Thanks to all that reviewed! I update when I can, but the time varies. I'll (hopefully) bring you another chapter soon. Enjoy!
The silver haired youth had been carefully placed on the camp bed in Wakka and Lulu's hut, the latter tending to the deep gash that had torn through his cloak and sliced the tendons in his right arm. After cleaning the wound and bandaging it, Lulu stepped back, telling the rest of them that nature would heal his arm in time.
"Who do you think he is?" said Tidus, breaking the silence after a few minutes. He looked at the others hopefully, but was disheartened to see they were just as confused as he was.
"More importantly," said Paine calmly. "What attacked him, and is it nearby?" If it had been quiet before, it was nothing compared to the almost choking silence now. None of them had thought of that.
"Trust you to crash the party, Paine." Said Rikku, trying to lighten the mood. The warrior was on the verge of a sarcastic reply, but was cut off by a rustling of fabric from the bed. Turning, they saw the stranger had begun to wake up.
"Failed…" He whispered hoarsely. It sounded like his throat had dried up from lack of use. "Failed you…" Without warning he bolted upright into a sitting position, but yelled as he became aware of the pain in his arm.
"Don't strain yourself," said Yuna soothingly. "You're hurt bad. You should rest for a couple of days." Slowly, he turned his neck to face her. Despite the blindfold on his eyes, he acted as if he could see them all quite clearly, which was quite unnerving. His face was contorted in pain, but he spoke quite calmly.
"Where am I? And who are you? He demanded. Rikku decided that she had better join the fray, and spoke up:
"You're on the Island of Besaid," She explained to him. She frowned when he did not react in recognition. It was a fairly well known place. Regardless, she continued. "I'm Rikku, this is Yuna, Paine, Tidus, Wakka and Lulu." A baby's complaining cry came from the room next door. She smiled. "And that's Vidina."
He was looking at her intently now. That blind gaze was creeping her out, sending shivers down her spine. "Rikku?" he enquired, a hint of doubt in his voice. She nodded, bewildered. "But…" And then, he did something that none of them expected. He blushed.
"But that's…that's my name…" he muttered, sounding downright embarrassed. There was a moment of calm, then the penny dropped and everyone burst out laughing. Rikku was more furious that the others were in such hysterics than about the odd coincidence, though she was certainly surprised by it. She noticed that Riku (it felt odd to call him that) was smirking, and was relieved that he was lightening up a bit.
"Drec ec ku ihvyen…" This is so unfair...she whined in Al Bhed, drawing a blank look from Riku, and more titters from the others. They didn't know what she was saying, but they had a good idea.
"So, Riku." Said Paine, still smirking. "How'd you end up with that wound?" All eyes returned to him, and it seemed he had resumed his usual 'enigmatic' self. He scowled at her.
"I got into a fight, and I lost." He said plainly. Wakka slapped his head in exasperation, and everyone else sighed.
"Then allow us another question," asked Lulu politely. "How did you get here, through that pool of darkness?" Riku's face remained passive. He seemed to be thinking very hard.
"My Plan B didn't work." Everyone groaned; this guy just wasn't yielding.
"We need to know what bought you here," said Yuna. " It might mean trouble for the island." He swivelled to look at her.
"You the chief of defence 'round here, or something?"
"No…" piped Rikku. "But she's had to save the world a few times!" The silver boy considered this for a moment, then addressed them:
"I bought myself here, so there's nothing for you to worry about." He spoke in the same disturbingly calm tone the whole time. "Now if you excuse me, I have to go." He raised his gloved hand, and snapped his fingers while whispering an incantation under his breath.
Nothing happened. He frowned, and snapped them again. Whatever he had been trying to do, it hadn't worked. He faced the six of them again, and grinned. "I don't think Plan C worked, either. Looks like you're stuck with me."
"That was a teleport spell."
Everyone turned to see Lulu sitting in the corner, cradling Vidina in her arms. It seemed she had snuck out during the proceedings and brought in the complaining infant. Now though, an expression of wonder graced her face. "Those are meant to be impossible. The theory for them was never proved."
Tidus chuckled, and nudged their newest addition. "Guess that's why it didn't work, eh?"
"It did earlier." Everyone thought about that for a moment. Then, Yuna turned to Riku.
"You teleported here?" She asked curiously. He nodded. He slowly, and painfully, stood up.
"Careful, that arm there's delicate, ya?" Said Wakka helpfully. Riku regarded it with slight annoyance, and held his hand over the wound.
"Curaja."
Green tendrils of magic extended from his fingertips, and wrapped themselves around the bandage around his upper arm. It fell away, revealing that the skin under the torn fabric had been completely healed. Then, the coat itself mended.
"Level four magic spells, too…" whispered Rikku in awe. Riku turned and smiled at her.
"Would like me to demonstrate my Ultimaja spell?" He asked, as casually as talking about the weather. Without waiting for a reply from the stunned Al Bhed, he turned and walked out into the village.
Memories came flooding back to Riku as he watched the people stroll past in this cosy little island community that was so similar to his own. Ironic that he had always longed to get away from that place, yet now he felt homesick. A few passer-bys stared at his blindfold, but did not question it. Little did they know, the blindfold was made of a special cotton that had been enchanted to act almost like a one way mirror: he could see out, but they couldn't see in.
A rustle from the hut behind told him that the others had followed him. He smirked. These people were determined. He turned towards and noticed the girl who shared his name looking at him curiously.
"If you can use magic like that, how come you lost that fight?" She enquired, an eager curiosity filling her face with glee.
Riku laughed. "He was stronger." He replied taciturnly. There was yet another awed silence. Even the leather clad warrior- what was she called…Paine? Seemed impressed, though she was trying not to show it. "Well," he started, slightly more cheery, "Isn't anyone going to give me grand tour?"
Rikku whimpered, and everyone stared at her. "What?" Asked Tidus, looking confused (as usual).
"Well," she started huffily. "This guy doesn't know about Besaid, right? So that means he doesn't know anything about Spira, either! So we've got to explain all of that…"
Now everyone was staring at the newcomer. This was going to be a long day, and they hadn't even had breakfast yet.
If that weren't enough, Vidina chose that exact moment to soil himself.
Amid the sudden bawling, Lulu's sighs, and Wakka's cries of 'We'll make a blitzer of him yet, ya!' Tidus and Yuna's hasty exit, and Paine's apparent unwillingness to do anything but stand there and look cool, Rikku found herself landed with explaining the past 1000 years of Spira's history.
Adanpym Lyms, so ycc.
Eternal Calm, my ass.
R&R, People!
