Chapter 28

Chapter 28
   Kain angrily stabbed his lance into the water of Sanctuary, and a little spray of water left droplets on his armor.  But it went ignored.

    "Hmph!  How appropriate that even with her memory close to gone she would prefer Cecil's company.  Perfect Cecil.  Comforting, loving Cecil.  Cecil the Paladin, Cecil the savior of worlds.  Cecil, Cecil, Cecil."  Kain crossed his arms and let the wave of bitterness he'd been holding in wash over him.  "Oh, and his beautiful wife, Rosa.  The most beautiful woman in Baron.  And then there's that Kain.  Kain who?  Kain Highwind, the traitor.  The double-crosser.  Let's not forget that Kain betrayed his allies, not once, but twice!"

    He knew he was acting like a jealous child, but he couldn't stop the anger from building up.  This awkward universe was the ONE place he thought he could be without competing with Cecil or being overshadowed by him.  Everybody loves Cecil.  And especially Rosa.  Rosa loves Cecil-

    "Enough!" he told himself.  "Enough!  Stop this, now."

    He refused to think like that any longer.  He was done being the fool, letting his old emotions hold him captive.  He was through with this childish jealousy.  He swore as much from the moment he regained himself for good from Golbez.

    Ah, but every time he though of her, her beautiful face, her eyes, her smile. . .

    "And how she'll never love me!" he snapped to himself.

    From the moment Kain told the King he wanted to be a Dragoon and honor his father he was cast aside.  The King preferred Cecil over him, and soon everyone else did as well.  He was always one step behind Cecil, lost to the shadows of his rival's dark armor.  Then it became worse when he became a Paladin.  Instead of blending with his shadows, he was cast into Cecil's light, and finally everyone saw just how like the shadows he'd become.

    There she came, returning from patrol with HIM.  It was only fitting that her light be drawn to his.

    She scanned the crowd upon crossing into Sanctuary, and when her eyes locked on him, he realized she'd been looking for him. He watched her stride over to him, and when she stopped in front of him he bowed.

    "My Lady."

    "Kain, may I ask you something?"

    "Absolutely, Rosa.  Anything."

    "Did something happen to you on our journey together?"

    Any expectations of a nice conversation with her were dashed.  His arms tightened across his chest, and he was sure his frown lines were going to be there permanently at this rate.

    "What do you mean?" he asked, trying to sound casual, but he could hear his own tight, clipped tone.

    "Well when I mentioned you and Cecil saving me when Golbez kidnapped me to him, he made it seem as though something was wrong, but he wouldn't tell me-"

    "Hmph!  It figures I would need Cecil to preserve my image," he said snidely.

    "What?  What are you talking about?" she asked.  But unfortunately she started a tangent that Kain wasn't about to swallow and choke down again, regardless of who was listening.

    "Cecil wouldn't say anything harming about me. . . how touching.  What a sweet little Paladin."

    "Kain, why are you saying these things?"

    "Of COURSE he would tell you to ask me personally.  He would've wanted me to say it myself, to let me tarnish my own reputation."  He knew that wasn't true, but his emotions weren't letting him stop even though he could see he was hurting Rosa.  "So, you can't remember me at ALL, can you?  I wonder why that is?  Perhaps you're doing yourself a favor!"

    Her features shifted from slight confusion to anger.  "Kain, stop it!  I don't know why you're acting this way, but-"

    "Of course not.  Perhaps the reason the memories of ME are being blocked is because of all the time spent with HIM.  It wouldn't be the first time I've been overlooked because of perfect Cecil."

    She gasped, her eyes widening with a memory so forceful it made her stagger.  She looked back up at Kain, and he could tell she was far away, lost in the memory.

    "Rosa?" he asked.

    She snapped back to reality, looking around frantically, until she realized where she was.  Her eyes locked with Kain's, a look of absolute terror striking her face, and she turned to run.  But Kain's hand shot out and grabbed her wrist.

    "Rosa, I'm sorry.  What do you remember?"  Maybe he could try to set things right, like he was always trying to do.  She pulled away, however, and ran back to where Cecil was.  While Kain watched he put his hands on both her shoulders and leaned don to peer into her face as they exchanged words.

    Suddenly he had to get out.  He Jumped away as fast and as hard as he could, and in a few short bounds he was resting on the top of Mount Gulg.

    For everything he tried to set right, there was always his deepest emotions to break free of their suppression and drag him screaming back to their dark depths.

    Perfect.
                    *    *    *
    Like flint clicking together to start a fire, a memory clicked inside of Rosa.

    "I will convey our terms to him," Kain said to Golbez.  The terms of her exchange for the crystal.  The terms Kain just informed Golbez of.

    "Kain, please," she pleaded with him, "stop this.  I know you can hear me, Kain!  I know you're in there!"

    "I'll prove it to you," Kain said, like he didn't hear her.  He turned back to look at her, but his eyes were not his own.  A sort of rage that she'd never see before burned in his eyes to the point where she shied away against her ropes and bonds.  "You'll see soon enough I'm superior to your Cecil."

    With a last cold smile to her he turned an walked from the room.
    
    She snapped back from the memory and the first thing she saw was Kain.

    "RUN!" her instincts screamed to her.  "Run, NOW!"

    She spun around but Kain's hand shot out and caught her wrist, jerking her back.  She struggled, the grip tightening and tightening until it hurt.  She didn't even hear what he asked her.  She just ripped her arm out of his grip, running straight for Cecil.  She barreled right into his arms.

    "Rosa?  Rosa, what's wrong?"  He put both hands on her shoulders and leaned down to look into her face.

    "I- I don't know!  I saw a memory, but it. . . I. . . "  She turned back to Kain and Cecil followed her gaze.  But after a moment Kain bounded away.

    "It's alright, Rosa.  Let's go," he said, leading her to another end of Sanctuary where they could be alone.  "We'll sort this out.  Just tell me what you saw."