-Chapter 7

A/N: *bows* Sorry for taking a while with this chapter. I didn't want to force it, and I wasn't ready to write it until today. Cause... this is kinda an important chapter. ^^' I think it went well, and I hope you all will too.

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The scent of dirt and dew drifted though out the air. They arrived at the Calm Lands just as the sun was rising. Despite some concern from Paine about following Rikku to the temple (it wouldn't have been the first time they got lost at Rikku's lead), they eventually arrived at Requiem Temple before noon. They found themselves on the cliff that led to a pathway up amongst the higher cliffs. However, the pathway was blocked by some fallen boulders.

I know this is the right way. Rikku started, eyes gazing upward to the top of the large rock obstructing their way. Still enthusiastic, she plotted a way to get around the obstacle. Paine, however, was slightly less calm then her partner.

The closer they got to the temple, the more Paine felt like her heart would pop out of her chest. Her dreams -or nightmares -whatever they were.... were about to be decoded... and she'd find out about her past. At least... that was the goal. But what if...

She tried to maintain some sort semblance of being emotionally aloof, not wanting the blonde with her to see her weakness... despite the fact that Rikku had indeed already seen Paine in weak moments... Sometimes when the cause of those moments were, in fact, the blonde herself. -But now was not the time to think those sorts of thoughts. She had to stick to her goal... but what if...

They were so close. If nothing came of this search... Paine would never know... All of the questions she had...

At this moment she found her left hand over the pennant of her necklace. Her mother... Her family. Her real family. If they didn't find anything...

Once again, Paine shook off her train of thought to focus on the present situation. They needed to get past these boulders some how... The boulders were too high to climb, and unless you were willing to be crushed under possible loose pieces, they couldn't crawl under either.

I got it! the Al Bhed girl announced cheerfully. We're gonna blast our way though! I'm gonna use some L-bombs, so you better stand back.

The other girl gave a silent nod in her direction before turning and walking a few paces toward the cliff's edge.

Okay! Ya ready?! the blonde called over to Paine.



With a nod from the blonde, she quickly pulled out one or two L-bombs from her inventory and set them up in a crack in the center of all the boulders. Turning tail and running in the opposite direction, she ran over to the other girl.

Hit the deck! Rikku yelled before she crouched down on the ground along with Paine as the bombs went off. Luckily, the explosion wasn't big enough to be a threat to them but enough that it took all all major boulders that stood in their path. After the smoke cleared, they stood up to dust themselves off and head on their way.

Paine's heart was pounding in her chest as they made their way up the path, closely following Rikku. Steeling her voice, she spoke.

Rikku, are you sure this is the way?

The Al Bhed momentarily paused to look back at the crimson eyed girl. Something inside her heart shifted upward. Rikku wasn't dumb, as much as people may have thought. Rikku could sense the underlying unease in Paine's eyes. She could only imagine what the other girl was going through. They've come so far... the girl hoped that they would find what they were looking for... so that maybe those crimson eyes wouldn't look so lost anymore.

Realizing that she may have waited to long to respond, she gave a quick nod and turned back to the path in front of her. Just was she turned the corner, the blonde stopped dead in her tracks. Found it. Rikku stated simply, a mix between nervous for Paine and nostalgic of two years ago. Giving the other girl a small reassuring smile, whether the girl appeared to need it or not, she stepped out onto the bridge.


As Paine turned the corner, sunlight assaulted her eyes. Once her eyes adjusted, she could see Requiem Temple, standing abandon in the middle of a giant fissure in the cliffs. She unwittingly gulped right after a chill ran down her spine. Okay well... now where to start?

Paine was first to set foot on the bridge to the temple. She paused as the old wood creaked and swayed. It wasn't as if it were falling apart -quite the opposite in fact, but you never knew. Assured the the bridge was stable, Paine proceeded across it, almost forgetting her blonde haired companion.

Does this look familiar?

Paine almost jumped out of her skin, at least, mentally, as Rikku caught up with her.

But... The hair on the back of her neck was standing up on end. There had to be something there.

The blonde replied, her earlier enthusiasm finally wearing off.

Do you think there would be anything worth looking at in the temple? Paine asked, eyes never leaving the old structure.




A few hours later, they stepped out of the forsaken temple, their search fruitless. Paine had become downright irritable.

Maybe there's something beneath the temple? Rikku tried meekly, having already suffered the wrath of the other girl's sharp tongue. With a glare shot at the blonde, Paine started off towards the right side of the temple, where a slanted stone path led downward to the bottom of the fissure. The blonde was once again left to catch up.

Oh yeah, I remember what this was for... we used to race chocobo down here. There was this one time-

And what good will it do us now? the other girl interrupted coldly.

The Al Bhed, once again shot down, quieted.

Having come back empty handed yet again, they returned to the front of the temple. They were both unusually quiet. As they started back on the bridge, Rikku spoke up.

Listen, Paine... I'm sor-

Listen Rikku- Paine started in a mocking tone, cutting the girl off.

The blonde, about having as much as she could take, bite off a retort as a non-preditory bird landed on a nearby low-lying ledge. Just as Paine was about to pass the ledge by, the bird took flight, only to knock some loose stone down. Crimson eyes were raised to the spot. Her breath caught in her throat.

Before another moment passed by, or giving the blonde a moment to catch up, Pane hoisted herself up onto the ledge. Upon standing up to fully inspect the ledge, she lost her balance. Just about as Paine thought she'd crack her skull open, a pair of arms grabbed her by the waist, steadying her. She looked back to find that Rikku had caught up. In turn, the blonde gave a small smile.

This is it. I've been here before. Paine murmured almost to herself as they faced a large but short tunnel -more of an arc- that lead to a sunny dirt path that lead upward to what Paine guessed was the cliff summit. Rikku just gave a nod and took in the surroundings. At that moment, Paine set out through the arc to go up the dirt path. Despite that the the other girl began to follow her, the only thing in her ear's were her own foot steps.

Then, for a second, she thought she heard the running of more people, which almost bid her to stop, but quickly disregarding it, continued. As she ascended in her pace, crimson eyes scanned about the sides of the path, bushes, amongst other shrubs... but nothing out of the-

In her dreams, she had been running down a path on a hill... a dirt path...

And Paine could almost smell the spells again, and hear the distant shrieks and scream of those at the summit. The small hand was in hers again, but instead -she was going up the hill. Not being able to tell the difference between her heartbeat and the sound of her boots as she ran, she made her way farther and farther up as she spotted where the path ended. It drew closer, and she could see the Sinspawn attacking the camp. Flashes of how the mercenaries were protecting the summoners while a list of never ended spells were cast clouded her eyes. The sun was beating down on the scene.

And Paine reached the summit.

The open air spiraling down to the bottom of the cliffs and a wide view of all of the Calm Lands met her at her left. As for the rest of-

Please, take care of your sister. Your father and I will hold them off -but run as fast as you can back to the temple. You should be safe there. Please, take care. The woman paused as she took off the sliver necklace from her neck and placed it on Paine's own. We love you both. A loud crash could be heard as the silver haired man ran off in the direction of the battle. -Now run!

And she was running, child sister in tow.

I'm scared. came a whisper from the small girl next to her, gripping onto Paine's hand.

Everything's going to be okay. She reassured her sister, never stopping. A little more, and they would catch sight of the exit. Everything's going to be fine. Paine smiled at the little girl for a moment.

Suddenly, a horde of Sinspawn were in front of them. Paine could hear the child's gasp, and they stopped in their descent. Stay here. She urged the little girl as her hand regretfully to grip her sword, which she raised in an attack before a loud resounding shriek sounded behind her. Her sister's.

Paine screamed, turning back to the girl.

One of the Sinspawn swatted the child aside like a rag doll with a sickening crack. The child's neck was broken on impact.

Paine screamed again, charging at the horde of Sinspawn. She wouldn't accept it. It couldn't be. No. The little girl would get up. Her little sister wasn't dead.

But everything wasn't going to be okay. It wasn't going to be fine. She was dead.

Paine had... failed.


Sin's toxin would prevent her from remembering any of this, however. She would wake up back in Bevelle, clueless of the event of which she was the only survivor.

From that point on she would be known as Paine, and would become an eventual Recorder in the Crimson Squad.


Back in the present, Paine found herself staring at the rows of unmarked graves embedded in the dirt. Here... lay her mother and father... and her younger sister.

Paine had a younger sister.

She didn't even know their names. She didn't even remember her own name.

That little girl depended on her.

She just went on with her life. Time had passed by. And she just forgot.

She told that little girl it was going to be okay. If only she hadn't let go of that small hand... Maybe her little sister would still be alive. If she hadn't...

And she just forgot. How could she forget?! How could she forget that she had let her little sister die?


Paine didn't hear the approaching footsteps coming up the hill behind her.

Rikku found her companion standing dead still at the top of the hill, silent. She opened her mouth to speak to let her presence be known, but then decided against it upon seeing the sober look on Paine's face. The Al Bhed felt a pang in her chest looking at her. A look of cold sadness marred Paine's features. Then green eyes turned themselves to the rows of unmarked graves stretched out in front of them. This must be where Paine's family was.

Suddenly, Rikku felt a wave a guilt wash over her. She had been way to enthusiastic this morning for such a venture. What had she been expecting anyway? The Al Bhed felt slightly dumb at that moment. No one should be that excited about finding graves of someone close to you's family. Looking at the ground, she found her voice.

I'm... sorry.

Scowling, Paine turned around and started back down the hill. However, the blonde failed to notice the few tears that had stained the other girl's cheeks.



The Celsius was unusually quiet. Since there was no Yuna, Brother was moping, Buddy was trying to ignore Brother's moping, Shinra was busy at work, ... but even Rikku's usual sprightly buzz had come to a dull lull, and Paine was rarely to be seen on the Bridge at all.

That night however, just after Rikku had gone to bed, she heard footsteps coming up the stairs. Rolling over in her bed, she saw the fatigued form of Paine. She considered saying something, but took it back as the other girl began to undress. The blonde immediately shut her eyes in embarrassment. However, she could not contain the thrill that ran up her spine at the thought of Paine getting out of that chainmail leather shall... and unlatching each of those belts...

What was she thinking?! This was Paine, the girl who found the final resting place of her only family yesterday.

But by the time Rikku had cleared those thoughts out of her head, she opened her eyes again -only to find the object of her recent thoughts sound asleep.

Oh well. She would talk to Paine tomorrow.


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Eep. This was interesting to write, since my little sister was in a bad sledding accident two months ago and I remember getting all upset and stuff. So, sorry if it sucks due to sentimental crap. *bows* Tell me what ya think. Oh yeah... and the fic isn't over quite yet, so don't worry.