-Chapter 5

A/N: Sorry for the long delay *bows*. I understand if you want to murder me. Anyway... I was busy dealing with a messy breakup and school amongst other things... but I'm doing better now. I also apologize for my crappy writing mistakes. I'm working on it.

And thank you all so much to those who left me critiques. I'm always trying to improve my writing. *bows again*

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Before she knew it she was running up the stairs from the engine room and down the hall to the lift -cold body in her hands, lifted over her shoulder. As the doors began to open she slammed her hand onto the Cabin level button and the doors shut. Paine's fingers seemed to work extra slow to her distaste as she took off the girl's scarf, in the process of taking off Rikku's freezing and soaked clothes. The door dinged open and she ran out and up the stairs, up to their usual beds and placed the Al Bhed girl down.

Ignoring questions from Barkeep at the bottom of the stairs, she wasted no time removing Rikku's sleeves, followed by her boots.

Barkeep, I need some blankets!

Oosh! Ish shomshing wrong witsh Miss Rikku? the hypello asked, picking up some blankets from behind the bar and hopping up the stairs.

I'll explain later. Give me a minute, okay? She replied, taking the blankets off of Barkeep's hands.

he responded hesitantly, backing off by retreating downstairs.

Paine continued to work. She was going to do what she learned from the Crimson Squad, the day Gippal fell through the ice training at Mt. Gagazet. He would have died if Baralai hadn't helped him...

A faint blush ran across her cheeks as she realized what he had to do. Then again, this was no time for modesty, a life was on the line. Rikku's life.

At that thought, having set the spare blankets aside, Paine sat herself down on the bed next to the lifeless body. She peeled the wet skirt off of the girl. It fell amongst the boots. She rushed over to the blankets, picked one up and threw it over Rikku -the back of her mind registering that she herself was soaked too and would not help the blonde in her current state.

Her mind marked every second that slipped by. Every second that Rikku had less of a chance of making it threw this. Paine kicked her boots off and her leather and mail shall, gulping, she under the blanket and over the body on the bed -not forgetting to take some more blankets along with her. Immediately, she wrapped her arms around Rikku's waist.

The blonde was freezing. At a closer look at Rikku's face, Paine saw that the Al Bhed's features were paled, her lips blue. This only urged Paine to hold Rikku closer.

Just wake up. Paine pleaded into an unhearing ear. If Rikku died now...

Come on, Rikku, wake up. she continued to mutter. This can't be it. If only she had been able to stop that idiot...

Time ticked by, and the Al Bhed did not stir.

One full minute. Nothing.

Please... Rikku... Her voice had dropped down to an urgent whisper, willing with every fiber of her being that she would get to see Rikku's green eyes open again.

More time slipped by... the girl's body was still cold.

Paine willed off the biting urge to cry. She didn't want to be left alone again. Her arms tightened around the girl.

You can't leave me... Paine's voice broke.


A flutter. Paine's breath caught in her throat. Before another moment passed, green eyes opened, unfocused, to the light of the Cabin. She let out a breath she hadn't known she'd be holding.

... Paine? What happened? the girl's voice was small, almost far away.

Calmly, although in shock, Paine replied.

You almost froze in Macalania. I got you out of the water and back here. You almost...

She could only breathe into the crook of the blonde's neck.

Rikku was okay, was was going to be okay.




After Paine had made absolutely sure that Rikku was going to be okay -and after she had gotten rid of the embarrassment burning in the back of her mind of having Rikku wake up in nothing but her underwear with the other girl on top of her- she went to the bridge to go explain things to Brother and Buddy, who were demanding answers.



The next day, things started as if nothing had happened, and to be honest, Paine was thankful for that. She had never let her guard down like that to anyone before, even if Rikku was unconscious. She really didn't want to know what would happen when she cared about someone that strongly. Strong enough... to make cry when if they died.

Everything seemed back to normal. That is, until she felt a tap on her shoulder. Paine turned her head to see Rikku. The girl was smiling cheerfully. Could I talk with you out in the hall for a sec? She said, motioning with her head to the door of the Bridge.

With a small nod, they made their way out into the hall. When there, Paine stood and looked over to Rikku, who now looked like she was hiding something behind her back. The Al Bhed started.

I... didn't get a chance to give this you to yesterday.

Rikku pulled out what looked like a folder of old papers from behind her back.

They're all I could find in the temple. The girl continued, handing them over to Paine.

Paine stood there, looking at the folder. It was a little water worn, but other then that, fine. Rikku actually got down there...?

Oh yeah, and I wanted to thank you too. Rikku finished bashfully, looking down at her shoes and playing with one of her braids.

The ruby eyed girl didn't know what to say to that. After a moment or two, she finally opened her mouth to form words.

You... didn't have to, you know. she said, lifting up the folder.

Rikku looked back at her and smiled.

I wanted to.

Paine frowned.

And almost got yourself killed doing it.

The blonde's face fell.

But... thanks anyway.

At this, Rikku's face turned back upwards into a grin, and she latched herself onto the other girl. Paine chuckled and shook her head.

Come on, I gotta take a look at these papers.


A little while later, Paine was sitting on the right staircase in the Bridge along with Rikku, flipping through the contents of the folder.

There were papers dating back to 20 years ago. They're were records of minor events, mostly the deployment of soldiers... actions of the Crusaders, but nothing about mercenaries was turning up.

So... anything useful? Rikku asked, leaning over Paine's shoulder to get a clear view of the papers she was shifting through.

Not yet... But they were on the right track.

The blonde said, looking a little down. It would really suck if they went through all of that yesterday for nothing.

Okay... the dates were getting closer to the present. Fifteen years ago.

I think I've found something. Paine announced to the other girl.

Ooo! What is it?

It was an old hand written piece of paper, most likely a small note that someone passed on to Macalania temple. It read:

The Mercenaries have been hired. They'll arrive in one month.

Those two lines were the first clue. When she was five, she moved to Macalania when the temples hired them. Well, she knew about that much before... but if this information was in here... She continued to look.

The next piece of information was of High Summoner Braska's Calm. That was Yuna's father.

Rikku, look, it has information about the last Calm.

She handed over the piece of paper to the girl. Oh yeah, I remember pops tellin' me about it. He said something about Yunie too. I kinda forgot what he said though... she commented lightly.

Paine gave a slight shrug. 'Thought you might have wanted to see that...

There wasn't any other useful or interesting information until they reached about six years after that. It was the return of Sin and the recruitment papers of new Crusaders. Then Paine came across something that brought a slight smile to her face.

Under the list of new Crusaders, she found Nooj's name.

She soon continued however, putting that paper aside for now.

There weren't many papers left, and she was starting to worry. What would she do if they're wasn't any information here? What would she do then? Would she have to ... drop it?

However, this thought didn't remain her her mind long as she reached the last paper in the folder.

This is it.

What? You found something?

Paine nodded and handed it over to Rikku to see. Looking it over, the blonde read aloud:

Mercenaries to explore Mangus Temple... they will be sent out from Macalania and Bevelle in ten days. Mages and summoners to follow. Please inform the Crusaders.

-It was forwarded from Bevelle?

Paine nodded.

Rikku continued. Hmm... Mangus temple... Haven't heard of it before, but... Hey! Yunie had these aeons -the Mangus sisters! And they were from this temple in the Calm Plains -do you think they were sent to the Calm Plains?

We could check it out.

Cheerfully, Rikku nodded.

Hey, Buddy -do you think we can stop by the Calm Lands today? The blonde girl asked, standing up from her seat on the stairs.

Hm, maybe tomorrow. We have to stop at Luca to refuel today. Is that okay? Buddy replied, turning around to face Rikku.

Rikku looked back at Paine.

Paine shrugged. It wasn't urgent that she go and see the Calm Lands today or anything. Actually, part of her was afraid to find out about her past.

Wait, now she wanted to smack herself. She was beginning to sound like Wakka.

Sadly though, it was true. Now she knew what if felt like... what if she didn't like what she found out? Or what if it was a let down, and she didn't find anything?

And then there was the dream that haunted her...

A chill ran down her spine.

Yeah, she could wait a day.

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Okay, hi. LoL

Um, I'm pretty sure my math is right about all the events taking place in Paine's life coinsiding with the events of the past 20 yrs in Spira. I'm also guessing that Nooj joined the Crusaders at 16. ^__^' Just a thought.

Anywho, I got the whole hydrothermia cure thing from the movie The Apostle -has anyone seen it and knows what I'm talking about? Anywho... um... I didn't really mean to do it just to get them in bed together like that, really, but I needed something for plot development. You'll see.

Thanks for reading. Be kind and tell me what you think!