Intriguing, she'd said.

     Indeed. But what she'd really found intriguing about the red-
armoured stranger was what he had been doing wandering around
outside Thamasa, acting like he didn't know what was going on. He
didn't appear to have been involved in the battle... An Imperial spy 
perhaps? Who knew...It had been a few days since he'd shown up,
and Kiri still hadn't found out anything about him. Now word was that 
the man (What was his name? Luke? Leo?...Oh right, Leon...) was
getting ready to leave. And if he WAS from the Empire, she wasn't 
going to let him slip through her fingers. So tonight, she was going to 
have a little talk with him.

     It was just after dark. Leon had, moments ago, gone into the
newly-built lean-to that passed for an item store, and he would have
to walk by Kiri's hiding place to get back to his tent...She heard him
coming, his boots crunching on ash and broken glass. Soon he was  
right in front of her. Drawing on her years of training, she struck 
swiftly and silently, pulling him down and covering his mouth
before he could get out a cry. He was larger than she by far, and 
struggled intensely, but Kiriani knew that mind can vanquish matter...
She managed to force him to the ground, pinning his arm behind him.

     "All right," she whispered, "we're going to have a little talk.
She looked into his eyes, and knew what he was thinking: _She's crazy._
"You're right," she said, "I am. Now, why are you here, _really_? And
don't try anything smart." She yanked his arm back to emphasize her
directive, then took her hand off his mouth.

     "What are you talking about?" he asked in a low voice. "I just
came to help out with the battle, like everyone else!"

     "Indeed. But on which side?" she hissed.

     The man looked indignant. "The Returners', of course! What 
kind of a psycho are you?!"

     "The very best kind....Now it seems to me that you were a 
little late to help them..."

     He looked down abruptly. "Yes...I guess I was..."

     "What were you doing?" Kiri demanded, squeezing his arm 
harder still. "Planning terrorist acts for Kefka? Answer me!" A glazed 
look had come over Leon, and he seemed oblivious to her insistence.

     "I'm... not sure... There was a light... Goddess... my armour..."

     She looked into his eyes. He was telling the truth, odd as it
might sound. She had assaulted an innocent man. She let go of him 
and sank to her knees. She was no better than Kefka. "I can see,"
she said at last, "that you speak the truth." Leon looked at her,
confused by her actions. "Please... forgive me." The words were
difficult to say for someone with her pride, and this was obvious.

     "Forget it," he said, dusting himself off as he sat up, "I 
can see that you were only doing what you thought was right.
You must really hate the Empire..."

     "Yes," she said still looking downward, "yes, I do... I used to 
fight for them, but now I seek only their destruction... It is the 
only thing that gives my life meaning..." Leon seemed a little 
puzzled by this statement, but pressed on.

     "Well in that case, do you want to accompany me? I want to
fight the Empire too, but I'm not really sure of how I'm gonna
do it..." At this Kiri looked up and bared her teeth in a vicious
grin.

        "Now that sounds like something I could help with. If there's
one thing I know how to do, it's fight!" She stood up. "There's just
one problem," she continued, her expression darkening once again,
"there's... something I have to bring with me."

         "That kid? Is it yours?"

         "Yes, in part I guess so... Much as it pains me..."  'But you'll 
never be able to leave him...' a small voice added inside her head.

          "Well," said Leon, scratching his head thoughtfully, "I don't
really see a problem. I was going to go to Narshe or somewhere to
get some supplies. There doesn't seem to be much left here." He 
grinned wryly. "How inconsiderate of those soldiers not to leave me
any peanut butter!" Despite her cynical nature, Kiri couldn't help but 
giggle at this. "Say, he added, as if as an afterthought, what's your
name, anyway?"
       "My name is Kiriani Miral, formerly of the seventh mechanized
division of the Imperial Forces," she said, holding out her hand for
Leon to shake, "and I do believe it will be a pleasure to travel with 
you."  And for the first time in two years or more, she smiled.