OH MY GOD! I got four reviews…(bonck.)…( Reyavie's brother enters the room and finds Reyavie out cold. Looks at screen and sees file…alright, this is Thanatos speaking…writing…whatever). I think I'm supposed to say something like REYAVIE DOESN'T OWN ANYTHING IN THIS STORY. Is there any reason why she should say this? She only owns the hope of passing tomorrow's test. Oh and she owns something called an Aria and an OC…right…sure. (Reyavie wakes up and glares at brother. Brother slowly edges away before bolting.) Sorry for that. I'm not the only weird one in my home. Anyways I think the basic is said (looks up and shakes head in despair…).
Now the answers for my reviewers:
Cybele – Did I make you sleepless? I never wanted that (looks around and whistles). Bypassing that I'm really glad you reviewed and even more in knowing you like my story. And yes, no natural speaker here. Blame it all in the seven years of English we are forced to have in school. Thanks for warning me about the mistake. As soon as I can I will change it but as I said to AoA in some of the last chapters that can only be made when I'm not on a tight schedule in college. Here's the new chapter you asked for so STOP the damned PUPPY-EYES…please?
Anon – Hey anon! Welcome back. Once more thanks for the review. As always I appreciate the time you spend giving me your opinion. About your comment over Squall I can only say that it is a matter of respect. And here's the answer to your question as well. And sorry but I'm not going to kill Rinoa. I still need her and besides Crypta (see below) would kill me. Sorry about the waiting. Hope this chapter (longest yet) can hold your curiosity. See ya.
Angel Of Apocolypse – I almost pity your neighbour. Just warn me when he, or she, does snap so I can get out circulation and hide, alright? Good to know that you liked the last chapter and thanks for comprehension on the Sacred/Minotaur dilemma. And your father made you learn GAELIC? You poor thing. Mine force-feeds me math. Never mind that I actually need it (Reyavie grumbles looking at math book). Yes, I am writing as fast as I can. Here's the chapter. Have fun
Crypta – A tua opinião era uma que eu realmente não estava à espera. Obrigada por reveres o capitulo. Ainda bem que estás a gostar da história e que a Aria não cai na categoria de "pitinha hipocondríaca". Quando criei a personagem queria que ela sobressaísse pela sua personalidade e parece que consegui. Quanto ao comentário que fizeste sobre a Rinoa eu realmente não queria fazê-la parecer estúpida mas o facto de que, no jogo, ela tende a fazer as perguntas mais óbvias foi algo que não consegui ignorar. No entanto prometo que vou tentar ser mais imparcial. Ah…mais uma coisa. Acho que os canadianos não iam gostar da tua comparação. Eles têm o mesmo problema que nós. Suponho que estavas a comentar a frase na minha área? Se sim para saberes a origem basta veres a entrevista dos No DOUBT dada à SIC. Ouvir que sim, eles viriam a Portugal quando fizessem uma tour pela a América do Sul é algo que dói. Enfim, espero que gostes do capítulo. Até breve.
(Your opinion was one I wasn't really waiting for. Thank you for reviewing the chapter. Glad that you like the story and that Aria doesn't fall under the "hypochondriac brats" category. When I created the character I wanted her to show herself for her personality and it seems like I made it. About your Rinoa comment I really didn't want to make her look stupid but the fact that, in the game, she tends to make the most obvious questions was something I could not ignore. I promise, however, that I'll try to be more impartial. Ah…one more thing. I don't think Canadians would like your comparison. They have the same problem as us. I suppose you were commenting the sentence on my profile? If yes, then to know the origin you just need to see the interview given by the No DOUBT to SIC (TV channel). Hear that yes, they would come to Portugal when they made a tour in South America is something that hurts. Anyways, hope you like the chapter. See ya soon.)
Welcome to the thirtieth (damn, this is getting hard to write) chapter of Second life. Meet ya after this.
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3rd Person POV
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- "Aria! ARIA!" – The Seed woke completely startled, her hands searching for her weapons and her mind acting solely in automatic.
Until she realized the voice was Selphie's and the only danger that she was at the moment was from getting deafened from the girl's screams. – "Someone please tell me that she has a volume switch and where it is located."
– "ARIA! You awake?"
– "I would only be asleep if I was deaf…or dead" – With a groan she left the bed and dragged herself to the door, where she fumbled with the lock before being able to actually open it. On the other side was a too happy and cheerful Selphie.
– "Yes?" – The girl hugged her and began jumping up and down.
– "We are going to Trabia, Aria" – Said girl screamed – "I am going home."
A pang of homesickness filled Ariadne's heart as she heard those words but she pushed it away with a firm mental command.
– "That's great Selph but…I was sleeping you know?" – Selphie pulled away, scratching her head slightly embarrassed.
– "Sorry Aria. I was just happy. Well…now you are awake" – Ariadne raised an eyebrow.
– "I've noticed Selph" – She replied somewhat dryly – "Can I get dressed or will you just drag me wherever you were about to drag me to in my pyjamas?" – Selphie nodded enthusiastically making the other girl sigh.
– "Someone should really stop you from getting sugar so early in the morning" – Said Ariadne turning around to get her clothes.
– "What sugar?" – Selphie asked as she made herself comfortable in her bed. A groan was heard from the bathroom where Ariadne had closed herself to get dressed.
– "Hyne help me. It is natural." – Laughter broke from the entrance of the room where another woman was. The blonde instructor entered as is she owned the room, a smile on her lips.
– "Someone woke up happy this morning" – A curse passed through the closed door – "Good morning to you too sis" – Quistis said as she occupied the chair next to the desk.
– "Whatever" – Came Ariadne's voice once more – "What the hell are you doing as well in my room?" – Another chuckle from the older woman.
– "That is a very good greeting Aria. Been working on it?" – Yet another curse was heard before Ariadne opened the door, a scowl on her face. She was getting rather inventive.
– "Alright I give. What did I do wrong to have to bear with you two?"
– "Oy Aria?" – She turned to the door of her room to see Zell waiting.
– The Doctor is calling you. Wants to do a quick observation before we get to Trabia" – The Galbadian groaned once more, forcing herself to ignore the laughter around her.
– "Hyne hates me." – She whispered as she was nearly dragged by Quistis and Zell to the infirmary while leaving Selphie to look for Irvine and annoy the life out of him. – "She has to." – Her eyes searched around her for a way to escape but only found one person she wasn't too keen on meeting.
Squall was observing the entire fiasco from his privileged point next to the elevator with an unreadable expression on his face as usual but…Ariadne closed her eyes and opened them again in surprise.
– "Well I'll be damned. He is amused…" - She rolled her eyes skyward when she felt another push to her arms still surprised by the small smile she could see on the Commander – "Glad that someone is…"
"Said anything Aria?" – Asked Zell. She raised an eyebrow – "No, just forget it. Let's get this over with so you can stop acting like mother-hens" – She chose not to acknowledge the reaction that that particular expression rose on the wrestler.
It wasn't her fault though. After all she couldn't know that he had a bad historical with birds…could she? Of course not…
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- "Damn I hate cold" – Someone chuckled as they walked to the destroyed Garden. Selphie was on the front, her expression too serious for the girl they were used to, and behind her was the entire group, all worried and alert. Except for Zell that hadn't stopped complaining about the weather for the last ten minutes.
– "You knew well where we were going to Zell" – Scolded Quistis. He looked embarrassed, especially when he noticed that most of his friends were either, smiling or smirking, last one being obviously Aria that seemed too cosy in the long black coat that the Doctor had managed to find her and that she hadn't discarded since the Balamb fiasco. She noticed his look and raised an eyebrow.
– "What's the glare for Zell?" – She asked innocently – "It is not my fault. I do remember warning you about this place's blasted weather."
– "Your first mission was here, wasn't it?" – Came Irvine's voice from behind her. Ariadne frowned slightly.
– "Not exactly here" – She answered looking around – "I was sent as an escort to two scientists that were studying something about a magical pool that, according to them, was the supporter to all the magic that we are able to use. How did they expect to find something on that Hyne-forsaken place I don't know. It is somewhere that way" – And she pointed west to the mountains.
Someone chocked and all the attention was brought to Selphie that had begun running to the building without waiting for them.
– "She is not okay." – Whispered Quistis as she saw her climbing the wall – "We should follow her."
– "Well…better than freezing to death" – Ariadne heard a sigh on her head and the tone said that it was the older GF.
– "You do know that you think the stupidest things sometimes don't you?" – She smiled lightly as she followed the others to the wall where Selphie had preceded them
– That's why I only think them. It makes less hassle.
- "Irvine, go first." – She said turning her head to the cowboy. – "Because…?"
Quistis hid a smile – "I think she what she wants to say is that you are heavier."
– "And that if the wall doesn't fall we can pass" – Ariadne added – "Oh…and the fact that you are a pervert and I don't really trust you behind me." – Strange looks on the two only made them smile.
– "I do not know if I should be more scared with your attitudes or with what you just said" – Grumbled Irvine walking to the wall and starting to climb.
– "Yeah…" - Continued Zell – "It's kinda strange when you do that." – They sobered as they looked at each other with a meaningful glance. It was natural after all.
– "After you sister" – Whispered Quistis only loud enough for her to hear. Ariadne rolled her eyes skyward but did as she said, climbing the destroyed wall with confidence
– "It didn't fell did it?" – Inquired Irvine wryly as she saw her appear
– "Obviously. Where's Selph?" – She turned to her front seeing her running to the central plaza. A sigh passed through her lips as she saw the state of the Garden. It was worse that anything they could have imagined.
– "It was a direct hit then" – Said Rinoa that had followed her – "So much trouble only to fail" – Ariadne nodded grimly.
– "But not to try would be to fail also Rinoa" – Said the Galbadian in a direct quote from her mother. The group joined once more as they passed over the wall and started to walk to the former school with the consciousness that they had not been able to save that place.
They made no conversation whatsoever as they crossed the wrecked road except for Squall that was talking calmly with one of the guards about something about surveillance that only he would ask. When they reached the plaza they found Selphie talking with a friend seeming happier and more relaxed
– "Hey Selphie. You better?" – She smiled happily and was about to open her mouth to answer to Irvine when she was interrupted with a calling.
– "Oy Selphie! You are back huh?" – The Galbadian froze where she had been standing. Her hands closed, nails digging painfully into her skin – "You are severely late you know?" – She turned slowly searching for the familiar voice, one she hadn't heard for more than four years and she heard someone choke.
The man was now looking at her, as frozen as she was, as familiar as his voice had been. He had black hair, so dark that it shadowed his tanned face and light brown eyes. He was tall, almost reaching Irvine that was the tallest of the group and was wearing the Seed uniform for Trabia Garden.
– "Aria…" - He whispered taking a step closer – "Aria…Is that you?"
– "Josh…?" – He smiled brightly and before any of the others could understand what was happening Ariadne had been swept away into a hug and was being swung around as if she was nothing more than a child, laughing as she hugged the taller man
– "You are here." – He whispered as he finally stopped before placing her on the floor and looking at her – "You are really here…Damn you grew up." – She cocked an eyebrow slightly, the cool attitude overshadowed by the tears that were being suppressed
– "That's usually what happens when time passes Josh." – She commented as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. – "Wanted me as a midget for the rest of my life?" – He grinned
– "Now that you mentioned it, yes. It would be interesting to still be able to scold you when I was ninety or something" – Aria rolled her eyes and promptly smacked him lightly on the head.
– "If you lived that long and were still able to talk which is something I pretty much doubt. Someone would have taken care of that by then. And I would allow that uncommon event you described to happen because of what divine intervention?" – Josh rubbed his head, the grin never leaving his face.
– "Oh you know you missed me. After all I am one of your best friends. I am smart, handsome, intelligent…"
"Reckless, impudent" – Interrupted Ariadne dryly but with amusement on her sea green eyes – "And a big-headed idiot that needs to be taken down a notch or two so that we can breathe without having to face his ego." – They looked at each other and grinned widely.
– "And you are still the same smartass we all know and love" – He hugged her again laughing – "Thank Hyne you didn't change Beckerman." – She sighed softly as she realized he was really there, her arms holding him with just as much strength as he was using. It wasn't a dream.
– "Ariadne?" – She nearly jumped as she heard Squall's voice and understood what she had done. She had pretty much made a fool of herself in front of the entire group.
– "Smooth girl…really smooth" – Aria let go a bit with a sheepish expression to her long time friend and turned to the group failing in stop smiling. She couldn't help it.
Squall was frowning, something that was not unexpected. Quistis was smiling at her and her friend. No surprise there. The others were altering between confusion and curiosity.
– "Hey Josh" – Started Selphie – "You know Aria?" – The man smirked to the Galbadian Seed.
– "Perceptive little thing isn't she?" – Ariadne stepped on his foot but he seemed to ignore it as he continued to smile…either that or he was a sucker for punishment, Aria wasn't sure about that…nor did she wanted to know the answer. It could be a very traumatizing one.
– "Everyone – She started – "This is a good friend of mine which I have not seen for quite a while" – The last part was for the male that simply shrugged. – "Joshua Thomson. Ignore half of what he says. Usually nobody understands it."
He pretended to sniff – "I see how it is. I know when I am not wanted" – She snorted against herself and he smiled again.
– "Got ya. Pleasure everyone. Whoever you are. That was so not a good presentation Ariadne Scylla Beckerman. Your mother would be appalled." – She glared and he continued as if it was nothing – "Still hate that name Scylla? Oh I still remember that time when you and Ma…"
"You should really be quiet if you want to live past today Josh" – She interrupted threateningly – "And don't call me Scylla. Damn my mom's originality." – But nevertheless she was trying to hide the smile as if the whole banter was something she had missed
– "Josh, these are my friends from Balamb Garden. Zell Dintch, you know Selphie already I think, Quistis Trepe, Rinoa Heartily and our leader Squall Leonhart." – She said pointing to each one as she introduced them. Only Squall had no reaction as she did so. – "And Irvine and I are from Galbadia Garden."
– "Pleasure" – Joshua grabbed Ariadne's arm softly and nodded with his head faintly. She understood the message easily
– "I got to catch up with him. I will meet you guys later ok?" – And with a last wave she turned and both of them left the place hurriedly. They chose not to notice the confused and curious glances that followed them until they were out of sight
– "Squall can you guys wait in the basketball court?" – Asked Selphie breaking the silence – "I want to talk with some of my friends" – Her suggestion was followed in silence and in moments they were in the small field waiting for her.
– "It seems like Ariadne recovered her memory huh? She didn't tell us anything…isn't she happy about it?" – Commented Rinoa as she sat on the floor
– "She already had" – Said Quistis – "Probably at the prison. The shock might have helped. She shouldn't have to remember in such conditions. But she seems alright now even if she doesn't talk about them much." – Whatever thoughts she had more about that particular subject were guarded on her mind.
– "It is her choice" – Interrupted Squall in his cool voice – "She will trust you when she sees fit. It is none of our business to meddle in her affairs" – And with that sentence silence fell between them.
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My POV
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He is here. He is with me here. I never thought I would be so happy to see Josh but I am. After all I did know him ever since I was born. And I had been his friend for almost that same time. And he is as lost as I am. At least from what I can see.
But I am not searching for answers. I don't have them and I am not expecting him to have them. Cause to be bluntly honest…he cannot hold a train of thought together to save his life.
In our group the one who would be probably able to help and start to babble something about dimensional theories and other worlds and whatever would be Maria. She had a frightening ability to confuse us into submission when she began with that. It shut us up more often that we would have liked. But Josh's presence makes me wonder now.
Were we the only ones that were brought here? Why were we brought here in the first place? But that isn't more important than his presence here. Because as sad that I am that he had to face the same things I did, I'm happier that he is here and I'm not alone.
Selfish? Probably yes.
Worried because of it? Hell no!
My conscience will have a field trip with this if it manages to make itself hear over the "He's here! He's here!" that's sounding on my head. Besides my curiosity is winning my attention in a way that my conscience could never attain. So…drilling information will be a very interesting task in the next hours.
I just love my life sometimes.
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3rd Person POV
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- "Who starts?" – Ariadne smirked as she sat on the place where Joshua had guided her. It was a place that obviously was kinda hidden as no one could be seen and from what she could figure out it was one of the classrooms, now partially destroyed
– "You're the oldest. Give the example friend of mine" – Josh grinned as he plopped down on what could vaguely be called a desk
– "I must be out of my bloody mind" – He said – "I actually missed that. Well, anyways…" - His grin faded as if it had never been there
– "Remember the accident?" – Ariadne raised her right hand to the tresses that normally fell to her face and pulled them aside slowly. Near her hairline ran a small, thin white scar.
– "Hard to forget when you have something like this looking at you from your mirror everyday" – She let go and sighed – "And I have another bigger on my leg but I don't know how I got it. They told me I got injured by students from Galbadia Garden" – She shook her head as she realized what she was doing. His smirk was also pretty obvious
– "I thought we would start with you" – She complained dryly. Her friend shrugged
– "Not my fault. Well I only remember to bang my head against the blasted window as we were hit" – Josh said, wincing slightly with the memory – "It hurt. A lot. And then something hit again and I lost conscience" – He pulled his shirt a bit to the side to show the end of a scar on his chest
– "You were not the only one to get injured then. I woke up in the middle of nowhere surrounded by snow. Hypothermia, blood loss and more bruises that I could count. You get the gist of it." – She nodded. After all Christine had had to work on her for nearly two hours straight.
– "I was found by Seeds from Trabia and they brought me here for treatment. Quite basically when they left me alone after giving me that particular piece of information I freaked." – He continued wryly – "I would have lost it and start babbling something about dreams had I not been unable to move because of my wounds. Those hurt too much to be merely dreams." – She smiled with his words. She had thought the exact same thing that day.
– "Don't I know it" – Her hand held his in silent support – "What happened after that? I thought that people could only enter Seed until fifteen. You were eighteen." – Another shrug followed by a wicked grin.
– "Oh…I took a year of my age and told them that I was an orphan and had no place to go. And we are in the middle of nowhere Aria. The headmaster was king enough to allow me to stay. Other than that they know that I am from Deling and that have no other family. I thought that if I gave them the name of a big city it would be most likely less probable to find any register that would work against me. And that's that. I graduated two years ago, thanks of course to those wonderful Seed tests that we could on the Tutorial and here I am trying to help the reconstruction. Now you."
She raised an eyebrow, altering between thinking how stupid she had been in not thinking that and…
"Did you actually breathe in that sentence?" – Her brain wasn't that good at assimilating information quickly. Yet another sigh was heard in her mind as well as a pointed comment about her attention span. She scowled lightly and quite properly, if cursing could ever be considered proper unless you took into account the way one used it, ordered her GF to drop the scolding or she would have to take drastic measures. According to them she sang really badly. He shut up.
– "Yes" – Josh drawled – "Now stop stalling and start telling" – Ariadne took a deep breath and began…
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- "So let me get this straight" – Josh asked as he looked at her as if she was an animal specie that he had never seen. That and completely crazy.
– "You actually jumped in front of an ice spear?" – He shook his head in frustration – "That was smart Ariadne. Really smart. Your brother would have deafened you if he heard what you did" – He added with a smirk. It served to take the small sting of his previous words.
– "As always" – She placed her forehead on her hand and sighed – "I just reacted, Josh. You know those moments in time when you just stop thinking?"
– "Yeah" – He answered – "You always had too many of those" – He grinned while ducking from the piece of debris that she had thrown at him
– "After what getting away from the prison well…" - She continued to tell her story, explaining how she had been ordered to go back to Balamb Garden, how she had fought with the other Seeds, how she had returned temporally to the Garden that had been her home and how she had ended up in Trabia, choosing to forget to mention the fights between her and Squall though.
What she did mention was what had happened between her and Ellone. Josh was not happy.
– "So she's a bitch" – He said calmly – "Good to know. After the war I will find a way to have her meet a red Dragon or something."
– "Oy" – Ariadne interrupted with a slight warning in her sea green eyes – "None of that mister. I don't need another Lugh. And besides I can take care of my own problems."
– "I didn't say you couldn't" – He stood up and the desk promptly fell to the floor – "Oh hell! Another thing to fix. But even so Aria" – He took her hand and squeezed faintly – "Friends stick together right?" – She had said that to him so long ago…so long.
– "Yeah" – Silence fell between them and typically he broke it almost immediately
– "So why did Commander boy over there was glaring at me as if I was the sorceress?" – She waved him off.
– "He does that to all people. You should see the glare he sent Seifer in Deling. Even I was scared and I was on the opposite of it" – Josh didn't comment immediately as he searched her face for something that she didn't know.
– "If you say so." – He said after a while. No words left her lips.
– "Come on then" – He finally said, pushing her from the remains of a chair that she had occupied earlier and guiding her back to the entrance.
– "So…you planning in going with them?" – He asked as he started the way back, waiting for her to join him
– "Yeah" – He scowled resting his hand on her shoulder and making her stop – "You are not going to do anything stupid are you Ariadne?" – She gave him an innocent glance and he groaned making her laugh heartily.
– "Let's put it this way Josh" – She smiled openly, the same way she had had when she was younger – "I will not do anything you wouldn't do to protect this place" – For some reason that wasn't comforting.
– "Come on. Let's go find the others before they think that we ran away somewhere" – And with she pulled him with her, all the while grinning like a fool.
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- "I can't believe you have them" – The Balamb group had to stop for a second so they actually believe that it was Ariadne suffocating the man they had been introduced to while jumping up and down like a kid in a sugar high. Or Selphie, rather. Trabia was bad for her.
– "Lemme see." – Joshua smiled as he took something out of her reach. Aria stopped, raised an eyebrow and…
– "Aria!" – He was nursing a bump where she had hit him with one of her katanas.
– "Never place yourself between me and Linkin Park" – She said with a smirk as she took whatever he had on his hands.
– "How did you find batteries for this?" – He rolled his eyes as if it was the stupidest question he had even heard – "I was studying to be an engineer Aria" – She barely listened as she shuffled through the different boxes.
– "You hearing anything? Aria?" – He groaned when he realized she was too worried in assessing his collection of CDs.
– "Is she alright?" – He turned to see the blonde instructor with an amused smile on her face as she came closer to her friend.
– "She's just fine believe me" – Josh said as he saw Aria's eyes lightened each time she found one of her favourite bands – "She normally looses most of brain functions when confronted with that band"
Aria didn't even looked from CD player as she answered – "I heard that"
– "And she has selective hearing as well as you can see" - After that he was once again cursing as one of his hands was forced to protect his head from the rock she had thrown still not looking.
Ariadne walked to a corner, singing quietly to herself as she heard the songs she had grown up to and looking every now and then to the deep-in-conversation group assessing their expressions.
She could barely remember what had been said on that part of the game but she remembered enough of the basic. And by their faces they were pretty much divided. After all they were going to fight the one who had been the only mother most of them had ever had. Good thing she didn't have that kind of problem…and that she knew the truth.
– "Still remember it?" – She smiled at Josh when he walked to her side.
– "How could you doubt that?" – She whispered taking the headphones of her ears – "I missed this you know? And missed you like hell."
He patted her head condescendingly – "What would you do without me huh?" – before raising his eyes once more to the group – "So…should I take Lugh's place now?" – Her eyes widened with comprehension of what he was hinting about before she grabbed one of her blades.
– "You will not do such a thing Josh. Hyne knows he was bad enough." – She looked at the group and gave them a slightly sheepish smile.
– "You guys finished your conversation?" – She asked while the students continued the tasks they had stopped earlier.
– "We already have our next destination" – Informed Squall breaking the silence
– "There's a guy that never loses the north" – Ariadne thought somewhat dryly
– "Will your…friend accompany us?" – Josh had an urge to smirk. If no one noticed that little pause he was a cactuar.
– "Thanks for the…wonderful invitation Commander" – He said looking oh-so-innocent – "But Trabia needs all the help we can get. Besides despite what I said I am not too keen in taking Lugh's place and Aria doesn't need anyone to baby-sit her. I am staying." – He knelt next to a really battered sound system and gathered the CD's
– "This is not." – He placed everything on Ariadne's arms and winked again – "Take it with you Aria. I dare say you will need it. You always did" – The two of them looked at each other for a moment before the girl nodded.
– "Aria?" – The Galbadian's attention was brought to a scowling Selphie – "I thought you said you couldn't sing? You were doing it right now. And well" – Ariadne cursed under her breath as Josh resolved to open his big mouth
– "Aria? Not knowing how to sing?" – She stepped on his foot and as before he completely ignored her – "That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard. Even if you have sometimes to blackmail her to actually make her do it."
Selphie's expression screamed "oh really" and Ariadne almost flinched with the calculating look – "Thanks a lot Josh."
– "So how long do you two know each other?" – Rinoa's question got them both by surprise and for a moment Josh thought Aria was going to fry her. That or call the brothers.
– "Since she was born actually" – He answered giving his friend a brief warning look – "She was such a cute little baby." – She growled under her breath and placed everything she had on Quistis's arms
– "Hold on to this for me for a while will you sis?" – And without waiting for an answer she unsheathed a blade while Josh very wisely got out of the way but not in time to avoid seeing her turning to him with an evil smirk. He ran. And she did the same thing
– "Joshua! Get your ass in here so I can kill before anyone else can" – And with that she proceeded in chasing him not hearing Zell's comments about their "weird relationship". Thankfully.
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- "Take care of yourself ok?" – Ariadne gave Josh one last hug and with a smile she turned to the Garden side-by-side with a still plotting Selphie and an amused Quistis and followed by a laughing Irvine and Zell. The last two were about to do the same but the voice of the Trabian Seed stopped them.
– "Commander? May I have a moment please?" – Squall muttered something that could pass for a yes making Josh give Rinoa a very meaningful look that quite plainly said "scram".
– "What?" – Joshua looked at him calculatingly for a few seconds and finally…
"Look after her for me." – Squall seemed as controlled as ever even as a small flash of some unnameable emotion appeared on his cold blue eyes
– "She doesn't need anyone doing that" – A very small smirk appeared on Josh's face
– "I know she doesn't. She never did. But she has a very strange tendency to do stupid things" – For a brief moment Josh could swear the other man had nodded in something akin to exasperation – "And she hates to be pampered and underestimated…but sometimes she needs someone to catch her when she falls even if she usually tries to make everything by herself. Just…be there for her when that happens alright?" – A pause extended itself between the two men.
– "Why me?" – And at the moment he was ready to roll his eyes skyward and ask mercy to whatever divinity that would listen.
– "Don't be dense Commander" – Was the only answer he got as the man began walking back to the Garden – "Oh…" - He stopped and turned his head to him, brown eyes sharp and dangerous.
– "She gets hurt in any way and you will pray for the sorceress before I'm through with you." – He walked away as if he had no cares in the world leaving the Seed behind. He didn't even hear the answer to his comment and he didn't need it. Squall remained looking at the man for a moment before he too took the way to Balamb Garden.
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And I think I'll end it here. Yep…enough for now. You know what I'm going to beg now for don't you? Make an effort to remember (Thanatos comes into the room: She's asking for reviews, people. That's the only she asks for…that and…well…you can't afford her a car so just review. Reyavie bangs head on the table). As always opinions, suggestions and comments are expected with anxiety. REVIEW!
Next chapter: Time's up and last minute considerations…
'Till next week everyone
Reyavie