Writings of an Owlmoose

Summary: Kinoc considers the choices he made on his way to execute an unpleasant duty.

Notes: Written for ff_100 for the theme “regret”.

Metadata: Gen. Rated PG, 233 words. Spoilers for FFX. Posted in October 2006.

Choices

Ten years. Plenty of time for Kinoc to think about everything that had passed between them, to consider how he had lost his best friend: first to betrayal, then to Braska’s Pilgrimage, and lastly to death. Or so he had thought, until Auron turned up at Operation Mi’ihen, grizzled and defiant and probably Unsent. Not Sin, though. Kinoc had been surprised at how much of a relief that was.

But now it was all turned on its head again. Damn Auron anyway; why did he always have to champion the noble, doomed causes? Kinoc shook his head grimly as he walked up to the guards. He didn’t want to preside over a friend’s execution, not really, but what else could he do? They’d both made their choices, long ago. Perhaps coming to this moment had been inevitable.

The warrior monks snapped to attention, their leader bowing smartly. “Orders, your grace?”

Kinoc swallowed his uncertainty and replaced it with self-righteousness as he pulled himself to his full height. “The summoner and her guardians are to be given to the Via Purifico,” Kinoc told him.

The monk nodded. “As they should be. Shall we take them now?”

“All but for Auron. I will deal with him myself. You two, come with me.” And after acknowledging their salutes, he led his men down the hall, braced to perform his duty and get this business over with.