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
- - - - -
- Call of the Mall -
"Come on! I really want to drive!"
Rolling my eyes one last time I looked over at Tidus, who's whining was worse then my sisters. One hand on his hip he looked at me, lip curled slightly as he 'tsked' loudly. Looking down at his pink net shirt I averted my eyes, putting my hand up to my mouth. It was too much. I couldn't stand it anymore.
I started to laugh.
Shoving past me Tidus stomped down the stairs, his leather pants molding his butt nicely. Too nicely. And combined with the pink... Slumping down on the floor I began to laugh even harder, tears beginning to stream down my eyes. The stress was getting to me. I knew I was going to break pretty soon.
Ah, well. Might as well laugh along the way.
"Are you okay, ya?"
Letting out a few more giggles I looked up at Wakka, who was staring down at me, hair dripping. The bathroom door behind me was open and the hot steam rolled out, making me blink. How hot of a shower did Wakka take?
Looking up into his face I saw him look down at me curiously, the long hair that usually formed his cowlick tucked behind his ears. The rest of his mane was fairly short, sticking up at odd angles. Shaking my head I lowered my eyes, looking down at my hands.
Whoa. Wait a minute.
"WAKKA! WHERE ARE YOUR CLOTHS?" Standing up quickly I tried my best to focus just on his face. Looking past him I saw his towel sitting on the bathroom counter, his blue headband laying casually on top. His cloths were still sitting on the toilet, untouched.
Seeing him turn slightly red he shuffled back into the bathroom, muttering a few "sorry's" before shutting the door. Rubbing my eyes I swallowed, trying to get my brain to delete the awful image it had just obtained.
Well, now I knew that he was a true redhead, anyway.
"What happened." It was not a question, but a statement.
Looking behind me I saw Lulu walking up the stairs. She had a look of annoyance on her face, like she knew Wakka had done something stupid. And it wasn't the first time. Rubbing my eyes one last time I looked at her, shaking my head.
"He came out and forgot his...uh..."
"Clothes?" She asked, utterly serious. I nodded, swallowing. I was too young to see this! Why me? Why did I have to go through that torture? Looking down at Lulu I saw a knowing look cross her face as she shook her head.
"He has done that at least ten times on our pilgrimage. I don't know what is with men and dropping their shorts. It is so uncivilized." I watched as Lulu shook her head, one hand pressing into her forehead.
I had to admit, she looked pretty good in the outfit I had gave her. She had added an extra belt around her thigh, most likely taken from her dress. I don't know why she would want a belt around her leg, but I wasn't the one who had to walk around with it.
Shaking my head one last time I walked down the stairs and into the living room. Everyone except for Wakka and Yuna had been cleaned up. I learned that Yuna always went last when they were taking showers. She tended to leave rings.
Sitting down on the couch between Kimahri and Rikku I leaned back, relaxing. I almost thought of calling Sam up and telling her that I was going to be late, because I was bringing a few people with me. Of course, that would lead to asking how many, and I didn't think Sam would like having six extra people tagging along. I decided that what she didn't know would probably be the best for all of us.
"Bathroom's open!"
Wakka trotted down the stairs, rounding the corner and trying not to be all too noticeable. That, of course, didn't work all too well. Everyone was silent for a good three seconds. And then we all started to laugh.
It was better then I thought it would have been. The huge, baggy pants with the chains all rattling and clanking covered up his feet completely, making him almost trip over few steps. The muscle shirt hung fairly loose on him, making the blue outer shirt billow outwards. His bandana completed the look, making him the best punk transformation I had ever seen in my entire life. Laughing hysterically I slowed my breathing to little gasps, trying not to pass out from the strain.
"Wakka..." I gasped, looking at him. "Say one thing for me, will you?" Wakka's face scrunched, and he made his famous 'humph' sound.
"What."
I got up, walking over and whispering into his ear. He looked at me in complete confusion, knotting his eyebrows. I nudged him, looking over at my sister and brother and raising my eyebrows. They looked at Wakka eagerly.
"What's up, foo'. Wakka is in da house!"
It was too much. Everyone burst into laughter, my sister and brother falling on the floor and giggling like crazy. Wakka's face knitted into a look of pure anger and he stalked back upstairs, chains rattling all the way up.
"Yuna! Your turn in the bathroom, ya!" The sentence was laced with anger, and I heard a door slam upstairs. Still snorting I plopped back down on the couch, Rikku leaning onto me for support. She had tears coming out of her eyes.
"That was great! I've never laughed so hard in my life!" Rikku said, laughter fading. I smiled, relaxing back onto the couch as Yuna walked up the stairs.
"Try not to leave too many rings!" I yelled up, gaze fixed onto the TV. The car chase from the second Matrix was currently playing on the screen. The movie seemed to entertain my guests more then I thought it would. Especially Rikku.
"Look at those machina!" She mumbled beside me, eyes huge. I looked at her, cocking my head, and she looked back. "I can't believe there are machina like that in the world!" She pointed to a semi, which was skidding across the road. I nodded at her, pointing to one of the cars as they raced along and exploded.
"That's how we're getting to the Mall of America. One of those things. A car." Her mouth dropped open and her eyes started to sparkle. Lulu, who overheard our conversation, wasn't quite as happy.
"And you're sure we aren't going to explode on the way?" She glared at me, arms crossed. I shook my head.
"No, no, of course not. Cars don't usually explode. They just sort of... glide along." I motioned a little with my hands, but she still wasn't convinced.
"Is there any other way to this... Mall of America?" I shook my head, laughing.
"Not unless you want to take the 4-wheeler the whole way." I saw Tidus visibly shutter and swallow loudly. Lulu grimaced and looked back at the screen, saying nothing.
This was going to be one interesting trip.
- -
"So... how are we going to fit into this thing?"
Rubbing my temple I looked down into the open door my mom's Mustang, and then at Auron who was sitting in the driver's seat. I had totally forgot that there were only four seats in the car, this including the driver seat. Kimahri stood at the door leading into the house, my sister and brother edging away from him. The others were clustered behind me, waiting for me answer. I 'hmmed', only one option coming to mind.
"I guess we're going to have to sit on each other's laps."
Everyone looked horrified.
"What?"
"No way."
"No, ya!"
"I refuse."
"Are you sure that this is the only way?"
I turned to Yuna, who was looking at me with empty eyes. I nodded, face pulled into a grimace.
"Yeah, that is the only way. Unless a few of you want to be strapped to the top of the car, and a few on the bottom." The group looked at me, faces pulled into looks of terror. I 'tsked,' shaking me head. "I'm just kidding..." Their faces relaxed and I turned to the car. Pointing to the back seat I turned to Tidus, nodding.
"Tidus, you'll sit behind Auron, with Yuna on your lap." I saw Tidus look at Yuna and actually giggled as he fingered his pink shirt unconsciously. Climbing into the car he looked rather comfortable as Yuna settled into his lap. I saw my sister scowling through the window.
"Wakka, you'll sit behind the passenger seat with Lulu on you lap." Wakka let a little smile slip past his lips, but quickly let it go as Lulu began to stare daggers at him. Sliding into the seat he 'oomphed' as Lulu sat down rather hard on his legs, causing him a good amount of pain. I wondered faintly if she'd be alright, or if Wakka was a bad choice for her to sit on.
"If you lay one hand on me, I'll rip it right off, finger by finger."
Nope, she was fine.
"I guess that just leaves me and Rikku." I turned to the happy hic, shrugging. "You want top or bottom." Rikku laughed, clearly excited to be in such a large machine.
"The top, silly! How would I see other machina if I was on the bottom?" I looked sideways at Auron, who rolled his eyes visibly. Sighing I slipped into the car, and tried not to grunt as she plopped herself onto my lap.
"Okay, Kimahri, open the... garage door..." I swallowed, re-shifting myself so that Rikku was more on my legs and not my diaphragm. Kimahri reached out a blue hand and pushed the garage door button, the loud noise echoing into the garage.
"What's that, ya?" Wakka said, jumping. I loud clunk followed, and then an echoing smack. I heard Wakka whimper and I looked back, a huge hand mark on his face. Lulu was rubbing her head and looking up at the car roof, scowling. I just shook my head and turned back as Auron started up the car.
Wakka's whimpers filled the vehicle. I chose to ignore them.
Backing out of the garage everyone tried to put on seatbelts, but it was nearly impossible. I watched my brother and sister stare at us with wide eyes as Kimahri closed the door again, stoic as ever.
We were finally on our way, two hours after my friend had called. And for the first time during the last two days I looked the whole gang over, finally wondering what the hell I was doing. And, I slowly began to realize the truth.
I had absolutely no idea.
- -
It was a godsend that we didn't get pulled over on the way to the mall. I was stuck gasping the whole way as Rikku jumped and fidgeted, commenting on the semis and traffic lights and even a plane that flew by.
Wakka whimpered constantly, actually screaming when Rikku mentioned the plane. It was more of a girl scream then anything, with a little touch of besaidian accent. Lulu slapped him soon after, complaining about her eardrums.
Tidus and Yuna were mumbling to each other the whole way, various giggles and little flirty screeches coming from that side of the car from time to time. Wakka and Lulu kept their gaze averted, and Auron winced every time he had to look in the review mirror. I kept staring at Rikku's back, thinking about how jealous my sister would be if she could see them.
Finally, an hour after we had set out, I could see the signs marking our arrival at the mall. As we came closer I could hear various mumblings of amazement at the larger highways and buildings, but nothing compared to the squeals Lulu, Rikku and Yuna emitted as I pointed out the approaching mall.
"We get to shop in THAT!?"
I nodded, smiling. My parents had left some money for the trip, and I had been saving up for a while. Patting my pocket I smiled, wondering what I would spend my 250 dollars on. Shifting a little I heard my back crack as Auron turned the car into the parking lot, pulling into an empty spot a ways away from the door. I couldn't get out of their fast enough, my back aching from Rikku's weight.
"On the way back, you're sitting on the bottom..."
Grabbing his jacket Auron pulled the red trench coat over his shoulders, adjusting it quickly and slipping one arm through the sleeve, the other slung inside. I turned to him, frowning.
"Do you have to go in there like that? It's kind of... odd." I watched him fix me with his piercing stare, his eyes just peeking over the ridge of his glasses.
"Yes."
And that was that.
Turning around I saw Wakka stagger out of the car, his face red with slap marks. Tidus slipped out after him, almost running into Lulu and giggling at Yuna, who had climbed out the other side. I shook my head in exasperation, stepping closer to Auron and farther away from all the other idiots I was stuck with.
"Come on you guys, let's do this."
We must have looked kind of funny, walking up the parking lot. Kind of like a gang. A man with his arm inside a red trench coat, some kid wearing a pink shirt, a punk with a cowlick, a girl with braids going down to her butt, and a seemingly normal high school ditz, hanging off the pink weirdo. I was the only normal one, leading them all like a pack of dogs.
As we reached the entrance I stopped and turned, giving then all my most serious face. Everyone except for Auron was visibly in awe over the largeness of the building, even Auron's eyes flicking upwards every minute or so. Putting my hands on my hips I commanded their attention, cocking my head toward the building.
"Alright, people. We are about to enter the biggest mall in the U.S.A." They all looked at me oddly and my eyes widened, realizing my mistake. "In Spira! I mean, the America in Spira. You know what I mean." I laughed nervously, hoping they didn't make any connections.
"Now, I don't want anyone freaking out..." I looked over at Lulu, Rikku and Yuna, who were all giggling. "And I want you all to stick close. It's easy to get lost in this place." I looked over at Tidus and Wakka, glaring.
"Are you ready?"
They nodded, looking at me sternly.
"Let's get this over with."
- -
"Holy mother of Yevon."
I wasn't sure exactly who said it, but I was sure we all agreed. Every time I came to the mall I always marveled at it. It was just simply the most gigantic collection of stores I had ever seen. But for most of the people around me, it was a million times bigger then anything they had ever seen. Everyone stared with wide eyes, and I was surprised to see Auron move his sunglasses down a bit to get a better view. Shaking my head I moved forward, listening as everyone began to follow.
"Come on you guys! Lets go find Sam!"
- - - - -
Will Sam flip when I show up with an extra six people? How are my sister and brother doing? Where's Seymour? What horrible things will happen in this mall? Will I ever get out of this mess? Stay tuned!
Rikkoshaye