Chapter 12: Lies (youtube - watch?v=UFg_g31WLq8)
Memo: Don't you need me doushite na no~? Koda Kumi's music reigns once again in this story. Hope you're enjoying Addison, hehe. So here we go, more story for ye! Enjoy, and thanks much!
FLASHBACK START
Lulu smiled at Dylan, who smiled back. It had been a fun night: talking, catching up, and lots of laughter.
"You've really changed in two years," Lulu said to the brunette, who shrugged.
"Not really," she admitted. "Everyone seems to think so, though."
"You look a lot different, that's for sure, ya?" Wakka added.
"We didn't even recognize her at first," Rikku chimed in, nodding.
"In what way do I look that much different?" Dylan asked, half-smiling. "I feel like I look the same as always."
"You don't, though. You look much more mature," Lulu insisted. Dylan only shook her head, smiling.
"Let's change the subject," she said, and immediately Yuna diverted the attention onto something else. She could Dylan was uncomfortable, but it was only because she was lying through her teeth. She had changed, both inside and outside. But in order to go unnoticed, she had to act the same, no matter what.
FLASHBACK END
"So, let's see it."
I flinched at the sound of Addison's voice from up above me. Looking up, I saw him standing at the railing of the bed area of the cabin.
"Quit being a creeper," I snapped as he jumped down to my level. "What are you talking about, anyway?"
"You know. Your tat."
I flinched again, looking around to make sure no one else was listening or paying attention. The coast was clear.
"Why do you want to see it?" I asked him, lowering my voice.
"Just to see it." His grin broadened. "To see if you're telling the truth or just bluffing."
"Please, I would not bluff about something this...meaningful," I sighed, turning around and lifting my curls off of my neck.
"Very nice ink-work," he commented.
"I thought so, too."
Moving my hand, I let my hair fall back down.
"Did it hurt?" he asked, cocking his head.
"A bit," I confessed, grimacing slightly.
"Sorry."
"But I've been through worse," I reminded him, shaking my hands out. Those scars were still fresh as day. Stupid final aeon.
"Guess so." Addison grinned again, putting his hands behind his head as he habitually did. "So, guess what my job is on the ship?"
"I can only imagine," I muttered, beginning to walk away.
"No, seriously, guess."
"The maid?"
"Nope. I get to help Brother pilot the ship."
I turned to look at my brother to see if he was joking.
"Does Brother know this?" I asked with a laugh.
"Dunno, but he'll deal."
"Who told you this?"
"Yuna."
I slapped my hand to my forehead.
"Look, Addy, you need to stop creeping on my friends," I groaned. "This includes brown-nosing."
"Why do you care?" he asked bluntly. I ignored him and walked away. "Hey, I was talking to you, brat!"
"Not listening!" I shouted, laughing as I ran off.
The truth was, I didn't have an answer to his question. Why did I care, especially about Yuna? I mean, after all, I was in this for myself, and so far so good.
}{}{}{
"Yay rain!" Dylan cheered when the girls stepped off the ship into the Thunder Plains.
"Let's go play!" Rikku added, skipping off into the darkness with Dylan.
"How old are they, again?" Paine asked Yuna, who grinned.
"Sometimes I wonder about that, too," she admitted, shrugging. "Oh well. Let's just get going."
Yuna had briefly stopped by Guadosalam before passing through the plains, and the temptation to visit the Farplane was still pretty strong. For some reason, though, she didn't walk over and try to enter. Something stopped her.
I just don't know anymore, she thought, keeping an eye on her more energetic friends.
"Hey, hey, look!" Rikku shouted, running back over to Yuna and Paine.
"Cid is here," Dylan said, lowering her voice and pointing. Sure enough, Uncle Cid was standing off by himself, his back to them.
"Should we go talk to him?" Paine asked, and Dylan nodded.
The girls made their way over to the Al Bhed, who wore a pathetic frown on his face.
"Uncle Cid?" Yuna called out when they were just a few feet away. "What are you doing out here?"
"What, ya blind?" he snapped. "Can't ya see I'm trying to sulk?"
Rikku made a disgusted face. "Come on, Yunie, let's go," she said, already frustrated.
"But..."
"Leave him!"
Grabbing Yuna's arm, Rikku dragged her cousin away and back onto the path they had been traveling on.
"I wonder what's wrong..." Yuna murmured.
"It's Zanarkand," Rikku replied. "He's all bent out of shape 'cause you told him off."
"That's mature," Paine said.
"Doesn't that explain a few things, though?" Dylan pointed out.
"Hey!"
With a laugh, Dylan took off into the rain again, Rikku chasing after her.
Soon the girls had run all the way to Macalania Woods, and finally Rikku caught up to Dylan, tackling her.
"You are such a hypocrite!" she cried, giggling.
"I know, I know," Dylan said, prying the blonde off of her.
"Hello, Gullwings," came a voice. The girls turned to see a Hypello standing there, waving. "Good to shee yoo."
"Oh, it's Tobli's assistant," Rikku said, hopping over to him.
"Would yoo mind doing ush a favor?" he asked.
"What kind of favor?" Paine asked, suspicious.
"Chief's throwing a feshtibble. Shinging and danshing and
shellabebration?" The Hypello danced in place, then lowered his arms. "We're sheeking musishuns for a troupe, yesh? Where could they be?"
"So you want us to help you find them?" Yuna finished.
"We ish counting on yoo, Gullwings?"
"Shure, why not?" Rikku giggled quietly. The Hypello didn't seem to get that Yuna was poking fun at him.
"Thank yoo," he said. "If yoo find musishun, give them this letter, yesh?"
Paine took the letter out of his hand and looked at Dylan.
"Where to?" she asked.
"The spring where the fayth are...used to be," Dylan corrected herself, frowning. "C'mon, I'll lead."
The four girls trekked over to the spring, looking around and taking things in. It seemed like the woods really were starting to die off. Something that used to be so beautiful was now fading.
Just like my memories, Yuna realized, frowning.
"Hello, Bayra," Dylan said when they entered the spring.
"What business do you have with me?" he asked, glancing up at them.
"We have a letter from someone named Tobli," Yuna began, holding out the letter. Bayra didn't take it, but he didn't seem disinterested.
"Do you think you can help him out?" Rikku inquired.
"I must speak with my friends," Bayra responded. "It is not my right to decide for them. A moment, please."
Bayra strummed his harp quietly, and the woods around them darkened. The aura was still normal, but things seemed quieter.
"How strange," he murmured, slowing his playing. "I cannot hear their voices. Their minds must be closed." As he spoke, the woods lightened again.
"What do you mean?" Yuna asked.
"The spirits of my friends often become butterflies and drift through the woods," Bayra explained. "If it is no trouble, why don't you seek them out and ask them yourself?"
The girls turned to each other, tightening their circle.
"Should we split up again?" Rikku asked.
"Might as well," Dylan said with a shrug.
"C'mon, Yuna," Paine said quickly, grabbing the former summoner's arm and pulling her away.
"Looks like it's us two!" Rikku cheered, and the girls hi-fived each other enthusiastically.
"We'll look for Pukutak!" Dylan shouted after her friends. They nodded, disappearing into the woods.
}{}{}{
"Okay," Rikku said when Yuna and Paine left us, "let's get started!"
"Indeed!"
Ambling off, the two of us walked through the woods slowly, taking our time to take in the peaceful sights. Although we didn't say anything, we both knew that there wasn't much time left to see this place still looking magical.
Suddenly, totally out of nowhere, I tripped over something. I don't know if it was a rock or me being clumsy, but I fell flat on my face. Rikku gasped, alarmed, then busted up laughing.
"Sorry," she apologized, helping me up. "That was just so funny..."
"It's okay," I insisted. "I would've laughed, too."
"Is your neck okay?"
"Eh?" I looked at Rikku, confused. "Nothing happened to my neck."
"But, there was a mark there, on the back of your neck."
Then it hit me-she had seen a glimpse of my tattoo. Thankfully, she couldn't easily tell what it was.
"Oh, that? I have a tattoo there," I told her. She gasped, her green eyes widening.
"That is sooooo cool!" she cried, dancing in place. "You're more Al Bhed than I am, Dylan! Can I see it?"
"No," I replied quickly, taking a step back.
"Huh?" Rikku cocked her head like a sad puppy. "Why not?"
"It's there so no one else besides me knows it's there."
"Why? That seems so pointless."
"Ehh, it's more symbolic than anything," I said, shrugging a little. Just as I started to turn to walk away, I felt a hand rip my hair off of the back of my neck.
"HEY!" I shouted, pulling myself away from her. I felt a few hairs leave my scalp.
"...I don't understand," Rikku said quietly, looking at me with nothing but innocence on her face. "That's the same symbol Yuna wears, isn't it?"
"..."
"And Tidus wore it, too."
"...Let's just go find Pukutak, okay?" I pleaded. But Rikku had already come to the conclusion; I could see it written on her face.
"You love him, too?" she asked, a little surprised. Well, why shouldn't she be? When I didn't reply, she sighed. "I can't even imagine how hurt you must be."
"Just promise me you won't tell anyone," I insisted, grabbing her shoulders. "Please, Rikku."
"Oh, no, I won't tell anyone, promise!" She smiled genuinely. "I just...never saw it before. But now that you say it, it makes sense."
"Yuna will hate me if she knows," I added. "Please keep it to yourself."
"I won't tell. Besides, it's between you two anyway. She's my cousin, but you're my best friend, so I won't choose. I'll just let you guys fight it out in the end." Rikku shrugged, sighing. "Besides, Yuna is trying to move on."
I nearly choked on my spit. "She what?"
"Ever since you told her that sphere wasn't of Tidus, she's been in this emotional swing. I think she's questioning whether it's worth it."
Of course it is, I wanted to say, but I kept that to myself. Rikku already knew too much.
"I promise, I won't tell a soul." Rikku grabbed my hand, pulling me along. "Now, c'mon, let's go find Pukutak!"
After we had reunited the musicians, the four of us spoke to Bayra one more time for the day.
"My friends do not seem to object," he said with a small smile. "We will help your Tobli."
"We shall present a great event!" Pukutak added.
"We'll give 'em all a real gas, ye'll see, eh?" Donga assured us.
"Yes," Bayra murmured. "It will be a brilliant finale for our doomed kind."
"Doomed?" Yuna repeated, frowning deeply.
"If only all the fayth had stayed, the woods would never ever fade..." Pukutak whispered.
"But it looks like we'll be meetin' our end someday soon," Donga said.
Yuna lowered her head and said nothing else. If she was as devastated by that as she was, I didn't want to imagine her reaction if Rikku spilled the beans.
This sucks so bad, I thought, pouting. That's the whole reason I got the tattoo there. So no one would see. Man!
I glanced at Rikku, who was talking to Paine animatedly.
I get the feeling I won't sleep well tonight...
