Chapter 19
It wasn't that she was reluctant to accept her fault in the matter or the decision. She feared the worst for all parties involed. Yuna would eventually claim the burden as her own and Baralai would be forced to accept the evil with in himself. Overtime Baralai could become a bitter man. Paine knew this all too well. Baralai was vunerable to his own feelings. However it was hard to believe that he could be considered a threat to anyone. He was once described as a man without passion. Paine realized that when faced with death he was anything but dispassionate. however not just for himself, like most mortal beings, yet for the one he loved.
Since when was Paine so intertwined with her philosopical side? Perhaps it was because her and Baralai shared a bond, one which still lingered between them. Perhaps bonds can evole beyond love. Friendship to Paine was beyond love. Baralai was one of the choice few she considered a true friend. She believed this truth because you can still love someone despite the hate you have for them, but you can never mend ties with a friend you has broken the trust that once existed between them. Paine had no regrets for not killing Baralai. She could distinguish liars from honest men. Baralai was an honest man. For the most part. Despite his lineage. Yet a few years ago the same prejudice could be executed because of Yuna's family ties. "Just look at her now." Paine thought. However she had no time to think. It was becoming increasingly clear that now she was a fugitive. Baralai appearantly had been courageous enough, or strange enough to take out one of the guards in attempt to save Yuna. Turns out his plan backfired. Not only for him but for Paine. However forgiveable a fault like that was, Paine found it incredibly irratating. Especailly when she was looking for a certain someone. These constant annoyances kept creeping up on her, like some fiend, shadowing her around wherever she treaded.
She felt rather safe here. This was her home town. She knew that the peaceful village it was, it was no sight for any such Yevonites. Well there wasn't much left of it. It was destoyed by an attack courtesy of Sin when she was young. Baranaile. You couldn't call it a village...rather a settlement. A few modest houses made of whatever settlers could find. Here her whole family lived. Her mother and her father. Her mother was a sweet woman of proud heritage. Daughter of a wealthy family with an older brother well on his way up the ranks of Yevon's temple, Fiohn. Yet she ran away from all of it to be with her beloved. An outcast. He was a strange race of human, strange to the eyes of ignorant Yevonites. Paine never grew up knowing anyone from her mother's family. However ties of blood are strong. She couldn't say no to Fiohn when she could use him to her advantage. Even if it was just to find another fugitive. The most she analyzed it the more desolate the vacant area looked. Only one thing stood where the settlement was and lonely tent, the man who lived in it was a smuggler. Time to time some would pass by to trade with him. Usually poor travelers strayed from their paths. " Maybe...I'm the traveler...the pity." She mummered, she heard the foliage ruffle in the earshot of where she was.
She glanced over her shoulder. Only to spot a pair of bi-hued eyes. No one on Spira could posess those eyes other than Yuna.
"How did you find me?" Paine, losely she swung her body in Yuna's direction."You look lost...old friend."
" They took Baralai! You will tell me where I can find him!"
" They did? Pity, all that work for nothing. I broke a sweat trying to hide the fact Baralai was alive." Paine caressed her blade.
Yuna acknowledged the fact that Paine knew nothing. Yet she needed Paine help if she was going to go though with her plan. "Paine, I realize we haven't talked in a while yet now I'm asking you to please help me confront Fiohn."
"Yuna, I may have been willing to kill both Baralai and you if given the chance. Yet I can't kill..."
"Why? Paine the Al-bhed won't invole themselves. Not Rikku, not Gippal. I only have you."
"How did you find me?"
" I asked Gippal to tell me possible locations of where you might be. He told me you used to live in this area."
"It isn't much now."
Yuna sighed "It's still your home."
Paine smirked " true."
"I know you're not a bad person, you spared Baralai."
"Fiohn is my...hmm forget it. He'll be nothing once I'm done with him."
" Paine, maybe we can even become friends once again...after this is all over."
"There was someone I was supposed to look for...he can wait I guess. Maybe we can."Paine smiled this time, a hearty full smile.
" Thank you." Yuna sighed in relief.
In that instant Paine realized a feeling she never had towards Yuna. Perhaps it was a bit of jealousy. She never looked at Baralai with eyes of love, yet she knew the woman Baralai feel in love with had to be very special. Yuna was the most special woman in all of Spira. Maybe she was always envious of the love Baralai had for Yuna. Why couldn't anyone love Paine the way he loved her. It made Paine so lonely. Paine had never been one to care for the company of people, like Yuna. Yuna was tailored,proper and everything a lady should be. Paine hated most women like Yuna. Yet Yuna was geniune, sincere and the kindest woman she had ever met. Paine could only have respect for her. Blankly Paine asked her."Yuna you love Baralai?"
It was enough to make Yuna turn around to Paine. Their eyes met, Paine could sense her sincerity." I think I'm...maybe but if I never get to see him again how will I know?"
"I thought so."
Paine could read between the lines. Yuna didn't actually want to address it. However the bond that united Baralai and her ran much deeper than love. They just were both unaware of how deep those bonds ran.
It wasn't that she was reluctant to accept her fault in the matter or the decision. She feared the worst for all parties involed. Yuna would eventually claim the burden as her own and Baralai would be forced to accept the evil with in himself. Overtime Baralai could become a bitter man. Paine knew this all too well. Baralai was vunerable to his own feelings. However it was hard to believe that he could be considered a threat to anyone. He was once described as a man without passion. Paine realized that when faced with death he was anything but dispassionate. however not just for himself, like most mortal beings, yet for the one he loved.
Since when was Paine so intertwined with her philosopical side? Perhaps it was because her and Baralai shared a bond, one which still lingered between them. Perhaps bonds can evole beyond love. Friendship to Paine was beyond love. Baralai was one of the choice few she considered a true friend. She believed this truth because you can still love someone despite the hate you have for them, but you can never mend ties with a friend you has broken the trust that once existed between them. Paine had no regrets for not killing Baralai. She could distinguish liars from honest men. Baralai was an honest man. For the most part. Despite his lineage. Yet a few years ago the same prejudice could be executed because of Yuna's family ties. "Just look at her now." Paine thought. However she had no time to think. It was becoming increasingly clear that now she was a fugitive. Baralai appearantly had been courageous enough, or strange enough to take out one of the guards in attempt to save Yuna. Turns out his plan backfired. Not only for him but for Paine. However forgiveable a fault like that was, Paine found it incredibly irratating. Especailly when she was looking for a certain someone. These constant annoyances kept creeping up on her, like some fiend, shadowing her around wherever she treaded.
She felt rather safe here. This was her home town. She knew that the peaceful village it was, it was no sight for any such Yevonites. Well there wasn't much left of it. It was destoyed by an attack courtesy of Sin when she was young. Baranaile. You couldn't call it a village...rather a settlement. A few modest houses made of whatever settlers could find. Here her whole family lived. Her mother and her father. Her mother was a sweet woman of proud heritage. Daughter of a wealthy family with an older brother well on his way up the ranks of Yevon's temple, Fiohn. Yet she ran away from all of it to be with her beloved. An outcast. He was a strange race of human, strange to the eyes of ignorant Yevonites. Paine never grew up knowing anyone from her mother's family. However ties of blood are strong. She couldn't say no to Fiohn when she could use him to her advantage. Even if it was just to find another fugitive. The most she analyzed it the more desolate the vacant area looked. Only one thing stood where the settlement was and lonely tent, the man who lived in it was a smuggler. Time to time some would pass by to trade with him. Usually poor travelers strayed from their paths. " Maybe...I'm the traveler...the pity." She mummered, she heard the foliage ruffle in the earshot of where she was.
She glanced over her shoulder. Only to spot a pair of bi-hued eyes. No one on Spira could posess those eyes other than Yuna.
"How did you find me?" Paine, losely she swung her body in Yuna's direction."You look lost...old friend."
" They took Baralai! You will tell me where I can find him!"
" They did? Pity, all that work for nothing. I broke a sweat trying to hide the fact Baralai was alive." Paine caressed her blade.
Yuna acknowledged the fact that Paine knew nothing. Yet she needed Paine help if she was going to go though with her plan. "Paine, I realize we haven't talked in a while yet now I'm asking you to please help me confront Fiohn."
"Yuna, I may have been willing to kill both Baralai and you if given the chance. Yet I can't kill..."
"Why? Paine the Al-bhed won't invole themselves. Not Rikku, not Gippal. I only have you."
"How did you find me?"
" I asked Gippal to tell me possible locations of where you might be. He told me you used to live in this area."
"It isn't much now."
Yuna sighed "It's still your home."
Paine smirked " true."
"I know you're not a bad person, you spared Baralai."
"Fiohn is my...hmm forget it. He'll be nothing once I'm done with him."
" Paine, maybe we can even become friends once again...after this is all over."
"There was someone I was supposed to look for...he can wait I guess. Maybe we can."Paine smiled this time, a hearty full smile.
" Thank you." Yuna sighed in relief.
In that instant Paine realized a feeling she never had towards Yuna. Perhaps it was a bit of jealousy. She never looked at Baralai with eyes of love, yet she knew the woman Baralai feel in love with had to be very special. Yuna was the most special woman in all of Spira. Maybe she was always envious of the love Baralai had for Yuna. Why couldn't anyone love Paine the way he loved her. It made Paine so lonely. Paine had never been one to care for the company of people, like Yuna. Yuna was tailored,proper and everything a lady should be. Paine hated most women like Yuna. Yet Yuna was geniune, sincere and the kindest woman she had ever met. Paine could only have respect for her. Blankly Paine asked her."Yuna you love Baralai?"
It was enough to make Yuna turn around to Paine. Their eyes met, Paine could sense her sincerity." I think I'm...maybe but if I never get to see him again how will I know?"
"I thought so."
Paine could read between the lines. Yuna didn't actually want to address it. However the bond that united Baralai and her ran much deeper than love. They just were both unaware of how deep those bonds ran.