Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Ashes Can Dance ❯ Chapter 1 ( Chapter 1 )

She could feel the warmth upon her cheek, the caress of the light against her eyelids. It was comforting, yet…haunting…both at the same moment. Yet it was the only thing that woke her from her slumber each and every day: the dawning of the sun over the horizon. After the death of day, and the mournful cries of the night, the world was renewed again, in the constant circle of death and rebirth. That was the only echoing proverb since the dawn of time, which life would begin anew.

With a quiet yawn, she pushed herself up from her resting spot, and ran a hand back through her hair. "Morning…" she murmured, and groggily forced herself to her feet. "I hate getting up…"

She reached over, and slipped her top over her shoulders, and tied it at the chest. Feeling unwilling, she simply ran her fingers back through her hair, tugging at the stubborn knots that were painful to dislodge. Afterward, she looked up toward the sun, and seeing its distinctive shadow, her instincts told her that it was around noontime.

"DAMN IT!!! I'm late for prayers!! Father Tida will kill me!"

Quickly, she grabbed her boots and threw her feet into them, and rushed out the door. She hesitated outside, as she glanced toward Zid's hut. She was still quite upset with him, but still…something inside of her did not want to see him get into trouble for missing the prayers.

Damn him…still asleep, as always… Too bad the priests haven't turned him into a rock or something…oh well…

With an angry sort of huff, she dashed toward Zid's hut, and pounded on his door. "Wake up!!" she snapped, grinding her fist into the coarse wood.

No answer.

Feeling impatient, she quickly opened the door and stepped inside. As expected, Zid was fast asleep, all snuggled warmly into his bed.

Not for long.

With a quick thrust, she grabbed him by the back of his head, and yanked him out of bed. He woke with a jolt, and began to struggle, crying out numerous profanities.

"What the-? KYRA!! Let GO of me!!"

"We're late for prayer!" she responded, shrewdly.

With that, he kicked her legs out from underneath her with one of his own, sending her tumbling down-straight on top of him.

"Well well…" he smiled, amused. "Nice to see you again."

"Don't flatter yourself," she hissed, sending droplets of spit spattering into his face.

"My, my, my…you are fifteen now…you really should stop sleeping together!" came an amused voice from across the room, stopping both youths in their tracks.

"FATHER TIDA!!!" both cried, Kyra jumping to her feet, as Zid remained on his back on the floor. The monk only smirked at them in response, silent.

After regaining her composure, Kyra shot a sore glance over to the monk, and finally replied, "I would rather sleep with a pig than sleep with him."

"Well said," Father Tida replied with a smug expression.

"No fair…two against one…and neither of you can even classify as a girl!" Zid replied, sorely.

Kyra simply shot him a death glare.

"I should turn you into a girl for a day," Father Tida replied with a simple shrug, turning his back to Zid. "Now…as for your lateness…"

"Here it comes…" Zid grumbled, tossing his head to the side with a roll of his eyes.

"You know, monk, you should record all of this onto a sphere, so we wouldn't have to listen to you waste your time." Kyra placed one hand on her hip, and cocked her head toward Tida.

"Mm, maybe…" the monk replied, his tone indifferent, "…either way, you have exactly ten seconds to get down to the temple, before I turn you both into Chocobos. Hmm…better yet, make that blitzballs. More quiet."

Kyra tossed an aggravated glance over to Zid, who was currently pushing himself up, and having a hard time with it, at that. "My, aren't we graceful."

"Shut up."

"Why don't you two stop arguing…and get those legs moving!!" Father Tida growled, gesturing toward the outdoors.

"Uh…good idea. Frankly, it wasn't a goal of mine to become a Chocobo…" Zid tossed the monk a winning smile, which simply earned an obscene gesture from the other man.

Kyra snickered. "You know, Zid…you really should put on something more than just boxers for temple…"

With that, she bolted out the door, headed for the forest temple.