Disclaimer: Do not own.
Holy Metal Batman: Well Auron is going to be a ghost forever and ever, or until Rikku dies, because well he loves her. Isn't that sweet? And in other news: Nooj joined the little resistance. Why? Because this story needed more than one man. Also: Mysterious character alert!
A/N: I finally have the end for this story plotted out; I have been thinking about if for a while and finally came to a decision. So I'm going to warn you now, someone dies and some one disappear. I am however not telling you who. If that makes you mad, I'm sorry. But that's the way it is.
Chapter 10The ramp to the ship was let down and Paine could only stare, also Rikku seemed pleasantly happy. She was smiling widely her face hiding nothing. Rikku was the first to react throwing herself into her half-brother's arms. They hugged for a while and then Rikku looked up the ramp to see Yuna, who was smiling genuinely. Yuna didn't know her cousin all that well, and had only met him once, but in the time she had spent with him in the airship, she had grown to care for him. He pulled back from Rikku and when he caught sight of Nooj and Paine his eyes darkened. He pulled back from Rikku, "So it's that bad huh?"
Paine smirked, "Welcome back Gippal."
Shock etched over Rikku's features and she looked back and forth between the trio that was standing before them. She knew her brother had been busy but not this type of busy. He had told her that he was working on a project to help make all Al Bhed's equal, but she didn't know that it was with these people. She took a step back, "Wait, you all know each other?"
Nooj quirked an eye brow, "You didn't tell them."
Paine took this time to stare at Nooj her eyes boring into his, "No I didn't tell them. I have a new mission now."
Somehow Gippal found this hilarious, "You have a new mission?"
Giving Gippal the same pointed look that she had given Nooj she spoke, "Yes, I'm Yuna's guardian. And I'm going to say that way."
Smiling at Paine Rikku nodded, "That's our job. To protect her."
Yuna looked at Rikku and found that in the hour that she had been gone off getting her Aeon Rikku had grown, her eyes held an indescribable strength, but they also held a sadness that seemed to go on, and on as if she had done something terrible. And Yuna had a sinking feeling that Auron had something to do with it. Pulling her eyes away from her cousin she looked at the group that was assembled outside the airship, "Why don't we take this inside. Then Paine can explain just what's going on."
"Yes, please. You're letting in a god awful draft." This was from Lulu had some how appeared out of nowhere, as per usual.
Looking up Nooj saw for the first time in his life, a dark woman. She seemed silhouetted by darkness and silhouetted in pain. As if it was all she knew, and he knew that somehow, they were kindred spirits, both deathseakers, it lasted only seconds but it left an imprint in his brain. Lulu on the other hand didn't see him at all, after her conversation with Wakka in the tunnels she was spent, and only wanted to rest. To sleep for a long, long time.
She disappeared and wasn't in the control room where everyone else was. Yuna sat down and looked back to Paine, "I don't want to demand an explanation, but I fell I must and do deserve one. Like I said, I'm tired of games. Anyone who doesn't feel like doing this can leave, if it's you do it now. If not, things are going to change, I hate to do this, but things are going to start speeding up here. Tidus doesn't have much time. I can feel it, there's a window of time in about a week and I'm going to use it."
Everyone understood, every one was tired; every one wanted this to end. Paine nodded, "It might take a while, but here it is."
"I sat up, my mind was spinning. The Ground beneath me seemed to spin and I clutched my head. It took me a while to gain my senses but the second I did I knew that this wasn't inside "father". This place was strange. I heard voices and blinked twice, I was inside an alleyway that was clear. The voices were hushed, "Do you think that she's awake?"
I glanced up and my heart speed up, a little boy in a purple robe and a lady in a pale blue dress were staring down at me. The only problem was that they were floating. And not just floating, but glowing as well. I had heard rumors of these things from the souls the kept me company inside "father", they had told me that these people were good people. "Father" had told me that they were lying but now that they were in front of me, I knew that the spirits had been right.
Which only meant that "father" was lying. When I had asked him years ago about who my mother was he said I didn't have one, that he was both my mother and my father. I didn't understand what he meant then, I do now. The one in the blue robe spoke, "I think she's coming to."
I knew I was past that stage and started up into the face of a woman with deep brown eyes, and dark brown hair, he spoke back to her, "So, are you awake?"
I looked up at him, "I'm looking at you aren't I?"
The woman laughed, "She takes after her father."
The boy's face became serious, "I hope not."
Smiling the woman looked down at me, "What's your name?"
"I don't know… they called me Paine once I think."
I could tell that she was trying to get used to that, not many people I've met have like my name. They always think I'm dangerous or something because of it. Any way she looked at the boy, "That's kind of vulgar isn't it? Maybe a different name…"
A change of topic was what was needed, "And you're name? What's your name?"
"Those who used me, they called me Anima, but I would rather you called me Aniaca, And this," she pointed at the boy, "Is Bahamut, he prefers however if you call him Braham. His given name."
"And you are?"
"We are the fayth. And for now, we are your guardians."
Finally I stood up and looked back and forth between them. They didn't look like they wanted to kill me, but where I came from, you never knew. "Father" had warned me not to trust them. That they were dirty, and tying to get rid of him. But I didn't blame them, "father" wasn't the greatest guy in the world. I loved him, he had made me, created me, but he wasn't a nice guy. Although I didn't think he was really in control of his actions, not really. In fact, he was down right evil. But that didn't mean I didn't like him, "I don't need guardians."
It was then that the woman laughed, "Yes you do. You're to live in Bevelle, with Braham. At that put out her hand and light seemed to gather in it, and it formed a sword, "This is Belief. The sword of the fayth and our gift to you. Don't lose it, there will come a time when you know what to do."
Reaching out my hand I grasped the sword and when I did I felt a strength that my "father" could never give me. And I knew, at that point, that by accepting that sword that my "father" had become my enemy. He was not friends with the fayth.
My sword disappeared and I looked back up at Aniaca, "Let's go."
At that time I knew my life was changed forever.
Days latter I was visited by Shiva, whose name, unlike the other's was still the same. It was she who explained to me who I was, and what I was. I didn't know what a Sin spawn was, but when she was done I knew, I knew every thing.
The knock at the door startled me from the book she was reading. I put the book down and walked over to the door. What greeted me was a young woman, she was dressed in the garb of the Bevellian preist. But I knew that only I could see her. I let her in and she sat down in one of the chairs, "It's good to finally meet you. After all Braham told me about you, and the progress you're making."
"Did he? And what did Aniaca say?"
She leaned back a cheerless expression on her face, "Nothing. Aniaca is now a slave."
I blinked, this was news to me, "What happened?"
"Her son finally got wise to her. He captured her and now is controlling her spirit. We're working on it, but I don't think she will be free for a long time."
"Oh."
I was shocked, controlled? From what I had seen, the fayth were all powerful, but for some one to actually control one, to use it as a tool scared me, "I know, we didn't see it either, but her son seems determined to have his revenge on the world that shunned him," Shiva closed her eyes, "She blames herself. Poor woman."
Not wanting to continue this conversation, not wanting to know what happened to her or how her son, who ever he was, was binding her and using her, I opted for a change of subject, "So why are you here?"
"To tell you what you are, Brahma would of come but he is busy trying to fix things and will tied up for quiet some time. I suggest you get used to me. I'm going to be here for a while."
Glad that she had accepted the fact that I wasn't comfortable talking about the capture of Aniaca I continued on, "So? What am I?"
"A Sin spawn. The only human Sin spawn. Which is why you're so special. I guess Sin was hoping that when you got down here you would work for him." She chuckled to herself, "Good thing we got to you first."
Although she didn't know it, I couldn't have agreed more. I didn't like my "father", a week down here had taught me that. My "father" was a terrible creature. He killed for no reason, he hurt for no reason, and the spirits that I had contract with were right. In one week I had gone from loving him no mater what, to having that what squashed as quick as a bug, "So what do I do exactly?" I wanted to get to the point and fast.
She smiled brilliantly, "You, as of now are the only person in this word who has a direct connection to Sin. And some of his powers are yours, if you choose to accept them."
I still felt like she was dragging, that something was wrong, and I continued to feel like I had to rush her. Yesterday, in the city market I had met with some less that savory people from the Yevon government. And I hadn't liked them, they had asked me questions, and now, I was rushing to finish this, and yet I had to know, "When will I know when to accept them?"
At that she smiled, "You'll know."
It took only a few seconds but I watched her face go from a calm exterior to worry, and then she glanced at the door and then at me, "What?"
"Run."
She shimmered and disappeared, and I was about to take her advice and slip out of my back door when the door to my house exploded into tiny pieces. At that point, he strode into my life for the first time. He was to be my captor in what was going to be the longest day of my life. He took out one of the pistols guards are given and pointed it at me, "You are under arrest. I should kill you now, but since you are human suspicion will arise from your death now."
I looked up at him, he was about my age, he had silver hair and wore a green cloak. It was, I realized, the man from the market. I had no choice to obey. He yanked me up and pushed me to the door. I didn't resist.
That night I found myself in the Bevellian underground prison, where they kept other monsters that were too dangerous to be let lose and too hard to kill. They threw me in the cell and appointed him, as my guard. I didn't mind really. I glanced at him, "You got a name?"
"It's Baralai."
I hung out of the bars and stared at him, "So why they'd chose you to guard me?" I tired my hand at nonchalance.
"Unlike the others, I am strong enough to defeat most of these things."
I hated the way he said the word thing, because I knew that I was one of those 'things' that he talked about. To him I didn't have feelings, and because I related to Sin I was instantly a threat, and instantly fodder, "You won't be able to keep me here. "Father" will come. He'll hear my call."
Baralai snorted and my hatred ran even deeper for this man, growing with it, every second was a hate for the government and every thing he stood for. I was angry. My eyes flashed, he noticed, "So your eyes change color when you're mad. Interesting, and no, Sin won't come, he may be the one who created you, but that's all he does, he creates and then leaves. No mercy."
By now I was shaking, angry at him and at the whole world. Angry at Sin, and at the people that didn't understand. A while after we talked we were visited, he was a tall man, he wore red and blue. His hair was the color of the sky, and some how with out knowing how, I knew who he was. I threw myself against the bars, "Let her go."
He turned to me, "Ah, the captive. So, you're his human spawn. And her? Who is this her you speak of? I keep none captured, I only work for Spiral and what's best for this place, your death, is one of those things."
I knew he was lying but I couldn't do anything. How could I? I was behind bars, he was not. He turned to Baralai, "I will be back tomorrow, Mika and Kinco might be to put upon to kill a human. I however am not."
He left, just as quickly as he came. However, that night while Baralai was sleeping I noticed a shimmering figured approaching my cell. He looked down at the sleeping for form of Baralai, "Sleeping. That's good."
He waved his hand and my jail cell popped open and I felt like running to thank him. But he stopped me, "We will meet again. Now is not the time."
There was a shift in the room and I found myself outside of the city of Bevelle, "So then? Now what?"
"Head to Mi'ihen. There you will meet a man named Nooj, a friend of mine has told him of your coming. He's operating a coop against the government. For now, he will be the one who watches you."
He shimmered and I watched him disappear, I smiled, "Thank you Brahma."
The trip to the rocky pass was hard, but I made it. When I got there however, all that greeted me were the bodies of the dead, and a failed experiment. That night, in the inn near that temple I grieved. For I knew who had done this, it was Sin. I could tell however that the event had taken place a few days ago. It was that day I first laid my eyes on the Summoner. She had been there during the tragedy and was helping with the clean up. But I knew she wasn't who I was looking for. That day both she and I went out different ways.
When I woke that morning a man was staring at me. I clutched my sheets up and glared at him. At that time I didn't know that he was going to be my new boss, for a few weeks anyway. Before my world would once again fall apart. I glared at him, "Leave now."
"I was told you had a temper."
"Temper or no. You are invading my room. Please leave."
The man got up and left and I quickly got up and changed. I met him back downstairs and he looked at me, "By now you must know who I am."
"Nooj correct?"
"Yes."
"I was sent here…."
He took no qualms about interrupting me and quickly did so, "Yes, you were sent here to work for me."
After that he didn't waist any time in giving me orders. And I was sent out to get all sorts of things. In this time I meet Gippal who also worked with Nooj, and days passed. Those days turned into a week and soon that week became three. And it was on that third week that he arrived, to spoil everything.
I was inside the temple when it happened. I heard noises outside and was quick to the door, however when I reached the door an invisible hand reached out and pulled me back in. I looked behind me and saw a man holding my arm, "Don't. If you go out that way, he'll get you."
"Who are you?"
"Ixion."
"How is it that you able to be here when Aniaca is not?"
He turned to me, "Follow me," as we ran through the tunnels he answered my question, "I chose to go and have free movement, she was captured and so she has none."
He continued to lead me through passages and we finally reached an outcropping. He directed me in the way to leave from the back of the temple and then I quickly ran. He told me not look back so I didn't. I knew that if any one survived they would not survive without scars.
It was weeks latter when I finally ran into the Summoner that I first seen at the temple and knew that this is what the fayth had prepared me for. I took up her offer and since then, well the rest is history."
Paine stopped her story and all Yuna could do was look at her, "Wow. I mean, no wonder you have the Yevon government so much."
"Yeah I do. I really do."
A puzzled looked crossed her face, "Where does Gippal fit into this then?"
This however Paine didn't know the answer to, Nooj did, "He as Paine mentioned, worked for me. He was gone the day that they attacked us and was spared from harm. He since then has been helping me complete my project, he also was the one who fixed my limbs."
That surprised Rikku, "Really? Why did you tell me Gippal?"
Gippal looked at Rikku, "You don't know him. It was pointless."
At this Yuna yawned and looked at those around her, "I'm going to bed. Tomorrow I'm going after another Aeon."
Finally after watching and listening painfully Auron spoke up, "I don't want you to, You're out of energy."
Yuna looked at Auron sadly, "It doesn't matter. I'm going to, I can't waist time any more."
With that she turned and left the rest of the group stunned. As she headed off to bed, and to another night of restless sleep.
A/N: This chapter was longer than my last which I really did see coming. But it was! So there it is, Paine's history, all laid out. From here on out things are going to get dark, really dark. So get ready for it. But don't worry there is a light at the end of the tunnel. R&R!