Too Much Water - Chapter 3

' All right. What we need is a plan.' Rikku wracked her brain for some idea that might help their situation. Once Gippal had gotten onto the beach, he had seemed fine. What had happened that reversed the effects of whatever it was that was wrong with him? She gave a sigh. Thinking was hard work when you hadn't had much sleep. Still, if she didn't come up with something fast, something bad might happen. At first she thought they might just throw the other two out the window. If it had worked for Gippal then maybe it'd work for them. But Nooj had a mechanical leg so they couldn't just throw him into the ocean. Something very obvious was dancing around Rikku's thoughts, but she couldn't grasp it. What had helped Gippal?!

" Ok guys, listen up! Brother, tie Baralai to that chair before he hurts himself. Yunie, just... keep an eye on Nooj. Shinra, lets think.'"

Shinra joined Rikku on the stairs. " Maybe, if we put our heads together and think REALLY hard we'll come up with something."

But alas, after 30 minutes, they still had two drunk men and not a clue as how to help them.

'Should I tell them? No. I'd get in trouble. Maybe there's some way I can slip them the antidote...'

"So, how does that sound?"

Shinra looked up. Having been absorbed in his own thoughts, he had completely missed whatever Rikku had been saying. " I'm sorry, what did you say Rikku?"

Rikku let out a big sigh. " Well, what if we try pouring water on them or something? Maybe because Gippal was wet it liked, made him normal?" Now that she had said it, the plan sounded a little lame..

" No Rikku, I don't think that'll work." He knew water wasn't the answer. The formula had been mixed into water. If water diluted it, then this wouldn't be happening right now. " Maybe if we scare them."

Rikku blinked incredulously. " Scare them? How"

" Ummm. Well, what if we dropped a spider in front of them? Or held guns up to their heads?"

" Or what if we just chucked them out the window? If it worked for one, it'll work for the others!"

They both looked up at Brother. Surely he was joking. It had been dangerous doing it to Gippal. He could have been killed! And now he wanted to do it AGAIN to two high ranked officials of Spira?!

" Brother, what we need to do is come up with a safe plan. So lets all sit down, and have a nice, long, thinking session." Rikku tugged Brother down beside her. She glanced at Nooj, who was discussing hair care with Yuna. She let out a sigh. This might take a while......

" And so THEN I said, 'No, combing wet hair MAKES split ends. It doesn't prevent them!'." Nooj chuckled at his own logic. Yuna let out a sigh. She didn't know whether to laugh or be scared. It wasn't everyday that you woke up with a whole bunch of delusional men in your bedroom (or airship for that matter). But, Yuna was being a real trooper. She calmly smiled at Nooj.

" Thank you for the wonderful tips Nooj."

" Oh, no trouble. No trouble at all." He looked dazed as he grinned at her.

" Say Nooj, when you came here, did you have anything to eat, or drink?"

" Why, as a matter of fact I did! We all did!" He handed her the half-full glass of water.

" And, where did you get this?"

" Why, I believe Gippal served it. A nice young chocobo brought it by. Said his Mother had been making it fresh all morning!" Nooj rambled on, even though Yuna was no longer listening.

" Rikku! Brother! Shinra! I think this is the stuff that made them act so abnormal!"

Baralai looked up. He got a crazy look on his face as he watched Yuna with the water.

" GIVE THAT TO ME! GIVE ME THAT DRINK!" Baralai tried his best to break free of his ropes. Yuna carefully gave the glass to Shinra.

" Hmm, yes. I will go examine this, pronto." Shinra raced from the cabin.

Rikku hugged Yuna. "Oh Yunie, you were so smart to ask Nooj!"

Yuna gave a half-laugh. Sometimes she wondered if her cousin ever really used her brain.

" Phew. That was a close one." Shinra dumped the rest of the water in the sink. Something was strange. This was the same water he had tampered with this morning. Yet, he had mixed in only a little bit of his new 'Love Potion'. So, why was it, that the men acted so strangely. Obviously someone had added with it. And Shrina knew just who it was. He gave a small sigh.

" Paine, my love. I merely wanted you to see me as a man. And someone went and ruined it for us! I'm SURE it was Rikku! She's jealous of you my sweet!"

" What are you rambling on about?"

Shinra froze. That voice. It sent chills down his spine, and love to his heart!

" Oh, Paine. Um, heh heh. What are you doing here?"

She gave him a skeptical look. " I live here."

"Oh, heh, why yes! You do! heh....."

" Are you okay, kid?"

His heart shattered. Kid? She thought of him only as a kid? After months of planning, and countless sleepless nights filled with research, his plan had failed. Paine thought of him as nothing more than a child.

" Uh, sure. Yeah, I'm fine."

She gave him a small smile. " Good to hear it. Keep up the good work." She gave him a small pat on the head and walked off.

" She......she touched me...and...smiled at me. Maybe she really does love me after all!" Shinra's hope was restored!

AUTHORS NOTE

I know, a little off the wall there at the end, but I spent 7 hours playing X-2 earlier so my brain's a little fried. Thanks to everyone for reviewing (I LOVE YOU ALL!), and I hope you enjoyed this latest chapter!

MELLY

P.S. I'm planning on getting the next chapter done this week, and posting it on Saturday or Sunday. Might be the last chapter, but maybe not. Depends on if people want it longer. Of course....I COULD write a little about where Paine was.....maybe...possibly...if people bribed me enough..Tee hee. Just kidding!