Chapter 2: Hit Your Head?

"You're both idiots!" Paine hissed. Her sword was in her hand and she was sitting on one of the beds in the Celsius.

"You just need to trust us." Yuna said.

"Yunie, give it up, she's incapable of trusting anyone." Rikku grumbled.

"I trust Yuna. Or at least, I used to."

"And what about me?"

"If I trusted you, I'd be dead.

"Big leather meanie!" Rikku pouted, sticking her tongue out at Paine.

The warrior pointed her sword at the smaller girl, "I'll cut it out." she warned.

Rikku slapped both hands protectively over her mouth and, leaning away, yelled a muffled, "You stay away from my tongue!" though it sounded more like, "Oo ay way om I ung" Paine just frowned, trying to guess at what the blonde said.

"Will you two cut it out?" Yuna snapped at the two, shocking them both. They both knew she had the rare outburst(usually only at a certain time) but other than that . . .

They both looked at her strangely, all three silent until Rikku, hands still cupped tightly over her mouth, said, "eez, ear ory."

Paine rolled her eyes, "Rikku, hands down. I was just kidding." Rikku looked at her skeptically. "It would be too messy. And you're screams would probably kill me."

Rikku let out a low growl but dropped her hands. She looked at her cousin, "Geez, we're sorry."

"Better." Paine said.

"I'm glad you're happy. You have the pleasure of hearing my voice more than most."

"I wouldn't call it a pleasure." Paine said.

"What?!"

"Yeah, you're voice is so damn loud. I mean it's almost like a screech. I don't get how a seventeen year old girl could have a voice like that."

"You make it sound like my voice is annoying!" Rikku said, voice starting to rise.

A low chuckle made the three of them turn their attention. They had, due to Rikku and Yuna's mutual agreement, brought the man Paine had tried to kill on board the airship. They had all thought he was still unconscious. Apparently, he wasn't.

"Wow. And I thought I knew some stupid people." he said, eyes still closed.

"How long have you been awake?" Paine asked, hands tightening on the handle of her sword.

"Stupid?!"

Paine rolled her eyes, "Yes, you are."

The man shrugged, "Long enough to know that you three really like to argue. Yht dryd uha uv oui ec naymmo cdibet."

"Hey!" Rikku yelled. "It's not nice to make fun of Paine like that!"

Paine sighed, "He meant . . never mind."

His eyes finally opened, "I've already guessed that I'm on an airship. I can hear the engine from here. Where the ship is, I have no idea. Or why I'm here."

"We couldn't just leave you to die." Yuna said.

"Oh, I'm pretty sure she could've." he said, nodding towards Paine. "Especially seeing as how she's already shot me and threatened blondie here on multiple occasions."

"You've been studying us." Paine said.

He nodded, "That I have been. At least I know who you are now. Paine, Rikku, and Yuna." he said, looking at each girl in turn.

"So now you realize who you tried to kill?" Rikku snapped.

He frowned, "What do you mean?"

"She means you almost tried to kill the High Summoner." Paine said.

"High Summoner . ." he started muttering under his breath. "That means that you defeated Sin." he said. "How are you still alive?" he breathed, a new found reverence in his voice.

Yuna was taken aback, "What do you mean?"

"Well, my apologies Lady Yuna, but High Summoners die on the pilgrimage. All five so far. How have you cheated death? And how long has the calm been?"

Yuna looked at her two companions, eyes reflecting the confusion she was feeling. By looking at the other two, she could tell they felt the same way, "Um . . it's kind of hard to explain . . how do you not know?"

"Yeah, did you hit your head or sumthin'?" Rikku asked, scratching the back of her head.

"I must apologize, Lady Yuna." he said, sitting up slowly as not to induce the wrath of the person with the sword. He bowed his head slightly, "I have been away for seven years." he said.

"Where have you been for seven years?" Paine asked.

He looked up at her and frowned, "I . . cannot say. I am not allowed to. But please," he looked to Yuna, "tell me what I missed."

Yuna looked to her friends and then, with a sigh, back at the man. She found herself studying him as she had before. He looked different awake, Yuna guessed that it was because she could now see his eyes.

"Well, I don't have time to give you the full story, but I can give you the details. I went on a pilgrimage, like all Summoners, Rikku was one of my guardians." she went on to tell him of Tidus and Auron, the truth about Yevon and Sin, and the destruction of Yevon, Sin, and Yu Yevon.

When she was finished, he stared at her for a minute or so before laying back down and closing his eyes, "Forgive me, but I need time to think about all this." he said with a sigh.

Yuna nodded and stood up. She started to walk towards the far side of the balcony, where the couch, chairs, table, and bookshelf were. She gestured for Rikku and Paine to follow her. Rikku jumped up immediately, but Paine slowly moved from where she sat, and kept a constant eye on the man.

"Well?" Rikku asked her cousin when they were near the bookshelf. "What do you think?"

"I don't know what to think." Yuna said, pressing her fingers to her temples.

"He's telling the truth." Paine said, turning her full attention to her companions. "Being gone for seven years, not knowing any of what you told him. He's not lying."

"Well that's a relief." Rikku said, placing her hands behind her head.

"I just don't see where he could have been for seven years without hearing about any of this." Yuna said, her hands falling to her sides.

Rikku gasped, her hands went to her mouth, "What if . ."

Paine cut her off with an exasperated sigh, "He's not an alien, Rikku!"

Rikku started to pout, "He might not be, but they do exist! You believe me, right Yunie?" Rikku asked, looking to her cousin hopefully.

Yuna just stared at her younger cousin, a strange expression on her face, "S . . sure . . Rikku." she stammered quickly.

Paine sighed, "This is exactly what happens when you give this girl candy."

"What, she starts talking about little green men?" a voice asked close by. Paine wheeled around, sword at the ready. The man was standing nearby, leaning on the balcony. His robe was gone now, they had taken it off of him. His clothes underneath consisted of a black turtleneck shirt, black pants, and of course his boots. Paine had taken his weapons.

"How did you . ." Paine started.

"Rikku ech'd dra uhmo dreav rana."

"You're a thief?" Rikku asked.

"E ryja paah ghufh du cdaym mejac."

Paine snorted, "Very corny."

"Thank-you." he said, nodding.

Rikku stared at him strangely for a moment, "Hey, who are you?" The man turned his head a little to look at her and arched an eyebrow. "At least a nickname, something we can call you?"

A smile touched at the corners of his lips, "My name is Ritell. But most of the people I used to know called me Dreav."

"Thief?" Rikku asked. He nodded, "Neato." Rikku said, raising both eyebrows. She turned back to Paine and Yuna, "At least we can call him something now." she said, shrugging. She bit her lower lip and the two girls stayed quiet, knowing that she was busy thinking and that interrupting her train of thought wasn't exactly the best thing to do.

Finally a light bulb went off in her head and she walked over to stand beside Ritell, "Hey." she said, tapping him on the shoulder.

"Yes?" he asked.

"You said you couldn't tell us anything because you weren't allowed to. Well, do you know who I am?" she asked.

"I don't know who you are, no."

Rikku beamed, "I'm Cid's daughter!" she chirped.

Ritell thought it over before nodding, "Right. He never did want to tell you."

Rikku's smile vanished, "Pops would never . ."

"Something this important, yes he would." Ritell said. He turned completely to face the smaller girl, "What me and my team found is seconded in importance only to the destruction of Sin." he said. "It's why seven years of my life has been spent going to and from Bikanel to and "Undisclosed Location". And why I've been in hell, pretty much, for the past two years."

Rikku was stunned, "Oh." she said.

Ritell nodded, "Now, if you don't mind, I'm still trying to get used to the fact that almost my entire world has changed." he said as he turned back to the balcony.

Rikku went back to her two companions and sighed, "Well, that went a little worst than I thought it would."

Author's Note: Okay, the mystery has been created. Now, how long to drag out the answer . . Hmm, that depends. I'm just kidding. It won't be the next chapter, and it may not be the chapter after that, but it won't be too long. I hope you've enjoyed this chapter.

-Thank-you for reading.

Al-Bhed Translations

Ritell: And that one of you is really stupid.

Ritell: Rikku isn't the only thief here.

Ritell: I have been known to steal lives.

Ritell: thief.