Sphere Three: Returning Home

I awoke to the sounds of howling winds. We had already touched down it seemed. I sat up and Rikku was standing over me. I laughed and she smiled that big grin she always seemed to wear on her face, as if nothing ever got to her. She sat down on the bed and she laughed.

"Finally awake eh? I would say good morning but it's almost noon. I guess you have pretty poor tolerance, just like Yunie."

I groaned and I forced myself out of bed. I didn't feel so bad, just dizzy. It had been a long time since I was on an airship. The feeling of speeding through the air at high speed was such a rush. Rikku called back to me as I started down the stairs.

"Meet me on the overhead deck in ten minutes. I have something to show you first."

I turned and I nodded at her before I walked down the stairs. The Hypello bartender already had a hearty breakfast laid out for me. I turned my attention to the food and I ate quickly. It was very filling, so much in fact I could not finish it all. I pushed my food aside and I made my way to the elevator. As I stepped inside a single thought ran through my mind. What did Rikku want to show me in the Sanubia Desert? As I stepped out onto the deck I saw what she wanted to show to me. Flocks of Zuu were ravaging an al Bhed caravan. She turned to face me and I opened my mouth to speak. She spoke before I could though.

"It's Zuu mating season. Every year we get a particularly nasty visitor. The King Zuu. He's one nasty fiend. You probably already saw him. He's the biggest one, with the white crest. We've always been able to drive him away, but no one can defeat it. That's where I had hoped you could come in, Tidus. Will you help me take it out?"

I smiled at her and I nodded.

"Do you even have to ask? All I've ever been good at was Blitz and being a guardian. How much stronger is he than the others?"

Rikku smiled at me and she ran inside the elevator. It took me about three seconds to realize why she had done so. A sandstorm was starting up. I turned on my heel and made a mad dash for the elevator. I heard a shrill cry from above and I instinctively reached for the handle of my sword. As I drew it, something blocked out the sun. I looked up, only to see the cursed beast above me. Rikku saw that I was under attack, but it wasn't until later that I realized she had joined the battle. I was too focused on staying alive. I quickly switched my Brotherhood for my Nightmare sword and I stabbed the beast in the eye. The Nightmare was an enchanted sword that put the foe to sleep. The King Zuu reeled backwards and it let its large head droop slightly. I took my chance and I rushed forward and delivered a series of eight slashes, ending with a flip slash. Rikku knew what I was doing it seems. She had already got a blitzball ready for me. I thrust my sword into the ship and she threw the ball. I connected a Sphere Shot and sent it into the King Zuu. It fell from the top of the airship and exploded into a shower of pyreflies. I redrew my sword and I sighed. I dropped to my knees and felt like passing out. Rikku knelt down beside me and she forced a potion to my mouth. I drank it and I smiled at her warmly.

"Thanks. It has been a long time since I've done that. I overdid it, it seems."

She threw the bottle aside and she helped me to my feet.

"Now that the Zuu are taken care of, the two of us can start our digging. We're supposed to be looking for a very powerful machina, but I don't know what kind. It could very well end up being another Vegnagun. That would be the last thing we need, especially since we just beat that cursed machine. Anyway, let's go look for it. You remember where Home used to be right?"

I nodded and I forced myself to stand. I picked the Brotherhood up out of the steel hull of the ship and I placed it on my back where it belonged. We weren't really high up, so I took a running leap and I landed on the sand below. Rikku followed right after me and I stood up. She giggled softly and I smiled at her.

"It'll just be the two of us here for a week. Hope you don't mind being stuck with me!"

I shook my head and I laughed.

"If I minded, I wouldn't have come along. I needed to get away from it all."

Her mood and her facial expression suddenly turned serious.

"What happened between you and Yunie?"

I shook my head and I sighed. I didn't really want to talk about this right now.

"Its been two years. I just need time to readjust, that's all."

She moved closer to me and she looked me in the eyes.

"So you have no feelings left for her at all? So, say if someone else caught your eye, you'd be free to do so?"

I didn't know why she was asking me these questions at this time, but looking back, it wasn't hard to see why. All I could do at the time was nod. She smiled brightly at me and she turned away. I sighed and she started to run.

"Come on! Home is just across the desert. And watch out for the Cactuars! They've gotten more aggressive and attack without warning."

I started to run after her and after I had caught up with her we slowed our pace through the desert. We talked about Yuna more. Her smile seemed to grow bigger the more we talked. We walked for quite a time talking, but one question burned in my mind. Why was she asking me all of this? I decided to ask her.

"Why are you so interested in me and Yuna?"

She looked at me with a smile and she stuck her tongue out at me. I should have known better… I thought to myself. I thought she wasn't going to answer, but she did. She didn't answer my question directly though.

"I know why. Two years of not seeing someone can make the feeling of love seem hazy and distant. It was the same with me and Gippal. When he joined the Crimson Squad, he left me behind. I loved him, I really did. He was the only man I ever loved, until about two years ago. He's only a year older than I am. He wasn't gone long; I mean he even brought me gifts back when he returned. But the feelings I had for him were gone. He had changed to add fuel to the fire. Now he's head of the Machine Faction. And now the one I love is hung up on the past…"

She said and I was going to ask her who she was referring to. I knew better though. Instead I moved closer to her and I put my arm around her tenderly. She looked up at me and she hugged me.

"Promise me you won't ever leave again. Promise me."

I rested my hands around her back and I could feel a red blush cross my cheeks as my hands cupped her bare back.

"I promise."

She pulled away and she smiled.

"We're here. Time to dig."

I nodded and I smiled at her.

"Go time then."

END OF SPHERE THREE