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Meiko's Office
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Sephirata Core
by: Gravity ZeroCHAPTER 1 : It Begins
"Agh....." Kain, The Legendary Dragon Knight of Baron, sat up in the yet unfamiliar bed. "Where am I?"Kain slowly muttered to himself. He raised himself against the backboard of the bed, and reached to take off his helmet, just to discover it was missing. He immediately looked down, His armor, his spears, his materia, where also missing! "Where are they!?". The door slowly swung open to reveal an elderly women, hunched over her cup of tea. "Oh! You're finally awake." The old women said staring at him. Kain clenched his fists. "What have you done with my equipment!" Kain shouted at the old women. The old women wearily sat down, placed her tea carefully on a small table, and smiled at him. "Oh, don't worry, we just put them in the storage room" The old women spoke Cullen, as she sipped her tea. "Them I shall request that you return them to me immediately!" Kain barked at her as if she were some common mutt. But the kindly old women just smiled back at him. "Don't you think you should get some rest first? that wound will take some time to heal." "Wound?" Kain looked down, this time, he noticed that his chest was wrapped in bandages. "How did this happen?" Kain unwrapped part of the bandages, revealing a huge open wound, that might have been inflicted most likely by some type of Katana. He rewrapped himself and lid back down, trying to remember what had happened. 'I... was at the castle of Baron... the King had summoned me... I went to his throne room, but... before he could tell me what he had requested my presence for... one of the guards, stumbled through the door, with a gashing wound... he had told us that the castle was under attack. But by no army... a single man... A ran outside, by order of his majesty... I seen this man, in his black cloak, but he wore very little armor, I jumped into battle... and then... I was... defeated, defeated in one blow... I was unconscious, when I awoke... both the town, and castle of Baron had been set on fire... I checked around... but I was the only survivor... I went after him... I traveled to the mountains of Nebealium... I found him... and ...now I'm lying in this bed... defeated twice by the same man....' Kain sat up once again. "Tell me, where is this storage room wench?"Kain asked abruptly. "Well, you don't have to be so nice about it" Responded the Old women, now finishing off her tea. "Enough, I demand that you tell me what you have done with my equipment!" Kain said, now shouting. "Down the hall, two doors from the left... but you should really get some rest" Said the old women kindly. "Look wench, I have no time for rest!" Kain shouted angrily. "Fine then, go, get yourself killed." Said the old women, who was now taking out her knitting. Kain laughed at her. "Me? get killed? Don't you even know who I am?" Kain snapped back at her. "No I don't, and quite frankly, I don't care, because anyone who shows this much disrespect to there elders, isn't worth hearing about" Said the old women, not even looking up from her knitting. "I am the Legendary Dragon Knight of Baron!" Kain shouted. "Never heard of you" The old women replied. Kain just walked out the door, now ignoring the old women. He stormed down the hall, to the storage room, opening the door. He found the small room to be disquieting, for he had been used to all kinds of luxuries in Baron. He took out his armor and re-equipped all of it, making sure his materia were in there proper slots. He took a spear in each hand and left the small, dilapidated, old house. 'Now, to avenge the kingdom, and slay the man who defeated me so easily'. Kain though as he walked to the local pub, figuring that some old drunk there would have seen something. As he swung the heavy door to the pub open, a foul stench hit his nose. He walked in, and sat near the door. He spotted the old man next to him staring at him. "You, old man, did you see a man in a black cloak come through here lately?" Kain asked, trying his hardest not to offend the man. "Wellhs... I did see's this one feller... he wush real tall... and he ... wush ... um ... oh yeah... what where we talking about... hic?" The old man found it hard to talk. Kain grabbed him by the collar and lifted him into the air, looking him in the eye. "Look you old drunk! Give me a straight answer or you'll meet your end!" Kain was getting tired of the stench, and the locals. "Wellsh.... there was a mans... he wush... wairin a black... cape?...I think it wush a cape... anyways... he hads a sworshd... and it had blood on itsh... he left townsh.... he wuz heading... south I think..." The old drunk stumbled. "Look old man, If any of this is a lie, I'll be back, understand me?" Kain said, now throwing the man back into his seat. "Cleash as mud" The old man laughed, thinking he was funny. Kain put one of the blades of his spears to the mans neck. "Look old man! I'm not fucking around with you!" Kain was now pissed off. The old man, finally getting the point drew back. "Ok! Oksh! jush don't kills me!" Kain walked out of the bar, looking back at it, he was glad to get away from both the stench, and that annoying old drunk. Suddenly, Kain knocked off his balance, he didn't fall though, he mearly stammered backward. He looked forward, to see a young girl, a White Mage, on the ground. Kain just looked at her for a second, then walked on, not bothering to help her up, or even ask if she was all right. "Hey you!"He heard a voice shout from behind him. He turned around, to see that the girl was on her feet, and quite angry. "Ya could have at least said something to me!" "And why would that have been necessary? you're the one who bumped into me, you're the one who should be apologizing. "Kain said, not really caring. "Grr... you jerk!"The girl shouted at Kain. Kain began to walk away. "Get back here you Bastard!!" Kain ignored her and kept walking. She ran after him and drew her cane and thrust it at his head. Kain could sense it, but did nothing to prevent it. The cane struck with amazing force, but to no avail, it just cracked in half and went soaring through the air. "Now look what you did you jerk! you broke my cane!!" The girl was now getting really angry with Kain. "Look, I didn't break your cane, you did, now, get lost. I have better things to do." Kain said, not even looking at her. "God!! why are you such a jerk!! That's it! if you don't buy me a new cane right now! I'm gonna follow you around until you do!!"The girl barked at Kain. "Go ahead, follow me. see if I care. "Kain began walking. The girl hesitated.... She then ran and caught up to him and matched his pace. they were walking for about two or three minutes. "You could at least tell me your name jerk!" The young white mage said, crossing her arms in front of her. "Kain" "Sakura" she immediately followed. "For a white wizard, your pretty strong" Kain said, still not looking at her. "Thanks Kain" Sakura said, calming down a bit. "But compared even to that of a mear Fighter, your relatively weak" Kain said, cold heatedly. She put her angry face back on and stepped in front of him, stopping him. She clenched her fists in front of her. "You just don't know when to quit do you, you jerk!!!"
Chapter II: Sakura's Wisdom
"Kain, can we stop for a minute?" Sakura said, panting. Kain turned around, and stared her straight in the eye cold heartedly. "Stop!?" Kain barked at her. "First you bump into me, and demand that I apologize! Then you break your staff, and claim that it was my fault! Then, to top it all off, you start following me around! And now you want me to stop!?" Kain glared at Sakura angrily now. "Yes" Sakura pleaded, falling to her knees. her hands down in front of her to keep her from falling flat on her face. She quickly lifted her head up to look at Kain. "I'm tired!" Kain just turned around and began walking away. Sakura quickly scrambled to her feet. "Your could at least tell me were we're going! You Jerk!" Sakura yelled at him. Kain quickly turned around and gave her a cold, hard, angry look. "I'M going to pursue the man in the black cape, the man who burnt the great kingdom of baron to the ground. The man who so easily defeated me in battle. And once I find him, I WILL exact my revenge, He'll pay for what he did!" Kain clenched his fist, and looked toward the ground. as he spoke. "I don't know where the hell your going!" he shouted at Sakura. "I'M following YOU!" Sakura blurted out. Kain stopped and turned around quickly. "Why do you insist on following me around!?" Kain shouted. "’Cause I Wanna!" Sakura shouted back as she stomped her foot at Kain. "Fine! But I am in no way responsible for your protection!" Kain turned back around, and began to walk away from Sakura. "Fine with me! I don't need your protection anyway!" Sakura yelled, then ran to catch up with Kain. I'll just ditch her in Toroia, thought Kain. Toroia's just past the forest up ahead. "Hey, Kain" Sakura suddenly blurted out. "If this is about stopping, forget about it!" Kain said firmly. "No, It's not about stopping. But once I heard a rumor that someone spotted a Dragon in the forest ahead..." Sakura shuddered as she spoke, she was obviously terrified by the thought of a dragon attacking her in the forest. A dragon? Kain thought, what kind of fool IS this girl! "Dragon's have been extinct for hundreds of years!" said Kain "You'd be a fool to believe in such a rumor!". "But!..." "But Nothing!" Kain shouted. Hours passed, and not a word was spoken. It was nearly sunset when they reached the forest. Kain entered the forest, and drew one of his spears, and used it to cut away a few bushes that blocked the path through the forest, Sakura followed behind him. "Sakura, Make yourself useful and begin picking up dead branches." Kain said. "Why?" Sakura looked puzzled by the request. "Why!? Why do you think I'd want you to collect dead branches!?" Kain stopped, and sighed "to make a fire Sakura, I want you to collect dead branches to make a fire, It doesn't exactly take a scholar to figure that much out." "Oh, I didn't think about that." said Sakura, as she bent down to pick up a branch that had fallen from a nearby tree. Nearly an hour had passed until the sun had set, and it began to grow dark. By now Sakura could barely hold all the dead-fall she had gathered. "We'll stop here for tonight. Kain said. Sakura dropped the load of wood she was carrying, and let out a sigh of relief, then sat down on a nearby rock. Kain walked over to the pile of wood, and separated it into two piles. Sakura watched him, not really knowing what he was doing, but she didn't want to ask him. After Kain had separated the wood into two piles, he began to search the ground, until he found some dead grass, which he placed on the smaller pile of wood. Kain then removed his helmet, this was the first time Sakura had seen Kain without his helmet. He had long hair that extended down beyond shoulders, and the same cold, far off look in his eyes. "So that's what you look like without your helmet." said Sakura. Kain didn't respond, he just placed his helmet next to the pile of wood, and placed his left hand on it. Using his right hand Kain grabbed a large rock. He raised the rock above his head, and struck it against the back of his helmet. Sparks flew, and the grass that lay atop the pile of sticks caught fire. Kain wasted no time, and immediately began to catch the wood on fire. Soon Kain began throwing wood from the second pile in the fire until he had worked it up to a cheerful blaze. Kain took his helmet, and sat on a rock opposite Sakura. Kain's helmet was lain on his lap, his hands crossed on top of it. Kain was staring up at the two moons of Laydian. Sakura looked at Kain from across the fire, which cast an orange glow upon Kain. "Hey Kain, that was pretty cool how you started that fire." Sakura said, smiling. Kain looked away from the moons, and looked her in the eyes from across the blazing fire. "Indeed" Said Kain, in his usual cold hearted way. Kain then turned his attention to the fire. Well, at least he didn't yell at me this time, thought Sakura. All of a sudden, Sakura's stomach began to grumble in anger. She put her arms around her stomach, and leaned over slightly. "Kain, do you have any food?"Sakura said. "I'm starving." Kain looked at her, then began searching the ground. Sakura watched him in awe. Suddenly, Kain pulled up a strange plant, with an odd looking root, and threw it to Sakura. She caught the plant, and held it in the light of the fire, staring at it for a moment, then she looked up at Kain, who was watching her. "You don't expect me to eat this do you!?" Sakura said, Kain just looked at her. "It's a Hyryu plant, it's not poisonous, perfectly safe to eat." Said Kain. Sakura just stared at the Hyryu plant, slowly she moved it toward his mouth, and took a small bite of it. Sakura almost immediately spit it back out. "EWWW!!! Gross!" Sakura screamed. The plant tasted bitter, and left a horrible taste in Sakura's mouth. "Eat it or starve." Kain said coldly. Sakura looked at the Hyryu plant. She plugged her nose, and ate the rest. She couldn't taste it as she ate it. But the aftertaste of the Hyryu plant was almost unbearable. But At Least she wouldn't starve to death. Suddenly there was a rustling in the distance. Birds flew from the forest in great flocks, screeching. Kain jumped to his feet, his helmet still in his hand, and a spear in his right. "What was that?"Sakura said "SHHH!" Kain said sharply. Kain was trying to concentrate on the source of the rustling, He quickly put his helmet back on, and adopted a fighting stance. He was obviously preparing for the worst. A terrifying roar ripped the sky. And a head emerged from the darkness. Kain stumbled back in astonishment, for the head that had emerged was that of a Dragon. But the head belonged to no ordinary dragon. It's skin crawled with maggots that ate away at it's already decaying flesh. Most of the skin had already peeled back, or had been eaten, and revealed muscle tissue and bone. "Kain! I thought you said Dragon's were extinct!!" Sakura screamed in terror as she dove to take cover behind the rock she was sitting on, cowering in fear of the mighty Dragon. "You fool! This is no ordinary Dragon!" Kain shouted, never taking his eyes from the dragon. "Then what the hell is it!?"Sakura screamed. Kain turned his head a little, to see her peaking out from behind the rock, her eyes filled with terror. "A Zombie Dragon!"Kain shouted at her. And just as he turned his head, the dragon charger forward at him. Kain leaped to his right side, easily evading the blow. After a graceful landing, he stabbed at the dragon with his spear. It easily cut through the decaying dragon scales, but still had no effect. Kain tried to pull his spear free from the dragons side, but it had become stuck. The dragon, seizing the opportunity, Swung it's massive tail, sending Kain flying back about 20 feet. Kain got up, his armor had protected him from the blow, but he was a bit shaken. "Sakura! What spells do you know!?" Kain shouted. Sakura peered our from behind the rock. "Cure, Cura, and Esuna" Sakura stammered. "Cast Cura on the Zombie Dragon! Now!"Kain shouted. Sakura stared at Kain Puzzled. "But wouldn't that..." "Shut up and cast the damn spell!"Kain shouted, cutting her off. The dragon charged at Kain again. Sakura stood up, and put both hands out in front of her, pointed at the dragon. A rainbow colored aura surrounded her, and spiraled upward. "Cura!" Sakura's whole body trembled as she shouted the spell. The dragon stopped cold, and let out a roar, so loud, so utterly horrifying, that it could shatter a mans sanity. The dragon dropped to the ground, what was left of it's skin slowly began to peel away and decay until there was nothing left but bone. Sakura gazed at her hands in amazement. "Bu..But how? I casted cura, It should have healed the dragon.. "Sakura said, still in shock of what she just witnessed. "It was a Zombie," Said Kain, picking up his spear. "Zombies are resistant to physical attacks, but, they can be easily defeated by a curative spell, such as Cura." Sakura looked at Kain in disbelief. "Well, that's good to know."
<--Back to the Fics | Page 2 -->Chapter III: The Road To Toroia
*This Chapter starts outside of the forest in the previous chapter* Kain stood, staring off into the distance. The road ahead seemed to wind onward, endlessly. It was unusually hot for the 8th day of the 6th Lunar cycle, and Kain had began to overheat in his heavy armor. Kain continued walking down the dusty dirt road, and removed his helmet. "Kain, can we stop for a minute?" Sakura asked. "Look! For the last time, No!" Kain yelled "Really, your worse then a child!" "Yea! Then I guess I'll start acting like one to!" Sakura said. jumping to her feet, and began running toward Kain. Kain had bearly realized Sakura had began running when she ran up next to him, and stole his helmet. Sakura ran ahead of Kain and turnt around. "Give that back!" Kain demanded. "Nah nah nah nah nah! I got your helmet!" Sakura yelled back at him. Kain began to walk toward her in anger. Sakura put Kain's helmet on, it was to big, and looked rediculas. "Jeeze Kain, you've got a big head!"Sakura taunted. "Thats it! I've had enough of this bullshit!" Kain shouted, as he took hold of one of his spears and thrust it at her. The spear landed about 10 millimeters from her foot.Sakura froze, and dropped to her knees. "You diden't hafta try and kill me!" sakura shouted at Kain. Kain walked up to her, took back his helmet, grabbed his spear, and began to walk away from her. "You diden't have to steal my helmet either." Kain said, not even looking back at her. Sakura stood up, and looked back toward the forest, and seen something moving toward them. "hey Kain, what's that?" Sakura asked. Kain turnt toward her. "What's what!?"Kain barked at her. Sakura pointed a finger toward what she saw. "That!" Sakura yelled back at him. Kain looked at it for a moment, then took a few steps toward it. Kain put his hand to his forehead to shield his eyes from the sun. "It looks like a wagon" Kain said. "We'll wait here until it catches up with us and get a ride to Toroia" Kain walked off the road, and sat on a rotting log. Sakura walked over and sat in the grass next to the log. "Finnaly, a break!"sakura said, as she lay back in the lush grass. Sakura stared at the clear blue sky, although there was a scattered cloud or two though. "Kain, what if they won't give us a ride?" Sakura said, looking over at Kain. Kain looked over at her. "That woulden't be a wise decision" Kain said. Sakura sat up, and looked at him in disgust. "You would kill someone over a wagon!?" Sakura shouted at him. Kain just stared blankly ahead. "I'll do whatever it takes to avenge the Kingdom if Baron."Kain said. Sakura lid back down, she wasen't really surprised that Kain would kill over a wagon. He'd probley kill over much less. Now that she thought about it, she diden't know to much about Kain, and he diden't know very much about her either. I wonder If I should tell him the real reason I'm tagging along? Sakura thought. No..I can't, He's bound to find out sooner or later anyways... Kain picked up a rock, and looked it over for a moment, then throw it as far as he could sitting down. "Wow! That went pretty far!" Sakura said. Kain just nodded. Sakura stood up, and walked to the road. She bent over and picked up a rock, and threw it for all she was worth. Kain began laughing. "Tell me that's not the best you can do!" Kain said. Sakura turnt her back to him, and crossed her arms. "So what if it is!" Sakura yelled at him. Kain turned his attention at the sky. Sakura walked back to the spot where she was lying down befour. she lid down again, and placed her hands behind her head. She bagan to hum an old song she knew from her childhood. Kain looked over at her. "Whats that song?" Kain asked. Sakura stoped humming and looked over at Kain, she was sort of surprised that he never yelled at her to stop. "I don't know" Sakura shrugged "I've know it for as long as I can rmember, but I could never remember where I heard it." Sakura sat up now. Kain just nodded and looked down the road, they wagon was much closer to them now. Kain Stood up, and looked at it, his hand up to his forehead again. "Stay here Sakura" Kain said. "Are you gonna go run to it?"Sakura asked, looking alittle worried. "Yes, I am" Kain said as he began to walk. "Ok, just don't hurt anyone..." Sakura said. Kain began to pick up speed, and soon was running at an incredible speed. wow! thought Sakura, How can he run that fast with all his armor on? oh well, I guess he should be back in about 20 minutes, I'll just take a nap. Sakura lid down, and looked up at the sky. Her eyes slowely closed, and she drifted off into a peacefull slumber. About 20 minutes later, the sound of the wagon creeping it's way down the dirt road awoke Sakura. She Sat up in the grass, rubbed her eyes, streatched, and yawned. She got up and began to walk toward the wagon. She could clearly see Kain in the back. She met the wagon, and the merchant, who was driving the wagon stopped. "Well, hello there young Lady, and were are ye off to on this fine day?" the Merchant said kindly. Sakura was puzzled. "Diden't Kain tell you about me?" Sakura asked, pointing a finger at herself. "Kain diden't mention you, he just said "I am Kain! Legandary Dragon Knight of Baron! I demand that you grant me passage to Toroia!"." The merchant said "At first I coulden't beleive it, I heard that there were no one survived the destrucion of Baron." "Well, I'm travling with Kain, so, can I have a ride to?"Sakura asked. "Anything for a lady as lovely as you."Said the merchant. Sakura smiled at him. "Thanks" Sakura blew him a kiss, and hopped in the back of the Wagon with Kain. Kain diden't even notice she was there. The Wagon began to move, and Kain leaned over the side of the box. "How much longer untill me arrive at Torioa!?" Kain shouted. "Not much longer now"Said the merchant "About an hour I estimate" "Kain!" sakura yelled, Kain looked over at Sakura "I can't beleive you diden't mention me! If I haden't of woke up, you just would have let him drive on! you woulden't even care would you!?" "I told you, I am in no way responsible for your protection" Kain said. "Grrrr!!!!!!"
