Misplaced

By: Rikkoshaye

Disclaimer: I do not own nor claim to own any of the characters in Final Fantasy X, or anything Final Fantasy related. Do not sue me, unless you want a moldy cookie and a few pennies.

Updated August 8th, 2007

- - - - -

- Granny Gimmicks -

Twirling my spoon around in my cereal my mind wandered, going over the options I had left. Auron was seated at the island, fingering his robe which was laying over the counter. He seemed distant and far away, as if thinking about something. What, I wasn't sure.

Sighing I noticed a movement in the corner of my eye, and looked up. Tidus and Wakka, both looking a little disturbed, were walking down the stairs and being strangely quiet. Smiling a little I remembered how they were sleeping, holding back a chuckle. 'That must have been embarrassing...' I thought, pausing my spoon movement.

"So, Sara, when are you going to call Tommy?"

"It's Tony, and I already did." I said, resuming my spoon movement. Lifting the soggy cereal to eye level I watched as it dripped back down into the bowl. "He was no help."

"So, now what, ya?" I looked up at Wakka, face drawn.

"I... don't know."

"SARA!!" The blood curdling scream echoed around the house, startling me. Head snapping to the side I stood up, dropping my spoon. Running toward the stairs I saw my brother and sister round the corner and into the kitchen, followed closely by Yuna, whose hair was sticking up everywhere.

"It's your grandmother..." Yuna panted, eyes wide. "She's..."

"SARA DEANN JENSEN!"

I gulped, stomach dropping to my feet.

"Shit."

Sprinting up the stairs I was quickly followed by my sister and brother, Yuna frantically patting her hair and Auron striding calmly behind them. Walking quietly down the hall I opened my parent's door slowly, peeking inside. Grandma was up alright. And she was not happy.

Eyes huge and panicked she was quickly advancing toward the door, having spotted the movement of me opening it. Gasping I shut it in her face, hearing an enraged 'grandma howl' as it clipped her nose.

"Help!" Bracing myself against the wood I tried to keep the handle from turning, as Yuna and Auron came in and helped lean against the door. Emily and Zach watched as Tidus came up the stairs, closely followed by Wakka.

I noticed Zach's face begin getting more and more scrunched by the second, his eyes darting from me to the door to the sounds of my grandma's howls.

"Sara, let grandma out!" His voice wavered, and I could almost feel the air change as it got ready for the onset of tears. Although small and weak, my brother could knock down an elephant with his wails. Emily, on the other hand, seemed to be totally oblivious to the whole situation. Stars beginning to show in her eyes she walked over to Tidus, her body screaming 'flirt.'

Wakka looked over as my door opened and Lulu emerged from my room, a blanket wrapped around her body and her feet sticking out. She had abnormally large feet I noticed suddenly, looking down as she wiggled her toes.

"What's going on here?" Lulu asked, a hint of annoyance in her voice. Braids sticking out at odd angles she gathered the blanket closer to her, sniffling a little and blinking rapidly. Meanwhile my brother's mouth began to tremble. Looking over guiltily at Auron and Yuna I kneeled down, putting my hands on my brother's shoulders.

"Don't cry Zach. We aren't going to hurt grandma." Ripping his shoulders away from me a tear slid down his cheek. Grimacing I turned away, trying to shelter my eardrums from the wails that were sure to come. And come they did.

"YEAH RIGHT SARA!! YOU ALWAYS HURT PEOPLE! YOU'RE NEVER NICE TO ANYONE!!!" Sobs racked his body as he ran into his room, slamming the door. There was a pause. His door opened slightly and he stuck his head out, looking directly at me with tears streaming down his face. "AND LEAVE ME ALONE!!!" Slamming the door again he began to scream and wail, having his own little tantrum. I couldn't hear what exactly he was saying, but I had a pretty good idea.

"Sara..."

Looking over at Yuna I saw an odd look cross her face as she pressed her ear to the door. Walking over to them I could feel my headache begin to pound again from my brother's screeches, and I rubbed my temples slowly.

"What is it?" I asked, leaning against the door once again.

"Your grandma hasn't said anything for a little while now..." Seeing the worried expression on Yuna's face I clutched the handle tightly, putting my own ear to the wood.

Silence...

Curiosity coming over me I turned the knob slowly, sticking an eyeball through the crack and trying not to be noticeable. It wouldn't have mattered, because my grandma wasn't facing the door. She was doing something, in the corner of the room... Gasping I threw the door open, suddenly realizing what was happening. There was a phone in my parent's bedroom. And my grandma was calling someone.

"Thank you, officer."

The police.

"NO, GRANDMA!!" Running into the room I wrenched my grandma away from the machine, just as she finished setting it down. With a smug look on her face my grandma smiled, crossing her arms. Mouth dropping I let go of her, stepping away. She knew she had won.

As my brother likes to say, we were in deep doo-doo. And there was no end of it in sight.

Hearing some faint grunting I looked over, seeing Tidus hobble into the room. I noticed my sister had taken it upon herself to attach herself to his side, her eyes clouded and mouth in a foolish grin.

"Hey, Auron? Why don't you knock the old lady out again?" I saw an annoyed look cross Tidus's face as he finished his sentence. He then attempted to peel my sister off of his side, but unfortunately, it didn't work so well. Auron stepped into the room, looking at me for approval. Shaking my head I rubbed my face, my mind pulling a total blank.

"No, it'll just make the whole situation worse..." Lulu suddenly popped her head into the room around Auron's bulk, holding a moogle I had seen previously in the other room.

"Perhaps if I 'shock' her?"

'Tempting...' I thought, looking at the moogle. But in the end I shook my head again, watching my grandma's eyes flash wickedly. I never did particularly like this grandma... but...

"No, no. Can you imagine what the police will say if they find the person who called them knocked out? Not good for us." Watching Lulu's face drop I suddenly heard the familiar doorbell chime in the background. Sucking in quickly I peeked my head out of the door frame and looked down the stairs.

The police were here.

"Everyone..." I whispered, watching the police officer's head look back and forth, but not up. Yet, that is. "Hide somewhere. Make sure your concealed. And whatever happens, DON'T COME OUT."

Watching as everyone scrambled into my room I smoothed my hair, walking down the stairs and trying to look nonchalant. Leaving my grandma to her own devices I opened the door, looking the officer up and down and swallowing.

"Yes, we got a call from someone named Mary... apparently her granddaughter and some delinquents locked her in her daughter's bedroom..." The airy voice tumbled down on me as I looked up into the officer's face, mind racing. What was I going to tell this guy? How could I get him out of here?

"Well, uh, officer, you see..." I searched my mind for something, anything. But my mind might as well of been a rock. There was nothing there, and the man was beginning to walk inside. Swallowing I stepped out of his way, looking down.

"Hey, have I seen you somewhere before?" The officer suddenly asked me, stopping in his tracks. Looking back up at the cop's face I squinted, thinking. Then it came to me.

"Wait a sec..." I squinted again, thinking. 'Nah, it couldn't be? Could it?'

"I pulled you over yesterday! On that ATV..." He said suddenly in a burst of emotion and then trailing off, voice dawdling. Then I saw his face pull into a smirk as he put one hand on his holster.

"Oh, yeah..." I laughed nervously, putting a hand on the back of my neck.

"So those 'people' you were riding with were locking your grandma into her room, huh?" Laughing himself he looked up, my eyes following suit. My grandma was standing at the top of the stairs, grinning like crazy.

"That's right officer!" Her voice was high and screechy, a total difference then the kind monotone it had been the day before. "And they hid right in there!" Grinning triumphantly she pointed to my room, a hand on her hip. Smirking down at me the officer started striding up the stairs, making sure I followed behind him.

Sighing I let my shoulders sag, head down. I had failed them, and now they were going to go to jail. And there was nothing I could do to stop them.

Well, not me, anyway.

"You know..." The officer said, stopping halfway up the staircase. "Yesterday you had me convinced that those... people you were riding with on that ATV were from a video game I played not too long ago." Laughing his eyes flashed. "Stupid, hmm? I have no idea what came over me… now it's obvious that I never should have let you guys go." The cop smirked at me, his obvious thoughts of what a stupid child I was oozing out of his facial features. I felt anger boil up inside me, but pushed it away. This guy was trying to drag out his victory over me. What a jack-ass. Looking up I set my face, determined not to give into his little games.

"Well, actually..." I let the sentence hang, mouth dropping open and staying that way. Looking at me funny the officer turned to where I was staring, and suddenly backed up a little, hand gripping his gun handle.

"WHOA!"

There, behind my grandma, was Kimahri.

I totally forgot that he had slept through the whole predicament, and I watched dumbfounded as he yawned, a roar rumbling from his lips at the same time. Turning around my grandma gasped, body tensing and then freezing as she stared at the blue cat.

"Kimahri have good sleep. Nice floor here." He thumped his foot on the floor, teeth bearing in what could only be a ronso smile. One that could give nightmares, that is. Looking at the officer and my grandma oddly he turned his head, scratching a place on his rump. "Who these people?"

Screaming suddenly my grandma gripped the railing, her legs shaking and her knuckles white. Shimmying ten feet around Kimahri she continued to scream, nearly tripping down the stairs and clutching onto the cop as she ran into his chest.

Still staring at the large blue cat the cop's mouth hung open, grunts coming out if his tense body. Finally he managed to push out a quiet, strained word.

"Kimahri?"

Kimahri turned to the officer, his yellow eyes focusing as he crossed his arms. Growling a little in his throat he flicked his tail, clearly annoyed.

"What."

I tiny squeak came out of the officer's mouth as his jaw snapped shut, wrapping his arms tightly around my grandma. Just then Rikku popped her head out of my door, also yawning.

"Hey, what's with all the noise out here? And why is Auron in your closet, Sara?"

That was enough for the officer. Eyes wide he turned around swiftly, hands locked around my screaming grandma. Yanking her down the stairs he shoved her out the front door, turning around one last time before slamming the door shut.

"You people are crazy! I'm never coming back here again!" And with that he was gone, running to his car and diving down the street at speeds even his own kin would pull him over for. Sighing I turned to Kimahri, who was listening to Rikku ramble on about some dream she just had.

"Thank you, Kimahri." I said, climbing my way back up into my room. Kimahri nodded his head, following me and totally forgetting about Rikku as she continued to ramble. Opening the closet door quickly my face became fixed as six people came tumbling out, all yelling and cursing and scrambling away from each other.

"Gees, you guys didn't all have to hide in the same place..." I said, grimacing.

"That is what I said..." Lulu stated, peeling herself off of Wakka's lap, who had turned a bright tomato red and was giggling furiously. Yuna un-stuck herself from Auron's side, who looked very annoyed at the whole predicament, while Tidus waddled out on his feet, unable to sit down because Emily was still firmly plastered to his side.

"Could you get this girl OFF of me?" Tidus asked, pleading. Snorting I looked him up and down, my sister's eyes all glassy and her arms digging into his waist. Making a "tisking" noise, Tidus put a hand on his waist, gesturing toward my sister. "Come on! She's killing me!" Rolling my eyes I stepped up to them, leaning down to my sister's face.

"Whatever you say, Meg Ryan..."

"What?"

"Never mind." Blowing at her eyeballs I watched them dry and flutter, and a spasm racked her body. But she didn't wake up. Blowing harder I frowned, as she was clearly in what I could only call her 'happy place.' A little something suddenly came to mind and I snapped my fingers, smiling.

"EMILY! YOUR GUNNA BE LATE FOR SCHOOL!" I yelled, jumping out of the way as I watched my sister bolt up to her full height, eyes clearing and fingers twitching.

"What? SARA! How could you get me up so LATE!" Rushing out of the room she ran to her closet, and started picking out a pair of cloths. Shaking my head I turned to the crew, a few annoyed and a few sleepy, but all generally in one piece.

"Well, guys, I hate to tell you, but Tony was a flop..."

A few grim faces met my news, but I noticed Kimahri's eyes suddenly flicker and his ears turn. Looking at him oddly I cocked my head, wondering what he could possibly be listening to.

"Kimahri..." Yuna asked, also looking at him. Slowly everyone turned too, watching Kimahri's face scrunch into a few odd looks I had never seen him make before.

"Kimahri hear something... Something 'pinging.'" My eyebrows furrowing I watched as he stepped out of the room and sniffed, walking quietly out into the room me and Auron had had our little talk in. Tail flicking we all followed the blue animal as he stopped near a machine in the corner, looking back at me oddly.

"FORBIDDEN MACHINA!!!"

Looking over at Wakka as he screeched I rolled my eyes, watching him scoop up his weapon from the ground and get into a fighting position. Lulu, who looked annoyed and very uncomfortable in her tight over shirt (her blanket had been left in the closet), walked over to him and slammed her finger into his chest.

"Look here, mister. I'm getting tired of all your little fits with all this 'forbidden machina.' It's too early for this. I really don't want to deal with your taboos at this time in the morning!" Eyes darkening she leaned closer, voice becoming quiet.

"Understand?"

Gulping Wakka dropped his weapon, his knees visibly shaking. "Yes, ma'am."

Surprised at Lulu's sudden fit I raised an eyebrow, as did everyone else. I wasn't used to Lulu getting out of control, although it was definitely in her nature. She was usually calm, collected... Suddenly the machine 'pinged' again and we all turned, looking at it.

"No way, I left the computer on the internet..." I mumbled quietly, walking over.

"Com...tooter?" Yuna said quietly, coming with me. "What is that?" 'Hm'ing I looked at the screen, attention divided.

"No, its computer, not comtooter... and... hey, this is it!" Eyes widening I jumped into the air, a sudden option coming to mind. Turning to the crew I smiled, pointing at the screen. "You guys, I have an idea!!" Laughing at their weird looks I jumped again, a weight lifting off my shoulders.

"I think I can get you home!"

- - - - -

Finally, there may be a way to get these guys out of here! But will it work? What information will the internet be able to offer me? There are only eight days left until my parents get back... will they get out of the house in time? We'll just have to find out now, won't we?

Rikkoshaye