Disclaimer: You want a disclaimer? Read chapter #1.
Next chapter.
FIRST LESSON
The next day was met with both anxious excitement and nervous dread, as two figures made their way to the beach in the early dawn.
Lulu was not happy; she had recently grown a custom to sleeping in until mid-morning. A luxury that was now gone thanks to her 'Swim Coach' as he like to refer to himself, Lulu shook her head in a mixture of pity and embarrassment at the title.
Wakka spent a good part of the day coaching the children, so the best time to help her practice swimming was when no one else was around. That left them free from the morning till noon.
"Ah, come on Lu, you'll be alright once we get in the water, ya?" Wakka commented over his shoulder. "Nothing better than a cold splash to wake you up in the morning."
Lulu kept her silence, letting a number of choice words play through her mind on what she thought of Wakka's idea of a good 'Wake'r Upper.'
"Was it really necessary to get up this early Wakka?" She grumbled, her eyes only half open as she followed the large islander.
"Oh, come on Lu, I'm all for sleep'in, but we've got work to do, ya!" Wakka replied enthusiastically.
"And where was this kind of motivation when we we're on the pilgrimage?" Lulu asked. Wakka, frowned, but since she was walking behind him, she didn't notice.
"That was different... I didn't wanna to do that." Wakka replied.
"You didn't want to help protect Yuna?" Lulu quipped.
"Aw, you know what I mean!" Wakka exclaimed in exasperation.
"Yes... I know Wakka, I know..." She did understand. None of them wanted to lead Yuna to her death, to obvious suicide.
"'nough that now. We're here." Wakka said, eyeing the large beach area of Besaid.
"So we are." Lulu commented dryly. "So how are we going to do this?"
Wakka gave her a lopsided smirk.
"We get in the water." Lulu frowned at him.
"Just like that?"
"Yeah, what'd you expect? Practicing the long stoke in the sand?" Wakka asked as he draped their towels over a nearby rock and stepped into the water.
"Well? You gonna get in the water, ya?" Wakka asked as Lulu merely stood there in the sand looking distastefully at the water.
"Very well..." Lulu sighed and slipped off her black robe. Relieving a bright yellow one-piece swimsuit. There were loops and small buckles sown into various parts of it. It was obvious to tell that this was only one piece of a female Aurochs Blitz Ball uniform. Though, Lulu could not recall their ever being a woman on the Aurochs team. And if there was, they must have been much smaller that her, because it was obvious to tell that this suit was too small from the way it pinched her.
"Wakka, where did you get this thing anyway? I don't recall their ever being a woman on the Blitz Ball team." Lulu commented, stepping into the water. She gave a visible shiver as the cold water rushed over her feet.
"Huh? Oh, that? Used to belong to my ma. She's the one who taught me and Chappu everything we knew about Blitz Ball." Wakka explained, a grin suddenly appeared on his face. "Heh, I had to let that thing out a LOT." He commented.
"And what's that supposed to mean?" Lulu asked indignantly. Did he just call her fat?!
"Huh? Aw, no Lu, not like that... I mean you're a lot taller than my ma was. Heh, I had to get that thing stretched out to twice it's size so it could fit..." Wakka explained, he couldn't contain his smirk as he watched her try and adjust the straps.
"Twice it's size?" Lulu asked. It must have been pretty small to begin with; it still wasn't even big enough to fit even remotely comfortably. Wakka's mother must have a been a very petit woman... Lulu's eyes suddenly widened as she imagined what it must have been like for such a small woman to give birth to a baby like Wakka. Lulu visibly shuttered.
"You okay Lu? Cold ya?" Wakka asked as he saw her shiver.
"What? Oh, no... I just feel sorry for the woman that has to give birth to your children..." Lulu explained, only realizing what she had said after it was too late.
"What?! Where'd THAT come from?" Wakka asked in surprise. Did she just insult him?!
"Er, never mind" Lulu said with wave of her hand. Wakka still had a confused look on his face, but decided to drop it.
"Come on, we're wasting time. Let's get into the water, ya?" Wakka asked as he backed into the water.
"We ARE in the water." Lulu stated, pointing to her submerged ankles. Wakka shook his head as he let out an exasperated sigh, this was going to be a long day...
A moment later, Wakka headed back over to the reluctant black mage and with great ease, picked her up off her feat and while carrying her in his arms, headed back into the water.
"Wakka! What are you doing?! Put me down this instant!" Lulu shouted into the islander's ear. He visibly cringed while trying to pull his head far enough away from Lulu's shouting.
"Okay, Lu, this is where we're gonna start, ya?" With that, Wakka set her down in the waste deep water.
Despite herself, Lulu yelped at the sudden coldness of the water. After a few moments, her body finally adapted, making her feel a bit more at ease.
"Hm, this wasn't as bad as I thought." She murmured.
"See? I told ya. Now lay back." He explained.
"Lay back?" She asked skeptically.
"Yeah, you gonna learn how to float first." Wakka explained. Putting his hand on the upper part of her back pushing her back into the water with the other.
Nervously, Lulu let him push onto her back in the water. Once, her back was floating in the water, Wakka used his other arm to raise her legs to the water's surface, causing her to lay flat on it's surface.
"Not bad, ya?" He asked. Lulu nodded.
"Watch your hands Wakka, I don't any funny business." Lulu warned. Wakka's face turned a bright shade of red.
"W-wha.. I wouldn't Lu... I-I mean..." Wakka stuttered.
"Wakka?"
"Y-yeah?" Wakka looked at her, still red in the face.
"I was joking."
"O-oh..." Lulu frowned, even for Wakka that was a bit of a strange reaction. Didn't people tell her she should lighten up more? With this kind of response, maybe it was better if she didn't...
Wakka was still blushing when Lulu looked away. It was hard enough trying to keep his own thoughts in check without Lulu commenting on it herself. It was hard enough trying not to stare at the gentle curves of her body in that tight swimsuit; it really did leave little to the imagination. Yet still Wakka's found much inspiration from it... "No! Bad Wakka! Bad!" He scolded himself mentally.
"So what now?" Lulu asked, snapping Wakka back to reality.
"Yeah, take a deep breath." Lulu did as she was told and inhaled deeply. "Now hold it."
While the black mage held her breath, Wakka carefully moved his hands from under her. Leaving to float there on her own.
"See? You're a natural!" Wakka exclaimed. While he watched her float the site of a large group of seagulls fluttering into the sky caught his eye.
Watching the birds fly by Wakka turned back to look at Lulu.
"Heh, Stink'in 'gulls... So how you doing Lu?... Lu?" Wakka turned to face her, but Lulu wasn't there. Looking around, she was nowhere in site.
"Lu? Lu?! LU!!" Wakka shouted frantically. Suddenly bubbles started to come out of the water, where Wakka had last left Lulu. "LU!!!"
Wakka dived (well, sort of, the water was still only waste deep) into the water and a second later pulled out a coughing Lulu.
"Lu?! What happened?!" Wakka asked frantically as Lulu coughed up the last bits of water.
"I couldn't hold my breath any longer, so I had to exhale. That's when I started to sink." Lulu croaked out, Wakka just stared at her dumbfounded.
"W-why didn't you stand up, ya?" Wakka asked quizzically. Now it was Lulu's turn to stare at him dumbfounded. "Come on Lu... I thought you were the smart one, ya?!"
Lulu frowned at him. "I am the smart one..." God, even saying that sounded stupid... "I just panicked alright..." Wakka just kept staring at her.
"But Lu, you never panic! You're the only one who's got half a bit of sense here, ya?" Wakka protested. Even with the circumstances at hand, Lulu couldn't help but feel just a little flatterer by that.
"I can make mistakes too you know." She stated as she removed herself from his protective hold.
"Yeah... 'suppose so..." Wakka murmured, for a moment he was so deep in though, that he almost didn't notice Lulu starting to leave. "Hey! Where you going?"
"I think that's enough for one day Wakka." Lulu sighed. But before she could take another step, Wakka was at her side a strong grip on her arm keeping her firmly in place.
"Aw, come on Lu, I didn't take you for a quitter." Wakka looked at her sternly, Lulu returned the look and (with some difficulty) pulled herself from Wakka's grasp.
"I am not quitting. I merely think that is enough for today." She explained.
"Oh no you don't. You're not gett'in out of this that easily. I think you and I have a lot more to do today, ya?" Wakka smirked as he turned Lulu back into the direction of the great sea.
"More?" She asked with a frustrated sigh.
"Yeah, lots more." Replied cheerfully. "I'm gonna make sure you learn this Lu!"
"Very well..." Lulu sighed, as she let him lead her back into the water.
**
Wakka let out a tired sigh as he slumped in front of the fire in the center of the village. The sun had already gone down and many of the village people had already gone to bed.
But Wakka was too tired to go to bed... Well, maybe not too tired to sleep, just too tired to make his way to his actual bed.
Wakka was exhausted. With all the trouble in the morning with trying to teach Lulu to swim plus all the Blitz Ball coaching, he was left thoroughly exhausted.
With his head slumped forward. Wakka let out a tired groan. He didn't even hear the sounds of footsteps approaching him from behind.
"Kimari wonders how teaching is coming." Kimari asked, standing right behind Wakka.
Wakka, gave a startled yelp and turned to look up at the blue furred Ronso. "Don't sneak up on me like that! You wanna give me a heart attack, ya?"
"Kimari is sorry. But how comes teaching?" Kimari apologized.
"Huh? Oh it's good. Those kids are really something..." Wakka replied tiredly.
"No, Kimari wishes to know how teaching Lulu is." Kimari corrected. Moving to stand next to the islander, armed crossed over his chest and staring intently at the fire.
"Oh... That... It's good, I guess." Wakka answered weakly.
"Is it?" It was hard to tell, but Wakka thought he heard a bit of skepticism in Kimari's voice.
"Well, maybe not as good as I'd like..." He replied off handedly.
"She doing well?"
"Er, not really..." Wakka admitted. "I'm trying to show her how to float in the water." He explained. Kimari merely nodded, A moment passed before he finally said anything.
"She sinks, yes?" Kimari asked.
"Like a rock." Wakka sighed.
"Much patience is need." The Ronso stated. "Give time to her, and Lulu will learn." With that, the Ronso left Wakka alone with the fire.
Time, yes... That's all Lulu needed. Just some time to get used to everything and then she'd be a natural! Wakka would be damned if he was just going to give up on her.
Lulu was going to learn how to swim or die trying! Though with the way things we going, it seemed quite likely that she would, seeing as she would more likely drowned in the whole process...
Wakka sighed, this was going to take a while...
To be continued...
So how do you guys like so far? There is still obviously more to come. But please tell if and what you like and don't like.
Thanks!
The ever illusive,
Hyper Guyver
Next chapter.
FIRST LESSON
The next day was met with both anxious excitement and nervous dread, as two figures made their way to the beach in the early dawn.
Lulu was not happy; she had recently grown a custom to sleeping in until mid-morning. A luxury that was now gone thanks to her 'Swim Coach' as he like to refer to himself, Lulu shook her head in a mixture of pity and embarrassment at the title.
Wakka spent a good part of the day coaching the children, so the best time to help her practice swimming was when no one else was around. That left them free from the morning till noon.
"Ah, come on Lu, you'll be alright once we get in the water, ya?" Wakka commented over his shoulder. "Nothing better than a cold splash to wake you up in the morning."
Lulu kept her silence, letting a number of choice words play through her mind on what she thought of Wakka's idea of a good 'Wake'r Upper.'
"Was it really necessary to get up this early Wakka?" She grumbled, her eyes only half open as she followed the large islander.
"Oh, come on Lu, I'm all for sleep'in, but we've got work to do, ya!" Wakka replied enthusiastically.
"And where was this kind of motivation when we we're on the pilgrimage?" Lulu asked. Wakka, frowned, but since she was walking behind him, she didn't notice.
"That was different... I didn't wanna to do that." Wakka replied.
"You didn't want to help protect Yuna?" Lulu quipped.
"Aw, you know what I mean!" Wakka exclaimed in exasperation.
"Yes... I know Wakka, I know..." She did understand. None of them wanted to lead Yuna to her death, to obvious suicide.
"'nough that now. We're here." Wakka said, eyeing the large beach area of Besaid.
"So we are." Lulu commented dryly. "So how are we going to do this?"
Wakka gave her a lopsided smirk.
"We get in the water." Lulu frowned at him.
"Just like that?"
"Yeah, what'd you expect? Practicing the long stoke in the sand?" Wakka asked as he draped their towels over a nearby rock and stepped into the water.
"Well? You gonna get in the water, ya?" Wakka asked as Lulu merely stood there in the sand looking distastefully at the water.
"Very well..." Lulu sighed and slipped off her black robe. Relieving a bright yellow one-piece swimsuit. There were loops and small buckles sown into various parts of it. It was obvious to tell that this was only one piece of a female Aurochs Blitz Ball uniform. Though, Lulu could not recall their ever being a woman on the Aurochs team. And if there was, they must have been much smaller that her, because it was obvious to tell that this suit was too small from the way it pinched her.
"Wakka, where did you get this thing anyway? I don't recall their ever being a woman on the Blitz Ball team." Lulu commented, stepping into the water. She gave a visible shiver as the cold water rushed over her feet.
"Huh? Oh, that? Used to belong to my ma. She's the one who taught me and Chappu everything we knew about Blitz Ball." Wakka explained, a grin suddenly appeared on his face. "Heh, I had to let that thing out a LOT." He commented.
"And what's that supposed to mean?" Lulu asked indignantly. Did he just call her fat?!
"Huh? Aw, no Lu, not like that... I mean you're a lot taller than my ma was. Heh, I had to get that thing stretched out to twice it's size so it could fit..." Wakka explained, he couldn't contain his smirk as he watched her try and adjust the straps.
"Twice it's size?" Lulu asked. It must have been pretty small to begin with; it still wasn't even big enough to fit even remotely comfortably. Wakka's mother must have a been a very petit woman... Lulu's eyes suddenly widened as she imagined what it must have been like for such a small woman to give birth to a baby like Wakka. Lulu visibly shuttered.
"You okay Lu? Cold ya?" Wakka asked as he saw her shiver.
"What? Oh, no... I just feel sorry for the woman that has to give birth to your children..." Lulu explained, only realizing what she had said after it was too late.
"What?! Where'd THAT come from?" Wakka asked in surprise. Did she just insult him?!
"Er, never mind" Lulu said with wave of her hand. Wakka still had a confused look on his face, but decided to drop it.
"Come on, we're wasting time. Let's get into the water, ya?" Wakka asked as he backed into the water.
"We ARE in the water." Lulu stated, pointing to her submerged ankles. Wakka shook his head as he let out an exasperated sigh, this was going to be a long day...
A moment later, Wakka headed back over to the reluctant black mage and with great ease, picked her up off her feat and while carrying her in his arms, headed back into the water.
"Wakka! What are you doing?! Put me down this instant!" Lulu shouted into the islander's ear. He visibly cringed while trying to pull his head far enough away from Lulu's shouting.
"Okay, Lu, this is where we're gonna start, ya?" With that, Wakka set her down in the waste deep water.
Despite herself, Lulu yelped at the sudden coldness of the water. After a few moments, her body finally adapted, making her feel a bit more at ease.
"Hm, this wasn't as bad as I thought." She murmured.
"See? I told ya. Now lay back." He explained.
"Lay back?" She asked skeptically.
"Yeah, you gonna learn how to float first." Wakka explained. Putting his hand on the upper part of her back pushing her back into the water with the other.
Nervously, Lulu let him push onto her back in the water. Once, her back was floating in the water, Wakka used his other arm to raise her legs to the water's surface, causing her to lay flat on it's surface.
"Not bad, ya?" He asked. Lulu nodded.
"Watch your hands Wakka, I don't any funny business." Lulu warned. Wakka's face turned a bright shade of red.
"W-wha.. I wouldn't Lu... I-I mean..." Wakka stuttered.
"Wakka?"
"Y-yeah?" Wakka looked at her, still red in the face.
"I was joking."
"O-oh..." Lulu frowned, even for Wakka that was a bit of a strange reaction. Didn't people tell her she should lighten up more? With this kind of response, maybe it was better if she didn't...
Wakka was still blushing when Lulu looked away. It was hard enough trying to keep his own thoughts in check without Lulu commenting on it herself. It was hard enough trying not to stare at the gentle curves of her body in that tight swimsuit; it really did leave little to the imagination. Yet still Wakka's found much inspiration from it... "No! Bad Wakka! Bad!" He scolded himself mentally.
"So what now?" Lulu asked, snapping Wakka back to reality.
"Yeah, take a deep breath." Lulu did as she was told and inhaled deeply. "Now hold it."
While the black mage held her breath, Wakka carefully moved his hands from under her. Leaving to float there on her own.
"See? You're a natural!" Wakka exclaimed. While he watched her float the site of a large group of seagulls fluttering into the sky caught his eye.
Watching the birds fly by Wakka turned back to look at Lulu.
"Heh, Stink'in 'gulls... So how you doing Lu?... Lu?" Wakka turned to face her, but Lulu wasn't there. Looking around, she was nowhere in site.
"Lu? Lu?! LU!!" Wakka shouted frantically. Suddenly bubbles started to come out of the water, where Wakka had last left Lulu. "LU!!!"
Wakka dived (well, sort of, the water was still only waste deep) into the water and a second later pulled out a coughing Lulu.
"Lu?! What happened?!" Wakka asked frantically as Lulu coughed up the last bits of water.
"I couldn't hold my breath any longer, so I had to exhale. That's when I started to sink." Lulu croaked out, Wakka just stared at her dumbfounded.
"W-why didn't you stand up, ya?" Wakka asked quizzically. Now it was Lulu's turn to stare at him dumbfounded. "Come on Lu... I thought you were the smart one, ya?!"
Lulu frowned at him. "I am the smart one..." God, even saying that sounded stupid... "I just panicked alright..." Wakka just kept staring at her.
"But Lu, you never panic! You're the only one who's got half a bit of sense here, ya?" Wakka protested. Even with the circumstances at hand, Lulu couldn't help but feel just a little flatterer by that.
"I can make mistakes too you know." She stated as she removed herself from his protective hold.
"Yeah... 'suppose so..." Wakka murmured, for a moment he was so deep in though, that he almost didn't notice Lulu starting to leave. "Hey! Where you going?"
"I think that's enough for one day Wakka." Lulu sighed. But before she could take another step, Wakka was at her side a strong grip on her arm keeping her firmly in place.
"Aw, come on Lu, I didn't take you for a quitter." Wakka looked at her sternly, Lulu returned the look and (with some difficulty) pulled herself from Wakka's grasp.
"I am not quitting. I merely think that is enough for today." She explained.
"Oh no you don't. You're not gett'in out of this that easily. I think you and I have a lot more to do today, ya?" Wakka smirked as he turned Lulu back into the direction of the great sea.
"More?" She asked with a frustrated sigh.
"Yeah, lots more." Replied cheerfully. "I'm gonna make sure you learn this Lu!"
"Very well..." Lulu sighed, as she let him lead her back into the water.
**
Wakka let out a tired sigh as he slumped in front of the fire in the center of the village. The sun had already gone down and many of the village people had already gone to bed.
But Wakka was too tired to go to bed... Well, maybe not too tired to sleep, just too tired to make his way to his actual bed.
Wakka was exhausted. With all the trouble in the morning with trying to teach Lulu to swim plus all the Blitz Ball coaching, he was left thoroughly exhausted.
With his head slumped forward. Wakka let out a tired groan. He didn't even hear the sounds of footsteps approaching him from behind.
"Kimari wonders how teaching is coming." Kimari asked, standing right behind Wakka.
Wakka, gave a startled yelp and turned to look up at the blue furred Ronso. "Don't sneak up on me like that! You wanna give me a heart attack, ya?"
"Kimari is sorry. But how comes teaching?" Kimari apologized.
"Huh? Oh it's good. Those kids are really something..." Wakka replied tiredly.
"No, Kimari wishes to know how teaching Lulu is." Kimari corrected. Moving to stand next to the islander, armed crossed over his chest and staring intently at the fire.
"Oh... That... It's good, I guess." Wakka answered weakly.
"Is it?" It was hard to tell, but Wakka thought he heard a bit of skepticism in Kimari's voice.
"Well, maybe not as good as I'd like..." He replied off handedly.
"She doing well?"
"Er, not really..." Wakka admitted. "I'm trying to show her how to float in the water." He explained. Kimari merely nodded, A moment passed before he finally said anything.
"She sinks, yes?" Kimari asked.
"Like a rock." Wakka sighed.
"Much patience is need." The Ronso stated. "Give time to her, and Lulu will learn." With that, the Ronso left Wakka alone with the fire.
Time, yes... That's all Lulu needed. Just some time to get used to everything and then she'd be a natural! Wakka would be damned if he was just going to give up on her.
Lulu was going to learn how to swim or die trying! Though with the way things we going, it seemed quite likely that she would, seeing as she would more likely drowned in the whole process...
Wakka sighed, this was going to take a while...
To be continued...
So how do you guys like so far? There is still obviously more to come. But please tell if and what you like and don't like.
Thanks!
The ever illusive,
Hyper Guyver