Many thanks to ChaoCream for this idea- it's actually pretty lively! For you all who have been wanting some action, here it is! I give you… THE EPIC REMATCH BETWEEN RIVALS/FRIENDS! But I'd like to apologize in advance if it seems sort of choppy. I'm not too good at writing full-out battle scenes. Sorry. But I'll do my best! REMEMBER THAT THE CRACK CHAPTERS ONLY LAST UNTIL CHAPTER TWENTY! PLEASE GIVE IDEAS!

This lovely opening quote is by Riza, from FMA.

Also, during this chapter, may I suggest listening to Parallel Hearts, by FictionJunction? It's the opening theme to Pandora Hearts (an AWESOME anime, by the way) and it needs its ten minutes of fame.

Please R&R everybody!

Chapter 18- Shouri

Is it all right to believe in a future where everyone can live in happiness?

((((()))))

"Hey, guys, I think I found something!"

Luneth, Cecil, and Kain turned to Arc, on his knees pulling on a loose brick in the tower's room. Luneth crouched down next to him, peeking through the hole. "Hey, it looks like there's a room behind there!"

"Think that's where our crystal is?" Arc asked excitedly. He and Luneth continued pulling out the other bricks. When they had freed as many as were able to come loose, Luneth frowned and turned back to the paladin and dragoon. "It looks like its only big enough for us to fit through. Are you guys going to stay here, or…?"

Kain shook his head. "No use staying here without a purpose," he said.

Cecil nodded in agreement. "We'll meet up with later, then, you two."

The two crawled through, whooping and rushing off down a new hallway. "Sort of reminds you of Palom and Porom, don't they," Cecil mused with a grin.

"I suppose. Just so long as they aren't as annoying."

"Oh, lighten up."

Kain turned to him with a strange look. Cecil was frowning. He explained. "They're the youngest here, you know. And they're away from everyone they know. Heck, Bartz, Lenna, Zidane, and Dagger are still kids, too. They're only fifteen, maybe sixteen?"

"Your point?" Kain blandly asked.

He ignored the sarcastic attitude and said, "Well, since they're kids, they're going to down about being away from home. Being so… offhanded isn't really helping."

"But," Kain pointed out, "they've all got to grow up sometime. Maybe that time is supposed to be here in Dissidia. They can't remain children forever."

Now Kain frowned, and was silent for a long while as the two made their way down the many dark corridors they had just passed with Luneth and Arc. The dragoon once again drew his javelin, twirling it in his hand exasperatedly. Finally, as they reached the entrance of the tower, he rounded on Cecil, his javelin coming to a stop in his hand. "Do you really know what would help right now, Cecil?"

Eyes wide at seeing him get into a fighting stance, Cecil quickly drew his sword. "Kain, what are you doing?"

"A rematch," he answered, jumping up high.

Cecil barely had time to sidestep his spear. "No- st-stop! Kain!"

He jabbed the spear forward, nicking the edge of Cecil's cape. "Consider this training then, if you do not wish for a battle!" Kain kicked off from the tower's wall and stabbed the javelin at him. Cecil blocked the hit with his sword just in time, the bladed end right at his nose. Kain smirked. "You've gotten slower, Cecil. Have those 'children' softened you up in the ways of battle?"

Cecil ducked as Kain's spear swung overhead. He swung out his leg, trying to trip him. Kain jumped up and aimed his spear downward again, slashing Cecil's arm.

Wincing from gash, Cecil staggered back a moment, giving Kain the perfect chance to knock him back against the tower. Javelin at his neck, Kain shook his head in shame. "Less than five minutes to have you bested, Cecil. You have lost your old fighting spirit."

"Oh, do I?"

Cecil jumped to the side, knocking the javelin away with the hilt of his sword. He let out a barrage of slashes at the now disarmed dragoon, a faint smirk on his face. Kain jumped over him and reclaimed his spear, pointing it back at him. "Better," he congratulated.

"But I've I yet to show you the best."

They clashed weapons, jumping back to avoid attacks, and then rushing forward to get in another fierce attack.

This went on for what felt like hours, but neither warrior slowed in the least. Cecil's cape was nearly in shreds, and Kain's armor had even more dents and scratches than before. When the two were once again at a standstill, sword and spear crossed, Cecil grinned and asked, "Is this more to your standards of fighting, Kain?"

"Perhaps," he easily responded. "But I'm sure, if we had more time, we could really decide that."

They broke apart and pointed their weapons at each other. Kain finally lowered his javelin and strapped it on his back. Cecil, seeing that the fight was over, sheathed his sword. "I promised Rosa that I couldn't return to Baron until I had repented for what I did before." The dragoon crossed his arms and turned away from Cecil, looking out at the darkening horizon.

"So you fought me?" Cecil asked, confused.

He shook his head. "I did that only to get it off my mind for a while. But now I suppose I have to start thinking on how to do that again. Taking revenge isn't ever going to help me, but rather pull me in deeper. Apologizing wouldn't suffice, either."

Cecil leaned up against the tower, thinking hard about what he had just said. "You're right, I guess. And that makes it all the more harder."

"Rosa hates me for what I've done."

Cecil frowned, looking to the ground. She would never admit it to either of them, he knew, and she'd be kind to Kain if only for his sake, but they both knew it to be true. "…I know. And I apologize, for that."

Kain scowled at him. "You've no reason to."

He shrugged. "Maybe not, but I'll do it anyway." Cecil peeked inside the tower. "I hope those two haven't run into any trouble."

((((()))))

"I'M STUCK! GET OVER HERE, ARC!"

"But the floor will cave through!"

Luneth let out a screech and started clawing at the tiled floor, trying to pull himself away from the hole in the floor that had broken through when he stepped on it. "Get me OUUUUUUT!"

((((()))))

Kain shook his head. "No, I'm sure they're fine."

Cecil let out a sigh of relief and started off. "Let's go find the others, then. Maybe they have already found their crystals."

As the left the tower, a faint screech was heard on the wind: "NO! THE ROPE! THE ROOOOOPE!"