***Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy or its characters…***All standard disclaimers apply
Rikku turned in her bed, slipped the covers over her head to hide herself from the morning sunshine. The Gullwings had been traveling over water throughout the evening; heading to a destination to retrieve certain machina from the ocean floor.
Buddy told her to get in a goodnight's rest, however, she couldn't sleep all...
Tears wielding up in her eyes, she whispered to herself, "All that destruction...All those poor people...All that death..."
As she quietly let out a sob, Rikku hugged herself under the blankets.
I have to keep it together... Yuna and Paine are counting on me...And a lot of people are counting on us to do this job!
Rikku's thoughts focused on the events that happened a few days ago, when a sphere hunting clan calling themselves the Hisui Ryu appears with an airship the size of temple above Moonflow and deployed an army of machina droids to land. A man's voice came from the airships' loudspeakers, demanding something called the "Jade Sphere." When people claimed that they didn't know what he was asking for; he called them liars and the cannons on the airship fired. The droids attack, mercilessly. Moonflow became a pile of mud and rubble, in a matter of moments. The mysterious airship vanished soon after...
The destruction was outrageous and the bloodshed, unforgivable...
The world seemed to shift in an instant after that. Nooj and Baralai quickly organized a meeting with the former Youth Leaguers and Yevonites. Although, these groups had officially disbanded, the old members of these clans gathered together at the call of their, past respected leaders. Both Nooj and Baralai created 'relief parties' to be sent to Moonflow to help the many people who were hurt and in need of help. Yuna, Tidus and Wakka joined the rescue efforts, as well as, Kimahri and his people. The Gullwings used their airship to help bring in supplies to the Moonflow area, and transported surviving Moonflow residents to Bevelle for shelter and food.
When seeing ruins of Moonflow after the attack, Rikku was reminded of Sin and the destruction he had had caused in the past. Horrible memories resurfaced. It took a while for her to stop crying, but Rikku noticed that she wasn't the only one who felt such sadness. Many of the relief party members were in tears as they collected the dead bodies and prepared them for a sending ceremony that, former summoner Issaru performed.
Other people were furious, demanding that they go after the Hisui Ryu. However, Nooj didn't want anyone acting hastily. The power of the Hisui Ryu was strong enough to destroy a whole location off of Spira's map. He explained that he required a plan-of-action before engaging in battle. Plus, actions were needed to find them first.
Gippal was asked to investigate a broken droid from the Hisui Ryu's army that was found among the debris. He was also given the task of supplying Nooj's armed forces with weapons and machina crawlers, small vehicles that were capable of fast land and sea travel. There were several other things Gippal had the Machine Faction mass produce, but weapons and transportation vehicles, were high on the list.
Search parties were asked to investigate possible locations of where the Husui Ryu's airship might be docked and to bring back data on it. Gippal explained that, given the sheer size of the ship explained by the survivors, there was a possibility that it could not stay air bound for long. Therefore, it was highly likely, that the ship was hidden on land or sea. Most likely land, because the past year the Machine Faction had been involved in ocean salvaging and nothing came up on their scanners describing airship parts.
Rikku jumped at the opportunity to be involved in the search, but Baralai asked if the Gullwings could gather machina supplies first. He explained that with their airship they could collect a variety of machina parts from anywhere in the world, quickly. It was an important task because, soon, the the Machine Faction will run out the parts, way before, they can finish Nooj's weapon requests.
Rikku gladly took the mission. Baralai and Nooj were in desperate need to increase their arsenal. They had no idea when Hisui would attack again and they didn't want to be unprepared.
As the Gullwings began to disembark for the mission Baralai requested of them, Shinra contacted the Celisus to rejoined the Gullwings, along with Rin, due to the circumstances that happened in Moonflow. Brother stopped over in Luca to get them. Shinra took over his old position on the Bridge while Rin took the job old Barkeep had, and spent most of his time sitting behind the bar, hunched over and looking extremely ill. Rikku asked Rin if he had motion sickness, but he just responded with a simple, 'sure' and remained silent for the rest of that conversation.
Shinra informed the Gullwings that the level of fiend activity had been higher since the Husui attacked. So Shinra created a dressphere for Rikku that could increase her combat time without having her changing so much in the heat of battle.
Combining all attributes of the Alchemist, Knight, and Thief dresspheres and a few skills from the others, Shinra designed a garment capable of numerous abilities; therefore, she didn't have to waste time in changing in a difficult fight—The Helix dressphere. Shinra called it the ultimate dressphere for an Al Bhed to use because, not only did it have a ton of functions, but the Machina Maw could be summon if needed, on the fly. When Rikku asked Shinra if he made this new dressphere because he was worried about her getting hurt during battle, he laughed and said that, if she died because of his old dressphere design, he would be a murder and didn't want to work of the loads of bad karma that came with homicide.
Shinra's sense of humor became a little morbid during his time away from the Gullwings...
Rikku hadn't had a chance to use the Helix dressphere yet. She figured that she could give it a test run during the mission. The Machine Faction gave them a list of areas to check for specific machina parts they needed for their inventory. The first location on the list would be in the waters near Baaj temple. A few platinum generator cores from a machina vessel that's submerged in that area.
Rikku shifted in bed again. We should be close to Baaj temple now...
"This is crazy, isn't?" Buddy's voice echoed from the bar downstairs, "Just last week everything was fine, then wham! Moonflow is obligated! – Rin! Two breakfast plates please! "
"Ah, Yuna is so brave! So brave!" Brother's whimpered, "I love how brave she is through all this! Oh...I love her so...My heart hurts..."
Rikku rolled her eyes, hearing the conversation from the lower level of the Cabin. So Brother still hasn't given up on her yet, has he? How sick can he continue to be! She's your cousin! – But enough of this – I need to rest for the mission... She bundled up her pillow to her ears in hopes to block out the noise. Sleep! Sleep! Sleep!
"Man! Have you not given up on her yet?" Buddy sighed, "Geez, it's sick enough that she's your cousin but to still be obsessed with her after she's been living with Tidus, the love of her life, for over a year now! I mean, can't you take the hint that she's not interested in you? Face the facts, Brother, you are going to be a bachelor forever! No woman, in her right mind, will put up with you and your stupidity!"
Rikku quickly clasped her hand over her mouth to stop herself from laughing. You tell him, Buddy! Remind him of the undisputable truth!
"BAH!" Brother yelled, "You tell me this, over and over again! But you tell Gippal nothing! He needs to get over her too! He blabs on and on about how much he loves her whenever we go out to drink – 'Guys I got it bad!' Gippal says... ' I'm in love with her, but, Tidus! He came back from the dead to be with her! How can I compete with that!' he whines...Even with all the girls he got swarmin' on him, he wants Yuna!"
Brother's words seemed to send a sensation of a thousand needles stabbing Rikku right through her heart...Her body, instantly, became stiff.
"Brother! Shush! What if Rikku hears you!" Buddy muttered quickly, though his voice bounced off the metal walls of the Cabin, "She's just upstairs! She could be awake."
"What should I care about that?!"
"Brother, you idiot!" Buddy's voice grew lower, "Don't you know? Can't you tell that Rikku likes Gippal?"
"WHA?! YOU CRAZY!" Brother laughed, "But it does not matter! Not at all! Gippal does not like her! Remember what he said? He said that Rikku looks and acts like small child! Remember? And I ag'ree! Rikku needs to act more womanly! Or she'll end up an old maid! You see it too, right? Her actions and the ugly way she wears her hair! Like a little girl!"
Buddy sighed, "Man, you are the last person to judge other people's hair. Have you seen your own?"
"She needs to grow up! Is what I think!"
"Oh, come on! When are you gonna grow up?! Give your sister a break! Aren't you concerned that all you said could break her heart? I mean, about Gippal not liking her back? In fact, I think she may love him. Don't notice the way she looks at him?"
"Tell me something, Buddy." Brother's voice became very even, "If you had choice between Rikku or Yuna who would you pick?"
"Oh, no. I'm not answering that! That's a death question."
"Come, come, Bud. Who? I won't tell. Seriously. Hipotheticlly. Yuna or Rikku?"
Buddy sighed and stood silent for a while, "You mean, it's hypothetically I guess Yuna."
"AHA!" Brother made a sound like he patted Buddy's back, "See?"
"Oh, stop it! You make it seem like it's the obvious choice. I mean, Rikku is a good girl."
"But you would choo'se Yuna."
Buddy laughed, "I can see why you and Gippal like Yuna so much, though. Yuna is so naturally regal. She's beautiful in her simplicity. She's mature, good-humored, and impressionable, in a way, which makes her adorable. She's well-mannered, kind, sweet tempted. And Rikku...Well she is..."
"A brat!" Brother finished, "And Yuna is way more beauifulest!"
"Rikku looks and acts like every other Al Bhed woman, I guess. They are all flamboyant, in-your-face kind of women. Pushy. I suppose dealing with women like that all our lives gets tiring. Though Rikku is a bit more..." Buddy stood silent, seemingly trying to figure out his words...
"Kiddish!" Immature! Too much energy! I know, I know, I tell her this all the time, Buddy! But she don't listen!"
"Brother, one day when Rikku is all grown up, she may surprise us, but she's a way better person than you already! That's for sure!"
"Hey guys..." Rin's voice, now echoed through the cabin, "I asked the cook, you got back there, about your order but we ran out of food in the pantry. Brother, you need to stop your binging at night! All we have is ale! You want that instead? It's filling."
Both Buddy and Brother agreed and drank their ale while taking about the salvaging to Rin. Rikku couldn't sleep now. She slowly got up and sat down at her vanity looking into the mirror, feeling all sorts of things. She examined her eyes...her green spiral eyes. All Al Bhed women had green spiral eyes. The shape of her face. Her long blonde hair that was set in her usual ponytail and braids styled with beads. The tan shade of her skin. She looked at all the little accessory that laid on her vanity.
Tears fell from her eyes as she slowly undid each braid from her hair. Removing the different color beads one by one, she threw them into the trashcan that was nearby. Brother's words echoed in her head about Gippal and his love for Yuna...
What a fool...I am...Actually letting myself...Care...For...That stupid playboy!
When Rikku was done undoing her braids, she let down her from her ponytail. Her long, thick blonde hair fell in long layers all the way down her back. The mop of hair she always hated, but she accepted. Her mother wore her hair long. Rikku always remembered how beautiful her mother looked in long golden hair.
"Mother always set my hair in braids..." She said to her reflection. " When I was little, with little feathers at the end... They remind me her."
Looking at herself, with parts of her hair frizzed and crimped from the braiding, "Mother was always so mature and graceful...No one would ever say such things about her."
After a while of staring, she wiped the tears off her face. Brother's words were Brother's, they had little value...But Buddy and hearing what Gippal thought about her, hit a nerve.
Buddy, Gippal Even Tidus chose Yuna over me...I met Tidus first! I saved him in Baaj temple! Why her! Why is it always about her!
Rikku slammed her fists on the vanity table... but slowly...her face sank on to her bruised hands, "How can I think such things...There are terrible things happening in the world...That comes first, always and forever..."
But the night she saw Tidus and Yuna kiss in the Macalania spring...She saw the love Tidus had for Yuna...And it bothered. Back then she knew...She knew, thatYuna, would always be superior to her. Everyone Rikku cared about... seemed to choose Yuna over her...