Hello all! Hope you like the story so far. Like I've been saying for a while, it's all AU from here, and there might be some OOC-ness (im the author damn it!) But so far so good. I don't have much for POV problems anymore, but maybe some grammar and/or spelling. Just let me know when you review. You are all reviewing, right? It makes me work harder, for the 2 update a day kind of days :)
Note-I own nothing except the clothes that I am wearing. Okay, not even the shirt I am wearing :p
Chapter 9: The Problem with Rikku Time
Rikku left the hotel quickly, sprinting down the street, following the music. She knew where it was at. A place called 'Escape the Night'. She had visited a couple of times, usually when she was in Luca with her pops or on her own. She was known there, the only guardian to frequent the place. And they knew how to party. She finally reached the place, and it was already packed. Just the way I like it, hehehe, she thought to herself.
She wove her way through the crowd, up to the bar. She ordered herself a drink, and the bartender instantly recognized her. The live DJ stopped playing at a request from the bartender. People looked around, confused that the music had stopped.
"Everybody. We have a special guest here with us tonight. So make sure you keep your hands to yourselves, or you will lose them!" the bartender yelled, and people still looked confused, but excited. There were very few people that all of Spira knew. Blitzers, and guardians. The bartender dragged Rikku off of her feet and pulled her up onto the bar. "We are graced with the presence of the one, the only, the Legendary Guardian Rikku!" The bartender yelled, and the crowd cheered. This happened all the time when she came, which was part of the reason she came. It was really respectful of a place, and was filled mostly with young people. They respected her for her position, and kept their hands to themselves.
"Let's Party!" Rikku yelled, and jumped from the bar. The DJ started to play his music, more upbeat than before. It really was going to be a doozy of a night. Rikku swayed to the music in the center of the floor, her body undulating to the beat like the most exotic of dancers, with her drink in hand. What would Lulu and Yuna think of me? She thought to herself, they would just shake their heads. I'm still allowed to have fun, I'm not getting married! And with that she let herself go.
She had paid for her first drink, but guys and girls alike bought her drinks the rest of the night. Almost too many for her to drink, actually. She didn't turn one person down, all night. Some guys asked to dance with her, and she did. It wasn't grinding though, like was usual in these kinds of places. Just dancing. And drinking.
Rikku always forgot how drunk she got, and how fast. She was so little, and weighed just less than a piece of grass. But she kept on drinking, and dancing. Hours passed, and the party went on. Luca threw amazing parties, and always had. Maybe it was because the church didn't have too much of an effect on the south, it affected more the North. Southern territory was Crusader territory. And the crusaders partied well.
Countless songs later, Rikku decided it was time to go home. Or to the hotel, rather. She walked up to the bar, and pulled out her gil.
"Miss Rikku, are you sure you need another drink?" the bartender asked of her, and Rikku shook her head fervently 'no', like any drunk person would. Rikku peeled 1,000 gil out of the wad she had brought with her, and handed it to the bartender. Probably a little excessive, as an afterthought.
"Oh no, you can't give me this!" the bartender exclaimed, and tried to give the money back. She gave it back, she handed it back discretely, she tried everything she could, but Rikku was adamant to give it to her. The crowd stopped dancing slowly, watching the bartender and Rikku squabble back and forth. The DJ even stopped playing. Rikku handed the money back a final time, with the bartender protesting. The bar was pretty quiet, and Rikku cleared her throat.
"Free drinks for all, till the money is gone!" Rikku yelled, and the partiers cheered. Rikku started her walk for the hotel, but it wasn't really a walk anymore. More like a stumble, and instead of walking straight to the hotel, she walked an extreme zig-zag line.
"Do you need help, Miss Rikku?" a young man she thought she recognized said. Kind of looks like a thin Wakka, she said to herself dreamily. Kind of, not really.
"No thanksh. I'm good," Rikku said loudly, and tried to twirl around to show her ability to get to the hotel. She had been walking for what seemed like forever, but she had just reached the edge of the people out in the street. Her twirl never seemed to end, with Rikku spinning uncontrollably towards the pavement. Strong arms encircled her, and caught her before she hit the ground.
"I shaid I wash good," Rikku said, sounding like a Hypello.
"Obviously," the dark, familiar voice said. The man picked her up like a child, and carried her towards the hotel.
"How did you knows where I wash goin?" Rikku mumbled, and the man smiled. Something so comforting, so familiar. Rikku reached up and grabbed the sunglasses the man wore.
"Nicesh glasshesh. Wait a minutesh. Auron?" Rikku said, and the man smiled. A big smile graced Rikku's drunken features, and then it all went black as she passed out.
"Rikku? Are you still living?" a voice said, pulling her out of her unconsciousness. Her eyes were crusted shut, and her throat hurt more than it did when she was sick. She tried to think where she was, and she must be back at the hotel. She remembered dancing and drinking, and something about arguing with the bartender, but she couldn't remember anything else besides that.
"Huh?" was all Rikku could say before her head began pounding and her gut twisted into a knot.
"Thank god. You are finally awake," the voice said, and Rikku finally got her eyes open. Yuna and Lulu were sitting with her, still in their bed clothes. They looked really tired too.
"Have fun last night?" Lulu said, and Rikku smiled weakly.
"Why does my throat hurt so bad?" Rikku said through her scratched voice.
"Because you have been throwing up all night, love," Lulu said quietly, and Rikku's face blushed, through her obvious agony.
"I don't remember anything," Rikku said, and tears filled her eyes.
"Oh it's okay Rikku! You got back safe, that's all that matters," Yuna muttered, rubbing her back. Rikku was laying in her bed, with Yuna sitting next to her. Lulu was sitting in the chair that was near her bed.
"Welcome to the world of hangovers," Lulu said, and smiled. She looked like she was thinking of the past, and she smiled deep.
"I feel like crap," Rikku said, trying to get up out of bed.
"Hey, you shouldn't do that," Yuna said, trying to hold her down. Rikku wriggled out of Yuna's hands, and stood on the floor. And at that precise moment, her world seemed to flip upside down. Her stomach flipped, and her head begged her to lay back down.
"Oh my…" Rikku said, gripping her mouth. She ran into the bathroom, shutting the door behind her. They could hear her retching out in the room, the two of them laughing quietly at their little's friends mishaps.
Tidus and Wakka were on their way to the blitzball stadium, to catch up on the good old days.
"Poor Rikku," Tidus said, and they both laughed. They had heard Rikku's retching at three in the morning, heard a knock on the door, and they felt their significant others get up and leave the room. They both went back to sleep, knowing that Rikku was well taken care of, even as they laughed to themselves.
They were both up bright and early, like usual, and checked in on how Rikku was doing. She was sleeping, but she looked like she had gotten stomped by a shoopuf, a couple of times.
"Wonder how she got back like that? Lu said something about Auron I think," Wakka said, reaching back and stretching. It was still pretty early in the morning.
"Yuna did too, I think. I don't really know anything though, just tried to go back to sleep after Yuna left," Tidus said, and repeated Wakka's actions.
"Same for me, ya. Hey, there's Bickson and Abus, spose we should actually talk to them, ya," Wakka said, and the two of them walked up to where the two blitzers stood.
Wakka and Tidus both walked around, catching up with the Goers, and the Fangs, and the other teams that were already in town all morning.
Rikku was again lying in her bed, feeling a little better. She still felt like crap, but Lulu and Yuna stayed by her.
"Sorry, I don't know what really happened," Rikku said. Talking to them kept her mind off her head and stomach. Her stomach felt good, for the most part, and the pounding in her head was better than this morning, at least.
"We have been up since three, watching over you," Yuna said, and Rikku's face flashed with fear.
"I was gone that long? I don't even remember how I got back to the hotel," Rikku said, hugging Yuna. She obviously felt bad, but friends were there to pull you back up after a night like that.
"You don't? Me and Lulu know, kind of surprised us," Yuna told her, and Rikku impatiently waited to find out who had helped her.
"Auron," was all that Lulu said, and smiled at Rikku. Rikku's face flashed a smile, but it was gone after the second it appeared.
"He was here?" Rikku squeaked, and they both nodded.
"Business, he said. Saw you trying to stumble in this direction, I guess. Picked you up and carried you here, and then knocked on our doors to come see to you," Lulu said, and Rikku just looked sad.
"He's gone again already? Oh I'm sorry both of you. I'll make it up to you, or maybe I already have," the mischievous tone in Rikku's voice left them stunned.
"If you weren't sick now, you wouldn't have a chance," was all Lulu said, and got up out of her chair. "But you won't be sick forever, will you?" Lulu told her, and left the room.
"Don't mind her. You'll feel better in a couple of hours, I know it. Just drink all this water, and yell if you need me. Or throw up, I can hear that too," Yuna said and smiled, and left the room as well.
"No more Rikku time," Rikku muttered to herself, and fell back to sleep. She had definitely needed it.
As Tidus and Wakka came across the dock where the Liki always came in, they noticed it was actually in town. The blitzers weren't aboard, but the boat was here.
"Hey Wakka, Tidus," the captain said, standing on the dock, next to the plank onto his boat.
"Hey Cap'n. You headin back to get the Aurochs, ya?" Wakka asked. He had heard that the Liki was in town, and he needed to get everybody here.
"That I am, a day there, and a day back. Tournament starts in three days, gotta be there for that," the captain said, and Wakka nodded.
"Feel like doin me a favor?" Wakka asked, and the captain smiled and nodded.
"Sure thing, anything for you Wakka," the captain said, and Wakka smiled. He knew it wouldn't be a problem. He had this idea brewing for a little bit, but hadn't thought it all through yet. Flyin by seat of his pants, so to speak.
"How many folks can you fit on your boat?" asked Wakka.
"All of Besaid, if I needed to. Got a bigger ship after ya guys defeated Sin. More people comin and goin to Besaid now, to visit," the captain said, and smiled. His boat was easily twice the size of his last one. He had gotten runs to Besaid and back, stopping at Kilika on the way. The Winno just ran between Besaid and Kilika now. The Wino was a sea worthy vessel now.
"Good. I need you to get all of Besaid here," Wakka said, and the captain looked in surprise.
"O…okay? Why is that?" the captain asked mischievously.
"No reason, ya know. Just a gift. Ya, a gift. I have 38,000 gil in my room back in Besaid, just ask Keepa to get it. Just get them here, ya? They all got seats for the opening night of the tourney too," Wakka told him, and the captain beamed.
"Where are they gonna stay, Wakka?" asked the captain of the smiling orange haired fool.
"Just tell them I'm askin Lu to marry me, and they'll come. Don't worry bout that, ya? And nobody says anything to Lu or Yuna, ya?" Wakka said sheepishly, and if it was even possible, the captain looked happier.
"Done. I'm glad for ya, Wakka. Been a long time comin, if you ask me. But they will be here," the captain told him, and Wakka nodded.
"Thanks," Wakka said, and strolled away. Tidus just sat there, still dumbfounded by what was going on.
"What are you planning, Wakka?" asked Tidus.
"I don't know yet, we should go figure that out, ya?" Wakka told him and laughed. Tidus just looked afraid, but happy.
"How long did they say they were gonna be gone?" Yuna asked Lulu, as they once again returned to Rikku's room after showering and dressing for the day.
"Wakka said he would be back by dinner. I can't help but get the feeling he is up to something," Lulu said, and Yuna nodded.
"I know they are, but it's a secret, I suppose. Rikku wouldn't keep the secret if it was bad," Yuna said, and Lulu nodded. Something was going on, but they would find out eventually.
Rikku had finally woke up, with sunlight beaming in her eyes. She felt much better than she had when she woke up earlier in the day. Yuna and Lulu were letting themselves in, and Rikku sat up on the edge of her bed.
"Feeling better Rikku?" Yuna asked, and Rikku nodded. She didn't feel terrible anymore, at least. Her head felt a little cloudy, but that was too be expected. Her stomach didn't feel anything besides hunger now.
"Much, actually. Just hungry now. You guys want to go get something to eat?" Rikku asked, and the two of them nodded.
"You need to bathe, however," Lulu said, and Rikku grinned. She looked at herself, and agreed that she was a mess. She stopped caring about her appearance at about drink five the night before.
"Okay, just give me a couple of minutes," Rikku said, and got into the shower. There wasn't as much bounce as usual, but she was chipper again anyways.
Rikku quickly bathed, dried off, and changed. She got Lulu and Yuna, and the three of them started strolling towards the restaurant they had visited the day before. There was always conversation, but it wasn't about much. Yuna and Lulu decided together that they would let Rikku off of the hook, for now, and didn't bring up the subject of what she knew. They happily chatted, ordering their food, and ate slowly. No hurry, with not a whole lot to do in the meantime. Just time to relax and have a good time. Yuna and Lulu each drank the House Drought, but Rikku kindly asked for water, and all three of them laughed.
"So what are we supposed to do with ourselves today?" asked Yuna of the group.
"We could go shopping?" Rikku asked, and Yuna nodded.
"How about you, Lulu. Feel like shopping?" Yuna asked of her, and she nodded.
"Need some new clothes, I think. This dress isn't…me, anymore," Lulu said, and Rikku nodded.
"Well, let's get going!" Rikku exclaimed, and they did. Leaving the money under the plates, again. Yuna had to do it every time she was in Luca, and the staff didn't mind. They still always tried to give her the food for Yuna helping them all out, but she wouldn't hear any of it.
Rikku practically dragged them both to the first of many shops to be visited that afternoon.
Tidus and Wakka were patiently waiting in a room, waiting to speak to the blitz board concerning some things. Wakka had explained his newly formulated plan to Tidus on the way to where they were now.
"The Board will see you now," the receptionist said, and Tidus and Wakka walked through the door that she held open.
"Sir Wakka, Sir Tidus! So glad to see you again. It has been a while," a man shook their hands.
"Thanks for seein us on such short notice," Wakka said, and the two of them were given seats at a large table. There were five people on the Blitz Board, overseeing all tournaments in the giant sphere pool. They were extremely busy with the upcoming tournament, so it was amazing that they would meet with anyone, even Legendary Guardians didn't get in the way of the tourney.
Wakka and Tidus stood up, and went to leave the room after they had talked to the Board. They both were beaming, and excitement coursed through them.
"Thank you very much, sir," Tidus said, shaking the man's hand.
"No problem. Good luck, both of you. And it will all go well, I promise," he said, and Tidus and Wakka left.
"Well that was easy, I think," Tidus said, and they both smiled. It was going to be awesome. Just one more stop, and they would be back to the hotel. Well two, they both decided. They hadn't eaten lunch yet.
Stopping at a street vendor, the two of them wolfed down several Choco-Dogs, until they were full. After paying the vendor, they decided they would stop by Wantz, to let him in on the plans.
The bells rang on the door as Wakka and Tidus entered the shop. There were many people milling about, seeing what was on the shelves. Wantz saw them as they approached the counter, and smiled.
"Good day Wakka, Tidus. What can I do for you today?" asked Wantz, and Wakka started to speak.
"We got a plan, ya. Kind of too many people to talk about it here, though," Wakka said quietly, and Wantz nodded.
"Follow me," Wantz said, and they went up some stairs, into where Wantz lived. It wasn't too fancy, but it had the home like feel everybody wants for themselves. "Milley, can you watch the store for a minute?" Wantz called, and she said yes, and disappeared down the same stairs they had just ascended.
Wakka and Tidus told Wantz of their plan, and he grinned the whole time. They worked out some logistics, and they all laughed when the planning was done.
"Sounds good, guys. I'll be ready, don't you worry," Wantz said, and the two of them nodded.
"Thanks a bunch, Wantz. We'll be seeing you," Tidus said, and Wantz nodded. They let themselves out of the shop, and headed back for the hotel. It couldn't be later than three, they decided, as they walked into the hotel. They walked upstairs, and both felt sleepy. Nap time, they decided. And each fell asleep as the women shopped, in their own respective beds, of course.
"Rikku, why can't we go in this shop?" Yuna asked Rikku, who was dragging her and Lulu behind her, away from O'aka's.
"There aren't any clothes in there, duh!" Rikku said, giving nothing away.
Rikku was almost successful in drawing them away, when she heard a voice call out to her.
"Little niece, where are you dragging them?" a voice yelled, a voice belonging to Milley.
The three of them looked back, and saw the taller Al Bhed woman standing in the doorway next to O'aka's, wearing her bright sundress and waving at them. She motioned for them to come over, and they did, with Rikku a little apprehensive. Her aunt wouldn't say anything about the rings, would she?
They were led into the house, and immediately up the stairs into a large living room. Rikku had visited several times over the course of the years, always with her Dad. She hadn't stopped by on the pilgrimage, well; she hadn't been on the pilgrimage officially then. Just kind of following along unofficially, waiting for her chance to snatch her cousin. But she hadn't stopped by her aunt's anyways.
"Rikku, why didn't you stop by?" Milley asked of them, and she smiled. She had to know, didn't she?
"No clothes here, auntie, we are out clothes shopping," Rikku said cheerfully, trying to keep her façade going.
"Ahh, I see. I just wanted to see Yuna for a while. It's been a long time," Milley said, and Yuna nodded. She hadn't known that her aunt lived in Luca. She hadn't seen her since she was a little girl.
"It has been a long time, Milley. How have you been doing?" Yuna asked and the conversation continued, never drifting over the subject that Rikku was so afraid would just pop out into the conversation.
They were only in Milley's for an hour, before they said their goodbyes. The three of them had their stomach's grumbling, deciding to get back to the hotel and drop off their bags and bags of new clothing.
Rikku and Yuna's new clothing stayed much along the same lines, but Lulu's seemed a little out of her element. They both had said it was strange for Lulu to be wearing anything besides black, even if the new clothes were still black, purples, and other dark colors. She had tried on a yellow dress once, and immediately changed back after she saw the friends of her faces torn up with laughter. Not in a mean way, it was just something new.
They walked into their own respective rooms, and Yuna and Lulu were greeted by the snores from the men. Rikku just dropped her stuff off in her own room, and walked back outside. Wakka and Tidus were woken up, and quickly got out of bed. They all walked to dinner, at the same place, and ate the same food. Everybody was tired, a day of excitement for Tidus and Wakka, a day of nervousness for Rikku, and a day of feminine power shopping for Lulu and Yuna. Rikku had kept the secret all day, and Wakka and Tidus had only one more free day to plan their surprise.
They retired early, and slept peacefully. It was their vacation; they could sleep early if they wanted to.
Mother of shoopufs that was awesome to write. Rikku would be such a happy drunk, and would always regret it in the morning :p Am I the only one who feels like an Aurikku follow up to this? Just wondering, thanks for reading, and pray for another post tonight. If not, there will be one tomorrow. Thank ya!