Hello there, everyone.

So, this week was full of tests and essays and things of the kind, but I gladly announce that I'm free now. Almost 1 am, but still always a pleasure to do business with you guys. I really hope you like it.

You see, the strangest thing happened to me. I was at the bus on my way home when a familiar tune hits my ears. Still having the whole soundtrack of Bayonetta on my cell, it randomly decides to play the great 'Fly Me To The Moon' remix, and thus, kicks me off with this idea for the story.

PS: Random fact above. Please, do ignore.

xxx

Disclaimer: It belongs to Square. Maybe someday there will be a SquareEnix vs. Nintendo title and we'll actually get to see a Final Fantasy VII's remade Cloud face off against that colorful Link from the Ocarina Of Time remake. One can dream, right?

Chapter 4 ~ To See What Spring Is Like

"Hey, Sis…"

They say that there are many awkward moments of embarrassment in life. Like when you slip on a banana peel on the middle of the street and the world seems to stop and stare. It is an unreal situation; you know deep down that is never going to happen. Because banana peels don't lie around in the street, waiting to be slipped. They're bright yellow spots on a grey ground; anyone would notice them, even in a colorful city like Bodhum. That's why when it happens, you find yourself in a loss of words and even thoughts whatsoever, even if you're not the one who tripped. You can just stare, and then stare back again.

Lightning had never tripped on a banana peel during her entire life, and doubtfully ever will, but she was never the less experiencing firsthand the psychological reactions of it. Because being caught by her sister while entangled in Hope's arms was as unreal and impossible as banana tripping for her. So, for the first few seconds she stared in disbelief, her face still soft with feeling, looking at lot like Serah's. The next moment she was already out of Hope's embrace and in Snow's typical arms crossed pose, her face looking tough with no sign of the previous happiness.

Hope, on the other hand, had probably already slipped on his fair share of bright bananas and was, therefore, no stranger to embarrassment. He just hoped Snow would let him sleep quietly that night, instead of mocking him endlessly and thanking the gods for getting the best side of the family. He felt Lightning break away from his arms, although he still kept them in the same holding position even after a while, as if trying to bend gravity and move the light weight of her body back to him. He eventually set his arms down and looked at her tenderly, which didn't go unnoticed by anyone in the room.

Snow had dug his hands deep down his pockets and decided to look at his feet from every angle possible, and then back. Serah had both her arms behind her back in that girlish way she always did, and was probably feeling as awkward as her sister. She was the first that dared to break the disturbing silence:

"We, uh, got the note!", she exclaimed desperately. "Are you better, sis? We were worried!"

Lightning looked at her and sighed. "I'm better, it was just some dizziness". She held Serah's gaze for a while and noted the irony of the whole situation. Since they were kids, the younger sister would always get herself into some mess that the more responsible older sister had to get her out of. Destiny played its part and inverted the roles for the first time she could remember. But that doesn't mean that Serah didn't play the responsible role well.

She knew her sister better than anyone in the whole world, and could always say when Lightning had something troubling her mind. Serah could see it in her eyes. Claire's eyes were deeper and only slightly brighter, an indicative of heavy emotions stirring inside her. She noticed with time that her sister and Hope were very close, and that there was always this little bit of something else in his eyes when he looked at her, a little bit of something else that always went unnoticed by her older sister. When the two of them were together in reunions and such they would often move with incredible synchronicity, as if they were planets bound together in the same orbit by the same invisible force.

Serah smiled dearly at her sister and nodded, as if saying "do try, and if you need anything I'll be here for you". Claire lifted her lost gaze from the ground upon noticing her sister's movement and the two exchanged glances for a split second. She nodded back in understanding, until the silence was again interrupted by her younger sister.

"Oh, how silly of me!", Serah said while trying to fake surprise with absolute no success whatsoever. "We forgot to feed our cat, didn't we, Snow?"

Snow, who was suddenly shot out of his new found shoe fascination, took a bit of time to realize whatever was happening until he finally opened his mouth to agree with whatever his wife had said. "Yeah…. The cat, yeah…."

Lightning felt grateful for Snow's stupid cat and even for Snow's stupid self for the first time in her entire life as her sister made up more embarrassing excuses about how their cat might die if he didn't eat at least once every six hours, and that she was very sorry but they had to get going. It all happened much to Hope's dismay, who had absolutely no idea of what was happening or what kind of monster cat they had.

"Bye, Hope! See you when you come home, and take good care of my sister!", she said to the puzzled looking young man, as Snow shot out something among the lines of "good luck, kid" and disappeared right after his wife, shutting close the door loudly behind them.

An awkward silence fell among them as Lightning gazed at Hope's direction. "I'm sorry about that." she said, her voice ordinary and dispassionate. He gave her an empathetic smile and waved his hands foolishly around to dismiss what she had said.

"No, I'm the one that should be sorry! I left that note there in the first place…" he apologized, his voice dying down at the end. Hope noticed her expression of unease and moved closer, placing one hand in her shoulder and another at her cheek, not even needing to ask what was wrong.

"I don't want to make you feel like that, Light." She lifted her eyes to his, noticing the name he chose to use. "I want to make you happy. Even if it isn't by my side, with me. Because you deserve it. Snow will be there for Serah now, and you know it. Its time you let it all aside and start actually enjoying spring, and not just stand still as it parades before your eyes."

Lightning's bright blue eyes were vivid in their color as she stood and listened to Hope's small speech. "A couple of days from now, at the festival night, I won't wish for the one I love. I'll wish for her happiness." And with that he kissed her again, sweet like the flower in that spring that she has never seen.

"See you later… Claire." It was the last thing he said as passed through the door and left her to her thoughts of passed springs and broken hearts.

Review gets cookie and wonderful song tips!

xxx

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