Author's Note: I really appreciate your reviews, people! And to express my sincerest gratitude, here's the first chapter of my story!! :P
Chapter One
There are lots of shooting stars tonight... Rikku wondered as she gazed back at the evening sky. The cool evening breeze caressed her soft tanned skin as she walked towards the beach in a pace that matched the calm beating of her heart. She didn't know what brought her here in the first place. The village was lively and everyone was having a good time before the Gullwings return again in the airship for more sphere-hunting mission.
Normally, Rikku wouldn't have any trouble merging in with a lively crowd but the incident in the past and the slightly mushy air surrounding the night made Rikku feel a little out of place. It was making her feel quite hollow and alone. First, there's Baralai's confession to Paine and then there's Yuna and Tidus... Ever since he came back, Yuna has been everything but gloomy. And of course there's the occasional smack down session... Like most ordinary lovers, petty quarrels are inevitable and Rikku always jumps in the middle to serve as their official referee whenever one is necessary.
Hey... at least she's got him back.
Indeed. Yuna finally found her lost dream.Her face fell sadly as she walked nearer the water to soothe herself from the unusual pain that she was feeling. Unlike Tidus, Gippal never left Spira nor did he disappear after the events that occurred more than five years ago. But he did "disappear" out of my life... A sad smile formed on Rikku's lips as she sat down on the edge of the beach.
The night was getting deeper and everything in the beach was perfectly still. The silence that cloaked the whole place was indeed deafening yet it added a certain touch of serenity and contentment to whoever was enjoying the night out. This time, however, it didn't help much to calm Rikku's disillusioned condition. It was true that she had suffered and recovered from the hurtful blow two years ago but the scars would take time to heal completely. Sadly, setting her boots aside, she let the cold beach waves caress her feet to ease her wounded and heavy heart... tired from the harshness that it continually receives.
A cold gust of wind swept by, making Rikku wrap her arms around herself for warmth. Feeling a little bit helpless from the rapid chill that the gust brought around the beach, another sad smile crept in her lips as a thought occurred in her mind. It does feel good to have somebody's arms around you whenever you need it most... and it feels good to know that he loves me... or at least I thought he did... two years ago...
The wind sent out another chilling gust of wind that was enough to make her toes freeze. Rikku frowned and looked around after the gust rushed past her. "Ooh... stop it already!!" She pouted, waving her fist up in the air annoyingly and propping herself with her legs. She let out a defeated sigh as she fixed her headband that was ruined by the gust. "Stupid wind..." She pouted and gazed back at the dark horizon thoughtfully. Realizing how much things have changed in the past, Rikku frowned and chuckled frustratingly at a sudden discovery:
What's happening to me? It's not like me at all to be like this. I'm supposed to be the most cheerful member of the Gullwings and now...
"You're a mess..."
Rikku's head immediately shot towards the direction of the familiar voice. "Hiya Paine!!" She immediately conjured up enough balance to make her voice sound as cheerful as it normally should be. While frantically waving her hands up in the air, Paine raised an eyebrow as she made her way towards the blonde on the beach.
"Uh-huh..."
No matter how hard she tried, Paine still eyed the Al Bhed skeptically and sat beside her; removing the boots on both her feet to let the cool waves collide with it. "Why'd you leave our little 'get together' in the village?" Paine shrugged at Rikku's question and smiled when she spotted a falling star. "It's highly unusual of you to shut up in a crowd... more so leave it... so obviously, I followed you." Paine's answer was uncomfortable and it made Rikku chuckle nervously while her feet fumble with the sand beneath it.
Oh boy... Sighing heavily, she tried to calm herself down to raise her defenses from Paine's piercing questions. "How about you? What's YOUR excuse for leaving our little 'get together'?" Paine raised an eyebrow again, marking her words teasingly with a hint of sarcasm throwing out in all directions. Rikku chuckled nervously again and fumbled the sand even more.
"Keep that up and you'll end up six feet under..." Paine nodded at Rikku's "digging" spot where she was fumbling her feet. It was already a foot deep and she didn't even realize it from all her evading.
"Um...I-ah... um...hehe... just wanted to-um... be a lone for a while... yeah... that's it... hehe..."
"How convincing..."
Rikku pouted and stuck her tongue out making Paine chuckle. "Come on... we've been friends for more than five years. I promise to be less than annoying."
"And you expect me to tell you what's bothering me?" Rikku frowned at her chuckling friend.
"I didn't expect you to tell me immediately that there's something bothering you."
"I didn't say that there's something bothering me!"
"You just did a couple of seconds ago."
"That's not what I meant!"
Paine smirked at Rikku and poked her forehead with her fore finger. "You're defenses are up again."
"It is not!!" Rikku stared back frustratingly at the evening sky with a pout. "Ku uh! Myikr yd sa, oui pimmo!" (Go on! Laugh at me, you bully!)
"E's hud myikrehk." (I'm not laughing.) She wasn't really laughing- she was holding back a burst of chuckle on her chest.
When Paine finally stopped herself from letting an outburst of chuckle, silence cloaked the whole beach again while the two females sat quietly, staring at the vast horizon that seem to outstretch itself towards infinity. After a few seconds, Paine's lips formed a little smile as she glanced back at the younger femme at her side. "Is it about that bastard again?" Rikku glanced at her shockingly- losing her senses by Paine's choice of words. Nothing out of the ordinary there but Rikku never expected Paine to say something like that to a close friend... particularly Gippal.
"You're both my friends but the thing that Gippal did to you was beyond the line." Paine has a way of amazing Rikku even though they've known each other for five years now. She didn't have a clue if Paine could really read her mind or was it just because everything is written on her face. Whatever the answer was, all that she could figure out is that her friend couldn't be easily deceived by lousy excuses.
"Yeah... I know. But that was really sweet, you know. I didn't expect you to barge in Djosé Temple just to teach that meanie a lesson for me!" Paine cringed and darted a piercing stare at Rikku.
"Don't push it."
"Aww... come on! Just admit that you really care for me!"
"Rikku...!?"
Paine pulled her boots and her serious face back on before standing up. "Let's just go. I don't want to alarm a search party just because we've gone missing in the little reunion for a few minutes." She said. Rikku's green eyes sparkled in delight as she immediately pulled her boots up and ran after Paine. "You don't seem to be taking any respect points away today!"
"Would you like me to?"
"Uh-uh!"
"Then shut your trap before I do."
"It would be easier if you just tell me that you care, you know!" Rikku stopped walking with a huge grin on her face.
"Ugh... Rikku, that's-"
"I'll shut up!" Her green eyes went round like basketballs as she immediately trudged beside her crimson-eyed friend, waving both her hands in plea to stop Paine from taking away her respect points.
"Hmph..." Paine replied with an amused little smile and continued on walking towards the village with Rikku's liveliness radiating on all four corners again.
Well, at least I know that everyone around me still cares! Rikku told herself cheerfully and skipped towards the village with Paine behind her; a faint smile was on her lips as she eyed her normally hyperactive friend. I might as well enjoy our night out here in Besaid. That was her final conclusion and positively thinking that tomorrow would be a very good day for everyone- for her. She told herself not to mop around in self-pity because that would probably invite more questions than there usually were... and that is the thing that she is trying to avoid as much as possible.
After the excitement faded in the night, everyone finally decided to retire on their own bed to take a good night's sleep; preparing themselves for the new adventure that awaits them at the coming of dawn. A new page has been lifted; the quills and ink on hand... ready to write a story that is yet to be told.
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She was drowning.
She staggered frantically as she felt her lungs run out of air. The icy cold water pierced through the barriers of her skin like a thousand knives cutting a deep fissure that refuses to let out any of her blood.
She tried crying for help but the water forced her voice back on her throat.
She knew she was dying but the fighter inside her screamed that she shouldn't die- she mustn't give up no matter what. She swam upward with what was left of her remaining strength- ignoring the pressure that was pulling her down.
With her strength dwindling rapidly, her determination or rather desperation to reach the surface became a struggle for her own life. Given only a few seconds, all the air in her lungs would be out and she knew that it would be the bottom line for her.
Her book will be closed... and forever would she remain to be the lady that she is now: alone and helpless.
No. I can't give up just yet!
She could feel the painful piercing of cold water penetrating her defenses. She was near but she couldn't last any longer. Her vision is already blurry and her lungs have run out of its life support.
I... can't...
With her last strength & breath, she stretched her hand- hoping that somebody would reach it... Hoping that somebody would save her.
And after her last struggle for life, her strength was drained and air was out of her completely. Her body gave in to the pulling pressure beneath the abyss and then...
To be continued...
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Author's Note: Sorry about that... (grins)... please, please, please, please, please review... :)