Chapter 5: The Real Deal
"I am the angel of death. The time of purification is at hand."
-Azrael
Disclaimer: If I owned Yuna, Tidus, Squall, Paine, etc...all those FF characters, I'd be rich right now. But I'm not, so whatever.
A/N: Wow, I'm actually back in business! I must apologize for the wait; I had finals to study for and everything. Other than that, this is a really important chapter in Death's Apprentice and a major twist will be revealed...well, maybe not really.
-Abzanguinaut342
About fifteen minutes after Tidus' rendezvous with Lenne and Shuyin, he eventually found Paine Crimson's three room flat. The flat was one of the apartments in a five-story building, and the street where the place was situated was dark as well.
"Man, it looks pretty dark around here." Tidus thought to himself, his hand clenched onto the Deathseeker tightly. "And to think I'm still in Zanarkand. This better be the right place." The Death List didn't specify where the scene of the crime/suicide/other death-related stuff, so most of Tidus' job was figuring out where everything was.
Tidus had expected police cars and an ambulance here on the dark street, but no one was around; he figured that the person on the list still had a long time to live. Glancing up and down the street to see if there was any activity, but there was none. Reluctantly, Tidus strode up the building's stone steps and passed right through the door.
Just like the outside, the inside of 423 Jerehgert Avenue was not much to look at either. An elevator with a sign having 'broken, do not use' was to Tidus' left, and in front of him was a flight of stairs. All the lights were off in the building; Tidus figured that the people here (except for Paine) were out partying in Zanarkand. Not sure where Paine's room was, Tidus looked at the directory that was on the wall to his right.
"Hm...Paine Crimson, Room 17A, Fifth Floor." Tidus said out loud, immediately heading for the stairs. He was just about to go up when he noticed the tenant's mailboxes. All of them were empty, except one which was overflowing with mail. Without looking, Tidus guessed it was Paine's. After all, if she was going to die due to drugs, she was most likely going through a rough time. People like her wouldn't check their mail if they were depressed.
After walking up five flights of steps, Tidus eventually reached Paine's room. Nervous of what might happened if he went inside, Tidus carefully passed into the room. He had expected something bad, but not as bad as what he was looking at.
If there was an award for the most unclean room, Paine would have won and swept the board off the other contestants. Heck, she would have won an international competition for the messiest room. Three large half-filled bottles of vodka were sitting on a small table, with at least ten shot glasses on the table as well. A large fridge was to the left of the table, and Tidus imagined there was even more vodka instead of real food.
A faint noise got Tidus' attention. He looked up, wondering where the noise came from.
"Hello? Anyone there?" Tidus called out heading over to an open door right across from him. Inside was a bedroom, and he found Paine lying on a small cot holding another bottle.
"Uhhhh..." Paine cried out trying to drink from the empty bottle. "Who are you?"
"The name's Tidus. Um, this is some room you've got here."
"Thanks, amigo. Bourbon?" Paine slurred, gesturing the bottle at Tidus.
"I really can't right now. So, um, what happened here?" Tidus asked, leaning against a wall casually. It took a few moments for Paine to get all the details out, especially since she was drunk.
"Uh, from what I remember...I kinda came back from a party and I drank too much bourbon and vodka...yeah, that's how it went..." Paine slurred, dropping the bottle on the ground. "But I usually don't drink too much of this stuff."
Tidus checked the Death List once again. Paine's name was now turning from a light gray to a dark one; she was running out of time.
"You don't? Why'd you start now?" Tidus questioned curiously.
"Well, my boyfriend kinda dumped me even though he wouldn't say why and I got fired from my job. To keep my mind off things I went to a party and drank my heart out."
"That makes sense." Tidus answered, taking his Death List out. "Paine, I've got something important to tell you."
"Ask away, Mister Blurry..." Tidus gulped; Paine was now losing her vision and getting closer to her demise.
"Look, I'm not just any random person; I'm the Angel of Death." Tidus explained hastily. "Well, the substitute Angel of Death to be exact. And according to my Death List, you're life is fading away fairly quickly."
For a moment there, Paine said nothing. Instead her crimson eyes stared back without any emotion.
"What, I'm gonna die, already? Did I not get the right brand of Bourbon or something crazy like that?"
"Nope, you drank too much alcohol. But there's still time. You might just be saved."
"Saved? I should be dead right now---after all, my ex dumped me and I have no job anymore. What else can I do?" Paine asked, her glassy red eyes trying to keep focus on Tidus. "Hey, you're the Death Angel. You're already dead, right? Why would you save someone you don't know?"
Tidus thought for a moment. He really only knew Yuna Leonhart from his childhood, and he had forgotten most of his memories from that time. One of the only reasons why he was doing Azrael's job was so he could see Yuna again---and to also be the Zanarkand Abes star once more.
"Because...I'm doing this because I want to see my childhood friend once more. After I complete the real Angel of Death's missions, he might let me off the hook."
"Hm, somebody has a crush..." Paine teased still half drunk, with Tidus looking at her malevolently.
"Look, I don't do this very often, and this may be your one chance to live your life again. After all, life on this planet only comes once." Tidus answered trying to figure out how to keep Paine alive.
"Yeah, but what's the point? I've already lost everything."
"But it's too early for you to die; you can still save yourself." said Tidus, trying to convince her. "Can you do it?"
"Do what? Save myself by committing suicide quicker?"
"Nope. My body is transparent, so I can't call 911 for you, but you can. You'd better have enough strength. Hey---"
Tidus felt an odd ringing in his ears. The next thing he knew he could hear a small but familiar voice could be heard.
"Tidus, meet me at the Flaming Sailor restaurant in downtown Zanarkand. Be quick and don't ask why I'm not on vacation; this is really urgent." Ringed Azrael's voice so that Paine could not hear anything. Tidus looked up with shock; he would have to hurry with Paine.
Paine looked down at the broken bottle of 'Fabulous Nova Crystalline Bourbon;' did she really want to end her life now, or live and survive for another day? Reluctantly, Paine reached her hand over to the cellphone on a nearby nightstand, and managed to diall 911 but with great difficulty.
"Uhhhhh..." Just as Paine dialed for an ambuance, she passed out.
"No!" Tidus ran over to the phone and spoke into it loudly, "Hey, I've got a drunken girl here at 423 Jerehgert Avenue, Fifth Floor Apartment 17A---please, come quickly! The girl doesn't have much time left!"
"Right away, sir. May we have your name for further questioning?" But it was too late; Tidus jumped (literally!) out of Paine's window elsewhere. As sirens could be heard in the background of her apartment, Paine briefly opened her eyes.
"Thank you, guardian angel."
Meanwhile, at the Zanarkand Hospital...
Yuna was seen in a long white medical coat, awaiting the news her doctor had for her. She was kept in a small room, and had been waiting for about half an hour for her doctor to show. But within time, Dr. Clan Dumeijike showed up, and had a grim look on his face.
"Miss Yuna, we need talk..."
"About...about what, Dr. Dumeijike?" Yuna asked nervously, her hands clenched around her coat.
"Your condition. Please, sit down." Dumeijike gestured with his clipboard a nearby chair and Yuna immediately sat down, preparing for the worst.
The Flaming Sailor, ten minutes after the whole ordeal with Paine
The minute after Tidus jumped from Paine's building, he sprinted all the way down to the Flaming Sailor, which was a good ten minutes away in downtown Zanarkand. Upon his arrival, he burst through the doors and looked around frantically for Azrael. He found him sitting at an empty booth, not seen by the restaurants workers or customers.
"Hey, sorry I'm late!" Tidus called out to Azrael, immediately sitting down. Azrael glared at Tidus.
"Where the hell were you? I've been waiting for fifteen minutes or so!" Azrael ordered, his voice dripping with menace.
"I had stuff to do. You kinda called me at a bad time." Tidus answered sheepishly. "So, why am I here?"
"There is some stuff I'd like to discuss. It won't take up too much time."
"Ask away, then." Answered Tidus casually.
"Okay, then. First thing's first, why'd you let Paine live?" Azrael asked suspiciously.
"What? I can't decide whether people live or not?" Tidus answered nervously. "Is it a rule in the world of life or death?"
"Yep, and a big one too." Azrael folded his arms, and also keeping his face underneath his black hood. "You may have only let one person live, but if you did it too often then chaos would be everywhere around here; it's unorthodox to let people stay alive when they're really supossed to go. Basically, heaven and hell would become off balance, therefore creating tension all over."
"I didn't know. So, what's my punishment? After all, I did break a rule." Tidus asked guiltily.
"I'll let you off the hook for now---" (Tidus looked up with interest)
"Really? Are you---"
"However, it won't happen again. If it does then you'll be in serious trouble. And that's final." After he finished, Azrael immediately stood up and walked away like a phantom, silently moving through crowds of people. However, he returned briefly for a mere moment.
"By the way, do check your Death List; it updates every ten minutes or so..." This time Azrael left for good, and Tidus hastily opened up the Death List. Tidus felt like his insides froze over. A new name was added to the list.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >
"It's the Geo-Stigma." Dr. Dumeijike answered not looking at an alarmed Yuna in the face. "I'm sorry, but the tests were correct."
Yuna instantly felt faint, this was all happening too quickly. First her mom passed away, then Tidus fell into a coma, and now she was going to die too?
"H-how can you be sure?" Yuna asked quietly.
"Here." Dumeijike reached over and rolled up the sleeve on Yuna's arm. Dark markings in odd formations were there, and to Yuna they were throbbing painfully. "These signs and many medical exams have proven this."
"Do I have long to live?" Yuna felt her eyes welling up with tears as she asked this question. It took Dumeijike a little time to get the answer out properly.
"One month. That's the longest any Geo-Stigma patient's stayed alive."
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>
No...this can't be!" Tidus thought to himself staring at a name in white engraved in the Death List. A few silent tears escaped out of his cerulean eyes as he read out loud, "Yuna Leonhart, Geo-Stigma."
A/N: I seriously didn't think I'd get all that done in three days...weird. At least Death's Apprentice has a more interesting plot now and Tidus has a mission of his to accomplish...things will definitely be more interesting from now on. Other than that, I felt that I rushed Paine's episode too quickly; well, it's 12:24 in jersey and I have school tomorrow---but it's the last day! Expect chapters to come much quicker in the future.
-Abzan342
Clan DumeijikeAnagram of Medical Junkie
JerehgertZanarkand in Al Bhed
The 'Fabulous Nova Crystalline Bourbon'I couldn't think of a good anagram name, so I figured I'd use the next FF13's title...well, sort of.