Well, here's the second and final chapter for this story...but, if I get a
few more reviews in, I just might add on an epilogue...but if not, this is
it...thanks for reading this! Well, here it is...
Setting: Besaid Village
Narrator: Wakka
After I had talked with Lulu, I had begun to notice some changes about her. It seemed as though some emotional weight had been lifted from her. My guess was the weight had been Chappu.
Why didn't I tell her what Chappu said to me before?
Maybe...I just needed the right moment before telling her. Back at the battle with the flan, when I rescued her. Wait, what did that mean anyways? I don't like her in that way...do I?
I guess I had mixed feelings about this. I couldn't betray my dead brother with these thoughts, after all. From the distance, I looked at her, talking to Yuna. I couldn't help but notice how her smile was brighter somehow, and how the light fell on her fair skin. She looked...she looked...
"Uh, Wakka?"
My thoughts were interrupted by Rikku, standing there with her hands on her hips.
"Huh? What?"
She rolled her eyes. "I asked if you could tell me where Yuna is."
"Oh...right. She's right over there." I pointed to Yuna and Lulu standing to the left side of the temple. "Have you settled in here yet Rikku? Find a place to stay?"
She nodded. "The temple is being renovated, but I can sleep in one of the rooms they made in there. Ever since the fayth left, people have cast aside all the traditional rules and restrictions in the temples. Now it's being made into another structure of some sort. Since I know a lot about machina I can teach them how to use it properly so it can help them build." She smiled.
I stretched and yawned. "Well, it looks like you'll be happy here, ya?"
"Well..." She paused, thinking. "I love it here and all, but I'd like to see my dad and the airship one last time before I start to live here."
"Er, and your brother? You miss him too, ya?"
"Hud naymmo." She said in Al Bhed. Smiling, she went over to Yuna and Lulu, joining in the conversation.
Puzzled, I shook my head. Seeing the Besaid Auroches coming out of the temple, ready for blitzball practice, I stood up and went with them to the shoreline near the dock to train for the next tournament. I wouldn't actually be their coach again; just a spectator who might as well offer a few points here and there. As I walked on, I stole a glance at Lulu one last time, and could've sworn she had been looking at me just then as well.
Narrator: Lulu
Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw Wakka leave with his blitzball friends. As they talked to him, he laughed heartedly along. His eyes twinkled even from where I was standing, far away. He didn't really remind me of Chappu, who was always serious, but I tried not to think about him anymore, to let my mind rest. When Wakka left, I turned back to Yuna and Rikku. They seemed to be looking at me kind of funnily...
"What?"
They looked back at Wakka, then at me.
"What?!" I repeated.
"Well anyways," Rikku said, turning back to Yuna, "I think it'd be best if you, Lulu, and Wakka could come along with me. Yunie, you want to see your uncle one last time before he goes back to rebuilding Home, right?"
"Of course I want to see Cid." She replied.
"Great! I'll send a message to him and he'll come pick us up with the airship. Do you want to come with us, Lulu? We might stop by Mt. Gagazet to see Kimahri. They might even have Yuna's statue started!"
"I...suppose it will be alright. I wouldn't mind seeing the airship again."
"Great!" Rikku started jumping up and down. "I'll go see if Wakka wants to go too!" She left in the direction of the dock, leaving Yuna and I at the temple. Yuna sat down on the steps of it. I joined her. I noticed her face became filled with worry and sadness.
"Is something wrong, Yuna?" I looked at her with concern.
"Oh, it's nothing really...but, if we really are going to see Mt. Gagazet again, I'd rather not go inside the caves..."
I turned to her with a little curiosity.
"Only because...on the other side of those caves, memories lie there. Memories that...I can't stand seeing again..."
Was Yuna thinking about when she confronted Yunalesca and discovered that the final aeon wasn't the answer? That her father died for nothing? Or was it because her memories of Tidus would tremble there?
"Of course you don't have to go up there if you don't want to."
She smiled. "Thanks Lulu."
Rikku came running up. "Well, it's okay with Wakka, everyone. I'll send a message to my dad to pick us up!" She ran into the temple.
Yuna and I stood up, following Rikku.
Setting: Mt. Gagazet, two days later
Narrator: Wakka
The four of us stepped off of the Airship. We could see Cid waving in the window, glad to see his daughter and niece again. I looked around, wincing at the coldness, remembering it when we had once journeyed through here. The clouds in the sky had cleared a little since then though; I could sort of see why the Ronso liked living here. Factoring in the truth that they have nice big fur coats for this place, I understood how they survive up here. Looking to my right, I saw Kimahri rushing forth to greet us.
"Yuna! Come see your statue!" He grabbed her hand and pulled her along. We followed, shivering. After climbing the steep mountains and encountering a few fiends, he stopped at the very top, where we had once faced Seymour, and pointed. The statue apparently had just been started, for all that was there was the outline of some sort of pedestal. Around it a few Ronso were added stone and wood. They saw us and waved. Yuna smiled and waved back.
"Well, er, so far it looks very nice Kimahri."
The rest of us chuckled in the inside.
A little near the statue being made was a camp. There we talked to the other Ronso, ate dinner, and slept.
It was when I was laying bed, I suppose, that I begun to think about Lulu again. I couldn't stop thinking about her for some reason. But why? I looked around. The tent we slept in was small. Inside it I could see Yuna and Rikku sleeping peacefully, and Lulu on the other side. Kimahri and the other Ronso slept somewhere in the mountain.
Suddenly, I saw Lulu get out of her bed. I quickly closed my eyes, pretending to be asleep. Opening them just a crack, I saw her exit the tent and go somewhere.
Out of curiosity and concern, I got up as well after a few minutes. Quickly rubbing the sleep out of my eyes, I crept out and followed her.
Narrator: Lulu
Glancing around to make sure everyone was asleep, I got out of my bed and left the tent. Looking in the direction of the cave, I checked one last time to make sure nobody was watching, and then I went inside the cave.
I must overcome my fear, I thought to myself.
For the last three days, I hadn't really gotten any sleep. But I knew what I had to do. Now, I supposed, was as good of a time as any. Out of the corner of my eye, I thought I saw a shadow. A fiend? Or was there someone...?
I looked behind me, and there was nothing. Shaking these thoughts from my head, I continued to walk through the cave. It was exactly as I remembered it, the cool air, the tiny crystals everywhere, perfectly preserved.
I as I rounded the corner I spotted my destination. It was the little pool of water where Tidus, Wakka, and Rikku had once gone into. Holding my breath, I entered it slowly. Strange, this water wasn't like Besaid's. I guessed it was because this water had no giant waves or bad memories. I made sure that I was at a point in the water where I could stand on the bottom, and began to practice swimming. While doing this, I began to think about what Wakka had said to me a few days ago. The remembrance of snapping at him on the ship back to Besaid hurt tremendously. I certainly regretted it now; he was only trying to help.
Suddenly, I heard a roar. Turning my head slowly, I gasped, seeing an angry Behemoth stare back at me on the land. Its purple hair stood straight up, and it leapt into the air and back down again. It swiped its mighty claws at me, but I was just out of its reach. Snarling, it paced back and forth on the land. There was no escape. I cried out. I was trapped like a rat. Worst of all, I had left my weapon behind at the tent. It roared again. No one would ever think to look for me here!
And then, just as it was getting ready to swipe its claws at me again, something hit it in the back of its head. It stopped snarling, surprised. Then, it started to drowsily waver to and fro. Finally, it collapsed. After a moment, when I was sure everything was safe, I got out of the water slowly and peered down at it. Apparently it had fallen asleep. But how? I looked around.
And then, to the left of me, I saw Wakka standing with his blitzball, smiling at me. "Sleep Buster can be useful sometimes, ya?" He grabbed my hand. "Hurry Lulu! We need to get out of here before it wakes up!"
But it was too late. The Behemoth shook its head sleepily and woke up to the noise. It looked at Wakka angrily, and it moved to block the path back to camp.
"Run!" He said to me. Still holding my hand, we ran up the cave, past the fiend. It howled after us, but did not follow. We ended up on the cliff right before Zanarkand, where we fought the boss Yunalesca had sent.
Narrator: Both
They stood there, catching their breath. After a few moments Wakka grabbed her by the shoulders and said, "What were you doing back there, Lu? That Behemoth almost killed you! You could've gotten killed!" He said, half angry and half worried.
Lulu lifted her head to look at him. Wakka, surprised, could see her legs trembling beneath all those belts. "Hey...it's alright, ya? Lu?"
Lulu was sorry for all that she put Wakka through. With a saddened heart, she collapsed in his arms. Staring in his eyes, she could only look at him.
Wakka looked at her, again surprised, and caught her as she fell into him. At that moment both of their hearts shook with emotion. He moved closer to Lulu, protecting her in his arms. After a moment, he lifted her chin up and slowly kissed her.
Lulu's eyes widened, wondering why he was doing this after all she had done to him. But she cast these thoughts aside, and kissed him lightly back. Slowly her hands crept to his muscular shoulders, then his neck, and pulled him closer still. She trailed down to his necklace and fingered it gently.
Her kiss was as soft as the twilight. Wakka put his hands on her waist, and then moving to her long hair that fell to her back, gently swished it back and forth, so light that she could hardly feel it. He could feel her heart racing, and his began to pick up speed as well. She looked so beautiful.
She stopped the kiss and looked into his eyes. "Wakka..." She whispered.
"Yes Lulu?" He was afraid of what she might say. Did she still have feelings for Chappu?
"I...I love you, Wakka."
Hearing this, his heart melted completely. The relief showed clearly on his face. Warmly, he took her hand and said, "I love you too, Lulu. I'll always watch out for you, no matter what. I'll always protect you. I have...a promise to keep, ya?"
She smiled. "And I'll always be with you." Her heart beat against his, and together they gently kissed again, under the stars of the night. The wind softly blew into the two and almost seemed to wrap around them.
Well? What do you guys think? I really hope you like it! And remember, I'll add on an epilogue if I have enough reviews! For now, later!
Setting: Besaid Village
Narrator: Wakka
After I had talked with Lulu, I had begun to notice some changes about her. It seemed as though some emotional weight had been lifted from her. My guess was the weight had been Chappu.
Why didn't I tell her what Chappu said to me before?
Maybe...I just needed the right moment before telling her. Back at the battle with the flan, when I rescued her. Wait, what did that mean anyways? I don't like her in that way...do I?
I guess I had mixed feelings about this. I couldn't betray my dead brother with these thoughts, after all. From the distance, I looked at her, talking to Yuna. I couldn't help but notice how her smile was brighter somehow, and how the light fell on her fair skin. She looked...she looked...
"Uh, Wakka?"
My thoughts were interrupted by Rikku, standing there with her hands on her hips.
"Huh? What?"
She rolled her eyes. "I asked if you could tell me where Yuna is."
"Oh...right. She's right over there." I pointed to Yuna and Lulu standing to the left side of the temple. "Have you settled in here yet Rikku? Find a place to stay?"
She nodded. "The temple is being renovated, but I can sleep in one of the rooms they made in there. Ever since the fayth left, people have cast aside all the traditional rules and restrictions in the temples. Now it's being made into another structure of some sort. Since I know a lot about machina I can teach them how to use it properly so it can help them build." She smiled.
I stretched and yawned. "Well, it looks like you'll be happy here, ya?"
"Well..." She paused, thinking. "I love it here and all, but I'd like to see my dad and the airship one last time before I start to live here."
"Er, and your brother? You miss him too, ya?"
"Hud naymmo." She said in Al Bhed. Smiling, she went over to Yuna and Lulu, joining in the conversation.
Puzzled, I shook my head. Seeing the Besaid Auroches coming out of the temple, ready for blitzball practice, I stood up and went with them to the shoreline near the dock to train for the next tournament. I wouldn't actually be their coach again; just a spectator who might as well offer a few points here and there. As I walked on, I stole a glance at Lulu one last time, and could've sworn she had been looking at me just then as well.
Narrator: Lulu
Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw Wakka leave with his blitzball friends. As they talked to him, he laughed heartedly along. His eyes twinkled even from where I was standing, far away. He didn't really remind me of Chappu, who was always serious, but I tried not to think about him anymore, to let my mind rest. When Wakka left, I turned back to Yuna and Rikku. They seemed to be looking at me kind of funnily...
"What?"
They looked back at Wakka, then at me.
"What?!" I repeated.
"Well anyways," Rikku said, turning back to Yuna, "I think it'd be best if you, Lulu, and Wakka could come along with me. Yunie, you want to see your uncle one last time before he goes back to rebuilding Home, right?"
"Of course I want to see Cid." She replied.
"Great! I'll send a message to him and he'll come pick us up with the airship. Do you want to come with us, Lulu? We might stop by Mt. Gagazet to see Kimahri. They might even have Yuna's statue started!"
"I...suppose it will be alright. I wouldn't mind seeing the airship again."
"Great!" Rikku started jumping up and down. "I'll go see if Wakka wants to go too!" She left in the direction of the dock, leaving Yuna and I at the temple. Yuna sat down on the steps of it. I joined her. I noticed her face became filled with worry and sadness.
"Is something wrong, Yuna?" I looked at her with concern.
"Oh, it's nothing really...but, if we really are going to see Mt. Gagazet again, I'd rather not go inside the caves..."
I turned to her with a little curiosity.
"Only because...on the other side of those caves, memories lie there. Memories that...I can't stand seeing again..."
Was Yuna thinking about when she confronted Yunalesca and discovered that the final aeon wasn't the answer? That her father died for nothing? Or was it because her memories of Tidus would tremble there?
"Of course you don't have to go up there if you don't want to."
She smiled. "Thanks Lulu."
Rikku came running up. "Well, it's okay with Wakka, everyone. I'll send a message to my dad to pick us up!" She ran into the temple.
Yuna and I stood up, following Rikku.
Setting: Mt. Gagazet, two days later
Narrator: Wakka
The four of us stepped off of the Airship. We could see Cid waving in the window, glad to see his daughter and niece again. I looked around, wincing at the coldness, remembering it when we had once journeyed through here. The clouds in the sky had cleared a little since then though; I could sort of see why the Ronso liked living here. Factoring in the truth that they have nice big fur coats for this place, I understood how they survive up here. Looking to my right, I saw Kimahri rushing forth to greet us.
"Yuna! Come see your statue!" He grabbed her hand and pulled her along. We followed, shivering. After climbing the steep mountains and encountering a few fiends, he stopped at the very top, where we had once faced Seymour, and pointed. The statue apparently had just been started, for all that was there was the outline of some sort of pedestal. Around it a few Ronso were added stone and wood. They saw us and waved. Yuna smiled and waved back.
"Well, er, so far it looks very nice Kimahri."
The rest of us chuckled in the inside.
A little near the statue being made was a camp. There we talked to the other Ronso, ate dinner, and slept.
It was when I was laying bed, I suppose, that I begun to think about Lulu again. I couldn't stop thinking about her for some reason. But why? I looked around. The tent we slept in was small. Inside it I could see Yuna and Rikku sleeping peacefully, and Lulu on the other side. Kimahri and the other Ronso slept somewhere in the mountain.
Suddenly, I saw Lulu get out of her bed. I quickly closed my eyes, pretending to be asleep. Opening them just a crack, I saw her exit the tent and go somewhere.
Out of curiosity and concern, I got up as well after a few minutes. Quickly rubbing the sleep out of my eyes, I crept out and followed her.
Narrator: Lulu
Glancing around to make sure everyone was asleep, I got out of my bed and left the tent. Looking in the direction of the cave, I checked one last time to make sure nobody was watching, and then I went inside the cave.
I must overcome my fear, I thought to myself.
For the last three days, I hadn't really gotten any sleep. But I knew what I had to do. Now, I supposed, was as good of a time as any. Out of the corner of my eye, I thought I saw a shadow. A fiend? Or was there someone...?
I looked behind me, and there was nothing. Shaking these thoughts from my head, I continued to walk through the cave. It was exactly as I remembered it, the cool air, the tiny crystals everywhere, perfectly preserved.
I as I rounded the corner I spotted my destination. It was the little pool of water where Tidus, Wakka, and Rikku had once gone into. Holding my breath, I entered it slowly. Strange, this water wasn't like Besaid's. I guessed it was because this water had no giant waves or bad memories. I made sure that I was at a point in the water where I could stand on the bottom, and began to practice swimming. While doing this, I began to think about what Wakka had said to me a few days ago. The remembrance of snapping at him on the ship back to Besaid hurt tremendously. I certainly regretted it now; he was only trying to help.
Suddenly, I heard a roar. Turning my head slowly, I gasped, seeing an angry Behemoth stare back at me on the land. Its purple hair stood straight up, and it leapt into the air and back down again. It swiped its mighty claws at me, but I was just out of its reach. Snarling, it paced back and forth on the land. There was no escape. I cried out. I was trapped like a rat. Worst of all, I had left my weapon behind at the tent. It roared again. No one would ever think to look for me here!
And then, just as it was getting ready to swipe its claws at me again, something hit it in the back of its head. It stopped snarling, surprised. Then, it started to drowsily waver to and fro. Finally, it collapsed. After a moment, when I was sure everything was safe, I got out of the water slowly and peered down at it. Apparently it had fallen asleep. But how? I looked around.
And then, to the left of me, I saw Wakka standing with his blitzball, smiling at me. "Sleep Buster can be useful sometimes, ya?" He grabbed my hand. "Hurry Lulu! We need to get out of here before it wakes up!"
But it was too late. The Behemoth shook its head sleepily and woke up to the noise. It looked at Wakka angrily, and it moved to block the path back to camp.
"Run!" He said to me. Still holding my hand, we ran up the cave, past the fiend. It howled after us, but did not follow. We ended up on the cliff right before Zanarkand, where we fought the boss Yunalesca had sent.
Narrator: Both
They stood there, catching their breath. After a few moments Wakka grabbed her by the shoulders and said, "What were you doing back there, Lu? That Behemoth almost killed you! You could've gotten killed!" He said, half angry and half worried.
Lulu lifted her head to look at him. Wakka, surprised, could see her legs trembling beneath all those belts. "Hey...it's alright, ya? Lu?"
Lulu was sorry for all that she put Wakka through. With a saddened heart, she collapsed in his arms. Staring in his eyes, she could only look at him.
Wakka looked at her, again surprised, and caught her as she fell into him. At that moment both of their hearts shook with emotion. He moved closer to Lulu, protecting her in his arms. After a moment, he lifted her chin up and slowly kissed her.
Lulu's eyes widened, wondering why he was doing this after all she had done to him. But she cast these thoughts aside, and kissed him lightly back. Slowly her hands crept to his muscular shoulders, then his neck, and pulled him closer still. She trailed down to his necklace and fingered it gently.
Her kiss was as soft as the twilight. Wakka put his hands on her waist, and then moving to her long hair that fell to her back, gently swished it back and forth, so light that she could hardly feel it. He could feel her heart racing, and his began to pick up speed as well. She looked so beautiful.
She stopped the kiss and looked into his eyes. "Wakka..." She whispered.
"Yes Lulu?" He was afraid of what she might say. Did she still have feelings for Chappu?
"I...I love you, Wakka."
Hearing this, his heart melted completely. The relief showed clearly on his face. Warmly, he took her hand and said, "I love you too, Lulu. I'll always watch out for you, no matter what. I'll always protect you. I have...a promise to keep, ya?"
She smiled. "And I'll always be with you." Her heart beat against his, and together they gently kissed again, under the stars of the night. The wind softly blew into the two and almost seemed to wrap around them.
Well? What do you guys think? I really hope you like it! And remember, I'll add on an epilogue if I have enough reviews! For now, later!