Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Ghost ❯ Chapter Five ( Chapter 5 )

Disclaimer: Don't own any of the healing items/ summons/ jobs, those are Squaresofts. This is non-profit fun.

AN: Another peaceful sweet chapter despite Ashen's meany attitude. Btw for those who might be wondering, Aleura is 15, though at times she'll seem older. But why will become clearer in later chappies.

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Knock.

"Damnit...," Ashen cursed under his breath. He had managed to avoid the ever-cheery, ever-social group of worshipers by isolating himself in the little room they had him staying in. Alone for most of the day, it seemed his luck had run out. "Come in...," he huffed aloud.

"Hiya!" Kazu appeared at the door, "It's dinner time. Ready to go?"

"Huh?" Ashen sat up on his bed.

"Oh, right!" He smacked his forehead, "I forgot to tell you that's a sect rule."

"What rule?" Ashen twitched up a white eyebrow.

"Yeah, everyone gathers in the meal room at dinner time. That is everyone in the monastery, so that includes you."

"So?"

"I thought you'd say that..." Kazu responded dryly, "C'mon, if you don't go, Yukai will probably end up dragging you there."

I'd like to see him try. Ashen stood up with a long sigh; "Fine…"

The meal room was alive with many glowing candles and mindless chatter. Ashen was forced to sit on a cushion next to Kazu and Sesshin, luckily they decided to bicker instead of attempt conversation with him. Things were taking too long; Ashen began a plan to leave just as a loud knock sounded.

Everything became silent while Yukai tapped two wooden pipes together. Quietly, Nara and Aleura ushered into the room, stopping in front of the large earth-toned tapestry on the wall. The tapping stopped and silence enveloped the room.

Ashen looked around, noticing one by one the members of the room bowing their heads in front of full plates. Then a beautiful sound broke the silent air in the room, almost like a flute but in truth a woman's voice in song. Ashen's eyes were immediately drawn to the singer. Moments later another voice, this time alto, joined in, fluid and soothing to those who listened. Together, in unison, they sang, the hymn sounding ethereal in their harmonious tones and cryptic words. The mood woven from their song, so peaceful that even Ashen felt the slightest ease.

Finally, the hymn faded away on a sweet note, letting the room become silent briefly before content sighs and exhales filled in. No one began eating until Aleura took her seat at the end of the long wooden table. Slowly, the room filled with conversation and light laughter, but never losing the peace it had gained.

"What was that?" Ashen whispered his thoughts aloud.

"Hmm?" Sesshin looked up from his drink.

"You mean the Sanc?" asked Kazu turning his head to Ashen.

"The Sanc is hymn of prayer and thanks," Sesshin interjected in a pious manner.

Aleura's head turned and met eyes with Ashen's from across the room, she smiled and waved to him. The action woke him from his thought-filled daze. His turbulent red eyes raced from Aleura to the monks next to him then back to Aleura. In a huff, he stood up and to the shock of everyone, marched out of the room.

"What happened to him?" Sesshin asked, eyeing the open doorway from his seat.

"Maybe he's an atheist?" Kazu suggested, innocently genuine.

~***~

It was late, somewhere between one and three in the morning. The candles in Ashen's room were still dimly burning. He laid on his bed, fully dressed, his eyes staring blankly at the ceiling. Inside, he knew something was wrong with him. Something had to be wrong with him; it was the only way he could explain the complete breakdown in composure tonight. Maybe that's why he lost his summoning abilities in the first place? Maybe the scientists just didn't see it?

The possibilities consumed his mind; he needed to stop this. Thinking about it wouldn't matter in the end anyway. In another two days he could leave here and head back to the Ghri; his death was waiting there for him. With that in his brain, he would resort to his training for now and try to stay composed.

Ashen let his breathing calm, clearing his head of all thoughts and feelings. With unblinking eyes staring at the ceiling, he focused on the goings and comings of his body. Soon he would be in a trance-like state of total awareness.

Knock.

What the hell? Who in their right mind would come knocking on his door at this time of night? Ashen ignored it and focused on his training.

Knock. Knock.

He growled inwardly and gripped the comforter of the bed till his knuckles were white. Inside, he knew he had to answer it or the person would never go away. Damn those persistent bastards!

Begrudgingly, Ashen hopped off the bed and stomped over to the door. Whoever it was better be a fast runner. A cold death glare waited for whoever was on the other side as he threw open the door.

"Wh-!!" the word stuck in his mouth when he saw the perpetrator. His whole demeanor changed in an instant; his hands eased off the door, he became icy calm. "What do you want?" His words could've sent a shiver down the back of a Yeti.

"I've brought you a peace offering," She said with a warm smile holding up a bowl of steaming leftovers, "You left without eating."

"I'm not hungry," he told her curtly about to shut the door on her, but she squeezed in before he could.

"Oh… well then." Heading to the nightstand, Aleura placed the bowl on the wood surface. "You can eat it for breakfast and wont need to leave the room then."

Ashen stared at her as she turned around. For a moment, they locked eyes until her green orbs slowly fell to the floor. A sad look etched itself on her dainty features; even her body language spoke of meekness.

"I'm sorry…for what I did yesterday. I didn't mean-" she corrected herself, "No…what I did was wrong. Not just the way I went about it. I'm very sorry."

Silence consumed the air between them; his eyes fixed on her like hers to the floor. "Is that why you came here?" He asked her genuinely.

Her innocent eyes rolled up to his, she nodded firmly, "Mmm-Hmm…And...," she said, bowing before him, "If you will allow me, I would like to amend my wrong to you."

"How?" his eyes narrowed, wary of her intent.

"Well," she continued, the meekness in her face faded into a warm smile. "I am quite skilled in the art of healing. I could ease the pain of your injuries? But only if you say it's okay first."

Ashen eyed her cautiously and she, getting the hint, continued with a playfully enticing tone, "It will shorten your stay here?"

"…Fine," He consented wrapping his arms across his chest.

"Excellent!" She giggled very excited pointing to the bed, "Sit down over there please?"

Ashen did what she asked and took a seat at the corner of the bed. Aleura gently sat down behind him, curling her bare legs under her. He didn't turn around to look at her instead remained seated with his arms across his chest.

"Your back was in the worse shape last time I checked. Is it still giving you problems?"

He nodded, recalling how many times he has moved the slightest inch and then a flash of sharp pain shot through his back.

"Okay, then," she said cheerfully, "I'll need you to remove your vest please and lift up your shirt for me?"

"But! Don't take it off," she added quickly. "It's not proper."

Resisting the urge to roll his eyes, he took off his vest. Placing it next to him, he then lifted his shirt up to his shoulder blades, holding it there for her. She emitted a little gasp as she looked over the deep blackish blue bruises and deep red gashes that covered patches of his bare back.

"Oh my…this is bad." The concern in her voice quickly dissipated with confidence. "But no problem, I can fix it."

Ashen felt a sudden warm, tingling feeling consume his lower back; he jumped at it immediately snapping his head over his shoulder, questioning Aleura with an intense glare, though she smiled innocently at him.

"Whoa…Don't get mad, I'm doing just what I said I would." She lifted her hands, showing him to assure him of her intent, "See? Now just relax. This shouldn't take too long."

He cautiously turned back around while she continued. They were silent for a long while. Suddenly, a soft humming lifted the silence. Ashen listened quietly, recognizing it as the lilting tune from when he first came here.

"That's not the Sanc…" His low voice spoke what his mind was thinking.

The humming paused, "Oh, you noticed?" she asked with a little bit of pleasant surprise. "No, it's not the Sanc."

The warm tingling rose to the middle of his back.

"Yukai and Nara say I've been singing it ever since I came here," she chirped, "I don't know what the song is called... I don't even know what the words are honestly, that's why I hum it or sing the tune." Sighing contently, she continued, "I really don't remember my life before I came here. I remember my first day here but nothing before that. Yukai told me that a group of monks bought me from a slave caravan when I was little. I was alone so the former High Priestess had Yukai and Nara became my guardians and train me to be the next High Priestess of the Sect. I was still little when I became High Priestess though," Aleura giggled, "It can be a pain sometimes, with the traditions and all, but I really don't know how to live any other way. So I guess it kinda grows on you."

"You don't have to tell me all this…" Ashen glanced at her from over his shoulder, his voice uncaring and blunt.

"I know... but I want to," the girl stated honestly. The warmth moved up to his shoulder blades.

"Why? What's the point?" Once again said aloud what he was thinking without meaning too. Damnit, he bit back the self-loathing curse.

She blinked a couple of times, then asked innocently, "Does there have to be a point to it?"

He turned his head back around trying to regain his lost composure. "Whatever…"

"Well," Her cheery voice alive with a smile, "If there has to be a reason... maybe it's because we're so close in age. If you haven't noticed... there aren't many young people here. Gets kinda lonely, I guess."

"I'm nineteen…" Ashen stated blankly.

"Huh? You are?" A slight blush of embarrassment graced her porcelain face; she continued meekly, "Sorry... I thought you were seventeen."

"Whatever…" Actually it wasn't the first time that had happened to him, but it made it no less annoying.

"Well anyway, we're not that far apart in age," The warm tingling feeling stopped, "There you go! All better!"

He stretched his back a bit, slightly surprised there was no pain. Ashen rolled down his shirt as she hopped off the bed. Aleura stretched out a bit then placed her hands behind her back, he suddenly noticed her bare feet also had the same gold mendi as her hands.

"You still have that nasty gash, but it's not as nasty now... and only two bruises on your back," her bright smiling face beamed down at him, "I hope this means we're at peace now?"

Ashen stared at her blankly; peace was not a word he was accustom too. He found something had changed in her demeanor. Like she forgot something very important.

"Oh, that took longer then I thought," she bit her bottom lip; "I have to go. Nara's a heavy sleeper, but not that heavy."

Aleura rushed to the door with fairy-light footfalls, but turned around when she got to the door. She smiled and gave a slight bow. "Good night. Sleep well, Ashen."

With that she ran into the night forgetting to shut the door in her wake. Ashen eased off the bed and went to close the door. He stood there for a moment watching her cautiously run down the moon lit halls until her lithe form disappeared down another corridor.

"Weird girl...," He whispered aloud while closing the door.