Final Fantasy XX - Page 20

**Avankiri** · 05-18-2008, 02:36 AM

Seifer thought quietly. There was nothing here that could be offered...Except...."A warm bath would be nice, actually..."

Haruhi smiled and began to drag Seifer off. "Ok, handsome. You can come take one with me. And just so you know, the baths are co-ed."

Seifer meeped and batted furiously at Haruhi, then ran from her grip, hiding his bulk behind Makoto. "No thanks. I'd rather let Raine have me than take a bath with you!"

Haruhi looked a bit sad. "Are you saying I look less attractive than Makoto here?"

Seifer felt a little caught. He coulda sworn Haruhi was just screwing with him, but he was a little afraid to test such waters. "Umm...You both look gorgeous, but I can't say who looks better..."

~That night~

Seifer sat a bit away from Makoto in the group's room, sighing as he dried his hair off, yawning softly. "Jeeze, that woman's crazy...It's like she thinks I'm some sort of celebrity or something, sheesh!"

About that time, Haruhi sat quietly in her room, brushing her long hair and humming to herself. "Haha...Poor Seifer, he just doesn't get it. It's not about him, it's about her. The whole world now revolves around that Summoner's fingertips...Should she fail, the world will belong to Raine...My job as a village leader is to make sure the Summoner gets as close to the Paladin as possible. Isn't that right, Sir Alastor?"

Alastor smiled softly and patted Haruhi softly on the shoulder. "Yes, child, that is your job. If the two of them can learn to care for each other past a certain degree, then all our hopes of burying Raine forever will finally be realized, and Final Fantasy will be ours."

**Day Late** · 05-18-2008, 05:59 AM

Makoto ran her fingers slowly through her wet hair, she had said little since Haruhi had spoken so freely to Seifer. Makoto didn't know what it was, but she did all she could to tell herself it wasn't jelousy. She'd never really been that sort of person, to get all upitty over someone, but that feeling was deffinately close enough. Was that a bad thing? After all, She had no reason to belive he felt that way about her. So why would she let it bother her?

Mentally she laugh to herself, shaking her head lightly, attempting to make this into some sort of good thing. After a moment, she pushed herself to her feet and walk toward the door. "I'm going out for air." She said softly to no one in particular. "Don't worry 'bout me, I wont be far or anything, I just need... Some nice cool air." Slowly, she pull the door shut behind her and softly tred away, inhaleing the cool air.

It really was nice out, and things seemed all the more peaceful after the events of today, so there was no real reason to worry about being out at night... Besides.. Everyone here seem to adore her, but she just couldn't really understand why.. She wasn't that important.. Or so she thought...

**Avankiri** · 05-18-2008, 01:23 PM

The air was silent. Even the sound of the birds seemed to stop as...he approached. Raine's black eyes turned softly to Silimar as he slowly swam to it. He dared not attack the Summoner. Alone, she was more powerful than any other force in the world. He merely looked upon her as his massive body slid along the water of the harbor. If only they knew the trouble he'd cause them...

Seifer yawned and slowly walked outside too. He stretched and proceeded to sit down on Haruhi's porch, his thoughts turned to the conversation earlier. Sure, he liked Makoto alot. Sure, if they were still in Asgard and none of this had ever happened, he might have asked her out for dinner or something. But none of that might ever happen. Now, he was simply her guardian. That was all.

Raine continued to look upon Makoto, staring her directly in the eyes. Then, he turned his massive body and slowly swam away.

**Blackhauck** · 05-18-2008, 02:18 PM

Riki was still loving his transformation when he started to walk around to see how strong he has gotten. "Hmm that was i wonder what i can do." Riki stated to to pull his bow and aim at a bird until he remembered he would die if he killed one."

**blizzarddog5** · 05-18-2008, 03:11 PM

Cloud Considered peeking in on the girls bath then thought." eh nothing worht looking at." then he approached riki "looks like your dying to test out your new powers. wanna have a friendly sparring match?"

**Avankiri** · 05-18-2008, 04:02 PM

Seifer walked slowly back inside, his thoughts drifting ever so slowly back to the beginning of this strange jounrey, then farther still...

"Papa? Hey, Papa?" A young boy tugged softly at his father's coat as the man stood in the door, prepared to leave with two others, one in a black cloak, and the other in a red robe. "Papa, you'll be coming back, right?"

The man turned to face his beloved son, smiling softly. He knelt and picked up the 5 year old Seifer, holding him close. "Seifer...If I don't make it back, you must promise me that you'll listen to your mother and your big sister. If I don't mkae it back, you'll be the man of the house...And when the time comes, you'll find me again...Seifer, my dear, sweet boy...Do your father this little favor, and live. Protect those you care most for...Even if they die, protect the memory of them having been there...That is your duty as a son of the Okai family."

Alastor took the boy from his father's hands and smiled softly at him. A single tear welled in his eye. "Young one...Some day, you will become a great and noble warrior, built on compassion and total empathy...Some day, you will fight Raine, too...Just as we go to do now...But until that time comes, always remember: It's darkest just before dawn."

The red robed woman walked slowly up to Seifer and smiled, holding him next. "Seifer, there will come a day when you must protect someone important to you...That someone will be a Summoner, of all things...But she will still be my daughter...I hope you can do your best in protecting her with your life...Ok?"

Seifer nodded softly and wiped his eyes of their tears. "I gonna miss you..." He was set back on the ground, and the three people walked away. His father turned back just once before disappearing into the mist, never to be seen again.

Seifer sat up and gasped. He had fallen asleep in the hallway. He sighed and slowly stood, walking with his hand on the wall for support. "Thank you...Father." He sat slowly on his bed once he got back to the group's suite, thinking to himself.

**Blackhauck** · 05-18-2008, 04:08 PM

Riki thought hard about the sparring match and decided to decline. "I want to use my full power against something i can kill." He started to walk around for a little bit to clean his mind.

**Avankiri** · 05-18-2008, 07:45 PM

The night seemed to pass them all by. When morning came, Sefier packed up all of their things, ate breakfast with everyone, then walked to the ship and looked at the map, speaking in whispered tones with Amari.

Amari burst out laughing and began to cough, having been taking a drink at the moment. "You can't be serious, Seifer! You really wanna go there?!?!"

Seifer nodded. "It's one place we need to go...Even if it's just a ruin now...And besides, I wanna check something out...Please?"

Amari sighed. "If we die, I'm kicking your ass when we get to Heaven..." He coughed and hollared out to the group and his crew. "Prepare yourselves, lads and lady! We shove off...For Asgard..."

The crew practically groaned. They never went there anymore, what with the Fish Guardian always on the lookout for prey...But they obeyed their captain's orders. Within moments, they were back in the air, flying over the sea towards Asgard.

**Blackhauck** · 05-18-2008, 08:08 PM

Riki noticed the ship start to move. He looked for Seifer. Riki saw him. "Hey Seifer where are we going this time?"

**Avankiri** · 05-18-2008, 08:25 PM

(Dude, Amari just shouted to everyone where they were going...)

**Blackhauck** · 05-18-2008, 08:27 PM

(my guy doesnt pay attention)

**Avankiri** · 05-18-2008, 08:38 PM

(That's sad...)

Seifer turned his head. "We're heading home. Back to Asgard. I've got a hunch about something we can find there...A summon spirit, to be exact..."

**blizzarddog5** · 05-18-2008, 08:42 PM

"Riki your lack of sense amazes even me. A fish guardian you say? this should be interesting."

**Day Late** · 05-19-2008, 08:25 PM

||I was going to ask, What happen to the Great Owl, Didn't it say it would help us with our journey? :3

Also, did Alastor end up coming with us?||

Makoto stood at the bow, staring off toward nothing in particular, her arms crossed loosely over her chest. 'Asgard.' She thought 'What will it look like now? Will I recognize it?' It was all she could really think of. It was a scary thought to go back to that place, but if it would help them on their journey, how could she say no?

**Avankiri** · 05-19-2008, 09:22 PM

(Titania is now a Summon spirit. You can summon her whenever you wish. And as for Alastor, he's with us. Just not using him until someone chooses to address him.)

Seifer sat softly on the rail, thinking. He stopped only after seeing it. Their home was indeed in ruins. The once majestic buildings were torn asunder, ripped into pieces. Large fish swam playfully around the underwater parts, while massive, carnivorous ones tore through the water at high speeds to feed on slow prey.

Seifer looked down, and saw what he was looking for. The greatest structure of Asgard, the Collosus was still partially standing. The Aqua Sphere was still sustained, thanks to its ability to recharge day or night even while still on. And swimming amongst the crumpled pieces of it was the Guardian. "Hmm...Jeeze, that thing's huge..."

The Guardian continued swimming, unaware of the intruders even as the parachuted onto the top platform of the Collosus, where the bands played during matches. Seifer knelt and looked over the edge. "Are you guys ready?"