Homecoming

Wind swept through the empty town. Rain was due to start coming down anytime now. Thunder and lightning raced through the open sky.

A small boy, with spiky dark brown hair and frosty blue eyes, stood with his face and palms pressed against the window, "Man…now I can't go out to play…"
The boy's mother looked at him, "Zack, get away from those windows. I haven't cleaned then yet."

"But you just washed them yesterday."

"Zackary…"

"Yes, ma'am."

Zack moved away from the window and walked up to his room. His bedroom was covered in SOLDIER merchandise. Posters of SOLDIER first classes and other personnel clothed his walls.

His favorite poster hung next to his bed. It was his favorite for a good reason too.
The poster was of SOLDIER 1st class, Lumar Fair; Zack's older cousin.

Lumar was off fighting in Wutai at the moment. Sometimes Zack would just sit there looking at the poster wondering how Lumar was.

Lumar had stayed with Zack and his parents for a long while. His own parents fought a lot and Lumar moved out to get away from it.

Zack sighed, he missed his cousin.

Even from where he was sitting, Lumar could hear the sound of a sword being used. Looking around he saw only his troops laying about resting and drinking water. Lumar got up and went to check it out. Upon finding the sound, Lumar found an old senile SOLDIER swinging his blade at a young Wutain girl, who was obviously trying to protect her younger sister.

The sound of metal meeting metal rang out in the area. The SOLDIER looked at Lumar and narrowed his eyes, "Dirty Wutain slugs! Die!"

The old man swung at Lumar, catching his off guard and cut him deeply from his right shoulder to the left side of his waist. Lumar immediately lost feeling in his arm and carefully transferred his sword to his other hand. The old SOLDIER swung again, but was stopped mid-swing by a sword stabbing through his middle. Lumar looked at the new person and saw glowing blue eyes and a red jacket.

It was his student, Genesis.

Lumar nodded in thanks and turned to the Wutain girls, who shrank back. Lumar smiled kindly at them and sat on a nearby rock. The youngest girl hesitantly began to walk up to him. Lumar looked at her. The girl held a guilty look and held out a fire materia. It was then he realized he was missing that same materia. Chuckling, he gently took it from the girl, "Thank you."

The girl smiled and also held out the strip of material he used to tie his long hair back. Lumar smiled, "Keep it. I'm sure it looks better on you."

"Arigato, SOLDIER-san."

Lumar smiled, "You're welcome, little white rose."

Lumar stood up and messed up the child's hair. Her older sister still watched him carefully. Genesis waited patiently for Lumar. Together, the two walked back to camp.
Zack sat on his bed and looked out the window. Rain was now pouring hard outside. Zack jumped as lightning struck nearby. But it was not the lightning that startled him. Glowing blue eyes could be seen off in the distance. Zack ran downstairs and opened the front door. Now he could see it was two figures coming towards his house. The boy ignored his scolding mother and ran towards the figures. One of the figures, who was leaning on the other, began to chuckle as Zack ran to them shouting, "Lumar!"

Lumar had Genesis stop as Zack practically tackled Lumar, who was thankful he was too short to reach and bump his wound, "Hey, kid."

"You're back!"

"Really? I thought I was still in Wutai…"

Zack pouted as Lumar messed up his hair. Zack's mother stood in the doorway, "Well don't just stand there! You'll get sick!"

Lumar smiled as Zack took his hand and began dragging him and Genesis inside. He had to admit it was nice being home.