Running Away

Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy 9, Squaresoft does.

Chapter 1. Zidane Returns

A blonde young man walked in the gritty feeling pub. He scratched his dirty hair vigorously as he walked over to the wooden counter sitting on a grubby old pub seat. The old bearded bartender smiled at him plainly.

'What can I get you?" He asked wiping his hands on his worn out red vest.

The man smiled back.

"I'll take a Lemon Squash thanks." He ordered.

The bartender reached under his useful cabinet taking out a clear glass. Zidane turned back round, looking sleepily at the other customers in the room. Sighing, he turned back around as he took the drink the old man gave him.

"That will be 5 Gil." He said putting out his hand to take the money.

Zidane put his left hand in one of his blue pockets and took out the money. He put it in the man's hand and walked of to a different seat on the other end of the pub. He sipped his sourly sweet drink slowly while eyeing each person carefully.

God I feel sleepy, he thought to himself, yawning sheepishly.

Zidane gulped down the rest of it, putting it on the counter in front of the bartender and walked wobbling out the door. Once outside, he sniffed the crisp cold morning air as he exhaled loudly. The Lindblum town was normally very busy during the day. He walked towards the Tantalus hideout, wobbling and bumping into nearly everyone he met. Just as he reached there, he tripped at the archway, falling on the doormat. He got up, to find no one was there. Slumping over to the corner where he leaned against the wall, thinking.

"God it's good to be home. I've got to get away." He said quietly.

He yawned again.

"I wish I didn't have to be so mean to her by saying that I didn't love her, but I don't."

He looked away sadly thinking about the face she made when he told her the truth.

"I shouldn't have done it, but, she wanted to know."

"I just wish we were just friends, not lovers. I'm not ready for that." he whispered, regretfully shaking his head.

"I'm sorry Dagger, but I'm not ready."

How was it? HUH?

R & R PLEASE!