Like Apple and Cinnamon [Zidane]

[Kairi]

Chemistry like apple and cinnamon.
What we had was just too good,
Good to last.

It really was such a beautiful sight.

Dusk was approaching, and already the young woman could see the pyreflies beginning to gather upon the river. This had to be one of her favorite places within Spira, and it held such a beauty and calm for her aching heart. For once, Kairi was free of all the false pretenses within her life, and appearing as she truly was. Not as Xion, but as herself for once. No one was near, and all was quiet as she sat within the enclosed area. Hidden away by the towering trees, this whole view was hers alone. A small smile crossed upon her lips, and her own oceanic orbs were staring idly across the vast river before her. Her legs laid to the side of her, and her small hands rested upon her lap comfortably. A content sigh escaped her lips.

Moon lilies blossomed upon the edge of the riverbank, and she leaned forward slightly. To pick such a beautiful flower would be horrible to her, but she could admire them~! Cupping the petals within the palm her hand, a genuine smile crossed her lips. Her sister had always loved moon lilies. Kairi felt that similar pain eat away at her, as it had for the past three years. Nothing could change what had happened, and that burning anger had lived within her the moment her sister had died. Today, though, Kairi would just enjoy some of the simplicities of life. The past, and her memories, would just have to be left buried in the back of her mind. It pained her to disregard her sister so easily, but any thought of her always hurt her broken heart.

A melancholy smile appeared.

She felt the tears before she knew they fell. Surprise was the first emotion she felt, but it was not a new thing. Kairi hated these saddened emotions, but she supposed it was alright. No one was here, and tears were a healthy way to grieve. The young Summoner did not bother to wipe her tears away this time, because it was alright just this once to let go.

[Zidane Tribal]

”Stop! Thief!”

They were after him. There were two armored guards riding on chocobo chasing after him. All because he’d taken a bit of pocket change from their caravan. Well, okay, maybe a bit more than pocket change, but there was this new inn nearby that he desparately wanted to try and unfortunately for him he didn’t have enough money. So he’d taken it from someone who wouldn’t miss it, a noble-man’s caravan. Of course he had to slip up on such a simple job. One of the chocobo had seen his tail as he crept away and freaked out, thinking he was a monster and thus alerting all the guards.

So now Zidane was being chased by two of the caravan’s guards, the gil he’d taken carefully tucked into his vest so he didn’t lose it. He was fast, but the chocobo would catch up with him. They had more stamina and faster legs, it was only a matter of time. So to lose them, he moved off the road. Up ahead there was a tree line, which he hit at a run. It was easy for him to duck and weave through the trees, given his small stature, but the chocobo were at a loss, the brush too think to pursue. Before the guards could decided to get off their steeds, Zidane was already out of sight, deep in to the trees.

Of course he wanted to make sure he lost them, so he kept running. Probably foolishly. He flipped and slid, hopped and skipped through the trees, over roots and branches, even taking to the higher parts, jumping from branch to branch. He emerged from the other side of the tree line to a bank beside the Moonflow. He kept running, but then something caught his eye. A girl, sitting all alone on the bank, what seemed like tears running down her cheek. Zidane didn’t slow his pace as he ran, but he kept watching her, for she was quite good looking and he couldn’t deny that.

Unfortunately for the agile thief he wasn’t paying attention to where he was going as he approached a small patch of rocks. His eyes still locked on the girl as he got closer to her, actually intending to run on by, his toe caught on a rock. His feet skipped and skidded on the ground as he tried to regain his balance, but he had too much momentum and his feet came right out from under him, sending him face first to the ground. Just as he tried to recover he noticed the gil he’d stolen bounce away from him, roll down the bank and splash into the water.

He sighed to himself, laying his head down on the dirt in disappointment right where he had landed. All that effort was wasted. His tail flicked agitatedly at the air as he tried to find it in him to stand back up after losing a small fortune, his night’s stay at that inn. And he’d heard they have such great hot springs. Such comfortable beds! Such lovely housekeepers!

[/blockquote]

[Kairi]

What in the name of Yevon was going on?

Kairi heard the sudden sound of racing feet upon the ground, and the distant warking sound of a few chocobo. Oceanic orbs widened, and she wondered what had happened to start such a commotion. Was a fiend loose? Biting her lower lip, she wondered if she should intervene at all. Though the Eternal Calm was upon them, if it were Yevonites chasing after a fiend, she was not sure she would like to be caught by the liars. Kairi had enough trouble evading them at times, but running away was never an option for her. Racing footsteps, and suddenly the Summoner stood upon her feet. Eyes were wide, and her usual cautious nature was abandoned by the fact someone may be in trouble.

And then she saw him.

Her breath hitched for a moment, and she watched with a sort of innocent wonder as the apparent thief raced by her. Despite her reserved and cold nature, even Kairi would admit he was rather good looking. Blushing brightly at the thought, she watched with a startled glance as he suddenly tripped. The thief was sprawled upon the ground, and what seemed like a pouch bounced from his person, and into the waters of the river. Without thought, Kairi suddenly rushed to wear the pouch had disappeared. Without questioning her actions to help, water sprayed up around her legs as she ran into the water. Biting her lower lip, Kairi reached her hands into the cold water, slender fingers brushing against the fabric. Smiling in triumph, the young woman suddenly stood clutching the wet pouch in her hand.

Glancing over shoulder, Kairi saw the boy was still eating dirt.

Kairi giggled lightly, surprised at how light she felt at the moment. Not wishing to question the mood change, she jogged out of the water. Shoes not soaked with water, it was uncomfortable, but she was glad. Slowing her pace, Kairi made her way to the fallen thief. What had he stolen? Curiosity getting the better of her, the auburn-haired girl peered into the pouch briefly, taken aback by the amount of gil in the bag. He had stolen money from someone? Kairi merely shook her head with amusement, and she stood before the fallen boy. Giggling once more, she knelt down slightly, holding her free hand out to him. Hopefully she could pull him up without much trouble.

"I believe you dropped something~? And you could use a hand up."

[Zidane Tribal]

Zidane had already been running through other places he might get some gil from. There were a lot of caravans in the area, maybe he could find another one? But this one had been such an authority, the perfect target, as the man who ran it quite clearly didn’t need that little bit of gil. Perhaps he could find the nearest town, raid the mayor’s place. But what if the mayor was benevolent? You did come across those, after all. Then the town’s people would be after him. Okay, scrap that idea. He sighed again, resigning to the fate of never being able to go to this new luxurious inn.

Then there was such a delightful giggle that Zidane’s heart fluttered. He blinked, snapping out of his thoughts as he remembered the girl he’d seen, perhaps the reason he’d tripped, although he was not one to blame a pretty girl for his own troubles. He heard her wading through water, wondering what she was getting at. He figured he might look to see what was happening, but then again he’d already made a fool out of himself.

Then there was another giggle just over him. He blinked again, rolling over just in time to see her standing over him. The way she was standing, with the sunset just behind her, gave her a heavenly glow. He was speechless for a moment, maybe still a bit dazed from his fall proven by his next words: ”Hi there, Ms. Angel.” He looked up at her as she held his pouch, his loot from the caravan in her hands. That was what she had been doing in the water. He quickly shook his head to snap himself out of his daze.

Zidane coiled up, throwing his feet into the air as his hands pushed against the ground in front of him. He pushed off with his hands, twisting with his body so that he landed on his feet, completing the kip up. He stood up, brushed himself up and grinned widely at her, his tail giving a dignified little flick. ”You got my… erm… medicine for me, thank you!” he said, motioning at the pouch, having not seen her look inside. ”How may I ever repay you?” He didn’t let her respond, pretending to take some time to think before piping up again. ”How about I take you on a date!”

[Kairi]

Her head tilted, and her cheeks darkened with a blush.

Angel? She smiled slightly, a little hesitant on how to reply to that at all. Laughing nervously, she merely continued to hold out the pouch of gil. She had never really had much interaction with the opposite gender, often avoiding males altogether. It had first been because of her pilgrimage, but now it was because she had never seen anyone of interest. Well, until now at any point. Mentally slapping herself at the errant thought, Kairi focused upon the matter at hand. Looking to the boy, she did find it rather cute with his position upon the ground. Holding back another laugh, she felt a grin cross her lips briefly. Well, this had turned out differently than she had expected~!

Watching with curiosity, the boy suddenly launched himself into the air, landing on his feet easily. An awed expression lit up her pale features, and just a little jealousy. Kairi wished she could move that gracefully. Not worrying about it, she lowered her hand back to her side. It was obvious he did not need to be helped up~! Kairi did have to wonder why had stolen the gil inside this pouch. It was quite a lot, but that was his business. Idly, Kairi shifted her weight from one foot to the other, a nervous gesture she had developed over the years. "I don't think I'm an angel," she suddenly spoke with a small smile.

"I'm Kairi~!"

As he brushed himself off, her gaze wandered to the tail that was hanging there. Wait--a tail? Since when humans have tails? Peering at his eyes for a moment, she did not see the typical swirl that identified an Al Bhed, not that they had tails, either. How odd. Maybe it was apart of his outfit. Kairi tilted her head, questions still floating through her mind, but maybe that was for another time. At his sudden statement, Kairi quirked her brow, a knowing expression on her features. Right, his medicine. Well, it was not really any trouble~! She was enjoying the company, feeling more happy than she had been in awhile. Maybe that cheerful girl was still lingering within her heavy heart~?

Before she could even respond, he asked her on a date?

Kairi froze, her eyes widening, and her thought process ceasing for the moment. Was he joking? Was he serious? Maybe she was dreaming? Realizing that her silence was rude, she quickly smiled. Before her mind could catch up to her mouth, she was already agreeing before thinking about it. "I think that would be fun~!" Giggling lightly, she reached out her hand to grasp his, lifting it up, and placing the gil pouch in his palm. No need for him to lose the pouch again~! Her heart beat quickly against her cheek, and she was pretty sure she was still blushing. Stupid hormones.

"No need to lose this much gil, right~?"

[Zidane Tribal]

”I’m Zidane!” he responded with enthusiasm as she gave him her name. Kairi. It was a nice name, befitting of such a beautiful girl. He grinned to himself, then to her. He’d gotten away with his money after all, and met a pretty lady while doing it. It was a nice day, well, erm, nice evening, anyway! He shifted his weight between his legs, realizing she was still holding the pouch. Not that it mattered to him, he was fine with the reward he had found.

Wait, did she just agree to his approach? Did she just agree to going on a date? Zidane blinked, and then smiled widely. She had agreed! He had been hoping, but obviously didn’t expect her to agree so easily. He just sort of stood there, surprised at her response, when she gave him back the pouch of gil. She grabbed his hand, her touch so gentle that his heart fluttered once more, unable to control itself as it skipped a beat. His stomach was doing somersaults at this point, and his own cheeks were starting to turn just a gentle shade redder, showing quite clearly what he was feeling.

She knew it was gil. She must’ve looked into the pouch before he’d noticed. But then… the only time she could’ve done that was when she had retrieved it, before he was standing, before she agreed to go on a date. That meant she didn’t care. She knew he’d stolen it, but she didn’t care. Oh how lucky he was today to find such a wonderful girl and score a date with her, even after his embarrassing face plant. He took the pouch and slipped it into an inside pocket of his vest. His plans for the money were already changing drastically.

“Uh, well, yeah, no need to lose it,” he said, rendered speechless by the spectacle whose name was Kairi. There was something different about this girl than all the others. Zidane had a reputation amongst those that knew him as a womanizer, but he hadn’t felt this way before, not once! He blinked a few times, trying to think of something to say to save face. ”So what were you doing out here all alone?” he asked, his tail starting to swish back and forth much like a dog’s would when they got excited.

[/blockquote]

[Kairi]

Zidane? His name was fitting for him~!

Kairi could felt her heart quickening with each beat, and the warmth of her cheeks slowly turning even darker. Oh, how embarrassing! It was an enjoyable feeling, though, and that excitement was beginning to bubble up within the young woman. That same bright smile was on her lips, and she felt like such an idiot. Why was she allowing herself to open up like this? Kairi never did things so carelessly, but maybe it was time for her to start. Really, it was much too tempting not to do--she had a date. The thought finally sank into her mind, and she mentally slapped herself.

What was wrong with her?

It was not just Zidane standing there with a surprised shock gripping her. It should bother her immensely, but she felt happy. Happy for the first true time in three years. Watching as Zidane slipped the pouch into his pocket, she did wonder once more why he had stolen it. Despite his flamboyant style of dress, he did not seem like the type to have much gil. Then again, her pink dress stood out a bit as well. Well, it could be worse~! She clasped her hands together tightly, peering up at Zidane with a smile. At least he was not that much taller than her, which was a nice change~! Most guys she saw were at least a foot taller than her.

Giggling once more, she smiled just a bit smugly. She was smarter than she appeared to be~! Her head tilted, and she pondered at his question. Her answer? Well, she supposed she had been avoiding people like he had been, though not for the same reasons. "Well, I love watching the pyreflies gather along the water at night, though I didn't think you would come tripping through~!" Laughing lightly, she watched his tail swing with wonder. Well, so much for being apart of his outfit. Oh, wait, she did have one thing to ask that was important. All she knew was his name, not how old he was.

"So, Zidane, how old are you~? And why did you take that much gil~?"

[Zidane Tribal]

How old was he? Did it really matter? Well he figured it must matter to some girls, though it hadn’t come up that often, surprisingly. He raised his hands to clasp them behind his head in a relaxed pose, almost leaning back into them. His tail once against flicked lazily and he smiled to her and her question. “I’m seventeen! Well sixteen, though it’s not long before I turn seventeen,” he said with a smile, hoping there’d be no problems arising from his answer. He was beginning already to look forward to the date, he didn’t want things to be ruined because he wasn’t the right age for her.

Zidane turned his attention to the water, at the pyreflies just as she had described them, over the water. He smiled to himself, realizing he had never taken the time to watch them when he was near the Moonflow. Perhaps this was an opportunity, then, to turn the situation away from his age. He moved to a large rock on the shore that extended over the water. It was perfect for his intent. With an easy leap Zidane climbed to the top of the rock. ”Then it’s settled, as part of our date we’ll watch the pyreflies together!” he exclaimed, waiting at the lip of the rock to see if she needed any help up.

Whilst he waited he considered his answer to her other question. Why had he taken the gil? Truth be told the answer was selfish, and he was a little ashamed of it. But then he didn’t feel like lying to her. Lying would only lead to further trouble. So he found himself sort of bashful, even nudging at the rock. ”Well, there’s… ahem, there’s a new inn that opened nearby, it’s supposed to be really nice and… I wanted to stay there for a night. But I only stole enough to stay there and the person I stole it from could easily spare it!” the last bit, the final exclamation being said in almost a single breath and by the end of it he was blushing quite clearly. He was never this bashful, never rendered as speechless as she was leaving him now. There was definitely something there, a feeling he wasn’t used to before. He watched her, waiting on top of the rock and hoping she would still come along despite everything he had just said. This was a girl he didn’t want to run away from him, he wanted her to join him on the rock and watch the pyreflies. His tail twitched nervously.

[/blockquote]

[Kairi]

Kairi felt a relief at knowing his age.

Perhaps it was still in her nature to be cautious, but at least he was not too young or old. A smile appeared upon her lips, and she suddenly shook her head. She hoped that she had not offended him in any way! He was rather sweet and cheerful~! Cheeks darkened a the thought, she glanced away for a moment. Oh, like he could not see her blush, anyway. Holding back a nervous laugh, she tried to relax her own position--as Zidane seemed to be doing. Already, the young woman had acted so out of her usual demeanor. Never had she been so happy and open, at least never with anyone but her sister. The pain drowned her briefly, but not as heavily as it once had. No need to let her sorrow show in front of this handsome boy.

Shaking herself from her musings, Kairi watched as Zidane made his way over to a larger rock. She wondered if that was wise, since he had tripped the last time he was near a rock. Raising her free hand, she muffled her quiet laugh, azure eyes glittering. He seemed to managed, though, leaping onto the rock with relative ease. "At least you have your balance back~!" she called to him with a grin. His statement on their date sent her cheeks flaming once more, and Kairi was already walking toward the rock eagerly. Oh, how embarassing. Then again, she was enjoying herself, and that was what counted~! She did wonder whether she should let him help her up or not. Determined to show she was able to climb herself, Kairi jumped up, her feet landing uneasily on the ledge, and she gripped Zidane's arm for balance.

Blushing brightly, she looked up to Zidane with a sheepish smile.

Her head tilted, though, and she merely shook her head at his confession. His blush was quite evident, but she did not giggle, not wanting him to think she was laughing at him. "Don't worry. I'm not mad or anything~! I was just curious," she replied lightly. Realizing she was still holding onto his arm--leaving her only inches from him. Blushing furiously, she let him go, and lowered herself into a sitting position. Really, the view from here was wonderful~! With a light laugh, Kairi reached out her hand, grasping his to tug him down next to her. No need for him to be bashful~!

"Let's just enjoy the view~!"

[Zidane Tribal]

Zidane dug his feet in to keep his balance, lest the two of them go over the edge. He pulled back to help her up onto the rock, not wanting to have to watch her fall off. He smiled bashfully as she held onto him for a moment before realizing what she was doing. Then something dawned on him, she was blushing, she was bashful and giggly. Just as much as he was. She was keeping her own enough that she wasn’t rendered speechless, but the fact that she was blushing so much tipped him off that maybe he wasn’t the only one feeling something between them.

She settled down and looked out over the water. There was a look in her eyes that just made Zidane melt away. A strange look, hopeful, maybe? A look that just inspired the thief. He found himself almost staring, but managed to catch himself before giving himself away to her. She reached up at him and tugged him down. He blinked at her gentle touch against his hand once again, it was a feeling he liked. Her hands were so soft, so feminine, he didn’t want to let go. Of course it probably wouldn’t be a good idea to hold on to her.

He settled down beside her, measurably close yet not too close. He was very peculiar about how close he got to her. Zidane had a hint that there was something between them, but he didn’t want to overstep things with this girl, not Kairi. She was… becoming special to him, he didn’t want to scare her off. So he settled down close to her, not close enough to be touching but close enough that he could enjoy her presence. He smiled, leaning back on the rock and looking out over the pyreflies. They really were nice; though he suspected she was bringing out the beauty of the world around him at that point.

His tail gave a little, lazy flick, then decided it was going to try the limits, see how far it can go. It crept toward her as the moment settled in, the pyreflies fluttering about, and wrapped around her waist ever so gently, ready to flicker back to settle in behind him should she look like she objected to its presence. He acted normal while his tail did this, pretending not to notice that it was wrapping around her. ”It truly is magical….” he said thoughtfully, his eyes sparkling, a smile across his face.

[Kairi]

A content sigh escaped her lips.

The last time she had enjoyed such a view had been so long ago. On her pilgrimage, when her sister and her had journeyed to the Moonflow for the first time. The sights had amazed them, and they merely stayed the whole night taking everything in. The memory was so bittersweet, but she did not cry this time. Maybe Zidane's presence calmed her usually anguished heart, and that was reason enough to enjoy this impromptu date. Kairi had never been on a date before, but it did not seem all that hard. It felt almost as natural as breathing in a way, and the feeling was one Kairi appreciated so very much.

She could feel his presence beside her, ever-so-close, but not quite. She was grateful that he was not trying to try anything on her too quickly, even if she felt an attraction toward him. No, it was more than that, but she was still inexperienced in such a thing. That same blush stained her cheeks, but it was disappearing now. That was a relief. Kairi was not used to the sudden blood flow in her cheek so many times in one day. Giggling lightly at the thought, she just let her gaze wander over the vast river. So peaceful, and it brought her back to a more happy time within her life, before everything had gone so wrong. Kairi shook herself of the memories, though, knowing it would not be fair to let her mind wander when on her date~!

Until something slipped about her waist.

Oceanic orbs widened, and she glanced from the corner of her eye. She could see the tail coiled about her waist so lightly, and she could not help but giggle. She still wondered how Zidane could have a tail, but she did not mind. Kairi found it rather cute, actually~! With a small grin on her lips, she lowered her head onto his shoulder. Her eyes closed briefly, and another content sigh escaped her lips. Was it really possible to like someone in such a short amount of time? Perhaps it was, since odder things could happen within life. Her oceanic orbs flickered up to Zidane briefly, and she could see the smile on his lips. It comforted her, and she let her gaze wander back to the waters.

"It really is."

[Zidane Tribal]

The moment was perfect. Zidane was sitting there with this girl, whom he was pretty sure he was in love with, his tail wrapped around her waist for a hug while they watched pyreflies together. The sun was setting in a beautiful sunset, casting them in radiant dusk light that outlined her features perfectly, giving her an otherworldly glow. She was beautiful, and he was just coming to terms with that fact, ever since she had stood over him and he’d mistaken her for an angel he couldn’t help but think that and it made him quite bashful. It was only now that he was coming to terms with this.

Then the moment got even more perfect. She rested her head against his shoulder in response to his tail being wrapped around her. Zidane, despite a newfound confidence in the situation, still found himself blushing. She was so light and with her head so close the smell of her hair was inescapable. He wasn’t completely sure how to react at that moment without overstepping his boundaries. Things were going so fast, yet he had such a certainty that he was in love with her that he didn’t know how it could get any better.

So he resolved on one simple act to complete the moment. When she got settled against his shoulder he let his head drift slowly to the side, resting against the top of hers. A simple motion, one that could be passed off as either intimate or simply friendly. Of course he meant it in the former fashion, but if she didn’t take it well he could easily cover it up as the latter. Once again he found his heart racing, hoping she would accept the action. It was the best thing he could think of that wouldn’t test the limits, such as wrapping his arm around her, while still doing something.

”So do you travel alone?” he asked, hoping to make her more comfortable with him. He was just as new to this as she was; sure he was a womanizer, but he’d never had feelings of love like this. He’d never been in a situation where he wanted the woman to take him, where he truly hoped his feelings were mutual. He was hoping, to add another to a long list of hopes, that he was doing things right, even if they seemed to be going fast.

Perhaps there is such thing as love at first sight.

[Kairi]

All of this felt like a surreal dream to her.

Kairi let her gaze wander to the setting sun, the dusky pinks and oranges lighting the sky. Everything was so breathtaking, and she felt like she could spend the whole night like this. Comforting and so easy to lose herself within this moment. At peace with herself for the first time, she felt so much more liker her old self again~! Cheerful and light at the world around her. She could feel the warmth he exuded as she rested her head against his shoulder, and she closed her eyes for the moment. Her heart beat quickly against her chest, but she still felt rather calm, and she enjoyed each and every emotion that ran through her. A gentle smile crossed her lips, and she leaned a bit more closely against Zidane.

Feeling his head slowly rest against hers, she could inhale his scent quite easily. Earthy, but not in a bad way at all~! Kairi made no gesture that she wished for Zidane to move, only staying where she was with comfort and enjoyment. Auburn locks slid across her cheeks as she leaned her head a bit more closely toward the thief. Kairi could almost hear his heart beating, knowing hers was doing the same thing. As the sun set, she could feel the cooling breeze of the night begin to settle in. Letting her eyes open once more, she did enjoy how this date was going thus far~! Even if it was her very first once.

Kairi pondered his question at his moment. Yes, she did travel alone, but not really as herself. It had been pure luck that Zidane had not found her as Xion, and she was glad for that fact. It was nice to be herself for once, even if it did not happen all that often. "Yeah, I travel alone, but I'm quite used to it," she answered softly. She frowned briefly at her own answer, but she soon replaced it with a bright smile. No need to dwell upon unhappy thought~! She would like to get to know Zidane better, though. Glancing up at him sweetly, her oceanic eyes glittered brightly.

"Why don't you tell me about yourself~?"

[Zidane Tribal]

He closed his eyes, listening to her sweet voice even though it was only brief. He turned his head to look at her as she glanced up at him, his eyes meeting hers for a moment and his breath caught in his throat. He smirked, trying to save face, his eyes breaking contact in embarrassment only to take notice of her lips. No, that was foolishness. He’d only just met her. Why would he think such thoughts? Besides, who was to say she would really want to? He realized his face was reddening again and he turned his gaze back out to the water.

About himself, hmm?

”Well I travel alone, too.” Though I hope to change that soon. ”I don’t remember much from my childhood, only being found by Baku and raised by him as part of a… erm… theatre group. Tantalus. You might’ve heard of us back when it was… still together. It was destroyed in an attack by Sin.” He went quiet for a moment, thinking back to that awful disaster. Images of the show boat being flipped completely upside down by Sin, sending everyone on board, himself included, flying. It was a miracle he’d survived that encounter, considering the damage done. Blank… ”After that I just sort of travel around helping people, getting by, I guess.” He looked back to the water thoughtfully, remembering fondly the night when his life was torn apart. He had recovered admirably, but there would always be the emotional scars.

”But that’s far too dreary a thing to talk about on a date! Let’s see, about me… well I like apples, my favorite color is blue and my favorite animal is… well I don’t know that one. I spend my time travelling about, seeing the world! I help anyone I can, whenever I can because you don’t really need a reason to help anybody, right? Though I do steal, it was… well Tantalus was also a group of thieves, so when I worked with them we did steal. Not a lot! Only what we need. That’s why I only steal just what I need to get by. I mean, to survive. And only from those who could afford the loss…” he stammered, trying to save face once more. He was opening right up to her and he didn’t know why. There was just something about her, something about the way she looked at him when she asked the question that made him feel comfortable telling her everything, and only afterward did he realize things he shouldn’t be telling.

[/blockquote]

[Kairi]

Kairi noticed the blush on his cheeks once more, and she giggled.

He was really quite cute when he did so~! Her own cheeks flushed when she noticed his gaze slide to her lips, and without too much thought, she licked them nervously. Glancing to the side, she smiled slightly to herself. It was nice to know that he liked her back. Holding back a giggle, she let her gaze travel to the lit waters, and it almost reminded her of her first Sending. How the pyreflies had danced around her, lifting into the skies as she Sent them to the Farplane. How bittersweet, and she almost found herself longing for her pilgrimage again. As tragic as it had ended, some of her best memories were from her journey. Kairi could not regret what had happened, because it had all been done for a reason. If she had succeeded, she would not be here now.

With Zidane.

Kairi glanced to him, and she listened to his story with rapt attention. He traveled alone as well? Well, it was not surprising, but maybe she could join him on his own journeys? It was a hopeful thought, but one she would ask when she knew him a bit better. Her expression darkened at the mention of Sin. It felt as it the Eternal Calm was not so eternal after all. A disquieting thought she never wished to consider, and she threw it away all at once. Zidane had his own tragedies as well, but she admired him all the more for continuing to live life with a positive and cheerful outlook. She wished she could say the same for herself. "You don't need a reason to help others," replied with a small smile.

Smiling brightly, she felt a little lighter as Zidane switched to a more happy topic. Laughing lightly, she listened to his constant chatter quite happily. It was nice to hear such ordinary topics, and the reasons why he stole. She could not say she agreed with it, but he was not really hurting anyone, so it was okay with her~! "I don't think any less of you, if that's what you mean. Sometimes, we all need to find a way to survive~!" After a few moments, a melancholy smile settled upon her lips. She wondered if she should talk about herself a little. Perhaps not the whole story, but he had told her the truth. Kairi inhaled deeply, and without thought she let her hand slide into his.

Kairi had never told her story to anyone before.

"Well, I guess I should talk about myself, right~?" she asked lightly. Smiling lightly, she thought of her journey. "I grew up in Bevelle, and my family were firm believers in Yevon. My father was a Summoner, and my mother a Priestess. My sister," she nearly choked out her name,

[/color=purple]"Nami, was my best friend. We were always together, and my parents decided to start a pilgrimage when we were older. I think that was when I knew I wanted to become a Summoner, though Nami hardly agreed."[/color] A fond smile crossed her lips at the thought, and she almost wished she had listened to her sister. Kairi could not change the past, though.

"My parents never came back, so Nami and I were by ourselves. I finally became a Summoner, and she chose to become my Guardian. We journeyed all across Spira, and it was the most happy time of my life, but when we reached Zanarkand, she died. She pushed me out of the way of the final fiend, and took the attack meant for me." Kairi nearly choked on her last words, feeling those tears sting her eyes. How stupid she was to tell Zidane all of this, especially when on their date. It was so not fair, but she needed to tell this to someone. "I was almost the High Summoner, but I'm glad I'm not. I would have died, too, but I get to be here with you now, ne~?" Kairi looked up to him with a wavering smile.

There was always a silver lining.



[/blockquote][/size]

[Zidane Tribal]

Zidane couldn’t help but smile wider as she took his rambling in stride, even going so far as to agree that everyone needed to survive. She really didn’t mind his way of life, something that was rather surprisingly hard to find in today’s society. Everybody was so judgmental, but it’s not like a sixteen year old thief was going to do much harm, especially when he’s had the proper raising. Baku. He thought back to his time with Tantalus once more, remembering each and every member of the group. He’d never seen any of them after the ship had been flipped; they’d been lost to the water. Only he and Blank made it to shore, and only he made it away safely. Perhaps one day he’d go back to where Blank stood petrified and show it to Kairi. But such thoughts were too far ahead.

Then she took his hand in hers. He blinked, then smiled again, a gentle smile as she suggested talking about herself. He didn’t object. He wanted to know this girl, this one in a million chance find who he was totally falling for. With their hands together he gave hers a soft squeeze, encouraging her to tell her own story which, as it seemed, was grave and went unshared until now. She was a Summoner, she said? He took mental notes of everything in her story, knowing it would be nice of him to know her past, if it ever came up again.

He nodded gravely as she got to the part involving her sister. It was quite obviously a touchy subject for her, the way she choked up on her own words. He listened intently, not wanting to harm her by not paying attention. He nodded and watched her carefully. Finally she finished and he could see the tears at the edge of her eyes. It was heartbreaking to see her so sad, and his mind raced. There was only one thing he could think to do for her once her story was all over. He leaned in and hugged her. Zidane wrapped his arms around her in hopes to comfort her.

”I’m glad you are here, Kairi,” he said, almost whispered to her, ”and you don’t need to be alone anymore.” He didn’t exactly know why he said it, but he was trying to calm her down. Perhaps there were some feelings slipping out of him, he didn’t quite know, didn’t quite understand. She was sad because her sister had died, so perhaps he wanted to replace her at a different level…

[/blockquote]

[Kairi]

Kairi could feel some of that burden lift from her.

Never had she told anyone, but she could not regret telling Zidane. He would understand her feelings better than most, since he had lost those he cared about as well. Her sadness seemed to lessen somewhat, even though the tears lingered. Her shimmering blue eyes flickered to the horizon, the only thing she could really comprehend was that Zidane was still beside her. Kairi found it so hard to truly be herself. To Yevon she was a failed Summoner and a traitor, and to the outside world, she was only Xion. All of her sacrifice and pains, maybe it had meant something after all. Perhaps this was what her sister wanted for her. To be happy, and finally let her pain go.

Kairi felt suddenly felt his arms wrap around her, and without thought, she leaned against Zidane. This was what she really needed, some sort of comfort. To not be alone anymore, and after three years of wandering, she was ready to let go of that pain. Perhaps not her identity as Xion, but her loneliness. Xion was the only connection left to her sister, and she was not ready to let that go. Could not. Smiling sadly, Kairi slid her hand from his, instead her arms wound about his waist, and she let her head rest against his chest. Comfort, peace, warmth. It all filled her up, and she nuzzled closer to that warmth. So what if she had only met him a short time ago? Kairi liked him, and she felt safe with him.

His whispered words nearly sent those tears falling.

He was glad that she had not wasted her life for nothing. Just like Nami had wished for her. No, she supposed she was no longer alone, and she wanted that to be true. "Thank you so much," she murmured. Pulling back a little, Kairi looked up at Zidane with a gently smile on her lips. Maybe everything was beginning to fall into place for once.

[Zidane Tribal]

It seemed to work. As Zidane embraced her she seemed to lighten up significantly. He held her tight, nuzzling into the side of her head for as long as she wanted to hold on to the hug. Finally, though regretfully as he enjoyed the contact, she pulled away a looked at him. He saw those tears still lingering in her eyes, almost ready to fall, but at the same time there was something significantly different. She was happier and in direct relation to that, so was he. As she pulled back slightly he smiled widely at her, an almost goofy smile, as he saw that she was cheered up.

His eyes darted to her lips again and he resisted any urges that came from their plush pinkness. Instead he redirected his gaze back to her eyes as he held her by the shoulders. He examined her visibly, not sizing her up, but examining her for sadness. He even made a spectacle of it, looking her up and down and bringing a hand to his chin to make it look like he was thinking deeply on something. Finally Zidane nodded, still flourishing his actions, and took his hands away from her shoulders.

”A heavy weight has been removed, you’re happier now,” he stated in an official tone, as if giving her a diagnosis like a doctor. He kept a serious face for a moment before grinning widely, climbing to his feet and stretching. He clasped his hands together and stretched them high over his head, causing his shirt to rise up over his stomach ever so slightly. His tail mimicked the motion, stretching out to its full length before coiling back up and flicking back and forth lazily. He smiled down to her and offered her his hand to help her up from her sitting position. ”That’s part one of our date! Part two will be… a walk along the beach,” he said with a smile, already considering part three.

He jumped off of the rock, landing feet first in the sand of the beach and turned around to help her down. It was a significant distance, though nothing a normal person couldn’t manage. He still felt it the right thing, the kind of thing a man should do for a woman. He held his hands out, ready to either catch her if she jumped off or hold them out to help her jump down. It was her call how she wanted to get down, but he was there to help her the entire way.

[/blockquote]

[Kairi]

Her smile was still in place, and she felt light.

Her head tilted to the side, and Kairi noticed once more how his eyes darted toward her lips. Cheeks flushing just a little, she was unsure if she was actually mind him kissing her. Kairi had never experienced such a thing before, despite the fact she was a grown woman. Well, she was more mature than most girls her age at any point, though not in some ways. Why was she thinking about this again? Kairi mentally slapped herself, and she brought her gaze to focus onto Zidane, who was inspecting her rather comically. Feeling his hands upon her shoulders, she really wanted to slip back into his warm embrace. Giggling lightly, she grinned up at him, finding his actions adorable and silly~! Well, that was certainly a way to cheer her up~!

A content sigh escaped her lips, and she felt a lighter feeling settle upon her. Yes, she was much more happy now, and it was all thanks to Zidane~! As he let go of her shoulders, she stretched as well, reaching her hands into the sky, feeling her shoulders pop in a relieving gesture. Glancing to the side, she saw Zidane stretch as well, and her gaze slid downward, seeing his shirt ride just a little bit above his waist. Seeing his skin show, the blood rushed to her cheeks, and Kairi looked away quickly. Mentally slapping herself, the mental image would still not leave her mind. Stupid hormones! Letting her arms fall back down into her lip, she chanced a glance in his direction as Zidane suddenly stood up. Knowing she resembled a cherry at this point, she still managed to smile.

Kairi took his hand without thought, and she pulled herself up. Laughing at his statement, she was already looking forward to part two of their date~! Standing to her full height, she watched as he jumped off the rock. Getting up was a lot easier than climbing down. Biting her lip nervously for a moment, Kairi noticed how he held his hands out, and she felt more reassured. And just the slightest bit mischievous~! Taking a deep breath, she inhaled and closed her eyes, and jumped off form the rock. Kairi would trust Zidane to catch her, truly trying to find the excuse to be close to him once more.

[Zidane Tribal]

She was trusting him and he wasn’t about to abuse that privilege. Zidane’s arms were out to catch her and as she jumped, he adjusted accordingly, letting her fall easily into his arms. One arm caught underneath Kairi’s knees, the other against her back, against the shoulder blades. He bent at the knees to absorb he fall, making it much smoother for her. Once he had absorbed her momentum he stood back up, still holding her, grinning as he looking into her eyes. ”I’ve got you!” he exclaimed happily, not wanting to put her down just yet. He actually wanted to use the position to squeeze her close for a hug, but there was no reason for a hug just yet.

So he set her down. Holding onto her shoulder opposite him with his arm draped across her back he lowered her feet to the ground and set her up standing. As he did this the arm on her shoulder slid down while the one under her slid out, putting his hands on her hips to complete the action of setting her balance, putting her down after catching her. He blinked as he realized where his hands were, then looked again into Kairi’s eyes, trying his hardest not to let his gaze slip to her lips again. His tail swished back and forth and he blushed a little.

Zidane realized he’d been holding onto her for what was probably a bit too long and quickly let go of her, throwing on a goofy smile to disguise his embarrassment in hopes to save face. He raised his hands behind his head again to regain his relaxed posture, looking up and down the beach. ”Now if I remember correctly… yeah, that way!” he said with cheer, pointing down the beach before walking in the direction he was pointing, hoping Kairi would tag along. He had an idea for part three of their date, but it was just a matter of reaching a certain part of the area that he actually knew; he’d travelled the world, he’d camped on the side of the road so he knew certain areas of Spira anyway.

He realized that Kairi had been silent for some time. Perhaps it was time to lighten her spirits. He searched quickly through his memories for something, anything, and came up with something quite questionable. After some debate he decided it was probably okay to use in conversation now. ”Why did the chocobo cross the road?” he asked, glancing back at her as he had a few steps head start. ”To get away from wark!” Lame, sure, but it was delightful in its own lameness. Hopefully that would bring a smile to her face.

[Kairi]

Still keeping her eyes shut, she felt the wind breeze by her.

It was only for a moment, and she felt Zidane catch her. The landing itself barely jostled her, and she felt his arms holding her securely. Azure eyes opened slowly, and she looked up at Zidane with a smile. Oh, she did not want to be put down just yet. Kairi felt so safe and comfortable within his hold, and she glanced up to him with a smile. Giggling brightly, she merely nodded. "Thank you~!" Really, she wished she could just stay like this a little longer, but it seemed Zidane did not wish to cross and boundaries. Kairi respected and admired Zidane for that, and it made her feel all the more safe with him.

Before she knew it, Zidane was already setting her down back upon the ground. A small pout settled upon her lips, but Kairi did not say a word. Placed upon her feet, she felt his cheeks flush once more as his hands slid down to her hips, too keep her balance she knew. Breath hitching for a moment, all coherent thought pretty much left her mind. As he glanced at her eyes, Kairi could see the blush on his cheeks as well. Licking her lips unconsciously, she almost swayed into him, before had pulled away. Almost pouting, Kairi quickly placed on a quick grin to hide her own disappointment and embarrassment. There was always another time soon.

Clasping her hands in front of her, she took comfort in his relaxed posture, and decided to let him lead the way. As he pointed down the beach, she laughed lightly. As he walked away, the young woman quickly followed. Kairi still felt a certain confusion enter through her, wondering what these feeling were that constantly washed over her now. She knew she liked Zidane, very much at this point, but were these sorts of things meant to happen so quickly? Really, Kairi had little idea on what to do in this situation. Should she hold his hand? Should she want his arm about her waist? Oh, how confusing! Biting her lip for a moment, she suddenly realized how silent and sullen she was being.

Kairi looked up suddenly, barely catching his joke. It took her a moment to process it, but she suddenly giggled brightly. It was a horrible joke, really, but still rather funny~! Kairi quickened her pace to catch up with him, a sudden idea coming to mind. Reaching out her hand, she grasped his, pulling Zidane to a stop. Really, she had no idea of how she would react, or if she should even do this! Kairi turned him toward her, and she stretched up onto her tip toes. Without time to pause, she pressed her lips against his lightly. A warm, tingling sensation spread through her at the contact, but she was curious. This would count as her first kiss after all.

And he really had been staring at her lips for a long time now~!

[Zidane Tribal]

Zidane cursed at himself, realizing that the joke probably wasn’t even delightfully lame. That wasn’t the best he had. He could’ve easily pulled out something better than why did the chocobo cross the road. Still, what’s done is done, hopefully she wouldn’t scorn him too much for telling her such a lame joke. He’d have to find some way to make it up to her, perhaps a part four to their date. He considered what they could do after what he had planned for part three. Perhaps some swimming? They were on the edge of a river after all, but it might be too dark by then. Skinny dipping? Zidane shook off the idea immediately; she wasn’t that kind of girl. He heard her feet against the sand as she spend up, moving to catch up with him. Then he was spun around and-

He was in heaven.

Okay, that might be a bit of an exaggeration, as it was only a peck, but it was one of the best pecks he’d ever had. Her lips were so soft against his, her breath so warm against his face. His heart skipped a beat and his arms wrapped instinctively around her waist, helping to support her on her tiptoes as he returned the kiss. It was a sweet, innocent kiss and he wanted it to last, wanted it to be very special. And how could it be any more special? They were standing on the edge of the Moonflow, the pyreflies dancing carelessly in the dusk light as the sun set behind them, casting their shadows far over the sand. Somewhere in the distance, just to add to the entire scene, a caravan was moving along the road with a jaunty travel song playing, just barely audible at the shore of the Moonflow where they were.

It was definitely memorable. Zidane held her close, pulling her in with his hands’ position around her waist. He kept the kiss simple and innocent, prolonging it for just a minute, not long enough to get too serious, not yet, before moving his hands away, pulling her down. It was only then that he remembered that he needed to breath, drawing in air after holding it for the entire kiss. He stared mystified into her eyes, his own blue-green eyes flickering as they caught the setting sun. A wide smile spread across his face as he looked at her, trying desperately to control his breathing.

”Hi,” he said, all he could think to say.

[Kairi]

Kairi was in a pleasurable bliss at the moment.

Never before had she been kissed, or instigated a kiss, and she was quite glad she had not. At least her first kiss was something she had chosen, and was no thoroughly enjoying. His lips were warm upon her own, and she felt that tingling warmth spread throughout her body. Kairi even forgot to breathe. His arms circled about her waist, and she allowed her own to slid around his neck. Her heart raced against her chest, but she felt such a languid bliss pass through her slender frame, that she could hardly mind. Perhaps this was the ultimate romantic moment, what with the sun setting, and distant music being heard within the woods. Why was she still thinking? As Zidane returned the kiss, Kairi almost swayed into him.

Still, she had no idea whether to press further, or to pull away. Her lungs were burning for air, and that seemed logical, but Kairi was enjoying herself way too much for her to even proceed with that action. It seemed that Zidane had made that decision for her, though. With a slight whine, Kairi felt herself being pulled down, and she looked up at him with a pout. Oh, right burning lungs! Inhaling deeply, she smiled after a moment, feeling the oxygen calm her deprived body. Well, that was much better now~! Kairi still wanted to kiss him again, having enjoyed that blissful warmth quite a bit. Never before had she experienced such a thing, and she rather liked the feeling. Especially when with Zidane.

Glancing up into his eyes, she grinned back. He seemed to be just as breathless as her. How free and happy she felt within this moment. Giggling at his lack of words, she was quite content with kissing him again, but he had wanted to get along with part two of their date. Without thought, Kairi grasped his hand, and proceeded to pull him after her. Intertwining her fingers with his, she looked back to Zidane with a smile. Walking along the beach~! "I'm glad I left you speechless~! Now back to our walk~" Winking at him with a grin, Kairi looked back to the path before her. Ah, how lovely this was~!

[Zidane Tribal]

That little whine was almost heartbreaking. Zidane instantly regretted loosening his grasp, but he didn’t want to seem like he was forcing her into the kiss. It was such a peculiar situation, he’d kissed before, but never had he treated a situation so tenderly. Still, what was done was done and there was no turning back no matter how much he regretted it. His feet moved automatically as she tugged him along, her soft hands embracing his own. He tried to control his heart, which was beating so wildly he was afraid he was having a heart attack, but failed miserably at doing it.

”Speechless is one way to put it,” he murmured, also trying to catch his breath, having, like her, forgotten to breath as they had come together in sweet embrace. The urge was there to grab her and do the same thing she had done, spin her around and kiss her. But perhaps that would be overbearing. The normally confident Zidane was rendered completely helpless by this wonderful girl, this angel in disguise. He swallowed a lump caught in his throat as he matched pace with her once more, moving along the beach. He was lost for a moment before remembering why he was walking with her down the beach. His planned part three.

The walk was nice, he enjoyed the feel of her hand. She was so fragile, so delicate, that he couldn’t help but hold her tenderly, massaging her hand with his thumb reflexively. His tail swished side to side, quite obviously excited, not knowing what to do with itself as it lashed about with a mind of its own. It was one of the things that, she would quickly learn, gave him away despite any exterior he put out. The tail always reflected what was inside. He watched the tree-line ahead of them carefully, looking for the right spot.

”There we go, come on!” he said, spotting where he was looking for. He dashed on ahead, letting go of her hand as he hoped to get a head start on her so that he could get there first, with an intent in mind. He reached a spot on the tree-line and darted inside, disappeared completely from view. While hidden in the brush he climbed a tree quite adeptly, moving along the branches while looking for an ideal spot, watching the ground below him for when Kairi came looking. Hopefully she would come looking. He really hoped she would, as he waited in the trees, lamenting leaving her like he did but it was all part of the third stage to their date.

[Kairi]

Kairi loved these feelings.

The warmth of his hand in ears, and serene bliss she felt overtaking her. Never before had she felt so light and free, and she enjoyed each and every moment of it. Zidane was the whole reason for it, and it felt so very easy to just lose herself in the moment. The past three years of her life had been meaningless after her failed pilgrimage, but now it seemed she had something to look forward to. Pushing away the unpleasant memories, she just enjoyed Zidane's hand within hers. Glancing back to him, she smiled sweetly at the boy, hardly believing her luck for having run into him so suddenly.

It seemed Zidane had other ideas, though~!

Before she could protest, he had already taken off. Oceanic orbs widened, and it took her a moment to understand what he was doing. Suddenly, she was running after him into the trees. Her heart beat quickly, and she looked about with a worried expression. Had she done something wrong? There thought made her all the more self doubting of herself, and she bit her bottom lip nervously. Within the copse of trees, she had no idea of where he had wandered off to. Well, perhaps he was up above her? Kairi stopped her running, and she began to look up nervously. "Zidane?" she called out worriedly.

Where had he gone?