Once Landed

I write Kain with light colored hair, and Edge with a kind of middling purple. Because his hair was a kind of middling purple on the SNES. Which was pleasant- way more so than... How, just tell me- HOW can a ninja hide with white hair? Seriously.
***

The gravity on the moon made his jumps more powerful, his lift excellent. The orb of the earth hung above him, bright, glorious blue, and he flew towards it, straining, straining for air. Once he knew he'd reached his apex, he flipped, bringing his face towards the moon to guide his descent. He watched as two monsters fell and changed his angle towards the third, recognizing a bright green circle etching the cold ground as Rydia began a Summons.
He somersaulted just above the monster, slamming gleaming weapon and sharp boots into it, leaping away to his place beside Rydia. As he landed, Sylph were flying around the others, the eerie green light and song of the Sylph etching the air as one and the same.

"Sorry, Kain! Stay for the next cast!" She yelled. "I've been trying to catch you for the past-"

"Not now," Kain panted, smooth voice rough with pain. "When we're done."

"You trying to make sure you aren't conscious to see the end?!" She yelled, fists on her hips. He didn’t deign to answer her, merely leaping into the sky with barely enough time to watch Edge let fly with the barrage of sword strokes that were his specialty. Cecil did not look at him, nor Rosa, as he soared once more; it was normal for him to go through an entire battle without so much as a word in his direction. Often he missed the cast of spells; often he would go completely without assistance unless Edge, in his ninja awareness, had thrown a potion his way. Even now, the only notice he received was from a green enshrouded Rydia. He had to fight not to assess the battle more clearly before he left.

And Kain Jumped.

He rose swiftly, ignoring the nervousness that the lack of gravity always caused him. One could only Jump so many times in this atmosphere before he could no longer return to the ground. Still, he knew he would not lose his life to that- he had come this far, through battles with Cecil, through fights of will, through the indomitable push and pull of Golbez’s mental facilities, and a Jump could not kill him now.

As he turned in the air, he turned his eyes to the ground to search for an assailant to land on only to find that there were none. Another battle had ended with him in the air, not even able to hear the words of his friends and allies. He cursed softly to himself, letting one hand free of his spear to clutch at the most ghastly of his wounds, the one that had sapped his strength. He had often heard that being struck in the gut was the most painful of all injuries, and right now he could easily agree.

He put his feet under himself and landed lightly before almost falling to his knees, his spear dragging him down, and felt an almost overpowering clap on his shoulder.

“Drink this,” Edge said, another of those innumerable potions in his hand. He recognized the wax seal on the label as Eblan’s guild. He raised his eyebrows at Edge even while he broke it; no matter the relevance of where a potion comes from, at this point it could have cost thousands of gold and he would have downed it. Edge shrugged just a little. “They’re all I carry. You want one from Troia you’re going to need to talk to Rosa. Or one from the Land of Summons and you can talk to Rydia- but they’re all green and weird tasting. I suggest you take mine.”

“Why are yours better than hers?” Edge grinned.

“No one is so used to bleeding, without magic to fix it, that they know potions have to taste good.” Edge laughed, just a little; he had been on the ground when Rosa had cast her healing magics and was feeling perfectly fine. Rydia was retying her hair, which always seemed to come undone when she was Summoning, and Cecil was searching for anything they could use in their travels. Kain watched him for some time, moving through the splattered remains of monsters, through the ichor soaked soil. As for Edge, he was watching Kain.

“Thank you,” Kain finally said when he realized he had finished the potion. He was feeling much improved; the bleeding in his stomach had stopped, and he could feel the flesh knitting itself together. He stuck the blunt end of his spear in the ground with the intention of making certain Rydia was not feeling drained; he preferred her Summons to her arrows, and he knew from observing her that when she was no longer in contact with that river of magic she sang through to bring her friends to her aid, she became desperate, almost frightened. Once Rydia had burned out, she knew that she could not stand in a battle on her own, and that, more than anything, was enough to scare her.

“No problem, Kain,” Edge answered flippantly. “But when this is all over, I want you to come back to Eblan with me.”

“To Eblan?” Kain asked, giving Edge a confused look. Edge grinned.

“Yeah. You should come and stay with me, there, until things blow over.” He stood close to Kain, speaking conspiratorially. “After all, you wouldn’t want to be stuck in the middle of the courtiers and all that rubbish once King Cecil returns home. When we’re done doing what must be done, I want you to return to Eblan with me.”
Kain was very rarely surprised in his life, but at that moment, with his limbs still tingling from the after-effects of a very powerful potion, he had to stop and think for a moment. Edge grinned slowly- you could always tell when he was grinning behind that mask, because his eyes crinkled at the corners.

“Why?” He asked, voice deeper, smoother than a well-polished gemstone.

“Because. I know what you’ve been through, and I know what you’re going through.” He turned and looked at Rosa, who was talking to Cecil about something. “And I know what’s going to happen to you.”

“Is that all you know?” Kain growled. Edge tilted his head to the side.

“Of course not.” He looked over at Rydia, who was done tying back her hair and was ripping a bit of torn fabric from her dress. “I also know what people do in situations like this.” Kain’s eyebrows came together behind his helm, and Edge smiled again. “They leave.” Kain registered what Edge was saying, and knew what he meant immediately.

“I-“

“Shut up and don’t say another thing about it,” Edge answered swiftly. “Just know that when you agree to an Eblan, you own up. Got it?” Kain was reluctant to agree to any sort of promise, especially one like that. He was a knight, and would not be able to back out of such an oath. As though he knew exactly what was going through Kain’s mind, Edge spoke again. “Promise me!” He hissed.

“Fine,” Kain agreed bitterly. Now he was tied to Edge, whether he liked it or not.

“Great!” He bounced slightly from heel to heel, his speed evidence of his skill.

“Let’s get going,” Cecil said, loudly enough for everyone to hear. Rydia fell forward a step, ripping a green strip of fabric from her dress. She stuffed it into her bag like she had so many others before it.

“Much more of this and I will be wearing little more than underwear and sleeves,” she grumbled, looking over at Rosa, who still had most of her clothing intact, with accusation in her eyes. When Rosa cast, she did not have to draw circles on the ground, giving her the mobility that she needed to help her dodge efficiently. Rosa gave her a sympathetic look.

“If you get down that far, I will give you my cloak,” she offered. Rydia smiled, glad of the friendly gesture.

“Thanks, but you’ll need it more than I will. Besides, won’t exactly go with my green underwear.” They laughed in the way that people who are facing death laugh over simple little things, and Kain met Cecil’s eyes. Cecil smiled, and it was almost as if everything were as it should be; they weren’t about to meet their almost certain doom for the fate of the Earth. For a moment, the King was still alive, and life still held promise for them both. When Cecil turned his luminous blue eyes elsewhere, the spell vanished, and Kain’s life was still barren, still empty. Cecil was the hero- he, the traitor.

It would be many days until they reached the center of the Moon.

They were camped in the only safe place they had been able to find, after many terrible battles with beasts almost unfathomable to them all. Each had guarded a special weapon, or, in one instance, armor for the girls. They had all appreciated each strange moon garment, however, Kain felt himself growing anxious. It had been some time ago that Golbez and FuSoYa had left for the center of the Moon, to stop the unspeakable evil that lay there. Kain sat just before the main tent sharpening the edge on his spear, though it was already sharp enough to flay skin that was unaware of it’s silver kiss. He was thinking. He was remembering.

Each touch on his mind, each dark caress, each moment that his jealousy overcame his capability for love, each and every moment of pain and remorse he had known had been created, not by Golbez, but by this mysterious, nameless evil that lie at the core of a moon orbiting the earth. The beautiful orb they had all thought to guide the motions of their lives, like the ebb and flow of the waves, was what had caused him so much trouble. Would that he could destroy every moment he had looked up at the moon and thought it beautiful, perhaps he could feel better about what had happened. He was a dark thing now, a monster, someone unworthy of even his onetime brother’s gaze.

That Cecil had become so beautiful inside, and so strong without, was almost mind shattering. A legendary knight, a thing any darkness could not help but fear. He had not only surpassed anything they had even played at when boys, he had fulfilled prophecy. And what had Kain become?

He stopped sharpening his spear and put the whetstone back in his bags, mindful of where he placed it and the many fragile bottles within. He sat watching the fire for a long time, listening to Rydia and Rosa in their smaller tent talking about Rydia’s underwear-and-sleeve predicament and if the cloak exchange would ever be necessary. Kain tried to remember Rydia’s mother, remember how the woman had been clothed, but the only memory he could dredge up was that of her dragon, the one Rydia herself had called upon many times. Kain shook his head. Even that had not managed to stain Cecil’s heart or mind.

He turned his thoughts to the future. Tomorrow, perhaps, they would be within the long dreaded core. They would come face to face with any darkness that lay before them, or they would arrive at the end of the long and arduous battle fought by the Lunarian and his once captor. But, had Golbez not merely been used as he himself had been used?

It was one long cycle of misuse, and Kain hoped to help end it here.

“Awfully late to be stewing,” Edge said, sitting down beside Kain. It was all Kain could do to keep from jumping; even now, Edge’s ability to creep up on him in any and all circumstances was unnerving at best. Edge didn’t laugh like he might have, but Kain knew that Edge was aware of how unguarded he continually caught Kain. “Especially alone, in the dark… in the center of the moon, millions of miles from anything and everyone familiar. Except me of course.”

“What do you want.” It was a statement, rather than a question; Kain had long ago resigned himself to dealing with whatever questions or banal comments Edge wished to force upon him.

“Nothing,” he answered maddeningly. “What do *you* want?” Kain gave him a look, sidelong through the opening in his helm. Edge’s eyes crinkled in that hidden smile he often gave. After a few moments of the staring contest they often held, Edge shrugged. “It must be *something* you’re glaring at the poor defenseless fire for.”

“I am merely thinking.”

“Ah. There’s no “merely” about that statement,” Edge answered. “You’re mulling and stewing and doing all sorts of damage to any part of the body that doesn’t like stress. Which is all of them. Why don’t you get some sleep? We’re in the first safety circle we’ve seen this far into the moon.”

“I am not tired.”

“You’re lying. You’re easily the most exhausted person here; after all, you’re the only one of us that doesn’t get rejuvenated on an almost constant basis.” Edge poked the fire with a stick. “Is it something in particular that keeps you awake when you’d do much better asleep?”

“No, it isn’t.”

“Oh, then it’s lots of little things.” Edge nodded as though full of ancient and particularly useful knowledge. “Like how Golbez isn’t the enemy, and how we’re about to face either a monster and the deaths of FuSoYa and Golbez, or the worst battle mankind has ever heard of. I don’t even think Bahamut prepared us for this!” He waved a hand at the fire as if everything that was going to come was revealed there.

“You aren’t helping.”

“Doesn’t matter. I’ve got something here that I think you could use.” He reached into his bag, conveniently located just out of arms’ reach such that he had to get up and walk one step towards it, and pulled out his tin cup and a small bottle. He sat back down next to Kain, poured until the cup was full, and handed it to Kain. “Just don’t let the girls know we have it.”

“Why not?” He took a sniff; the stuff was full of fire.

“They might want some, or they might get offended. It’s very difficult to tell with this crew.” He watched Kain for a few moments as he considered the amber liquid. “What are you waiting for? We’ll split it, so it’s not like I’m trying to get you a hangover. Not with tomorrow being what it is.”

“I’m not certain I want to drink it.” Edge raised a very expressive brow.

“Just one sip then. It’s not like I’m trying to poison you.” Kain did as he was bid and it felt like fire going down. He sneered at it, and it took all of his willpower not to cough his lungs out. Of course, Edge laughed. “Never had hard liquor, have you? Just that pathetic wine you all drink so often in Baron.” He sneered. “I hate that stuff.” Kain was trying to recover when Edge took the cup from him, drinking quite well from it. “Have some more.”

“Why would I?” Kain asked, incredulous. Edge smiled.

“Think about your body for a moment, Kain.” He sneered again. Not for the first time Kain considered how expressive Edge had learned to be, since normal expressions would be lost behind the fabric covering half of his face. “You are all so terribly imperceptive. You’re so busy doing the right thing, and living in your heads, that you don’t listen to your body at all. It’s a wonder you know the meaning of the word ‘passion’.” Kain gave him a startled look, then did as he was told, taking stock of how he felt. It was as if the fire in that awful drink had spread through his limbs- he was warmer, his muscles less tense. “A lot is bad for you, of course,” Edge continued once he noticed Kain rolling his shoulders experimentally, “but a little can do wonders for even the most tense of people.”

“You do this often, in Eblan?” Kain asked as Edge handed him the cup and motioned for him to take more. “This foul medicine?” He drank a little more; each time he sipped, it had become easier and easier to go down.

“Very often,” he nodded. “In much the same way you drink wine, an adult male may drink this. Both for the pleasure it brings, and for the debilitating effects. Of course, it isn’t often a ninja has the chance to enjoy letting his guard down, so usually it isn’t much we take.” He smiled in memory, eyes soft. “My father would give alcohol to his men when they returned from any important errand, to help make them lucid enough to remember things clearly. I hope to do the same some day.” Kain was a wise enough man to hear the note of sadness in Edge’s voice.

“This must be-“

“Stop,” Edge held up a warning hand. “I can’t take it now, especially not from you. We’ve got an early morning, and when you’re done with that cup I guarantee you’ll get to sleep.” Edge took the cup from him, took another drink, and returned it to him before standing and heading into the tent where Cecil already slept. Kain finished the cup as he was told and rinsed it out with some of his more precious water, then thoughtfully returned it to Edge’s bags. He reflected only for a few moments before dropping off, and was much better during the battles the day brought them all for the rest.

Kain stood at the edge of the dance floor, watching as Cecil and Rosa led the ceremonial dancing at the very end of the reception. He had been humbled to stand beside Cecil as best man, especially considering that they were now the crowned king and queen of Baron. How often did he wonder how he had come to spend an evening recognized, spoken with, even thanked by the leaders of every major company. Rydia had run off with Edge at the ceremony, but other than they, even the Elder of Mysidia had personally thanked him for the way he had conducted himself. The old man had had quite a lot to say about his spirituality, however, Kain politely declined his offer to pray for his soul.

Kain watched as the new rulers of the land finished the dancing successfully and stopped for a few moments to catch their breath and clap at the efforts of the musicians. He took a deep breath, watching the woman he loved, radiant, with someone else. Not for the first time he reflected on where it was he had gone wrong, and dismissed the train of thought as self-pitying and unworthy. He took another deep breath before plunging into the crowd to stand beside Cecil. He smiled.

“Would my king mind if I step in?” Cecil looked briefly grateful before masking it as reluctance; only Kain would ever know how truly uncomfortable he was when leading a social gathering of any kind. He didn’t envy Cecil his newfound station.

“I would be honored,” Rosa cut in, giving Cecil a warning look as though to tell him to give them space. Cecil did not even notice her look, merely shooting Kain another secretive thanks. “After all, isn’t it your duty to see to the safety of your queen?” Rosa’s eyes glittered in that special way, as though she and Kain shared a very private joke that no one else would ever understand.

“As always, you are correct, my lady,” Kain bowed deeply, eliciting a laugh from Rosa’s startled lips, and cleverly masking the deep pang of loss. For perhaps the thousandth time he knew he must leave Baron, if only to avoid the pain of seeing that beautiful smile.

“Stop your flattery and take my hand before the dance starts.” Cecil had cleverly made it to the refreshment area where he managed to get down a goblet of wine before Palom took his hand. He was liable to be a busy man tonight, and was glad of an excuse to stand outside of this dance, even while promising one to her later.

As Kain spun Rosa about on the floor, she took the opportunity to speak with him, privately, as they had not since the whole affair begun.

“You always look so much more handsome when you are not hiding behind that mask,” she said, spinning. “I hated that helmet of yours more than you will ever know.”

“It is a mark of my station and occupation, my lady,” Kain answered, moving easily with her. “An honor, to wear it.”

“Yes, yes, I know, I know,” she answered, making an aggravated gesture with her hair. She had been through this with them, both Kain and Cecil, more times than she cared to consider. “Honor, duty, station, what-have-you. But I will tell you that it doesn’t matter when I wish to see your face. Perhaps I’ll instill a new law that all facial armor shall at least show a man’s eyes properly.” She smiled at Kain again. “No one but Cecil and I have see you with your helmet, Kain, and more than one woman here has exclaimed over the change in you.” Kain all but sneered.

“Let them exclaim as they please, it doesn’t matter to me.” She tutted, but didn’t go on, knowing full well that this was an argument they should not approach. Not so soon after everything.

“Will you be staying in the court with us?” Rosa asked, her voice a bit higher than she would have liked. It told Kain that she had considered this often, perhaps even discussed it with her husband king, but knew the answer was one she didn’t like.

“No, my lady, I don’t believe I will.”

“Will you stop with the ‘my lady’ nonsense? You haven’t called me that in all the years we’ve known each other, and I won’t have you starting now!” It was barely controlled annoyance that colored her voice. “You are my friend. Cecil and I both know that it should be you on the throne, not us.”

“You’re wrong, Rosa. He’s the savior of the kingdom; he’s the only one who can protect it now.” She sneered, annoyance replaced with anger.

“That isn’t right, Kain, and you know it.” They did not speak again for some time, but their dance reached a feverish speed. “You’re just afraid-“

“Stop.” He said, and his feet stilled as though bid by his tongue. Around them the dancing continued.

“It isn’t your fault-“

“I said stop!” He said, a little more loudly than he intended, and some of the other dancers were looking at them now. “Please,” he amended, much more quietly.

“It isn’t,” she added, looking up at him, expressive eyes concerned. “You mean so much to us-“

“It has been my pleasure, madam,” Kain suddenly interrupted, bowing low before her. Much lower than his station required. “However, I am weary from our long travel.” He grabbed Cecil, who had been standing at the edge of the floor, and placed Cecil’s hand in Rosa’s, holding them together with his own before letting go, aware of the poignant symbolism at work. Rosa looked at him with eyes almost begging, and Cecil, heart ever pure, looked more than a little concerned. Without saying anything else, or allowing them to say anything, he left, walking purposefully out of the hall.

He had to get out of there. He had to leave.

He walked swiftly out of the hall, out of the building, into the clean evening air. It helped to settle his pounding heart, helped to calm his nerves. He remembered the evening Edge had handed him a cup full of fire, and how it had made him calm, and wished he knew where it was made. He would have liked to ask Edge, however, he and Rydia had left the building in such a hurry it would not be surprising if they were never heard from for weeks on end. He fought to keep himself grounded in his current position, fought to keep from leaving. However, he could not think of any reason to stay.

For Rosa? She was married now, and soon will have more women and friends to help her through any difficulty it would not be a surprise if she had forgotten him within a year. For Cecil? He was considerably more honor-bound, and he and Kain were sworn as blood brothers. Still, with a few years of kingly duty, he would not even cast his mind to Kain and wonder. For Rydia? This was not her home; she would either return to the Village of the Mist or to the Land of the Summons, either of which was more her home than Baron could ever be, and she and Kain were never close at any rate. For Edge? Why would Edge ever give him a second thought, now that he had his own kingdom to rebuild? Kain shook his head. No, it would be wrong not to keep his promise. He still owed his time to Edge, if only for one day.

He tried to focus on anything, rather than feel his heartbreak now. Before, it had always been questionable. Before, she had not been married, and there had been some hope. Now, however, Rosa was married and gone from his life as surely as any other married woman had been, and he had come away with nothing. And when he considered it, he felt as though his heart were breaking a little more. And a little more. And as with any great pain, he could not fully turn his mind from it.

He sought the only relief he had ever known, and, without spear in hand, he ran forward, moving far from the castle, moving far from his life in fast, hard strides pumped by strong legs that could take him so very high in a single bound. He ran until the castle seemed a far away thing, until the chocobo forest was close at hand. His heart beat fast, though with pain or exertion he would never know. He moved, and each and every step was the agony of seeing them; he with his eyes so beautiful, so concerned, as though Kain had never harmed a soul. Her, with her concern written plainly on her face, as if for a moment they were children and he had taken another fall from a Jump too high for young legs.

If only to ease the pain…

If only to distract him for a moment…

He turned his face to the sky…

And Kain Jumped.


***
Love it, hate it. Heck, I can't decide. I have about three other chapters sitting on my hard drive but they need a bit of refinery so... I'll have to do it once I get around to it, if I ever do.

Beware. I'm hostile. Over and out.