AN: Woot! Updating is fun!!! I've been listening to a LOT of Yellowcard lately and it has been inspiring me. If any of you out there in reader-land have the Yellowcard CD Lights and Sounds lying around your house, you should definitely listen to It Surrounds/More Than Ever. It is the theme song of this fic!!!! Anyhoo, keep reading, reviewing, and enjoying!!! Things are about to get UBER dramatic!!!!

Once again, a special super awesome thanks to my readers!!! I HEART REVIEWERS!!!!

sa

Chapter 4: Uncertain Path

Another day had slipped past Rikku while she worked to help rebuild Home on Bikanel Island. Another hot, dry, windy day had left her feeling exhausted and empty. She was making her way through the main construction site of the Al Bhed rebuilding effort slowly and with no sense of urgency or haste. She had returned to the desert island roughly three months earlier when the Gullwings had officially all parted ways. Rikku had made the decision for everyone the day after her rendezvous with Tidus on Besaid. Paine had conceded that it was probably best that they all go on with their lives since spherehunting was a pretty bogus market anymore. She had decided to set up shop with Nooj and try to talk the more militant anti-Yevon groups into reconciling. Brother, Shinra, and Buddy were all eager to get back to Bikanel to assist Cid, Rin, and Nahadla in the reconstruction efforts. Yuna, however stunned at Rikku's sudden urge to be away from everyone, demurely requested that she and Tidus be dropped off on Besaid before the others rushed off. She was very busy with her plans for the Unity Council she was planning; a summit to unite all of Spira's peoples.

Rikku remembered the way Tidus had looked at her as he trailed after Yuna out of the airship. His too-blue eyes held a dark pain in them; a sadness Rikku would gladly forget, if she could. Now, kicking through a pile of discarded machina parts that were stacked in her path, Rikku cursed the blonde blitzer colorfully under her breath. She was so wrapped up in her angry thoughts that she barely noticed that she had reached her tent. Rikku, regardless of her high status amongst the Al Bhed, chose to live like all the other workers in the camp that marched around the edges of the new site of Home. Her accommodations were less than high class, but at least she was comfortable. The long months she had spent traveling with Yunie on her pilgrimage had helped Rikku get accustomed to sleeping on the hard ground. With an audible sigh, Rikku tossed her bag aside and flopped down onto her sleeping bag. The night air was chilly and her muscles ached. Feeling suddenly very alone and vulnerable, Rikku felt tears rush up into her eyes. She hated the fact that she had estranged herself from Paine and Yuna just because she wanted to get away from Tidus. She knew she could just go see them whenever she wanted to, but something told her it was best to just let things be. Her friends were busy with important things in their lives.

Sitting up, Rikku brought her knees up to her chest and hugged them tightly. The tears flowed hot and free from her eyes and she broke into sobs. She didn't know what she was going to do with her life anymore. Nothing was clear or easy. She missed being younger and so certain of everything. Now, her she was, nearly eighteen and she had virtually nothing to show for it. Her days were spent working hard to keep the Al Bhed together and her nights were spent alone in her tent. She was miserable and lonely. Rikku hated herself for crying so much because she saw it as a sign of weakness. The younger, sillier Rikku cried all the time and never apologized for it. She was older now and wanted to be on her own, but she didn't want to be all alone. Torturing herself with these thoughts of self-loathing and disappointment, Rikku cried herself to sleep, dreaming of someone that would make her feel safe and wanted.

The next day, Rikku rolled out of bed and decided with one groggy glare at the sunlight streaming through the cracks in her tent that she was NOT in the mood to work. Stuffing her feet into her boots (she must have kicked them off during the night) and straightening her skimpy clothes, Rikku shuffled out of her tent, yawning as she did. The construction site was a whole different place during the day, bustling with Al Bhed workers going to and from the main site, alive with the smells of cooking pots outside tents, the air throbbing with the lyrical language of her birth. It was all very comforting to her, but at the same time she felt sort of removed from it. Like she was just visiting here and her days were numbered. Like the Al Bhed weren't really her people. Mentally laughing at that weird thought, Rikku turned away from the new site of Home and walking out into the desert, headed towards the nearest oasis. That was where the heads of this operation made their camp and it served as the sort of headquarters for all the Al Bhed working. Mainly because of the water source the makeshift structure was next to, but also because at least one of the three head honchos was always there. Rikku prayed that today would be one of the days that Cid was in his office. She wanted to talk to him about maybe getting a detail with her brother or Buddy or being sent out to salvage with Nhadla. Anything, as long as she knew the person she would be working with.

As she approached the lopsided building made of other bits of salvaged machina, Rikku tensed up at a familiar voice she heard. A voice speaking in Al Bhed, loudly and proudly; a self-confident, egocentric sounding voice. Rikku cursed under her breath and quickened her pace. If he was on Bikanel Island, something must be up. Rikku was almost jogging when she pushed through the thick curtain into the office of the Al Bhed leader himself. In the sudden semi-darkness, the blonde girl was temporarily blinded, but Cid and his guest were not. They greeted her simultaneously and then went straight back to glaring at each other. "Rikku! Good timin'!" "Hey Cid's girl!" Cid's twangy accent was easy to discern and Rikku almost puked when she finally made out the face of the other man. Gippal. He was wearing a self-satisfied smirk and staring her bald father down. Cid was not as comfortable as he should have been in his own office. Rikku wanted nothing more than to sit down, but knew she should probably hear what they were talking about. Especially if it had to do with her.

"What is going on? What are YOU doing here?" Gippal turned his one-eyed gaze on her and fake frowned, that mocking laughter still dancing in his eyes. "Why the harsh tone, little one? Why don't you ask your wonderful father why I'm here." Rikku whirled on her father who flinched and rubbed one hand over his shiny head before settling into his chair slowly. Rikku was growing impatient and stepped closer to her father's messy desk. "Father!" She screeched, distantly registering how awful a sound that was. Cid glared at Gippal one more time before motioning for her to sit down. "Rikku," He began, looking more tired and old than she had ever seen him look. "When you were really young, just a baby, we drew up a contract. Me and Gippal's father. That contract was that if by the time you were eighteen no other man had married ya, you would have to marry Gippal. It was a way of making sure two of the purest bred Al Bhed families stayed pure. After Gippal's parents died, I kinda forgot about it.." Rikku was too stunned to speak, but she could feel her hot tears rushing into her eyes. As Cid trailed off, she bit back a sob and turned to stare at Gippal, her virtual fiancé.

He shrugged and continued for her father. "That's right. We're gonna get married if you don't get hitched between now and next week. Better get used to me, my girl." As he said this, he trailed his fingers down her cheek and would have stroked her collarbone if Cid had not stood up with a roar. Gippal laughed and backed out of the office. His mocking laughter echoed in Rikku's ears as she tried to grasp what was going on. She was in an arranged marriage situation with Gippal, her childhood-best-friend-turned-arch nemesis-since-puberty. If she couldn't get someone else to speak for her before next week, that is. Well, that ship had sailed! There was no one she was even attracted to that she could think of to pretend to be engaged to her long enough to escape marriage with Gippal. Her thoughts reeling, she barely heard her father's question. "Do you hate me now?" He sounded hurt and scared, his deep green eyes shining strangely. Rikku blinked at him and burst into tears, throwing herself around the desk at him.

She clung to him and cried like she had so many times when she was little. "Daddy, daddy don't make me marry him! He's such a womanizing jerk prick asshole!" She begged and pleaded and sobbed until finally the tears subsided and she laid her head against her father's shoulder. He was humming the Hymn of the Fayth, rocking her back and forth gently, like she really was his little girl again. When he was sure she wasn't going to cry again, he gently explained why he couldn't just let her walk away from this situation. "It is a matter of honor, daughter. Make me proud." And Rikku knew that was the last Cid would speak of it. Anything to do with honor in the Al Bhed society was something you had to do no matter what. Cid ruled with a system of honor and self-discipline. That's the way all the Al Bhed functioned. Plus, no matter how independent Al Bhed women were, this matter of arranged marriage was the one thing they couldn't get out of. It was utterly hopeless, but at least Rikku knew she wouldn't be alone forever.

"…people of Spira need one leader who will carry the torch of unity into the future. It is imperative that we come up with a system for electing such a leader at the Unity Council. Baralai, do you and your advisors have any suggestions?" Yuna's gentle voice rang out and echoed softly in the halls of the temple of Bevelle. Tidus was sitting next to her at one of the thousands of meetings they had with officials in Bevelle, Djose, Luca, and Besaid. He had heard all this before and he knew what was coming next. He mouthed Baralai's smooth answer just as the praetor uttered it. "Lady Yuna, I mean, Yuna. I believe the people of Spira would be happy to unite under you. Your efforts have saved them all more than once now." Tidus rolled his blue eyes and crossed his arms, settling farther back on his chair. Yuna laughed in response, and continued talking, demurely dodging any real response to that statement. Tidus wasn't listening at all, but he let his eyes wander around the large table in the wide open meeting hall of Bevelle.

Most of the priests, monks, and warrior monks that were seated around the table Tidus swore he had battled once or twice. Judging by the way they were all glaring at him, he was almost positive he had won. Then Tidus' eyes fell on Baralai, the praetor of New Yevon. He had met the praetor before, along with that Nooj guy and that Al Bhed jerk Gippal. They were Paine's friends from way back in the day and they had helped Yuna and the others out a lot. But, he still didn't like him. There was something underhanded about the way Baralai went about things. Tidus guessed it was just because of his lingering hatred for all things to do with Yevon. The whole religion was a shame, after all. A means of perpetuating Yu Yevon's power of the people of Spira. It was twisted. Tidus, caught up in his thoughts, didn't realize he was glaring at the silver haired praetor until the man fixed his warm amber gaze on the blitzer. "Tidus, did something I said offend you?"

Even his soft voice made Tidus' pride prickle and want to challenge him to a physical duel. He jumped in his seat when he realized that Baralai had spoken to him. He began muttering and mumbling something about apologies and Yuna shot him a dirty look. He excused himself and hurried out of the room. As soon as he exited, he sighed loudly in relief and hurried down the hallway and out of the temple altogether. Tidus went to the edge of the balcony and looked down on the city of Bevelle. It was a really grand city that was just as ancient as Zanarkand, he had learned from Yuna few visits ago. Bevelle had been at war with the real Zanarkand over 1,000 years ago. Tidus leaned against the railing, letting his body fall limp against it. What was he doing? Following Yuna around like a puppy and making her look bad at all these important meetings. He missed fighting fiends and playing blitzball. He missed traveling with all their friends and being involved in something worthwhile. Uniting Spira was important, but Tidus felt like a figurehead in the whole thing. He didn't have any logical input, but Yuna brought him because he was one of her legendary guardians; the man from ancient Zanarkand who the fayth brought back to life for Yuna.

Tidus rolled his eyes and sighed again, standing up straight and turning around to lean against his back. He didn't want to think about how used he felt trailing Yuna around like he was. Used. His thoughts immediately shot to Rikku and her teary tirade that night in Besaid. She said he was using her, that all of their almost-relationship must've been an act since he was so at odds about it now. He wanted to go back in time and explain to her that he had no idea about his feelings. He cared about both Yuna and Rikku, but he didn't know if it was love. For either of them. Tidus had already admitted to himself that he was wrong to carry on such a physical relationship with someone as young as Rikku. He had been her first and girls always remain attached longer than their hearts need to be attached. But, he missed her. He missed her sparkling green eyes, her fly-away blonde hair, her carefree attitude, her sassy walk, her melodic laughter. Overcome by some strong emotion, Tidus closed his eyes and leaned his head back. He heard the doors of the temple open, but didn't react. He wanted to linger in his thoughts of Rikku a little bit longer. At least he felt safe and wanted within his memories of her.

AN: Whoa! Deep thoughts there, Tiddles! And an arranged marriage for Rikku??? What will happen next??? Will Rikku find someone to take her hand away from Gippal before her eighteenth birthday? Will she accept her fate as Gippal's wife? Will Yuna keep dragging poor Tidus around with her? And what about THEIR lukewarm romance??? KEEP READING AND REVIEWING AND MAYBE YOU'LL FIND OUT