Thanks to those who have favorited/reviewed this story. J I really appreciate your interest. Just as a disclaimer, I doubt Baku would ever be this much of a dick ever. So, I'm not bashing him in anyway, it just makes for good fiction, ya know? Yea.

Anyway, I'm sorry this one is incredibly shorter than the other chapters. I'm attempting to make them more manageable for my time span during which I must write. I'm very busy. :/

Blank's POV

My legs were already exhausted by the time I'd reached the ominous entrance to the Ice Cavern. Dark and light blue sheets of ice stuck out like jagged razors and a mist of cold air billowed from its depths.

I only had vague concepts of why I was really doing this. I know it's for Zidane. I know I have to leave. Dying along the way wouldn't be terrible.

What am I going to do when I reach Alexandria anyway? What am I going to do without him anyway…

I slowly began my trek into the cavern.

The piercing winds immediately stung at my exposed flesh. I winced and huddled into my arms, mostly my working one. I staggered through the building snow and slick ice.

I'm doing this for him. I had to remind myself. This is because he'd be better off.

I shivered irregularly, my teeth chattered and my short gasps of warm air were fading into vapor. I wasn't going to make it like this.

"Zidane." I whispered his name and the cold seeped in to burn my lungs. I coughed violently and tripped in the snow. My face hit the icy crystals. I lay there.

I'm going to die.

I felt numb. The feeling in my limbs was dissipating the longer I remained immobilized. I couldn't bring myself to move though. So exhausted. So ready to just give up.

A fuzzy black outline began to enclose about my vision and I steadily gave in to shutting my eyes.

I lost consciousness.

***

I slowly came to, blinking my eyes barely from a squint back to closed again. The light was somewhat blinding. I raised my hand to my forehead, shielding my eyes. I realized my bandana was absent and I lurched forward.

Finally I was able to focus on my surroundings. It was an actual room. A window to my right was letting in sunbeams and sheets and blankets covered up to my chest. I was in an actual bed.

What's going on?

I heard footsteps and my gaze snapped to a door in the far corner of the room. It opened with a creak and I bolted from my bed, only to collapse again on the floorboards. My limbs were stiff and achy as if I'd been starched.

"You might not want to attempt that again for a while." A velvety voice cooed. I attempted to look up but the figure was already behind me, assisting my rigid body to its feet.

"W-whh…" I failed at speech, my lips cracked and dry.

"Shh. You shouldn't speak now. Stay here." The voice was a woman, slightly husky but more articulated. It was a demanding and powerful way of speaking, even when saying gentle things as she was.

I was lifted back onto the bed and finally viewed my company's face.

She was a bit short for what her face permitted her age to be. Not that she was elderly looking at all. Very young, maybe about my age. She had dark brown hair that flowed down about her shoulders. Several layers about her top half, yet revealing much… She wore a white cap and carried a very ominously large axe across her back.

I shrunk away from the gleaming weapon and she noticed my discomfort.

"My axe is stilled. I won't harm you." She laughed, playing it off as a joke. I felt a manic upset in her words though. I would not be quite so sure that axe would stay within its holster. "I'm Lani."

The young woman announced, smiling and feeling my forehead with a palm and thumb. I cringed at her icy touch. Nothing she did, no matter the kindness that seemed to be put into it, was conveyed as anything more than cruel.

"W-where… is… my bandana?" I rasped, my voice slowly returning. She removed her hand and frowned a bit, put off by my distance. Lani moved around the bed and hopped up on the edge about the other side. I watched her carefully and waited.

Her hand returned to my face and sifted its way through my hair.

"You're cute." She smirked. I immediately retracted to the best of my abilities. Her hand fell from my hair and she glared. "What do you think you're doing?"

"What do you think you're doing?" I countered, returning the sinister stare. Lani sat up and slapped me hard across the face.

"I saved your life." She growled through her teeth at me. "Don't be so quick to deter my affections." She nodded back towards her axe, threatening.

"I didn't ask to be saved." I shook my head. I didn't really want to be… without Zidane my life isn't really worth living.

Lani paused at this, watching me closely. I wouldn't look at her eyes, I stared down at the bed sheets and sighed. She gave a chuckle.

"So, you're not being brave you're being a coward. Running away and wanting to die." She shook her head, "How sad." I shifted my gaze towards her and narrowed my eyes.

"What would you know about it? Just kill me if you feel I'm not worthy of your presence." I hissed, greeting her offer of death with metaphorical open arms. Fucking do it. She didn't. She waited a long time and then shook her head.

"You're not even worth my axe." She spat, then turned and left. Upon the slam of the door, I was alone. I stared around sadly. This is an awful homey prison.