DISCLAIMER: I do not own FFX, FFX-2, FFVIII or any of the characters and locations affiliated with it. I do, however, own the story "Silver Wings", "Silver Wings 2: 1000 Confessions" and all references to dialogue not originated by Square-Enix.
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PLEASE NOTE: "PaineOfBevelleSairysSkyeWind" is a fic stealer!! Watch out for her. She is also known as "Paine" and "Paine of Spira". She has also taken to stealing my name "akksgurl" so for future reference, I am the one and only "akksgurl" and I have never posted on any other site besides this one, so if you see my stories floating around out there and they are not directly linked back here then they have been stolen and I'd appreciate if you'd report them to the webmaster for removal. Thanks a lot in advance! I am also sure I am not the only one she is stealing from so be sure to keep an eye out for my fics as well as others on other sites.
Author's Notes: Sorry for the delay for this chapter. Computer problems kept me off of my PC for a few days longer than usual. Turns out I need memory, but I should have it by Wednesday so it's all good. Anyway…I'm a huge fan of Evanescence and so this chapter's name is from their CD "Fallen" and it fits the way I'm going with this story. For those of you familiar with the song, you may be able to guess where I'm going before I get there but for those of you unfamiliar, I'll include the lyrics at the end of the chapter and hopefully by then you'll have figured out exactly where I'm going since it'll be pretty much spelled out.
SILVER WINGS 3: Back Into My Arms
by akksgurl
Chapter Thirty: Hello
"I hate hospitals." Cursed Gippal as he slouched further down on the rock hard waiting room chairs in Luca General Hospital.
"Me too," Rikku agreed, squirming in the chair next to his, "but we've gotta show are support for Yunie and Nooj. They'd fall apart without us."
"Yeah." Gippal agreed, nodding at Rikku and then glancing sidelong at Nooj. His friend had taken Gippal's cell phone and had spent the better part of two hours calling every possible person he knew hoping against hope that someone had seen Seymour with LeBlanc, but so far there had been no luck. Gippal didn't want to admit it, but he doubted Nooj would ever see LeBlanc alive again. After what Seymour had done to Ormi, Logos, and Yasmina – the fem-goon under the table – he didn't even want to imagine what he would have done to LeBlanc.
"This whole thing is just so crazy." He heard Rikku say, "I mean, Seymour's alive again and he took LeBlanc of all people and then he…" she paused and frowned, glancing up at the door to Shuyin's hospital room, "I wonder if he's gonna be okay."
Gippal shrugged, "I don't know. If there's anything that can be done for him, this place is the one who'll be able to do it."
Rikku squirmed a little more in her seat and finally scooted closer to Gippal, laying her head on his shoulder and smiling up at him, "What are you thinking?"
"It's nothing…"
"Tell me."
He sighed and lay his head down against Rikku's, "Something Seymour said is bothering me…that's all."
"Seymour said a lot of stuff and all of it bothered me." she replied with a grin, "Anything in particular bothering you?"
"What he said about Tidus…er…Shuyin…"
Rikku twisted her head to gaze up at him with her large green eyes. She frowned a little in thought, "About him being nutsy? Like, we already knew that! He did try to vaporize Spira."
Gippal lifted his head from hers and focused his gaze on the emergency room where Shuyin was currently being operated on. Yuna had been allowed in with him only because she was the High Summoner. He bit his lower lip and nodded, "Yeah," he admitted to Rikku, "but for some reason I think there's more to it than that."
"How so?"
Gippal shrugged slightly, "I don't know."
"Well, I think you're being a little nutsy yourself." She said, lifting her head and sitting cross-legged on the chair to face him, "But who can blame you. After everything that's been going on with you. I mean, you were almost killed, had Paine up and die on you, LeBlanc's probably dead, you were accused of murdering your own brother…"
"Stop it." Gippal demanded, scowling at Rikku through his furrowed brow.
She stared at him, "What did I say?"
"Stop chattering like a ninny. This isn't the place for it." Gippal had no idea why he snapped at her, but before he could stop it the words were out of his mouth. Her lip quivered and he knew he'd gone too far but before he could apologize, she rose defiantly from the chair and stormed across the waiting room to a bench as far away from him as she could get. Gippal cursed to himself and rose to follow her, "Ree…" he whispered, using a nickname he hadn't used since they were children, "I'm sorry…"
She looked up at him with a strange expression – not quite angry, not quite sad – and snapped, "Well you should be. That was totally unnecessary."
Sitting down next to her, Gippal pulled her hands into his own and put his forehead against hers, "I'm an ass and I'm sorry. I just…this has been tough for me…for all of us…" he sighed, "I guess I just don't want to think that all these people are dead…not yet."
Rikku's eyes lit, "So you think Baralai might be back too?!"
Gippal rocked back in his chair, stunned. He certainly hadn't thought about that. Just because Seymour was back didn't mean that Baralai was certain to follow. He stared at Rikku for a moment, assessing whether she was being serious or not and then gaped, "Wha…?"
"Well, I just thought that with the whole Farplane thingie that maybe all the dead came back to life or something."
"Wha…!"
"Although, that probably wouldn't be too good." She continued, as if she hadn't heard Gippal's interjection, "I mean, it's pretty obvious that Seymour isn't dead, but he sure isn't alive either."
Gippal nodded, "Yeah, but what is he?"
Rikku thought for a moment, letting all the various options go in and out of her mind until one stuck. Her eyes lit up and she squealed, "He's a zombie!"
"A…zombie…" stated Gippal in a monotonous tone of disbelief.
Rikku nodded her head wildly like a bobbing-head doll and squealed excitedly, "It makes total sense. Zombies aren't dead, but they're not alive either. That explains why he didn't even react when Shuyin stabbed him!" she paused and frowned, "…but…"
"But what?"
"Well," she began, biting her lip uncomfortably, "I just really hope that only Seymour is back then."
"Why?"
"See…zombies…they." She stopped and thought a moment and then whispered, "Zombies eat the flesh of the living. I mean, I don't want Baralai to eat you or anything. That'd be a little weird…"
Gippal let out a laugh and put his forehead back against Rikku's, "A little…? How about a lot?"
"Yeah…" she laughed back, twisting her head upwards a bit until their lips were inches apart, "I'd still like you even without skin…" she breathed.
Her warm breath touched his lips and he closed the gap between them a little more, "Me too," he whispered back.
"Gippal…" came her hoarse voice that seemed loud in the empty waiting room. She lifted her eyes from his lips and stared deeply into his own gaze, "I…um…" she paused, biting her lip and backing away from him a little. It was only then that Gippal realized how secluded they were in this corner of the waiting room. He couldn't even see Nooj anymore.
"What is it?" he asked her.
She sighed, "You know what…I'm just gonna go and blurt it out. I'm tired of being scared. Tonight taught me something. Life is precious and you gotta take chances…"
"What are you talking about?"
She scooted closer until their knees touched, "I love you." And as soon as the words were out of her mouth, Rikku's eyes widened in panic, "A…a…and it's okay if you don't feel the same way, you know. I…I mean, no pressure." She stammered, "Because I certainly wouldn't want you feeling like you had to…"
Impulsively Gippal leaned forward and pressed his lips to Rikku's like he'd been wanting to for the last two years. Her hands crept up around his neck and pulled him closer to her as their lips continued to battle for control. His mind flashed back to the last time he'd kissed her like this – just before she'd run off with Brother to go hunting for the airship on the trip that introduced her to Tidus. It felt like nothing had changed from that moment to this one. She still fit perfectly in his arms and he took advantage of her position to pull her closer to him. He never wanted to let her go.
Of course, one must always let go and Gippal's time to release her came when Yuna barged into their quiet little world, obviously not realizing she was interrupting something as she said, "Rikku, I've been looking all over for y…" Rikku and Gippal pulled away quickly, color flushing the former's cheeks as Yuna gave a half smile and said, "Sorry to interrupt."
Gippal smirked at Yuna and then Rikku, "I'll just leave you two ladies to chat." He said as he rose from his chair.
Yuna shook her head, "No need. Rikku just wanted me to give her an update when I knew how he was."
"How is he doing?" asked Rikku.
Yuna sighed, "Well, he's out of surgery now. They've got him recuperating." Yuna took a seat near the two blondes and continued, "They said that the cure spells I cast on him are the only reason he's even still alive…"
Rikku patted her cousin's shoulder, "Do they think he'll be okay?"
"They don't know yet," replied Yuna, "but I hope so."
Gippal sat back and listened to the girls discuss the intricacies of Shuyin's surgeries. He was really surprised that he had survived, but then again Shuyin had come back from the dead so it really shouldn't have surprised Gippal at all about the guy's longevity. Plus, those curaga spells from Yuna were powerful. Gippal was alive today because of them.
"The doctor's say that his brainwaves are strong. I think that's a good sign." Yuna was saying when Gippal decided to pay complete attention to the conversation again.
Gippal shuddered a little, "Brain waves…?" he repeated, "That's my cue to exit…"
"Why?" asked Rikku, grinning up at him with shining green eyes.
He kissed the tip of her nose, "Makes me uncomfortable." He turned to Yuna, "Have you seen Nooj?"
"He was still using your phone when I came out of Shuyin's room."
Gippal nodded in understanding and left the girls to talk about whatever girlish things they talked about. However, he was pretty certain that Rikku would be the one doing girlish talking and Yuna would be pouting over Shuyin. He truly didn't get her. She seemed more concerned about Shuyin surviving. It was like she couldn't care less whether Tidus lived or died. Wasn't Tidus supposed to be her boyfriend? He shook his head as he made his way to Nooj.
It wasn't any of his business anyway.
Nooj turned at the sound of Gippal's approach and his friend had to fight back a shocked gasp. Nooj looked like he'd aged 100 years in the few hours since they'd spoken. Dark circles lined his blood-shot eyes. His hair was hanging limp around his face and his mouth was pursed in a line of concentration. Nooj's voice cracked as he spoke, "How is it possible that no one has seen her?" he asked Gippal, heaving a heavy sigh, "I called everybody I know, and you know that I know a lot of people! Lucil, Elma, and Clasko promised to keep a lookout, but nobody has seen her. How is that possible?!"
"I'm sure someone will find her." Replied Gippal, unwilling to tell Nooj that LeBlanc was probably already dead.
Nooj slumped dejectedly onto the floor and let the phone slip from his fingers to the linoleum, "Why is this happening to us…?"
"I wish I could answer that for you, but I can't." Gippal responded, sliding to the floor next to Nooj and putting a comforting arm over his shoulder.
Nooj inhaled weakly, "It's like someone is trying to rip us away from the people we care about." He whispered, putting his face in his hands and letting a few tears fall from his eyes, "Tidus and Yuna…, me and LeBlanc…, Baralai…, Paine…" Nooj pulled his head up slowly and looked at Gippal, "Am I imagining it or is their some sort of conspira…" he paused and looked inquisitively at Gippal's mouth before his eyes flickered up to meet Gippal's gaze, "Are you wearing lipstick?" he asked.
Gippal quickly raised his hand to his lips and wiped, grinning as he did so, "You were saying…?"
Nooj gave him a small smile, "It's about damn time, buddy." He said quietly, a sad look in his eyes.
"This isn't the time to talk about me and Rikku. Finish what you were saying."
Nooj ran his good hand through his hair, pushing stray strands from his eyes, "Promise me something."
"Anything."
"Don't let Rikku out of your sight."
"What? Why?"
Nooj grew serious, his tone low, "Doesn't it seem like someone is trying to tear all of us apart?"
"You're being paranoid. We've just had a run of bad luck."
"You're right. That's probably all it is." Replied Nooj, "But nonetheless, I don't want you to feel what I'm feeling right now. I feel helpless and pathetic. I can't do anything to save her and I feel like less than a man right now." He stopped and frowned, "I love her and I don't want to admit what my head already knows…"
"Nooj…"
"I know in my head that she's dead, Gippal. There's no need to sugar coat it. I just…" he whispered, "I just want to hope for a little longer."
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Darkness was engulfing him and he fought his way to the surface, knowing he was dreaming but not entirely sure why. He didn't really remember what happened. Things were foggy and dreamlike. He just remembered this feeling of pain shoot through him and fear that he'd never see her smiling eyes again.
Then he was here…
Wherever here was…
He walked through the darkness, arms outstretched to halt his movements should he come across a wall. He listened intently for any sounds that would give away his location, but there were none. It was silent. Deadly silent.
"Hello…!" he shouted.
"Hello…" came the response and Shuyin whirled around to find the person who had spoken but he couldn't see anything in the blackness.
"Who's there?" this time no one answered and Shuyin began to think he had just imagined the entire thing. With everything that had been happening, a weird dream was not outside of the realm of possibility.
He started walking again, figuring that it was better than standing and doing nothing. The surface beneath his feet wasn't telling him where he was. It felt like any other surface. He continued to walk. He began to think that maybe if he walked far enough he'd figure out a way to get out of this psycho dream and back to reality.
Then he paused…
What if it wasn't a dream? What if he was dead and this was his home for all of eternity? He'd heard that there was a dark place in the Farplane where only the most evil of Spirans went to spend eternity. Was this that place?
He heard a soft laugh from just ahead and broke into a run, "Who's there?" he shouted, "Where am I?"
A shadowed figure became visible just ahead of him and with him, a small flicker of light. Shuyin made his way tentatively toward the figure, "Who are you?"
When the figure turned to him, his face was covered in blackness, but Shuyin saw that he dressed similar to the way he had during his life in Zanarkand. The figure took another step toward him, "You know who I am…"
"Tidus…?"
The figure scoffed, "He's not allowed here. This is our place. You created it for us. You were here recently, remember?"
Shuyin did remember a dark place he had been just before Ultimecia had awoken him. So this was that place? However, he certainly didn't remember this strange shadow that was there now.
"You do remember…I can tell."
"I don't remember you, though."
The shadowed figure didn't say anything. Instead, he motioned with his hand for Shuyin to follow him. The blonde tentatively did so, feeling his hands trembling as he held them firm at his side. This place seemed so familiar to him, and yet Shuyin felt nothing but fear as he walked passed the shadowed figure. Light began to engulf him; bright white light and Shuyin heard the sound of footsteps.
Loud footsteps…
Coming closer…
Suddenly Shuyin found himself standing before the colossus, Vegnagun, like he had done so long ago. Lenne was by his side, staring pleadingly into his eyes. Shuyin turned sideways and saw the barrels of the guns facing them. He panicked, not sure if he was dreaming, and tried to move Lenne from the line of fire but found himself unable to move. Everything seemed to be in slow motion as he heard the sound of the gunshots and felt Lenne being ripped from his arms. He heard her scream and felt his own leaving his throat and then everything went black.
"She's not breathing…" came a whisper that sounded much like the shadowed figure. Shuyin realized that he was squeezing his eyes shut and carefully opened them. He was back in the dark place and he looked at the figure again, "Neither of them are…"
Shuyin raised a questioning eyebrow at what the figure was talking about when he pointed toward a section of the darkened place that was slightly lit. Shuyin rose to his feet and slowly made his way toward the figure that was partially revealed in the light. Dark blond hair came into view first, head sprawled at an odd angle. Another head was nearby, a hole straight through the forehead. Shuyin gasped and took a hobbled step backward.
"All…" he panted, feeling panic taking over as he tried to force himself to calm down, "This is just a dream…" he said to himself, "Allyn and Reiber are dead…have been dead…this is all in my head…"
"Of course it is." The figure replied with the hint of a smile in his voice.
Shuyin turned, "Who are you?"
"You were so lonely…all by yourself…" the other said in a whisper, "You were angry too…furious at losing everything you'd worked to get your whole life."
"I know that." Snapped Shuyin, "I know that!"
"Didn't you ever wonder how you could have done all those horrible things you've done?" the shadow asked, "Didn't you wonder how you could have killed the Crimson Squad, or tried to use Vegnagun, or slaughter Baralai in cold blood…?"
Shuyin felt himself tremble and backed away. He wanted to get away from the bodies that lay next to his feet as if it were 1000 years before. The shadow followed him, silently beckoning his answer. He had never really thought about it before. He never questioned why he did the things he did. He just did them. It was almost like he had no real control but he knew what was going on. He felt nothing but remorse for his actions, but at the time they seemed like the logical thing to do. His blue eyes fixed on the faceless being before him, "No…I never wondered…" he replied, "I just…I'm evil, I guess."
"No you're not…" came the reply, "I am…"
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"Home sweet home." Said Rikku, "At least for now…"
"This is only temporary." Gippal replied as he followed her into the entryway of the town home in Luca where Nooj insisted they stay. Gippal was surprised to learn that his friend actually owned a house – much less in Luca – but it turned out it'd been in Nooj's family for a while and his friend insisted that Gippal and Rikku make use out of it while he continued his search for LeBlanc and Yuna spent her time at the hospital. Gippal had to admit that he was grateful for the opportunity to sleep in a real bed and not on hard hospital chairs.
Rikku sighed and plopped down on the sofa, "Well, I don't care how long we're here. I'm just glad to be out of that hospital. I just hated it there. Nothing but death…"
"Yeah." Gippal agreed, sitting next to her.
Rikku grinned and twisted in her spot, lifting her legs to rest over his and placing her arms around his neck, "Kiss me…"
Gippal was more than happy to comply as he leaned down and pressed his warm lips to hers. She responded eagerly, trailing her fingers through his hair and pulling him closer to her. He tilted her until his torso was covering her on the sofa. Rikku moaned in his mouth a little and squirmed until found himself cradled between her thighs. Regretfully, reality returned and Gippal forced himself to retract back onto his knees, "I think we're going a little fast, don't you?"
"Fast?" asked Rikku, "We've been wanting to do this for, like, two years now."
Gippal was silent for a minute. He wasn't sure what to say. The girl did have a point. And she looked so damn sexy…
"Too fast." Stated Gippal again, more firmly this time. He grinned at her, "Don't get me wrong, I love kissing you but I think we should slow down the Couch Olympics a little bit."
Rikku pouted, "Just a few months ago you wanted to get in my pants in the girls restroom and now you want to slow things down…"
"I was not trying to screw you in the girl's rest room!" cried Gippal with a mischievous grin on his face, "I didn't even realize where we were…"
Rikku rolled her eyes, "Likely story." She teased, rising up to kiss him again.
Gippal felt himself getting swept away and before the desire to be a good man vanished all together, he pulled away from her and stood up, "Too fast…" he said, shaking his finger at her in a mock scolding. He ran a hand through his hair and straightened his shirt, "I'm gonna go out for a little bit. There's something I want to look into."
"Want me to come with you?"
"No," he replied, "Stay here and stay safe. I won't be long. I just want to run to the library."
Rikku raised an eyebrow, "The library? You can't read…"
He rolled his eyes at her, "Yes I can. I just don't usually exercise the skill. That doesn't make me illiterate…"
She giggled, "You know what I meant…"
"Yes I do." He said, kissing her swiftly, "I'll be back in about an hour or so."
"I love you…" she whispered in his ear as he pulled away from her.
He smiled back at her, "I love you too…"
Her excited giggle was enough to make him laugh out loud as he waved goodbye to her and exited the front door. The Luca Library was two blocks to the east of the town home they were staying in and Gippal made it within twenty minutes. Rikku had been right about Seymour having said a lot of things, but Gippal really believed that one thing Seymour had said had unwittingly given Gippal a clue into what was wrong with Tidus.
And with that in mind, Gippal meandered over to the reference section of the library.
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AUTHOR'S NOTES:
Did you guys figure it out yet? Still stumped? Don't worry, if you are Gippal's research will be revealed in the next chapter and it'll all be out in the open. But if you're interested in giant hint…the lyrics to Evanescence's "Hello" are below. I'm sure you'll figure out where I'm going if you read them so don't read if you want to be surprised.
Hello
By Evanescence
Playground school bell rings again
Rain clouds come to play again
Has no one told you she's not breathing?
Hello I'm your mind giving you someone to talk to
Hello
If I smile and don't believe
Soon I know I'll wake from this dream
Don't try to fix me I'm not broken
Hello I'm the lie living for you so you can hide
Don't cry
Suddenly I know I'm not sleeping
Hello I'm still here
All that's left of yesterday