When It Starts To Fall

Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy

"So then, I picked him up over my shoulder, Because he was so small and light, And carried him through the city, You should have seen his face! Cheeks red and all puffed up! It was hilarious!" Tasmine said, Walking side by side down the street with the other girl and laughed at the stories she was telling, Mostly to embarrass Mateus.

Celilia let out a laugh, Picturing what the blonde described in her mind, All of her stories so far focused around the Prince, The two of them must be extremely close, She thought, Smiling up at the older girl beside her. "He must have been so embarrassed. Being carried around by a girl." She said and chuckled.

"He was, He always is, Embarrassing him is my talent, Though recently he's been looking at me in a different way, Because we're growing up. It's really rather cute, The way his eyes change when he sees me." The blonde said with a smile, Thinking back earlier, The way he was staring at her so drawn in.

Their conversation was cut off by the sound of a woman's scream nearby, They both looked over to see a crowd of people gathered around in a circle as the Emperor was seen walking away just before. Tasmine walked ahead of Celilia towards the crowd, Pushing through to get a look at what they were looking at.

Her eyes went wide and she pushed straight into the middle. "Mateus!" She screamed, Kneeling at his side and rolled him other, Gasping at the sight of all the bruises and blood covering him. "Mateus! Mateus!" She looked terrified and shifted him into her arms and stood, Running home, Feeling her mother would be there.

She carried him into her house, Laying him down on the mat. "Mother! Mother are you here!?" She called, Hearing footsteps in the other room moving in response to her voice.

"What's wrong dear?" Katsina replied from another room, Putting things away before she walked out into the hall, Her eyes widened at the sight, Rushing to her daughter's side. "What happened!? Move him over to one of the beds!" She instructed, Helping her daughter lift and carry the prince into the bedroom and rest him on Tasmine's bed.

Tasmine paced around the room in fear, Her mother had rushed out to inform Airu, Leaving the children together. She walked over to the bed and sat on the edge, Looking at her best friend. "Mateus... Mateus..." She repeated, Starting to cry. Until she felt his hand move over here and close over it. "Ta... Tasmine... It's alright..." He said weakly.

Airu ran in a few minutes later, Rushing to her son's side. "Mateus! Oh god! What did he do to you!" She cried, Hugging her son in her arms, Sobbing loud. "No! No No no! That bastard is going to pay! He's going to pay!" She screamed and cried.

Tasmine moved away from the bed and watched quietly, With no idea what to say or do.

Katsina walked over and placed a hand on Airu's shoulder. "Airu... You two can't go back there again... You should take Mateus and leave.. Leave and never come back..." She said and hugged her friends back. "I'll help you. I promise."

Airu didn't reply, Pulling away from her friend and her son, Getting off the bed and walked out of the room, Ignoring Katsina calling, Just walking back to the palace in a haze, A blank expression on her face and fresh tears still sliding down her face.

She headed towards the dining room, Knowing he'd be in there around this time. She pushed the doors open and stared at her husband sitting at the head of the table.

Osvaldo looked back at her when she walked in. "Airu... You're late for dinner... Mateus not joining us?" He asked, With a calm expression, Watching her walk around the table towards him without a word. "What's the matter with you Airu? Have you lose your tongue? Why are you so quiet?"

Airu stopped right in front of him, Still staring at him, Making him growl at her continued silence and glaring.

"Airu!" He yelled, Getting ready to slap her. Suddenly a intense pain ripped through him, Looking down at where the dinner knife he was going to use was buried into his stomach. As a reflex he lashed out, Backhanding her across the face so she stumbled back, Steadying herself and ran out of the room as he attempted to get up and called for the guards

A few hours later, Airu ran back into Katsina's house, With blood staining her hands and dress. Katsina gasped at the sight of her, Running over and hugged her. "Oh my god! Airu what happened to you!?"

Airu sobbed and clung to her friend. It was late, Both kids would be asleep by now. "I... I tried to kill him... But... I didn't hit the right place and he..." Airu continued clinging to her and started crying more.

Katsina sighed, Getting the idea of what had happened, Shame she didn't succeed in killing the bastard. "It will be alright Airu... We'll leave... Leave right now... Let me wake the kids... We'll go and start a new better life somewhere else." She said, Trying to cheer up the Empress and went to her daughter's room to wake her up.

A bag was packed with things they'd need and the two women took their children, Running out of the building as fast as they could, Taking a carriage as they attempted to flee the city.

Katsina looked over at Airu cradling her son as close to her as possible. "Airu..." She sighed, Turning her head to look at her own daughter. She looked uncomfortable, Still clearly upset and shaken up by all this. "Try to relax Tasmine..." She said, Rubbing the girls shoulder to try and comfort her.

They were traveling for nearly a hour on the way out until the carriage came to a sudden halt. Katsina moved over to the window and looked out. "What's going on?" She saw a bunch of guards blocking the path.

"Emperors orders, Nobodies allowed to leave the city...Everybody out!" One guard ordered. Opening the door of the carriage and guided them out one by one, Escorting them back to the castle.

Osvaldo sat on his throne, Tapping his fingers on the side of the throne in annoyance, With a bandage showing though other his chest from the stab wound as the two women were brought in, He scowled at them. "Is this some sort of conspiracy? My wife makes a attempt on my life and then you.. Lady Katsina, Help her attempt to flee the city..." He looked at them, Both completely silent.

"Not only that, But you tried to take my son away from me. I can't let this go unpunished." He stood up and walked over to them, Looking at Katsina and tilted her chin back. "I always treated you well, Max was a good friend of mine, I made sure you and your daughter were well looked after when he died. And now you betray me..." He raised a hand and slapped her across the face.

Katsina didn't react. Just looking up at him. "The man my husband viewed as his friend, Is not you... Your a tyrant... Abusive power blind old fool!" She spoke, Looking at Airu with sympathy that they were caught. Her promise broken. She wanted to hug her.

"Take her away!" The Emperor ordered, Watching the guards grab Katsina by her arms and drag her out of the room before turning to his wife. "And you... Even you Airu... You betrayed me to... And you'll share in her fate... Guards..." He turned his back, Going back to the throne when he heard her yell out to him and turned around again, Looking back at her.

"I'm tired of this... This way of life..." Mateus sighed. Kicking his legs back and forth on the bed. Tasmine just was sitting in a chair nearby. "I'm so tired of being helpless... I want us to be strong... Tasmine..." He looked over at her.

She didn't reply, Thinking about her mother... Fearing the worst, She already lost her father, If she lost her mother now to.. It would be to much for her handle... She sighed. How long had been now since they were brought back up here? She wanted. Needed to know what was happening.. "Mateus... I'm scared.. What if mother..."

He got off the bed and went to her side instantly, Hugging her. "No, Don't think like that Tasmine... You can't think like that... Everything will be alright... You'll see..." He whispered in her ear, Trying to comfort her.

They were awoke the following morning by a guard, Walking inside. "Emperor wants you both out on the balcony. Now. Let's go.." He ordered, Pulling the two kids off the bed and pushing them ahead of him to the balcony overseeing the courtyard where the Emperor waited.

Tasmine eyed the man with caution and stepped off the side, Keeping a distance between them, As Mateus standing next to her before looking over the balcony and felt her heart stop, Seeing her mother in the centre, Restrained. "No... No mother!" She turned and ran back inside, Heading for the exit to reach her.

"Tasmine!" Mateus called and ran after her. "Tasmine come back!"

Osvaldo looked down at Katsina with spite. "By royal degree, For the crime of betraying me and Palamecia, I hereby condemn you, Lady Katsina, To be drawn and quartered..." He raised his hand to signal to was time and watched as the woman screamed.

Tasmine finally found her way out into the courtyard and ran to her mother. "Calling for her. Feeling Mateus catch up to her and hold her back. "Let me go! Let me go! I need to go to her! Mother! Please!" She cried

Mateus just held onto to her. "I'm sorry Tasmine... I'm sorry... There's nothing you can do..." He glared up at his father hatefully before looking back at Tasmine and whispered back to her. "But somehow, Someday, We will make him pay... We will make them all pay..."

Tasmine stayed there throughout the night, By her mothers side the whole time, Mateus not to far away. She looked up when she heard the Empress call her name and approach her. "Tasmine, I'm so sorry." She mumbled.

Tasmine glared at her through tears and stood up, Slapping her. "This is your fault! You killed her! You killed my mother! It's all your fault! I hate you! I hate you!" She yelled, Slapping the woman again and again in a fit of rage.

Mateus ran over and grabbed Tasmine's hand. "Tasmine stop." He hugged her close and looked at his mother. "She's right... This is your fault... You got Katsina involved and now she's dead... I hope your proud of yourself..."

Airu looked at him. "No... She was my best friend... If I could take it back. I would, I would take it all back... I know there's no way I can make this better... But... I wish you both the best... Mateus, I love you, I always will, I want you to remember that." She looked down, Her heart aching at the way her son was looking at her and turned to leave, Knowing she might never get to see him again.

Mateus watched her go, Not understanding why she was speaking like that. As if he wouldn't see her again in few hours. It's not important, He looked back at Tasmine. Hugging her close as she continued crying in his arms.