-Chapter 9
A/N: Sorry about the last chapter title. It was only named 'Rabbit on the Moon' because that was the song I kept listening to while I was writing it. shruggs
And on another note -Happy Belated Birthday Mal!! Hope this counts as a gift, since I can't draw crap compared to you. XD
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Rikku gulped. Standing in the hallway, at the bottom of the stairs, leading up to the Deck, she felt like both the stupidest and most alone person on the planet.
Maybe it wasn't too late to talk things out?
-But no. Ever since Rikku had first met Paine, there had been this feeling inside of her that wanted to prove herself to the older girl. Paine had always seemed to... look down upon her or something, whether it be because of her attitude or simple battle tactics. And now Rikku was getting the chance to finally show Paine what she was capable of.
... Who was she kidding? Paine was going to murder her.
Taking in a nervous sigh, the blond raised the blindfold to her head, checking to see if there was any possible way she would be able to see through it. But to no avail, it was impossible to see through.
Well, it was about sunset now, and Rikku was sure that Paine was already up there waiting for her. Trying to resist taking another gulp, the thief slowly ascended the stairs again.
-What had they been fighting about again? She had totally forgot. What was the point of fighting when she couldn't even remember why she wanted to fight in the first place? She was gonna die!!
To the blond's dismay, she found herself bathed in the orange light of the setting Spiran sun. The sky was a deep amber, the breeze from the ocean below and the airship's movement whipped around her. And on the opposite end of the Deck awaited the towering being of Paine, face out to the ocean, standing stiff and poised. Rikku's heart was pounding.
Taking a few steps forward, the silver haired girl turned around. Moments passed in silence between the two, Paine taking a few paces toward Rikku. It could have been just her, but Paine was kind of reminding her of a Killer Hound before it attacked. Trying to look less scared then she felt, the blond stood up straight, looking back at the crimson eyed girl as calmly as she could. The silence was beginning to get on her nerves, knowing that Paine was here for more than just a staring contest.
With what could be taken as a nod, Rikku slipped the blindfold over her head, until it rested over her eyes.
"I'm not holding back." Rikku heard Paine state, her voice as cold and smooth as steel. The thief was sure that Paine could see her gulp, yet again. Nonetheless, Rikku took her battle stance, weapons in hand. She could almost feel Paine's body move into her usual position, the sound of the air being cut by her sword reaching the blond's ears.
Rikku could hear her heart in her ears, pounding a mile a minute. She heard a shuffle of footsteps before her. Paine was charging. Holding her breath, the thief jumped back just as the footsteps came up a few feet in front of her. Just as she could hear Paine recover from the missed attack, she decided to lunge forward and swipe out in front of her. She heard a sharp intake of breath; she must have actually made contact.
But before Rikku had another moment to think about it, she was pushed aside with a slash to her shoulder. Biting her lip, she quickly recovered, ducking low and cutting upward, only to be hit in the temple with what she guessed what the butt of Paine's sword. Trying to ignore how her head was beginning to hurt, she gathered up her thoughts, trying to take a few steps back.
Rikku recalled the argument they had before, in the hallway. And the attempt she made to talk to Paine that morning. And before that, at the cliff top -the look on Paine's face. At that memories, her heart began to sting. She knew what Paine was trying to do, but why?
The surge of emotion backing her up, she then listened for the crimsoned eyed girl's movement before lashing out violently, hearing the sound of metal against metal, meaning that Paine had blocked her attack. Before another second could pass by, the blond whipped around and swiped at the older girl's side, hearing another sharp intake of breath. Making sure she didn't get to overconfident for the moment, she continued to move. However, it wasn't long before she heard the sound of Paine's blade pass by her head. The stopped and backed up, going back into her stance, waiting to hear another movement.
The thief heard heeled boots against the Deck floor to her right, before receiving another blow, this time over her ribs. Not stopping to check the wound, Rikku backed up before hearing Paine move to her left, quickly turning in that direction, just in time to block the sword from hitting her head. Rikku wanted to say something, but at this rate she'd die before getting a chance to say it.
Taking a breath, the blond threw herself forward in an attack, just as she heard her the older girl shift to do the same, hoping for another block. However, both attacks seemed to end abruptly, Rikku not moving another inch forward. If she had leaned in only a bit, her neck would make contact with the edge of Paine's sword. However, Rikku heard the older girl's shallow breath against her fingers, knowing that leaning in a little for either of them would earn them a slit throat.
A few moments passed, neither making a move. This beginning to feel eerily like The Den of Woe, Rikku decided to speak.
"... Why have you been pushing me away?", her voice was barely above a whisper.
Rikku wished she could see the look on Paine's face, so that she would have a better chance of living in the next few minutes.
For what seemed like forever, all of Spira was silent. Then to Rikku's surprise, she was thrown out of the current predicament as Paine violently pulled back, leaving Rikku suddenly unbalanced. Trying to avoid falling onto the ground where she'd be easy prey, Rikku tried jumping to the side. She heard another footfall a few paces in front of her, so she jumped out to attack. However, she lost her footing, finding the ground beneath slip away.
"No, Rikku!"
And the next thing Rikku felt was the feeling a pair of arms around her body as she was pulled back away from dropping off of the edge of the Deck. She found her hand were free and slack at her sides, as she leaned into the owner of the pair of arms, placed around her waist and under her arms. Her eyes were shut, and upon opening them, remembered that she was wearing a blindfold. Her heart's pounding refused to cease, not knowing if it was the thought of what almost happened to her or the sudden contact with who she knew to be... Paine.
The thief's head was titled up towards Paine's face, chin resting on the older girl's collar bone. Tentatively, Rikku brought her arms up around Paine's neck, in order to stand up straight. By now, she could feel the older girl's breath against her face.
Not too sure who started it, Rikku could then feel Paine's lips brush across her own. Suddenly, a chill wanted to run down her spine. Instead, her arms only wrapped tighter around Paine's neck as the arms around her body brought her closer to the older girl, their lips making softly making contact again. Before long, Rikku deepened their kiss, running her tongue over Paine's lips before sliding it into the older girl's mouth.
The blond could almost feel a tremor run through the silver-haired girl's body as Paine began to return the kiss, a gloved arm running down Rikku's spine to her waist.
It had become dark by this time, the Spiran sky now a deep blue, stars and bright moon illuminating the clear sky.
A/N: Sorry about the last chapter title. It was only named 'Rabbit on the Moon' because that was the song I kept listening to while I was writing it. shruggs
And on another note -Happy Belated Birthday Mal!! Hope this counts as a gift, since I can't draw crap compared to you. XD
----------
Rikku gulped. Standing in the hallway, at the bottom of the stairs, leading up to the Deck, she felt like both the stupidest and most alone person on the planet.
Maybe it wasn't too late to talk things out?
-But no. Ever since Rikku had first met Paine, there had been this feeling inside of her that wanted to prove herself to the older girl. Paine had always seemed to... look down upon her or something, whether it be because of her attitude or simple battle tactics. And now Rikku was getting the chance to finally show Paine what she was capable of.
... Who was she kidding? Paine was going to murder her.
Taking in a nervous sigh, the blond raised the blindfold to her head, checking to see if there was any possible way she would be able to see through it. But to no avail, it was impossible to see through.
Well, it was about sunset now, and Rikku was sure that Paine was already up there waiting for her. Trying to resist taking another gulp, the thief slowly ascended the stairs again.
-What had they been fighting about again? She had totally forgot. What was the point of fighting when she couldn't even remember why she wanted to fight in the first place? She was gonna die!!
To the blond's dismay, she found herself bathed in the orange light of the setting Spiran sun. The sky was a deep amber, the breeze from the ocean below and the airship's movement whipped around her. And on the opposite end of the Deck awaited the towering being of Paine, face out to the ocean, standing stiff and poised. Rikku's heart was pounding.
Taking a few steps forward, the silver haired girl turned around. Moments passed in silence between the two, Paine taking a few paces toward Rikku. It could have been just her, but Paine was kind of reminding her of a Killer Hound before it attacked. Trying to look less scared then she felt, the blond stood up straight, looking back at the crimson eyed girl as calmly as she could. The silence was beginning to get on her nerves, knowing that Paine was here for more than just a staring contest.
With what could be taken as a nod, Rikku slipped the blindfold over her head, until it rested over her eyes.
"I'm not holding back." Rikku heard Paine state, her voice as cold and smooth as steel. The thief was sure that Paine could see her gulp, yet again. Nonetheless, Rikku took her battle stance, weapons in hand. She could almost feel Paine's body move into her usual position, the sound of the air being cut by her sword reaching the blond's ears.
Rikku could hear her heart in her ears, pounding a mile a minute. She heard a shuffle of footsteps before her. Paine was charging. Holding her breath, the thief jumped back just as the footsteps came up a few feet in front of her. Just as she could hear Paine recover from the missed attack, she decided to lunge forward and swipe out in front of her. She heard a sharp intake of breath; she must have actually made contact.
But before Rikku had another moment to think about it, she was pushed aside with a slash to her shoulder. Biting her lip, she quickly recovered, ducking low and cutting upward, only to be hit in the temple with what she guessed what the butt of Paine's sword. Trying to ignore how her head was beginning to hurt, she gathered up her thoughts, trying to take a few steps back.
Rikku recalled the argument they had before, in the hallway. And the attempt she made to talk to Paine that morning. And before that, at the cliff top -the look on Paine's face. At that memories, her heart began to sting. She knew what Paine was trying to do, but why?
The surge of emotion backing her up, she then listened for the crimsoned eyed girl's movement before lashing out violently, hearing the sound of metal against metal, meaning that Paine had blocked her attack. Before another second could pass by, the blond whipped around and swiped at the older girl's side, hearing another sharp intake of breath. Making sure she didn't get to overconfident for the moment, she continued to move. However, it wasn't long before she heard the sound of Paine's blade pass by her head. The stopped and backed up, going back into her stance, waiting to hear another movement.
The thief heard heeled boots against the Deck floor to her right, before receiving another blow, this time over her ribs. Not stopping to check the wound, Rikku backed up before hearing Paine move to her left, quickly turning in that direction, just in time to block the sword from hitting her head. Rikku wanted to say something, but at this rate she'd die before getting a chance to say it.
Taking a breath, the blond threw herself forward in an attack, just as she heard her the older girl shift to do the same, hoping for another block. However, both attacks seemed to end abruptly, Rikku not moving another inch forward. If she had leaned in only a bit, her neck would make contact with the edge of Paine's sword. However, Rikku heard the older girl's shallow breath against her fingers, knowing that leaning in a little for either of them would earn them a slit throat.
A few moments passed, neither making a move. This beginning to feel eerily like The Den of Woe, Rikku decided to speak.
"... Why have you been pushing me away?", her voice was barely above a whisper.
Rikku wished she could see the look on Paine's face, so that she would have a better chance of living in the next few minutes.
For what seemed like forever, all of Spira was silent. Then to Rikku's surprise, she was thrown out of the current predicament as Paine violently pulled back, leaving Rikku suddenly unbalanced. Trying to avoid falling onto the ground where she'd be easy prey, Rikku tried jumping to the side. She heard another footfall a few paces in front of her, so she jumped out to attack. However, she lost her footing, finding the ground beneath slip away.
"No, Rikku!"
And the next thing Rikku felt was the feeling a pair of arms around her body as she was pulled back away from dropping off of the edge of the Deck. She found her hand were free and slack at her sides, as she leaned into the owner of the pair of arms, placed around her waist and under her arms. Her eyes were shut, and upon opening them, remembered that she was wearing a blindfold. Her heart's pounding refused to cease, not knowing if it was the thought of what almost happened to her or the sudden contact with who she knew to be... Paine.
The thief's head was titled up towards Paine's face, chin resting on the older girl's collar bone. Tentatively, Rikku brought her arms up around Paine's neck, in order to stand up straight. By now, she could feel the older girl's breath against her face.
Not too sure who started it, Rikku could then feel Paine's lips brush across her own. Suddenly, a chill wanted to run down her spine. Instead, her arms only wrapped tighter around Paine's neck as the arms around her body brought her closer to the older girl, their lips making softly making contact again. Before long, Rikku deepened their kiss, running her tongue over Paine's lips before sliding it into the older girl's mouth.
The blond could almost feel a tremor run through the silver-haired girl's body as Paine began to return the kiss, a gloved arm running down Rikku's spine to her waist.
It had become dark by this time, the Spiran sky now a deep blue, stars and bright moon illuminating the clear sky.