Title: Hikari no Nocturne

Rating: T

Summary :

She was once the 'legend' knight, yet now she is just an ordinary blacksmith. He was the prince, yet disguised himself as her assistant. But one day, the secret will be revealed and the journey of the crystals will begin.

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Chapter 4

"First Day"

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Lightning must admit that his work, Noctis' work was almost perfect. It would be very perfect if only he didn't act so cold to the customer, not that he was really cold, but he didn't talk too much. However, Lightning must realize that she was not any better, so, she wouldn't complain much about that. But, Lightning did notice that the customers liked him. They were somehow attracted to him. Maybe he had the charm, yeah, maybe because of it and Lightning did really aware of that. She told herself many times for not falling for that charm, something that soon she would regret.

Lightning never believed of stoic person, but seeing Noctis made her believed that there was people like that even herself was not that too stoic. She was afraid of Noctis' ability. She didn't need to teach him much because he had already known some of the basic though Snow was also good. He was a fast learner. She taught him only once and he had already understood, however, unlike Noctis, Snow didn't know about the basic, so, he must learn more.

Noctis, on the other hand, felt that his job was quite interesting yet it was a bit exhausting. But, if there's something that he hated so much, it was that he had to have an interaction with the customers. Hell, he didn't like talking to people that he didn't know and how could he pretend that he like it? He didn't smile, he was going to be damned if the customers would not come for next time. But, he found out that they liked him. Well, it was a good thing but he was just wondering what they looked from him. Little did he know that he was very good looking that the customers came just to awe him. He was very attractive with his cold expression, mesmerizing blue eyes, bluish grey short hair and most of all his well-built body. Even though he was not quite good in telling his feelings but everyone surrounding him could know his kindness, his care without him showing that with words.

It was a break time and there's a close sign on the door to show that they would want to take a rest. Then usually Vanille would come brought some food for them to eat. However, that day, Vanille wasn't alone, she was with Clyde. Clyde was behind her and helping her to take the food. They were chuckling about something funny. Lightning looked to them with a strange expression showed on her face. 'Something's not right.' thought Lightning in her mind. Noctis looked surprised for their arrival but there was definitely not shown on his face. Snow was sitting on the sofa and stared at them with a smile.

"Here's some food for you guys, as usual." She raised the plastic bag filled with the food for them with a smile.

Clyde went to Noctis with a grin. Noctis moved a little behind to avoid Clyde. The latter felt sad, but he knew that his friend was always like that so he ignored it. Noctis didn't have to say a word but Clyde had already known that his friend was asking him why he'd come to that place with Vanille at the first place.

"I met her." A simple statement from Clyde yet it had many ambiguity.

Lightning eavesdropped a little from their conversation. From that she got that the Clyde guy met Vanille, but was it by purpose or was it just a simple coincidence? If it was coincidence, was it good or otherwise? But she preferred the first option because there'd be no such a coincidence like this. The Kingdom was big, the people were so many and how could they meet so easily like that?

"Something's wrong, Light?" asked Vanille in concern.

Lightning shook her head and gave a comfort smile. "There's nothing wrong." 'yet' she continued in her mind. "Vanille."

Vanille nodded and smiled, a big smile. Lightning pat Vanille's head to make sure everything's alright. She always did that to convince Vanille and it always did a good job.

"Ah, Vanille, where's mine?" asked Snow to break the awkward silence between the ladies. Vanille quickly grabbed the largest one among the food box and gave to Snow nervously. Vanille knew their favorite because Vanille had asked them and watched them while they chose their menu. She knew that Snow always ate the large portion while Lightning was the opposite.

The truth why Vanille and Clyde went to the shop together was that Vanille searched for him. She wanted to buy the blacksmiths some food like usual, however, she didn't know Noctis' favorite or even his portion, so, she asked her servant to search for Clyde. It was easy for her to do that as she was the princess of her country. Of course, while she did that the maid kept whispering and guessing the reason why their princess did that. Vanille ignored the issue and acted like usual. She knew that as a princess, things like that would never be apart from her.

"Want to tell me something?" asked Lightning. She knew that there's definitely something wrong when Vanille was gazing. Her mind would be flying around while her eyes fixed on the wall.

"Later, when you've got home." She smiled. Lightning just let out a sigh. She took her food and took a seat behind the cashier while Vanille sat opposite the first. Snow sat on the sofa, where Noctis sat before. Noctis, who had taken the food from Clyde, leaned on the wall while Clyde was standing beside him. The lunch was in a deep silence because everyone seemed busy with their food and Vanille suddenly didn't have anything to talk about. Clyde was wondering why Vanille didn't eat with them and of course Clyde was eating with the others while Vanille was gazing on something or thinking about someone, he didn't know which one. He just knew that her mind was on somewhere else, not in there, in that place.

So, when Lightning had finished her lunch, she threw the box and washed her hand. She walked to her work place. Vanille was behind her. They left the guys behind in awkward silence.

"So, I see that you are quite close with Vanille, err…Clyde?" Snow asked, trying to break the silence, which just brought another strange feeling among them.

However, Clyde just smiled to the statement. "Not really, we're just talking about something." 'Someone actually, but of course it should be told.' Clyde continued.

"Oh, I see." Snow smiled sheepishly and stared at his food.

Clyde noticed that and asked, "Something's wrong, Snow?" Snow didn't answer for about a minute and when he did, he didn't answer it, he put another question.

"Did you enjoy your first day, Cerilla?" Snow always did that. He would never call someone's first name until he was comfortable enough with the person. He just didn't like to call their first name without knowing their truth personality.

"Please, Noctis is far better." Clyde looked at Noctis with a hesitance on his eyes. He never knew Noctis could be that soft. Was it because that he wanted to find the blacksmith or was it because he felt guilty for not telling them the truth?

"Well, that's my bad." He laughed darkly.

-x-

Meanwhile, Lightning and Vanille who were inside Lightning's work place was talking about something, someone for exact.

"What is it Vanille?" asked Lightning to open the conversation between them.

"The truth is I searched for him, Light." And then she told her reason behind all her action to Lightning. Lightning let out a sigh. She hated to be in the condition. She felt guilt for thinking something bad on someone but it was human's nature right? For not believing on someone whom they hadn't known yet. Suddenly she remembered about the 'Ratroit', a stupid group of stupid people who came to her every night on her dream, offering her something yet never telling her about anything. Lightning wondered if she knew them before and very well, would she accept that offer easily? Nah, she erased that question from her mind.

"I did find something about them, Light."

With then, Lightning gained her conscious fully. She waited until Vanille continued, "They came here to search for something, someone for exact."

"What is it?" cut Lightning. She wanted Vanille to quickly go to the point of this conversation.

"I don't know. He didn't want to tell much about that. He only said that his kingdom, their kingdom is depended on this person whom they were looking for."

Lightning's mind quickly thought. She scanned all over again about the information that she had gotten from Vanille. She sorted out again and put all the information into her head. She did remember something. It seemed that ever since Noctis arrived to her Kingdom, her dream kept became more real. She felt that the 'Ratroit' was somehow in hurry and maybe just maybe they would not give her one week as they had told her. She didn't want to think about the offer anymore, however, there's something so familiar with some of them. She thought that she knew some of them. Maybe some of them were from her past that she badly wanted to forget, to get over with.

Vanille was staring at Lightning. She felt that there's something wrong with her friend. She wanted to ask about that, but she was afraid, afraid that it might make Lightning to think about her past. Vanille knew about Lightning's past. Hell, she was there when it all happened.

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The light was vanished

The night had taken over the day

The moon was in the sky

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The ruins were everywhere. They were in the middle of many dead bodies. It smelled so bad at that place. She wanted to quickly run off from that place, but she couldn't. She needed to find someone and she would not run from that place until she found her.

She looked everywhere strictly. She examined everything afraid that she might miss something. Maybe she could find someone who was still alive at that place. What a foolish yet a pure thought from her. Then she found her, the person she was looking for.

She was sitting and there were many dead bodies surrounding her. There were many scratches on her body. There were blood covered her golden brown long hair and her clothes.

"Lightning!" The first girl shouted her name to gain the latter's reaction. It was to no avail. Lightning didn't notice her, Vanille. Her head was on something else. Her eyes were empty, however, Vanille could see that the first was crying before. Lightning's were read because of crying of something. Vanille walked closer to Lightning, trying to comfort the latter. She found that Lightning was bleeding. Both her legs which were touching the ground were filled with blood. Vanille wondered whether it was Lightning's blood or not. Maybe it came from the others.

When she was already besides Lightning, Vanille put her hands on Lightning shoulders. It did not gain the latter's consciousness at first, but when she called Lightning name again, it did work.

"Vanille?" asked Lightning as she didn't know that Vanille was there at the first place. Like she just noticed Vanille was just arrived, like the latter was never at there before so she was very surprised.

"It's me, Light." And then she hugged the latter in a comfort hug, telling the latter that everything's going to be alright. Yeah, it would be alright. Everything's going to be alright but not now, not then, not sooner, but when it gone.

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The mist was everywhere

Everything was so dark

The day was so gloomy

Was it going to be rain?

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The men didn't talk so much. Maybe the conversation was just between Clyde and Snow because Noctis, as usual, always answered with a small 'Hn' or a 'Yes' and 'No', as simple as usual. He thought if everything could be so simple. Maybe if he was not who he was right now, he wouldn't be at this place, he wouldn't be doing this stupid mission. Maybe he would just be sitting on his comfort chair, waiting for his fate to come. But, it was only a wish. Maybe if he wished very hard, everything's can be different? Nah, it wouldn't

Clyde and Snow were talking about stuff like the politics of both countries, their economy, their previous job, what they did before they came to the kingdom. Snow found out that he was kind of liking Clyde. Maybe because Clyde was cheerful to everybody and was just being himself, not putting a mask or anything liked him, but it was maybe just a great act from Clyde, maybe.

Suddenly, there's someone opened the door softly, making all eyes fixed on whoever opened the door. It was a man with blond spiky hair. He had a beautiful face with gorgeous body. He was kind attractive despite of his old ages. He scanned the room with his beautiful blue (or was it green?) eyes carefully. When he noticed the three men inside that room, he looked at them carefully.

-x-

While, Vanille was reminiscing of the past, Lightning was trying to put all information that she had gotten to be something for her. It was then both of them heard a bell sound of the door (If someone opened that door, there'd be a small ringing sound came from it)

"Who is it? Didn't he see the 'Closed' sign?" Lightning murmured. Vanille just giggled and followed Lightning out of the room. Her mind still gazing on something, so, she didn't look in front and when Lightning suddenly stopped, she bumped into the latter. She looked from Lightning's back to see who it was. The she saw the damn gorgeous man in front of them.

She knew who he was and smiled happily, but it was before she heard Lightning murmured.

"Dad."

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to be continued…

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Hello, guys! How are you? Thanks for reviewing last chapter and it was a great thing (maybe) that I finally update! Yay!

Sorry, if this chapter is too short. I'll try to make it longer next time and sorry, very sorry if this chapter is lack of Lightis T_T

I promise that I'll try to make more of them for the next chapter, hehe

Thank you guys for reading this chapter, don't forget to review ^^

Oh, can you guess the other couples except Lightning and Noctis, Tifa and Cloud?

Hehe

Luph u all…

eL-ch4n