Standard disclaimers apply.
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Paine stepped out of the inn, running a hand through her short silver hair. She had just gotten off the com with Shinra and learned that Rikku had been found passed out in the Thunder Plains. Concerned for the blond girl, she opted to put her bussiness in the Farplane on hold. Right now, the important thing to do was get back to the Celcious and make sure that Rikku was okay.
"He~y there sweet stuff," a girl's voice purred from somewhere behind her. Paine hesitated in mid-step. The voice sounded a lot like Rikku's voice. But there wasn't anyway that it could be the Al Bhed girl, was there?
"H-h-hi!" the man stammered. "N-n-nice da-day, d-don't you think?"
Paine turned around evaluating the man and the blond girl standing in front of him. "Rikku?" she questioned, walking towards the familar blond girl. Oddly, she wasn't wearing her typical thief dressphere. She was dressed in the bright yellow shift that accompanied her Lady Luck outfit and she seemed .... different....
Rikki turned slowly, pouting her lips slightly and seductively. "Yes?" she purred. Her swirlly green eyes widen almost instantly, her rose colored mouth forming a little 'O'. "Paine!" she exclaimed. She almost licked her lips and looked around slightly nervously. "What are you doing in Guadosalam?"
Paine raised an eyebrow and strolled towards her. "What are you doing here? I just spoke with Shinra and he said you were passed out on the Celcious -"
Rikki spun around, eyes scanning for any of her other parts. She needed to get Paine out of the way before they came into sight. The small amount of shopping that they needed to do was pretty much already over. Then she had to figure out an excuse for being in Guadosalam and make sure that Rikku-san didn't blow cover by waltzing around with Yunie or anyone else on the Celcious.
"What's wrong?" Paine demanded.
"I..." Rikki's voice trailed off and her eyes lingered on the blitz player she had been putting the moves on. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Rikku emerging from a small restaurant. "I was hoping to find you here!" she exclaimed. She caught Paine by her arm and raced up the trail towards the Farplane.
~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~**~*~*~*~**~*~**~*~*~**~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~**~*~*~**~~*
A little way up the path, Rikk adjusted her sword slightly, glaring at the guado merchant attempting to cut her a bad deal. "That's lame," she said. "I expected better from a slug like you -"
"But ma'am, this is the opportunity of a lifetime!" the guado exclaimed, wringing his large hands. In front of him, he held glowing orange sphere. "This sphere is -"
"Brand, spanking new," Rikk finished for him. She picked it out of his hand deftly and switched it on.
"You can't do that!" the merchant wailed.
"IF it was a geniune article, then you wouldn't mind if I took a peek before you sold it at that outrageous price," Rikk pointed out. She tossed the sphere back to him, a disgusted look on her face. "And that happens to be a sphere of High Summoner Yuna's concert in Luca. I hardly think that qualifies as an ancient sphere."
The merchant caught his sphere, scowling. "You %^#&@!" he cursed.
Rikk leaned foreword, grabbing him by the front of his shirt. "What did you say? she breathed dangerously.
"Uhhmmm, I'm sure that he didn't mean it," Ri whispered softly, stepping closer to Rikk. She had remained silent for the greater part of the negotiation; however, she wasn't prepared to watch the merchant get slaughtered for name calling.
"Ri, Rikk!" Rikki shouted when she zipped by. Planting her foot firmly on Rikk's backside, she gave a good push, sending the other girl sprawling. "Come on PAINE!" Rikki screamed, continuing to race up the path while dragging the older warrior.
Ri hit the ground and tackled Rikk as she was getting up. "Don't, Paine was with her," she whispered.
"What are we going to do?" Rikk whispered back, her body went completely still as she turned the thought over in her mind. "We can't blow cover... not with Paine!"
"We'll have to regroup with the others," Ri whispered back. "It looks like they're heading towards the Farplane..."
"What should we do?" Rikk murmured again.
"Get off meeeeeeee!" the merchant wailed. She glanced down at him appraisingly. "I'll give you information... a sphere-map!" He winched as Rikk changed her glance to a glare. "It's got the location of a couple ancient spheres on it..."
"Why didn't you just go after them yourself?" Ri asked, playing good girl while Rikk lived being the bad girl.
"The locations are too dangerous. A guy like me would never survive..." the guado stammered.
"Give it to me," Rikk ordered. She took the aqua colored sphere and activated it. A map came up on the screen. "Where is this?" she breathed, amazed by the detail.
"Cordinates are on there, but you won't go," the guado sneered. He was standing up now and feeling completely better. "You'll be too scared."
"Not likely," Ri said sweetly. "How much do we owe you?" She held up her purse, counting several coins into her palm.
"He isn't getting paid, he's giving up the map," Rikk snapped. She stuffed Ri's money back into her purse. "Let's find the others before Paine spots them."
They both turned and walked away from the merchant. He smiled slowly and switched on a comm unit. "The Gullwing named Rikku has taken the bait." He smiled and took a step forword, hitting a lightpole.
"Watch where you're going!" Rikku called out cheerfully.
He nodded slightly and kept walking, one hand out in front of him. "Are you okay?" a voice asked over the comm.
The guado, who wasn't really a guado at all, nodded. "Stupid mask is making it hard for me to see again," he explained.
~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~**~*~*~*~**~*~**~*~*~**~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~**~*~*~**~~*
Having picked up a take-out meal earlier, Rikku checked the potion supplies once more and then stepped out of the item shop just in time to watch a guado merchant walk into a light pole. "Watch where you're going!" she called out cheerfully. The guado hardly paid her any attention. She turned away from him and started up the path towards the Farplane.
It was looking like the others weren't at the meeting spot yet, that gave her some time to get there. And more importantly, it gave her some time to explore. It had been a while since she had been to the Farplane.
~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~**~*~*~*~**~*~**~*~*~**~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~**~*~*~**~~*
"Rikku, slow down. You just kicked someone -" Paine announced, attempting to twist around and check on the topple woman.
"Heh, heh, she's a good friend of mine... we're always one-uping ourselves like that. I mean, it's been just a couple of days since she dunked me in the Moonflow... heh heh, nice girl, ain't she..."
"What's wrong with you?" Paine demanded. She stopped walking and crossed her hands.
Rikki turned and looked at her, composure askew. She spotted Rikku prancing up the path. "PAAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNEEEEEEEEEe!" she shouted, cursing herself for not getting the silver haired warrior far enough away that the others couldn't come sauntering up.
She spotted Rikku's eyes widen and observed the girl jumping off the pathway. "I... want you to come to the Farplane with me... I need to visit someone...." She looked down, letting charm ooze out of her. "I really don't want to go aaaallll alone." She twisted a lock of hair around her index finger and looked at Paine through suddenly soulfull eyes. "Come with me.... please?"
Paine threw her hands up in the air. "Fine, I'll go," she said. They both approached the guado standing in the enterence way to the Farplane. "He's probably not going to let us past," she noted.
The guado had his back turned to them and didn't even look up when they walked past.
"You were saying?" Rikki purred. She had been ready to seduce the guado; however, if he wasn't paying attention it was all the much better. She didn't see Rikku-sama talking with the guado.
~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~**~*~*~*~**~*~**~*~*~**~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~**~*~*~**~~*
Rikku landed on her butt in front of Chatteu LdBlanc. "Gee, what the hell is -"
"Good morning, luv," LeBlanc purred. "You're just the person I wanted to see."
"Really?" Rikku asked in surprise. She stood up, rubbing her butt gently and hoping that the new-found bruise didn't swell. That had the promise of getting mighty uncomfortable.
"My Noojie-woogie and I are going to get married!" LeBlanc declared, throwing her hands up in the air. Almost instantly, one hand flew back to her hip. "I needed someone to deliever the invintations -"
"Sorry, I'm busy -" Rikku attempted to say.
"I really, really need someone that I can trust to deliever the invintations... and serve as my Madien of Honor. There's a shiney new dressphere in it for you..." she added tantalizingly.
Rikku bit her lip. "What kind of a dressphere?" she asked suspiciously.
"You'll see," LeBlanc promised. "Logos, Ormi," she summoned her two minions. "See that Rikku gets the invintations and the guest list." She turned and strolled back inside the mansion, closing the door and vanishing from sight.
Logos glanced over Rikku. "We'll need to have you fitted for the bridesmaid dress..." he began. "I'll take care of those measurements now -"
"Actually, I've got a couple other things to do first...." Rikku said with a smile. "See you around!" She raced back towards the pathway leading to the Farplane. She had to snag the others before they got caught.
~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~**~*~*~*~**~*~**~*~*~**~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~**~*~*~**~~*
It occured to Rikki that if it were part of her normal impulses to go to the Farplane, then it might also be part of the other girl's normal impulses. Which meant that one of them might be in the Farplane at that exact moment.
"Paine! Paine! Paine! Paine! Paine! Paine! Paine!" she shouted repeatedly. "Paine is coming! Paine is coming! Paine is coming!"
"Shut-up!" Paine finally snapped, nervew gratted to the point where she could barely think.
"Heh, heh," Rikki responded in true Rikku-fashion.
"Don't 'heh heh' me," Paine answered. "Who do you want to see here anyway?"
Rikki made a face. "I need to see -" Her mind blanked. Did she actually know any dead people... Surely she had to, but it was looking impossible to remember any right now. A low buzzing was zipping around her head, making things hard to bring into focus.
Then they stepped through the veil and she spotted the last figure she wanted to see ever again. Especially under these circumstances.
~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~**~*~*~*~**~*~**~*~*~**~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~**~*~*~**~~*
"Rikku-sama!" Ri exclaimed. She ran up to the most intelligent of the girls and skittered to a halt. "Paine... is here!" she exclaimed.
Rikku-sama glanced at Rikk for comformation and then turned her attention to Rikku, who was racing up the path. "Where is she?" she inquired.
"Went into the Farplane," Rikku announced.
"Honestly, I should have seen that," Rikku-sama murmured. "They had to have walked right by me." She rubbed her temple, stepping away from the guado. "Okay, here's what we need to do."
"What makes you in charge?" Rikk challenged.
Ri blushed and nodded her head. "I agree, we've got to -"
"No," Rikku said firmly. "First things first we need -"
"I think that I'm capable of coming up with a plan!" Rikku-sama announced hotly. "I'm the smart one, after all -"
"Book smart, I'm street smart," Rikk retorted.
"My IQ is highest; therefore, I get to make the plans!" Rikku-sama shot back, eyes narrowing. "That's all that there is to it."
"Don't make me laugh!" Rikk shot back.
"I... I'm dropping out of this arguement," Ri murmured. She leaned against the railing. "Has anyone seen Rikku-chan anyway? We should at least..."
"Ssssh!" Rikku exclaimed. "Rikku-san, what's going on?"
The voice coming over the comm sounded relaxed. "I'm hiding out so Brother can't make me help with the spring cleaning," she explained. "How are you six, five... how ever many of you that there are, doing?"
"Fine. When was the last time that you were seen?" Rikku-sama asked, switching her comm on. She stuck her tongue at Rikk.
"You have to stay out of sight until we comm you permission to -" Rikk interjected.
"No problem... they haven't seen me since this morning, and they won't see me until the cleaning is completely finished." Rikku-san leaned back in her hiding place and readjusted her book. "I'm reading right now; however, a nap is starting to sound pretty darn good."
"Okay, end transmission," Rikku ordered, switching off the comm. She glanced at Rikku-sama and Rikk and made sure that they shut theirs off too. "Anything else?" she asked.
"Rikku-chan's missing," Ri mumbled softly, looking towards the ground.
Rikku-sama waved her hand disssmissievly. "Naw, she's in the - F***!"
Ri toppled out of sight. "You're not supposed to curse...." she moaned pitieously.
Rikk glanced at her and spouted off a couple of curse words. "That better?" she asked.
"Try a couple more," Rikku-sama suggested. "Rikku-chan's in the Farplane."
~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~**~*~*~*~**~*~**~*~*~**~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~**~*~*~**~~*
Rikki spotted her sobbing counterpart and stiffled an unladylike curse. She grabbed Paine by her forearm and spun her around in a circle rapidly. "Paine! Paine! Paine! Paine! Paine! Paine! Paine!" she shouted repeatedly. "Paine is coming! Paine is coming! Paine is coming! Wait.... she here!"
Rikku-chan jumped up in alarm and dove off the platform. Rikki shouted and went racing to the edge. "No!" she screamed. She almost launched herself off, but spotted the blond girl clinging to the edge.
"Get her out of here!" Rikku-chan sobbed.
"Right!" Rikki agreed. Then she slipped. She started falling foreword and got caught by her ankles.
"What's wrong with you?" Paine demanded. "You've been acting -"
"So.... now that we've been here, let's leave!" Rikki announced. She ran a hand through her hair, hoping to smooth away her anxiety.
"You haven't even seen anyone," Paine pointed out dryly.
"Uhhhh...... I was just... uhhh... checking to see if Vegnagun was -"
"Rikku," Paine said in a tight voice. "Why don't you just stop it and tell me what's wrong?"
Rikkis scratched her head slightly and flopped down. "I... you'll understand when we get back to the Celcious -"
"Fine," the silver haired warrior relented. They turned and headed off of the platform. She turned and glanced back at the multicolored veil for a moment after they were back in Guadosalam.
Rikki almost fell flat on her face. Coming up the path was Rikku, Rikk, Ri, and Rikku-sama. They spotted her and mouthed Rikku-chan's name at the same time.
"OVER THE EDGE!" Rikki screamed and tackled Paine to the ground, making sure to dig her face into the path and prevent her from seeing the others race past.
Paine flipped her and stood with a scowl. "You're loosing points rapidly," she threatened.
"Trust me, my personal dignity levels are waaaaay down there!" Rikki murmured. She got to her feet, rubbing her now sore butt. "Let's get out of here, okay?"
They stepped into the city proper and straight into Ormi and Logos. "It's time for you fitting!" they both declared at the same time.
"Fitting?" Paine questioned.
Rikki's face went blank. She didn't have any idea what they were talking about. Nevertheless, they seized her by her arms and hauled her towards Chatteu LeBlanc. "I... ah... promised to help them... I'll see you later, Paine!" she called out right before she vanished inside the mansion.
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Author's notes; I made it back in time.... although this probably won't actually make it 'up' until twenty-four hours are up. Anyway, hope everyone's still interrested.
Next Chapter; The Gullwings go sphere hunting! Rikku-san isn't very helpful; however, and Yuna and Tidus begin to worry about her. Meanwhile, the other six are delivering invintations for LeBlan's wedding. What's the catch? Does Nooj realized he's getting married?
Thanks for reading,
Kissa-chan
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Paine stepped out of the inn, running a hand through her short silver hair. She had just gotten off the com with Shinra and learned that Rikku had been found passed out in the Thunder Plains. Concerned for the blond girl, she opted to put her bussiness in the Farplane on hold. Right now, the important thing to do was get back to the Celcious and make sure that Rikku was okay.
"He~y there sweet stuff," a girl's voice purred from somewhere behind her. Paine hesitated in mid-step. The voice sounded a lot like Rikku's voice. But there wasn't anyway that it could be the Al Bhed girl, was there?
"H-h-hi!" the man stammered. "N-n-nice da-day, d-don't you think?"
Paine turned around evaluating the man and the blond girl standing in front of him. "Rikku?" she questioned, walking towards the familar blond girl. Oddly, she wasn't wearing her typical thief dressphere. She was dressed in the bright yellow shift that accompanied her Lady Luck outfit and she seemed .... different....
Rikki turned slowly, pouting her lips slightly and seductively. "Yes?" she purred. Her swirlly green eyes widen almost instantly, her rose colored mouth forming a little 'O'. "Paine!" she exclaimed. She almost licked her lips and looked around slightly nervously. "What are you doing in Guadosalam?"
Paine raised an eyebrow and strolled towards her. "What are you doing here? I just spoke with Shinra and he said you were passed out on the Celcious -"
Rikki spun around, eyes scanning for any of her other parts. She needed to get Paine out of the way before they came into sight. The small amount of shopping that they needed to do was pretty much already over. Then she had to figure out an excuse for being in Guadosalam and make sure that Rikku-san didn't blow cover by waltzing around with Yunie or anyone else on the Celcious.
"What's wrong?" Paine demanded.
"I..." Rikki's voice trailed off and her eyes lingered on the blitz player she had been putting the moves on. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Rikku emerging from a small restaurant. "I was hoping to find you here!" she exclaimed. She caught Paine by her arm and raced up the trail towards the Farplane.
~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~**~*~*~*~**~*~**~*~*~**~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~**~*~*~**~~*
A little way up the path, Rikk adjusted her sword slightly, glaring at the guado merchant attempting to cut her a bad deal. "That's lame," she said. "I expected better from a slug like you -"
"But ma'am, this is the opportunity of a lifetime!" the guado exclaimed, wringing his large hands. In front of him, he held glowing orange sphere. "This sphere is -"
"Brand, spanking new," Rikk finished for him. She picked it out of his hand deftly and switched it on.
"You can't do that!" the merchant wailed.
"IF it was a geniune article, then you wouldn't mind if I took a peek before you sold it at that outrageous price," Rikk pointed out. She tossed the sphere back to him, a disgusted look on her face. "And that happens to be a sphere of High Summoner Yuna's concert in Luca. I hardly think that qualifies as an ancient sphere."
The merchant caught his sphere, scowling. "You %^#&@!" he cursed.
Rikk leaned foreword, grabbing him by the front of his shirt. "What did you say? she breathed dangerously.
"Uhhmmm, I'm sure that he didn't mean it," Ri whispered softly, stepping closer to Rikk. She had remained silent for the greater part of the negotiation; however, she wasn't prepared to watch the merchant get slaughtered for name calling.
"Ri, Rikk!" Rikki shouted when she zipped by. Planting her foot firmly on Rikk's backside, she gave a good push, sending the other girl sprawling. "Come on PAINE!" Rikki screamed, continuing to race up the path while dragging the older warrior.
Ri hit the ground and tackled Rikk as she was getting up. "Don't, Paine was with her," she whispered.
"What are we going to do?" Rikk whispered back, her body went completely still as she turned the thought over in her mind. "We can't blow cover... not with Paine!"
"We'll have to regroup with the others," Ri whispered back. "It looks like they're heading towards the Farplane..."
"What should we do?" Rikk murmured again.
"Get off meeeeeeee!" the merchant wailed. She glanced down at him appraisingly. "I'll give you information... a sphere-map!" He winched as Rikk changed her glance to a glare. "It's got the location of a couple ancient spheres on it..."
"Why didn't you just go after them yourself?" Ri asked, playing good girl while Rikk lived being the bad girl.
"The locations are too dangerous. A guy like me would never survive..." the guado stammered.
"Give it to me," Rikk ordered. She took the aqua colored sphere and activated it. A map came up on the screen. "Where is this?" she breathed, amazed by the detail.
"Cordinates are on there, but you won't go," the guado sneered. He was standing up now and feeling completely better. "You'll be too scared."
"Not likely," Ri said sweetly. "How much do we owe you?" She held up her purse, counting several coins into her palm.
"He isn't getting paid, he's giving up the map," Rikk snapped. She stuffed Ri's money back into her purse. "Let's find the others before Paine spots them."
They both turned and walked away from the merchant. He smiled slowly and switched on a comm unit. "The Gullwing named Rikku has taken the bait." He smiled and took a step forword, hitting a lightpole.
"Watch where you're going!" Rikku called out cheerfully.
He nodded slightly and kept walking, one hand out in front of him. "Are you okay?" a voice asked over the comm.
The guado, who wasn't really a guado at all, nodded. "Stupid mask is making it hard for me to see again," he explained.
~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~**~*~*~*~**~*~**~*~*~**~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~**~*~*~**~~*
Having picked up a take-out meal earlier, Rikku checked the potion supplies once more and then stepped out of the item shop just in time to watch a guado merchant walk into a light pole. "Watch where you're going!" she called out cheerfully. The guado hardly paid her any attention. She turned away from him and started up the path towards the Farplane.
It was looking like the others weren't at the meeting spot yet, that gave her some time to get there. And more importantly, it gave her some time to explore. It had been a while since she had been to the Farplane.
~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~**~*~*~*~**~*~**~*~*~**~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~**~*~*~**~~*
"Rikku, slow down. You just kicked someone -" Paine announced, attempting to twist around and check on the topple woman.
"Heh, heh, she's a good friend of mine... we're always one-uping ourselves like that. I mean, it's been just a couple of days since she dunked me in the Moonflow... heh heh, nice girl, ain't she..."
"What's wrong with you?" Paine demanded. She stopped walking and crossed her hands.
Rikki turned and looked at her, composure askew. She spotted Rikku prancing up the path. "PAAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNEEEEEEEEEe!" she shouted, cursing herself for not getting the silver haired warrior far enough away that the others couldn't come sauntering up.
She spotted Rikku's eyes widen and observed the girl jumping off the pathway. "I... want you to come to the Farplane with me... I need to visit someone...." She looked down, letting charm ooze out of her. "I really don't want to go aaaallll alone." She twisted a lock of hair around her index finger and looked at Paine through suddenly soulfull eyes. "Come with me.... please?"
Paine threw her hands up in the air. "Fine, I'll go," she said. They both approached the guado standing in the enterence way to the Farplane. "He's probably not going to let us past," she noted.
The guado had his back turned to them and didn't even look up when they walked past.
"You were saying?" Rikki purred. She had been ready to seduce the guado; however, if he wasn't paying attention it was all the much better. She didn't see Rikku-sama talking with the guado.
~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~**~*~*~*~**~*~**~*~*~**~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~**~*~*~**~~*
Rikku landed on her butt in front of Chatteu LdBlanc. "Gee, what the hell is -"
"Good morning, luv," LeBlanc purred. "You're just the person I wanted to see."
"Really?" Rikku asked in surprise. She stood up, rubbing her butt gently and hoping that the new-found bruise didn't swell. That had the promise of getting mighty uncomfortable.
"My Noojie-woogie and I are going to get married!" LeBlanc declared, throwing her hands up in the air. Almost instantly, one hand flew back to her hip. "I needed someone to deliever the invintations -"
"Sorry, I'm busy -" Rikku attempted to say.
"I really, really need someone that I can trust to deliever the invintations... and serve as my Madien of Honor. There's a shiney new dressphere in it for you..." she added tantalizingly.
Rikku bit her lip. "What kind of a dressphere?" she asked suspiciously.
"You'll see," LeBlanc promised. "Logos, Ormi," she summoned her two minions. "See that Rikku gets the invintations and the guest list." She turned and strolled back inside the mansion, closing the door and vanishing from sight.
Logos glanced over Rikku. "We'll need to have you fitted for the bridesmaid dress..." he began. "I'll take care of those measurements now -"
"Actually, I've got a couple other things to do first...." Rikku said with a smile. "See you around!" She raced back towards the pathway leading to the Farplane. She had to snag the others before they got caught.
~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~**~*~*~*~**~*~**~*~*~**~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~**~*~*~**~~*
It occured to Rikki that if it were part of her normal impulses to go to the Farplane, then it might also be part of the other girl's normal impulses. Which meant that one of them might be in the Farplane at that exact moment.
"Paine! Paine! Paine! Paine! Paine! Paine! Paine!" she shouted repeatedly. "Paine is coming! Paine is coming! Paine is coming!"
"Shut-up!" Paine finally snapped, nervew gratted to the point where she could barely think.
"Heh, heh," Rikki responded in true Rikku-fashion.
"Don't 'heh heh' me," Paine answered. "Who do you want to see here anyway?"
Rikki made a face. "I need to see -" Her mind blanked. Did she actually know any dead people... Surely she had to, but it was looking impossible to remember any right now. A low buzzing was zipping around her head, making things hard to bring into focus.
Then they stepped through the veil and she spotted the last figure she wanted to see ever again. Especially under these circumstances.
~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~**~*~*~*~**~*~**~*~*~**~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~**~*~*~**~~*
"Rikku-sama!" Ri exclaimed. She ran up to the most intelligent of the girls and skittered to a halt. "Paine... is here!" she exclaimed.
Rikku-sama glanced at Rikk for comformation and then turned her attention to Rikku, who was racing up the path. "Where is she?" she inquired.
"Went into the Farplane," Rikku announced.
"Honestly, I should have seen that," Rikku-sama murmured. "They had to have walked right by me." She rubbed her temple, stepping away from the guado. "Okay, here's what we need to do."
"What makes you in charge?" Rikk challenged.
Ri blushed and nodded her head. "I agree, we've got to -"
"No," Rikku said firmly. "First things first we need -"
"I think that I'm capable of coming up with a plan!" Rikku-sama announced hotly. "I'm the smart one, after all -"
"Book smart, I'm street smart," Rikk retorted.
"My IQ is highest; therefore, I get to make the plans!" Rikku-sama shot back, eyes narrowing. "That's all that there is to it."
"Don't make me laugh!" Rikk shot back.
"I... I'm dropping out of this arguement," Ri murmured. She leaned against the railing. "Has anyone seen Rikku-chan anyway? We should at least..."
"Ssssh!" Rikku exclaimed. "Rikku-san, what's going on?"
The voice coming over the comm sounded relaxed. "I'm hiding out so Brother can't make me help with the spring cleaning," she explained. "How are you six, five... how ever many of you that there are, doing?"
"Fine. When was the last time that you were seen?" Rikku-sama asked, switching her comm on. She stuck her tongue at Rikk.
"You have to stay out of sight until we comm you permission to -" Rikk interjected.
"No problem... they haven't seen me since this morning, and they won't see me until the cleaning is completely finished." Rikku-san leaned back in her hiding place and readjusted her book. "I'm reading right now; however, a nap is starting to sound pretty darn good."
"Okay, end transmission," Rikku ordered, switching off the comm. She glanced at Rikku-sama and Rikk and made sure that they shut theirs off too. "Anything else?" she asked.
"Rikku-chan's missing," Ri mumbled softly, looking towards the ground.
Rikku-sama waved her hand disssmissievly. "Naw, she's in the - F***!"
Ri toppled out of sight. "You're not supposed to curse...." she moaned pitieously.
Rikk glanced at her and spouted off a couple of curse words. "That better?" she asked.
"Try a couple more," Rikku-sama suggested. "Rikku-chan's in the Farplane."
~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~**~*~*~*~**~*~**~*~*~**~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~**~*~*~**~~*
Rikki spotted her sobbing counterpart and stiffled an unladylike curse. She grabbed Paine by her forearm and spun her around in a circle rapidly. "Paine! Paine! Paine! Paine! Paine! Paine! Paine!" she shouted repeatedly. "Paine is coming! Paine is coming! Paine is coming! Wait.... she here!"
Rikku-chan jumped up in alarm and dove off the platform. Rikki shouted and went racing to the edge. "No!" she screamed. She almost launched herself off, but spotted the blond girl clinging to the edge.
"Get her out of here!" Rikku-chan sobbed.
"Right!" Rikki agreed. Then she slipped. She started falling foreword and got caught by her ankles.
"What's wrong with you?" Paine demanded. "You've been acting -"
"So.... now that we've been here, let's leave!" Rikki announced. She ran a hand through her hair, hoping to smooth away her anxiety.
"You haven't even seen anyone," Paine pointed out dryly.
"Uhhhh...... I was just... uhhh... checking to see if Vegnagun was -"
"Rikku," Paine said in a tight voice. "Why don't you just stop it and tell me what's wrong?"
Rikkis scratched her head slightly and flopped down. "I... you'll understand when we get back to the Celcious -"
"Fine," the silver haired warrior relented. They turned and headed off of the platform. She turned and glanced back at the multicolored veil for a moment after they were back in Guadosalam.
Rikki almost fell flat on her face. Coming up the path was Rikku, Rikk, Ri, and Rikku-sama. They spotted her and mouthed Rikku-chan's name at the same time.
"OVER THE EDGE!" Rikki screamed and tackled Paine to the ground, making sure to dig her face into the path and prevent her from seeing the others race past.
Paine flipped her and stood with a scowl. "You're loosing points rapidly," she threatened.
"Trust me, my personal dignity levels are waaaaay down there!" Rikki murmured. She got to her feet, rubbing her now sore butt. "Let's get out of here, okay?"
They stepped into the city proper and straight into Ormi and Logos. "It's time for you fitting!" they both declared at the same time.
"Fitting?" Paine questioned.
Rikki's face went blank. She didn't have any idea what they were talking about. Nevertheless, they seized her by her arms and hauled her towards Chatteu LeBlanc. "I... ah... promised to help them... I'll see you later, Paine!" she called out right before she vanished inside the mansion.
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Author's notes; I made it back in time.... although this probably won't actually make it 'up' until twenty-four hours are up. Anyway, hope everyone's still interrested.
Next Chapter; The Gullwings go sphere hunting! Rikku-san isn't very helpful; however, and Yuna and Tidus begin to worry about her. Meanwhile, the other six are delivering invintations for LeBlan's wedding. What's the catch? Does Nooj realized he's getting married?
Thanks for reading,
Kissa-chan