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
- - - - -
- Scrubs -
The internet hadn't given me as many answers as I thought it would.
Though I doubted that I would find much information on similar experiences, I had thought that maybe, somewhere, there would be clues to what a person could do if they were suddenly placed into an odd situation like mine. Maybe a number I could call for help, or a few steps I could take to remedy my situation, as it were. However, after a bit of searching, I was able to find a bit of interesting information.
For example, everyone who had tried to play their Final Fantasy X games in the last few days had ran across one small, tiny problem.
The main seven characters were completely gone.
Walking to my kitchen table I collapsed into a chair, the others filing in around me. Wakka, who looked weary from the sudden onset of machina, stood at the edge of the group. His knuckles were white from clasping his blitzball so tightly. He had left it hanging from his waist, and I watched it swing lazily as he paced about. Groaning I put my head down onto the table, closing my eyes.
"Now what?"
Looking up at Tidus I shook my head slowly, my gaze returning to the floor.
"I... don't know."
After filling my seven guests in on the fact that "the people in Spira had noticed their absence," (because, of course, I couldn't tell them what was really going on, and luckily they had only been programmed to read Japanese), I had found out a few more interesting facts. Not only were the main characters of Final Fantasy X missing, but Seymour had disappeared as well. Fiend encounters also seemed to have dropped, and interestingly enough, the characters that were left, though they could be interacted with, only spoke to each other, and often about the disappearance of Tidus, Auron, Yuna, and the rest of the crew.
It all seemed very strange to me; almost as if the world of Final Fantasy X was much more than just a simple video game…
Then again, the people standing before me should have been proof enough of that.
Rubbing my temples I looked up at the people positioned around my table, sighing. They all looked at me, slightly confused looks on their faces. Tidus cocked his head sideways, one hand on his hip.
"You don't know?" He looked at me like he didn't believe it. I shook my head again, not knowing what to say.
Fortunately, the phone began to ring.
Getting up and parting through the crowd of people I walked to the phone, picking it up on the third ring. Ignoring my small headache I put on my most cheerful voice, trying to fight back the impending grumpiness.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Sara! Ready to go to the mall?"
Oh. Shit.
Letting out a small squeaky noise I leaned into the couch behind me, mind numbing. I had totally forgotten about the trip to the Mall of America I had planned with my friend, Samantha. Letting out a small sound I stared, mind beginning to race.
"Sara?"
"Uh, yeah, I remembered. I mean, I'm ready. Yeah." I tried to giggle, but it came out more as a squeak. We had been planning this forever, for months. I couldn't puke out. Not now. But what was I going to do about my visitors? And how was I going to get there, now that grandma (who was my ride) is gone?
There was a pause on the other line before Sam spoke.
"Sara, you didn't forget, did you? We've been planning this for months!"
I responded quickly, shaking my head even though she couldn't see it. "No, of course not! I've been waiting for it all week! How could I forget?"
She sighed, seemingly happy.
"Okay, good. You scared me for a second there." She laughed quickly, relieving her moment of stress. I laughed too, attempting to do the same thing.
It didn't work so well.
"So anyway, me and my mom will be leaving in about an hour or so. I wanted to tell you now so that we'll get there around the same time. I can't wait!" Hey voice rose, clearly excited. I couldn't say the same for myself, but I tried anyway.
"Me neither! So... I'll see you there then?"
"Yeah, alright. Buh-bye!"
"Bye!"
Putting the phone back into its charger I went back to the kitchen table, looking at my guests. Wakka's face was tight with fear as he eyed the phone wearily. Tidus looked confused, a studying look on his face. Yuna looked confused as well, but her face was strangely blank, while Lulu's was curled into a slight frown. Auron looked passive but seemed to be searching my face for something, while Kimahri looked stoic, as usual. Rikku was the only person with a smile on her face, albeit it was a small one.
"Well?" I looked over at Lulu, who had her arms around her protectively. I wasn't sure if it was to look menacing, or to try to get more comfortable in the small shirt she had on. I held out my hands, only one option coming to mind.
"It looks like we're all going on a little trip, everyone."
Auron cocked an eyebrow while Yuna looked at me, tilting her head.
"What kind of trip?" I smiled, not sure I wanted to go through with this. After the incident at the grocery store, I was a little weary of bringing the 'crew' anywhere. Holding out my hands I sighed, shrugging.
"We're all going to the Mall of America."
- -
"Alright, everyone, now that we have gone over how to turn on the shower..." I looked over at my seven slightly damp guests, all glaring at Wakka. After seeing the water come out of the pipe in the bathtub, he thought that it had to be a fiend getting ready to cast a water spell. Throwing the blitzball at it he just missed the faucet, but instead smacked it into the water, resulting in everyone being a sprayed with freezing cold droplets.
Needless to say, his blitzball was taken away soon after that.
Sitting on my bed I held a stack of clothes in my hands, smiling a little. Although Lulu looked almost grateful to get out of her tight shirt, the others looked slightly doubtful. But what could I say? They wouldn't blend in much if I let them go in what they were wearing.
Plus, they were starting to stink.
Grabbing the first two items off my pile I opened them up, facing Yuna.
"These, are for you."
Giving her a small stretchy red top that had a kitty on it, and a pair of blue jeans that flared out at the bottom, I smiled and she held it out and looked at it. She finally put it down, smiling back at me.
"Thank you."
Picking up my next three items I turned to Wakka, smirking. Throwing him a white muscle shirt and a thin over shirt that was blue and decorated with white dragons, I held up the last piece, smiling. Baggy and a dark denim blue they were the ultimate punk pants, complete with a network of chains. I had always wanted to see a Wakka-punk. Thankfully, this was my chance.
Scowling at the pants Wakka jerked his thumb at it, eyes clouded in disbelief. "I've got to wear that, ya?" I nodded, handing them to him. He held them an arms length away, clearly not happy. "But they are... 'gay'!"
I stared at him, as did everyone else. He turned slightly red, folding them up neatly.
"But I like them, ya..."
I scowled, grabbing my next set and looking away from him.
"This is for you, Lulu."
I handed her a large over shirt that was jet black and had '99 Devil' written on it. Faded black pants that I hoped fit her tight to the skin were the second part of the outfit, complete with a black belt with silver accents.
"It says 99 Devil." I told her, handing both garments over. I saw a small smile touch her lips and she ran her hand over the lettering.
"I like it." She said, looking up at me. I smiled, shuffling through the remaining cloths and picking out another outfit.
"Rikku..."
Tired of her swanky shirts and revealing shorts (which were much more embarrassing in person) I had picked out a nice shirt that went halfway down the arms but was slit at the belly button. It was a bright yellow, and matched the Capri pants I gave her, which were a modest faded blue.
Looking at the clothes briefly she stuck out her tongue, grimacing. "It's so... so..." She looked at me, gesturing.
"Modest?" I said, cocking an eyebrow. She nodded vigorously.
"Yeah! I mean, how are you s'pposed to keep cool in this anyway?" She waved it around, smacking Tidus in the face.
"Hey! Watch it!" He said, rubbing the red smack mark. Rikku didn't seem to notice.
"Well, let me put it this way. If you went to the mall looking like that, you'd have men crawling all over you." I tilted my head as she looked down, pondering.
"Aw, okay, I'll wear what you want, but only 'cause I'm starting to stink! Okay?" She looked at me, face curled into a pout. I laughed, nodding.
"Okay, you win."
Grabbing the next pair of cloths I laughed, remembering how much I loved picking these out. Looking over at Tidus I smirked, and I swear his face paled.
"Here you go, Tidus."
It was pink. I just couldn't resist it, when I was shuffling through the closets in the house. A neon pink shirt; it was solid material in the chest area but the short sleeves and the stomach was netting. Black leather pants that were tight to the skin but made to be comfortable completed the outfit, except for one thing.
"And this, of course, is your 'bling bling.'"
Holding out a large silver spike necklace I placed it on top of the folded cloths, plopping it down onto his lap. He stared at me, face a light, pale green.
"You want me to wear THAT?" He said, eyes wide. I smiled, shrugging.
"Hey, you always were a ladies man." He stared at me, and then down at his cloths.
"No."
"What, are you afraid of a little pink, ya? Look what I have to wear!" Holding up his punk pants Wakka snarled, shaking his head. Tidus looked at it, mulling it over.
"Hey, do you want to trade?" Wakka's face paled as he pulled his pants closer.
"Naw, tha's okay, ya." Tidus's head drooped and he began to pout, not looking at me. I head him mumble something about 'stupid cloths' and 'girls don't know what real fashion is.' I let it go, but not without some eye rolling.
I spread open the last of my cloths, for Auron of course. I black shirt with a few red lines intertwining along the bottom, his pants were simple faded blue jeans. The shirt had a collar that could be either folded up to a turtle-neck like style, or folded down in a more stylish way. I handed him his cloths and he looked them over, scrutinizing.
"Can I wear my coat with this?" I thought about it, scratching my chin.
"If you take off the neck guard then I don't see why not." He gave me a half-lip smile, and set the cloths aside.
Suddenly, the door to my room busted open, my sister stomping in. Her hair was wet and dripping occasionally on my carpet, and her face was bunched up into a maddened squint. Zach came huddling in behind her, looking over his shoulder at Kimahri, who I had left outside to watch when Zach came out of his room and Emily got done putting on her make-up.
"You... you... YOU'RE LEAVING US WITH HIM?" she screamed in my ear, motioning violently at Kimahri. I backed up a little, not ready for her sudden emotional onslaught. Kimahri shifted a little, but stayed in his cross-armed stance.
"He's scary..." My brother whispered, voice shaky. I looked into my sister's eyes, wide and cold. They were afraid of the Ronso.
Great.
"Look, you guys, he's not..." I lifted myself off my bed and trotted over to Kimahri, who watched me with his small golden eyes. Motioning my sister and brother over to me I saw them huddle together, looking up at the towering creature.
"Kimahri?"
"Yes?"
"Would you ever hurt my little brother or sister?" He looked them over carefully, and then walked closer. I saw my sister tense up and heard my brother whimper as Kimahri bent down to them, looking them over. Giving them each a huge sniff that ruffled their hair he growled a little, almost a purr. Standing he looked back up at me like nothing happened, crossing his arms.
"Kimahri thinks they good people. Kimahri not hurt them."
"And will you protect them from anything that comes through these doors trying to hurt them?" Kimahri nodded, tail encircling their backs.
"Kimahri will protect them with life." I smiled, looking down at my brother and sister. They still seemed weary, eyeing him oddly.
"Can you give them any proof?" Kimahri looked at me, and then back down at them. Turning to them he attempted another smile, his canines shining and his lips pulled back in an odd snarl-like shape. My brother's eyes grew to the size of saucers and my sister backed up, clearly afraid. I slapped my forehead, moaning.
"Don't worry, you guys. Just look at that face, it would scare away anyone."
Kimahri didn't seem very happy with that comment.
Walking back into my room and stopping the small chatter that everyone was having about their outfits, I lead them all to the bathroom, six towels in my hands. Handing one to each person I told Lulu to go first, to relieve her of her tight over shirt.
"Use your own underwear, because I'm definitely not loaning any of you guys mine. Wash your hair with the shampoo over there, and scrub yourself down with the soap. If anyone has to shave, there should be a few razors sitting around somewhere... You have used this stuff before, haven't you?" Everyone nodded, looking solemn.
"Alright, then. As soon as we're all dressed, we'll head down to the mall!" I rubbed my hands together, smiling. But hen I remembered that we had a little problem. Who was going to drive us? Face falling I looked at the six of them, who were watching me.
"Hey, uh, this is going to sound a little stupid, but do any of you guys know how to drive?" Instantly Tidus's hand shot up into the air as he grunted wildly, jumping.
"I do! I do!" I looked at him, remembering how he had acted on the 4-wheeler ride to the grocery store. Did I really want him driving a car? Visions of horrible crashes filled my head and I shuddered, looking away.
"Anybody else?" Auron nodded slowly, looking at me over his sunglasses. I sighed in relief, the sudden horror of Tidus driving seeping out of my body.
"Okay, then, we should be all set. Everyone get scrubbed up, and then we'll get going." The seven people nodded at different intervals, and a sudden sense of dread filled my gut. What was I thinking, bring these guys along into the biggest tourist attraction in Minnesota?
This was going to be a long day...
- - - - -
What will happen when we get to the Mall of America? What will my friend say? How will everyone react? How will my brother and sister like being babysat by a huge, furry blue cat? Am I insane? And where the heck did all those fiends and Seymour go? Don't worry, folks, this story isn't close to being over...
Rikkoshaye