Bunnii: I found my ANIMA notebook! I'm happy J I wish I could have updated sooner, I'm having a serious issue with some girl online. She's trying to convince me to send her weird pictures of myself and I'm just getting really stressed. I hope I can just vent myself in this chapter for you guys though. Please forgive me for not updating sooner.
I do not own Final Fantasy or any of those related. However, I do own Niva Meridian and the of the ANIMA project.
Niva's cotton candy pink eyes fluttered open. Had she fallen asleep? She looked to her clock. 5 o'clock. She HAD fallen asleep. Wearily, she stood. She told Zack she would have a rematch with him… She walked over to the bathroom and looked at her reflection. Her normally tan skin was slightly paler and there were bags under her eyes.
She couldn't be ill, could she/ She jumped when her phone started to ring. She went to her nightstand and answered it.
"Hello?"
"Meridian," it was Dr. Hoji, "report to the lab now. You didn't report as I previously requested. Cease this arrogant defiance. If your DNA becomes unstructured, I will personally see to it that the consequences be dire."
"Yes, Doctor. Right after my rematch with Fair." She hung up on him and tossed the device on her bed. Grabbing her key card, she exited the room, snickering when she could hear ringing behind the door. She walked down the hall to the elevator and from there to the Training Floor.
Zack was outside the Training Room when she arrived. He was just standing casually. He looked calm and not like the overexcited puppy he actually was. He saw her and smiled playfully.
"Was wondering if you were gonna even show up." He laughed a little.
She smirked in reply. "Instead of waiting, you should have been warming up." They walked into the Training Room together.
She set the simulation to the same it had been that morning and then took out her swords.
At the same time, the two ran at each other, swords clashing and pressing hard against each other. Niva was surprised when Zack was able to push her back with less force than the time previous. She felt hot and nauseous, but she told herself she'd be fine. She blocked a blow from him and managed a smirk.
"Where's Angeal? Didn't invite him to come?"
Zack smirked back. "He'll be here. Just taking care of some things." He too was surprised with how easy it was to push her away. Why did she seem weaker than before? She ran at him again, and instead of blocking, he just dodged. The little fawn lost balance and fell.
"You alright?" he asked, slightly concerned. She was heavily panting, even though the fight had barely started. Sweat was sliding down her flushed cheeks.
"F-Fine." Maybe not. Niva felt dizzy and exhausted. She stood abruptly, only to be met with a sickening feeling of lightheadedness. She cursed her own arrogance. She should have just gone to see Hojo. She let her pride get the best of her, and she was paying for it.
Darkness snatched her and she was aware that she had fallen onto the floor. She could barely hear Zack's alarmed voice.
"Hey! Niva? Niva!"
Zack had never been so scared before! What was he going to do with the girl that he had just been sparring?
"Niva!" He held her head up as he tapped her cheek. She felt so hot.
Suddenly, the simulated field fades away in a billion pixels. He looked up to see Angeal rushing to them.
"She just passed out!" He was worried it was his fault. Was it?
Angeal looked as calm as ever. "I'll take her to Dr. Hojo. She'll be fine." He picked her up carefully.
"I'll come too!" He felt guilty. Horribly guilty. He followed Angeal to the elevators diligently. "Is she alright?" he pitifully asked.
"Just weakened ANIMA cells. The Science Department is working on a more permanent solution. She'll be fine, Zackary." He himself was contemplating on informing Genesis about the problem. It was only fair.
They reached the Science Department and Hojo looked displeased with what he saw.
"Arrogant ANIMAs think that they can do what they want with no consequences. Place her on the table there." He want to a cabinet and pulled out several vials and syringes.
"I'll be outside, Zackary. I'll only be a moment." Angeal stepped out of the room.
Zack stood by Niva as another scientist connected her with a heart monitor.
"How does it work?" he asked curiously.
Dr. Hojo was prepping a needle. "First, we stop the heart. Then, we inject the cells. After 5 or 6 vials of ANIMA cells, we restart the heart. The cells are rejected when the heart is beating and it virtually results in death. The cells have to attach themselves to the human cells and they aren't attacked by white blood cells If the heart isn't beating." He spoke as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"How man y times does this happen? I mean, how often do the ANIMAs come in here like this?"
Hojo scoffed with annoyance. "Too many. Because of their specialized skills received from the cells, they become very high demand and there are less chances to get them the treatments. Most of these ANIMAs are just arrogant things that believe they can tough it out. Absolutely infuriating."
Zack looked down at Niva as a needle was injected into her neck. He hoped she'd be okay….
Angeal stood outside the lab, his phone to his ear, listening to it ring.
"Hello?" Genesis finally answered.
"Genesis."
"A little late to be calling, eh, Angeal? What mischief has my little fawn gotten into?" He sounded amused.
"She's in the Science Department. She hasn't received any ANIMA treatmens recently. I think you should be a little more forceful when it comes to her health" He couldn't be angry with his childhood friend, only upset.
"Things like that happen a lot to ANIMAs. It's like a battery. She'll be perfectly fine. I hear the research for a more permanent solution is coming along very well."
"You don't seem too concerned, Genesis." He sighed. "But I'll trust your judgment." He hung up after that. He looked into the Science Department window and saw Zack staring at the young ANIMA. Angeal smirked all knowingly. Would he tell Genesis if this new development? No… He wanted to see if the little puppy could best a 1st Class General in something. It would certainly be a show.
Niva's eyes opened and she immediately knew where she was. The ANIMA Wing of the medical ward. She turned to see 2 other ANIMAs in the room, both sleeping. A lion ANIMA and bear ANIMA.
"Oh! You're awake!" Niva turned to see Zack. "You passed out…"
Niva sat up. "It happens to a lot of us ANIMAs. It's an annoyance to have your heart stopped and restarted."
"Uh, I bet." He looked down. He had nothing to say. "…Um, hey…"
"Hm?" She was pulling out her IV already. She healed well.
"You wanna maybe go get some lunch? I mean, you slept all night and all day and I just kinda assume you're hungry….. My treat?" He hoped she would say yes.
Teasingly, she smirked. "Give me a good reason." She wanted to go to lunch with him, she just wanted to tease him first. He seemed like a sweet guy.
He saw the playfulness on her face and smirked back. "I'll give you this package that came in today." He held it up to look at the mailer tag. "From the one and only General Genesis."
"Hey!" She tried to grab it but he help it high above her head.
"What do you say?"
"I won't go to lunch with you," she said with a full pout.
The rejection caught Zack off guard, making it easy for her to grab the package. She smirked and giggled lightly. "But, I'll let you take me out for a drink tonight." She slipped her hand into his pocket and took out his phone.
"Hey!" He tried to take his phone back but she held it out of his reach. She put her information in it and handed it back.
"All my info is in there. Pick me up at 6. And, casual wear, Zackary." She walked off with a little laugh, her copper hair swishing behind her and swaying as she walked.
Zack beamed brightly. He got a date with her! It was a date, right? Either way, he was super excited. "Go, Zack!" he cheered himself on. Then, he paused. Where was he going to take her?
Bunnii: Sorry it's not super long but I'm not having a good day. Getting yelled at left and right and I'm super upset. I wanted to make this chapter good. Though. Our little puppy finally got his date 3. How will it go? Hopefully it'll go amazingly! Keep your fingers crossed for him!