Author's Notes: Yay!! Thank you for the birthday wishes!! It was really great!!! The story is starting to get a move on!! It's all been a bit clouded as to what was happening, but all shall be soon revealed!! Hope you enjoy this next installment!!
:) Falcone (:
Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy X or Final Fantasy X-2, but I really, really wish I did. ;;
Part 4: Aboard the Celsius
Staring out at the heavy clouds, Rikku sat on the stairs in front of the bridge of the Celsius, falling asleep from sheer boredom. After recently completing the rebuilding of 'Home" in the Bikanel Desert, this bubbly Al Behd girl hadn't found any excitement for the last two months. And since all of Rikku's amusement was based on excitement, she was really starting to fell the withdrawal.
Lazily moving her head around, Rikku looked from Buddy to Brother to Shinra, not understanding why the boredom she felt wasn't affecting them. Her older Brother named, well, Brother, was leaning back with his arms behind his head at his piloting station, softly humming a familiar Al Behd tune. Brother had been on cloud 9 ever since they started rebuilding "Home." Of course, he would never tell Rikku why he was so happy, but she could guess that it had something to do with Nahdala and a couple of spiced-bear bottles. Buddy was enjoying the quiet breaks from sphere hunting and "Home" rebuilding. All he would do was sit and read, going into his own little world in his head. How could that be fun? Anything more boring would send Rikku through the roof. She would never understand it. Shinra, on the other hand, was as excited as ever. He sat, his face inches from his computer screen, figuring out all the calculations needed for his next invention. Whatever that was. The sole person that might have given Rikku a bit of entertainment had left a month and a half ago. Paine had one day gotten a mysterious message and then decided to leave for the time being. The only information she gave to Rikku was 'Bevelle' and 'a man from the past.'
Rikku sighed. Sheer boredom.
Suddenly standing up and giving her arms a good, long stretch, Rikku walked to one of the windows that were, at the moment, opaque from the thick clouds.
"The weather is dreadful," she said, her voice taking its familiar high-pitched whining, as she frowned at the window. Rikku turned to look at the others on the bridge, her face showing her obvious exasperation.
Great, Rikku thought, as she realized that no one had even moved a finger in reaction to what she said. I'm glad to see they remember that I exist!!
"I'm going to get something to eat," she said as she began to walk towards the back of the bridge, knowing that she wasn't being listened to. As she walked towards the back, she passed the commsphere and noticed that the crystal blue surface was bright red. Rikku paused and looked over at the piece of machinery, not sure what the glowing exterior meant. After the defeat of Vegnagun, she hadn't really been in the Celsius that much, until only recently, so she wasn't sure how the invention worked.
"I think we are getting a transmission on the commshpere," Rikku said, her voice unsure.
"Just press the button on the side of it," Shinra replied from his computer beside her, still not turning away from the screen to look at her.
Well at least I'm getting some reaction, she though sarcastically, her bright green eyes rolling in her head. Rikku squatted down in front of the commsphere and traced her hand around the outside edge. When she reached the button she pushed it down and fell back on to the ground in surprise, as a pearly blue hologram of Yuna burst up.
"Oh! Hey Yunie." Rikku said, lifting herself up from the ground, her bottom very sore from the sudden fall.
"Yuna," Brother said excitedly, jumping from where he was relaxing to join Rikku at the commsphere. Even though he and Nahdala had their weird thing going on, Brother would never get over his crush on Yuna. Rikku frowned at her Brother, her forehead wrinkling in disgust. Yuna's mother had been Rikku and Brother's Aunt, so they were first cousins. She had never understood why Brother liked her in that way. Realizing that Yuna was on screen, both Shinra and Buddy got up from their seats as well to say hello to Yuna, making Rikku's frown become even more noticeable.
"Guys, I need your help," Yuna said, her voice sounding distressed. "Do you think you can come to Besaid?"
"Of course," Rikku replied. "What's the problem?" Yuna paused and looked away from the faces of her friends.
"Tidus is back," she said, her voice barely audible. "And I need to know why."
ioioioi
The Celsius landed in the shallows of the water not far from the shore of Besaid, its titanic body rippling the surface. Rikku stepped off the ramp and splashed down into the knee-deep water. Looking up at the sky, she frowned as the rain pelted down in her face. Rikku raised her arms above her head and waved at the shore where she saw someone standing. As the figure waved back, Rikku broke into a sprint, the water soaking her bottom half.
"Yuna!" she called, her face lighting up despite the fact that rain was dripping down her cheeks. Reaching the shore, Rikku ran to her cousin and gave her a big hug. Yuna smiled and gave Rikku as much as a hug as she was giving her.
"I haven't seen you in so long," Yuna said once they broke apart, a smile spreading across her fair face.
"Too much time had passed," Rikku replied, giggling softly. "Nothing is the same anymore, and the Celsius is deathly boring without you there." Yuna laughed, pearly beads falling from her hair as her body shook.
"How is everyone on board?" Yuna asked once she had finished laughing.
"They're all having the time of their lives!" Rikku said sarcastically, swinging her bent arm in front of her to emphasize the sarcasm. "Buddy reads all day, Shinra invents all day, and Paine left a month and a half ago to meet 'a man from the past.' Like I said, boring!"
"And how is Brother?" Yuna asked, raising one of her eyebrows.
"Oh, he's fine. I think he has something going on with Nahdala though. When were at "Home" they were always quiet around each other and every time I needed to talk to her about something she was out at the same time that Brother was out. Then one day I found these spiced—," Rikku cut off and looked behind Yuna's shoulder, her flushed face suddenly becoming pale. Yuna turned her head around as Tidus walked across the damp sand to where they were standing.
"So you are finally back," Rikku said, a smile curving the edge of her lips.
"Yah," Tidus replied. Looking kind of nervous he pushed his hands into the pockets of his pants, and sort of swayed on the balls of his feet.
"Well, it's nice to see you again," she said while some colour returned to her cheeks and her shocked disposition fading. "You better not leave again, because I don't really want to be dragged out to look for you again!"
"I won't be going anywhere!" Tidus said, lightly chuckling.
"Good! Well, I guess we better get back to the Celsius." she said before she turned around and began to wade back through the water towards the air ship. The rain beginning to fall harder, the three of them began to run to reach the ramp before they were soggy. Stepping onto the metal platform, they were lifted up into the safety of the Celsius.
"I guess you guys want to get changed first," Rikku assumed, as she stepped into the elevator. She looked over at them and laughed. They were both soaked all the way through. She too had gotten wet, but Rikku also had a jacket on so she wasn't as bad off.
"I'll let you off here," she said, as the elevator came to a halt at the cabin level. "Your old dress spheres are still here, Yuna. And I think there is a sphere you can use too, Tidus."
"Thanks," Tidus replied, not sure what to make of what she said.
"I'll see you guys later," Rikku said, waving as the doors closed leaving them in the brightly lit hall.
"Dress sphere?" Tidus asked turning to Yuna in confusion as they entered the cabin, a trail of water behind them.
"It's a sphere used for battles that gives you certain abilities and features," she told him. "I'm going to get mine on and then I'll find one for you." Yuna walked past the bar and to a door. She opened it, and smiled at Tidus as she closed it behind her.
Tidus sat down at the bar and rested his head on his arms. He closed his eyes and let his mind go, forgetting the many thoughts that rushed through his head.
The last few nights had been horrible for him. He had gotten only a couple hours of sleep in total in three days. When Yuna had told him of her dreams, he had watched her and noticed the change in her. That night, he had been woken up by her tormented calling. Tidus went to her bedroom to make sure everything was okay and found her moving frantically in her bed calling his name. He grabbed her sweaty hand and whispered in her ear that he was there for her and that seemed to calm her. So for the last three nights he sat by her bed holding onto her hand so that her nights would be peaceful.
Tidus lifted his self up, whipping the water from his face. His wet bangs hung over his eyes and dripped beads into the bottom of his eyelashes. Tidus rubbed his tired eyes with his fisted hands. Hearing the opening of the door, he quickly took his hands from his eyes as Yuna walked out of the door in her Gunner dress sphere. Tidus' face lit up as she walked towards him, a whole different person. He raised his eyebrows as he looked at her standing in front of him, one of her hands held on her hips and her weight on one side. Yuna's face showed her annoyance but then she realized that Tidus had never seen her like this before and a small smile curved on her lips. She wore her white, spaghetti blouse that opened in the middle revealing 'The Zanarkand Abes' logo, her tight dark blue short shorts with the flowing blue wrap, and her high purple leather boots.
"Hmmm," Tidus said, his face twisted in an amused smile. "I think I can get used to this."
"Wait!" he said, grabbing onto Yuna's arm and turning her around so that her back faced him. "Yep, I can definitely get used to this." Yuna's face reddened as she quickly turned her head around, realizing what he had meant.
"Tidus!" she said, trying to swat him. Tidus laughed as he avoided all her attacks. As Yuna attempted to smack him one more time, Tidus quickly grabbed onto her arm and pulled her up against him. Yuna suddenly stopped and consented as Tidus pressed his lips against hers. He wrapped his arms around her back, one hand venturing a bit further.
"Hey," Yuna whispered into his mouth. "Nuh un!" Tidus chuckled and pulled her into a deeper, harder kiss.
After finally finishing, Yuna picked up the sphere, which she had put down on the bar before Tidus had looked at her.
"This is for you," she said, handing it to him. "It's the only one I found that I thought wasn't completely ridiculous." Tidus took it from her hand and examined the shimmering, green surface.
"So, how do I work this thing?" he said looking up from the sphere and at Yuna.
"Just hold it while thinking about changing," she replied, strapping her guns onto her leg holsters. "It will either put the cloths directly on you or spread the cloths around you. It depends on how concentrated your thoughts are. There is a change room in the back"
Tidus walked through the door that Yuna had gone through before and followed a hall to a lit room at the end of it. Closing the door behind him, Tidus stood in the middle of the dark metal room and held the sphere in his hands in front of him.
Okay, he thought, shifting his feet slightly. Concentrated thoughts. I want to change. I want to change. She looked so perfect in those shorts. Wait! No! Concentrated thoughts. I want to change. I want to—God what have I missed. Seeing that ass everyday! Change! I want to change!
A green light suddenly burst forth from the sphere and filled the room causing Tidus to shield his eyes with his forearm. Once the light had subsided Tidus took his arms from his eyes and saw pieces of black clothing spread across the floor of the room.
Great, he thought. I guess not concentrated enough!
Tidus picked each piece of clothing up and, after figuring out what was what, put it on. Tidus walked back down the hall, his heavy boots clunking on the steel floor. He stepped back out into the cabin, looking down to the side, a pair of simple shades covering his eyes and his blonde hair sweeping over his cheek. Suddenly turning his head towards where Yuna was sitting he looked at her in the eyes, a cocky smile spreading across his face. Yuna looked at Tidus shocked.
He wore the Bounty Hunter dress sphere, which made his handsome features much more prominent. All his clothing was dark, steely, gray with bursts of dark green her and there. Tidus had on a leather jacket that hugged to his chest, pants that puffed around the edges of his knee high buckled boots. Across his torso was a strap of bullets, across his waist was a belt that held small weapons, and attached to his left arm was an enormous machine gun.
"Now it's my turn to raise my eyebrows," Yuna said getting up and walking towards him.
"You look great!" she whispered before, giving a light kiss to his lips.
"Oooo! Tantalizing!" he whispered back. Yuna laughed as she started walking towards the door to go back to the lift.
"We have serious things to do now," she said looking over her shoulder at him, a soft smile curling her pastel pink lips.
God, it's great to see her smile, he thought as walked after her into the hall.
IoioioioI
Shinra sat at his computer, typing madly at the buttons before him. Yuna leant up against the back of his chair, her thoughts completely jumbled. If everything worked out okay, she might be closer to solving her problems.
"Okay, I got it!" Shinra said, his voice raspy through his air mask. "This is the scan that we had stored in the archives of the sphere, from almost four years ago, and this is the scan from today." Two windows pulled up on the screen, one had an orange data wave, and the other had the exact same orange wave but with a new blue data wave after it.
"Wait, wait!" Yuna said pointing at the newer scan. "So this is new data. The scene we watched was recently put on there."
"The scan says that it put on about four weeks ago," Shinra replied.
"And four weeks ago is when I came back," Tidus said, walking up to the computer. 'Then there's got to be some kind of link. I mean, how can there not be? The man in the scene was in your dreams and he killed me. You've had these dreams since I came back, and the data was put on when I came back!" Rikku leaned over Shinra's chair and squinted at the screen.
"Hang on!" Rikku said pressing her finger to the blue data wave. "I've seen this wave before." Her face puzzled, Rikku quickly leapt back from where she was standing and ran to the other side of the bridge. Rummaging through a bag, she took out two orange spheres and brought them back to the group.
"Shinra, scan these spheres for me, k?" Rikku said as she passed the spheres to Shinra, who then placed the spheres, one at a time, in the scanner. After a couple of minutes, Shinra gave the spheres back to Rikku. Popping open the files, he examined the waves noticing the same blue after orange ones.
"We should watch these," Yuna said, her face loosing its colour. "But skip to the blue data." Rikku put the spheres in the viewer and pressed power causing the screen to crackle with static. Yuna and Tidus looked at it, their hearts beating fast, as the scene eventually started.
---
Nothing could be seen through the thick darkness; only the sound of running footsteps and crashing rocks could be heard. Suddenly a great roar was bellowed from within the darkness, echoing through the walls that were unseen. The sound of hard breathing was audible, as a small light was distinguished shinning in the distance. The running became faster and the sound became louder, as the light drew closer and closer. When it was near enough to make out clearly, you could tell that the light was coming from a gleaming orange half-sphere. Stopping suddenly in front of it, a hand picked up the half-sphere. Spreading further out, the picture showed a young man standing in the middle of a glowing bubble in the ruins of an old palace. From outside the little bubble of protection, the sound of approaching footsteps was heard, one slow hard crunch on the ground at a time. Gradually stepping into the brightness, the immense body of a fiend was showered with bright orange light. The monster's fierce eyes shone in its radiance, an inwards growl rumbling in the depths of its chest. It's mouth held millions of razor sharp teeth that were dripping with spit. The monster breathed hard, its mouth open wide as its chest heaved in and out. Moving its head closer and closer to the young man, its scaly skin crackling, the fiend poised itself for attack. The screen zoomed in on the man, which Yuna recognized to be Laji.
"Shit!" he whispered, as he pulled his sword from its scabbard in one fluid motion. "I guess this means you choose to die." The monster let out a rumbling bellow that shook the walls around them.
"Wrong choice!" Laji said, as the fiend leapt towards him, its mouth poised to attack. Laji bent his knees, steadying himself in position. He placed one hand on the flat silver blade, while the other held the hilt tightly. As the monster rushed closer and closer to him, it extended its neck further and further. With the monster inches away, Laji thrust the sword straight through its neck into the fiend's brain. The monster moaned, suddenly stopping in its tracks and fell to the ground with a hard loud crack. Laji placed his foot on the fiend's head and yanked the sword from its neck, wiping the blood from the shinning surface.
"Heh," Laji laughed quietly, while turning from the fiend and walking away with the half-sphere in his hand.
---
"We can't let go, Berron," Laji yelled hitting his fists into the ground where he knelt.
"We have to," said an old man in a white robe, who Yuna presumed to be Berron. Many other men stood around Laji and the old man, nodding their heads along to what was being said. "Don't you want to rest peacefully here, and not have to spend your energy dreaming? Here you can see her everyday, the real Nalien everyday." Laji looked around where he was sitting. The Farplane was a very beautiful place and would always be peaceful, but he could never rest there. His image of Nalien might be here, but it wasn't the real her. He could never do it; he would never do it.
"It's not her," he said looking down. The Berron's face showed his sympathy for Laji, as he reached his hand out and placed it on the young man's shoulder.
"My friend, we have to let go."
"No!" Laji said swiping the man's hand away from his shoulder. "I won't do it. I won't just leave the person that means everything to me!"
"But she has already left you."
"No, she hasn't!" Laji stood up and turned away from the group of men.
"She'll never leave me!" he said, as he walked away leaving Berron stunned.
---
"It's the same man," Yuna said still looking at the screen, her hand on her cold cheek. "On the other sphere, this man, Laji, was holding two halves of a sphere and he thrust them together."
"Wait," Rikku said turning to her cousin. "How do you know his name?"
"He's the man that was in my dreams," Yuna said looking down. "He's the man that kills Tidus in my dreams." Yuna pulled her hand up to her forehead as she closed her weary eyes. "It's getting late. I think I'll go to bed now."
Yuna walked off the bridge her mind in a haze. Tidus looked at the others and then ran to catch up with her.
"Yuna, wait!" he called just as she was about to step into the lift. Yuna turned around to look at him, her eyes moist. "Are you okay?"
"Yah, I'm fine," she responded, her voice faltering.
"No you're not," Tidus said, his eyes showing his concern.
"I just need some sleep, okay? I need to be alone." she said, her voice loud as her mouth started to tremble. Yuna turned around and walked into the lift, tears slowly starting to trickle down her cheeks.
ioioioi
Tidus took a swig from the spiced-beer bottle that he held in his hand. The alcohol trickled down his throat, a warming sensation spreading through his chest. Tidus looked at the bottle in his hand, and frowned. This stuff was nothing compared to drinks he had had in Zanarkand. Placing the bottle down beside him, Tidus fell onto his back, his hands underneath his head. He blinked rapidly as he got used to the glaring moonlight, the sky clear of any clouds to block its rays.
Tidus sighed. So much was going on in his mind; so many things were worrying him. How Yuna had reacted to him not too long ago, had really hurt Tidus inside. He had tried to tell himself that she was angry and frustrated, but he couldn't get over the fact that she had been aggravated by him trying to make her feel better. So, to help clear his mind, Tidus had come up to the bridge to relax and enjoy the nice night. Tidus closed hid eyes letting the cool wind sweep over him, tossing his blond hair across his face. The night was so perfect. The bad rainfall had really done some good after all!
Sitting up again, Tidus grabbed the spiced bear and took another big swig.
I guess it's not that bad, he thought, scrunching up his nose.
Tidus crossed his ankles over one another, and bent his knees so that they were close to his chest. Too many things had happened in one day to understand. Just even seeing Rikku again and meeting the other Gullwings had been a bit much. Rikku had certainly changed in one year too. She was no longer the shy bubbly Al Behd girl she had been. She was now a very open person.
Tidus cleared his voice, before putting the rim of the bottle to his lips and swallowing a mouthful down.
Brother, he remembered being introduced to before. Four years ago, he had been the pilot of Cid's ship. At first he hadn't known that Brother was Rikku's older brother, but when they were about to go and defeat sin, he had asked Tidus to protect Rikku from any danger. Tidus laughed softly. Back then Cid had called Brother 'mop head' because of his small fauxhawk hair, which certainly had not changed.
Buddy, Tidus had never met before, but Yuna had said that he was on Cid's ship and was part of the Al Behd blitz ball team. He was an all right guy, who enjoyed poking a bit of fun at Brother. Tidus wasn't opposed to that!
Shinra had totally amazed Tidus. He was fourteen and a complete genius. The only thing that had bugged Tidus about him was that weird body suit thing he wore. How did he breath?
Tidus smiled. The day wasn't that bad. Deciding it as good a time as ever to go back inside, Tidus heaved himself up and began to walk back towards the lift. He had only taken a few steps from where he was sitting, when he heard the door open, the light from inside breaking the darkness. Yuna stepped out from the light in her pajamas and stopped just outside the frame, the doors closing tightly behind her.
"What are you doing up here?" Tidus asked, his voice cold despite the warnings of his head.
"Looking for you," she replied, a rasp showing she had been crying in her throat. "I thought you would have come to bed by now."
"You haven't fallen asleep yet?" he questioned, a bit surprised. Yuna looked down and nodded.
"Oh, well I—," Tidus said, unsure of what to say to her.
"Look, Tidus," Yuna said stepping a bit towards him. "I'm sorry for shouting at you. It's just everything that is going on is so confusing and frustrating. The last thing I needed was to be away from you. I just—I just wish it would end." Tidus looked into her eyes, his throat chocked. Yuna took his silence as a dismissal of her apology, and started to leave, salty tears blurring her vision.
"Yuna, wait!" Tidus quickly called before she was able to open the doors that led back into the ship. "Come sit down with me." Yuna turned around and made her way across the deck to where he was standing. Tidus led her near the end, and sat down. Yuna sat beside him, looking down at her folded hands.
"Just tell me next time what you fell like," he said looking out at the starry sky. "I know that you are frustrated and it hurt me more to know that you were in pain than what you said to me." Tidus turned towards her, and smiled. "I love you Yuna, and love can defeat any evil." Yuna's eyes began to spill out her tears, the moonlight making them glisten like diamonds. Tidus wiped the tears that fell down her flushed cheeks, planting a soft kiss on each before kissing her reddened lips. Yuna wrapped her arms over his neck, as he grabbed onto her back and slowly lowered her to the floor.
End of Part 4
End Notes: Okay…I hope you enjoyed that!!!! The next part should be on in a couple of days!! Thanks again for all your lovely reviews! :) If you got any comments don't be afraid to talk to me!! Bye Bye! :)