Return of Light
"Where on earth did that—that creature wander off to?" Zeoron muttered, storming through the quarters in search of Chappu. She growled, yanking furiously on her dark chocolate braid. She muttered curses under her breath as she strode on toward Chappu's chambers.
Without even knocking, Zeoron practically rammed the door open and glared into the room. So he wasn't in the sitting room. Seething, Zeoron marched straight for the door leading into the bedchamber, not even bothering to let him know she was there.
Chappu was standing in front of the window, a bag lying in a heap on the bed with clothes and other various items strewn about. He glanced around as Zeoron slammed the door behind her.
"What the bloody hell do you think you're doing?" she demanded, planting her hands firmly on her hips and glowering at him, purple orbs flashing.
Chappu smiled and turned back to the window, bringing his hands clasping behind his back leisurely. "I'm going to the Farplane to visit Tida. From there, I do not know." he said simply, shoulders rising slightly.
"The hell you are! You can't just pick up and leave!" Zeoron nearly shouted, flinging her arms into the air.
Chappu turned to face her, eyes abruptly going dark. "I'm leaving, Zeo. I have some things to take care of and you are not going to stop me. Let me alone, Zeo."
Zeoron mouthed wordlessly before shutting her mouth, jaw set. "Very well then, Chappu. Leave. See if I care," she said huffily, turning and stalking away, black heeled boots clicking on the marble tiles.
Chappu sighed and ran a hand through his hair. He moved to the bed and began stuffing things into the leather bag. He paused before his eyes strayed to the dresser where the Spirit Keeper now lay, gleaming in the soft rays of the setting sun.
He sighed again and shook his head.
* * *
"Chappu's what?" Tidus said, standing abruptly and sending his chair crashing backward to the floor. Wine spilled out of his glass and onto his clothes but he paid it no mind. His cerulean eyes narrowed at Zeoron, who folded her arms and nodded.
"But where is he going?" Yuna asked. She had remained in her seat but her own glass of wine lay shattered on the floor, the bright red alcoholic liquid staining the white rug.
Zeoron's face was grim. "He's going to the Farplane and then off to fayth knows where," she informed the pair. Tidus and Yuna exchanged glances.
"Well, what are we waiting here for? We can't just let him leave!" Yuna said, pushing herself to her feet. She seized Tidus's wrist in her hand and began dragging him in the direction of the door.
Zeoron ran ahead and blocked her path. She held out her arms and shook her head wearily. "It won't do you any good. Once Chappu has something set in his mind, he won't change it. Besides, he's probably already gone."
Yuna groaned and dropped Tidus's wrist, slapping one hand to her forehead. Tidus stood staring blankly at Zeoron before growling and pushing her aside.
"Tidus!" Yuna called after him. She sighed. "Come on, Zeo, before he kills Chappu."
* * *
"I'll miss ya, man," Wakka said, clapping Chappu on the shoulder as he smiled. Chappu nodded to him before turning to Lulu and Rikku, both of whom were standing quietly, watching him with poignant eyes. They were standing on the ridge that led up to Mt. Gagazet. Wakka had one hand on the reins of a bright gold chocobo.
"Do you really have to go, Chappu?" Rikku asked, hugging him tightly. Chappu smiled and wrapped his arms around her briefly before pulling away and holding her at arm's length.
"Yes, Rikku, I do. For me, this is something I have to do. I need to roam. I feel… I feel like there's something I have to find and I won't find it here. Do you understand?" he explained gently, looking down at her tiny frame.
Rikku sighed and nodded, tears now glistening in her eyes. "I'll miss you, Chappu. You were what she loved the most out of everything."
Pain flashed through Chappu's eyes but it went unnoticed as he stepped forward to hug Lulu. She squeezed him strongly and pushed back.
"Make sure you stay out of trouble, okay?" she said, smiling though there was tears clear in her eyes. Chappu's lips curved in the smallest of smiles and he nodded.
Wakka handed him the reins of the chocobo and Chappu swung up on its back. The chocobo squawked and jumped lightly. Chappu chuckled and patted its neck.
"Easy, boy," he murmured, steadying the chocobo with one hand while he reached to shake Wakka's. "Take care, Wakka."
Wakka smiled reassuringly. He opened his mouth to wish Chappu good luck but—
"DON'T YOU EVEN MOVE, CHAPPU!"
All eyes swung to the exceptionally infuriated tall blond man striding purposely toward the group, blue eyes bright as flames. Rikku and Lulu's tears instantly vanished and they took a step back, staring at Tidus with caution.
Yuna and Zeoron were chasing after him, both looking haggard. They stopped a few paces away as Tidus fixed an angry glower on Chappu.
"Where the fuck ("Tidus!" Yuna gasped.) do you think you're going?" Tidus demanded, one hand restraining the now nervously dancing chocobo.
Chappu looked down at Tidus and sighed. "I'm going away for a while. Please, Tidus, try—"
"Let him go, Tidus, please," Yuna said pleadingly, stepping forward and grasping her husband's arm. She looked at him, begging him with her eyes as tears began forming in the colored orbs.
Tidus stared at her for a moment before sighing and releasing the chocobo's bridle. "All right, Chappu. Go on. I can't fight all of you."
Chappu nodded to him and signaled the chocobo into a swift run disappearing up the ridge. He waved back once before he vanished from their sight.
Yuna leaned against Tidus, who wrapped an arm around her shoulders and squeezed. Unconsciously, his hand rubbed her upper arm as he stared after Chappu. Zeoron whispered a prayer for Chappu's safe return.
* * *
The wind whipped Chappu's hair fiercely as snow blew around his form as he led the chocobo through knee-deep drifts. He stumbled and nearly fell but the chocobo jerked its up giving Chappu something firm to hold onto to keep from falling face-first into the white powder.
"Thanks, Sovereign," Chappu said, patting the gold's beak lightly. He sighed and shielded his eyes for a moment to look ahead up at the tall peak of Mt. Gagazet. He still had quite a way to go. Part of him wished he'd taken an airship to Guadosalam but then he'd have to find a way to send it back to Zanarkand.
Chappu sighed and glanced at the darkening sky overhead. He pulled Sovereign toward an overhand and began sparking a fire for warmth. The chocobo gathered its legs beneath it and moved to the ground, closing its dark brown eyes for sleep. Chappu chuckled as he finished with the fire and moved to grab something to eat.
His hand brushed something metal cold and his eyes widened as he slowly retracted his hand from the bag, a silver chain wrapped lazily around his fingers. He drew it all the way out and a silver charm swung, chinking, in the wind. The Zanarkand Symbol.
Tida's necklace.
Chappu stared at the charm dangling on the chain with soft eyes. Tida's name left his lips softly and he kissed the charm lovingly, feeling the wind suddenly stop blowing around him, replaced by gentle warmth.
"Heart of my heart," Chappu murmured, smiling.
* * *
"Argh! What the bloody hell is a 'conundrum'?!" Zeoron cursed aloud, flinging the file folder halfway across the room in anger. She muttered furiously under her breath and tugged sharply at her braid.
"I am going to kill Chappu when he bloody well gets back! Sticking me with handling this—this bloody bullshit!" she growled, flinging her pen like a dart and sending it stabbing into the back of the door where already a number of holes were littered across the wooden surface.
"Zeoron! What on Spira are you doing?" Rikku cried, opening the door and narrowly being missed by a second pen that lodged itself unsteadily in the doorway border.
"Planning Chappu's slow and agonizing death," Zeoron answered almost cheerfully, moving from behind the desk to retrieve the scattered papers on the floor. Rikku stared at her.
"If I recall correctly, you volunteered to do this," Rikku pointed out and Zeoron stopped in bending over to pick up the file. She raised her head to meet Rikku's eyes and glared.
Rikku gulped.
"OUT! GET OUT!"
Disclaimer: All belongs to Squaresoft. You people know what's mine.