Chapter 7: Blue
"Bevelle!"
Rikku clapped her hands.
Yuna shivered. They were just outside the temple. This was where she had nearly married Seymour. Where she had jumped. They had been hunted like animals after that. Betrayers of Yevon when Yevon had betrayed them. She took a deep breath
'Tidus. Think of Tidus,'
She walked up the stairs. Guards were posted outside the doors. They bowed to her.
"High Summoner Yuna!" They chorused.
"Guards of Bevelle!" Rikku yelped in a singsong voice. Yuna smothered a smile.
The door opened.
She walked in while Rikku marched, her knees hitting her stomach and her arms flying up in the air. She looked such a spectacle! Yuna couldn't help but laugh. There was a small courtyard inside.
A blonde man had his back turned to them.
"Now where there's laughter normally Cid's girl is not far behind," He turned and grinned. Rikku stopped mid march, her mouth dropped open.
"Gippal!" Her voice rose to a squeak.
"Rikku!" His voice went squeaky in a mock imitation of her. She thumped him. He laughed. Yuna looked at him.
He had a patch over one eye, his hair stuck up on end and had piercings around his eyes and ears. He bowed to her.
"Lady Yuna," Yuna had to admit he was hot. But he wasn't Tidus. Rikku was bright red.
"What brings you two lovely ladies to Bevelle?" He asked looking at Yuna. She blushed.
"We're looking for a man called Barali," She registered surprise in his eyes.
"The praeter is kinda busy," He scratched the back of his neck, the way Tidus often had done.
"Well can't he make a window for the High Summoner?" Rikku mumbled. Yuna looked at her. She was glowering at Gippal. He smiled at both of them.
"I'll see what I can do," He walked away. The sun glinted off his gold hair. Rikku stuck her tongue out at his retreating back. Yuna raised her eyebrows at her.
"What?" Rikku spread out her hands. "Did I look attractive marching?" She whispered. Yuna laughed and marched around her.
"Oh shit!" Rikku stamped her foot. Yuna laughed.
"You still like him!" Yuna pointed at her.
"Nooooooooo! I don't!" Yuna gave Rikku a look. "'Kay! Maybe just a little," Rikku showed with her hands.
They were far apart as her arms would let them go.
Gippal was coming back. Rikku craftily turned her declaration of love for him into a stretch.
He grinned to himself. She was cute. Like a kitten, one you wanted to hold close to you, but would have to let go cause they would set their claws into you and not let go. Rikku had been like that. Cute and warm. Yet she had not set her claws into him. It had been the other way round. He had wanted more and she had run a mile.
"He will see you now," He smiled at them. Yuna smiled gratefully at him. Rikku was looking at the floor. He frowned to himself. He led them inside the temple. The thick smoke still coated the inside of the temple. The praeter was stood by the balcony. He had white hair and was very tanned. He smiled warmly at both of them.
"Lady Yuna! Welcome!" He nodded at Rikku who nodded kertly back. A woman was stood beside him. She had short gray hair and was wearing a long black dress. She looked at them suspiciously.
"This is my wife Paine," He told them. She smiled at them, a smile which didn't quite reach her eyes. "How can we be of service?" Barali asked motioning to Gippal and Paine.
"Oh! We...came for a sphere," Yuna muttered. She hadn't thought of how she would do this. Now she sounded stupid.
'Be strong! Your High Summoner! You defeated Sin!'
Barali raised his eyebrows.
"Bevelle contains many spheres," He bowed slightly. "Which one would take your fancy," Yuna could feel her cheeks flush.
"Hey buddy! She is High Sumoner! She should have access to every sphere in the whole of Spira! Now we are looking for one we were told you would have!" Barali stared at Rikku. Then smiled.
"How could you let her go Gippal?" He laughed and turned to leave.
"I am sorry Lady Yuna. I have a prior engagement but if you would like to follow Gippal he will take you to a resting room," Barali exited with Paine who was staring at them. Gippal smiled at them.
"If you would like to follow me?"
"Quite the room service man aren't you!" Rikku jeered. He smiled at her.
"You were never complaining," She flushed. Yuna giggled at them gibbering as they led the way.
"Is it her master?"
"Yes! Give her the sphere!" Barali shifted on his feet.
"Master. Isn't it abit unfair on her?" The man in the sphere trembled with rage.
"Isn't it unfair I'm stuck here? In this..this...Farplane!" He hissed. Barali looked at his wife. She shrugged,
"It's your choice babe," She looked uncertain though.
"Can't someone else do it?"
"No! I want it to be her!" The man hissed again. He glared at Barali, his eyes flaring.
"I have ways of hurting the living Barali," He lowered his voice so Barali had to lean close to the sphere to hear, "And your wife will go first,"
"What should I tell her?" Asked Barali.
The man smiled.
Rikku bounced on the bed.
"Hot or what?" Yuna giggled. Gippal had gone after alot of Rikku's digs.
"Yeah. Why did you dump him again?"
"He wanted more," Yuna's eyes widened. Rikku nodded. "He was all 'Rikku I love you, We're so perfect!' I wanted to spew most of the time!" Yuna smiled to herself. Rikku was a very bad liar. There was a knock at the door.
Paine entered without invitation.
"Hey Paine!" Smiled Rikku. The ruby eyed woman smiled at her. She gave Yuna a honey sweet smile too, but Yuna suddenly felt cold. She smiled shyly at Paine.
"Paine used to travel with me on the ship. Then she met Barali and left me to get all broody with him!" Paine smirked at Rikku.
"Yeah and Gippal wanted to get all 'broody' with you!" Rikku gave her a pointed look.
"I'm sixteen Paine! Not twenty-six!" Paine laughed. Then she looked at Yuna.
"My husband..." Rikku giggled, "Will see you now in the Hall," Rikku leaped up.
"Lead us O' red eyed leader," Rikku cried. Yuna stood and followed Paine to the Hall.
Barali was sat in a large chair. In his hands was a blue sphere. Yuna's heart leapt. That was going to help Tidus!
He stood up and bowed to her and Rikku. Gippal was stood by the chair, looking at Rikku with fondness and what Yuna thought was love. Rikku was oblivious to this and was staring at the blue sphere in Barali's hands.
He smiled at them.
"This sphere has the ability to bring someone back from the dead," He said.
"To use it you must go to the Farplane and trap the pyrafly in it. Then smash it!" He handed the sphere to Yuna. Yuna was puzzled.
Tidus wasn't in the Farplane!
She had never gone but she knew he wouldn't be there. She shook her head. Tidus had told her to do this. She would do whatever it took to get him back! She smiled at Barali.
"Gippal and Paine will go with you to make sure you do it correctly," Rikku glanced at Gippal who was looking at Barali in shock as was Paine.
He nodded at them. Paine nodded at him and left the Hall. Gippal exited shortly after. Barali suddenly looked old. He was creased with worry. He smiled at the two girls. He couldn't have been much older than them but he looked about fifty.
"Will you be alright Praester?" Asked Yuna. He looked at her with pity,
"Yes. I have all the guards!" He laughed lightly. Then bowed to her and left.
"He looked...iffy," Rikku stated.
"Iffy?"
"Yeah. Iffy. Something's wrong Yuna. Can't you feel it?"
"This place reeks of secrets even my husband doesn't know," Paine was stood behind them. She looked totally different! Her dress had been changed for some black studded shorts, a black crop top and a few belts around her waist. Gippal came in after her, unchanged.
Yuna nodded at her. Barali came back in with a case full of potions and a few weapons and shields. Yuna smiled gratefully at him. He looked at Paine. She smiled at him.
"First time they will be apart," Whispered Gippal in her ear. Barali kissed Paine on the forehead and held her close to him.
"Be careful," He told them all. Gippal nodded and stepped closer to Rikku protectively. Paine clung to her husband. He placed his hands on her shoulders and placed his forehead against hers. He whispered a few words Yuna could not hear then slightly pushed Paine off him. She straitened up and walked to Yuna. They left the temple together, leaving Barali alone.
"I'm sorry," He whispered. "I'm so sorry!"