Author's Note: Fifth chapter... Sorry about Gippal being pansy and all. I didn't mean that. I'm having a hard time placing myself in his position. How the heck am I suppose to know how a tough guy thinks? I'm a girl...! :( And proud of it!! (Snaps)... But I don't think it'll stop ME from pushing my imagination to the limits! Nothing is, indeed, impossible. (Smiles widely) Well... no harm done there. I really am appreciating your reviews! It makes me weep! Ah... tears of joy... tsk, tsk, tsk... anyway... I love you guys for criticizing the previous chapter! (Grins) I have a peculiar fondness of flares coz it makes me think evenly and critically.
Chapter Five
Rikku's eyes wandered around the place and evaluated the wholeness of the cell. Well it wasn't quite what she expected. The whole cell was squeaky clean; the white sheet that was covering the rock-hard bed has been properly placed and the flooring was even cleaner than Brother's filthy room. Rikku was expecting the prison cell to be totally nasty but it never crossed her mind that her abductors would be so... accommodating... at the least.
It looked more like a small and partly opened room rather than a prisoner's cell.
She heard a click from behind her and noticed that the guard has locked the door. Feeling exhausted from her two consecutive scrambling, she lay down on the bed, not caring if it was solid as rock. She was deadbeat and she was exactly not in the right place to demand something to comfort her. She was a prisoner... plus, she thought that she wouldn't be staying here forever anyway.
It's either I escape... or... ... ... yikes...
She trailed her words off and swallowed a lump on her throat. Turning to lie on her belly, she laid her head on the single pillow of the bed and dozed off to sleep thinking about escaping and other things...
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"Help!!" She bolted straight up from lying down and looked around the room as she sat on the rock-bed.
It's just a dream... Ooh... Will it ever stop!?
Rikku looked up to the small window on the top most wall of her cell. It was dark. Obviously, she's been sleeping for hours due to exhaustion. As her senses regained its full composure, she noticed that the blankets were already covering her. "Hey... I don't remember covering myself with this." She thought out loud and stared confusedly at the blanket.
Click...
Rikku's head almost flew to the opening door. A man wearing the same uniform as the others came in, carrying a tray of food. "I was told you missed lunch." He said, laying the tray down on the table before heading for the door again.
Missed...? She asked herself, placing her forefinger on her lower lip thoughtfully. She blinked and turned her gaze to the leaving guy, "W-Wait!" She shouted.
The man whirled around throwing a questioning gaze at her. "Make it quick! I'm busy!" He almost snapped, raising an eyebrow at the Al Bhed sitting still on the bed. "Delivering rations isn't exactly a job fit for a man of stature such as myself."
"I'm just going to ask a question!" She frowned at the soldier. "Um... Is there anybody else who entered here? I mean... besides you?"
The man blinked at her in wonder and shrugged. "Why don't you ask the guard? Only four people are allowed to enter prison cells without appropriate reasons." He answered turning his heel and headed for the door again.
"Er... Who're you talkin' about?" Rikku asked questioningly. The guy whirled around and sighed, a little impatient about Rikku's nonstop inquiries.
"Other than me, three others are permitted; high-ranking officials to answer your inquiry. Who else?" He answered half smiling at the Al Bhed. "You look awfully beat. You really should eat before you pass out of starvation." His face lit up in a full smile. "It's not everyday that someone triggers my curiosity... I'm Gen. Riley... may I have the honor of knowing the lady's name?"
Rikku eyed him in surprise and realized that this guy was the same person who fought Paine earlier. This came in a total surge of shock- all in a thousand bolts, you might say. She didn't quite expect him to treat her nicely after his bout with Paine but he certainly is less arrogant than the one she fought earlier. "Rikku..." She answered and noticed the metal plate on his shoulders, concluding that it was the only thing that differs in their cloaked uniforms. "And your niceness to a prisoner is beginning to creep me out..." She uttered frankly. "You're not exactly like the meanie that I fought earlier." She said, almost in a whisper.
"My dear, I beg to differ..." He said. His voice was soft despite his mockery. "I'm no more than that particular 'meanie' that you're talking about. I'm only nice when I choose to and I believe that women should be treated nicely. Is there anything wrong or peculiar about that? All seem to be in your gender's favor." A smile on his lips but it didn't even help to soften his piercing eyes.
"You didn't seem to think of Paine as a woman when you fought her." Rikku frowned at him, thinking about Paine's hostile encounter with the young general.
"Oh I assure you I did just that with utmost deliverance..." He said, inching two steps towards her. "I was impractically toying with her at that time. I don't like hurting ladies and I guess I underestimated your friend overly to the point of carelessness. Think of the price that I've paid." He grimaced, making Rikku remember the painful and deeply cut wound across his chest. It was his fault. It was evident in Paine's features that she isn't someone to be taken lightly- even if she is a girl. "Oh well... I guess time couldn't be turned. I respect her for that though."
He certainly has weird perks... She thought, staring blankly at the man in front of her. "H-How's it then?" She didn't know where the stammer came from but the mention of his previous fight with Paine was refreshed and memories of his blood flowing out of his deeply cut wound was enough to make her sick. The man raised an eyebrow and with a half smile.
"I am touched by your concern..." He was now- obviously- mocking her. "We have potions and technology enough to heal an incredulous wound like that without leaving scars but the pain of it remains for roughly a month and a half... depending on the intensity of the blow, of course." He stopped and smiled at Rikku lazily, "And it certainly is quite a blow. I thank you for your... concern... though I think that it may be a little too late for anything."
The man is incredibly insulting but she doesn't seem to be irritated more than she was with the soldier that she fought with. "Well... you provoked her! If you would've just left then you never would've gotten yourself hurt in the first place." She snapped.
"I'm beginning to have weird ideas, my lady." He said amusingly, raising an eyebrow again. "Nonetheless, I stand by my word. You have something we want but we got you instead because of your... protectiveness..." stressing out the last part, Rikku quoted to herself that the elegant Gen. Riley has a way with words. She would've thought of him as a man capable of blowing any girl away by his mere smile if only he wasn't a villain. "And since we certainly are recalling past events, may I point out on your words, my dear... you aren't exactly referring to Rexus as... a 'meanie'... are you not?" He asked quizzically. Rikku's frown deepened as she nodded in an instant.
The young silver-eyed general stared at her in disbelief and laughed heartily. "Well..." He began, resting a hand on his hips. "We're not as barbaric as the rest of Spira thinks we are. We're knights, you know... and before we become fully pledged, we swear under codes and utter an archangel's oaths. Those are the things that separate us from being chaotically evil as what the others think we are. Come to think of it..." He stopped, folding his arms on his chest in thought. "The Black Knight thing adds up to the thought that we're... um... how do I put it..." He stopped and thought off a word with a seriously thoughtful face. His face suddenly brightened and snapped his fingers in delight, "...canailles." He shrugged and smiled back at Rikku, "It's just a name but if everyone knows the REAL meaning of knighthood, it makes out for the most part. As for Rex... he's not exactly a... er... "meanie"... once you get to know him... he's stubborn... but definitely not mean."
Rikku's frown deepened if it was even possible at the thought of the soldier, "Well he's still an arrogant meanie!" She snapped back, irritated at the thought. Riley chuckled and raised his hand to halt her currently irritated state; "Obviously, you've grown quite an irritated "fondness" of him. I won't blame you for thinking that. He's an arrogant bloke in his own way. A man who's foolishly absorbed by his own self esteem." He confirmed.
Rikku agreed with him with a grin and then blinked in wonder almost suddenly, "But... I still don't understand why you guys aren't treating me like a prisoner. Aren't you guys afraid that a prisoner might take the advantage and escape?"
The knight smiled kindly, "Kindness is the thing that separates man from beasts." The knight whirled around and advanced a step to go outside, "Besides, this island is impenetrable and no prisoner has made it out before... with the exception of two girls before but... I don't think you need to know that. Being locked up in a room like this is enough to keep you in line. We're not like those Yevon bastards." The door clicked behind him, leaving the Al Bhed pondering the knight's words carefully.
Yevon bastards...? Rikku repeated his words over and over again, forcing the words to register in her mind. Aren't they even aware that Baralai and the guys are working hard to tie up Spira? I guess they're too stuck up in this island to even realize that time has changed. She asked herself and rubbed the thought out of her mind for a while…
At least he's nicer than the meanie that I met earlier... Rikku told herself and pouted as she recalled Rex's arrogant personality. She quoted that he's handsome but his arrogance makes up the most part of him. Just looking at his face was enough to confirm that he's nothing but a completely bloated, self-centered, egoistical maniac.
Rikku looked down on her hands, resting on her lap. She began thinking about how to escape from this place. Talking with Riley erased her worries about perverts and bad stuffs that one normally does to a helpless female prisoner... well she isn't exactly helpless but the odds in her situation was a horrifyingly 1/100... in their favor. Her head was running in light speed again as she thought of escape plans... force attack: she has her fists, they have swords and machinas. Maybe I can seduce one of the-!? Rikku swallowed a lump on her throat and shook her head in disagreement and disgust.
I don't think so... She whimpered.
She thoughtfully remembered the words of the general and remembered him saying that no one has escaped the island with the exception of two girls... so that means this island isn't as impenetrable as what they think it really is. Rikku might have a chance to escape this place after all... the only thing that she needs is her patience and wits.
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"Garik lead Ronso youth to battle. Help high summoner Yuna rescue friend. Rescue Rikku and crush Black Knights!" Garik's boomingly powerful voice echoed around the mountain sending shivers down on everyone's spine. Yuna sighed in disbelief, burying her face on both her hands.
"Er... I guess... we're back to the crushing thing..." Tidus mumbled, scratching the back of his head. He did expect the Ronso to be violent but he didn't think that this specific Ronso would actually want to kill, basically, everyone that comes in their way.
"Woo-hoo..." Paine exclaimed sarcastically again.
"I won't allow any bloodshed in this attempt. This is a rescue attempt; not a war..." Yuna finalized, throwing a steady and determined gaze at the naturally violent Ronso. Garik grunted and stared in disagreement with Yuna mumbling something.
"I'll volunteer navigation! I know the island more than anyone else!" Aeris bolted up and said gleefully as she turned her head around, looking at each Ronso fascinatingly. When she noticed everyone looking at her, she smiled at them, "Well... of course... Elma knows it too since she was with me but since she's not available, you guys have to rely on my knowledge for a while." She smiled sweetly and then turned back to the Ronso on the corner. It was Lian and Ayde
"Fascinating... aren't they?" Aeris exclaimed in between sighs.
"Don't tell me that you haven't seen a Ronso before..." Tidus asked wonderingly as Aeris continued her musings.
"Frankly speaking... Nooj has been keeping me in a closet of paper works ever since I became an official member of the Youth League. And the only opportunity that I see lots of them is in a blitzball game. It really fascinates me to see bunches of Ronso in close range. I think they're cute..." She said and stood up from where she was sitting and approached the two pups on the side.
Paine and Tidus switched glances and shrugged. "For an eye catcher, Aeris certainly have distinct taste... what do you think?" Paine asked Tidus in a whisper.
"Er... don't ask me! She's a girl! You should know better!" Tidus said, faltering a chuckle on his throat.
Silence engulfed the surroundings as everyone drifted in their thoughts again. Planning a rescue attempt isn't an easy task as they thought it would be. However, the silence was broken when of a pair of boots sinking deep into the snow clicked their attention. Aeris walked towards them with a smile after talking with the two Ronso pups. "My... this has certainly turned into a brainstorming session." She smiled ever so sweetly; the seas of blue-green sparkled, reflecting the flickering fire. "Okay... I volunteer to go since they'll most likely go after me with all of the information that I have." She pointed out happily, undaunted by the danger that might be awaiting her in the island.
Everyone threw a surprised and worried look at her. "How convenient..." Paine began, "... and I'm expecting that you'll easily waltz your way in and out of hostile territory without causing a riot." Paine served her ironical comment to Aeris with cream on top.
Aeris stood rooted on one spot without even wincing. Yuna looked up to her intrepid state and for a short second, she appeared to be hurt more than scared at what Paine said. Yuna thought that Paine was hurting her feelings by not trusting her abilities on this one. Yet again, she couldn't blame Paine for doing so. After all, Baralai sent her to protect Yuna and provide them with information but she clearly doesn't have to risk her life in the process.
Yuna shook her head and stared up at Aeris. "It's too risky..." She agreed with Paine. Aeris sat down on the ground and sighed.
"I'm not branded as super girl for nothing you know... I can do it... one way or another I can DO it." She stressed determinedly. "I escaped the prison with Elma alive the first time... what makes you think that I can't do it with Rikku? I'm sure that she's as good as Elma... with a tinge of childhood, of course." She added immediately in a mild way.
"Knowing THAT gives them an inch. They'll double security and make sure that you don't get out again." Pointing out an obvious weakness in her plan, Tidus shook his head and told Aeris the risk that she wasn't taking seriously at all. "And knowing Rikku, she must've attempted countless of times this day already."
"I can fight my way out..." She snapped. "The best time to escape in the prisons is during the night, you know. They have evening rations of food and if you do it really quick and stealthily, you're free to go. The guards wouldn't notice it coz they're too..." She stopped and sighed with a satisfied smile, "Lax... in doing their job."
"That's putting it mildly." Paine lukewarmly quoted.
"Well they aren't exactly lazy because of their ability to stay awake during duty hours." Aeris' eyes glittered. "That was based on Elma and my own observation when we were being held as prisoners." She added immediately. Aeris was obviously delighted about their ingenious escape in the island. "I'm only justifying things... and either way, one of us has to go in there and get Rikku out." She smiled.
"If that's the case then... you sure have a peculiar way of justifying things..." Paine grimaced mockingly at Aeris. The Youth League official frowned.
"Remind me to rely on you for a stack-full of sarcasm and irony..." Aeris answered amusingly, "It's beginning to trigger my... insatiable curiosity." She added making Paine shrug.
"Pleasure..." The warrior answered making Aeris smile satisfyingly. The others stared at them in bewilderment. They weren't getting the point of their continuous bouts of irony and sarcasm but they surely sounded like they understood each other perfectly. It looks like Paine finally met a match for her incredulous talent of intimidation, sarcasm and irony in a way.
Everyone fell silent for a while when their thoughts finally resumed to the rescue plan. Aeris waited for Yuna's confirmation and when she saw the ex-summoner looked up to her and nodded half-heartedly, Aeris beamed a thankful smile and looked up to Kimhari. "We're going to need the Ronso youth's help on this one. You should prepare to pull out stunts and make it look convincing." She grinned menacingly at them, "I have things in my mind and I think we have to consult the meyvn on this one..."
When their initial plans were finally decided, Yuna and the rest of the Gullwings went back to the airship and called it a day. Kimhari wished them a very good luck on their plans and insisted that they contact him if ever the Ronso's help is finally required. After the entrance to the airship has been sealed, Aeris stepped in with a yawn and stretched her arms up. "I'm beat..." She exclaimed and stepped on the ladder leading to the lift.
"Aeris..." Paine called out from behind making Aeris whirl around to face her immediately. The sound of the returning lift rang through their ears as silence consumed the two of them. Aeris was waiting for Paine's next word as the rhythmic sound of the combusting engine began to rumble, telling them that they've already sped away from the mountain. "Tell me something..." Paine began, walking nearer.
"Why are you so insistent on doing all of this?" Paine continued; calmly stating the question without any emotions but her face deceived her words. Doubt and suspicion was evident and it was easy for someone like Aeris- with a legendary intel records- to read it off. However, deciding that it wouldn't do anyone any good to point out Paine's doubtfulness, Aeris flashed a small smile at the crimson-eyed warrior, dismissing the things that she saw in Paine's face.
"When I'm given a task, I make sure that I give it my all. I hate the feeling of working half-heartedly. It sickens me to the pit of my stomach... And since this is my first time on a guardian-like job..." She turned around and headed for the lift. "I guess my one hundred percent is to protect Yuna at all cost... even if it means losing and forgetting my whole life." She turned around to face Paine who was just standing outside the door of the lift, staring at her unbelievingly. "When I look at everyone in this airship, I remember everyone dear to me years ago..." she muttered softly and then sighed. "You guys certainly have kept yourselves even if something dreadful happens... like any real family should be doing."
"What am I saying...?" She chuckled and then looked up at Paine. Her lips was slightly parted in shock at Aeris' sudden display of vulnerability and under all circumstances this day, never has she seen her so... emotional. What exactly happened to this 22-year-old girl that made her seem... complicated?
"Are you coming with me to the bridge or are you going to stand there staring at me like that till the crack of dawn?" Aeris said arcing an eyebrow.
"I guess I'm just being paranoid." Paine said and entered the lift with an after thought sigh.
"Can't blame you for that... we've only known each other for a day." Aeris said, chuckling a bit eyeing the controls of the lift as Paine pressed the button heading for the bridge. She was still new so learning was indeed the first thing on her mind. And Aeris does have an "insatiable curiosity" as she pointed out before.
"Then I hope that this is a start of a good friendship then..." Aeris shot a surprised glance at Paine. Her words clearly caught her off-guard and it's either because she didn't expect Paine to say it or she didn't know how to react when she begins to say it. It was too late to think of pleasantries now that the supposedly too-serious-to-please warrior dropped the bomb on her unexpectedly.
"You do...?" Aeris asked, flabbergast.
"I wouldn't tell you if I don't..." Paine chuckled, extending a hand towards her and Aeris- still astounded by what she was doing- reluctantly shook her hand.
"F-Friends..." Aeris said halting astoundingly. Her head was reeling with all questions and Paine bet that her jaw would drop on the floor if it were possible before she got her senses back. And when Aeris' senses did return, she shook her head to clear the thoughts away and smiled happily at Paine. "I didn't expect that you'd be the first one to do this..."
Paine shrugged as the lift's door opened. "Rikku's not here and I think Yuna clearly stated that she wanted you as her friend... I guess that leaves me." Aeris walked out of the lift after Paine and thoughtfully absorbed the words carefully.
"You're right." Aeris eyes glittered in delight and chuckled, "I guess my observation isn't defective after all." She added.
"You like observing things, don't you?"
The door leading to the bridge opened as Aeris flashed a grin at the crimson-eyed warrior walking next to her, "It's been a life's job!" She answered cheerfully and stepped in the bridge with Paine.
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Four Days Later...
Rikku was walking to and fro in her prison cell, trying to calm her senses down. She's got a plan to escape now but she didn't exactly know WHEN to execute it. Deciding over things, the supposedly villain-turned-good Gen. Riley has been nothing but a gentleman to her and she doesn't want to play tricks on the kind guy. However, whenever Yuna and Paine crossed her mind, it seems to justify everything else given her current situation. After she had finally calmed herself down, she flopped comfortably and quietly on the neatly arranged bed, trying to hear out any activities outside. After some time of patient waiting, she heard a pair of boots tapping softly on the ground.
She could feel herself tensing. She was never really like this before but under all circumstances, she was alone on this one and she's not exactly fully equipped. Her weapon has been confiscated and she doesn't know exactly where they were hiding it. Rikku calmed herself again with a deep sigh and heard the footsteps drawing nearer and nearer until it stopped: In front of her cell.
Ooookay... Stop shaking like a fish! It's not like they're going to chop your head off... well... not YET at least.
She gulped at the thought before forcing a menacing smile to boost her self-confidence. This is easy... I've done it a thousand times before! That was boosting one's self esteem to the point of exaggeration. This was in fact, her first time to be held prisoner and if ever she manages to escape... that's definitely a first.
Click!
Her heart raced a thousand miles per hour as she heard the familiar sound. Forcing her self to ease down, she glanced back at the door as it slowly opened; making way for the uniformed man that was walking in. It was Gen. Riley...
"You...?" Rikku stiffened, her eyes almost popping out in exasperation.
"Yes, it's me... and I'm glad you're finally awake." Rex stepped inside the room without taking his eyes off her. "For the past four days that I've come to check on you, it's either you're having a bad dream or shivering in cold..."
So much for good company... She frowned disappointedly.
Rikku's exasperation dissolved when she realized something. She did feel cold on the previous nights that she had fallen asleep accidentally without throwing over her cover. But the thought of him being so thoughtful hasn't crossed her mind at all. And her dream... have he heard her crying out for help like Yuna and the others did? She doesn't and didn't care to find out anyway. "What do you want?!" She snapped back at him. Rex stood in a comfortable stride and stared at her questioningly.
"Why'd you do it?" He walked towards a chair and sat comfortably on it. "Why pull a stunt like that? Everyone knows that the days of the summoners are over. Why insist on protecting her?"
Rikku frowned at him and stood up, frustratingly stomping her feet on the ground as she made her way nearer him. "I've gone through enough trouble with the other guardians to protect her and I intend on continuing for as long as I live! And other than posing as her guardian when she was still on her pilgrimage... I'm her cousin, you numbskull!!!"
Rex sat still eyeing her with his cool sapphire eyes; "She's half Al Bhed...?" he fired calmly, "I didn't expect that from a summoner... Nor didn't I think of a Yevonite marrying an Al Bhed... particularly someone who was doomed to become a high summoner." He thoughtfully cupped his own chin. "I guess it doesn't matter but you should really cool down a bit. I'm not going to bite your head off."
Bite my head off?! She grimaced uncomfortably. That certainly IS comforting of him... She thought ironically.
"Yunie's a sister to me and YOU'RE planning on killing her!! How do you expect me to cool down!?" She exploded on him. The sapphire-eyed knight sat there without flinching, completely emotionless. Who does he think he is!? She thought in a frown. Just seeing the arrogant meanie's face was enough to make her conclude that this one has a very unique talent of intimidating people without doing anything at the least... much like Paine but she doesn't have a clue why Paine seems bearable than this one.
"Hm." He moved himself in a more comfortable position, "I think I prefer you asleep rather than awake." No matter how hard he tried, to Rikku's ears, everything that comes out of his mouth is basically annoying.
"Cuter too..." He added making Rikku's face flush. Was that a direct compliment or a mere show of his charm to capture her cooperation? Well whatever it was, it isn't exactly working.
It's official... she wanted to box his ears and strangle him in a hundred ways that she could think of. She frustratingly whirled around and the open door caught her peripheral vision. This is going to be easier than I thought...The muck's completely out of it and careless! She told herself amusingly as she whirled back at the soldier with a pout. "You... you... Ooooh!! You meanie!!!" She stuck her tongue out and ran for it, shocking the sapphire-eyed soldier again.
Rex let out a sigh and a very amused chuckle at the surprisingly reckless- and smart- act of Rikku. I should've taken Louise's words seriously about closing doors after entering or exiting them... he shook his head at the thought. He was basically pondering about Rikku's unusually cute pout. A small smile played on his lips as he walked easily towards the corridor of the prison cells. Certainly amusing... He looked around and spotted the empty desk, making the small smile on his face widen into a grin.
He was certainly in the mood for a little exercise...
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Rikku was sneaking up in every hallway, grasping her knives firmly with her hands as she snooped around. Who would've thought that her weapons were just lying around on the corner table of the guard's desk? That's the price that they've got to pay for being careless and everything about handling their prisoner's possessions. Warily sneaking on a juncture, Rikku immediately made a risky but calculated run towards the exit of the building.
As she was walking behind the bushes, she wondered why the arrogant guy didn't run after her. The thought struck a chord in her as she whirled, half-expecting that somebody was following her. She felt a pouring relief fill her senses when she realized that the course is completely cleared. The only things that she's worried about at this particular moment are the numerous guards on the gate.
She stood behind a huge tree trunk, "How am I going to sneak past them?" She mumbled underneath her frown and looked down on the ground. In doing so, the pouch on her belt caught her attention. "Flash bombs..." She grinned satisfyingly at herself and took out three flash bombs. Gathering enough courage, she walked calmly towards the gate and as expected the guards saw her and immediately ran to attack her.
"Hey you!!" A soldier shouted igniting the attention of the other guards to Rikku.
Rikku faltered back when she saw everyone in the gate run after her. "Yeouch..." She exclaimed and grasped the flash bombs on her hand. Not wasting a second, she threw the bombs in all direction, blinding the guards temporarily and giving her a chance to make a run for it. And at the first sign of the opened gate, Rikku dashed immediately for the opening and snuck away in one piece.
"Hah! Top that!" She chuckled happily as she ran away from the castle and into the forest. She was finally free to go back to the Celsius!
"What took ya?"
Or at least she thought...
The sapphire-eyed soldier was smiling mockingly at her; dextrally grasping the handle of his weapon. Rikku halted on her tracks and stared shockingly at the unbelievable soldier standing before her sparkling green eyes. "I'm aching for a nice warm-up and you prove to be a worthy adversary... And I think that's due to my sister's long absence..." He smiled lazily and positioned his gun blade, "Will you oblige me?"
Irritably cooling her senses down, Rikku positioned her knife and dashed towards him for an attack. After a couple of clashing around the forest, Rikku was merely ducking his offensive pattern and hitting him back quickly to take a decent hit. Rex lounged forward a thrust that merely missed Rikku's arm. She whirled around and slashed him. The knight quickly evaded the surprise attack of the thief and jumped back a pace to steady him self properly.
Rikku studied him carefully. No matter how hard she tried, she just couldn't read anything from his face. The man that she's encountering is totally different and unpredictable. And the little voice inside her was screaming that the man whom she was seeing now is just a mere mirage of someone more powerful- dangerously powerful. Shaking her head to clear the thoughts aside, she firmly tightened the grip on her weapon and forced herself to think of her next course of action.
What to do? What to do? What to do? Ooh... what the heck!!?
This time around, it was Rex's turn to do the initiative. He immediately charged up to her on offensive and roughly changing the pattern that Rikku learned from him. This was definitely different and horrifyingly dangerous. She didn't have much choice and she didn't want to give up. She wasn't in a place to give up. This isn't exactly child's play of wooden swords... this is a true to life match of sharp steels, engineered to slash the life out of you.
The rhythmic sound of steel clashing vibrated through the air. Rikku was having a hard time keeping up with the veteran knight. Her only hope was for him to make a mistake. Evading each of his weapon's strike, she ducked down on the ground and immediately swept his feet. Rex immediately jumped out of the way and sent his weapon hurling down at her but missed again. Scrambling to her feet, Rikku made an upward thrust of her fist and luckily hit him on his abdomen, unbalancing him a little.
Seeing this one in a million opportunity, Rikku's grip on her knife firmed and went down on him with loud slash, inflicting a very deep but clean-cut wound across his broad chest; forming a faint and barely small 'X'.
He winced back in pain and fell on the ground, looking up at Rikku. His lips were slightly parted out of shock but Rikku undoubtedly saw something written all over his face: it was respect without any doubt. Quite unexpected really but she has to focus on escaping now. She'll have all the time in the world to ponder it again when she reached the Celsius... and she didn't doubt that she wouldn't forget the intensity of his glacier eyes on her. When she realized that it was her chance to run, she didn't wait for him to say anything. Instead, she dashed away from the knight and ran towards the beach side, hoping to establish communication with the Celsius.
"Wait!!" Rex shouted, scrambling on his feet with all of his remaining efforts.
She heard it all right, but what made him think that she's going to stop and turn back to face him after their battle. She chuckled triumphantly away from the castle and sped towards the beach avoiding any interference on the way. Until she met another unexpected encounter...
"Rgargh!!!" A big dog-like fiend suddenly jumped and blocked her path. She has no time to think about escaping or planning a diversion. She was trapped to have a quick decision: It's either the arrogant bloke and the castle or the dog and her freedom... obviously, she chooses the latter. Before she could even turn an attack, the dog immediately leapt giving her time to barely avoid its sharp claws. She rolled around on the ground and immediately got back on her feet and attacked the dog.
"Ahhh!!" She fell on her back as the dog lounged its body in an upward motion. One of its claws slashed down on her belly, inflicting three painful lacerations. Wincing in pain, Rikku immediately got up on her feet after kicking the huge dog away from her. Taking the huge dog's temporary vulnerability, she immediately dashed towards it for her final blow. Unfortunately, it was quicker than she gave it credit for. Sensing her back attack, it immediately whirled its huge paws and sent her hurling up in mid-air, slamming her with a noisy thud on a tree trunk.
"Ou-ie..." She muttered weakly, feeling the painful impact of her crash on the tree and the painful wounds all over her body. The huge dog was already glaring at her with its red eyes and disgustingly drooling mouth. It stepped a pace back and leapt forth to finish her off. Rikku stared helplessly at the fiend and braced herself from the painful impact of the huge dog.
"Yunie... Paine... Sorry..." She muttered as she lay still, waiting for the fiend to finish her off. She couldn't find her strength to even evade death... she's so tired.
She has to let go.
Her eyelids were closing already, feeling its heaviness unbearable. And when the fiend closed in on her, her eyelids fell, surrounding her sight with darkness. The last thing that she saw was a flash of something black as it swirled, sending a sound of continuous slashing and cries of painful agony ringing through her ears. She wondered what it was but found no strength to even think about anything else... other than realizing that the dog never came to pounce her life away. Before passing and finally submitting into the oblivious darkness, she heard a pair of boots rushing towards her; calling out her name and murmuring curses before lifting her up and carrying here somewhere.
Well, wherever her rescuer was taking her, she doesn't care any longer. She felt totally numb but warm at this person's touch. At least, it comforted her much knowing that she wasn't dead... Someone actually saved her...
Someone...
And that was the last thing on her mind before drifting into an unconscious slumber.
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Author's Note: I seriously don't know if I did any good on this one. Can you tell me? Please? Review this one. I really need your opinion if you want me to improve and continue!! :)