And Serah was all she had sides her father. And he too would be gone soon.

She heard each word being said clear as day, but her mind was racing faster than it had all day, and it felt like everything was silent all at the same time.

At the end, everyone was walking up to the newlyweds, to congratulate them of course. Claire tried to be as far away as she could from them. Serah would want to talk to her, but she was with Snow and surely Serah knew that if her sister went anyway near him right now he would most certainly get a hard punch to the face.

She still could see her older sister's melancholy expression even if anyone else missed it. She wished, whether her sister cared for it or not, that maybe someday someone could enter her life and make her happy just like Snow had with her. It was a long shot, but she wished for it nonetheless.

I didn't like my writing in this, the last thing I wrote was much better, but that was one of the best things I've ever written.

If anyone is wondering what they hell I'm talking about it was a monodramatic teaser for a sanity-challenged story I'm going to write eventually. Usually I'm critical of my writing (Like in this stupid chapter for example) But I'm not for the teaser. Now I'm really exited to write the story. I've just got to wait awhile because I'm already writing eight stories at once and I don't think nine is any smarter.

I was kinda depressed that the only review I got for the last chapter was from my big sister and no one else, but then I noticed the alerts had gone up from nine to eighteen. So I wasn't that upset anymore.

Still it would be nice for any possible hope/light fans to review this, I'm still terrified that the FLight fans will maul me in my sleep. Why on earth did I make a story with two matchups that both include the same person? I feel like I going to make people hate me from things not going the way they want it.

I'm happy for all the reviews I've recieved so far and more shall be much appreciated and will help my stupid paranoia shut up.

I reccormend any one reading this to read my fantastic 'Wings of Regret'. Cause it's stil bloody unpopular and I'm in a bad mood over it.

Till next time,

Jya ne,

~Serah