Chapter XVII
Yuna was finally out of harms way thanks to Gippal. She was soaking wet. Wrapped in a white bathrobe she perched herself on the deck of the ship, below her was Bevelle her lights glowing faintly. She felt relieved, however a strong sense of guilt hovered over her head. If anyone here was at fault for what had happened it was her. As much desire that she had to blame Paine , she couldn't bring herself to lie anymore. Everything didn't feel right. A feeling so strong urged her to survive. She didn't question why.
Yuna hear footsteps near her, Rikku's. They seemed to sing in the night. As if creating a melody of their own. Rikku was such an exhuberant person, yet Yuna knew that beneath her exhuberant surface Rikku had grown to become a strong, independent, woman. Although she was still Rikku.
" Remember this number?" Rikku held a hanger and to Yuna's horror it was her old sphere hunting outfit. Yuna remembering she had gain a pound or two since then opted not to squeeze herself into those hot pants ever agian.
" Hmm." Yuna responded a worried look drew on her face.
" I don't like that , hmm" Rikku's eyes lit, " It's only a gag Yunie, where is you sense of humor?"
Yuna found herself a bit baffled by Rikku's attitude, after Yuna's little trip through the Via Purifico to death and back that only thing she felt was humorous.
" Rikku, please thank Gippal for me." Yuna changed the subject quickly, but she felt the mention of Gippal could stir an interesting reaction from Rikku.
" Thank him?!" Rikku's expression soured, " He didn't don't anything except get us out of Bevelle?! "
" Well, Rikku you're lucky to have him by your side in either side." Yuna smirked.
" Ugh, please don't play matchmaker Yunie."
" Don't you want to fall in love? Get married?"
Rikku pouted " After Baralai's and your trip to adult world, I'm totally convinced!"
"Of what?"
" That I'm never going to fall in love!"
" Never say never Rikku."
" Nope! I'm looking out for number one! Me! Which brings me to another point." Rikku softened her tone to a dull whisper." Did you ever really love Baralai? Why didn't you tell me what was going on?"
" Rikku, I'm sorry. I married him to protect you and the Al Bhed. Uncle Cid, he was contacted by some people who said they would kill all the Al Bhed. However I suppose I've only made things worse."
" What about Baralai? Have you thought about him at all?"
Yuna rethought about the time she had spent with Baralai. Few times had she actually considered his feelings. Yuna felt so ougly. All she thought of was Tidus. Baralai was only the man in the backround.
" I feel terrible about it. I was so cruel to Baralai. I couldn't see past my own suffering at that time."
" Well if what you said was true, he went out of his way to save you. Yunie...Baralai loves you.Despite everything he cares about you!" Rikku had never sounded more mature. She was wiser than she appeared.
" I know, I can't forget about Tidus. I...I...just can't!"
" Who says you have to forget about him. Tidus will anyways be with you. He's part of your past, he won't ever leave."
" You're right, but I want him to be part of my present."
" Yunie...you're living in the past. You don't want to accept that your life is changing!"
Yuna batted her eye lids trying to fan the emerging tears dry. " I'm not afriad of change."
" Yuna, you're the one who told me to get married! Why can't I tell you to allow yourself to fall in love again?"
" Rikku, there is something there. I care for Baralai, deeply. It just can't be love! We can't be together again not now. He lied to me about who he was. I lied to him! We can't trust eachother ever again. It wouldn't make sense to hurt us both!"
"Listen to yourself! You're making up excuses. Love is about feeling, Yunie. Ugh, just listen to me! I'm such a hipocrite!" Rikku gagged," Anymore of this mushiness I'm going to barf!"
" Let's just drop the subject."
" Alright, it's a deal!"
Rikku patted Yuna on the back harshly. The pieces of wet hair clung to Yuna's face in the wind. She looked out above to the ocean of light in the night sky. It had been a while since she saw the stars this close. Yuna missed being on this deck, just wasting away her days in the sweltering sun and frigid nights. " Is Baralai going to be alright?" Yuna pondered to herself. Rikku slinked away, with holding a smile. She was in on something Yuna didn't seem to know. Gipppal had picked up another friend on his way out of Bevelle.
Rikku slithered along side the silver haired twenty-something year old on her way down to the lower decks of the ship, flashing a smile at him from time to time. He looked at the beautiful girl stationed on the deck with indignity. He couldn't believe he had gone through all that work to avoid seeing her again only to discover that Gippal had a crush on her cousin. Of all the Al Bhed girls in the world. Gippal just had to fall for Yuna's cousin. He didn't expect Gippal to get lucky anytime soon. From what he had drawn from Rikku she was just as hostile and wily as his blonde friend. That aside, he thanked Gippal. Until now he had done everything possible to keep Baralai from an encounter with his former flame who was aboard the same airship. If she could really be considered a flame at all. Rikku had prepared the bed for Baralai to make his move. He decided not to plead for Yuna. It was hopeless.
Just as Baralai was about to make his escape he heard a loud gasp reverberate in the distance.
"Baralai!" a faint voice drew forward. Yuna dashed forward, stopping short of Baralai's vicinity. She searched his eyes. Baralai wondered if she was looking for him or the man she loved. Baralai's thoughts just didn't translate into words at that moment. They hung somewhere with the stars.
" Baralai, you don't have to say anything. I know that between us there is nothing left to hold on to."
" There was nothing to begin with, at least not on you're part." Baralai retorted.
" Maybe one day you'll understand why I did it."
" Hopefully. I think after this is all over. I think it would be best to follow Rikku's advice."
" What's that?"
" Find a man that you truly love, marry him, be happy. Yuna I'm deeply hurt as I know you are as well. But I cannot forget what you did for Spira. As preator of New Yevon I wish you only the best."
" You were listening?"
" Fiohn was a loyal friend at one time. However that position does not belong to him. I shall dedicate my life to ruling and looking out for Spira's best interest. I had no business falling in love."
" I'm the one who fooled you. I made you believe that I loved you with as much fervor."
" Yuna, enough. I want you to be happy is all. We could never be happy together, you were right." Baralai said defeatedly his shoulders had shifted and a forlorn look appeared on his face." Tommorow is another day."
Baralai left Yuna alone with her thoughts. She felt cold almost abandoned. Baralai was such a wonderful person. She could easily see herself in a different circumstance, with him. Thinking back on what was said to her....she wondered. " Why don't I fall in love?"
Yuna was finally out of harms way thanks to Gippal. She was soaking wet. Wrapped in a white bathrobe she perched herself on the deck of the ship, below her was Bevelle her lights glowing faintly. She felt relieved, however a strong sense of guilt hovered over her head. If anyone here was at fault for what had happened it was her. As much desire that she had to blame Paine , she couldn't bring herself to lie anymore. Everything didn't feel right. A feeling so strong urged her to survive. She didn't question why.
Yuna hear footsteps near her, Rikku's. They seemed to sing in the night. As if creating a melody of their own. Rikku was such an exhuberant person, yet Yuna knew that beneath her exhuberant surface Rikku had grown to become a strong, independent, woman. Although she was still Rikku.
" Remember this number?" Rikku held a hanger and to Yuna's horror it was her old sphere hunting outfit. Yuna remembering she had gain a pound or two since then opted not to squeeze herself into those hot pants ever agian.
" Hmm." Yuna responded a worried look drew on her face.
" I don't like that , hmm" Rikku's eyes lit, " It's only a gag Yunie, where is you sense of humor?"
Yuna found herself a bit baffled by Rikku's attitude, after Yuna's little trip through the Via Purifico to death and back that only thing she felt was humorous.
" Rikku, please thank Gippal for me." Yuna changed the subject quickly, but she felt the mention of Gippal could stir an interesting reaction from Rikku.
" Thank him?!" Rikku's expression soured, " He didn't don't anything except get us out of Bevelle?! "
" Well, Rikku you're lucky to have him by your side in either side." Yuna smirked.
" Ugh, please don't play matchmaker Yunie."
" Don't you want to fall in love? Get married?"
Rikku pouted " After Baralai's and your trip to adult world, I'm totally convinced!"
"Of what?"
" That I'm never going to fall in love!"
" Never say never Rikku."
" Nope! I'm looking out for number one! Me! Which brings me to another point." Rikku softened her tone to a dull whisper." Did you ever really love Baralai? Why didn't you tell me what was going on?"
" Rikku, I'm sorry. I married him to protect you and the Al Bhed. Uncle Cid, he was contacted by some people who said they would kill all the Al Bhed. However I suppose I've only made things worse."
" What about Baralai? Have you thought about him at all?"
Yuna rethought about the time she had spent with Baralai. Few times had she actually considered his feelings. Yuna felt so ougly. All she thought of was Tidus. Baralai was only the man in the backround.
" I feel terrible about it. I was so cruel to Baralai. I couldn't see past my own suffering at that time."
" Well if what you said was true, he went out of his way to save you. Yunie...Baralai loves you.Despite everything he cares about you!" Rikku had never sounded more mature. She was wiser than she appeared.
" I know, I can't forget about Tidus. I...I...just can't!"
" Who says you have to forget about him. Tidus will anyways be with you. He's part of your past, he won't ever leave."
" You're right, but I want him to be part of my present."
" Yunie...you're living in the past. You don't want to accept that your life is changing!"
Yuna batted her eye lids trying to fan the emerging tears dry. " I'm not afriad of change."
" Yuna, you're the one who told me to get married! Why can't I tell you to allow yourself to fall in love again?"
" Rikku, there is something there. I care for Baralai, deeply. It just can't be love! We can't be together again not now. He lied to me about who he was. I lied to him! We can't trust eachother ever again. It wouldn't make sense to hurt us both!"
"Listen to yourself! You're making up excuses. Love is about feeling, Yunie. Ugh, just listen to me! I'm such a hipocrite!" Rikku gagged," Anymore of this mushiness I'm going to barf!"
" Let's just drop the subject."
" Alright, it's a deal!"
Rikku patted Yuna on the back harshly. The pieces of wet hair clung to Yuna's face in the wind. She looked out above to the ocean of light in the night sky. It had been a while since she saw the stars this close. Yuna missed being on this deck, just wasting away her days in the sweltering sun and frigid nights. " Is Baralai going to be alright?" Yuna pondered to herself. Rikku slinked away, with holding a smile. She was in on something Yuna didn't seem to know. Gipppal had picked up another friend on his way out of Bevelle.
Rikku slithered along side the silver haired twenty-something year old on her way down to the lower decks of the ship, flashing a smile at him from time to time. He looked at the beautiful girl stationed on the deck with indignity. He couldn't believe he had gone through all that work to avoid seeing her again only to discover that Gippal had a crush on her cousin. Of all the Al Bhed girls in the world. Gippal just had to fall for Yuna's cousin. He didn't expect Gippal to get lucky anytime soon. From what he had drawn from Rikku she was just as hostile and wily as his blonde friend. That aside, he thanked Gippal. Until now he had done everything possible to keep Baralai from an encounter with his former flame who was aboard the same airship. If she could really be considered a flame at all. Rikku had prepared the bed for Baralai to make his move. He decided not to plead for Yuna. It was hopeless.
Just as Baralai was about to make his escape he heard a loud gasp reverberate in the distance.
"Baralai!" a faint voice drew forward. Yuna dashed forward, stopping short of Baralai's vicinity. She searched his eyes. Baralai wondered if she was looking for him or the man she loved. Baralai's thoughts just didn't translate into words at that moment. They hung somewhere with the stars.
" Baralai, you don't have to say anything. I know that between us there is nothing left to hold on to."
" There was nothing to begin with, at least not on you're part." Baralai retorted.
" Maybe one day you'll understand why I did it."
" Hopefully. I think after this is all over. I think it would be best to follow Rikku's advice."
" What's that?"
" Find a man that you truly love, marry him, be happy. Yuna I'm deeply hurt as I know you are as well. But I cannot forget what you did for Spira. As preator of New Yevon I wish you only the best."
" You were listening?"
" Fiohn was a loyal friend at one time. However that position does not belong to him. I shall dedicate my life to ruling and looking out for Spira's best interest. I had no business falling in love."
" I'm the one who fooled you. I made you believe that I loved you with as much fervor."
" Yuna, enough. I want you to be happy is all. We could never be happy together, you were right." Baralai said defeatedly his shoulders had shifted and a forlorn look appeared on his face." Tommorow is another day."
Baralai left Yuna alone with her thoughts. She felt cold almost abandoned. Baralai was such a wonderful person. She could easily see herself in a different circumstance, with him. Thinking back on what was said to her....she wondered. " Why don't I fall in love?"