Chapter 2: The Summoner's Sanctum.
Lulu was all business as usual.
"Rikku, what is the summoner's sanctum?" she asked manner of factly.
Despite her cheerful out look, Rikku still felt so down cast. This wasn't easy for her. She was watching her home being destroyed. At the same time she longed to protect Yuna and the other summoners. She didn't want to betray her own people, yet she also knew that this group of guardians really cared about Yuna as much as she did. She knew they could protect Yuna.
"The summoner's sanctum is where we keep the summoners." She told them. "We keep them safe there." She knew in her heart that her brethren meant no harm at all to the summoners. But how could she explain that to this group who were so set on a pilgrimage that would end the life of her cousin Yuna?
"You kidnap them." she heard Wakka retort. Oh him. She thought to herself as she inwardly rolled her eyes. And for a moment there I actually thought he was starting to understand… even care! I was fooling myself. She sighed sadly. All she could do was nod as she held back her tears.
She recalled when she first met Wakka. How the other two girls had warned her not to let on that she was an Al Bhed. She knew from the beginning that he was a devout Yevonite. Maybe that was part of her attraction to him. She desperately wanted him to like her! Even just an itsy, bitsy bit. Maybe not in a romantic way, but just to call her a friend. That had motivated her to keep her secret well. If he knew… she was sure he'd never look twice at her. They had started to become friends. Only to have it all torn apart when he found out her race.
That moment earlier in the hallway upstairs… she thought it had meant something. She thought she had felt a movement as she lay against him. Almost as if he was going to raise his arms and wrap them around her. The breaking down of the ice between them maybe? Now he was accusing her all over again. She was so confused. How could she explain?
"I know it's against the teachings and all that" She said, turning to face him. Begging him with her eyes to please understand... pretty please?
"I get why you did it… but" Said Wakka, folding his arms across his chest. His voice didn't sound so soft and Rikku couldn't read his expression at all. Is he understanding or still accusing me? She thought. she secretly wished she could get inside that fuzzy red head of his, just for a moment and figure him out. What does he mean by "but?" Why doesn't he just say it? He's so damn frustrating! She thought as she looked straight into his eyes trying to see if there was some clue in the deepness of them as to what he was thinking.
She wasn't sure why it mattered so much what Wakka thought. I suppose trying to get into his good graces was something she really had hoped for. It was almost symbolic. It's like, if she could turn this around with Wakka, then maybe there was hope for all of the Al Bhed to reconcile with the Yevonites. Maybe it was just possible… maybe! And yet here he was, stubborn as ever. Arms folded, staring at her and leaving word "but" hanging in the air like an icicle in winter. It was Tidus that broke the icicle.
"Well I sure don't get it Wakka" he said as he pushed between them and made his way down the stairs towards Rikku. "They might get hurt on their pilgrimage," Tidus continued. "So you kidnap them?" Rikku realized that Tidus was no longer talking to Wakka but to her. Oh great! she pondered. Now Tidus is going against me too? The one person in this party that I thought was on my side? Things were just getting worse and worse and Rikku wondered how long she could hold up before she crumbled. Tidus was right beside her now. She turned to face him sullenly.
"I mean, if the summoners don't do their job, then who will defeat sin?" Tidus asked her directly. Almost accusingly. She looked at him sadly, fighting back the tears she could feel burning in the back of her crystal green eyes. It was as if Tidus could see the sorrow in them his tune changed and became slightly more understanding.
"You want to protect them I know," he said to her. "But guardians are there for that" Was he really that naive? Or did he think that being a guardian made up for the fact that you were leading the summoner to her death. Maybe he really didn't know! Maybe his story about being from Zanarkand was true somehow…
"If guardians do their job well," he continued. "Summoners will be safe. Right?" That confirmed it… he must not know.
"Right?" he repeated. It echoed off the buildings around them. Was he right? Of course not! She wanted to say something. She wanted to scream it out… she wanted to tell him the truth. Everyone just stood there silently. Rikku's eyes flitted from Wakka to Lulu to Kimahri, and back again. Then she turned her gaze to Sir Auron where her eyes lingered even longer. Surely he knew something. Say something someone. She begged in her own head. After all, it shouldn't have to be her that reveals this shocking secret to the young blonde blitz ball player.
But nobody said anything. The sounds of banging echoed down the stair well, reminding Rikku of the destruction all around her and also reminding her of the destruction to come. The silence was almost deafening. That is, if silence can have a sound to it at all. Why won't somebody say something? Rikku thought desperately.
She glanced over at Wakka. She could see a sense of deep sadness in his expression. I wonder what that's about. She pondered. Maybe he really does care what happens in the end…. Maybe he's not much different than I am, just wanting to see Yuna safe and all. We really aren't that different… but her thoughts were cut off by Kimahri's deep voice beside her.
"It's quiet, Kimahri goes now" and with that Kimahri turned and continued down the stair well. The journey had to go on. Wakka followed him at a run, as if running away from the answer that he knew he should give. That seemed typical of Wakka to Rikku. Always running away when there is something that needs to be said she thought to herself. Lulu followed wordlessly behind him, passing by her with out so much as a second glance. And then Sir Auron, always mysterious, always bent on a mission despite all the emotions flaring up around him. After they had passed her Rikku hesitated. She stared straight at Tidus, pausing in thought. Wondering if she should say anything. Wondering if she had any right to tell him what the others seemed to be refusing to.
He looked so confused. So desperate for an answer. But her heart was full of sadness. She just couldn't bring her self to say the words. Yuna's going to die. The final aeon kills her you know. The words played over in her head but never reached her lips. What should I do, what should I say? She wondered. Maybe it was best to say nothing at a time like this. More urgent matters were at hand. They had to find Yunie and get her out of there. The whole place was crumbling around them. Her home.
Rikku turned around sadly and fled down the stairs after the others. I'll just have to take things a step at a time. She thought.
"Yuna, please… be here."
……………….
The doors to the summoner's sanctum were barred. Debris and bits of shrapnel had fallen blocking the way.
"Oh great" said Wakka. "Now what?"
Rikku's Possibilities:
1. "It's time to break through."
2. "Well Wakka, maybe it's time you started practicing that thinking for yourself thing"
3. "If we all work together, we can get through in no time!
Possibility 1:
"It's time to break through." Rikku said. "Stand back."
Then with out hesitating in the slightest she pulled out a piece of dark matter from her gear, mixing it quickly with a bomb core and then launched it at the debris.
BOOM! (9999 damage, Woot!)
Everyone ducked as bits and pieces flew in all directions. A piece of metal flew past Wakka's head, barely missing him. That was close, ya?
Wakka noticed that Tidus looked a bit shaken too. He was dusting dirt and other obstacles out of his hair and protesting as he did it too. He's been in a fine mood lately. Thought Wakka as he folded his arms across his chest and shot an accusing glance at Rikku for causing his life to flash before his eyes like that.
However, Rikku was unshaken.
"See," she said cheerfully. "Told ya it would be no problem at all, you know"
She gave Wakka, who was the closest to her, a playful dig in the ribs causing him to double over slightly. Oof! Then Rikku motioned to him with her hands as if to say you go first big guy. He didn't feel like arguing considering the amount of damage he'd seen her just do, so he entered the summoner's sanctum with out saying anything at all to her.
Possibility 2:
"Well Wakka, maybe it's time you started practicing that thinking for yourself thing" Said Rikku glancing at him sideways.
"Thinking for myself? Why you little… " He was trying to think of all the things he could refer to her as but none seemed to be really appropriate. They all involved the fact that she was an Al Bhed heathen and, under the circumstances, he didn't think that was appropriate. After all, she was in the midst of her shattered home and all because of a group of Yevonites. Why rub salt in the wound? Besides… there was something more important to think about. Breaking through to Yuna.
"Alright everybody" Said Wakka in a commanding tone. "Leave this to me, ya?"
He readied his blitz ball and cast aim on himself just to be sure. Going into over drive Wakka Sized up the pile of debris as he picked its weakest point. Then he launched his blitz ball at it with the strongest heave he could muster. WHAM! WHAM! WHAM! Three direct hits. His ball smacked right into the middle of the mess, breaking lose a huge piece of metal and causing the whole conglomeration to collapse with a loud CRASH!
Everyone ducked trying to get out of the way as bits and pieces of shrapnel flew in all directions. Rikku had been standing closest to him and saw a brief glimpse of her life flashing before her as a huge piece of shrapnel barely missed her foot. Owie! that was close. She thought to herself as she sprung out of the way. The big meanie, he could of given us more warning you know. She wondered if her snide remark about thinking for himself had gotten to him that much.
"No problem." said Wakka proudly, just as if it had all been his idea in the first place. He spun his ball on his finger smugly showing off to his best advantage and grinning at Rikku as she tried to wipe all the dust out of her hair. Wakka noticed that Lulu wasn't looking too impressed either. Her hair was a mess and she was folding her arms looking at him angrily. Uh oh he thought. I better get moving.
He wasted no time pushing his way past everyone, thus he was the first person to enter the Summoners sanctum…
Possibility 3:
"If we all work together, we can get through in no time." Rikku said in her chirpy little voice.
"Ya, ya!" Said Wakka raising his arm in the air as if cheering. "That's just what I was thinking too. I was just uh… seeing if you could think for yourself, ha Rikku"
Wakka gave Rikku a playful nudge in the ribs but she wasn't buying it. She rolled her eyes at him thinking to herself yeah sure. However, she didn't get a chance to verbalize it because Auron cut off her thoughts.
"Enough." he said with his usual tone. Then he aimed his sword at the debris and took an almighty swipe at it. Kimahri started removing bits and pieces by hand, tossing them in all direction while Lulu prepared a lightening spell.
Wakka looked at Rikku and said "Let's do this" and he crouched into position taking aim at the blockage. With a great heave of his shoulders he flung his blitz ball at the remains of the debris, breaking lose yet another piece of it.
Rikku could see light breaking through but still the blockage wouldn't fall. She carefully sized it up; just as she would a machina she was trying to dismantle.
"I've got it!" She said. Then carefully reached forward removing one small piece of broken equipment from the bottom of the pile and watched as the whole thing fell… right on top of her. disateriffic! She barely had time to think about watching her life flash before her eyes when she realized that she was being held upside down… but a big furry Ronso!
"Let me go Kimahri!" she squeaked. I mean… what could be worse than being held head down by a big blue beast. He set her down and she began dusting off all the dirt and shrapnel, pulling pieces out of her hair and feeling quite foolish. Then she noticed that Wakka had a sizable piece of broken machina stuck in his spike. She looked at him and started go giggle uncontrollably.
"Wha…?" Said Wakka, completely unaware of the spare parts that were tangled in his hair.
"You're hair." said Rikku between giggles; not able to contain the nervous laugh that just had to come out. Anything to cover up the terrible feelings she had inside over her home being destroyed. Besides… a devout Yevonite wearing a piece of machina for a hat was just too funny of a sight to resist. I wish I had a sphere to record this she thought to herself.
Wakka reached up and began raking his fingers through his hair desperately trying to break it lose.
"Gah… those damn machina! Bad news all around ya!" he muttered as he dislodged the thing and flung it sideways, almost hitting Sir Auron who was not amused in the slightest! This caused Rikku to laugh even harder which aggravated Wakka to the max.
"Fine, stay here and laff." he said to her as he made his way into the summoner's sanctum.
……………
Wakka heard Rikku gasp as she came up behind him. Indeed, he felt like gasping too. Before him the summoner's sanctum was destroyed. Dozens of Al Bhed bodies littered the ground. It was terrible to see. Even more terrible than the day Sin destroyed the pier in Besaid. This was worse. Far worse! This was at the hands of Yevonites. Yeah sure, he'd always agreed that the Al Bhed were bad news, but still! He knew they didn't deserve this. So much destruction and death. All by the Yevonites. Were they any better than Sin? He let that question go unanswered.
Wakka watched as Rikku fell to her knee's before one of the bodies. He could see her sorrow, her tears. Oh how he wished he could do something to help her. But he was sure that he was the worst person for that job. His Resume just didn't seem to match it. I was just the closest person, that's all. He thought to himself, remembering the brief moment at the top of the stair well.
Wakka sighed to himself. Yuna was no where in sight. With no Yuna to protect…. Somehow all his attention turned to protecting the next one in line. Rikku needed protecting right now. Her emotions were all over the place.
Dona and Isaaru showed up. Oh great, Dona. Thought Wakka as he scratched the back of his neck She can't stand any of us. But even Dona was civil in the face of this terrible scene. She and Isaaru performed the sending. The Al Bhed had died protecting them after all. Just like a guardian should. The Al Bhed? Like guardians? That was a strange thought. Yet here before him, crumpled in a heap and sobbing was a true Al Bhed guardian. Rikku. He softened towards her just a little more. She was trying to protect them too. He thought. We're not that different ya?
…………………
"Why couldn't they trust guardians to protect the summoners" Tidus was saying. "They had no right stopping their pilgrimage." Tidus sounded angry. But Rikku was sure that he wasn't quite as angry as she felt right now. Damn him, he doesn't know. She thought angrily to herself. She could take it no more. Someone had to tell him.
"The pilgrimages have to stop." she burst out. Tidus's eyes shot towards her wide with protest, but Rikku refused to stop. I'm going to tell him everything she decided.
"If they don't, and they get to Zanarkand,…. They might defeat Sin…. Yunie could… but then she…. " A thousand thoughts whirled around in Rikku's head. This was just so hard to verbalize and she didn't want to hear the sound of her own voice admitting it. Yet she had to get the words out. Tidus needed to know. She couldn't stand the thought of him turning against her too. But more than that… he had a right to know. He was Yuna's guardian. Rikku also had a gut feeling that it went beyond that. She wasn't so young and naive to not notice the way Yuna looked at Tidus… and Tidus looked at Yuna. He cared… deeply. She knew that.
"Yuna will die, you know?" The words came out a flurry of emotion. There… she had said it. She stared at Tidus helplessly, trying to read his expression. She could see his confusion. "You know… don't you?" she asked. "Summoners journey to get the final Aeon,… Yuna told you didn't she?" Surely Yuna had told him right? So that she didn't have to? Tidus looked blankly back at her. Shock and hurt in his eyes. No he she hadn't told him.
Rikku continued. "With the final Aeon she can beat Sin. But then… but then… " Rikku felt like she was going to choke on the words. Her sorrow had finally reached its peak. She'd lost her home, and the thought of losing her cousin was so unbearable. She didn't want to think about it, much less talk about it. But someone had to. Someone in this party had to be strong.
"If she calls it then the final Aeons gunna kill her. Even if she defeats Sin… it will kill Yunie too you know?" Rikku could bear it no more. Her emotions over flowed. She fell to her knees in sobs. This day had been just too much. She just wished it was over. She heard Tidus quietly whisper…
"Was I the only one…. who didn't know?"
Then Rikku realized she was being shaken. An angry Tidus has grabbed her by both shoulders. "Tell me why? " He was shouting at her. His tone so hard and angry. "Why were you hiding it?" he was accusing her. "Why didn't I know?" he shouted at her as Rikku's heart despaired. She'd lost the first non Al Bhed friend she'd ever made. What made it even worse is that had developed a slight crush on him. Tidus was now so angry… this whole day had been full of losses.
………………………..
Wakka watched the scene helplessly. Somebody really needs to rescue that poor girl ya? He thought to himself. Hasn't she been through enough? His heart went out to her. Here was his opportunity. To be a guardian to Rikku. A guardian to an Al Bhed? Was this making any sense at all? Yet, he felt so repentant for all the times it was him yelling at Rikku. Now, seeing someone else do it just made something inside him start to break. A hardness he had set up against her seemed to be melting away. He could also see Tidus's pain. Maybe they should have said something sooner. But, well at first he hadn't believed Tidus's story about being from Zanarkand. Wakka was sure he had to know what happened to a summoner. I better open my big mouth ya? He thought. Just hope I don't blow it this time.
"We weren't hiding it." Wakka said aloud. He didn't know what else to say. At least his words had diverted Tidus away from Rikku and he'd stopped shaking her. Mission accomplished. Sorta!
It was Lulu who completed the sentence.
"It was just too hard to say" She concluded. Auron and Kimahri said nothing. Great help they are ya?
Tidus was obviously in agony over this. He beat his fists on the ground. Wakka felt terrible. He was finally facing the very thoughts he had pushed into the back of his mind. He was leading Yuna to certain deatt and he had justified it all by the teachings of Yevon. Fool he thought to himself. But what had he really done wrong? Supported Yuna in her decision…? It WAS her decision!
Wakka's mind recalled the day Yuna had announced that she wanted to become a summoner. He remembered how Lulu and he had pleaded and begged with her to change her mind, but it was set. He remembered going through all the emotions back then. The thought of Yuna dying. Now he was reliving it all over again; a flood of emotions drowning him with every moment that he gasped for breath. His eyes travelled from Rikku to Tidus. Both of them expressing all of the emotions that he now felt, but dared not show. Yuna had taught all of them to smile in the face of sorrow. To hide it. To put up a brave face, for Spira. Lost in his own thoughts he barely heard the conversation between Tidus and Lulu. Then he snapped sharply back to reality when he heard Tidus address him sharply.
"Why don't you do something Wakka?" He didn't know what to say? Why didn't he do something? How come he never did anything when he felt he should! He didn't even know himself. Lulu came to his rescue.
"Don't you think we tried to stop her?" Good old Lu, always running to his aid when he needed it most.
"She follows her heart" completed Lulu.
Indeed she does. Thought Wakka. Something I really need to learn from her ya? His eyes travelled back to Rikku briefly. His heart now screaming at him for all the missed opportunities between them. Something she had said to him rung in his ears.
"Yevon says this, Yevon says that… Can't you think for yourself?"
I want to Rikku. Were the unspoken words he had wanted to say. But the teachings... damn the teachings. They were stopping him from getting closer to Rikku and from keeping Yuna alive. Yet, if he didn't stick with them… what else was there?
"Yuna she knew what she was doing" Wakka said, more to himself than anyone else. "When she chose to become a summoner. To face Sin ya? Yuna knew!"
He tried to justify it with his words. With his tone. Yet even he had started to see a different perspective. Here… surrounded by the dead bodies of Al Bhed who had died protecting summoners. Surely they had not died in vain?
"But Wakka that's just totally wrong" The sudden unexpected voice of Rikku reached his ears. There was a quaver in her voice. No anger, just the voice of reason in a world surrounded by unreasonable circumstances. It was something about the way she said his name. Almost pleading. Her voice so soft sending a ripple through him.
"Summoners shouldn't have to sacrifice themselves. Just so the rest of Spira can be happy, right?" she continued.
She was right. He knew it. But he wouldn't dare tell her. He had pride. That's right. Pride! No Al Bhed girl was going to break that ya? He was a strong athletic Blitz ball player. Heck he'd handled a few tackles in his time; almost passed out during a game… survived many dangerous fiend attacks. He'd bounced back every time. He was strong ya. Yet looking into Rikku's eyes right now all that seemed to just fall away. He knew she was right. The rest of Spira might have been happy about it. But he sure wasn't, and he knew that no one else in the party was either. She won't break me… I won't let her. He thought to himself.