Chapter 11 is here! Dun Dun Dun. Anyone who reviews can you please tell me if my stories actually have good plots or not. I have no idea. Anyway, enough of this holiday. I think its time for another car journey!!
P.S. Bug DemonsCanLove to update her story 'Living in a madhouse...almost willingly' because it is one of my very few reasons for checking my emails, except for reviews of course :)
P.P.S also thanks to TurboTwistedFire for pointing out some grammatical issues on some of my other fics. It made me go back and grammar check everything and hopefully improve your enjoyment of my stories!!
P.P.P.S. Suggest you listen to this song for Nooj's P.O.V lol. 'Yummy Yummy Yummy' by Express Ohio
Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy X-2 but I do own the belief that Seymour thinks he is a tree. I do not own Seymour!
Yuna's P.O.V,
Our week of fun at Besaid had come and gone too soon, and before I knew it I was packing to go back to the heart of the hustle and bustle, Bevelle. This holiday had really made me think that, in no less than two weeks we would be back into the routine of education and probably all go separate ways. No, that will never happen. If anything, we will just get stronger and closer, if that's even possible.
"Yuna, you ready yet?" Gippal's voice rang up the stair to the room me and Tidus had been sharing. I smiled as I put the remaining clothes in my bag.
"Phew, done at last." I muttered to myself and then came running out the room and down the stairs. "Sorry everyone." I apologised to my friends who had been patiently waiting.
"That's okay, Yuna. We're just waiting for Rikku now." Baralai told me as I put my luggage down next to everyone else's and sat between Tidus and Nooj.
"I thought she packed ages ago." I thought Rikku was always the 'double triple check' packer but apparently I was wrong. "Is she stealing the shampoo or something?" I asked Paine who was laughing at my comment. I know it sounded stupid but I know loads of people steal the hotel shampoos, conditioners, soaps and free teas from the rooms before they leave. Maybe Rikku was one of these people.
"No, she's 'saying goodbye' to the house." Nooj told me laughing. Just then Rikku herself came in the room with a giant pout on her face.
"Goodbye kitchen. Goodbye toaster. Goodbye living room. Goodbye glass doors-"
"Goodbye Rikku." Gippal mocked, unlocking the door and helping Paine, Tidus, Nooj and 'Lai take the luggage out while I followed with a couple of spare bags.
"Hey guys! Wait for me!" Rikku whined and ran out the door at a speed only a chocobo could muster. Paine took out the metallic keys and locked the giant door up safely.
"I call shotgun and 'Lai you can't claim it this time!" Rikku yelled and dived through the open car window into the front passenger seat. We stood there looking at her in amazement.
"Rikku, normal people use the doors." Paine sighed and got in next to her leaving us out on the driveway bewildered.
"You mean you're not gonna kick me out?" She asked a scarily calm Paine. Paine shook her head.
"That dive through the window won you your right to sit shotgun, for now." She smiled and looked over at us as if to say 'Why aren't you in the car yet?'
"But, what about me?" Baralai complained. Gippal nodded and stood beside him.
"Yeah, Cid's girl. Why don't you want to sit next to me?" Gippal whined. By now only Baralai and Gippal were the only ones still on the drive.
"Baralai, Gippal. Shut up and get in the car." Paine complained as she started the car up slowly.
"I hope she doesn't want us to dive through the window like Rikku did." Gippal muttered to Baralai, turning the poor boy pale in fear. They climbed into the car just as Paine started to reverse.
"Impatient aren't we?" Gippal groaned and turned to Baralai for moral support.
Nooj's P.O.V,
Paine's death car- Take two! Somehow I find a mild amusement in riding in Paine's car. Very unpredictable, anything could happen. Even Gatsby could happen. Um, I really have no idea why my thinking has turned into quoting 'The Great Gatsby', but its true. Anything could happen in Paine's car. That was clearly displayed by Rikku's window diving stunt. This time seating when like this.
Paine driving and Rikku next to her, Baralai, Gippal and then me in the middle and Yuna and Tidus in the boot seats, again. At least I didn't need to sit in fear of Tidus jumping out the window again. Paine put the radio on and a classic, if not scary song came on. Oh the horror of the sing song car!
"Yummy yummy yummy, I've got love in my tummy and I feel like a-loving you." Rikku sang suddenly from the front. What surprised me more is the fact Yuna was the next to sing.
"Love, you're such a sweet thing,good enough to eat thing and that's just a-what I'm gonna do." She giggled along. Why hadn't Paine stop the singing yet?
"Ooh love, to hold ya,Ooh love, to kiss ya,Ooh love, I love it so." Baralai sang along with Gippal, who sang the 'So' part.
"Ooh love, you're sweeter,Sweeter than sugar. Ooh love, I wont let you go!" Gippal sang to Rikku, again with Baralai for the 'Go'. Was I the only one who didn't know this song? It was Rikku's turn again.
"Yummy,Yummy,Yummy, I got love in my tummy, and as silly as it may seem;" Was Paine- humming the nana bits with them? And now back to Yuna.
"The lovin' that you're giving,is what keeps me livin', and your love is like peaches and cream." And take it away Tidus.
"Kind-a like sugar,Kind-a like spices,Kind-a like, like what you do." He sang with Yuna, who was clicking her fingers.
"Kind-a sounds funny. But love,honey, and honey. I love you!" Sang Paine and 'Lai to each other! It was like they had planned this and rehearsed for many hours because they all had appointed times to sing and no one interrupted the next.
"Yummy, Yummy, Yummy, I got love in my tummy, that your love can satisfy" Rikku started off the next verse. And Yuna, still giggling, prepared for her turn.
"Love, you're such a sweet thing,good enough to eat thing and sweet thing, that ain't no lie"
"I love to hold ya, I love, to kiss ya, Ooh love, I love it so" Baralai chuckled along.
"Ooh love, you're sweeter, sweeter than sugar. ooh love, I wont let you go!" Gippal finished and laughed like a loony with the rest of the guys. They let the guy on the radio do the 'sweet thing yummy yummy' bit. Like I said, anything can happen in Paine's car.
"You guys are weird." I muttered and looked back out the window as we approached the Spira tunnel taking us back to Kilika. Gippal whacked me on the shoulder.
"Chill out, Noojster."
Tidus's P.O.V,
I had to admit it was getting to that time in the car journey where my stomach was crying out for love. And by love I mean a triple decker cheese burger with all the works. The rain outside was clearing my view of motorway signs so I couldn't tell how far the nearest Rin's was.
"Paine, I'm hungry!" I whined to the driver. Maybe that song earlier had some effect. After all it was on about sugar, a lot!
"We are not stopping!" Paine scowled, her icy glare looking at me through the passenger mirror. I gave her the frowning of a life time until she opened the window next to me, making the rain blow into the car and cover my face.
"Actually, i'm hungry too." Baralai said, Gippal nodded in reply.
"Why didn't you say?" Paine said and took a sudden right turn, sending Yuna flying into me.
"Aw, that's nice Painey. Listen to your boyfriend and not us." Rikku pouted, making Paine roll her eyes. Paine tutted at her and reversed into a parking space outside of Rin's. Yeah!
"Right, who's coming with me?" I asked. Rikku, Gippal, Yuna and Nooj unbuckled their safety belts and covered their heads as they descended into the rain with me.
"'Lai. You not coming?" Gippal asked Baralai who ferociously shook his head. Can't blame him really. He remembers the events last time we came here. "'kay, I'll order you whatever i'm getting then." He said walking off with Nooj and the girls. When we finally got inside the place was crowded with similar people who needed lunch.
"This is ridiculous." Yuna said from my left. "Why don't we go to the shop and pick up some sandwiches and stuff?" She asked. We agreed it was a good idea and ran down to the side store, 'Rin's super mart!' Rikku speedily ran round picking up chocolate, Yuna was in charge of sandwich and pie choosing, Nooj got the drinks, Gippal was grabbing some crisps whilst I looked around the general sections. I spotted a couple of interesting C. D's for the journey back. 'Lenne- My thousand songs' and 'Tobli record company- Macalania sounds' (Think reggae). Yuna returned with seven sandwiches in hand. Two cheese and pickle, one triple decker meat feast, one tuna and cucumber, two chicken and stuffing and a microwave burger. I looked at the burger questioningly.
"They have a microwave in store." She smiled. Aww, I loved Yuna, so thoughtful. Soon after Gippal returned with seven packets of crisps. Three prawn cocktail flavour, two Worcestershire sauce flavour, one ready salted and one salt and vinegar. I smiled happily at his attempt and saw Nooj hobbling forward with seven bottles of flavoured water. Paine would kill us if we got anything else. Finally Rikku arrived with seven chocolate bars and a giant pack of winegums. We walked over to the counter to pay for our lunch.
"That's 47 gil please." The shop assistant asked lazily. I dug in my pocket and pulled out my wallet. 23 Gil!
"Yuna, have any money?" I asked as she pulled out her purse and produced 13 gil. I looked at Gippal who turned over 5 gil and so did Nooj.
"Right, that means we still need one more gil." I said turning to Rikku. She emptied out her pockets and a single flash of silver past my eyes.
"The last gil!" We said in unison, gathered in a circle around the coin. Rikku picked it up and raised it high only for it to go flying off under a counter.
"NO!"
Paine's P.O.V,
"'kay, I'll order you whatever i'm getting then." Gippal said to Baralai, walking off with Nooj and the girls to the shop. We waited for them to get out of sight before Baralai hurdled over the seats and into Rikku's former position.
"Well hello to you too." I laughed as Baralai put his arm around my waist, smiling.
"I knew Rikku would go with Gippal if he said he was hungry. Then I could just swoop over next to you whilst she was gone." He chuckled, doing a swooping motion with his free arm.
"Aww, that's deceitful 'Lai" I teased at him. He stuck his tongue out at me and faced the other way, deep in thought.
"Have a good holiday then?" I asked, really making idle chitchat.
"Mmm." He replied slowly.
"What does that mean? Yes, No or maybe?" I asked him. Mmm is not a word I wanted to hear him say about my carefully planned trip. Mmm wasn't even a word!
"It was-"
Why was I one of the chosen ones. Into a fight I could not see. The magic and the strength of my power-
"Hello,Tidus?" Baralai answered his phone. Damn, he ruined a moment alone with Baralai.
"What do you mean 'a shiny coin'?" Baralai rolled his eyes at me as the conversation continued. "Wait a minute. I'll send Paine." He covered the mouth piece and whispered to me. "Can you give Tidus a gil for the shopping, thanks Paine." He replied before I could answer. "Yeah, she's on her way. Bye." He hung up and gave me a questioning look.
"I'm not going out in the rain." I replied ferociously. He laughed.
"Oh yes you are. Someone has to watch the car, so you have to go." He smiled smugly.
"I can watch the car!" I whimpered.
"You did it last time. Sorry Paine." he added quickly. I gave him a look that said 'for what?' but before I had an answer Baralai had picked me up, opened the car door and left me in the rain with a couple of gil. I made a grab for the door but the sneaky git had locked them when I was in a state of bewilderment. I gave him a nasty look as I left Mr All-Dry-And-Mighty. I knew it was a battle of dominance over the front seat. What a snake!
"Painey! Have you got it?" Rikku squealed in delight. I handed them the gil and went to leave.
"Wait a minute." Nooj called so I turned around. "You got to help us carry the shopping."
Baralai's P.O.V,
Okay so I felt bad. Okay I felt awful! Poor Painey, being dumped outside in the rain like that. But i'm not sitting next to Gippal for another hour and a half. No way. They hadn't been gone long when they approached ,with a couple of bags, looking miserable and wet. I smiled brightly from inside the nice warm car. Suckers.
"I hope you're happy." Paine growled into my ear. I nodded in cocky response and dived from her attempted slap.
"BARALAI! Get out of my seat!" Rikku yelled at me, being dragged into the seat behind me by a smiling Gippal who handed me a sandwich and drink.
"Sorry, Rikku, Gippal needs you more." I chuckled and received a thumbs up from Gippal who was now holding Rikku tightly in his arms.
"Bad Rikku! No running away from Gippy!" Gippal replied in baby talk. The look on Rikku's face was priceless. She was so red with anger, she looked like a bomb after a third attack. We sat eating our lunch for a while before anyone said anything.
"FRUITCAKE!" Gippal yelled from behind Paine, resulting in him getting a face full of rain from the passenger window too.
"Um, can I be the first to ask why?" Nooj said, also covered in rain since he was sat next to the window. I hope his arm doesn't rust.
"Don't you guys see? Look!" Gippal said, literally jumping up and down in the car, pointing to a man dressed as a giant fruitcake. That is slightly scary.
"Look he's coming over." Rikku said clapping in happiness. And indeed the giant fruitcake man was coming over to our car.
"He's probably a sales rep for fruitcake." Yuna sighed to herself. Rikku rolled her eyes at her cousin.
"Really Yunie?" She replied sarcastically. "What gave that away? The giant fruitcake costume or the blue symmetrical hair?"
"Blue symmetrical hair? That sounds oddly familiar." Paine muttered to herself. That could only mean-
"Heelloo Baralai!" The Seymour sounding fruitcake squealed. I felt the colour drain from my face.
"Paine drive!" I yelled as Paine started the car and drove at high speed, leaving Seymour shuffling (Very slowly) towards us with his hands mimicking branches. In less than five seconds he was mearly a blip in the distance.
"I though you got rid of him!" I growled at Rikku and Gippal. Their idea was meant to get rid of him. "What did you do?"
"Hehe. You see 'Lai-" Rikku began.
"Funny story really." Gippal added then changed tactics when he saw my face.
"Not so funny story." Rikku grumbled.
Rikku's P.O.V,
Finally, after two hours of sitting in Paine's car with a very annoyed Baralai, we arrived outside of Yuna's house.
"Bye guys. See you soon!" She waved as Paine dropped her off in the driveway. I waved manically back.
"Rikku, I would like to keep my remaining eye, thank you." Gippal complained when I accidentally knocked him in the face.
"Oops!" I giggled and made random conversation with 'Lai.
"So 'Lai...enjoy your holiday?" I asked polity. He shot me an infuriating look.
"No. No I didn't. I've been almost killed by Paine and her constant fears that i'm in love with you, almost killed by Yuna for something that didn't even happen and stalked by a blue haired freak that wants to take me home! Does that sound fun to you?" He rambled, receiving nasty looks from Paine.
"So you mean you guys never actually-" Gippal asked a purple looking Baralai.
"No!" Both Painey and 'Lai shouted. Nooj looked around nervously.
"Hey, Paine I think this is my stop." He told the annoyed looking driver.
"Yeah me too!" Tidus added. I gave him a questioning look.
"Tidus, you live three streets away." I told him. I mean it was raining and stuff.
"I'll walk. Bye Paine, 'Lai, Gippal, Rikku, Nooj!" He said, jumping out the car with Nooj who waved goodbye too. We sat in silence for a few minutes until we pulled up outside Gippal's house. He leant over and kissed me goodbye, took his luggage and left me with Paine and Baralai, who I presume had forgotten I was there.
"This is your fault." She said, pointing an accusing finger at 'Lai.
"What is?" He asked in an innocent voice. She scowled at him.
"The guys were uncomfortable because you complained." She growled back at him. Painey obviously forgot I was there because she drove past my house.
"Paine! You would say the same if you were me. You've done nothing but complain about me since we left Bevelle. I'm kind of getting sick of it." he replied, looking out of his passenger window at the wonderful rain drenched streets. I tried to butt in to tell Painey I was here but she interrupted me.
"You're getting sick? What about me?" She cried, driving into her driveway.
"Guys, I don't want to interrupt-" I began, making them jump realising they were not alone. "But Painey, you've past my house already." I moaned. She shot me death looks.
"I'm not driving back. You can walk." She added, shooing me out of the car.
"Painey, its raining!" I complained, ignored obviously.
"I'll walk with you, Rikku." 'Lai said, helping me with my bags. Paine stopped suddenly, in hypo-kill-mode.
"Baralai, take your stuff too. You can stay at Gippal's tonight." She snarled and shut her front door before he could complain back. He sighed and handed me his arm to take hold of.
"Aww, that's okay 'Lai. I'm going there too." I told him as we walked away from Paine's house.
Gippal's P.O.V,
Hi,Gippal. If you're back yet, me and mum have gone to Zanarkand for the weekend to visit your brother.
Love Dad!
"Result. House to myself. Just the way I like it." I grinned. Maybe I would call up Cid's girl and 'Lai and invite them over. No, they probably wanted to settle into their houses first. Suddenly the doorbell rang, alerting me that someone was at my door. I slouched over to the door to be greeted by Cid's girl and 'Lai looking moody and wet.
"Paine kicked me out." 'Lai said walking into my front room and collapsing on to my worn sofa.
"Paine forgot to drop me off home." Rikku added, collapsing next to 'Lai.
"Paine hasn't been in a good mood- well ever!"I commented receiving a nod from both of my guests. Guests of course- "You guys want a drink or something?" I asked. They shook their heads miserably. "I know, why don't we invite the guys and Yuna round?" I asked, rikku nodded in approval.
"Without Paine?" Baralai asked a little confused. I nodded.
"Abso-possi-you'd better believe it. Dude I know she's your girlfriend but you're kinda-" How to put this polity.
"Whipped!" Rikku filled in for me. "'Lai, you gotta stand up for yourself. Learn some karate or something."
"I really doubt that would stop Paine." Baralai muttered back. I rested my crossed arms on top of Rikku's head.
"Hmm, the problem now-a-days is that these girl are too feisty. Take Cid's girl here for example."
"I have a name." She whined back on cue.
"Dude, just never have her kids." I warned him. He gave me a weird look.
"Um, why?"
"Little 'Lai's, yeah they'd be cute and dude, I always wanted to be an uncle. But little Paine's? If that happens the word is doomed." I laughed. Baralai chuckled along and Rikku sat with a pondering look on her face.
"You said you always wanted to be an uncle, to 'Lai's kids?" Rikku questioned. I nodded patronisingly.
"Yes, get to the point Cid's girl." She rolled her eyes.
"Baralai isn't your brother." She grinned stupidly.
"I know. But I mean figuratively, I would be. 'Cause me and 'Lai should have been brothers. So our kids are gonna be Baralai's nieces and nephews." I grinned back, slinging my hands around her waist.
"Gippal, I wouldn't have your dog let alone your kids." Rikku giggled back. Oh harsh! Now should I fake being hurt or ignore her?
"Oh well. Baralai loves me!" I smiled to him.
"Yup, as much as a hypothetical brother can." He joked to rikku, who had left to make a sandwich. "Gippal, what am I doing wrong?"
"Only one thing 'Lai. You fell for the wrong girl."
Possibly near the end now. Thinking of doing a sequel of their University/ adult lives. Please review if you agree, or if you don't too :)