Chapter 1 Drifter
Disclaimer: no I don't own FFXIII it rightfully belongs to square enix I only own the OC characters.
Italics are thoughts
Bold and Italics are flashbacks
(Time skip: present day)
(Location: urban district Cocoon Bodhum region)
It was just another day in the human paradise known as Cocoon the wonderful city was always full of life. They were a lot of people traveling either by walking or using the hover vehicles others were running some of their businesses successfully thanks to the planet's high economy, they were able to enjoy all kinds of products for food along with other things. They had high trades with other cities everyone took a benefit on the system either way they were enjoying another peaceful day in the course of their lives, to them living in Cocoon was a blessing that offer infinite harmony while been safe that no danger will ever come to them. They had nothing to worry about because they have the Sanctum to protect them they were the guardians of the city in which the military organization was rule by the Fal'Cie, it's because of them that the population of Cocoon was living their lives in peace and harmony.
The Sanctum from Eden we're the servants and protectors of Cocoon sworn to defend their world and people at all cost from any threat, meaning the threat that every citizen feared and hated. They were the people from Pulse anyone from that lower world was bad news and a potent threat to the security of Cocoon especially since they could get infected by the Pulse Fal'Cie and get mark by their branch becoming a Cieth'. Cieth and Pulsians are nothing but scum they are the enemy and they are to be eliminated on the spot that was the rule of the Sanctum, they are a threat to them and their people no exceptions. They have already placed an important law when it comes to people who have come in contact with anyone from Pulse, in which the decree had its dark secrets followed by the true intentions of the Fal'Cie.
(Scene change)
(Location: local district Cocoon Bodhum region)
As the people walked by enjoying another peaceful day glad that they had another chance to live, one among them was also enjoying his wish that he was alive. He was just another person among the crowd or that's what anyone might think just by looking at him, he didn't really look your average Joe. The stranger was quite tall his height was probably 6'5 he seemed to be in his early twenties with spiky dark hair he was wearing a pair of dark shades in rectangular shape that covered his entire eyes all the way to the back of his head. A black leather jacket which it was zipped up completely, long dark blue cargo pants with leather black boots his right hand was wearing a black leather glove while his left hand wasn't but he was wearing a brown bracelet with small line designs. The most noticeable thing about him was probably the long looking staff strapped on his back it was covered by a cloth it was also strapped around his chest it really worked the curiosity of the people passing him by wondering what it was.
He went to a nearby café in a corner entering the place he saw the place looking quite fancy. The people were usual talking enjoying a cup of their preferred drink of choice, just a regular sight for this kind of place. He got seated in the long counter of the place he was quickly greeted by one of the hostess he made his order which it was a cup of tea, minutes later she came back smiling kindly to him as she gave him the cup. He smiled back giving her the necessary gil to pay for it he only stayed there for five minutes before he drank the tea, leaving the café he continued walking east of the district.
He walked calmly looking like he had a lot on his mind he was well aware at the people around him, one in particular caught his interest as it was a regular family a man and his wife with two kids a boy and a girl, he was only paying attention to the two siblings they were obviously blood related. He reacted to the brother and sister sight as he stopped walking in thought once again, he sighed taking a deep breath and resumed his walking forgetting the family as they walked pass him. Passing a tall building he finally reached what he was looking for there was a flower shop next to the building he walked gazing at the glass, he followed with entering the shop it caught his attention that there was only an older man who seemed in his late fifties. He was the only one working at the shop which made him lowered his head in disappointment, finally the older man saw him at the entrance of his shop.
"She's not here either…." his eyes softened.
"Welcome is there anything you like let me know?" he greeted with a smile.
"Thank you but I didn't came here to buy flowers they do smell lovely though."
"I have been taking care of them well you won't find flowers as beautiful as the ones in my shop" he smiled proudly.
"I can tell just by judging from the smell they have such a sweet scent, flowers are beautiful depending on the smell they produce it's not always about their physical appearance."
"You have quite a way to judge flowers young man."
"I am one who appreciates inner beauty, one can tell the beauty of things if you look at them with the eyes of your heart. People are truly beautiful if you look at them from the inside than the outside, you can say I have this ability to see in their hearts…."
The flower shop seller looked very impress giving another smile" you're very wise for your age."
"I merely speak what I feel when it comes to my mind, that is all."
"Are you sure you don't want to buy a flower I would be honored if you do?"
The stranger gave a small smile" on second thought I will you have been taking care of all these flowers and this shop, I am honored to buy from you."
"Likewise my friend what would it be then?"
"I would like a white sunflower please."
"White sunflower?" he blinked in surprise.
"Yes there's a group of them on the back of your shop."
The older man was more surprised" what how do you know they are way back from my shop, I need more space so I can put them on display?"
"I can smell their fresh scent from here" he smiled.
He chuckled" that's quite a nose you have there, my friend very well one white sunflower coming right up."
He went to the back of his shop and picked one of the many sun white flowers coming back to the counter as the stranger has taken out his wallet ready to pay for the flower.
"How much it will be?"
"That will be all right young man since you have impressed me with your wise nature and your nose I will give you the flower on the house."
"That's not right I would like to pay for it."
"It's all right I don't mind you have earn it my friend."
"I insist it will be appropriate that I pay for such a well taken care flower, I have enough gil with me."
"I said it's all right I don't mind if you have it for free."
"But I do so how much?"
The flower shop owner laughed" fine young lad I tried to be humble with you that'll be 30 gil."
"Here you go" he gave him the money.
The older man wrapped the white sunflower in soft purple paper as he handed to him" here you go lad."
"Thank you."
"By the way lad I haven't seen you around these parts before, are you new in Cocoon?"
"I'm just passing by….I'm a drifter."
"A drifter?"
He opened the door of the shop ready to leave" thank you for the flower have a nice day."
"You too lad…."
The drifter was already gone while the older man smiled" what a kind lad I am impressed, he was able to smell the scent of the white sunflowers with such ease at a far distance. It's hard for anyone to do such thing with all the scents of the other flowers mixing together he's one interesting young lad indeed."
(Scene change)
The drifter smiled as he was holding the white sunflower he just recently bought it was a nice flower indeed. He walked through the streets while putting the flower on one of his jacket pockets carefully without putting any harm to it, he was happy to meet the flower shop owner. He knew they were so many kind hearted and nice people in Cocoon that is why it was worth to protect this world they were just living their daily lives to the fullest and it was the right thing to protect from any kind of danger, even if that danger could come from Pulse. The Sanctum will protect them although he wasn't very fond of the military organization in his own opinion the Fal'Cie weren't to be trusted, he had a bad feeling that they had some hidden motives and they were hiding it from the people of Cocoon. He couldn't put his finger on it but whatever they were planning in the dark it was nothing good.
He suddenly stopped as his ear perked picking up something he walked ahead arriving to a small park there was a playground for the children to play. He heard sobbing coming not too far from the playground, when he arrived there on one of the swings there was little girl who seemed to be around seven with brown hair and hazel eyes wearing a white dress and white sneakers with hearts decorated on them. The little girl has been crying for a while because of her red eyes from sobbing too much the drifter has slowly approached not wanting to scare her.
"What's wrong little one?"
She looked at him with gasp she was already scare staring at him.
"It's all right I'm not going to hurt you, you can trust me I promise" he gave her a smile.
"I….I'm scare…."
"I know you must be with the way you've been crying why don't you tell me what's wrong perhaps I can help you?"
"I can't find my mommy…."
"You're lost?"
She nodded" I was walking with my mommy I wanted play in the park but she said no, I sneaked away and left. Now I'm all scared I miss my mommy I'm so scare."
"It's all right don't cry anymore I will help you find her."
Her eyes lit up" you mean you're going to help me find my mommy?"
"Yes so don't worry I will do whatever I can to bring you together with her."
"Yay thank so much Mr." she cheered smiled widely.
"Do you remember the last place you were with her?"
"We we're going to this café that's all I know…."
He nodded taking her hand" I know of a café just around the corner from here, I was just there moments ago let's get going."
"Thanks Mr…."
They walked off from the play ground and from the park heading to the streets of the city. The drifter already knew where to go since he has already passed to the street where the café was located he just drank some tea at that particular place. He turned his head to the little girl she was smiling because she wasn't alone and because someone has volunteered to search for her mother, she felt very comfortable being with him.
"May I ask for your name?"
"It's Aerith" she replied still smiling she already like being with the dark haired stranger.
"Aerith that's a pretty name" his comment made her giggle" all right Aerith I would like for you to describe me your mother."
"You mean what she looks like?"
"You're very smart yes I must know her appearance so I can tell if it's her."
"She has long chocolate hair and she's little big she has been eating a lot lately, she's wearing a blue dress….I don't remember the rest."
"I see hmm…."
"The clues she has given me are not good enough I need more, something more solid. There are probably dozens of women in Cocoon with those descriptions…."
"Aerith can you tell me something more about your mother, something that you can remember about her…."
"Like what?"
"I don't know something that caught your attention about her I really don't know how to explain it to you."
"I just can't ask her to describe me her voice it's impossible for a child to describe someone else's voice."
Aerith was in deep thought before she smiled" I do remember something my mommy is stinky."
"What?" the drifter blinked caught off guard by the little girl's comment.
"My mommy bought this perfume and is very smelly I can't get close to her because it's stinky."
"Perfume….yes that will be enough for me?" he smiled.
"Aerith don't worry I assure you I will find your mother."
(Scene change)
The drifter along with Aerith arrived at the café he was earlier he was still holding the little girl's hand making sure he didn't lost her. He entered the place and started gazing around searching for the woman that resembled the girl's descriptions however he was using his nose smelling for a scent. The scent of a woman's perfume he knew women will put on perfume for special occasions so he went to the conclusion that she was wearing a fancy dress because she was coming to some kind of party, it also explained why Aerith was wearing a fancy dress too. He stopped sniffing after a couple of minutes there was no scent of woman's perfume inside of the café, he sighed as he left the place with the little girl. He walked a few steps away from the café before he sniffed something and smiled, he looked down at the little girl who looked like she was worried because she missed her mother.
"Aerith does your mother's perfume smells like flowers?"
"Yes"
"I found her."
"Where?" she replied excited.
He kept his smile" she's right behind us."
"Aerith!"
The little girl reacted hearing her name as turned around and went to tears" mommy!"
She ran to her as the woman who looked in her early thirties hugged her so tightly was in tears" where have you been I was searching for you everywhere I was worried sick that something bad happened to you I spent hours searching nonstop?"
"I'm sorry mommy" she burst into tears hugging her at the women's emotional outburst.
"Don't you ever do that to me again!" she kept on crying.
"I won't mommy but this Mr. right here helped me find you."
The woman gazed at the stranger with a smile" is that true did you really helped my daughter when she needed help?"
"It was nothing I'm glad I was able to help her" he smiled.
She smiled walking to him" thank you so much I am in your debt how can I ever repay you?"
"Please there is no need for that I am just happy I helped her, I was just helping a little girl find her mother that's all there is to it…."
"But at any rate I feel like I should thank you for your kind deed, me and Aerith are on our way to a party there will be food there if you feel hungry then I don't mind inviting you."
"I will have to politely decline but thanks for the invitation I appreciate it."
"Very well" she nodded staring at him with so much affection in her eyes she couldn't help it if he was very attractive.
"I must be on my way then nice meeting you and you too Aerith" he smiled before turning his back and started walking off.
"Bye Mr.!"
"Wait can I at least know your name?" asked the woman.
He stopped walking looking back at the two he felt like not wanting to get too much attention" I apologize but I'm just a drifter…."
He finally left not giving a chance to the woman to ask another word to him although she would never forget him because he helped her to get reunited with her daughter.
"A drifter….?"
(Scene change)
The drifter was happy that he was able to helped Aerith get back to her mother it went a lot quicker than he thought. However as much as he was enjoying his travel he still hasn't found what he was looking for, which he has been a while searching for it or perhaps it wasn't an object but rather someone. He lowered his gaze wondering if he will ever find that person he's been longing for so long, he was so much in deep thought that he didn't realized that he was walking through the same route where the flower shop he visited earlier was located. He suddenly stopped walking looking around he felt strange he could feel that something was not right, he had a bad feeling in his gut or maybe it was his intuition bothering him when usually when he gets this feeling he's always right.
"I don't like this feeling something is not right…."
His feeling got worse as he near the flower shop when he arrived he got alarmed as he heard gasps and whimpering coming from someone, he recognized the voice of the owner of the flower shop. The older man was so nervous probably terrified as he was staring at two men wearing yellow and white military uniform with masks of the same color holding powerful looking assault rifles they were definitely not ordinary soldiers. The drifter kept himself at the corner from the entrance of the shop as he took a peek at what was going on, he already knew that whatever it was, it was nothing good the flower shop owner was obviously in trouble. He decided to wait a little longer to see what was going on why are these men here especially when they were both armed he continued to listen at their conversation.
"Please I haven't done anything wrong I'm just a regular person trying to make a living like everyone else…."
"Quiet you we will decide that" one of the men in uniform said.
"I only sell flowers what could you possibly want from me?" he was starting to panic.
"Hands up!" the second guard ordered pointing his rifle to him.
"Please I beg of you if I did something wrong just tell me already I don't want to die!"
The drifter was still listening and he wasn't a bit happy he felt like going there and beat some sense into those two but he was patient and decided to continue listening.
"Identification…."
The older man nodded quickly taking a plastic card from his wallet" here it is."
The same man in uniform pointing his rifle took the card reading it before he threw it harshly at the ground, he pointed his rifle at him again" this Cocoon citizen card expired a year ago!"
"Forgive me I haven't had time to fill the documents to register another card but with that old card you can tell I'm an official citizen of Cocoon, that's proof enough for you right?"
"Not enough we need a new citizen card with the latest information, your old one is not proof enough."
"No please…."
"Shut up we already know all about you, from our data base we know that your parents were Pulsians that immigrate to Cocoon years ago you were a child back then which means you were born on Pulse. And since you don't have a Cocoon citizen card active then you know what that means?" said the first soldier.
The flower shop owner's eyes widened in terror at the realization" no please don't I…."
"Enough you're an illegal immigrant from Pulse which means you're going back to your original home via the Purge train."
"No I beg of you don't!"
"If you refuse then we will have no choice but to use force on you."
"But you're with PSICOM you're suppose to help the people of Cocoon?" replied the older man.
"Quiet arrest him already and if he refuses shoot him!"
"So this is how PSICOM treats the same people they have sworn to protect I'm disappointed?"
"What?"
The soldiers and the flower shop owner turned to see the Drifter standing at the door way if they could see his eyes they will see that he was glaring at the two PSICOM soldiers" there will always be people who will abuse their power and authority on the innocent, even Cocoon is not as perfect to as the people claimed to be, there will always be corruption…."
"Who are you?" asked one of the PSICOM soldiers.
"This man right here may have been born on Pulse but there's no need to condemned him to the Purge, I believe in one of your laws it clearly explains if a Cocoon citizen leaves to Pulse and is associated with the Fal'Cie getting infected from said word then they will have to choice but to stay there, in order to prevent said person from possibly infecting anyone from Cocoon with the Pulse brand mark. This man hasn't left Cocoon since he got here when he was a child isn't that right?"
The older man nodded" that 's right I have stayed here since I arrived with my family, I have no intention of returning to Pulse I don't want to die, less becoming an I'Cieth."
The two soldiers looked at each other for a moment before looking back at the flower shop owner.
"He does have a point that law is written in one of the Sanctum's amendments."
"What should we do now?
"We do need one more passenger to fill the Purge train."
The drifter heard him and glared at him he was now in a bad mood" so that's it you two have been searching for people to fill the Purge train, then you somehow blackmailed them giving them no choice but to go with you that's even more illegal than threatening a Cocoon civilian."
"That's none of your business!" one of the soldiers snapped at him.
"We have been given orders to find anyone suspicious on in contact with Pulse we must protect Cocoon from any I'Cieth threat."
"I will make it my business if it means the safety of the people of Cocoon."
"You don't look PSICOM to us and you don't seem to be with the Sanctum guardian corps for the matter who are you?"
The drifter didn't answered not feeling like telling his name while one of the PSICOM soldiers has taken a small hand held computer and started tipping something, he really wasn't looking for any trouble since he was just passing by minding his own business.
"What's your name?" asked the soldier with the computer.
"…"
"Answer me!"
He glared at him" Seiryu Cerbiros…."
The soldier nodded tipping his name on the computer before he looked at the solder then back at him" your name is not in our records."
"Where's your identification?" asked the other soldier pointing his rifle at him.
"I don't have one…."
The owner of the flower shop was shocked he really felt sorry for him since he was kind enough to help him from being sent to the Purge, now it seems the drifter Seiryu was going to take his place.
"You don't have a Cocoon citizen card are you from Pulse?"
"I don't have a home in particular I'm always traveling from one spot to another, I'm a drifter."
"A drifter….?"
One of the soldiers got closer to the other one" if he's a drifter then he must have been on Pulse who knows if he had contact with the Fal'Cie, yet I don't think he could have a Pulse brand mark on him."
"This isn't good…." he thought giving a sigh.
"Either way he's not an official citizen of Cocoon he's an illegal immigrant."
"Looks like we have found our last passenger for the Purge train" the other soldier whispered back.
One of the soldiers walked to him pointing his rifle" don't move, you're coming with us."
"I beg your pardon?" Seiryu didn't like where this was going.
"I said you're coming with us you have earned yourself one way ticket to Pulse."
"You're condemning me to the Purge you don't even know if I'm connected to Pulse my information doesn't appear on your records what makes you think I'm Purge material?"
"Well if you feel that way" one soldier pointed his rifle to the owner of the flower shop making him gasped" either is you or the old man."
"You're threatening me by going to him?" Seiryu was really upset.
"It's up to you either you give yourself in or the old man gets it was it going to be?"
"I can't risk him getting hurt because of me neither me becoming a threat to the security of Cocoon….I don't have a choice then."
He slowly nodded" all right I'll go with you…."
One of the soldiers nodded" put your hands on the front."
The drifter did as he was told as the PSICOM soldier put handcuffs on him arresting him.
"What's that on your back?" asked the second soldier pointing to the clothed staff looking thing strapped on his back.
"It's my weapon…."
"Then it's ours from now on" he took the thing from his back taking off the cloth covering it.
It was a sword in its sheath it was a katana type blade. The sheath was colored black as well as the handle of the sword Seiryu was glaring at the PSICOM soldier holding the weapon with so much anger like he wanted to kill him.
"Be careful with it, it's very precious to me" he was obviously referring to the katana.
"Like it would matter it doesn't belong to you anymore."
"Put this on now" the second soldier handed him a cloaked hood with strange designs on the hood area.
"I'm really sorry lad" thought the owner of the flower shop.
The drifter sighed as he put on the cloak" this isn't exactly what I had in mind for my travel to Cocoon."
"Let's go" replied the PSICOM soldier.
(Scene change time skip)
(Location: Cocoon train station Bodhum region)
The two PSICOM soldiers apprehending Seiryu arrived at the checking station heading to the train terminal. They have met up with another group of soldiers before showing them that they had another candidate for the Purge, they nodded allowing them to pass. The drifter was quiet right now he felt like there was no need to talk he knew he was in trouble he has heard rumors about it. From what he has heard people were really afraid of the Purge because it was an event where they are exile from Cocoon forever, never to return to the so called human paradise. Those who are sent to the Purge sadly never return or never heard off again he obviously thought the worst case scenario that they were cursed by Pulse Fal'Cie giving them the brand mark turning them into I'Cieth. Once that happens they were two choices the cursed soul had to choose, he didn't try to think about that now.
Now here he was about to board a Purge train heading to Pulse bound to never return to Cocoon, his day couldn't get any worse. He erased the last thought as he arrived to the station where the train was stationed waiting to be aboard by the condemned citizens of Bodhum who have been exiled to Pulse. He noticed that the people who were going to the Purge were probably wearing the same cloak as him it was obviously done to tell that they were the exiles to the lower world. He had no intention of witnessing the events of the Purge escaping was the only thing on his mind but he knew he couldn't risk the innocent people without causing an incident that might result in causing their lives in addition tat his sword was confiscated by PSICOM, it seems he was in a tight spot. The soldiers lead him to the large lined of citizen who were about to board the train, he gave another sigh the third one on this day.
"Next stop Pulse it seems…."
(Scene change)
Not too far from Seiryu's location there was another line of people about to board the train, they were being supervised by a group of PSICOM soldiers. Next to the line there were two soldiers checking on two individuals who weren't wearing Purge hooded cloaks one of them was a woman in her early twenties with pink hair, blue eyes and she was wearing a guardian corps uniform she was obviously a soldier of the Sanctums military branch on her lower back she had a sheath strapped on her with a silver type weapon that seems like a sword. The second individual next to her was a man in his early thirties with dark skin and afro wearing a green pilot uniform on his legs he had two pistols strapped on his pants. The two faced the soldiers ready to go with them both have already made their choice and there was no turning back now.
The afro haired man got close to the pink haired soldier" you sure you want to do this?"
"If you're having second thoughts now it will be a good time to leave, I didn't force you to accompany me" she replied in a harsh tone.
He sighed of course he knew the reason why he was doing but he didn't know why she was doing this, he still didn't know much about and it was hard to know since she wasn't very talkative.
"Where we're going is no happy paradise but I want to go through with this I just hope it's a quiet ride…."
"For Dajh I must…."
"You want quiet, you better take the nex train."
"Who are you?" finally a PSICOM soldier went to them.
"I'm Lightning sergeant of Sanctum's guardian corps from the Bodhum security regiment."
"I'm just a pilot and the name is Sazh Katzroy" replied the afro haired man.
"Yes we have heard a lot from you Lighting you're quite famous among both Sanctum and PSICOM forces."
"For what reason you have come here?" another soldier came to them getting next to the other.
"I'm here to give myself in to the Purge we have been in contact with Pulse Fal'Cie."
"I sure hope I don't regret this man" thought Sazh concerned.
The two soldiers were taken back by the sudden information but they nodded.
"Then you're coming aboard too."
"I know…."
"Remove yourselves of your weapons" said the other soldier.
She nodded taking the weapon strapped on her back, revealing to be a gun blade she handed it to one of the soldiers while the afro haired man removed his two pistols following the pink haired soldier handing them to the second soldier. Another PSICOM soldier came to them holding two of the Purge cloaks he gave them to the two individuals, they had no choice now as they put on the hooded cloaks. One of the soldiers guided them to the line next to them they will be boarding the Purge train along with the rest of the exiled citizens. Lightning keep her eyes on the front as the train door slid opened and the hooded people started moving boarding the train it was official that the Purge has begun, their next stop was officially the lower world Pulse.
"Hold on Serah I'm coming…."
Both of them started moving along with the line to board the train while on another line not too far from them, the second line also started moving. PSICOM has started boarding the population of Budhom it was the first sign of the Purge Seiryu was moving with the second line wishing he would have gotten to another city in Cocoon rather than this one. Now he has gotten himself in quite a lot of trouble out of one mess and into another, today just wasn't his lucky day. Little did he know that his whole life will change the second he will board the military Purge train, his fate was about to decided.
To be continued
There first chapter done I know I'm well known for writing long chapters with over ten thousand words in them, but maybe I'm making an exception with this story. I will make them short in order to update sooner than expected I do also have to update other stories, it also depends how famous this story might become but if it doesn't I will still update. On another topic what's with the pairings in the FFXIII section of the site almost all of them are yuri pairings (shudders from fear) it's written in my profile page I don't like yaoi or yuri so I have a right to whine about this but come on Lightning/Fang has a lot of stories as well as Fang/Vanille and the most scary of them all Lightning/Serah (I personally think this one is completely sick because they are sisters eww how do you feel if you have to kiss your brother or sister on the lips O_O).
At least there's also Lighting/Hope however I don't like this pairing due to the big age difference and also because I see them in the game and they are like siblings. It's obvious that Light sees Hope as a little brother and he sees her as an older sister too, she's probably second family to him after his mother died. But anyway don't get angry to the yaoi and yuri fans I don't have a problem with those kinds of stories I just don't read them. I don't want to get hate mail after this. so everything is cool no biggie The only thing that bugged me of the game is that Lightning didn't got herself a boyfriend she should have at least found someone and get together with him, but oh well that's what fan fiction is for right? Please hit the review button and tell me what you think of the story so far. I will see you all next time farewell.
PS: yes I did used the reference name of Aerith from FFVII on the little girl just in case you're wondering.
Next time: Purge