1. Three Minus One
"So. What do you think?" Paine asked. Yuna and Rikku looked on, sizing her up from the bar in the Celsius.
"Ooh! New hairdo, huh? Looks great!" Rikku replied.
"Thanks. Thought I'd try something new," Paine said. Her hair was now black, hanging down around her eyes.
"...That's what you've been doing all day?" Yuna asked. "Don't we have better things to do? Like finding Tidus?!"
"Yunie... lighten up, will ya?" Rikku asked.
"Yeah. We've been flying all over Spira looking for him for months, now. Ever since beating Shuyin, in fact," Paine said. "It's hopeless. But hey, at least you got to see him once more before he vanished."
"Yeah? And then he was gone again! Disappeared! Right in front of my eyes! Poof!" Yuna replied. "He wasn't even back for a whole damn day! And we still didn't even get a chance to... ya know...," Yuna said, twiddling her fingers. The girl quietly turned red as Rikku flashed a grin.
"Well what did you expect? The guy was just a dream of the fayth, after all. You have to accept the idea that maybe he really is gone this time," Paine said.
Suddenly, Yuna's eyes shot open.
"No!" she replied fervently. "I know he's not! I...," she continued, choking back tears with clenched fists.
"Yuna!" Rikku said, putting an arm around her.
"...I know he's not gone for good. I can still sense him. He's out there somewhere," Yuna said, gazing out the window.
Paine sighed. "Well, whatever. If you want to continue this wild goose chase, that's your business. I've had enough."
"...Huh?" Rikku asked, suddenly turning her head.
"Paine... what are you saying...?" Yuna asked hesitantly.
"I'm saying I'm leaving the Gullwings," Paine declared.
"What?!" Yuna and Rikku said in unison.
"You mean... just like that?!" Rikku asked.
"You'd really do that? After all we've been through together? Just up and leave?" Yuna asked.
"It's not like that," Paine said. "I love you two. Seriously. We're closer than sisters. But in case you haven't noticed, the world's gone to hell from all that's happened. The religion people once held so dear has turned into a lie. People don't know how to cope, and are reverting back to the old hatreds they once held for each other."
"...But there's still hope! That concert Yuna put on that day in the rain brought people together!" Rikku said.
"Yes. Briefly. But you can't forget a thousand years of history so quickly. People are slowly but surely turning on each other again," Paine said.
"That's right. All the more reason we should stick together!" Yuna said.
"No. Nooj needs me. I'm going to return to him and see what I can do to help him hold the Youth League together," Paine said.
"Heh. Good luck with that. Last I heard, Baralai's New Yevon is gaining ground on them. Not to mention old Leblanc's supposedly shacked up with Noojie-boy, now," Rikku said.
"Then I'll just have to work with her," Paine said.
"But Paine. Don't you... like Nooj?" Yuna asked.
"...Eh. Don't be silly. We were just comrades. That's all," Paine replied, hiding a blush. "And what about you, Rikku? Don't you like Gippal?" she asked, passing her blush to Rikku.
"W-Wha...?! Please!" she replied, folding her arms. "Gippal's alright. He's a nice guy and all, but I don't know if he's my type...," Rikku said, blushing. "And besides! We're not talking about me right now! We're talking about you skipping out on us!"
"That's enough, Rikku," Yuna said. "There's no point in trying to talk her out of it. Her mind's made up. I hate to see you go, Paine. But if you must...," Yuna said, extending a hand. "It's been a pleasure working with you."
Paine smiled, shaking her hand. "...Likewise. Take care of yourself, Yuna. Like Lulu said... don't let anyone use you anymore. Got it?"
"Of course," Yuna replied with a gentle smile.
The Celsius flew to the Youth League's headquarters, landing in a clearing near Mushroom Rock Road. The crew all gathered in the cockpit, each there to see Paine off. Rikku weakly frowned as Yuna gave a smile, watching as Paine said her goodbyes.
"Later, Paine," Buddy said.
"Take care," Barkeep added.
"Keep in touch, ya?" Brother asked with a grin.
"Say hi to Nooj for us," Shinra said.
"I will. Thank you all. For everything," Paine replied, waving goodbye as she left the ship. Rikku sulked.
"...Geez. Why's she gotta do us like this?" she asked, a crack in her voice.
"Rikku...," Yuna said, rubbing her back. "Paine's her own girl. She's gotta do what's right for her. She's always been headstrong. To be honest, I was expecting something like this sooner or later. Don't worry, though. We'll be fine without her. And we'll visit her again soon."
"Yeah. I guess you're right," Rikku said. "So... YuRiPa is now just YuRi, huh?"
"Heh. Guess you're right," Yuna replied.
"No way! How's about YuRiBro?!" Brother asked, suddenly bear hugging them from behind. He then slid his hands down, tightly groping both of their asses.
"EEEEEP!" Rikku squeaked, she and Yuna slapping him in unison. "...Brother! You damned lech! Fuck off, perv!" she said, shoving him away with a laugh.
As Rikku chased Brother around the deck, Yuna maintained a quiet smile. She looked out the main window of the Celsius, staring out at the blue horizon. Paine's loss was a big one, but Yuna knew she couldn't be distracted from her main focus.
Finding Tidus.