Chapter Four
Head Over Feet

Part One

She didn't think she'd ever seen a more beautiful, more haunting place than Macalania Forest. The trees had leaves made of crystals, and the sound they made when the breeze whistled through them was magical. The ground shimmered and sparkled, and when Rikku reached out and touched the trunk of the nearest tree, it left a light sheen on her fingertips. She had no problem imagining faeries or elves living in these woods.

Unfortunately, she didn't have time to make up wonderful little fairy tales in her head as they walked on. Yunie had announced, back in the Thunder Plains, that she was going to marry Maester Seymour. Rikku had no idea why anyone would want to do that.

As bad as she felt for her poor cousin – and she felt horrible – there was something else gnawing on her mind as well. And it bothered her more than she wanted to admit.

Wakka.

He hadn't spoken to her at all since they had left the Travel Agency back on the Thunder Plains that morning. She couldn't figure out why. Every time she walked over to him to strike up a conversation, he quickly began talking to whoever was nearest him. And completely ignoring her.

Rikku did not like being ignored. Especially not after she had thought that they were becoming friends. Had he just been nice to her because Sir Auron told him to? Maybe he thought she was just a little kid who needed to be taken care of.

Rikku jutted out her chin and crossed her arms over her chest. Well, if that was what he thought of her, she'd just have to prove him wrong, now wouldn't she? Rikku knew avoidance when she saw it. But she was clever and crafty. After all, she was a thief.

You can't avoid me forever, she thought, smiling softly in the direction of the blitzball player. I can make sure of that. She studied him surreptitiously. She had seen something in his eyes the night before. It was a look that she wasn't overly familiar with, but a recognizable one, nonetheless. Plus, hadn't his heart thumped just a little bit faster than was normal when she had laid her head on his chest?

A tiny smirk crept up on her face. Wakka walked up ahead, talking in low tones with Lulu. Rikku's smirk faded slightly. If she had to compete with Lulu for Wakka's attention, she feared that she would come up seriously lacking.

And it wasn't just because of Lulu's cold beauty or stunning figure. Lulu seemed to be so put together, so adult. Rikku always felt hopelessly young when she was around her.

Yuna came up to her then. "Rikku?" she said softly. "Are you all right?"

Leave it to Yunie … she had a gazillion other things of her own to worry about, and yet, she was inquiring about the well being of everyone else in the group.

Rikku forced a smile. "I'm fine, Yunie, really. Just thinking is all."

Yuna nodded. "Well, if you ever do want to talk, I'm here." She smiled her serene smile and then walked over to talk to Tidus.

Rikku went back to watching Wakka and Lulu. She really wished Lulu would leave him alone. How was she supposed to go up and be all cute and coy and cunning and downright irresistible when Lulu was standing right there? Dark, exotic Lulu would overshadow perky little Rikku any day of the week.

About two hours into the forest, Yuna requested that they stop for a break in a small clearing. Sir Auron nodded his acquiescence. Everyone sat around and took advantage of the interlude. Wakka and Lulu sat together, still deep in thought.

Rikku walked over to the far edge of the clearing and stared into the dark woods that still lie ahead. Anything to avoid looking at them. She sighed and leaned against one of the sparkling trees. What was happening to her? Why should she care whom he talked to? They were hardly even friends themselves, and besides, if he knew she was Al Bhed … She closed her eyes. She didn't want to think about that right now.

She was so lost in her own thoughts that she barely noticed the butterfly that landed on her shoulder, or how the clouds above cleared momentarily, causing a bright shaft of moonlight to slant downward directly over her location.

It was amazing. The sky had been dark and ominous just moments ago, and then, out of nowhere, a single moonbeam burst through and surrounded Rikku in its silvery light. Her skin glistened – almost glowed – in the illumination. There was a delicate multi-colored butterfly perched on her shoulder, and she had a completely bewildered expression on her face. She looked like a tiny faerie or wood nymph.

Wakka spoke without even realizing it. "Whoa."

Everyone looked up at Wakka's remark, and there was a collective intake of breath. Then, almost instantaneously, the clouds blocked out the moon again and the woods were thrown back into their perpetual state of darkness.

Rikku looked at her companions oddly. Why had they been staring at her like that? "Is something wrong?" she asked, walking back toward them.

Lulu shook her head. "Oh, no … We thought … we thought there was a fiend behind you."

Rikku nodded, her eyes still puzzled. Wakka – he was still just staring at her. She couldn't for the life of her figure out why.

Sir Auron stood up. "I think we are ready to continue," he said gruffly, leading them on. He didn't want anyone to see the smile that was beginning to play on his lips. Lord Braska – he was no idiot. He knew what he was doing. And he was doing a damn good job of it, too. Maybe a little too good. Auron wondered if Wakka was beginning to get the picture. He had to be. Even Wakka wasn't that dim.

He almost felt bad for Wakka. The road ahead of him was not going to be an easy one – but it was necessary. For so many reasons; for so many people, himself included. Spira may have been an endless cycle of death, but virtue was also rewarded. And Wakka and Rikku had both been virtuous. Their story hadn't even begun yet – but there was so much resting in the balance. It was, in the most literal sense, a matter of life and death. Auron only hoped that there was still enough time.

Rikku followed behind Sir Auron and tried to make sense of what had just happened. Yuna caught up to her and squeezed her hand with a smile. "I think it was my father," she whispered.

"What are you talking about?" Rikku asked her.

"Did you not feel the moon? The butterfly? I think my father was trying to tell us something. Something about you," Yuna explained.

"Yunie, that's crazy!" Rikku protested, although she had to admit, she had felt it. The soft glow of moonlight that had encircled her like an embrace, the butterfly that had ever so lightly kissed her shoulder.

"Not so crazy," Yuna said in a soft voice. "We should keep an eye on you."

Part Two

"Absolutely amazing," Lulu commented. "She's beautiful."

Wakka shot her a disbelieving look, one he hoped was convincing. "Whatever you say, Lu," he mumbled. He wasn't about to admit that what he had just seen had knocked the breath completely out of him. "Beautiful" did not even begin to describe Rikku. He wasn't sure that there were any words strong enough.

"Ahem." A small voice behind them caused Lulu to turn around. Rikku smiled apologetically at the mage. "I'm sorry, but, uh, can I talk to Wakka for a second?"

Lulu smiled. "Of course!"

Wakka glared at Lulu. He had told himself, earlier that morning, that he would avoid any one-on-one face-time with Rikku. He hadn't slept a wink the night before in that damn Travel Agency, and he just wanted to forget that anything had ever happened.

He couldn't actually be having – feelings for her, could he? Nah, that was ridiculous. He barely even knew her. But still – the feelings were there, creeping up on him every time he looked in her direction.

And that moment back in the clearing had caused those feelings to come rushing at him like an angry Dual Horn. He wasn't really sure how much longer he could ignore them, or pretend that it was nothing.

Lulu walked off, and Rikku punched Wakka in the arm playfully. "Hey, you," she said, smiling up at him. "Ignoring a girl's a good way to make her think you're mad." She tried to keep her tone light, but there was a pained undercurrent to it.

Wakka blew out an uneasy breath. "I'm not mad at you."

Rikku nodded and looked down at her feet. "Well, then. I guess – I guess that I was wrong."

"Wrong 'bout what?" Wakka asked nervously.

"I thought that maybe we were becoming friends," Rikku said softly. "But you probably don't want a silly little girl who's afraid of thunderstorms as a friend, right? Anyway, I just wanted to say thanks. For staying with me last night, you know? It meant a lot." She started to walk off, but Wakka caught her upper arm with his hand. She smiled to herself before turning back to him.

"Rikku, wait, I'm sorry, ya?" Wakka said sheepishly, scratching the back of his neck. "You were wrong."

Rikku looked at him, pain and disappointment in her eyes. "I was?"

"We aren't becoming friends, eh? We already are." Wakka told her, his grin lighting up his face.

Rikku grinned back. "Good," she told him. She placed her hands on her hips, and looked at him with a mock-stern expression on her face. "Now, if you're going to be my friend, there are a few rules," she teased.

"Oh, really?" Wakka shot back. "Like what, eh?"

"Well, for one, no more of this ignoring me business, you hear? I will kick you to the curb in a second if you ever do that again!"

Wakka laughed. "Yes, ma'am. Anything else?"

"Yeah, as a matter of fact there is. You gotta start telling me the truth!" Rikku demanded.

"Truth about what?" he asked.

"Well, for one, why was everyone staring at me just a little while ago?"

Because you're beautiful. The thought hit him unexpectedly, and he found that hecould hardly breathe. "It was nothing, really," he told her, trying to sound nonchalant. "It was just kinda funny how the light shone directly on you, ya? Kinda took everyone surprise, and what with that butterfly, too." Oh, she'll see right through that! Lame excuse, Wakka!

But Rikku nodded, satisfied with his answer. For now anyway. She knew there was something more that he wasn't saying, but she wouldn't press the issue. Instead, she linked her arm with his casually and smiled at him again.

His heart skipped in his chest as he looked down at her. She was smiling that smile again, the one that made him feel like he was melting. This time he smiled back. He knew that if he wanted to, he could get used to this.

He was pretty sure he wanted to.

No one could predict what lie ahead on their journey, but he was certain he wanted her to be with him, as his friend for now, and maybe… Well, he would take things one day at a time. He had to know how she felt first and foremost. Because if she didn't feel the same … Well, he could cross that bridge later, ya?

Rikku looked up at Wakka, happy that she could finally say that they were friends. However, she felt the knife of guilt twisting and turning in her stomach.

I should tell him that I am Al Bhed. No! I can't. There's no reason for him to have to know. It'll only hurt him. Nobody's gonna tell him. If I tell him, he might hate me, and I don't think I could handle that. He'll never find out, he never has to know.

Even as she was telling herself that, she had the sickening feeling that something awful was about to happen and ruin the bond that had been forged between them.

Something that might ruin everything for everyone.

A/N: Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! XD If you couldn't tell from certain passages in this chapter, I have a PLAN ... a big huge twisty-turny kinda plan that will cause for quite an interesting story ... Originally, this was just going to be a simple, run-of-the-mill pilgrimage story, but something came to me that was a lot better! Once again, it's thanks to Avelera for allowing me to toss ideas around with her, and for telling me which ones are keepers and which ones need to be chucked! So, thanks Avelera! XD So, I hope that those of you reading it are enjoying it, and get ready for a helluva ride! As always, R&R ... Later! Rhianna XD