Author: The Letter D (aka BlackCypress or The Bebop Cow)
Rating: Leaving it unrated until finished.
Disclaimer: As usual, Squaresoft/Enix own all things FF8, yadda
yadda. Hm. The song (Which is still the wrong one, not the one I
wanted to use. I'll have to ask my mother for the proper one later)
come from the church I attend actually. I have no idea what it's
called or who did it.
--
Zell stepped forward slowly, holding in his hands a platter of sweet
smelling flowers and carefully cut sweet fruits. His hair brushed
down and pulled back with a dark blue ribbon tassled with gold. Pale
sky blue robes hung from his shoulders, spilling down beyond his feet
so he had to kick out a little with every step, causing the cloth to
flare and billow out before him so he wouldnt trip.
In front of him was Quistis, with a pale red robe hanging around her,
not having as much trouble with the length as Zell. Her hair was down
around her shoulders as well, an uncommon sight around the garden.
Her platter was adorned with breads of all sorts, sweets to sour
doughs and rush nuts of river plants. Behind him was Squall, blessed
with the only white robe in the procession, and carrying a wide bowl
of water with rose petals drifting in its cool, clear, glass bowl.
There were twelve of them in all, this procesion, but Zell was
concentrating on those behind and in front of him, rather afraid he'd
trip on his robe and send it al crashing down around them. Neither
looking left or right in this concentration, at all the students
gathered into the large auditorium. The war may have been over
between those living on the planet and the Sorcess, but there were
still border skirmishes and bandits to deal with, not to mention all
the monsters. The Gardens weren't about to be abandon any time soon.
One by one, platters and jugs of wine and juice were set about an
alter that Selphie had set up for the occassion. Scattered around
were large hollow blocks of wood and stumps, thickly crowded with
pictures of all the students and SeeD's that had died in the war so
recently passed. The room was dark, save for candles that were
scattered across the room, and the single flame and holder that every
student held, lighting the way.
Some of them were crying. Soft sobs here and there, and a glimmer of
a tear trail a on a stony face. An arm around a younger child, or
plainly obvious grief over a lost friend. Everyone had lost someone.
Not just Balamb, but Galbadia and Trabia as well. Each garden holding
its own ceremony on this day, to send their wishes and their
blessings to the dead, wherever they've gone.
Each robed figure setting their platters where they could find space,
bearing witness to the sea of dead faces before them in silence.
Students, SeeD, Teachers, Civillians, Soldiers, Brothers, Sisters.
Zell's face lacking the usual bright smile and chipper attitude he
wore even in times of great danger.
They closed their eyes to the images, and stood there in silence,
each reaching for the others hands as the lights of the flames danced
behind their eyes. Like the spirits of their lost brethren returning
to the fest they'd made effort to lay out before them. Offerings of
things they could take with them or bless upon their return. Slow and
calculated breaths of all, before they started singing.
(This is, incidentally, NOT the song I had intended but I cant
remember the damn lyrics to the other one.)
"We come from the goddess,
And to her we shall return,
Like a drop of rain,
Flowing to the ocean."
More chant than song really, as their voices wove into eachother,
calling, beconing, merging into one great voice. Those behind them
slowly raising their shaken voices to join the ritual tune, until the
room and the halls rang with their voices and the very foundation
seemed to echo all their pain. Thresh and flux as some naturally
harmonized, or others started a round. Still others just broke down
and wept.
So many dead. So many lost.
Later that day when they had all dispersed off to private ceremonies
or to sleep off the rest of the morning, Zell had pulled into more
casual clothes and his hair back up into the normal style. Posing a
bit in front of a mirror before he used a bit of temporary skin glue
('guarenteed to last six hours minimum!') to place two little horns
on his forehead. A can of hirspray coloring to fleck his hair a
darker red and give it an almost fiery look, he grinned at himself in
the mirror. A little more preperation and...
When Squall opened his door after the rather insistant knocking that
was rather typical of Zell, Squall mused over weather or not the
spirits of the past really were roaming the halls, or if he was
hallucinating. Zell had decided to dress himself up like Ifrit of all
things.
"Aren't you rather out of character for that?" An ebony brow rose an
inch up his frorehead at the grinning demon before him.
"Says the guy wearing big white wings and a halo? Were you trying for
Siren?" Zell teased.
"Gah, I'm an angel, Chicken."
"Don't call me that! You said you wouldnt call me that!" An almost
instant triggered emotion. Actually stronger than it had been in the
past years of torment from Seifer. Perhaps because their little group
had been broken apart by the war. Even though Seifer was maddeningly
arrogant and a general pain in the ass, there as no one to take his
place after they'd found him in amongst the dead. Its always hard to
forget someone you spent your life growing up with. Some things even
the Guardians couldnt change.
"Alright, alright, calm down come in." He'd regretted saying it
almost as soon as he did. Closing the door behind Zell once he was
inside and moving in behind him. He slipped his arms around the
smaller fighter and just held him in silence a moment.
"Never thought I'd miss the bastard." Zell murmured, finally relaxing
and leaning back into Squall's embrace. Few people realized Squall
was a far deeper and caring individual despite his generally cold
shoulder and show of arrogant pride. Through the war, both Zell and
Rinoa had been there to support him through thick and thin. Zell the
joker and baffoon while Rinoa played the role of the typical princess
in distress.
He'd opened up to them in time, but Rinoa had been smarter than that
when Squall had told her that he loved her. It had been so forced and
pressured out of him due to the times and the problems. He never
really had a chance to experince her on the outside, and when he did,
she'd seen him losing intrest. She'd discussed this sight with Zell,
and it had been her idea to leave the Garden and return home to try
and make peace with those she'd left behind.
Squall had been surprised by the change, but greatful. One night he'd
just curled up in Zell's arms and spent the night crying. Breaking
down from so much on his shoulders and trusting Zell enough to keep
it to himself.
And now, here they were, remembering things they'd never really
expected to experince in their lives. With each other, with their
freinds, the garden and everything in general.
"Did you call him already?" Zell asked after all this thinking,
opening his eyes and looking up at Squall.
Squall nodded, a little sadly. "Since last night. I dont think he
wants to see us, Zell.. We're the reason he's dead, after all." And
released his hold.
"But Squall.."
"No Zell. Just.. Look, we can try again tonight, but I dont want to
think about Him right now, alright?" He looked at his love with
pleading eyes. All he got was a nod and a smile and that was good
enough for him. Zell took it a step forward, reaching his hand up to
pull Squall's head down a little and kiss his lips, long and slow.
Or it had been intended to be long and slow. Someone had decided to
run through the halls crashing trash can lids together or something,
hollering about Selphie's Masquerade ball and costume party. All of
this had been her idea. Rather than mope around greiving or spending
another day studying without releif, missions and teaching, she'd
worked togther a Day of the Dead celebration. She'd said something
about getting the idea from Diablo or something, but where the real
idea came from didnt particularly matter to anyone. She'd seemed to
plan for everything, the good and the bad.
"Aw man.." Zell pulled away from the Squall-Angel and sighed. "I
didnt think that was until later."
"Well. We could just stay here." Squall said with the most innocence
he could muster.
Zell seemed to be considering him a dark moment, but shook his head
and pushed him towords his shoes. "Well have plenty of time for that
later, Squall. Besides, we're guests of honor!"
"Bah." Squall pouted slightly but complied in getting his shoes on,
glancing twords his own little alter in the corner of his room, a few
pictures of people both Zell and Squall held dear upon it. They had
decided to do these things together for each other support. Squall
had been greatful for the idea and Zell had learned a lot about him
since then.