Hello all! It's your good buddy Grey here again with another chapter to this little adventure which, thank the stars, is almost finished. I loved "Who Are You? And Who Am I?" so much that the sequel has been a bit of a letdown, and I'll be glad when it's over. Hope you enjoy! And please review!

This Is Who I Am

Chapter 9

Vaan's chest exploded with pain as the wishmonger's knife cut through his skin like butter. He didn't cry out, only squeezed his eyes shut against the pain. He felt the knife leave his chest and return a second time…then a third. Suddenly the pain stopped, and Vaan wondered if he were dead yet. He cracked an eye open to see the wishmonger staring at him patiently.

"Am…am I dead?" he stammered.

The wishmonger gave a low chuckle, "No child. It is not necessary for you to give up your life. I needed you to be willing though, I needed your blood…your suffering…and your sacrifice to make the wish you requested. You did well, and I have made your wish for you to take back to the one you love."

Vaan sat up as the wishmonger handed him a small bottle. The bottle itself looked as if it were made of diamond, and it glowed as if it contained stars instead of a wish.

"This is the wish?" he asked, turning the bottle over in his hands.

"Yes, have him drink it, and his life will be restored," said the wishmonger.

"And…and I don't have to die?"

"Technically you did," said the wishmonger, "But I restored your life, there was no reason for me to take it."

"You must have done it awful fast," said Vaan.

The wishmonger motioned for him to follow him back up the winding staircase, "Time passes differently when one is dead. You have been here for nearly two days; your friends have been waiting here this whole time."

Vaan was shocked, but he didn't say anything.

Penelo and Fran were, as the wishmonger had said, waiting for him outside.

"You're alive!" squealed Penelo, and Vaan could see that she had been crying for some time, "I'm so glad you decided not to go through with it!"

"Your friend died as he promised he would," said the wishmonger, "Now go…the pirate does not have as much time left as he believes. You must meet him at the Pharos, and hurry."

Penelo and Fran began to quickly pack up their things, and Vaan turned to the wishmonger, who had all but disappeared into the tree, "Thank you," he said, "I…I don't know how to repay you."

The wishmonger seemed to smile, "You paid for your wish Vaan Ratsbane, all I did was bottle it for you…you owe me nothing."

Vaan was about to argue, but the wishmonger was already gone.

Seraph led Balthier through a dimly lit corridor, his hand still grasping the pirate's tightly, "You'll see things my way Ffamran," he said gently, "Just hear what I have to say."

They entered a room which Seraph had obviously been using for some time. It had a table and a few chairs inside, and the bastard pulled two of the chairs close together and motioned for Balthier to sit. He sat across from him, but still too close for comfort.

"I haven't forgiven you, Seraph," said Balthier as the other trailed a row of kisses down his neck.

Seraph looked up at him, and his eyes took on a genuine look of sorrow, "I am sorry I left you there Ffamran. I was young… I needed the money…you know Cid would have really killed me if I hadn't taken the money and left."

Balthier knew it to be true, "Where is Cid anyway? Aren't you two working together now?"

Seraph gently touched his face, "I won't let him hurt you, I promise. I told you he'd never hurt you again and I meant it then…I mean it now."

Balthier shuddered at the familiar touch, "You have no idea what losing you did to me," he said, letting his pretense and plan fall away for a moment, "I didn't think I'd ever get over it…ever let anyone close to me again."

Seraph frowned, "And then you met the boy."

Balthier nodded.

Seraph grabbed his chin and forced him to look at him, "It would be in your best interest to forget the boy."

Balthier struggled against Seraph's tight grip, but he was not as big or as strong as Seraph, and suddenly his mind was seized by panic as he realized the gaping hole in his plan. He wasn't strong enough to fight this man off…and he'd willingly separated himself from the group, "When did you start being so violent?" he asked, "You never hit me before."

"You never gave me reason to before."

"I thought you loved me?" sneered Balthier.

"I do. That's why I'd rather hurt you than lose you."

He placed a rough kiss on Balthier's lips, but this time the pirate fought back…he knew his plan wasn't working, "Don't touch me!" he yelled, rising to his feet and pushing Seraph off him.

Seraph was back on him in a flash, and he quickly over powered the pirate. His vest and shirt were torn from him and he was forced down onto the table.

"I'll kill you for this!" yelled Balthier as he kicked out wildly.

Seraph laughed, and hit him hard enough that Balthier's mind reeled, "I doubt you'll do anything of the kind!"

He attacked the pirate with his lips again, this time fumbling with the clasp to his pants. Balthier kicked and struggled, only to freeze when Seraph's hand found the dagger in his waistband.

"Well, well," Seraph growled, "Now you weren't planning on luring me in here to try and kill me were you?"

Balthier stared at him angrily, but said nothing.

Seraph's brow knotted together in fury, "You aren't going to enjoy this," he growled.

Balthier tried to fight back with everything he had, but Seraph was stronger…

To Be Continued…

Next chapter will probably be the last! Will Balthier be able to fight Seraph off? Will Vaan reach him with the wish in time? Find out in the next chapter! Please review!