Chapter 18: Misunderstood

--Kilika, Baralai's house: His study, the same morning—

The study was ready for the night's big event. A green fleece blanket with specks of red and blue interweaved in the fibers is sprawled out atop the marble floor. The firewood is fresh, ready for kindling later on. A picnic basket sits on the blanket with two place settings off to the side and candleholders placed strategically in the center. Baralai stood above the scene and a smile of content broadened his face. His plan was simple: call Rikku and ask her to come over for a mock picnic dinner complete with fruits for dessert and the finest red wine. Then, when she least expected it he will confess his love for her, hoping she'll make him the happiest man in Spira. Deciding a break was in order, he reclines in his leather armchair and stares into the unlit fire, thinking about the night ahead.

Baralai's Daydream:

The fire is crackling, its flames dancing in the enclosed area as the two sat in front of it, enjoying the performance. The candles enhance the light that the fire is emitting, making only their bodies visible; everything else in the study: the couch, desk and bookshelf were tucked away by the darkness. Rikku is a vision to Baralai, clad in a sky blue laced blouse with a deeper blue tank top underneath and black pants. Her long blonde hair was down; cascading passed her shoulders and the small of her back. Bangs crowned her face, curling in just under her cheeks. She sipped her wine slowly, swishing the fermented grape juice from cheek to cheek, savoring its flavor. Baralai laughed nervously drinking his own wine and smiling profusely. Rikku turned to him and gulped, shuddering from the impact of the wine to her throat. He seemed up to something and she wanted to know exactly what it was.

"Baralai, I get the feeling you know something I don't so spill it!" She demanded, knitting her brow and glaring at him profusely. The grin didn't leave his face and she squealed as he lunged for her, forcing her to her back onto the blanket. Strands of her golden hair were tossed about, covering the pillow her head rested on. Leaning in to kiss her, his parched lips felt refreshed against hers as his tongue grazed the lining of them gingerly. Rikku closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around his broad shoulders, loving the groan that escaped his mouth as she dug her nails into his back. They parted and Baralai moved down her neck, his lips felt as soft as rose petals against her chest as he made his way down her shirt. His hands had minds of their own as they caressed her breasts, making her breathing short and kick starting her heart into light speed.

His adrenaline was pumping through his veins, unable to control the urges he'd suppressed for so long. He stared longingly into her spiral eyes as if to ask if he could advance, she replied with the weirdest response.

"Baralai, are you in there?" he blushed at the request; not believing Rikku could be so forward. With a light chuckle for the moment he was all too eager to reply that question.

"I think you know the answer to that." He replied, his breath solid against her ear as he continued. "My pants are still on, silly." He looked to her hoping she'd realize her folly but she said it again, this time in a voice not her own.

"Baralai, are you in there?" The voice said, and a knock persisted loudly against the front door.

End Daydream

Baralai jerks up and discovers he had been sitting in his armchair the whole time. "Just a dream?" he says, a little disoriented and feeling embarrassed. The knocks on his front door grew louder and more frantic. Stumbling to his feet, he makes his way out of the study and to the living room where he opens the door, shocked to see Paine standing there, her fist about to pound on him.

"Sorry." she says nervously. "I was just about to knock on you, heh heh." The moment was awkward at best. He wonders silently to himself why his ex girlfriend was adorning his entryway, and what was it she wanted anyway? Pressing himself against the wooden blockade, he guides her inside with his hands, motioning for her to have a seat in his living room. He follows behind her and sits on the other side, facing her curiously.

"So you want to tell me why you're here?" he asks, staring at her intently waiting for her response. Resting her elbow to the arm of the couch, she views him remorsefully. Crossing her legs, she begins to plead her case.

"I just want us to talk, that's all." She replies and the two engage in a conversation for most of the morning.

Rikku leans against the steel surface of her hover as the ferry sails across the water, heading for Kilika. The waves smack the sides of the boat creating a mist that shot up and breezed by her face, slightly dampening it. The sun was high in the sky, its image reflecting off the water and warming Rikku's skin. Her thoughts were to Baralai and how excited she was to tell him how she felt. Rikku knew this moment was building; she felt it the night they went out on that dreaded double date.

He was so dedicated to her in the rain, she remembered clinging to him for dear life as she cried, and how his embrace never weakened running his fingers through her wet hair gently. His baritone voice soothed her, making her feel like she was the only one that mattered right there and then. It was no wonder she kissed him that night, he awoke something inside her that she thought she could only feel for Gippal. Her love for Baralai wasn't going to disappear any time soon and she knew it.

The ferry docks and Rikku enters her roadster again. Starting it up, she speeds down the dock to where baralai's house was. She hops out and her heart begins to pound fiercely in her chest as anxiety creeps upon her. Her hands began to tremble and she tries hard to calm down, but her emotions are overwhelming her as she heads up the walkway to his door. Standing at the entrance she flattens her shirt and pants, making herself neat for him. She was about to merge flesh with wood when she catches a glimpse in his living room window. The sight burns through her brain and shoots through her heart. Baralai and Paine were hugging. His arms encased her tightly and her head was buried in his chest. Rikku's face sinks, she feels tears making their way out of her eyes and they fall helplessly as she stands there. The vision was more than she could bear so she whirls around on the balls of her feet and runs towards her hover, climbing in and starting it up racing out of there as frantically as she could, hoping neither would notice.

Paine and Baralai break their embrace and hear the squealing of tires outside in the street. Baralai looks to Paine puzzlingly. "What do you think that was?" he questions, rubbing his temples with his hand quizzically. Paine shrugs and heads for the door. "Probably some punk Youth League members." He grumbles and she nods her head in agreement.

"Good luck, Baralai." She offers, her lips curving into a grin. Placing a hand to her back, he pats it and smiles at her as well. Baralai leans against the door again and standing in front of him, Paine opens the screen door. "I think Rikku would have to be crazy to not be in love with you too. I hope someday I'll get to hear all about it from her if she ever talks to me again." She lowers her head; Paine knows her friendship with Rikku would take a long time to heal, but that doesn't mean it didn't hurt her any less.

After Paine leaves, Baralai goes into the kitchen and grabs his comm. Sphere off the wall. He dials Rikku's number but the sphere keeps ringing. "That's odd." He thinks to himself. "Where in Spira could she be so early in the morning?" the answering machine beeps and he leaves a message.

Rikku sits on her island with her head buried in her arms as she sobs uncontrollably. In the background her answering machine goes off and the all-familiar baritone that consoled her just the night before floats out of the speaker with worry in his voice.

"Rikku, are you there? It's Baralai. Please pick up…ok, you're not home right now, but can you call me when you get this please? I have something to tell you."