Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Snow Drift ❯ Identity ( Chapter 12 )

A large bright light flashes past Irvine's vision, once then twice. The male follows it easily but blinks from the bright glare. Medic smiles, his large, black, eyes shine with happiness that the patient is all right. "And can you open your mouth for me?"

"Aaahh," Voices the male.

"Mmm. Yes... I see no damage has been done to your throat."

"Hnhn." Irvine laughs. "Unless life is supposed to be blurry, what can you do about my vision Medic."

"The cold must have damaged your eyes."

"The cold?"

"It was late at night," Medic begins the tale. "Scout was walking the lands to put up more barriers to protect the village from harm in the late hours when he'd stumbled upon a human like form laying on the beach, face down. Upon further inspection he saw that it was you, Patient," He's taken to calling the man without a name. "He alerted the other Shumi's in the village and we carried you here to this empty home to be treated by me."

"Mm." Irvine nods.

"We live on Winter Island, its very cold out, especially the time of year Shumi's found you."

"When was that?"

"The second month, I believe."

"Aaa." Again he nods.

Medic listens to Irvine's chest. "Breathe in deeply for me."

Taking a deep breath he holds it until asked to let it out. "How am I?"

"Patient is great; your vision should return to normal with a few drops. Medic could not heal that which Patient could not personally identify."

"How long was I asleep?"

"Many months. It is fifth month now."

"Fifth month..." He counts using fingers. "Its May."

The Medic Shumi nods. His large hands reach up fingers mimicking pinchers as he reaches for Irvine's eyes to open them wide. "Patient had quite a few broken bones, rib, leg, arm and large bruise on head and jaw. Medic fixed it all."

"My legs were a bit shaky when I got out of bed."

"Its been a while since Patient had moved about free-will, it takes getting used to before your limbs behave again."

"Ow." He mutters when the drops land in his right eye.

Medic smiled to himself. It was nice to see an up and about personality in the sleeping youngman. The tribe was beginning to think that the man would never rouse and they would have to give him a proper funeral but here he is alive and well- well, minus some blurred vision.

Irvine's stomached growled like a cat lazing in the afternoon sun, a deep 'Aaarrr' had erupted from him causing the Shumi to laugh. After applying the second drop to Irvine's right eye, the Shumi backs away from the man.

"Medic will fetch Harvester and Harvester will see that you get food."

"Thank you, very much."

"Medic is curious of Patient's true name."

"Maybe I don't have one. I could be a man with no name, born into this world like you Shumi's."

The Shumi laughs. "Yes, but Patient will not be a patient of Medic forever. Patient must have a means of address."

"Hmhm. Maybe it could stand for Patient man?" He jokes.

A door opened off to the side and another bald yellow frog pops his head into the room. "Elder wishes to see Medic- oh! It seems our guest has awakened." Elder's attendant walks into the room for a closer look. "He has healed well?"

"Yes. All of his broken limbs are repaired, bruises healed away quickly; Patient's eyes were a problem but are no longer."

Elder's attendant nods. "Splendid. Elder." He repeats incase his own interruption brushed aside his purpose for being there.

Nodding the Shumi gives the patient one last glance before exiting the room.

"I'm Patient. What's your name?"

"Name? No, no. It is Attendant. We in Shumi do not go by Hyne given names as-..."

"...-we humans do, I know, Medic told me about that."

"And what is your name?"

"I don't know. I've been called Patient since I couldn't figure it out and Medic felt he should address me as someone."

"Amnesia? How distressing indeed."

"I don't know. I feel fine, not so much distressed."

"Good news then."

Fidgety and feeling that knot in his stomach about to turn again he asks hesitantly, not wanting to be a bossy or over-staying guest. "Medic said that someone named Harvester would bring me something to eat."

"Mm? Oh no. Harvester is out in the fields, you may go to him but Attendant attends only to Elder. Good afternoon." He bows before leaving the room.

Watching his departure, Irvine nods. "Okay. ...Independent place, that's for sure." Looking around the room, blinks hard, he's amazed at how quickly the drops were working. Fuzzy lines sharpened with every flicker of his eyes around the room. Its beautiful and cozy. He thought it would have a stuffy hospital look to it like the feeling the room began to give off when Medic was examining him but it was nothing short of a lovely bedroom you might find at a home or a hotel, at least. A frighteningly polished wooden floor lay beneath his bare feet, a small throw rub of many different colors and shades of pink and purple, blue and a little yellow cover a small portion of the floor. A dresser sits under the other window in the room, 3 large drawers, holding what Irvine could guess to be nothing, sit closed but ask in a silent voice to be peeked into. He wondered if it would be rude if he did peek inside? Looking about a bit more he sees that the ceiling is rounded- the whole room, actually- has not a single sharp edge or pointed corner. The place must be a dome. Even the windows are round, with gold trimming with a crossed pattern on the glass. The bed, which he's still seated on, is small enough that his long legs have to hang a bit on the short headboard at the end of it. It kind of resembles a bathtub. The blanket covering the bed is a periwinkle color, crisp white sheets beneath it, the pillow, though, is a beautiful ocean of blues and a light but deep green. The reminded him.

"Hey Pal' you still here?" He asks.

The bird the size of a Barbie doll hops from his hiding place at the foot of the bed on the floor. It wasn't so much hiding just staying out of the way. It bounces, one to two talon nailed taps at a time over to the male. Chirping it pops up onto the bed before digging its nails into the long sleeve of Irvine's robes to perch joyfully on the male's shoulder.

Smiling, he pets the top of the bird's head. "Good to have you along. I'm going for food, you'll probably need to eat as well, huh? We can find this Harvester guy, I'm sure of it." Standing, he waits out the gentle sway his legs threatened to be a fall if he walked too quickly but once sure that he is steady he exits the room through a tinted, sliding, door.

"Wow." Irvine whistles being imitated by his bird friend. "This place isn't anything like I would have guessed." He squinted from the sunlight a bit, his eyes just regained clear vision last thing he wants is to be blinded by the bright, burning, sun when he was nearly blinded by the freezing snow.

The village is set up like a typical village, the kind you'd see in geographic documentaries about native tribes that live off the land. There are a few Shumi's roaming around outside, all of them up to something or another that the male could not identify. A lake sits in the middle of the village, surrounded by cattails and littered with lily pads where a few happy frogs are seated eating away at the dragon flies and gnats that choose to be around the heat coming from the lake water due to the sun overhead. A water-wheel sounds somewhere off in the distance making Irvine wonder what the wheel is used for? Crushing grains no doubt since he didn't think they would have cable in a place like this- though they do have electricity so it could be for that as well.

"Guess we should start asking where the man with the food is."

Pal flew from Irvine's shoulder over to the lake snatching a large dragon fly from the air before returning to the male's shoulder to swallow it down.

"Ahaha, help yourself, but I'm not eating that." Craning his neck he starts off towards a Shumi out in the field. He may be just the man he's looking for.

Watching the scenery as he passes by, Irvine notices how incredibly beautiful the place is in its simplicity, it was almost as if the village had grown here as naturally as the lake, rocks, plants- even the fallen trees peeking up from the water! He also sees that all the homes are identical minus one very large home seated in the very center of the place. He had to correct that thought as the place isn't so much big as it is wide. Must be where the Elder lives. Big blue mountain-like rock covers the place like a natural barrier from the outside world, trees and vines and things wrap around it or hang out on it. Pal flew off and onto the male's shoulder to over the lake snatching bite after bite of bug to munch on as Irvine made his way to the Shumi chopping long grains of maybe wheat from the field.

Lifting his long robe to get over the grass, he steps carefully toward the bent over Shumi. "Excuse me? Are you by chance Harvester?"

The shumi continued to work for a moment until his basket was full, then with full attention turns to the male who had maybe 3 minutes ago asked him a question. "I am. What can Harvester do for you, a human?"

"Its not so bad that I'm a human. I like you." Irvine offered with a smile of honest friendliness.

The shumi looked the male up and down before waving a hand before his face as if to say it matters now that he's friendly a human is a human and therefore must be up to something.

Irvine cocked a brow. "Fair enough. Medic said that if I'd like something to eat I should come to you."

"Many are named Harvester, you will help us gather it if you would like to eat it."

Nodding, he says. "Okay. My name is... well, its Patient right now but Medic said I should get another one." After a thought he adds. "This is my friend, Pal."

"A fine bird, yes, very fine."

"Hey now, don't eat him."

The bird, bored, picked under its wing while the two talked.

"A Shumi would never, we are of vegetation and feed from the land. Meat is for carnal living, which we are of friendly."

Irvine begged to differ if the nose less Shumi would sniff at his being a human.

"We shall have bean soup. You will help the other Shumi's on the other side of the field to remove the beans from the earth. Harvester has all that is needed from the field." A large finger points off to where the male is to go.

Looking in that direction he nods. "Thank you." He said mostly to keep the strange frog-like man from believing that he's rude as well as other things. "Bye." He lifts his hand as a wave before leaving. He hoped the others were a little nicer to talk to.

And they were. The three other Shumi's known as Harvester greeted him warmly asking him this question and that but he couldn't really answer due to his 'amnesia'. He air quotes it as he's sure he's fine, he just can't remember his name, that's all. Don't people with amnesia usually hold books wrong or stick food up their nose? He doesn't intent to do either of those things. He asked them questions and was answered very thoroughly by the three. They explained their tribe to the man, how they create and thrive and live their lives hidden and happy while keeping some contact with the outside world. He asked why so sheltered but they hardly see it as sheltered, they consider it careful. As he could see there's is not a very populating group and protection is always key to living and thriving.

"We're gonna make soup?" He asks once they're satisfied with the amount of beans they've collected.

"Yes, a very refreshing soup. You will like life here Patient."

Irvine smiles kindly to that invitation, though unspoken, the shumi was implying that he was staying and they wouldn't toss him out now that he's awake.

"Come this way, we shall prepare the meal." Says one of the other shumi, lifting a basket under his arm he starts for a tiny dome up the hill.

...

Medic steps into the home of their beloved Elder, head bowed respectfully. "Elder?"

"How is the patient? Is he still resting?"

"Patient has awakened just today as a matter of fact. He's quite the sort Elder, very lively and kind from what Medic can tell."

"That's good. I would hate to see that we've been healing a harmful human here."

"He reminds Medic of master Laguna Loire." Says the shumi almost proudly as he remembers the kind and loving man, the man who tried teaching the proud and respected Moombas how to speak in human tongue believing that speech is the most powerful thing any living creature can posses. "Though, Patient does seem to have a bit of amnesia, I asked him many questions but he cannot recall whats happened to him up until opening his eyes, he does not even have a name."

"I see." The large shumi takes a thoughtful seat, his covered hands coming up to his nearly non-existant chin. "What is he doing right now?"

"Medic is sure he's looking for Harvester to get something to eat."

"When he is finished see that he comes to see me. You may go."

Nodding the Shumi exits the room.

"A man like Laguna?" Elder says to himself.

"He would be good to stay, Elder?" Asks his attendant.

"It would be fine if he stays, but if he chooses to go I want to be sure he will not tell the world of our location."

"It shall be seen to as done, Elder."

...

The soup was wonderful, rich and earthy; Irvine couldn't believe stuff that was just picked could taste so good with so few things done to it- he always thought when hungry a can or frozen reheatable was the best way to go.

'Huh... How can I think something like that when I can't remember the last thought I've had- or any of them for that matter! ...Maybe I do have amnesia?' His quick rising spoon slowed to a stop as his thoughts continue swirling like white being poured into container of colored paint, this weird feeling stung the back of his mind as the white struggles through the heavy un-moving color. 'What is it that I'm trying to think? Why won't it just come through?'

Pal bumped its beak against the male's ear catching his attention. A few blinks later and Irvine is eating and conversating with the others around the large round wooden table in the small dining room. Its like a very intimate restaurant really. One shumi told him that this table is usually for big harvests, chopping food or simply holding it but that the next meal Irvine will eat it in his room. He understood, and continued enjoying the company of everyone.

Medic locates Irvine easily, though, the site before him was something to take in as the field workers and cooks alike sat about the large table eating and carrying on. Hurrying over to Irvine Medic leans up to the male whispering to him that the elder wishes to see him right after his meal. Irvine thought for sure that he was going to be kicked to the curb, but he didn't very well want to make assumptions, though, his food was hard to get down after Medic fixed himself something to eat then left. What could the elder want to see him for. True he has every right to want to see him; they've been taking care of him since they found him in February.

'February is a long time to be knocked out. I wonder what happened to me? How did I get on the beach? What was I doing to end up here?' He thinks. The answers brick walled from him, he puts it out of his mind. He was sure it would come to him when it came to him, for now he'll just enjoy the ride. Besides, its not a bad place to end up. It nice here, the people are very kind- although, he kept wondering if 'people' is the correct word for them- especially when one of the Artisan told him that they can change forms from the shumi that they are now to a powerful beast. He wondered if their beastly state were much different looking then their current.

Lunch, dinner, or possibly even breakfast ended soon and Irvine asked for directions to the Elder's home but one of the Attendant's gladly walked him to the larger building that holds whom Irvine had expected, the Elder of the village. Outside the building sits a large fuzzy lion looking creature of orange, red and white color. It looked like a living fire. The creature looked him over giving a quiet little yap as he walks up to the large door of the dome. Elder's Attendant spots the human through the door and instantly comes to his side to escort him in. Irvine was already impressed with the place; it was a little dark inside, though, but faintly illuminated by a large tubing that traced the ceiling, glowing in an electric blue color and its filled with all kinds of little fishes. He had to wonder if they were real or not.

"Here we are." Attendant holds out a hand to gesture for the male to go through the opening into the sitting room of the Elder's home.

"Thanks." He walks through and his eyes widen as big as saucers at the sight before him.

A Shumi, as tall as himself- maybe taller, is seated in a long chaise-like chair. Its head is massive and its throat bulged in and out as he stared at the human before him; he seems to be thinking of something in their silence and eventually stands to his full 7'2". Irvine takes a step back, unintentionally. The frog seemed humored by this and let out a laugh that engulfed the male before him like the large creature were all around him rather than stationed infront.

"H-..hi." He says stammered.

"Its nice to see that you're awake. We were ready to feed you to the fishes if you'd gone unresponsive for another month." Says the Shumi Elder. "I am Elder, no need to state your name Medic tells me that you have a bit of amnesia."

Irvine's head nods in a clunky matter. He's still stuck on the thought of being tossed after one more month uncontious, swimming around with the fishes that have been nibbling at him- if it were possible that he did not drown in the meantime. Pal gave him a calming nudge on the ear, but it seemed not to work as Irvine took another step back when the large shumi takes a step forward.

"Do not be frightened, we shumi are peaceful by nature and would not harm any living thing." The Elder folds his large hands over each other, the outer fingers wringling as though he were drumming them on a desk. "I merely wanted to assess you, see what you might be good at, if you intend to stay in our village than you must work to earn a place here. Its not everyday we let man stay among us; not since one man long ago had us removed from an old area of hiding but then another man has come and restorted our trust in humanity. We see the kindness of the great Laguna Loire in you."

Irvine smiles kindly. He doesn't know who a Laguna Loire is but she sounds kind of nice. She had to be if these guys cared enough for her to have their trust in humanity restored.

"Yes, he was a great man." Elder nods to himself as if this Laguna were nothing more than a fond memory now. "We've erected a statue of him here, perhaps you've seen it?"

Irvine shakes his head. 'If I had I wouldn't have thought the man was a woman.' It dawned on him then that there were no female shumi walking around, not even one sat with them when they ate just now. He wondered for a second if it would be rude to ask.

"We have your things with us, maybe they will help you to recover your memory." The frog snapped its large fingers calling for his attendant.

The smaller frog rushed into the room as though he were only waiting for the 'come along' command. In his hands are a bundle of clothes which he places on the table off to Irvine's left. The male looks over the strange clothes visually, then he kneels down to touch them for further inspection. "Huh... I've never seen these before, I know that."

"They aren't ringing any bells?"

Irvine looks over a duster jacket and purple vest, a few gold necklaces and a pair of black jeans and some... what are they, chaps? Irvine was momentarily appauled by the sight of them. He would walk around wearing this? Surely the Shumi are mistaken. 'Hold on...' Looking over the coat he sees, in gold sewing, the initials I.K. 'I.K.? Is that me?'

"We also noticed the initials sewn inside. Do you remember what they stand for?"

Irvine looks over at the large amphebian then back at the clothing, thinking hard. 'I.K. ...I.K. ...Dammit, why don't I know?' His mind could only swim in the darkness of the past- whatever it may be. "I'm sorry Elder, but I don't know."

"Mmm. I see. No matter, then. I will have one of my attendant's take you around to try your hands at working. We are men of work Patient, we have proud lives from the work that we do. We have strong wills from work. We have better understanding of life, because we work."

"Got it." He stands, eyes straying on the foreign clothing. "Just tell me where you want me."

...

By the time Irvine got to bed he was pooped. So far he had stunk at pulling grains, sucked at crushing them properly, chopped like a complete novice, and due to the shape of the bowl spilt a good portion of his dinner in his room when setting it down on the dresser top; amazingly, though, he fixed it before anyone had noticed the damage. The jeans pocket of the mysterious wardrobe had a swiss army knife in the pocket and with a few quick slices he fixed the lop-sided bowl. He liked the meal with everyone around the table better than sitting alone in his cozy little room but he does have the lovely bird which he's named Pal to keep him company and boy was it; the strange bird was bouncing from foot to foot with its wings partly spread as though it were doing some sort of dance for him and it had the memory-less male laughing so much he could hardly get full bites down without feeling he would gag.

After the meal they had him try his hand at sculpting, that was a nightmare and he nearly took off a fingernail or finger as the chistle rocked and swayed on the smooth to bumpy surfice of the soon to be statue. The shumi's sculpt many statues and other little things to sell to man so that they may in turn buy or trade things with them. Irvine was then asked to help plow the field for the planting of the new harvest but he could barely make straight lines with the way the plow rocked and bumped along behind his shaking legs. He found it almost impossible to work that way in robes anyhow and applauds the shumi that can.

Next he worked as an attendant but it was hard since he'd spent most of the time asking the group of identicals who and where and by the time he found that person another attendant had already done the job. He was good at lifting, though, but not much good it did when they rarely had things to lift, not mention his arms were kinda killing him afterwards. Irvine worked well as a scout, he thought, all you had to do was walk around and report any suspicious looking monsters that might get a little too comfortable near the borders- that was also part of the job putting up these little diamond-shape crystals that acted as a barrier somehow. Scout told him that when opperated they project nothing by scenery to onlookers so the village is out of sight. He thought that was so advanced for people who live off the land; Scout then told him that Laguna understood their need for secrecy and showed them the technology so they could use it. Irvine was becoming more and more impressed with this Laguna guy and wondered if he would ever stop by so he could meet him.

Irvine helped to wash the clothes and dishes and at the end of the day the lights shut off one home at a time as the water wheel stopped its moving. Left alone, in the darkness, Irvine stares up at the brown ceiling- black, due to the darkness in the room and the shadow cast around from moonlight shading certain places.

In a sleepy voice Irvine holds up a hand, Pal lands on it instantly. "What do you think, Pal? Am I this I.K.? Can I be him? Honestly, I'd like to be a shumi... they're so good, and its peaceful here... you can get a lot of rest- but I guess I don't need anymore of that, do I?"

The bird voices its foreign-language opinion, spreading its wings out to their full four foot length.

"You always say that," He chuckles softly, his mind already swimming in a dreamland. "Let's stay here together, we'll be a shumi in spirit. Lots of families have patch-work children and parents from adoptions and divorces. We'll be that. sound good to you?"

The bird chirps a few times before hoping from the male's wrist to perch inside the deep windowsil.

"I can take a hint, no more talking. Good night." Making a few height to bed adjustments; Irvine drifts quickly off to sleep.