Have you ever heard of the saying 'the tension was so thick, it could have been cut with a knife?' Sitaten played those words in her head over and again as she sat in the passenger seat of the car, curled up like a frightened kitten. The sweet guy, Gippal, he said his name was, kept nervously glancing her way every now and then while trying to pilot the machina. The three others were silently sitting in the back, two aggressive pairs of eyes boring into the back of her head.
As the group made their way across downtown Zanarkand, the youngest girl's eyes lit up at the scenery. Neon signs flashed brightly, catching the attention of passerby, welcoming the people into their stores. Others were just holographic ads with some scantily clad woman promoting their products. Craning her neck up, all of the buildings seemed to almost touch the sky, nearly vanishing out of sight and the streets were smooth and black stone, suspended over the waters, light reflecting their waves onto the buildings. Most beautiful of all were the structures with water gliding over their tops and pouring back down into the ocean below.
"Wow…" she whispered to herself, forgetting the presence of the other four. She lightly placed her hand on the glass, taking in the sights of the district in awe, wondering who was creative enough to design such a beautiful city. She was so lost in the colors that flew past them as they drove on, that she failed to notice the imposing blitzball stadium peeking over the tops of the skyscrapers.
"Do you think Tidus is still tied up?" Paine broke the uncomfortable silence when she turned to speak with Shuyin. He shrugged lightly.
"If he isn't playing blitzball, he's with Yuna." Sitaten's head tilted when she heard the pitch rise and fall erratically in his voice. Not many have the gift of reading emotions, but it was clearly evident to her that he despises this Yuna for some reason or other. Maybe an ex-girl? She was snapped out of her thoughts when the machina came to a halt.
"Well this is it," Gippal pointed to a small, two story flower shop that seemed more than a little out of place in the machina city. She blushed lightly as she felt the emotions of the car's occupants when they took in the sight of her home. It was most unremarkable; large windows with flower arrangements on display flanked a simple set of transparent violet doors, the second story had a few windows, looking out over the sandy beaches.
Through her special skill, she could feel the pity well up in Baralai, a 'go-figures' attitude arise in Paine, and an another eerie sense of sympathy from Gippal. The only one who did not proceed to judge her because of her living was Shuyin, who kept an indifferent outlook.
Sitaten turned to Gippal and smiled sweetly, "Thank you for everything. I don't think I would have been able to find it on my own." She felt aggravation arise from Shuyin while Gippal's sympathy dissipated as he gave her a genuine smile.
"Yeah, well, keep your wallet in your front pocket, kid. Zanarkand is full of sticky fingers." Sitaten decided then that she liked the intonations of his speech, it's cadence rising and falling, almost making him sound arrogant whenever he spoke.
The new citizen stepped outside of the machina with her bags and watched Gippal pull off and wave to her. She smiled and returned the favor, half relieved that she was finally out of the stiff atmosphere. She turned and looked up at the building dubiously; how would everything turn out here?
"May I help you?" an Al Bhed woman stepped out of the shop and greeted her with a stark-white smile. Her blonde hair reached her waste, her eyes were a deep sea green, and her skin was tanned from days spent outside in the summer sun: a palpable contrast to Sitaten's more earthliness. Sitaten was unsure of how to act: she had only heard of Al Bhed, not once being awarded the chance to actually see one, so she opted to just stare in surprise.
"You must be Sitaten," the woman giggled, understanding that she had not left her City before.
"How- who…" she paused, unsure if she would sound impolite.
"Your father sent word ahead that you needed a place to stay. Step inside, it's a humid night." The woman beckoned her into the little shop.
As soon as the violet doors dissipated, the smell of wild and domesticated flowers hit her nose full force. It was overwhelmingly pleasant- cool, fresh… earthy- it closely reminded her of her mother. Looking around she found plants of various heights and colors, designing a picturesque vision, a sea of greens and blues, pinks and oranges, whites and purples, oranges and reds. Looking up, she found that it was time for the evening watering of certain plants, clear cool water pouring into the mouths of the pottery. Sitaten nearly tripped over a hole in the silver grate floor and decided to pay attention while she was following the woman to the simple wooden front desk.
The desk, occupied by a small computer with a large screen facing the costumer, was made of oak wood, some knots large and pronounced, giving the table an unrefined, but homey look. Stepping behind the desk, the Al Bhed went underneath the counter and pulled out some papers.
"My name is Korista… your father and I made a deal pertaining to your stay here upstairs." Her voice was kind and inviting, and Sitaten decided that her intentions were pure.
"You own the building?" Sitaten asked.
"Yes. Upstairs is equipped with a bathroom, living space, eat-in kitchen area, and one bedroom. If you want to eat, you'll have to buy your own food, and if you can't find a job, you are to work here after school, weekends, and holidays. The work isn't easy and the days are busy. So until you can find yourself some other work, you'll be staying here." The entire time the woman was speaking, Jaia could not help but to wonder why her father would allow his only daughter to live with an Al Bhed woman. It was not that she seemed at all unpleasant, but the never-ending struggle between the Al Bhed and the Yevonites stirred hostility in the citizens.
"Um…I do not wish to be rude, but, does my father know about…"
"About my being Al Bhed?" she seemed to read her mind. The women smirked and looked up at the sky, sighing.
"I didn't think it would be important enough to mention." She gave Sitaten a piercing gaze then, one that spoke of her half-hope, half-disappointment.
"I don't mind at all, and neither should my father, if he were wise."
"Good- I've been needing help for the longest. Well, anyway, when you work for the shop you'll be free to stock up on medicinal herbs and homemade potions. Now, if you'll follow me, I'll show you around your new flat." Korista turned her back to her and walked through a flat, heavy, beaded curtain that hid a stairwell to the upper story.
Sitaten followed the woman to the top of the curving iron stairwell, finally emerging in the middle of a living space already outfitted with two couches and seat pillows situated around a short table. There was a small Video Network Screen (A/N: TV) sitting high up on a little box decorated with beaded sheets and a beaded carpet that extended to a bright area.
"The living space is a bit large for just one person, but too much is better than too little, ne?" Korista led her into the bright kitchen, decorated with pale yellow tiles and simple waxed wooden floors. The stove was opposite the door, standing smaller than the imposing silver refrigerator that doubled as a freezer with a large countertop running to walls from both ends. In the corner by the door sat a small, short table with comfortable looking blue pillows littering the surrounding space.
"You'll find everything you need already here, as I'm sure your father informed you." She turned and then led her into the bathroom.
"Basin, tub, toilet, and small looking-glass…the basics, nothing more," she said as she opened the heavy oak door to a small white and pink-flower decorated room. She closed the door and then stepped to the end of the hall, leading her into the bedroom.
Simple and sweet was the only description suitable. Under a large window rested a bed large enough for a bit of legroom and rolling around if she ever found herself in a fitful slumber, a small stool upon which a lamp rested, and a large oak chest at the edge of the footboard. There was red and yellow beaded carpeting, half worn from many years.
"If must have cost a fortune for such beautiful craftsmanship to be brought into your second home." Sitaten whispered, but the Flower-seller heard her.
"During the last years of my sister's life, she grew bored with lying in bed as her sickness ate away at her. She begged me to find something for her to do, to learn and I saw this bead-dealer in town one day, so I bought crates full of them with tons of string. I handed them to her and she taught herself to weave these." Korista turned and began to walk towards the door.
"You should start unpacking, if there is anything you need, just let me know." And with that, she walked back to the flower shop downstairs. Sitaten gave the room a critical eye before flopping down onto her bed and sighing. Reaching for the lump she carried on her back, she slowly began to unpack the little that she was brave enough to carry with her on the journey. The rest she would have to buy tomorrow. But for tonight, she would love to have a bed that did not sway back and forth, to and fro…
Pouring through the window at daybreak, the morning sun awoke Sitaten the next day. She rolled over, completely content with her night of rest that turned out to be free from nightmares and even pleasanter dreams, leaving her with nothing but a restful night. She stood and stretched, making the bed quickly as she began to prepare herself for the day. If she was going to have to work here, she might as well make a good impression by being downstairs early.
That day, Korista showed Sitaten all of her duties- the pruning, fertilizing, planting, sowing, repotting, dying- everything that came along with running a shop. She was learned never to allow people to draw her into a haggle and watch people who come inside in groups. After some time, the woman left her alone to repot some of the baby's breath bushes. As tiring as all of the work was in the hot greenhouse, Sitaten was allowed time to herself where she could think in a peacefully quiet environment.
She would never be able to justify her reasons of leaving to the acolyte who trained her. The woman was overly zealous, one who would not think twice to die in the name of Yevon. Although the attitude is very widespread amongst followers of the faith, Sitaten was unsure whether or not such blind faith was a good thing. Of course, questioning one's faith was never a truly good thing either: look at what good it brought her.
Although she truly regretted being the cause for the look on her father's face when she told him she was going, she was quite sure that she made the right decision. Irrational and hasty as it may have been, it was still the best thing to do. In the end, if her faith stands the test, she will return home, and her father would be unwise about the true reasons for her departure. She knew that she should have told him. An adult would have done it. A real woman would have done it. But she was scared, and at least she would admit that much to herself. And that thought brought her to another woman.
Mother.
What would she have done if she had found her faith wavering? Would she have run away from the problem, or face it? It was a really easy question to answer, but an impossibly hard question to relate to her current situation. The real question was: Am I running?
She could not answer that. On one hand, leaving Bevelle to find new ways of life was, in a sense, accepting the truth. On the other, leaving Bevelle without speaking the truth was cowardly, and she was quite sure that her mother would have been disappointed about that. Sitaten felt a prickling sensation in her eyes until she reminded herself that there was nothing to be done about it now, she was already here working and living under an Al Bhed, Bevelle's enemy.
But if it was Bevelle's enemy and she did not believe in the teachings of Bevelle, why should she care? It was not as though the woman was going to try and convert her or anything. So should she be considered heretical? Surely there is a time in everyone's life when they despair. Maybe hers came along a little early in life.
"Good job for a first go." Korista's voice drifted from across the room. Funny, she did not hear her come in. Korista stood before her, casting a calculating eye around the room, gauging her skill. She was wearing a brown apron over a plain beige ankle-length skirt, and her hair was tied into a loose bun at the nape of her neck.
"Thanks!" Sitaten smiled warmly. She was right after all: the woman was sweet.
"Well that was a little easy, we'll move you up to tougher stuff, now." Sitaten's eyes widened. The work was somehow soothing, keeping her calm while thinking about her mistakes.
"I need you to re-plant those oak trees over there. They're ready for more room. Come, I'll show you." The woman smiled and brought her around back where there was a screen porch sheltering thousands of little trees. Virgin soil scattered the chipped white painted wooden boards and the simple platforms served the sole purpose of separating the types of trees. Very few stood out at all, one capturing her attention because of the tiny twigs springing up from tiny pots.
"Those…" Korista pointed to the plants Sitaten currently observed. She led her over to the table and pulled the small pot off and set it on the ground. She then retrieved a much larger one from inside, handing Sitaten her protective gloves and shovel.
"The soil is very soft, so it shouldn't be too difficult. Just grab it by the trunk and gently lift while using that little shovel to help wedge it out." The Al Bhed watched over her should as she did everything that was mentioned, awarding her a nod of approval.
"Have you done this all your life?" Sitaten had the courage to ask.
"Since I was a little girl." She answered, watching Sitaten dig a hole in the new pot and settle the tree down slowly while covering its roots with soil.
"Why?"
"Is it not soothing to you?" the woman asked, expressionless.
"Yes, it is." Sitaten muttered and continued her work without another word spoken between them.
"Okay… wake up, already, it's your first day." Sitaten had to smack herself lightly on her way to school. Her muscles were sore from transferring so many plants last night and her mind was begging her for more sleep, but she groggily made her way to school on foot.
The University of Spira was located near the Zanarkand high school by the Blitzball stadium. With an overly large, villa-like structure, the University was approachable from all sides, although the main entrance was located on the eastern façade. The overall building had a central- plan with a hemispherical dome capping the roof. Water, as it was everywhere in the city, trickled down from a fake oculus (A/N: sort of like a hole, or 'eye' in the top of a dome) over the walls and into pools lined by walking paths with a boundary of sakura and willow trees that stretched away. Sitaten gulped and gazed up at the towering University dubiously. If there wasn't anything imposing…
Okay, there will be another update very soon and I just wanted everyone to know that yeah, the chapters are short, but I'm soooo busy it's hard to find time to write, but I promise that the chapters will get very long very soon. Especially the next one. Aaaanyways,
Imouto: little sister.
Don't ask why I named it that, I actually didn't get 'round to it this time. You will be learning why in Imouto Part II. JA NE!!!!!!!!!!!!!