Chapter 5

Kira was surprisingly accurate in estimating the time of Larsa's recovery. It was hardly two days before Larsa was fully operational again, walking about and even playing tag with the children before he cornered Kira at noon on the second day of his stay in Rabanastre.

"Kira, this can't go on much longer, we have to extinguish that Wyrm, now. I must return to Archades, it has been too long already." Larsa said urgently as he walked in stride with Kira who was currently delivering a bag of groceries to Migelo.

"I know. Once I get these to Migelo, then we stock up and go. We have to be properly equipped this time. We know its strengths and I found an accessory that might defend against the Curse of Ridorana." Kira said without really looking at him as they climbed the stairs out of Low Town and unto the streets of Rabanastre two by two.

"Great, that's absolutely fantastic," Kira glanced at Larsa and laughed at his supremely relieved expression. Larsa smiled slightly at her before he continued, "Alright, I'll go and break the news to Catherine, ask Old Dalan if he can keep an eye on her and meet you at Migelo's."

Kira smiled and nodded, "Take your time, I won't mind. Gotta find something to eat before we head out." She waved good bye to him as they parted ways, Larsa, heading back to Low Town to talk to Catherine.

Larsa smiled as he walked into Old Dalan's house to see Catherine sitting in one of the chairs with the children sitting around her on the floor in a circle as she read to them, her voice clear and smooth as she spoke. Unless Larsa was there or if Kira had the time, the children only ever heard stories from Old Dalan, but considering his condition lately, his stories haven't been as exciting as usual, so one of the others would read to them, if they could read at all, so most times the children hardly ever got the chance to enjoy a proper reading from someone who was literate enough. Larsa smiled as he watched her read to them, making the story exciting for them and interactive as she asked them questions and they would all answer at the same time in a tsunami of roaring laughter and chatter. The scene reminded him greatly of Sunday school in his younger years.

Catherine looked like she was truly enjoying herself and it was clear that she was very good with children; 'she would make a good mother,' Larsa thought with a smile as he imagined baby Catherines dancing around with their mother. He chuckled at the thought and smiled when Catherine finally noticed his presence and smiled brightly at him before she closed the book she was reading and told the children that she would return while they whined begged her not to go.

"I shall return, no need to worry." She smiled brightly at them and gently pried the hem of her dress from a little boys tightly closed fist before she walked over to Larsa, "Where did you go?"

"I went to speak with Kira. We have to extinguish that wyrm as soon as possible and return to Archadia before the day is over. Other wise they might send a search party for me, I've never been gone more than two days."

"So are we leaving now then?" Catherine asked innocently. Larsa sighed and glanced to his left before he looked back at her.

"I need you to stay here Catherine. It's too dangerous, you can't come." Her expression fell instantly and Larsa winced when he registered the hurt displayed in her eyes. "We'll work as quickly as possible and I'll return for you as soon as possible. So please, stay here until I've returned won't you, for me. I'd feel so much better knowing that you are safe here with Old Dalan." Larsa pleaded with her as he took hold of her shoulders and gazed deeply into her eyes.

Catherine pouted slightly and looked away from him, unable to say no those beautiful Persian blue eyes as he pleaded with her. Catherine huffed slightly and said, "Fine, I will stay here with the children, but," She turned to face him again with a sharp look, "I'm coming with you to get your supplies! I have yet to see any of Rabanastre since we've been here and I want to know what its like!" Catherine said as she stood akimbo in front of Larsa with an expression that clearly stated that her declaration would not be swayed.

Larsa gawked at her for a moment, somewhat disappointed that she failed to see the urgency of the of the matter at hand, but decided that he hadn't the time to argue with her and said, "Fine then." He sighed and took her hand, leading her out of the room without notice.

Catherine gasped slightly and quickly turned to the kids and announced that she would soon return to them as they waved goodbye. Catherine struggled to keep up with Larsa's pace as he nearly galloped down the alley ways of Low Town and then climbed a set of stairs two by two. Catherine had nearly missed the fact that they had stepped unto the streets of Rabanastre as she tried desperately to catch her breathe, looking up once to glance at Larsa, during which she noticed the sudden splendor about her. Low Town wasn't much to behold in terms of beauty and grace in its architecture, but Rabanastre was a whole other story. Catherine stood up straight beamed as she observed the splendor of Rabanastre, the beautiful Galtean Architecture, its thriving population and obvious culture as women, children and men of all ages walked the streets, their clothes displaying their pride as Rabanastrans with a grace and beauty Catherine had to admire.

Catherine gaped at the scene before her and twirled around once to get a full view of the city and then turned to Larsa and said, "My, Larsa this place is gorgeous! Just as one would expect from the capital city of Dalmasca...It truly does have its own regal beauty, just as my father said..."

Larsa smiled slightly at her before he said, "Yes it is beautiful, but we must hurry, Kira will be in Migelo's Sun Dries." he smiled at her and took her hand as he headed toward Migelo's, passing the armour store and the weapons store without so much as glimpsing the sour look on Catherine's face as they walked in sudden silence.

Larsa opened the door to Migelo's Sun Dries for Catherine as they arrived and politely showed her inside. As Larsa entered the store behind Catherine, he headed straight for Kira and Migelo where they stood talking in a corner, allowing Catherine to look around at the different goods he had to offer.

"Ah Lamont! There you are...and who's that you've brought with you?" Migelo said throwing an arm around Larsa's shoulders and drawing him close as they turned away from Kira. Kira huffed and stood akimbo as she rolled her eyes at the scene while Larsa struggled to stay on his feet.

"Migelo, my friend, as vivacious as ever I see. Old age can't stop the likes of you can it?" Larsa smiled up at Migelo as he gave him a pointed look.

"Watch your words boy! Else I forget that discount I owe yah." He smirked when Larsa held his hands up in apologetic surrender.

"I sincerely apologize for my rudeness," he said, his voice laced with humour as the joke wore on, "To answer your previous question however, that beautiful young woman over there is a childhood friend of mine and will be spending some time with me." Larsa's tone strongly suggested that nothing else need be said and Migelo caught on quickly.

"I suppose it would be too much to ask her name." He let go of Larsa and stood up straight as he watched Larsa involuntarily brush imaginary dirt from his garments and smile slightly.

"Just a tad." He said softly with an apologetic smile in Migelo's direction before he turned to Kira and said, "You haven't gotten the accessory you were talking about earlier have you?" Larsa asked, noticing that she wasn't wearing any knew equipment.

Kira unfolded her arms and leaned away form the wall before saying, "No, not yet, only just finished organizing the stuff I brought in for Migelo here. I think it would be best if..."

Kira was cut off however when Catherine came running up to Larsa, showing him a pair of beautiful crystal earrings that shown brightly in the lamp light of the store, their beauty would've definitely complimented her own quite nicely were she to wear them. "Oh Larsa aren't they gorgeous!! May I have them?! Please! I'll do anything! It's only 10,000gil"

Larsa was slightly taken aback by her sudden request and was somewhat regretting that he'd allowed her to roam free in the store. Larsa sighed and looked at Catherine, completely disheartened by the brilliant smile spread across her face that he knew he'd have to break. "Listen Catherine...I'm sorry but we just don't have the money for that right now. We've already had this conversation, we have to budget our funds properly if we wish to become victorious." He had nearly mentioned that they would need it to survive as well, but he knew she would not understand.

Catherine's smiled really did turn upside down as she listened to him. By the end of his speech she was frowning so hard it was more of a pout. Larsa cringed as he watched her expression sour further but breathed a sigh of relief when she had turned on her heel and left to return the earrings to their display window with a faint 'fine' slipping from her in a hushed, disappointed tone.

Larsa felt extremely guilty and made a mental note to make it up to her, knowing full well that she may never be able to make it to Rabanastre again. Larsa turned to Migelo suddenly and said, "Do you think you could hold on to those for me? I certainly can't afford them now but definitely in the future." It was only a half lie, he could've bought it now if he wanted to, but then that would mean exposing himself to the possibility of being cursed...again.

That was not something he wanted to experience again any time soon, if not ever.

Migelo smiled down at Larsa and said, "But of course. I hope you know however that by then interest would've gathered and..."

"Just hold it for me would you, my friend? The price is of no importance to me really." Larsa said with a smiled that signalled the end of the conversation.

Migelo shrugged as he turned away from Larsa to go and put up the earrings so that Larsa could buy them when he was ready. Larsa turned back to Kira and said, "You were saying...?"

Kira took a deep breath and exhaled heavily, she was not fond of being interrupted, "Yes, as I was saying, I believe that it would be best if you came to the Armory with me so that you can choose which ever one you think is best. So find Princess Peach and let's go."

"Alright," Larsa said, turning on his heel to find Catherine. He looked around the shop carefully and found her leaning over a glass table, looking at one of Migelo's fancier displays of his stock. "Catherine!" She looked up sharply, her hair swishing with the movement of her head and Larsa couldn't help but notice how many other men noticed her. He frowned slightly and walked briskly over to Catherine and took her hand before saying, "Come, we're going to the Armory."

Catherine blinked, slightly confused, but complied anyway and simply settled on being happy that he'd taken hold of her hand. Catherine followed Larsa out of Migelo's Sun Dries and into the streets of Rabanastre where they met up with Kira who was waiting outside. Catherine frowned slightly as they approached her and almost whined when Larsa let go of her hand as all three of them began to walk together.

"Ok, so there are two different accessories that we could get, one is pretty cheap and seemingly effective so we'd have more gil to stock up items and such since we haven't collected the usual loot today," Kira began as they began walking, obviously addressing Larsa but not looking anywhere but in front of her as they walked down the street, waving to random people as they passed. "but the other one is much more effective, so effective that it would be near impossible to contract practically anything that wyrm spits at us, but, it's expensive, of course."

Larsa glanced at Kira after waving at a passer by that he remembered was named Kiwachi, and said, "How expensive?"

"About 30,000gil expensive." She said, looking at him for the first time with raised eye brows and a humoured look in her eye.

Larsa clucked his tongue whistled, "Yeah that is expensive, worse if we got two, that's 60,000gil...after that there won't be much left..." Larsa muttered solemnly as he rummaged through their gil bag. They only had about 65,000 to 70,000gil left after they bought all the stuff for the people in Low Town and in Old Archades after Kira sold whatever she stole from the Palace, and they needed the extra gil for items and magicks if they found any.

"So, what are we gonna do?" Kira asked him as they entered the Armory.

"Well," Larsa paused for a moment to think, weighing their gil bag in his hand for a moment then saying, "get the both of them and we'll see which one would be a better choice, get some second opinions while you're at it."

Kira grinned and gave him an exaggerated salute, "Aye Aye Captain!" she chuckled and went skipping off to the front desk of the shop to ask for the accessories.

Larsa shook his head at the girl's silliness and turned to face Catherine when he felt her tugging on his sleeve. Larsa had almost forgotten Catherine had been walking with them actually and was slightly surprised by her confused expression.

"What is it that you two were talking about?" Catherine had been completely lost during the exchange between Larsa and Kira and felt very much like a third wheel. She frowned slightly at the thought.

Larsa smiled slightly at her cute cluelessness but did not get a chance to answer her before Kira returned holding one beaded necklace and a broad, beautifully jeweled metal arm band. "alright, this one is the cheap one," Kira said holding up the beaded necklace so that Larsa could see, "and this one is the expensive one. Personally I prefer this one, it looks good on top of all that other juicy goodness, while the cheap one, well...it looks cheap." Kira deadpanned as she held them both up so that Larsa could see.

Larsa glanced at Catherine and signalled to her that he would only be a minute before he turned to Kira and said, "Alright, whatever you want." He handed her the gil bag and watched her skip off to the shop keeper to buy two of the arm bands.

Larsa smiled at her antics and then turned to Catherine and said, "Yes, what was the question?"

Catherine was dumbfounded. She could not believe what she had just whitnessed. Catherine stood there staring at Larsa, completely shocked that he would've so easily let Kira buy whatever she wanted, while she was not allowed to get anything! Larsa blinked slightly as he waited for Catherine to reply, confused by the sudden look of vexation on her face. He was about to ask if she was ok when she said, "It's alright...i completely understand." Her tone was sharp and edgy and completely threw Larsa off track. He was at a complete loss as to what could've possibly upset her and frowned slightly as she folded her arms and starred down at the floor. He could almost see her hair puffing up in her anger.

Catherine was, for once, relieved when Kira returned and announced that they should be on their way. "Good then! Shall we?" Catherine said sharply, turning sharply to the door and walking away form them.

Kira blinked twice before she leaned over to Larsa while handing him his arm band and whispered, "What's got her panties in a bunch?"

"I haven't the foggiest idea." Larsa whispered back as they hurried to follow her out of the store lest she get lost.

Larsa and Kira caught up with Catherine to find that she was going in the wrong direction but decided to leave her and take the long root back to Low Town considering that neither of them were about to attempt talking to her in her current state, lest she eat them alive.

"She always had this sort of a temper?" Kira whispered to Larsa as they walk a little ways behind her.

"Catherine? Oh yes, she can be scary." he said, exhaling heavily, an apparently painful memory running through his head.

Kira nodded slightly then shook her head with a smirk. "alright well, you know what, in the interest of time, I think it would be best if I escorted Princess Peach here to Old Dalan while you go and round up what little provisions we can get out of what's left." Kira said as she handed Larsa the now exceptionally light gil bag.

Larsa sweat dropped as he felt how light the bag had become and sighed as he rummaged through its contents to see what he had to work with while Catherine stopped walking and turned to face Kira and Larsa, her expression hard, as though she were trying not to explode.

"I don't want to go with you..." She said through gritted teeth to Kira.

Kira raised an eyebrow at Catherine and smiled slightly before she walked over to her so that she was standing directly in front of her, face to face, and said, "Time is of the essence darling, we haven't any to spare for your needs. Larsa may know Rabanastre well, but I live it well." She said in a soft tone that suggested no questions be asked before she turned to Larsa who was standing a little ways off, out of range of crossfire apparently, "I'll be waiting by the South Gate."

Kira then took hold of Catherine's hand, ignoring her protesting and began dragging her toward the nearest stairwell that lead down into Low Town. Larsa watched them walk off for a moment, before he wiped the sweat from his brow and sighed. "I'm getting too old for this sort of thing..." He mumbled to himself as he started down the street at a jog to reach Migelo's Sun Dries before Kira could reach Old Dalan.

"You're late." Kira said with a smirk as she leaned away from the wall while Larsa was walking towards her.

"I was forced to do quite a bit of bargaining in order to get the necessary provisions with the little gil we had. Now we have nothing besides a few pence." Larsa deadpanned, as he jingled the now practically empty gil bag in front of her.

Kira huffed and said, "Well we can walk half the way back from Balfonheim after exterminating this Wyrm. Hopefully after hearing our sub-story we can still get at least the 5000gil bonus for the tail I intend on handing to him."

Larsa nodded his agreement before stepping up to the teleport crystal, "Well then, shall we?" He said looking over to Kira.

Kira grinned and said, "You bet." and in your classic ring of myst they disappeared, no teleport stone needed.

Catherine sighed. She was sitting at the table in Old Dalan's home, her legs crossed and her hair tied up in a messy bun sort of arrangement to keep her back cool in the hot room as she watched Old Dalan tell the children a story about 'the Old Days' as he called them. Catherine had barely been listening to him while she sat there, fuming over everything that had happened that day. She was, first of all, supposed to be spending the time with Larsa in his castle, but she of course didn't really mind being outside for a change, going to new places and what not, but she would've much, much preferred if it were just her and Larsa alone, and if they had proper permission. But alas, Kira was there with them as well. Catherine frown slightly as she thought about it. She still couldn't believe that Larsa had allowed her to use all their money to buy an arm band that was three times the price of the earrings she wanted and not even as good looking.

Catherine groaned slightly under her breath and tried not to shout out in the middle of Old Dalan's story as she thought of how angry it made her. It wasn't fair that Kira seemed to be taking up all his time and attention. Catherine just couldn't understand what Larsa saw in her besides that she's taking care of all these people and working hard for their sakes, but everyone has their own sense of justice right? Her's is just a bit out there and more pro-active than others'. Catherine thought as she tapped her foot against the dirty concrete floor, kicking up dusty around her foot.

Catherine shook her head and sighed heavily again, even though it sounded more like a grunt as she titled her head and closed her eyes. She took a deep breathe and decided that she would just sit down and listen to Old Dalan until Kira and Larsa returned for her.

"Wow...I think I've had enough excitement to last me the next two months!" Kira said oddly cheerfully as she practically skipped down the halls of Low Town heading to Old Dalan's House.

"Ugh, I agree." Larsa, however, sounded fittingly tired and some what annoyed.

"I mean this is great! We got the bonus and that item he was talking about!! A little persuasion goes a long way huh?" Kira said, winking at Larsa before they both burst out laughing.

"Persuasion?! You nearly killed the man! If looks could kill then he and I would both be six feet under." Larsa said looking over at Kira accusingly.

"What!! ME! Little ol' Me!! Never!!" Kira said dramatically, animating her speech with wide movements of her arms and very expressive expressions.

"Of course, of course..." Larsa deadpanned, the sarcasm dripping from him viciously.

Kira was about to smack him over the head when Kytes came running up to them. "KIRA!! It's Old Dalan! He's been coughing up blood for the past half hour! Come Quick!!" Kira was running before Kytes could finish his sentence, Larsa had watched her countenance fall like rain had washed her smile away and felt the breeze when she'd dashed away from him.

Larsa frowned and hopped into a jog to follow them. He was just a few paces from Old Dalan's House when something grabbed his sleeve and nearly caused him to topple backwards and land on his back, instead he ended up skidding to a halt and dragging whatever had grabbed unto him with him. He grunted slightly when the unknown body collided with him as he stopped and nearly toppled over, again.

Larsa looked down to find a puff of tangled brunette curls and said, "Catherine!? Good heavens you nearly derailed me. What is it?! I must go to Old Dalan, co..."

"No, come with me!" Catherine said, looking up at him, then grabbing his hand and dragging him into a tiny room on the opposite side of the hall.

"Catherine! What is it I don't have time for this! Old Dalan he...!"

"Larsa! This can't continue!" Larsa blinked slightly, not entirely sure what she was talking about, but it had efficiently shut him up. "You can't keep seeing Kira like this! No, I mean...! Ugh...you can't keep sneaking out of the castle like this! As much fun as it is, it's not right! You are going to be seventeen in two months!! You are to be KING in two months! You can't be doing these things anymore!" Larsa looked completely taken aback. He thought he had cleared this up with her already, and was completely shocked that she would bring it up again at a time like this. Larsa was about to open his mouth to attempt to explain things to her again, but she continued. "Listen, I'd been thinking, and so has my father. My father, he wants to reinstate the Galtean Treaty, the original one, the exact same treaty that King Raithwall wrote. He wants all the major nations of Ivalice to unite in peace once more, like they had under King Raithwall's rule. He doesn't want another war to break out before he is able to make his dream a reality and I feel the same way, so we were both thinking that the fastest way that we could get the idea across to the other Leaders would be if..."Catherine took a deep breath and glanced down before she looked up into Larsa's eyes once more, "if you and I were to get married. Our Union would symbolize so much of what my father has been trying to say all these years and no one has been listening to him! If you and I, the heir to the thrown of Rossaria, and the heir to the thrown of Archadia, if we were to be wed..." Catherine took Larsa's hands and leaned closer to him with the happiest expression on her face as she thought of the possibilities, "Oh Larsa just think about it! Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could show all of Ivalice that there is nothing to lose in reinstating the Treaty, that there is so much more to gain from being united in peace! Larsa we could show them! Don't you agree?!" Catherine stared at Larsa as she held his hands close to her chest, her eyes big and sparkling, beautiful as she awaited his answer.

Larsa stared down at Catherine with wide eyes. He could hardly believe what he was hearing. It was food for thought, and he would've instantly agreed to try it, the Treaty that is, but for him to have to get married to Catherine whom he saw as the little sister he never had, it was, just too sudden for him. Larsa opened his mouth and then closed it back several times before Catherine intervened again, her patience wearing thin. "Oh come Larsa! It is for the good of Archadia!"

Larsa instantly glared at her. That was the last thing he'd want to hear at the moment considering that it was nearly the exact same words Vayne had used while destroying hundreds of lives in the war. "The last time I heard someone say it was for the good of Archadia..."

"For the Good of Ivalice then!" Catherine said, quickly correcting herself as she noted to angered expression on Larsa's face.

Larsa looked skeptical for a moment then frowned slightly, "Catherine...this...this is too sudden, I..."

"I love you Larsa." Catherine, her expression was serious, she didn't have that silly school girl look about her, she was truly serious but one could also see that she was dieing to say it.

Catherine had been shocking Larsa all day, but this one took the cake. Larsa actually stumbled back as he stared blankly at Catherine, only able to just barely whisper her name in complete and utter shock.

"I always have...and I always will." Catherine said, a bit more softly as her expression softened to a sweet smile as she took his hands in hers once again.

Larsa's mind was reeling. He was thinking about the idea of the Treaty, about marrying Catherine, about what she had just told him. It was too much, too much at once, he couldn't handle it. For the first time in his life, Larsa's mind was overwhelmed, and he was going to run away.

Larsa looked away from Catherine and down at the ground before he said in a rush, "I...I'll think on it...i must go to Old Dalan...now" He had been jogging to Old Dalan's House before he could finish his last phrase.

Larsa opened the door to Old Dalan's House and closed it behind him. He leaned against the door and took a deep breath. He squeezed his eyes shut and titled his head back. Larsa frowned as he thought about what had just happened, the entire conversation and his reaction to it. He had run away. It was a shameful and cowardly thing to do, but it was just so sudden, and on top of everything that had happened that day, and his being late to return to Archadia, and Old Dalan's sickness; it had simply overwhelmed him and he could not think straight. He just couldn't imagine getting married to Catherine, but already he knew that it would be inevitable. They were right, the only way the rest of Ivalice would even consider reinstating the Galtean Treaty written by King Raithwall, would be if the two were to be wed. The Prince of Archadia and the Princess of Rossaria. "It's perfect..." Larsa whispered to himself as he ran a hand over his face, his exhaustion beginning to set in.

"What's perfect?" Larsa opened his eyes and looked down to find Kira standing directly in front of him. He sighed and shook his head before he asked about Old Dalan. Kira watched him with questioning eyes for a few moments before she answered him, "He'll be alright for now. Just needed his medication and some rest. He's asleep in the back." she said, jabbing a finger over her shoulder toward the back of the room where there was a colourful mismatched curtain hanging that hid the sleeping quarters.

Larsa nodded to himself as he folded his arms and stared at the ground, apparently deep in thought. Kira stood there, staring at him, waiting for him to say what it was that he wanted to say. She could almost feel it coming off him in vibes that he really wanted to tell her something, but he didn't show any physical signs of getting ready to talk. Kira sighed and rolled her eyes before she said, "Hey, if you've got something to say just say it."

Her tone was gentle but also commanding as she stood akimbo in front of him, awaiting whatever news he was going to pass to her. Larsa seemed slightly surprised by her outburst but smiled anyway. She was always able to read him like an open book and he'd never figured out how, and now realized that he never would. "I...I'm going to marry Catherine."

There was a strangely cold silence between them and Larsa slightly wondered if the sudden drop in temperature was Kira's doing. Larsa, in truth, had no idea what to expect. He was ashamed to admit it, but he really didn't understood Kira sometimes. He did not understand her psyche or the way her brain worked, sometimes he would expect her to react a certain way and she'd do the complete opposite, and throughout the total of four years that he'd known Kira for, he'd never seen her get truly angry except for this one night when she had gone completely berserk, but that night is an exception.

Larsa almost cringed when Kira slightly opened her mouth and took a deep breath. He however, nearly keeled over when she said, "...Ok." Larsa stared at Kira as she stared at him, wondering if she was really ok with it or if she was really just saying that. Larsa immediately knew, however, that she was hurt when she looked away from him and said, "You should go or else those stupid Senate members'll have your head."

Larsa blinked. Again, he wasn't expecting that. This was the closest he'd ever really seen Kira to getting angry, even though her tone was even and her facial expression neutral. Larsa looked away from Kira and sighed. He took a quick glance at Kira to find that she was still looking away from him. He sighed again and unfolded his arms, turning to face the door, his hand resting on the knob. He didn't bother to ask her if she was going with him to the Aerodome as usual, because he knew that she wasn't going to, otherwise she would've been the first one out the door, but she hadn't moved yet, so he knew.

Larsa turned the knob and hurried out of Old Dalan's House, too shaken to even say good bye to her, fearing that that might've been the last time he'd ever see her again, no it probably was the last time he'd ever see her again. Larsa stopped walking and hit the wall hard, his head hung low and his eyes shut tight. He didn't want things to end like this. He took a slow shuddering breath and shook his head slightly before he opened his eyes again. Just then he heard Catherine calling his name. He turned around to face her and just watched as she jogged over to him, the thought of meeting her half way not even crossing his mind.

"Oh, I've finally found you! Where did you go?!" She asked, trying desperately to catch her breath.

"Gather your things, we're leaving for Archadia." Larsa said to her.

Catherine blinked and shook her head slightly before asking, "Now?" Larsa nodded and began walking down the hall to where they had kept their things trying desperately not to think about anything except how he was going to explain his extended absence to Basch, then the Senate.

By the time they got to the Aerodome Catherine knew there was something wrong with Larsa, but he wasn't saying anything, actually, that's why she knew. Throughout the entire time they spent walking together down the streets of Rabanastre he hadn't spoken a word and now they are in the Aerodome, and still nothing, except to tell the clerk at the desk where they were going, and now they are on the air ship flying to Archadia and still nothing. Catherine watched him as he leaned on the railing on the top deck of the air ship, his hair gracefully flying around his face as the breeze blew, his face expressionless and his eye glazed over.

Catherine frowned as she wondered if it was because of her sudden proposal that he was like this. She also wondered why she hadn't seen head nor tail of Kira since they had left to extinguish the wyrm. Catherine gasped slightly as she realized that she had no idea what had happened on the hunt and decided that maybe if she asked he'd reply.

"...Larsa...were...were you and Kira able to extinguish your hunt?" Catherine sounded somewhat shy, fearing what his reaction might be considering his current condition.

Larsa looked over his shoulder at her then back to the sky before he said, "We vanquished it fairly quickly, most of our time was spent negotiating with the petitioner." his voice was completely neutral and that made Catherine frown, because from her memory, she knew that that meant he was hiding something.

Catherine stood akimbo and leaned towards him so that she could better see his face before she said, "Larsa, are you alright?"

Larsa looked down at Catherine for a moment then smiled a soft, almost sad smile. "I will be fine, thank you."

Catherine smiled back at him and hugged him tightly from behind, her tiny arms gripping around his waist with surprising strength. "Catherine?!" Larsa said, somewhat startled by her sudden actions.

Catherine giggled slightly and said through a brilliant grin, "It's cold out here!"

Larsa blinked and shook his head with a small amused smile gracing his features. "Of course..."

OoOoO

To be Continued...