DISCLAIMER: Final Fantasy sadly is not owned by me. D':
A/N: Thank you all for your reviews and reading. :D And I'm super sorry for the long wait, I've been quite busy. I'm starting HS in a few days and I have Geometry hmwk due in around three days, like 120+ questions! Oh yeah, and instead of going to Sea World, I'm going to Legoland! Yay! :D Now, I hope you have fun reading this chapter. And I hope it doesn't seem a bit rushed compared to the last chapter. So, enjoy reading!
E X T R A O R D I N A R Y
Chapter Three: Carpe Noctem
"Seize the Night"
Y.
"This way, Yunie!" Rikku said as she guided me from the front yard to her house, "Pops pretty much isn't here, so we might as well be as loud as we can for now!"
Her house was rather big, but there really weren't enough rooms for me, in that case, Rikku escorted me to her bedroom and helped me unpack.
"So Rikku, what are we planning to do tonight, after we're done with this…job?" I asked Rikku while placing and neatly folding my clothes into one of Rikku's drawers in her walk in closet.
"I'm thinking of you and me hanging around in the nightlife of this city!" Rikku responded as she looked up from her unpacking and grinned.
"Are you sure that's safe, I mean, we could get kidnapped, or we might-,"
"Yunie, relax! I've been living here for years, duh! I know this city way more than a shoopuf knows its way across the Moonflow! Besides, let's just say I know Ninjitsu!" Rikku started copying a ninja's actions and started flying all over the place, now I understand how she's always so warm in the winter.
"Well, I suppose…" I just gazed at the piece of clothing I was holding on my lap and started fiddling with the sleeve.
"C'mon Yunie," Rikku kneeled down next to me, "I mean, you can meet new people, and do other stuff too. I heard that you don't get out much."
"There will be no alcohol right?" I asked, still fiddling with the sleeve of the shirt on my lap.
"I swear to Yevon, the Fayth, and everybody else!" Rikku responded and placed her right hand over her heart.
"Uh…Okay." I softly nodded my head and met my gaze with Rikku's.
"WOOHOO!" Rikku jumped up from her spot on the floor and started skipping around her closet. (Trust me, she has a BIG closet.)
I silently placed the last item from my luggage into the drawer, closed it shut, and walked out of Rikku's closet.
"You're not wearing that, right Yunie?" Rikku tilted her head to the side with a questioning look upon her face.
"What's wrong with what I'm wearing?" I looked at her full length mirror, and actually, there really was a problem. In fact, who would wear gray sweats, a plain white t-shirt, plain gray jacket, and white sneakers for a night out in the city? I look more as if I'm going to the gym, and not a restaurant or club (hopefully not).
"No offense, Yunie, but, what's right with what you're wearing?" Rikku giggled and opened the drawer that I closed a second ago.
"I guess you're right." I tugged at the sides of my sweats and slipped them off, and taking off my shoes in the process.
"That's the spirit, Yunie! Now I'll pick out your outfit since you're so, let's just say, fashionably challenged," She giggled and took some shirts out and lifted them up to her eye view to examine it, "don't worry, Yunie, I'll refold them."
"Thanks. But, hey! I'm not… um fashionably challenged!" I then unzipped my jacket, "I just felt lazy to dress up since I had to wake up pretty early in the morning to resume packing, and by the time I was done, it was almost time for me to go, so I decided not to waste time to dress up!"
"Sure, Yunie, that's what they all say." Rikku rolled her eyes and refolded some clothes.
"I'm telling the truth!" I smiled in amusement and just stripped off my clothing with nothing but my white t-shirt, bra, and underwear on.
It's actually quite odd, every time I am near Rikku, I act very different compared to how I usually act around people in Bevelle. I act so care-free and laid back, not to mention really happy. I don't care about my studies, or Lenne, it's just something so different, something I have been missing out ever since the last time I saw Rikku two years ago.
"Here we go," Rikku pulled out what she picked out and laid it in front of me on the floor, "do you like it?"
Rikku picked out a pair of tight, dark blue jeans, a white wife beater, and a fashionable, long-sleeved, dark gray cargo jacket. It may seem very thin, but, trust me, the jacket keeps me absolutely warm, in fact, so warm, that I have to take it off at times when it's below freezing outside.
"Thanks, Rikku. It's really cute, actually." I smiled at her and started switching into the outfit Rikku picked out for me.
"Well, what do you expect?" Rikku gave me a wide grin and put her hands on her hips, "Oh! And for the shoes, wear my black boots over there. Also, put a necklace around your neck, it looks plain."
I walked back into Rikku's closet, picked a necklace, and put on Rikku's black boots. Between me and Rikku, Rikku's more of the spoiled little girl than me! She has a walk in closet, while I just have dressers and drawers, and all these clothes she has are incredibly expensive!
"Yunie…" Rikku trailed off.
"Yes, Rikku?" I looked back at Rikku who was still grinning.
"I would have to admit, you look HOT." Rikku then walked towards me and looked me up and down.
"Well, thank you, Rikku." I've never liked that 'H' word, it made me feel so…uneasy each time I said it.
"Who would ever think that you're some chick from the goody-goody city of Bevelle?" Rikku faced me towards her full length mirror, "Look at you!"
Rikku was right, I did look like a resident of Zanarkand. In Bevelle, I'd usually just wear my everyday school uniform. I've never really been out much, so I barely had the chance to wear my clothes at least every day.
"Yunie, if you're done admiring yourself, we can go shakey shakey our way outside, we don't have much time y'know! Hurry, before Pops gets home right when we leave! You know Pops, he's a grumpy, nosy old man who thinks that we're like toddlers to him, or whatever." Rikku grabbed her purse off her nightstand and started to head out of her room.
"Okay." I took a look at myself one more time before grabbing my bag off of the ground and followed Rikku downstairs, into her neon bright, yellow convertible.
"Where are we headed for?" I buckled my seatbelt and adjusted my body to where I'm comfortable.
"How about we," Rikku grabbed her cell phone out of her purse and looked through her text messages, "meet up with some of my friends first?"
Still with her cell phone in one hand, she backed out of the drive way and headed towards her destination.
"Sure, where are we meeting them?" I asked curiously. I'm actually quite new to this whole, getting introduced to a new friend type of deal. Never have I been out of my own little group with Elma, Lucil, and Shelinda. Of course, I had a queasy feeling in my stomach.
"At the Zanarkand City Walk, we're most likely going to watch a movie, or go out to eat. If they're planning to go clubbing, we can always have some quality time together!" Rikku grinned, yet again, at me but still concentrated on her driving.
"Are you sure you wouldn't want to go clubbing with them, I mean, I wouldn't want to be a burden on you. You can always drop me off at your house and I can stay there." I said staring out at the lit up streets and buildings surrounding me.
"Yunie! Don't say that! I'm more excited to hang with you than partying all night and getting hung over the next morning." Rikku countered.
"Are you sure?" I asked, making sure she wouldn't be dishonest to me and feel that she would rather have fun with her friends.
"Absoposilutely! I haven't seen you for years Yunie, and it'd pretty much suck if I won't be able to see you for another two years, or more, after break," Rikku stopped at a red light and looked at me, "you're my only and favorite cousin, Yunie. I've been stuck with my weird, doh-doh brother all my life, and I've always wanted an older sister, but Yevon decided to give me the opposite, a brother who I will never look up to. So it's either stay home with an annoying whiney brother who acts as if he's 2, or hang with the bestest sister ever!"
I couldn't help but glow at Rikku's statement. Now I was absolutely sure that Rikku wouldn't take me as a burden, or a baby she's watching over.
After a few minutes of solitude, Rikku drove into a parking lot and looked thoroughly for a parking space.
"Yevon, this is one reason why I hate the Zanarkand nightlife," Rikku found a spot, but another car claimed it before her and Rikku sighed, "no parking space."
It took us a while to find a parking spot, but we ended up parking pretty far from the center of the City Walk. We were forced to park near a very busy street filled with cars honking at each other or speeding down the road with the police chasing after them.
"Well, are you ready to walk into the cold air, Yunie?" Rikku took the key out of the ignition and slightly opened her door.
"Okay." I nodded my head and exited the car, closing the door behind me.
Rikku and I walked towards the center of the city walk and talked about what's recently going on in our life and so on. What Rikku wouldn't stop talking about was a guy named Gippal, complaining how annoying he was, perverted, all that. Although, it was quite obvious she liked him.
"And one time he pushed me into his pool when I was wearing my favorite outfit!" Rikku pouted.
"Wow. That must have been horrible!" I said sarcastically, all these Gippal stories got quite tiring after the tenth one.
"He is such a sicko! And he is so annoying!" Rikku exclaimed.
I just nodded my head and asked rather bluntly,"Do you have an infatuation with Gippal?"
"Huh? What are you trying to say Yunie?" Rikku looked up at me with a confused expression on her face.
"An infatuation is a crush, silly." I rolled my eyes at Rikku's slowness and smiled in amusement.
"Hey! I am not silly!" Rikku stuck her tongue out and walked a little faster than me.
After a second or two…
"I DO NOT LIKE HIM, YUNIE! I TOLD YOU THAT HE WAS A COCKY, ARROGANT JERK BAG!" Rikku yelled, practically 'admitting' it to the whole world.
"Okay Rikku, whatever you say." I then walked in front of Rikku changing my speed, walking a little faster.
"Yunie!" Rikku caught up and did her little pout.
"I was just kidding, Rikku." I lied. It was rather hard suppressing that urge to laugh out loud inside of me.
Once we reached the center of our destination, Rikku skipped towards a group of people sitting on a nearby bench.
"Hey you guys!" Rikku grabbed my hand, forcing me to skip with her as well, "Come on Yunie!"
"Hey Rikku." A pale, red-eyed girl with gray hair said as she looked at the two of us.
"Hiya Dr. P!" Rikku waved at her, just having the red-eyed girl roll her eyes.
"Your friend?" She asked as she pointed towards me.
"This is my cousin Yuna, she came here from the 'oh so holy' city of Bevelle!" Rikku rested her arm on my shoulder and had that big pearly white grin on her face once more.
"My name's Paine." The pale girl said, giving me a small smile.
"I'm Yuna." I returned the smile at Paine, it's actually quite ironic how her parents would name her after how she looks.
"Oh yeah, Yunie, this is Baralai, Nooj, Leblanc, Lulu, Wakka, and- hey! Where's Tidus and Gippal?" Rikku asked searching around the area for her two missing friends.
"Don't get me started on those two, they're coming here in a few minutes, together, they make a horrible duo," Baralai responded, he then turned to me and smiled, "what a pleasure it is to finally meet the cousin Rikku's always been talking about."
"It's nice to meet you too." I smiled.
"Pleased to meet you Yuna," A girl who had a striking resemblance to Paine, named Lulu, said giving me a small smile, "and good luck on your stay with Rikku. She can be a bit too much trouble for even all of us to handle."
"Thank you. I really would have to admit, that is very true." I softly nodded my head in agreement.
"Nice to meet you," An orange-haired guy, Wakka, with his arm wrapped around Lulu's shoulders said in his strong, Besaidian accent,"name's Wakka, ya?"
"You too...Wakka." I bowed my head and smiled.
"Leblanc's the name, love," A blonde girl fully wearing pink said, "ooh, and I love your sweater, love, I hope they have it in pink!" (Of course)
"Thank you." I grinned.
"Nooj, it'll be great having you around." A mysterious man sitting next to Leblanc said, giving me a small smile as well.
Rikku's friends actually don't seem to compare to her, which is actually quite funny. They all seem so very serious and it makes me wonder how they actually put up with a teenage girl like Rikku, besides Leblanc, who Rikku says, she can't stand.
"Do you know if they're here yet?" Rikku asked impatiently.
"They just left Tidus' house. Why are you so eager?" Paine then smirked and looked up at Rikku, "Is it because you're so anxious to see your boyfriend?"
"GIPPAL IS NOT MY BOYFRIEND! HE IS MERELY JUST AN ENEMY!" Rikku then huffed, puffed, and finally relaxed.
"Then your, soon-to-be boyfriend?" Paine tried to stifle her laugh but ended up chuckling a little.
"UGH! GIPPAL WILL NEVER BE MY BOYFRIEND! HE'S JUST A-,"
"Are you sure about that, Cid's Girl?" Two blondes approached us, on with an eye patch, most likely Al Bhed, and the other….looks almost like Shuyin, but I would have to admit, if they were twins, Shuyin's twin would be the cutest.
"GRR! I'm going to kill you Gip-, hey Ti!" Rikku ran over to the other blonde and gave him a hug.
"What's up Rikku!" Tidus said, hugging back and smiling at my spunky cousin.
"Oh yeah, Gippal, Tidus, this is my best friend slash cousin, Yunie!" Rikku put her arm around me and I waved.
"Hello." I smiled.
"Hey Rik, I thought I was your best friend!" Tidus smiled.
"Of course you are, but Yunie's my bestestestest friend!" Rikku then hugged me.
"I'm Gippal, as you can tell, you probably hear about me from Rikku all the time." He then gave me and Rikku a cocky grin.
"Be quiet you big MEANIE!" Rikku then slapped his arm.
"And I'm Tidus." Tidus shook my hand, the handshake lasted longer than expected. I thought I felt a blush coming on, and I tried not to show it especially when he's practically in my face. Speaking of close up, Tidus was more handsome up close than far away.
"Yuna." I smiled and shook back, letting go of his hand.
"Come on you guys, let's go! We're not just gonna sit here like pigeons, right?" Rikku said grabbing my hand, practically pulling me away from Tidus.
"Well, Rikku, if they're pigeons, then we're lovebirds." Gippal raised his eyebrow and gave her another smirk.
"Shut up Gippal! You are the most-,"
"Hottest thing you've ever seen!" Gippal put his arm around Rikku's shoulders, but Rikku stomped on his foot instead.
"WRONG," Rikku then grinned at him, "that's what ya get, sicko!"
"Okay you two, stop flirting. Just admit your feelings to each other already." Paine exclaimed and rolled her eyes.
"I HAVE NO FEELINGS FOR THIS-,"
"Stop lying, you sure act like you do." Gippal interrupted, once again.
"Okay, okay seriously you two. Now, where do you guys want to go?" Lulu asked, while linking arms with Wakka.
"Let's go…eat!" Rikku said while jumping up in the air, "What do you say, guys?"
They all nodded their heads and just stared at Rikku plainly, except for Gippal who still had that, now annoying, smirk on.
"What about you Yunie?" She turned to me with that peppy grin on her face.
"Sure." I nodded my head and grinned.
We all then headed off towards a restaurant with Rikku leading the way. Along the way, I looked around at the bright, neon lit stores and restaraunts all lining up against one another. That was when I saw something that I thought was a figment of my imagination, something that I thought I would never see for a while.
"Yuna? Is that you?" A figure approached us, a figure that's just too familiar to not know who it is.
Chapter 3, done! :D Thank you for reading up to here. Oh yeah, when she says cargo jacket, think FOREVER 21, that's where I get all them outfits from. This is actually a quite long chapter for me. Anyways, school's starting, let's say, around next week, and I'm going to Sea World on Labor Day, so yay! I'm starting HS, and I'm quite nervous for it. Well, I hope all you other people have fun with your school, and remember, stay in school kiddos! GASP, who is this figure that is approaching them, is it the old geezer, Maechan? Or is it some random stalker who appears to know her name? Well you'll all have to find out once I have the time to write the next chapter! Bye bye!
Bianca Lightyear, over and out.
