Paine's head was pounding and she opened her eyes, noticing that everything was blurry. "Damn." She hated crying. She froze when she realized that she was curled into Yuna's hold. Yuna knew... She shook her head and gently removed herself from Yuna's grip and slid out of the tent. She saw Kimahri and blushed. "Paine ok?" She nodded shyly and got a pat on her head before he walked away. She smiled at his back and walked moved away from the small settlement. Gippal had haunted her dreams, but he couldn't get close, she was being protected by Yuna and Rikku. Usually that thought would make her laugh, but to see their backs, them standing over her in such a protective way. It was amazing and she never felt happier. What else made her happy were the people who stood behind them cheering, Lulu, Wakka, Kimahri, Shinra, Buddy, and brother. Her weird messed up beautiful family. She saw Rikku sleepily walking to her. She smiled brightly and brought the sleepy Rikku into a hug. "Thank you." She whispered. Rikku woke fully and jumped from Paine's grasp. "Who are you and what have you done with Paine!" She yelled. Paine sighed and kicked her in the stomach. "Last time I'm nice to you." She said in a board voice, stomping on the fallen girl. "Alright... It... Is... Youuu..." Rikku let out a strangled sound. "Weirdo." She stated eye twitching.
Yuna felt Paine's warmth leave and groaned reaching out to pull her back, but her hand fell through thin air. She let her eyes slowly open and looked up at the ceiling of the hut. The brunette sighed and wished she could burn the dreams she had from her mind. She hated it. Paine had fallen asleep in her arms. Her dreams should have been wrapped in pure bliss. She sighed and pushed herself up. Yuna rose and left the hut. She looked around the settlement her bi-colored eyes scanning for her warrior. Her eyes widened when instead her eyes fell on Seymour. She shook her head and closed her eyes. No no no no no! It's just the dream that won't go away. Her eyes slowly reopened and the Guado was gone, she ran her hand through her short brown hair and sighed. She needed to find Paine. She jogged through the small settlement; she was starting to get worried when she saw the silver haired girl with Rikku. She sighed in relief and made her way over to them, she forced a smile and decided she'd help Rikku. She ran the rest of the way and tackled Paine off of her struggling cousin.
Paine was enjoying her payback when she felt herself tackled by Yuna. "Thanks Yunie!" The now free Rikku yelled. "Go tell Kimahri that we will be leaving soon." Rikku nodded and skipped away. The silver haired woman sat up, arms wrapping around Yuna's waist. She smiled a bit shyly and felt herself blush. This was one of the few moments that she actually felt younger than Yuna. "Thank you for last night. I don't know what came over me.. I guess it was because he was a Ronso. I've always looked up to them you know. When I was 8 Nooj first told me about them, and that's when I decided to learn how to fight with my sword." She looked almost lovingly at her sword that lay a few inches away. "It's the only thing I have that can connect me to my past. It's my oldest and truest friend." She sent a beautiful smile to Yuna. "Again, thank you." Paine didn't think that Yuna would ever know what she had done last night. Now she was sure that the older girl in her lap owned her heat completely... Her easily broken heart...
Yuna's hand came up to cup Paine's cheek and she lovingly pressed there lips together. "I told you before. I want to help." She said when there lips parted. She looked into her warriors ember eyes and smiled. Nothing she ever felt for Tidus could even come close to the way she felt about Paine. She pressed there foreheads together "I'm here for you. And always will be." she whispered before jumping back and looking at the silver haired girl with a confused look. "And what do you mean were leaving soon?" Yuna said with a smile pulling Paine to her feet. "We still got a sphere to find." She said enthusiastically. She couldn't get her mind off of Gippal and how he dared to hurt her Paine. She decided she would ask Paine about that when they were back on the airship. Yuna grabbed Paine's arm and dragged her back to the settlement. "Hey Kimahri. How would you like to lead us to the peak?" The brunette asked the giant Ronso who nodded with what appeared to be a smile.
Paine felt like she was on air as she followed Yuna. She thought about the love she felt for Gippal, it was strong but so painful. It always hurt her every time she spoke or even thought of her love for him. He always controlled her, never letting her talk to anyone but Nooj. With Yuna it was so different. It didn't hurt to even think about being in love with her. Yuna was so warm, not the cold like Gippal. She smiled at the Ronso who led them up to the peak. She watched the Ronso fought, eyes wide with awe, turning slightly pink. She didn't even fight any battles, just watched the strong Ronso, blushing every time she was caught, laughing every time Rikku would trip or try to keep up with the giant Ronso. She felt so happy walking next to Yuna and seeing her, Rikku, and Kimahri fight and play together. The happiness she felt now was worth all the pain caused to her. She would live through it all again, not changing anything, if it meant being with Yuna this way. "Yunie Paine is being all moody again!" Paine wacked her upside her head. "Shut it." Her usual coldness in her voice was absent and she sounded extra happy, causing Rikku to start yelling about how Paine was taken by monsters and replaced with a slug baby that can take different forms. "You're insane." She stated, watching the Ronso smile.
Yuna loved being with her friends...and lover. Everything felt so right. She smiled at Paine and couldn't help the thought of how beautiful she was. She pulled her closer as Kimahri took out another fiend, interlacing there fingers. She was floating on a thin cloud and wondered why she hadn't thought of this before. Both of them were so happy together. They came up to the peak of the mountain to find, yup just as she expected, another cave. Couldn't the spheres ever be in a nice open field of wild flowers? She sighed and walked in with the three of them. Looking around she noticed the sparkling ice gave them the perfect light. She laughed and let Paine's hand go, running over to a block of ice and skating on it, doing a bunch of spins and twirls. She saw Rikku jump up and down and ran onto the ice with her, forgetting she couldn't skate, and ran right into her cousin, sending both of them falling and hitting the cold hard ice.
Paine just laughed at the two that were tangled up on the ice. She looked up at Kimahri and froze. He... He was... He was smirking. With quick movements he grabbed Paine and threw her onto the ice. She screamed and slammed into the two already on the ice. She quickly began to try and crawl off the ice. "I can't skate!" She yelped. She continued to fall flat on her face, trying frantically to get off the ice. "Kimahri help!" She yelped. The blue guy laughed and finally lifted her and took her off the ice. He put her down and she was panting. "That was mean." She said with a pout. She stood on shaky legs and began to walk toward the cave. "Let's go." She said wobbling toward the cave. "Stupid sphere always gotta be in caves. Stupid ice being all slippery..." She muttered, and continued to mutter about random things that bothered her. She heard laughter behind her and pouted. "Jerks..." She turned and waved everyone over. "Hurry up will you!" She yelled to the pother three.
Yuna laughed and made to stand up but was brought right back down to the cold ice as Paine came crashing into her and her cousin. Yuna was glad that Kimahri liked Paine. If she was planning on spending the rest of her life with her she wouldn't want friends to be fighting. She smiled as he helped her off, even though he put her on, and helped the small blonde Al Bhed girl. They both giggled as Paine stalked away mumbling under her breath and ran after her. As they entered the cave Yuna noticed it start to get steadily warmer. Her brow furrowed and she walked a little ahead of the other two, taking any fiends that appeared. The brunette hadn't noticed she was walking on ice until she heard it crack. She looked down just as the ice beneath her broke apart, sending a heat wave through the small hole, and she fell through. Yuna mentally cursed herself for not paying attention and braced herself for the pain that was sure to come upon impact. However instead of falling onto the hard cavern floor she fell into a warm pool of water, sending a huge splash back up and causing the other two to fall as well. She took in a deep breath and fled under the water as ice and bodies almost fell on her.
Paine felt her heart stop as she tried to jump after Yuna, only to be held back by a frantic Rikku. She saw Kimahri had the same idea, only to turn and wrap his arms around the two girls as the ice from under their feet broke. As soon as they hit the water Paine broke away from Kimahri and began to search frantically for Yuna. She saw Yuna swimming and swam toward her, wrapping her arms around the older woman's waist. She swam to the top, coughing up some water. She pressed her lips desperately against Yuna's, before pulling away. She knew there were tears running down her face. She turned and waved to Rikku and Kimahri, who had found land. Without letting go. Once they got close enough the blue Ronso lifted them out of the water and put them on land. "Kimahri knew Paine protect Yuna." Paine sent a small smile up to the Ronso, the whole time her arm stayed firmly on Yuna's waist. "Stay next to me from now on." She muttered into her ear, shaking as she said this. She almost lost her lover, and she couldn't stand the thought.
Yuna was shocked that the water was warm, almost like bath water. She felt an arm around her waist and broke the surface. When Paine's lips crashed down on hers she felt all the emotions that the girl was feeling. She felt bad for being go stupid. She hugged Paine close and whispered "I'm sorry." before feeling something wet and slimy hook onto her foot. Her heart skipped a beat and she looked down to see a purple tentacle rapped around her ankle. She looked at the warrior, eyes wide. A scream escaped her lips as she was lifted almost taking Paine with her. The Crakken erupted from the water a terrible noise escaping it that could not be classified as anything that she heard before. Yuna felt nauseous as it swung her around her long braid hitting her in the face. She was slapped against the water and almost lost herself to the darkness. The brunette blinked away the black dots that clouded her vision. She took out her guns and shot at the tentacle that was wrapped around her leg.
Paine screamed out in frustration as her love was ripped away from her arms once more. "Kimahri throw me!" Yuna was too far in the water for a frontal attack, so they had to think of something. Kimahri didn't hesitate to pick the girl up and throw her. Her sword was raised high and she swiped at the tentacle that had her Yuna. Yuna fell into the water. "Rikku get Yuna!" She commanded before angrily stabbing her sword into the things eye. She was thrown into the water and growled. She swam back to the thing and kept slashing at it, letting all her anger go. She kept blindly slashing at it, when she felt arms wrap around her waist and hoist her back to land; she was crying out in anger. "Paine calm. It dead." Kimahri stated. She slowed down her breathing and her eyes slowly went from the blood red color down to her regular ember. "Yuna!" She gasped, looking for her lover. She ran to the girl and wrapped her arms tightly around her. "I thought I was going to loose you." Her voice was shaken and her body was trembling.
"PAINE" Yuna yelled as Rikku pulled her out of the water, struggling to help her lover. Seeing Rikku's struggles Kimahri lifted the flailing brunette and placed her onto the land where it was easier for the blonde to contain her. "Let me go Rikku!" she yelled as Kimahri pulled her love from the water. She ran into her embrace tears running down her cheeks as the warrior held her. Yuna pulled away to find her shirt died red with blood. Her eyes widened and she looked down at the warrior's stomach. "Paine your hurt!" she blurted out more tears flowing, as she noticed the poison oozing from the wound on the warriors stomach. Rikku's eyes widened as the strong warrior fell. Kimahri was the first to react reaching out an arm and catching her. He gently laid her down and stepped back, Yuna kneeling down next to her and quickly switching to the white mage sphere, she cast ensue pleading for the ember eyed girl not to leave her.
Paine hadn't noticed how numb she was until Yuna yelled about her being hurt. Her vision began to blur and she could hear the blood rushing through her ears. Darkness swept around her as she fell.
Eyes opened and she found herself surrounded in darkness. She was lost, unsure of who she was or what was happening. She stood and began to yell. "Hello? Is anyone there?" When no one answered she began to walk. After what felt like forever she heard a young voice and turned, only to see herself as a child. Child Paine held her hand out. "Come big sister." Without question Paine took the younger girls hand. When she looked around she noticed that she was in a small hut. Little her was sitting in front of the fire place. A man who looked exactly like her came into the room and lifted the girl into the air. Both were laughing. She couldn't hear exactly what was being said. A woman with white hair and pink eyes walked into the room and seemed to be scolding the two. Everything went black again and little her had tears in her eyes. "That was the last happy moment we had together." Paine's eyes narrowed in confusion. "I don't understand... That was me?" The younger girl nodded and suddenly turned into a mirror image of Paine. "That night was a bad night. Evil people got into our home and killed mother. Father tried to protect us. He gave us his sword and hid us in a hollowed tree. We watched him die. Our memory was suppressed... Until now. Little bits of our past will show up now." Mirror Paine turned to walk away. "Wait! Why now?" Mirror Paine continued to walk away. Once she was out of sight everything went black again. Suddenly all the memories of Nooj Gippal, Rikku, Yuna, and everyone else crashed into her. She heard a faint command to open her eyes and she obeyed. Looking strait into Yuna's eyes she smiled weakly. "Hey.." She whispered happily.
Yuna cradled the leather wearing warrior close, laying her over her lap. She let an X-potion trickle over her limp body, hoping that it would have some effect, pleading that Paine would be alright. "Please don't leave me Paine. I need you" she whispered more tears trailing down her cheeks, as sobs wracked her body. She held the warrior close and felt her heart swell as the moments dragged on. Still no reaction came and Yuna was beginning to lose hope, blaming herself for her second lost love. However, hearing Paine speak made her heart soar. She sucked in a sharp breath. Yuna pulled Paine closer holding her tighter. "I couldn't stand the thought of losing you" she whispered, not being able to find her voice. "I don't know what I would have done without you, I just found you, you can't leave me now, I love you Paine." Everything poured out of the brunette like an open flood gate. She couldn't hold it in and didn't want to. She wanted Paine to know that she had her wrapped around her finger. She had fallen and fell hard, harder than before. She wanted to spend forever with the warrior. She could hear Rikku jumping up and down but didn't bother looking over at her blonde cousin. Her hand came up to rest on Paines silver hair, holding her closer still. "Yuna give Paine to Kimahri." the blue Ronso stated bending down and reaching out. "It ok, we go" He assured her. Reluctantly she handed her lover over her eyes never leaving those of her warriors.
She couldn't stand the guilt she felt; she shouldn't be hurt, she should be comforting Yuna. She tried to move, to hug her lover back, only to find she still couldn't move much. When Yuna said those three words Paine was shocked. She could feel fear and happiness swell inside her. The last person who told her that he loved her hurt her badly. Could she risk the hurt again... Did she have the strength to? She felt Kimahri take hold of her, but before her could turn, Paine made her decision. "I love you too my lady Yuna." She sent another smile before Kimahri turned and continued walking. Paine would never forgive them if they left the sphere behind. She knew she was scared of what would happen, but Yuna had been nothing bit kind to her... She pushed her fear away. Yuna wouldn't hurt her, not ever. Taking a deep breath, she held it for ten seconds before letting it out. She would give her heart to Yuna. After all love is giving your heart to someone and trusting them not to break it. She trusted Yuna...