A/N-Wee! *twirls around with a handful of reviews* Thanks soooo much for all these reviews! I'm really glad that you guys like this story so much! I feel like a have a place in this world. Hee-hee! Oh, and also, I'll try and make the chapters longer as some of ya'll requested. Well, let's get on with the story, and keep up with those reviews!
♥Every Heart♥
Chapter Six: Clues with No Answer
Well, ever since that little "accident", nothing much has changed. I'm still not very lenient with the whole arranged marriage thing, and I really did have to resist the urge to attack Pops. Seriously. But anyway, besides that little fact, Gippel and I haven't really had much of a chance to talk. I mean, it's great that he's the Leader of the Machine Faction, and that he's gonna…well, MIGHT, be the future leader of our tribe, but he's gotta talk to me sometime. I have so many questions I want answered!
I'm also real glad that Yunie and the gang are staying here, because I don't know what I would do without them. I mean, they've been my constant companions, and they really are the friends that people look for their whole lives. Well anyway, so far I've been here for about a month, and let me tell you something, it's really boring when you have squat to do. During the day, most of the time I just hang around the front of the temple, greeting diggers and helping people that really need the gil sign up. I've talked with a few of them.
But there's this one guy that I talk to the most. I think his name is Uppahc. I met him when I was hanging around the front of the temple and he was looking for someone to explain a map or whatever, so I volunteered to help. After I had finished telling him what this or that meant, he thanked me and we started a little chat. He's very polite. I mean, it's like he won't stop calling me ma'am! He's a Yevonite outcast because of what his ancestors did centuries ago, and he needed gil to feed his family. It's a real sad story and all, but I don't think you'd like to hear it that much. He's very cute, too! His eyes are the clearest blue you could imagine, and his hair is a soft shade of brown. But what am I babbling on about? It's just these stupid hormones…
Well, today was a different day. It started off normal, though. I was hanging around the double doors, trying to chat it up with those statues they call guards when I just huffed, gave up, and stomped back inside the temple. Wondering what the heck to do, I stumbled upon my dear friend Paine, who was without Baralai, in the newly built training area. How quaint. I could tell that she sensed my presence, because without even turning around to acknowledge me, she started to walk away.
"If it's not important, tell me later. I'm busy." I crossed my arms and pouted.
"Paaiiinnneeee…." I whined, trying to sound hurt, "I'm so bored! I haven't even had a chance to talk things out with Gippel, and I don't even know when this whole marriage thingy is gonna happen, and I just want someone to talk to!" Paine just rolled her ruby eyes, swinging her sword over her shoulder. What a meanie!
"Why don't you go and find Yuna? I'm sure she wouldn't mind talking to you," she said in monotone, not even turning around to say goodbye. I sighed, but then I remembered that I wanted to ask Paine what a Hammer of Light was. Since Paine knows nearly everything there is to secret items and whatnot, she was the perfect person to ask. So after a second of standing alone in the training area by myself, I took off at a run after Paine, waving my hands frantically in the air.
"Wait! I have something to ask you! And it may be important!" Paine stopped, but her back was still turned away from me. I could take a hint, though. Quickly, I rushed over to her and stopped in front of her. Seeing that her face was still bored, I sighed and crossed my hands behind my head.
"Ok…well, I just want to know if you know what a Hammer of Light is…"
"Never heard of it." The way she said it quickly and tightly was a given. She was lying. I stared at her long and hard, but she didn't even flinch. She was a tough rock to crack! Ah well, at least I knew that it was a real thing and not a figment of my imagination.
"Are you sure?" I prodded, squinting hard up at her. And like a stale cookie, her face hardened and her eyes remained indifferent, daring me to take another bite.
"Yes, I'm sure, Rikku," she said slowly, as if I were a stupid child, "I've never heard of this Hammer of Light." Oh well, whatever. I guess I could just look it up somewhere, or better yet, ask Shinra. Where was that kid, anyway? I hadn't seen much of him at all lately. Shrugging, I left Paine to her fun alone time and trotted out of the temple, hoping to find Shinra. The outside had changed a little. It was still dry and dusty, but the air had turned a little humid. Rain, perhaps? That would be strange, though. It hadn't rained here at Djose Temple since like, never!
Tossing the thought out the window, I looked around the outside and spotted Gippel near the admission booth and facing the temple, talking it up with a pretty woman dressed in a goon outfit. I scowled. So he was flirting, was he? That two-timing jerk! Waiiiiiiiiiit…we weren't even officially married or whatever, so why was I totally…jealous? Ok, Rikku, you've had one too many Moogle Mint Muffins. Time to back off. Shaking my head vigorously, I approached the twosome and hopped right in between the pair, grinning up at Gippel.
"Rao, Gippel. Ryja oui caah Shinra?" He smirked down at me, his eye patch glimmering faintly, and then inevitably, he started ruffling up my carefully beaded hair. And like usually, my bangs fell into my face, and I frowned.
"Hu, Rikku. Why don't you go ask Yuna or Buddy? Brother's not around today because he had to go to the desert to find parts to fix the Celsius. I'm kind of busy right now." Playfully, I stuck out my tongue at him and skipped off, smiling when I heard Gippel chuckling. Things weren't as bad as I thought they would be, I guess. At least I wasn't arranged to marry some complete stranger, but that didn't mean I was better off. Sometimes, Gippel could be a complete jerk when he wanted to be, but other times he could also be my best friend, in a twisted sort of way. I was so lost in my thoughts that I bumped right into Uppahc, who steadied my clumsy limbs, chuckling as I apologized a few times. And then I was on my way once more to find Buddy or Yuna just as Gippel had suggested.
I came upon Yuna first. It seemed that nowadays, Yunie was never without Tidus by her side. I approached the happily content couple, grinning from ear to ear. Tidus looked up at me and smiled genuinely, his dark blue orbs shining. I felt a small twitch in my heart, but mentally stomped on that, waving.
"Yunie! Hey, Yunie, have you seen Shinra around?" As I thought, Yunie shook her head and tilted it to the side, a questionable look on her pretty face.
"No, I haven't, Rikku. Why? Maybe I can help."
"Well, not unless you know what the heck a Hammer of Light is."
"Hammer of Light? Why don't you ask Paine?"
"I already tried, but she kinda looked pensive, so I decided not to push it. For now." Yuna laughed lightly, her eyes glimmering under the temple's dim lights.
"You know, Rikku, curiosity killed the cat. And knowing Paine, maybe curiosity severed the cat severely." For some unexplainable reason, I shuddered involuntarily. I turned towards Tidus whose eyes were trained on Yuna, a faint smile on his handsome face. Argh, there was that jealous twitching again! I didn't notice that I had started to growl, because Tidus was looking at me weird.
"You ok, Rikku?" he piped up, waving his hands in front of my face. I recovered quickly and sheepishly waved his hands away, grinning.
"Yah, just thinking. I don't suppose you know what a Hammer of Light is?" And just as I suspected, the blonde ex-blitz player shook his head, an apologetic look on his face.
"Nope. Sorry, Rikku." I sighed. I guess I'm never going to figure this out. I thanked the couple anyways, giving them some alone time, and continued my search for Shinra/Buddy. I came upon Buddy next (surprise, surprise). He was in the room to the right of the main stairs, helping a woman apply for a raise. I jogged over to him and tapped him quickly on the shoulder. He turned his blonde head around, his dark glasses hiding his eyes.
"Hey, Rikku. What's up?"
"Have you seen Shinra?"
"Yeah. He's outside making some minor adjustments to his CommSphere. Why?"
"What?! You mean he was outside the whole time? I must've missed him…" It didn't take me long to put two and two together. That lousy Gippel! When he was ruffling up my hair, he blocked my view of Shinra, and sent me on this pointless search! Ooh! He was in for it now! "Thanks, Buddy! Bye!" I raced off outside the temple doors, searching for Gippel.
I spotted the big meanie right where I left him and I power walked over to the conversing people. I poked him good and hard with my right index finger, which luckily, I hadn't had the time to trim. I grinned evilly when he yelped in surprise and looked around wildly, his gaze focusing down on me.
"Rao! Fryd fyc dryd vun?!" He rubbed his wounded shoulder, glaring at me.
"Shinra was here the whole time and you made me look for him!" I glared back up at him, never breaking eye contact. He smirked at me triumphantly, his eyes never leaving mine.
"Well, you were bored, weren't you? It gave you something to do." I growled, stomping my right foot hard on his. He didn't even flinch because I forgot that he had boots that could withstand desert sandstorms and uncooperative machina. He smirked as I tried futilely again. After a while of failed attempts, I gave up, called him the usual meanie and stomped off to Shinra. I found the little kid guarding the CommSphere protectively. Grinning, I wiped some perspiration from my sweaty bangs and approached Shinra, yelling his name.
His masked face swiveled over to me and he stayed glued to the ground, standing in front of the device.
"What is it?"
"Do you happen to know what a Hammer of Light is?" Thoughtfully, Shinra rubbed his chin with his right hand, then looked at me again.
"That sounds familiar. Why don't you look in my Weapons Dictionary? It's in my room. You know the room next to the bathroom." I could practically see the smirk etched onto his face as my face turned so red I could have been mistaken as part of the tomato family. Ignoring the memory, I put my hands on my hips and glared at him.
"Shouldn't you remember these things? I mean, you did write it." A cool wind brushed me, cooling the sweat that was slowly dripping down the back of my neck. The ribbons on my arms ruffled softly in the welcome breeze as I waited impatiently for Shinra's reply. After a second or two, he shrugged, shaking his head back and forth.
"I'm just a kid." And there came the trademark answer to all of the questions Shinra didn't know the answer to, or the answer that he used as an excuse. I huffed, marching back into the temple.
"Kids these days," I muttered. I passed by the stupid bathroom and entered the guestroom. And then, my brain registered the fact that I hadn't asked Shinra where he put his dictionaries. Well, I was NOT going back out there. Shinra could have moved somewhere else, and I didn't want to search for the kid again. I sighed, and then began my search.
For a kid, Shinra sure was a neat freak. Everything was orderly and in place compared to my room. I checked the drawers close to his bed and giggled as I pulled open the top drawer. He had such cute undies! Laughing like a maniac, I examined a few. There were the usual cute chocobos, moogles, and Commspheres with his name written across it on the butt part. The kid sure was obsessed with his invention.
After my little escapade, I checked under his bed, in his closet, and even in the bathroom. No dictionaries. This was ridiculous! Where could the friggin dictionary be? Just when I was about to give up, Yunie entered the room, smiling.
"Are you looking for Shinra's Weapon Dictionary?"
"Yeah, how'd you know?"
"Well, Paine came up to me a while ago, asking me where you went off to. When I told her you were asking Shinra what a Hammer of Light was, she raced off and I followed her to Shinra's room where she took the dictionary. I'm not sure why she took it, though. I tried asking her, but she did the death threat thing, but she looked really mad. Sorry, Rikku, but maybe you shouldn't be so determined to find out what this weapon is."
"But—"
"Look, Rikku, I know that once you're interested in something, you really stick to it, but maybe you should just let this one go, you know? Paine was really upset." I shut up immediately. I had made Paine upset? Wow, this Hammer of Light thingy must really be something special.
"Oh, alright." I sighed, crossing my arms. I guess it wasn't really that big of a deal, but if Paine was vexed by it, maybe it was more of a big deal than I thought.
A/N-Annnnnd I'll end it here. I'm so sorry that there's not much of a Gippel/Rikku moment in this chappie, but I promise that there will be a lot of moments to come! So please stick with me! I'm glad that you guys love this story! Really, I am. Sometimes when I have really crappy days and you guys review, I get inspired and my day doesn't seem so bad. So thanks a lot and thanks for all of you who review!
Moshi Moshi Mai
Translations:
Rao, Gippel. Ryja oui caah Shinra? Hey, Gippel. : Have you seen Shinra?
Hu, Rikku.: No, Rikku.
Rao! Fryd fyc dryd vun?! : Hey! What was that for?!
