A/N: this chapter focuses on… I'd say character development and story progression more than actual combat, let me know what you guys think so far, I'm starting to outline the pairings a bit…ish
They started slowly, of course, explaining everything that Hojo told them despite his energetic – if not hyper attitude he absorbed the blunt of the information. Sighing to himself he settled in pace in front of the elegant wagon, completely disregarding the person inside, not even fifteen minutes away from where they began they reached what could be summarized as a checkpoint with a blonde man standing there.
"Ah, Gippal didn't think we'd run into this early" Terra looked rather beside himself with annoyance already feeling his head ache getting worse
"Well, of course, I have'ta be early for lady Garnet, and – oh who do we have here?" He made his way towards Rikku and Sora instantly got protective
"Back, away from her, now!" Sora warned Tidus looked confused
"Dude, he's on our side what's up with the hostility?" Sora hesitantly looked at him
"Just…after last time I – it's kind of on instinct" Sora reasoned his eyes wavering in resolve under the blond man's gaze
"All I was gonna do was tell this girl, how beautiful she looks" Gippal smirked and Sora readily copped out
"S-Sora, what are you doing?" Rikku shouted furiously turning red
"Not my area of expertise, I'm out" Sora said off-handedly
He heard a giggle, and assumed it to be the woman in behind him in the carriage and felt a little…vulnerable under her gaze, he couldn't see her but it was possible she could see them – him.
Terra quickly broke the awkward situation with a simple cough and Gippal finally perked up looking at his superior – he'd figured he'd only tear his eyes away from the girl before him if it was absolutely important, he gathered it'd be best to chalk this up as important; Terra could be a pain and would literally beat the tan off of him, and he wasn't okay with that, he'd be dead. Not literally mind you, but this new kid looked like he could pass as Terra's kid brother and if that was any indication of how screwed he was if he messed up wasn't very… favorable.
He was pointing this out in his mind for two reasons, one Terra was too serious on the job and would only relax around Aqua, because he liked her, and he would reprimand him if he was goofing off, as to why He considered the younger brunette like a twin of his commander – both had tan skin and blue eyes, and both got pissed way too easily you do the damn math. It meant he had to show a bit of decorum especially since her ladyship was here.
"Now, why are you early…that's so….unlike you." Terra looked at him curiously
"We're actually doing something that I actually care about, protecting pretty ladies, like this one here" He gestured towards Rikku who let her palm hit her forehead he smiled
"That and I had to make sure you followed our time old rule I know you know, but you know…upper management" Gippal looked towards his superior officer then towards the girls
"Ah, right, ladies, if you would, step into the carriage, you will no longer be forced to walk on land that is must un-befitting of a woman as elegant as all of you are" He was suave, Terra's demeanor changed so easily it was like a switch without even putting up a fight they got into the carriage alongside the princess.
"Uh, so, why don't they have to walk?" Tidus looked peeved
"Our kingdom is all about female empowerment, seeing as the king is no longer with us and the ruler is a woman, and the counsel is made up of women it was made clear men were to become sub-servant to women"
"So.. Where does that leave us?" Sora asked, dreading the answer
"Walking, walking all the way there, sleeping in a cave or barn or in mud and walking all the way back" Sora felt the need to protest to his friend
"….Tidus, I think it best we ditch" Sora said elegantly even for him it was…off
"You too, looking like the best idea, those girls will get treated like goddesses and will get royally boned, I'm totally up for ditching" Tidus responded with an equally elegant tone
"You do realize, if you do such a thing, will fail you, and kill you, right?" Gippal looked at the two with a serious gaze
"You know… the messed up part, I know you're serious, and this still sounds like a better alternative" Sora spat out almost sarcastically almost
"Just get a move on, even if you do try to leave, the only ones who'll die will be you two, so no skin off my bones, but we could use the extra man power so get in gear," Terra commanded and the carriage made movement the four making a square parameter around the carriage.
"I can already tell, I'm going to hate this more than I hate hearing my mother's late night terrors" Sora quipped
"Wh-What?" Tidus had the audacity to ask
Sora put his hand under his chin "Well, I only saw it once my mother was screaming and moaning my dad's name and flailing about and my dad was on top of her whispering things in her ear. My guess trying to calm her down, it used to happen almost constantly and even during the day." He paused, everyone listening intently "What I don't get is why both of them have to get naked for it, dad says it's cause mom gets all hot and sweaty during her flailing so he removes his clothes so he doesn't burn up himself…but I think it's getting worse cause all I've been hearing now is screams and yes every time this happens now, before it wasn't as loud, dad said I've gotten old enough so he doesn't have to hold back on trying to get moms terrors under control and she's been happy and limpy a lot" Tidus literally wanted to slam his head against something for his friends stupidity, but stopped himself feeling more pity than he should.
"Dude, your mom doesn't have night terrors" Gippal tried stifling his laughter
"But, what else could they be doing that lasts more than half the night?" Sora questioned Terra… to say the least felt bad for the sheltered kid.
"Kid, your parents have been screwing each other left and right and fibbed so you wouldn't come in and interrupt them" Gippal laughed and Terra sighed
"…Tidus" He looked to his friend that curious glint in his eyes
"How…do you screw another person?" He cocked his head off to the side in curiosity
"Oh… damn it is that death offer still on the table?" Tidus groaned out
"This is a much better fate for you than death, and believe me, we intend to watch you squirm" Gippal smirked and Terra just picked up his pace ever so slightly
Inside the carriage the girls sat around in a square talking about simple things what the kingdom was like, what the festival would be like, but the one question eluded them until Yuffie decided to ask it
"So, besides the whole… not walking thing why are you, well hidden by all of these curtains and veils?" Yuffie asked nonchalantly
Garnet squirmed under the question but looked up to meet her gaze nervously
"Ladies of royal or holy decent, even rich women aren't allowed to meet gazes with an impure man only the man they are pre-destined to marry, are allowed to be the first person to meet their gaze, after that it's okay." She smiled nervously
"It's a tradition, that the first man you lock eyes with will be the man you marry" She finished and the trio looked uncomfortable
"Two things, One; what if you like locked eyes with your dad by mistake? And two-"Yuna took over
"-Does this apply to outsiders?" She finished for her friend Garnet giggled softly
"Oh, no nothing like that has happened, women rule our kingdom so once the men have fulfilled their duty they are only allowed within the living quarters of a separate estate so something like that doesn't occur. As for the woman of the house - she may enter at her leisure, if she so wishes, and we are normally married on accident or married off to people by picture" She paused then gazed downwards "No time to get to know the person, never having a father figure around to spend time with, no time to fall in love like those novels, just look at this person does he appeal to you? Here is a list of his likes and dislikes and pros and cons, No? Then will just have to find you a suitor" Garnet gripped a bit upset Yuffie and Rikku felt empathy for having a father but losing him all too soon and eyes quickly shot downcast, Yuna noticing the downward spiral of the conversation spoke up.
"So, even if you perchance meet a gaze with a random man you must be forced to marry them, no matter what?" Yuna fidgeted a bit with the hem of her skirt in nervousness
"Well, yes, but, I'm normally surrounded by women, if I were to go outside of the compound I've got a veil over my face, so I can see others only so well, so that protects me from seeing men so I don't end up engaged to every man in the city, but it hasn't stopped anyone from trying" She closed her eyes in thought Yuna sighed in relief
"What do you mean?" Yuffie asked leaning in a bit closer now completely intrigued by the story
"Well, one man tried to look at me when I was just a baby, one tried sneaking up on me in my sleep, and another in the bath, all times I can remember were so scary, that's why my mother forced me to wear a veil even inside the compound, because men would sneak in trying to look at me, so they could become king and change the way things are run" Garnet sighed
"That's so…disturbing, but I mean for the most part that society sounds…like a dream land" Rikku giggled "Love at first sight and being in control over a man sounds like a wondrous way of life" The girls looked at her
"A wondrous way of life…huh" Yuffie repeated with her own curiosity to the words
"So, what are the other two of your group like?" Garnet asked turning to each girl
"Well" Yuna started
"The one to the bottom left, is Tidus, and he's a fun, energetic guy, who likes playing blitzball, he's sweet" She smiled elegantly at her own words "He's sarcastic and playful but he means well and he's not afraid to speak his mind or hold back if he feels what he's doing is right or wants to do" Yuna finished a rosy blush on her face
"We get it you love Tidus, as if that's big news" Yuffie waved her off and Yuna shot up quickly teary eyed
"S-Shush, I don't want him to find out!" Yuna closed her eyes in embarrassment
"Ah, falling in love, that must be nice" Garnet looked to the brunette with a look in her eye that she associated with envy, but it wasn't envy over the person obviously
"What about the other one?" She asked, this cause all of the girls to perk up and smile a bit
"The one at the top right, Sora, he's…sheltered" Yuffie started looking a way with a smirk
"But, he's kind, a bit air-headed but he's willing to go out of his way for anyone" Rikku added in smiling
"He's really sweet, he'll put his life on the line for you in a second, as he did only days ago for me" Yuna looked away a bit "He's a great person, if you could meet any men those two are about the cream of the crop in our area" Yuna finished
"Ah, well maybe it wouldn't hurt, to meet this Sora person," Garnet smiled to herself
"He's a great person to meet, but, I wouldn't recommend him being the first guy you wanna look at, he'd go too far and end up pushing himself to the limit for you" Yuffie looked rather disgusted at her own words
"That and he's not all that bright, you'd have to explain things to him a bit more than you should, especially things of an intimate nature, he's totally slow in that, isn't he, Yunie?!" Rikku smirked at her blush
"Oh, I'm curious, what's that all about?" Garnet smiled a bit at Yuna's uneasiness
"Sora and Yuna have kissed, twice" Rikku nonchalantly said to Yuffie's surprise
"Again? Really you may as well date him if you intend to keep kissing him!" Yuffie huffed
"You've kissed, but you aren't together?" Garnet asked curious
"Well, the first time, was an accident, Sora is…accident prone to a degree" Yuffie shot in
"And the second time, she was just trying to confirm her uneasiness around him, I mean – I didn't help by doing that myself, but he's a little…dense about those things, but Yunie's got her heart set on Tidus," Rikku giggled at Yuna's nervousness
"What about you, don't you like him, Sora I mean?" Garnet was a bit more curious than they expected her to be
"He's…way too dense for me if he didn't get what the kisses were about, couldn't do it" Rikku sighed sitting back against the carriage
"I'd, really like to meet them…" She smiled softly
"You will Garnet, don't worry, they'll be excited to meet you!" Yuna smiled happily.
Outside, Sora finally came to a realization
"So, wait, Terra" The man looked to him
"Didn't you…teach my swordsmanship class?" He asked
"…You know I assumed you didn't even recognize me, yes, I did, myself and Aqua come on down to your town to teach as an odd job for extra money if needed," Terra crossed his arms and kept his eyes forward
"So… does she get terrors too?" Terra tripped over himself
All too soon after his question was asked, did Sora feel the hairs at on his neck stand in alert he glared a bit looking behind him he turned in time to see a masked man in what looked like ninja attire he made for a strike that Sora guarded against easily pushing him back and using his momentum to propel himself into the air and bring his blade down in a heel kick like fashion sending the man flying, more men came out of the woodwork and the carriage came to a halt.
"What's going on, what happened?!" Yuffie asked
"Stay indoors milady you are female and are traveling with us, you come out they'll take your customs as ours and force you into something you don't want to be a part of, leave this to us!"
"So, that's why" Rikku reasoned She heard more men fall near Tidus, and Terra made quick work of his opponents with his overwhelming strength, Gippal made sure none got near him with his assault blade – any that for some reason did met his weapons sharp end the ninja's slowly backed back into the trees they came from.
"Hold fast in fear, the tri-factor are after you!" One ninja shouted before vanishing
"Sora" Tidus came up to the brunette
"Yeah, Tidus" He looked towards his blonde counterpart
"I already want to go ahead and chalk this up as the worst mission ever," Tidus sighed
"Could be worse" Sora said softly
"How, seriously how" Tidus shot back
"Well for one none of us got stabbed and two, we don't have to deal with Squall" Sora huffed
"Well, don't I feel like a jackass" Tidus said offhandedly to himself
"As you should, although I'll give this one a maybe will have to see how this continues"
"Oh, hey, two more things I forgot to mention" Gippal commented the boys looked up
"When we get into town don't look a single girl in the eye, you do, you're engaged to them with no real way out two, we've gotta cross a mountain gorge where the boss of those bastards lie in wait. The long way around is an extra thee day trip so will be taking those guys out, and some of them have transformed into ninja-shadow walkers." Gippal said off handedly
"Chalking this up as a definitely?" Tidus muttered standing next to his brunette friend both looking into the older man's eyes
"This is more of a No shit type of situation isn't it?" Sora suggested
"Yeah… I'd say so" He responded
"Then I'd chalk this up as yes with an added, I'd rather still be paralyzed and in the hospital with nurses giving me jello" Sora looked off towards the trees in regret
"…Dude screw this that sounds just so much better" Tidus added in
"God, those girls are going to take his virginity before he even knows what they're doing to him" Terra sighed
"…What's virginity and how would I go about hiding it from these girls?" Sora asked aloud they quickly realized just how sheltered he was
Well Tidus and Gippal did "How stupid are you?!" Terra paused for a second looking at the younger brunette before continuing
"No, better question how are you even able to function or even live with that lack of knowledge, I think even lady Garnet knows more than you and she's never seen a man before!" Gippal gripped his temples harder at each word
"Oh, we never did say hi to her, did we?" Sora asked rhetorically dismissing the rant
"Don't bother, you can't right now, when we stop and rest, maybe then but not now, if her eyes lock onto yours, you'll be engaged to the most powerful sixteen year old girl for miles" Terra chided
"What do you mean is she royalty or something?" Sora asked, Terra really wished he'd learn not to ask questions every three seconds
"Yes, she's the princess of our country, and you'd best keep yourself from trying to stare at her" Terra glared
"So," Tidus began breaking the tension "Who's going into the gorge first?" He finished
They all looked at each other and Terra and Gippal were the firsts to say not it followed by Tidus, Sora pouted
"Oh, c'mon Tidus, you go this time!" Sora whined
"Uh, no we beat you to it, you go in" Tidus said off-handedly
"C'mon, please, I'll go next time, I promise!" Sora begged
"What's it matter, you'll be fine, like last time" Tidus added in
"I was stabbed through the gut last time" Sora deadpanned
"Exactly, and look how that turned out, now go get em" Tidus encouraged with a smile
"Tidus, just remember, "He reluctantly started walking
"When you're on the ground with a sword spear or hell even a giant freaking rock in your gut, and you beg me to help you, think back to this moment." Sora stalked off till they couldn't see him anymore
"So…do we wait like five minutes and go after him or…" Tidus looked over to see the two men sitting down and opening a sack and taking out jerky while they sat horses began sitting down resting a bit
"We…We aren't going after him are we?"
"Noooooo" both men said aloud
"…Awesome" Tidus said sarcastically
"Just, a great way to end the day"
Then it donned on him
"Hey, Yuna!" Tidus called looking off to the side as if it helped his voice carry
"Yes, Tidus?" She called back
"Kay, well, we just fought earlier and Sora didn't really move all that much, but if he were to say go all out and try and fight a possible army of ninjas?" Tidus called back his hypothetical
"Well if he goes too far and stresses himself it'll…cause him to go into septic shock which means his bowels will release due to the stress of not using his legs for that long because of intense muscle atrophy," Yuna recited as if it was common knowledge
The group stood in silence
"As messed up as this sounds I'd kill to see that, even knowing he's…yeah he's going to stab me later" Tidus paled
"Maybe he'll make them laugh to death…or the smell will kill them – wait did you guys not warn him about atrophy when did he recently recover the use of his legs?" Terra asked
"…An hour ago, he woke up…about a week ago?" Tidus responded
"You're a terrible human being, you know that?" Gippal added in
"…I know…" Tidus groaned
A/N: I tried adding a bit more humor this chapter and I feel I did better with character development? Comments? Reviews? No? Oh well whatever I'll keep updating anyway!
(OH side note, I know I'm probably wrong about the atrophy thing but you know what. It's for giggles.
