Sisterly Love Chapter 14: Jihl Your Days Are Numbered
"J-Jihl was there?" Lightning asked her mind having some difficulty processing this new bit of information she had just received from Serah.
"Yeah." Serah replied loudly making Lightning bring her phone inches away from her ear "She fought Fang, and then disappeared."
"She fought Fang!?" Lightning yelled concerned for her friend's well being.
"Uh..I just said that sis." Serah said in a matter-of-fact tone.
"Yeah I know that it's just a habit of asking just to make sure." Lightning said calming down "Can I talk to her?"
"Yeah sure." Serah said handing the phone to Fang "She wants to talk to you." Serah told her, Fang nodded in response as she grabbed the phone.
"Hey Light." Fang greeted leaning back in her seat, and crossing her left leg over her right.
"Fang! are you alright?" Lightning asked worried.
"Uh yeah, I'm talking to you aren't I?" Fang said making Lightning roll her eyes.
"Yeah, but I mean did Jihl hurt you?" The younger girl asked worry coating her voice.
"Well yeah of couse that bitch is crazy. But um we uh kinda...-"
"Kinda what Fang?" Lightning asked a small pit of worry growing in her stomach.
"Uh..we kinda fucked up your house a bit." Fang admitted wincing as she said the words awaiting Lightning's reaction.
"You what?" She asked quietly.
"Uh yeah we kinda...messed your house up a little." Fang said trying to calm the younger woman down.
"Well what happened?" Lightning questioned worried about the condition of her home.
"Well I sent her through a wall-" Fang started only to be cut off.
"YOU WHAT!?" Lightning yelled her eyes wide, and her mouth gaping open.
"Easy Lightning my ears are hurting."
"Yeah, and my house is hurting!" Lightning snapped back at her best friend, Fang sighed at the woman's relentless stubbornness.
"And I sent her through a window-"
"WHAT!? come on Fang that is my house, how could you do that?" Lightning asked now whimpering her words like a small child would.
"Um, and we dented two of your walls." Fang finished wincing at Lightning's reaction.
"Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh." Lightning moaned burying her head in her hands "Your paying for all that." She whimpered after a while.
"I know." Fang sighed knowing that those words would come up sooner or later.
"Well tell Amodar to hurry up, I'll see you when you get here, and bring Serah with you." Lightning told her lifting her head from her hands.
"Kay see ya."
"Bye." Lightning hung up her phone, and dropped her head back into her hands.
"What's wrong." Cloud asked from her right, Lightning raised her head and looked up at her brother.
"Fang trashed my house." She told him thinking of what she should do to the woman when she saw her next.
"Oh, that sucks." He said as the awkward tension between the two rose another level.
"So, are you a l'Cie?" Lightning asked crossing her right leg over her left as she leaned against the large tree.
"No, are you?" Cloud asked looking at his little sister, she looked down in response.
"Yeah. Me, your other sister-Serah, Snow you haven't met him, Fang, Sazh, and I don't know how but Hope is too, and finally Vanille is-you don't know her either." Lightning answered.
"Hmm, I'm sorry." Cloud said not knowing how to respond to or comfort someone who is pretty much guaranteed death.
"Don't worry about it, we'll be fine. I'm gonna fix everything." Lightning said waving him off.
"Hmm good to know." The blond responded looking into Lightning's eyes seeing doubt, and fear in them but he chose not to comment on it.
"Say could you do me a favour?" Lightning asked looking up at the older man.
"Sure, what is it?" Cloud asked the younger girl.
"Um..there's this guy who keeps trying to go out with me, and it's becoming tiresome. I know that he won't stop as long as I try to stop him, but maybe if say you beat him up or something
he would stop." Lightning said with ever growing hope in her eyes.
"I could do that...for my little sister." Cloud smiled seeing Lightning's eyes shine "Are you my little sister?" He asked wanting to hear her say so.
"Yeah." She replied sheepishly as Amodar's airship touched down in the field before them. Standing up Cloud extended his hand for Lightning to take, which she gratefully did making him
extremely happy that she was finally starting to accept him as her big brother.
"Hey Amodar." The young woman of his thoughts greeted her friend as the two siblings entered the airship.
"Oh yeah I forgot to tell you." Fang started as soon as Lightning had entered the ship "Uh Snow, and Hope weren't at the house when we got back." The tan woman finished.
"I give those two idiots one job to do, and they can't even handle watching my little sister." Lightning groaned flopping down on the sofa beside Serah, and crossing her right leg over her
left. "No kidding. Their two of the stupidest people I know." Fang laughed at her own joke.
"God they are so stupid." Lightning agreed with her friend "How did you get out of their sights anyway?" she asked her little sister.
"Um I went for a walk." Serah shrugged looking up at Lightning "Hey Cloud!" The small girl waved at the spiky haired man.
"Hi." He greeted back from across the room.
"Did you two bond?" Serah asked both Lightning, and Cloud.
"Yeah, about how much we hate you." Lightning teased ruffling Serah's hair.
"Har har your very funny." Serah fake laughed at her sister's joke.
"Oh come on you know I'm just playing around." Lightning said sighing loudly, Cloud sat grinning at how the two sisters interacted with one another their really close he thought leaning
against the wall. "Oh hey Lightning, Jihl's a l'Cie now." Fang told her which made the strawberry blond's eyes go wide.
"R-really?" She asked in response.
"Yeah she seemed pretty crazy too, like she's gone insane." Fang mused aloud.
"Fuck."
"Lightning watch your mouth." Amodar called over his shoulder from the steering controls.
"Sorry Sargeant Major." Lightning called back to the older man.
"Why are you so mad that she's a l'Cie Light?" Fang asked confused by her friend's reaction.
"Well she was pretty much untouchable before, but now..." Lightning trailed off worry evident on her face.
"Now what?" Fang asked wondering what the girl had to say.
"Don't worry about it." Lightning quickly waved her off I'll be the one to handle her...alone.
"Oh come on." Fang begged the woman.
"Let's just say she won't be alone." Lightning replied cryptically.
"On the good side though that means that the Sanctum will be after her." Fang thought aloud staring at the ceiling of the airship.
"Yeah if there is a good side." Lightning muttered to herself. An hour later the airship was back in Bowdam, and the group had returned to the Farron home which looked like a mess.
"Oh my God." Lightning breathed her mouth hanging open at the sight of her beloved home.
"It's not that bad." Fang shrugged.
"Yeah, your going to clean this place up too." Lightning told her as they entered the living room.
"Fiiiiiiiinnnnneeeeee." Fang groaned following closely behind the strawberry blond. "Why don't you find Jihl, and make her clean some of this mess up also."
"Because I don't love Jihl like I do you." Lightning joked as they continued through the rest of the house.
"So where do you think the guys went?" Serah asked as they were still not to be found.
"Who knows with them." Lightning said shaking her head at the many stupid actions she remembered Hope, and Snow partaking in "Wait what's this?"
"Pizza sauce." Serah replied giggling.
"Serah, why is there pizza sauce on the floor?" Lightning asked looking her sister in the eye.
"Hope made a pizza." She replied smiling. "He's actually a good cook, it was really good!"
"I'm going to kill that boy. Every time he comes over he leaves without cleaning up the many messes he makes." Lightning muttered pinching the bridge of her nose.
BOOM!
"What the hell was that!?" Fang yelled over the noise.
"Oh my God oh my God oh my God." Vanille repeated those words over and over as her, Snow, Hope, and Sazh continued to run through the streets of Bowdam.
"Is she still behind us?" Hope asked as the three came to a stop in a hidden alleyway.
"She never was following us Hope, I just wanted to get as far away from her as possible!" Snow told him refering to their actions once Jihl had entered the house.
"Guys you just had to ask me to come over didn't you?" Sazh asked himself shrugging his shoulders.
"Would you rather be with your wife?" Vanille asked grinning at him.
"Uhhhhh...no."
"That's what I thought." The young girl smiled as she crept towards the entrance of the alley, looking out she turned, and gave the group a thumbs up as the street was clear of the blond
woman they hoped wasn't following them.
"You guys do know that we kinda just set a trap for Lightning to walk right into." Hope said worried for his second mother figure's safety.
"Don't worry she'll be fine." Snow said gesturing with his hands.
BOOM!
"What the hell was that!?" Sazh yelled.
Lightning, Cloud, Serah, Fang, and Amodar all ran out onto the empty street to see a mushroom cloud of smoke far off in the distance.
"There's only one person who could do that." Amodar said to the group.
"Yeah...Jihl." Lightning whispered as she started heading off in the direction of the explosion.
"Whoa hey Light, we'll just take my airship." Amodar called out to the woman's retreating back.
"No that's stupid PSICOM will be all over the place they'll shoot you down in an instant.
"Oh alright then." He said thinking over what she said, and concluding that it made sense. "We'll go on foot then."
"No. I want you to stay here with Serah while me, Fang, and Cloud go, and check this mess out." Lightning ordered nodding her head in the direction of the now rushing firetrucks, and
PSICOM. "Alright." The man said nodding his head as the other three headed off.
"Lightning!" Serah yelled causing the young woman to stop in her tracks "Be careful." She said sofly making Lightning's face, and eyes soften upon seeing her sister.
"I will." She whispered back before turning towards the carnage. After going down a few streets the group encountered a PSICOM checkpoint halting their progress.
"Damn the explosion is all the way across town." Cloud muttered as they hid in a alleyway.
"Hey you guys!" Vanille said cheerily making Lightning, Fang, and Cloud jump.
"Vanille will you shut up." Sazh said 'quiet yelling' while clapping his hand over the young girl's mouth. "What are you guys doing here?"
"What are you guys doing here?" Fang asked the same question.
"Fang don't repeat me." Sazh said flatly still holding Vanille.
"I'm not. I'm simply asking the question on my mind which so happens to be the same." Fang said raising her chin up somewhat proud of her response.
"Um we were running from Jihl." Hope said kicking a nearby stone.
"We weren't running from Jihl because she wasn't chasing us." Snow told the boy for the second time.
"Whatever you pansies let's go." Lightning told them peeking around the corner.
"Yeah let's." Vanille piped up as Sazh released her, Hope, and Snow both groaned as they all turned the corner. Lightning led the group along as they hid behind a nearby dumpster.
"Okay there's too much of us let's split up." She began "I'll go with Cloud. Vanille you'll go with Sazh. Fang you go with Snow. And Hope...just go home." She finished in an exasperating tone.
"What no!?" He objected.
"You have a boomerang as a weapon! what's that gonna do?" Lightning asked the silver haired one making him take on an expression of thought.
"Okay I don't know! but I still wanna help you!" He said trying to convince the strawberry blond.
"Fine, you'll come with us." She caved in motioning between herself, and Cloud.
"Thanks miss Lightning." He said brightly causing Lightning to blush. Turning back to the road "Okay let's go."
"Your all just ants!" Jihl laughed as she filled another PSICOM soldier with lead. The man dropped with a thud as another wave of elites stepped forward trying to best their former
lieutenant colonel. The first stepped forward, and dropped a second later as Jihl cut his body clean in half with one of the energy blasts she sent from her sword into the man's gut.
Charging up that same attack just with more power, Jihl unleashed her fury upon the mere foot soldiers compared to her cutting them all down with a single strike. Just as the next
wave stepped up to be slaughtered next Jihl charged up a firaga spell, and casted it upon the group that had amassed in front of her, they all dropped dead instantly.
"Dammit." Yaag cursed into his headset as he witnessed yet another wave of his soldiers fall before the woman. Then out of the corner of his eye he saw a flash of pink-no strawberry
blond. Turning around Yaag saw that it was Lightning's hair. "Lightning what the hell are you doing here?" He asked the beautiful young woman before him.
"Uh..can't you see what's happening? you think I would sit around, and let my hometown fall to the ground by the hands of that crazy bitch." Lightning asked the silver-blue haired man.
"No, but look PSICOM is everywhere. Get out before your spotted, and captured." Yaag said pushing the young woman away from all the fighting.
"I don't think so Yaag, and why are you ignoring your duties, and not detaining me?" She asked raising an eyebrow her face taking on a questioning look.
"Because your my friend, now go!" He urged his hands still on her shoulders.
"Please Yaag." Was all Lightning said her eyes silently begging him to let her join in on the fighting. The look in her eyes reminded him of the time back in his office how Lightning had begged
him to take the collar off. "Fine." He sighed.
"Oh crap!" Snow yelled as a bunch of PSICOM soldiers had noticed his big frame trying to sneak through their checkpoint.
"Dammit Snow!" Fang cursed as she drew her Blade Lance, and took an defensive position. Forming a circle around the two l'Cie the PSICOM elites that patrolled the streets everywhere
seemed to have the advantage. The first soldier charged at Fang drawing a short sword, and swiping it at her. Fang parried this blow knocking the man's sword to the ground, and
following it up with the butt end of her spear smashing into the man's jaw. Snow also started fighting off the pack of soldiers by pounding on them with his fists effectively keeping them
at bay. Another soldier jumped at Fang but she spun off to the side making the man miss and slide across the pavement, he quickly climbed to his feet and turned to take another run at
the tan woman. It appeared that this guy was not so smart as he lunged toward her again even more sloppy than before so Fang moved off to the side anticipating where he would land
and quickly brought her knee up smashing it into the man's private area making him fall to the ground in extreme agony as the momentum of his fall combined with the force of Fang
bringing her knee up created a wave of nauseating pain for the man. On Snow's side of the circle another soldier jumped towards the big man only to be met with a powerful uppercut
to the face as Snow knocked the man onto his behind he followed this up by casting a blizzaga spell that connected with the man knocking him out cold.
The next guy who charged at Fang met a quick end when he was quickly decapitated by the young woman Fang smirked as he dropped to the ground. Just as all the soldiers were
another wave had circled the two l'Cie before they had time to celebrate their victory. Fang cursed as Snow took out his Shiva gem and summoned the twin eidolons who-with a quick
command from Snow-transformed into their gestalt form which was a motorcycle. Quickly both Snow, and Fang jumped onto the ice sisters and started to attack the group of PSICOM
soldiers. Snow casted several blizzard spells as Fang took swipes at the enemies with her spear and the Shiva sisters ran into the soldiers and performed donuts to harm the enemy.
It took very little time before the wanted people came out on top easily defeating the PSICOM soldiers with barely a scratch on them. Suddenly the wind started billowing overhead
looking up the two l'Cie saw what the cause of the disturbance was.
"Whoa man look Ryg! some thing's up down there." Cid sat up from his chair as he moved the Lindblum to the ground so he could land it.
"Yeah what the hell man." Rygdea said looking over the several flaming buildings with smoke rising off of them.
"Dude I wonder what's causing all that destruction?" Cid mused aloud as he landed the Lindblum on the wide street below. opening the door the two men jumped out to see a group
of dead PSICOM soldiers surround a triumphant looking Fang, and a relieved looking Snow.
"Well looks like you have things covered here." Cid called out jollily strutting over to the two l'Cie.
"Get out of here Cid no one wants you here." Fang told him while turning her back to him.
"So what's going on?" Rygdea asked still having no idea what was causing the commotion.
"We don't know but we think it's Jihl." Snow said turning to face the men "She is a l'Cie now you know."
"Really!?" The men said in unison "Well I guess I'll have to do something about it." Cid spoke as he climbed back into the Lindblum. Just then Cid spotted Lightning, Hope, and Cloud off
in the distance. "Ryg go get the flowers." Cid called back to his friend while still looking at the strawberry blond quite aways from him. A short while later Rygdea reappeared with the
flowers Cid had purchased, grabbing them quickly Cid took off running all the while calling Lightning's name.
Things were going great for Sazh, and Vanille so far as they were able to keep out of sight of all patrolling PSICOM soldiers.
"Wow were good at this." Vanille smiled but shortly dropped it as two soldiers located them, and wasted no time in getting over to their location. Vanille quickly dropped back behind Sazh
and started to cast elemental magic on the pair of enemies. Sazh drew his pistols, and opened fire among the soldiers, who responded by firing off their own weapons at the two. In a
matter of seconds the two enemies were on the ground dead as Vanille, and Sazh easily handled them and moved on. Not more than a few minutes kater the two l'Cie ran into more
resistance as more PSICOM soldiers jumped toward the two ready to combat them. Sazh groaned as he drew his pistols once more and Vanille drew her bind rod. Quickly flinging the many
wires out towards one of the soldier the spikes buried themselves into his body and held him to the spot as Sazh filled him full of lead, for the next enemy Vanille casted a death spell on the
man killing him instantly. Smiling form their success Sazh and Vanille moved forward.
Quickly "Thanks Yaag." Lightning grinned as she gained Yaag's approval to join in the combat.
"Lightning!" said girl turned to face the man "the PSICOM will still try to kill you so you know." Yaag informed her to which Lightning nodded.
"I know." The strawberry blond told him turning back to her comrades.
"Hey Light what'd he say?" Cloud asked his little sister.
"He said to go ahead but they'll still try to kill us." Lightning told the two watching Hope intently looking for any sign of fear in the boy so she could sen him home. "You alright?" the young
woman asked the boy with concern in her eyes. "Uh yeah." Hope replied uncertainly to the question.
"Listen Hope." Lightning started softly sounding very motherly "I don't want you to get hurt, go home." She whispered softly kneeling before the boy so she was at eye level with him.
"No Lightning. I don't want you to get hurt, I'm coming with you." The mature boy replied looking the young woman in her clear light blue eyes.
"No Hope. If something happened to you...I couldn't do that to your mother." Lightning said sincerely dropping her head to stare at the ground.
"Pleeaaaaase Lightning." Hope whined for some reason hell bent on killing some people to help his friend.
"F-" Lightning bit her lip lightly in hesitation "fine Hope, just don't try anything out of your league." she told him forcing a smile.
"Got it, I won't try anything that you do!" Hope complimented her making Lightning blush at his comment.
"Alright let's go." Cloud said as they turned to face the dieing across town. Several non-stop explosions could be seen from the far distance that the group was at.
Just then Lightning heard her name being called over, and over again from a distance. Turning around she saw that it was that moron Cid who was running towards her.
"What do you want?" She asked tapping her foot as Cid came to a stop before her with one arm behind his back.
"I got you something." He replied grinning at what he thought would be a happy reaction from the strawberry blond.
"Why?" Lightning asked annoyed by her wannabe rapist and kidnapper's presence.
"Because I'm sorry for what I did, or tried to do." Cid replied still grinning from ear to ear.
"Look Cid you may not have noticed but this is not the best time for gifts." Lightning said motioning around her with her arms at all the chaos that was happening.
"Yeah, but I love you and-"
"Come on Cid will you just leave me alone?" Lightning asked exasperated from his constant pushing.
"Just let me give you your present." He begged making the younger girl laugh at him somewhat.
"Fine, but make it quick." She snapped anxiously looking around for PSICOM soldiers. Smiling widely Cid moved his arm from his back revealing the flowers he had got for Lightning.
"So what do you think?" He asked, Lightning just stared at him her mouth gaping open as she stared down at the delicate flowers Cid held.
"Are you kidding me?" She asked her eyes widening.
"Uh...no." Cid said shrugging. Lightning then quickly and with extreme power brought her right leg up and kicked Cid cleanly in the balls, he quickly fell to the ground groaning in pain.
"Cloud this is that guy I told you about. Can you deal with him now?" Lightning asked sweetly as Cloud nodded in response.
"Hey what's this?" Serah muttered to herself as she fished around the basement of her, and Lightning's home trying to occupy herself with something that wouldn't result in her getting
an ulcer. "What is it Serah?" Amodar called from atop the stairs where he watched the young girl snoop around the basement.
"Uh..why do you insist on watching me?" She called over her shoulder to the older man as she pulled out an old looking box.
"Because I don't want you sneaking out to go, and help your sister." The warm hearted man told her as he went down the stairs, and came to a stop just behind the girl.
"Oh I wouldn't do that. Lightning would have both our heads."Serah smiled as she held out the box for him to see.
"What's that?"
"I don't know. I just found it. It seems pretty old." The strawberry blond girl observed blowing the collected dust off of the once white now brown colored box.
"Hmm that's the crest on the front of the box is that of the Bowdam security regiment albeit a bit old but still the same." Amodar said thoughtfully rubbing his chin.
"Whoa is this-"
"Yeah." Amodar confirmed.
Cloud had given Cid quite the beating, so he left them alone and went off to do something that was unknown to the group.
"Thanks so much Cloud. God he is always pestering me." Lightning said as she uncharacteristically gave Cloud a hug as her thanks for him getting rid of Cid.
"Yeah well, I don't like it when guys annoy my little sister." Cloud smiled as Lightning did the same for what was probably the first time she had done without Serah around.
"Well then you won't be liking many guys." Hope muttered with his hands in his pockets.
"What do you mean?" Cloud asked frowning at the boy's terrible posture.
"Almost every guy annoys Lightning." He replied innocently gazing around the destruction.
"Yeah well it's only because all guys are really dumb." Lightning said as if to argue her case "Take Hope for example...really dumb."
"Hey!" The silver haired boy objected but was thoroughly ignored.
"So how exactly is all this destruction happening if Jihl's only one person?" Cloud asked gazing at the tall building in the distance.
"Um...maybe she has some help." Lightning pitched the idea as a tall shadow approached the three at a fast pace.
"What a fun day this has been." Lightning shrugged before jumping off to the side to avoid an attack that their enemy had sent their way. Lightning quickly looked around to see that
Hope, Cloud, and herself had all been able to successfully dodge the attack, looking back to the north the strawberry blond saw a 'Cie corpse coming their way for another strike.
Cursing all three of them dodged the attack but this time Lightning casted a thundaga attack to slow him down, and into a fighting position instead of the corpse controlling the fight.
Hope started the battle off by throwing his boomerang at the corpse's head which connected with precision, Cloud followed this up by taking a whack at the distracted corpse's exposed
ribs making a bone crunching sound. Lightning took her first turn by first slashing the monster's right side then spinning off to attack it's back, and then again to it's right side.
The corpse screamed out in pain before taking a wild swing in front of itself forcing it's three opponents to retreat back into a safe distance, Lightning switched her sword into gun mode
and started firing into it's only human area left-it's face with all bullets being direct hits the corpse became somewhat weakened as Hope started to throw his boomerang off the side of
the beast's head however the attack being more of a nuisance than dealing physical damage. Cloud kept a safe distance as his two companions did the fighting with their long range
attacks, without having the ability of the l'Cie there was nothing the spiky haired blond could do but watch his little sister, and the boy do the fighting. After a minute or so Lightning
ran out of ammo, and switched her gun into sword mode as she rushed up to the corpse, and landed a uppercut swing of her sword to the failed l'Cie's head. The thing responded with
a swift swing of it's clawed arm knocking the young woman to the vacant street below. Landing with a thud Lightning looked up to the corpse hovering above her about to cleave her
head in two, but before that could be done Cloud swooped in with his ridiculously large sword, and blocked the attack giving Lightning enough time to roll out of the way of the monster's
attack. Cloud pushed up with his sword forcing the 'Cie corpse back flipping over itself he followed this up by jumping up into the air above the creature before coming back down with
his sword extended out in front of him shining with a blue color. The attack landed flawlessly cutting up the beast as it struggled into a standing position just as Lightning rushed forward
quickly slashing the thing up several times with her sword causing blood to gush from the inflicted wounds. Flipping backwards Lightning switched her sword into the gun mode, and fired
at the beast until she gracefully stuck her landing five feet away, Cloud continued to hack at the monster as Hope started to throw his boomerang. The 'Cie corpse swung it's claw at
Cloud, and connected sending the man back into his little sister, Lightning turned from checking up on Hope to see the dark clothed man flying towards her with no time to avoid the two
siblings connected sliding ten feet across the tarmac, and coming to a stop before Hope. The teenager looked from the 'Cie corpse to Lightning, and Cloud and back to the 'Cie corpse
as it got closer and closer. Panicked Hope took off running away from the scary beast as Lightning, and Cloud lay groaning in pain on the ground. Hovering above the two siblings the
corpse drove it's fist into Lightning's stomach temporarily knocking the young woman unconscious. Cloud however regained his bearings and brought his sword up to block the next
attack which was aimed for him. His sword, and the corpse's claw grinded against each other causing sparks to fly as the friction being produced grew hotter, and hotter finally Cloud
was able to shift his weight, and flip his opponent over his head jumping to his feet right after. The corpse also recovered quickly and was already on it's 'feet' waiting for his spiky
haired opponent to do the same. The two charged at each other for another test of strength but Cloud made sure to draw the corpse away from his unconscious little sister as Lightning
lay a few feet away. On his own two feet Cloud found the test of strength rather easy this time around easily pushing the corpse back to the ground, he followed this up by raising his
large sword over his head, and bringing it down with all his strength crushing the 'Cie corpse. A few dying twitches from the monster signaled it's death as now it lay motionless on the
street. Walking over to the unconscious Lightning Cloud knelt down beside her and put his hand to her forehead stroking her bangs affectionately until the young woman's eyes fluttered
open. "C-Cloud?" She asked groggily her light blue eyes gazing up into Cloud's own, groaning Lightning rolled onto her right side, and propped herself up on her elbows.
"Where's Hope?" She asked after a few moments of silence and gazing around the empty street with the sounds of explosions overhead ringing in their ears.
"Don't know, he ran off during the fight." Cloud answered recalling which direction the boy had run off in.
"Oh he'll come back." Lightning stated just as Cloud began to walk after the silver haired male. The two siblings waited another ten minutes with Lightning sitting on the ground leaning
against a tree, and Cloud standing beside her finally Hope turned the corner and headed towards the two with his head down in shame.
"Hope go home." Lightning spoke not looking at him once he was at her side.
"Are you okay?" He asked quietly as he observed Lightning holding her right hand up to her face.
"Yeah, I just got knocked out for a little bit." She responded turning to face him.
"Okay good." Hope whispered taking a seat beside the beautiful young woman.
"Hope please just go home." Lightning said again with worry quite evidently in her eyes.
"No I want to help you." Hope said grabbing the strawberry blond beauty's hand.
"How? by running away during a fight? Hope that's not helping, that's a burden on me." Lightning said quietly looking the boy in the eyes.
"Come on I promise I'll stay and fight!" Hope said brightly making Lightning drop her gaze.
"....Fine Hope, but if you run again I'm taking you home right then and there." Lightning said sternly pointing a finger in his face.
"Don't worry it won't happen again!" Hope beamed excitedly.
"So it looks like Jihl got some help from the 'Cie corpses." Lightning said aloud not to any one imparticular. "I thought I've seen the last of them."
With another swipe of her sword another group of soldiers fell before the former lieutenant colonel, Jihl smirked as another stepped forward.
"Oh please must you try to be the hero?" Jihl mocked the lone soldier who was trembling quite noticeably.
"I am not trying anything. I'm only doing my job." He spoke his voice a shaky jumble of words.
"Then I think it's about time you got let go." Jihl laughed as the man charged toward her his silver short sword poised for attack, Jihl simply side stepped to the man's right, and brought
her cobalt blade down through his back, and spine. The loud crunching sound that his backbone made followed by blood squirting from the damage brought a smile to Jihl's face.
Hearing footsteps from behind Jihl turned confidently to see one of the few people who did out rank her, Cid Raines stood at full height looking down at the woman from where he stood.
"Well General, are you ready for me to take your life?" Jihl smirked as Cid pulled his Blaze Edge from where it rested around his waist.
"It was quite the climb up here Jihl." Cid said turning in a complete circle with his arms stretched out, he finally came to a stop facing Jihl while looking up at the heavens. "I intend to make
my stay a good one." He finished looking down at the long haired blond woman. The battle ground where the fight was about to take place was atop a large business building that was
taller than the lot around it, the fall was easily thirty stories if not more. "I'll make it quick, and painful." Jihl replied pulling her cobalt sword from it's sheath, however this time it had an
eerie blue glow to it. "What's up with your sword?" Cid asked taking a defensive position as Jihl took an offensive position at the same time.
"Hmm oh this it's just a little work of a certain something." Jihl replied not revealing what the source of the power was.
"Dammit Jihl! you always keep secrets no matter how small they are." Cid yelled across the rooftop to the younger woman.
"That's right, and you'll die not knowing the answer to this one." She smirked as she lunged forward making a quick swipe of her sword. The length of the attack was too short so Cid felt
like he had easily dodged it but then was surprised when a yellow blast emanated from the blade striking him in the chest with the shear impact from the blow sending the dark haired man
towards the edge of the building's roof. Climbing to his feet Cid looked up to see Jihl running towards him with a crazy look in her eyes, the higher ranked man jumped to his feet, and
brought his sword up to his chest in a defensive position. Jihl swung her sword wildly but effectively that Cid somehow managed to block with difficulty sidestepping the crazed woman
Cid brought down his own sword the metal cutting deep into her shoulder although her shoulder armor did a good job in deflecting the blow. Jihl seemed unaffected by the attack as she
spun away from him while throwing fire spells at him forcing Cid to take the defensive as he blocked both spells with ease effectively giving Jihl time to rush up and give him a smack to the
head with the hilt of her sword. Cid fell backwards once again as Jihl laughed at his pathetic attempts to combat her.
"Please Cid, you may outrank me but you'll never be as skilled, and talented as I am." She spoke confidently before giving the man a swift kick to the side. Groaning Cid climbed to his feet
to face the unstoppable woman. Bringing his sword to his chest Cid took his first offensive gamble of the fight, charging towards Jihl, and landing several slashes on her Jihl was able to
counter with a energy blast attack that sent Cid back quite aways. Switching his sword into gun mode Cid started to open fire on the woman who put up a protective barrier which forced
his bullets harmlessly to the ground just as they came into contact with the shield. Cid cursed as Jihl approached him for another round, standing up the Brigadier General looked around
him to see no way of avoiding Jihl's next attack, however a near by explosion jarred the blond woman from her advantage as she stumbled backwards as Cid took advantage and charged
towards Jihl landing several attacks on the woman with a power attack at the end which sent Jihl across the roof of the building landing only a few feet from the edge.
"My my I'm impressed Cid, you certainly have improved." Jihl smiled as she climbed to her feet dusting herself off before jumping unexpectedly towards her dark haired opponent knocking
the man back a few feet with a swipe of her sword. Cid held his side as his white clothing slowly turned a dark red as blood started to pool from his wound, Jihl smirked as she saw the
crimson color overtake the usual white of Cid's wardrobe. She lunged forward again but Cid sidestepped, and connected with her side forcing the woman to one knee as he then connected
with her back. Jihl fell to the ground and rolled onto her back to see Cid preparing the final blow, swiftly the blond woman brought her hand to her chest and then extended it out in front
of her casting firaga attack which sent Cid flying off of her. Jumping to her feet Jihl swung her sword crisply sending an energy blast out that hit Cid dead on while he was still in mud air
dealing massive damage to the man. Cid hit the ground hard, and rolled several feet before climbing to his feet once more breathing heavily looking up he saw Jihl walking towards him
with her eyes sparkling with happiness. "So Cid. Have you given up yet?" The busty woman asked as she came to a stop about four feet away from her opponent.
"Like I ever would!" Cid snapped back holding his injured side.
"Tell me. Why are you doing this?" Jihl asked frowning at the man's relentless behaviour.
"You hurt Lightning several times. I don't want her to get hurt anymore, so I have to kill you to do so." Cid explained smiling fondly at the thought of the beautiful strawberry blond he wished
to protect. "Well Cid you can't stop the inevitable." Jihl replied sending another energy blast at the man knocking him clean off the roof of the building. Walking slowly to the edge of the roof
Jihl looked over only to find Cid no where to be seen. "The stubborn fool must have weighed more than he looked." Jihl mused as she headed to the staircase that led down into the building.
"Time to set up the welcoming party for my dear Lightning." The big chested woman laughed as she started down the stairs, outside of the building a strange mist had enveloped the top
half of the building.
"I wonder how it went for Cid, with giving Lightning those flowers." Snow mused out loud as Fang, and himself walked down the street.
"No kidding she probably punched him in the face or something like that." Fang replied giving Snow a play punch on the arm.
"Yeah she's a feisty one." Snow mused playing with his beanie.
"Hmm it seems like only certain guys have that special talent it takes to annoy the hell out of here." Fang laughed "And Snow, your one of them. Congratulations."
"Thanks. It's truly an honor." Snow said bowing down as if millions were applauding him. Fang, and Snow continued to laugh as they walked down the street until they saw two figures-
one dressed in a green jacket and khaki pants, and the other wearing a skimpy orange skirt along with a skimpy pink shirt.
"Heya." Vanille greeted as the two came to a stop in front of each other.
"Hey Vanille." Snow grinned at the optimistic girl.
"Hiya. So what are you two doing here." The red-head asked looking around the abandoned street.
"Uhhh I don't know exactly." Snow admitted scratching the back of his head "Lightning never told us where to go."
"Oh well we'll find our way." Sazh smiled optimistically.
Lightning, Cloud, and Hope had finally made their way to the building enshrouded by the strange black mist that had spawned from nowhere when suddenly Lightning stopped in her tracks
dropping her head to stare at the ground, her body not moving an inch.
"What's wrong Lightning?" Cloud asked putting a hand on her shoulder which strangely was not as warm as it usually was now her skin felt extremely cold.
"Get away from me Cloud." His little sister spoke coldly towards her brother, shrugging his hand from her shoulder.
"What no!" The blond haired man objected turning Lightning around to face him, he gasped when he saw her gaze was unmoving as if looking right through him without blinking.
"I said get away from me, and take Hope with you." She repeated just as coldly.
"What's wrong with you miss Lightning?" Hope asked frowning at the woman.
"Just get out of here!" She snarled in response.
"Hey-" Cloud started but was punched in the face when he put a hand on his sister, falling to the ground Cloud rolled a bit then held his face as he gazed up at his younger sibling.
"Whoa what was that!?" Hope asked as he rushed to the older man's side to see if he was okay.
"You two better get out of here before I do something I regret." Lightning's voice was now ice cold making Hope shiver in fear.
"Fine." Cloud said standing up. "But be ready to apologize when your done here." He finished leading Hope in the direction they had come, Lightning stood silently watching until the two
males were out of sight. Then she collapsed to one knee as her breath was taken from her by some strange entity what the hell was that? why was I acting so strange and hostile towards
the people who care for me? The strawberry blond asked herself as she brought her hands up to her eyes so she was staring at them in confusion. The sudden sound of shouting reached
her ears. Turning around Lightning saw that it was Serah who was running, and yelling to the woman coming to a stop in front of her sister Serah took a few minutes to catch her breath.
"Serah what the hell are you doing all the way down here?" Lightning yelled concerned for her sister's safety.
"I had to give this to you. I think it would be really important since your the only one of us who can actually remember him." Serah explained holding out an old brown dusty box.
"...Okay." Lightning said slowly taking the box from her sister's hands, still kneeling Lightning removed the lid and gasped at what she saw. Inside the box was a gunblade just like her
own with the same color scheme and everything the exact same. "Serah what is this?" Lightning asked frowning up at her sister.
"I found it in our basement, Amodar says it's a Blazefire Saber given only to the best soldiers. However it is much stronger than the Blaze Edge's of today therefore was taken out of
circulation by the new senate of the Holy Government several years ago....Lightning it was our father's." Serah said the final words softly as Lightning's face took on a sad expression.
"D-dad's?" Was all she was able to choke out.
"Yeah, and look." Serah replied softly pointing to an engravement on the side of the sword.
"Oh my God." Lightning whispered as she read the engravement- White Flash-Call Upon My Name Live Life To The Fullest My Lovely Daughters And My Only Son. I Love You All.
Lightning stared down at the words in silence as tears began to well up in her eyes from the final message her father had left.
"There was a note in the box." Serah stated taking a folded piece of paper from her pocket, and placing it in Lightning's hands.
"What does it say?" Lightning asked as the tears began to flow from her eyes hitting the pavement leaving wet dots of pent up pain on the concrete.
"Go on, and read it." Serah responded gesturing with her hands to the note, Lightning hesitated for a few moments but eventually unfolded the paper.
Dear Serenity,
If you are reading this I am dead, and your nosy little sister went snooping in the basement again and stumbled across this package. Inside this box is something that was very precious to me back
in my day-my prize possession if you will. But it's time for me to pass it down to you. I want you to have this Serenity think of me when you use it, I'm sorry I couldn't be there for you kids and I
hope you forgive me. Use this sword gunsword with caution it is very powerful. Take care of your sister for me, and always remember that I love you and am watching over you from the afterlife
I'm very proud of you, and love you all.
Your loving Father.
"You okay Serenity?" Serah asked as Lightning was silent for several moments.
"Yeah I'm f-fine." She replied looking over the engravement once more "How is it possible that the engraving on his sword is pretty much the same as the one on mine?"
"You two both felt and believed in the same things." Serah replied giving her sister a hug.
"Hmm I guess your right." Lightning spoke her voice muffled from Serah's shirt "But he referred to this as a gunsword, I thought they were called gunblades?"
"They are, the new ones that is." Serah started "Amodar told me that the old more powerful ones were called gunswords and the new weaker ones we have nowadays are called gunblades."
"Oh, so this thing is pretty strong then huh." Lightning said wiping the tears from her eyes."This might be just the thing I need to take down Jihl."
"Yeah be careful with that thing." Serah said her voice filled with worry.
"Don't worry I still remember a move our father taught me a long time ago." Lightning explained running her had up and down the blade before switching it between gun and sword modes
to see it worked perfectly like it was brand new just as it looked. "Okay Serah take my old one for protection and go back home I'll be back later." Lightning told her younger sibling.
"Be careful it's just you and her. Yaag ordered all PSICOM forces out of the streets, he's going to let the two l'Cie fight it out so they don't have to do the dirty work. If Jihl dies their coming
after you, if you die their going after Jihl please promise me you'll be careful and win." Serah pleaded her hands folded together and against her chest.
"I promise Serah. Where are the others?" Lightning asked the small girl.
"Their back at our place, we'll be waiting for your safe return." Serah said giving Lightning another hug only this time tighter.
"Don't worry I'll be fine. I have dad watching over me guiding my every move."
"Yeah he's your guardian angel." Lightning smiled at Serah's words because in her mind she knew it was true. "It's only you and her remember." Serah said with a wave as she started back
for the house. "Were not alone." Lightning muttered under her breath as she watched her sister leave. Turning around to face the building Lightning gazed up to see the black mist that
surrounded the upper half of the building. What could that be? She thought as she took a few steps and entered the building. As soon as she entered the abandoned Sanctum facility Lightning
immediately noticed a change in the atmosphere, the air became more heavy and she got the feeling that someone was watching her. Walking to the elevator the strawberry blond stepped
inside and pressed the button for the top floor however the elevator unexpectedly stopped although Lightning had anticipated this. The doors slid open and the young woman stepped out
to find she was on an empty floor with nothing but the metallic floor and ceiling and a thick fog eerily covering the entire floor. Walking further into the room Lightning's footsteps echoed
throughout the floor as she made her way to the center of the room. Lightning quickly stopped as Jihl's laughter rang out into the room bouncing off of every wall making it impossible to
pinpoint her exact location. Growing tired of Jihl's mind games Lightning called out into the abandoned room.
"Come on Jihl I grow tired of this just come out and let's get this started." Lightning said boredly turning slowly in a circle in case the crazed woman unexpectedly came at her with a sneek
attack. "Oh my dear Lightning are you not having fun?" Jihl mocked as a shadow appeared twenty feet in front of the young strawberry blond.
"No I'm not." Lightning replied pulling her newly acquired Blazefire Saber from it's holster.
"Well you'll just have to wait a little while longer, I want to test you first." Jihl spoke from her position. Just as the blond woman finished her sentence the dark shadow stepped forth.
"What...the...hell...is....that?" Lightning asked as she stared at the figure confused as to exactly what is was and the keen resemblance it shared with....herself.
"That is of course..you my dear beautiful young Lightning." Jihl said motherly.
"What?" Lightning asked as she took in the thing's appearance- it was an exact replica of herself but with a few quite noticeable differences such as instead of strawberry blond hair the thing
had pitch black hair, and it's eyes are not light blue but just plain white with no irises, and it's skin was a deathly white color that no human being could achieve no matter how long they
stayed indoors, it also wore the exact same clothes as Lightning. "This thing is your complete double it knows what move your going to make and when it also knows your next two to three
steps before you even process them into your mind." Jihl said proudly from her unknown position, Lightning however was unfazed by this as she saw one flaw in the monster that she could
take advantage of. "It's too bad you spent so much time making this thing when it's not even up to par with my own skills." Lightning mocked the woman making Jihl's constant laughing
abruptly stop. The thing's lips were also pitch black in color making Lightning shiver at the deathly aura it emanated.
"What are you talking about Lightning? it even knows your scene drive!" Jihl shouted her voice echoing around the two 'twins'.
"Too bad that's not my signature move." Lightning muttered under her breath as she smirked at Jihl's reaction.
"What do you mean 'not your signature move?'" Jihl asked somehow hearing what the young woman had said this still did not affect Lightning.
"My signature move is not something you have seen before or even something that I have ever performed in battle." Lightning admitted looking out the glass wall to her right to see that the
sun was setting and the orange glare was now on the wall shining onto the floor. "Then how come your so confident?" Jihl shot back no doubt frowning.
"Because a certain someone taught me how to perform it a long time ago." Lightning smiled fondly at the memory.
"Who taught you it?" Jihl was awfully nosy on this day.
"My father." Lightning smiled as she felt his aura wrap itself around her making her feel warm inside knowing that he was beside her.
"Oh really." Jihl said as if she were interested
"Yeah, and his gift is what will give me the ability to beat your little play thing over here." Lightning said motioning toward the clone of herself.
"What's his gift? like it matters. You see Lightning I personally equipped your doppelganger there with the artificial magic that I used earlier, but that's not all my dear I also went through all
the trouble of equipping it with it's very own Blaze Edge." Jihl finished with glee in her voice as she figured that would be what would defeat the strawberry blond l'Cie.
"Oh I'm sorry to hear that you had to go through such trouble. If you would of asked nicely I would have given 'her' my own to use." Lightning said sarcasm dripping in her voice.
"And why is that?"
"Because I have this." Lightning replied pulling her Blazefire Saber from it's holster around her bottom.
"So what's o special about that? it's just another Blaze Edge." Jihl said angry for no apparent reason.
"This is a Blazefire Saber." Was all Lightning had to say for Jihl to understand.
"Surely you just." Was Jihl's smug response although there was obvious fear in her voice.
"Just I do not." Lightning replied grinning that she had gotten the woman some what frightened.
"Where did you get that?" Jihl snapped even more angry than before.
"My father *sigh* I grow tired of idle chit chat let's get this started." Lightning said pulling her father's old Blazefire Saber and now her own to her chest as she took a defensive position.
Ugh sorry for the late update, I got hurt and couldn't be on the computer for a while:P and if the wording is a little strange at some parts it was probably the pain meds I had to take
well until next time see ya:P And I'm aware that it's actually Bodhum and not Bowdam so I'll call start calling it that from here on in.