A/N: Er. Nothing much to say. Plot slow. Me feeling like junk due to things at school. Um, writing another chapter much sooner than usual. Trying to hurry plot along. Sorry.
Luca Harbor
"This is the only place we haven't searched yet." Athilda mumbled through pursed lips, brow furrowed and finger resting on her chin in thought.
No duh, Captain Obvious! Rikku thought, but she kept her mouth shut. In fact, she had done a very good job of biting her tongue throughout this whole search.
Now she was rather glad Athilda didn't talk much at any other time. She was really annoying when she did start talking, trying to break the awkward silence between them. Sometimes she'd blurt things out about her old dog Jimmy, or something funny that had happened back in Bevelle, which wasn't even that funny.
At all.
"Hey. Athilda." Rikku ran up to the woman, who was now looking behind every nook and cranny. How come Rikku wasn't searching as hard?
Because I know Gippal can take care of himself. For now, anyway. There's a more pressing matter.
"What is it, Lady Rikku?"
"How did ya save Gippal and me? Are you a witch or something?"
As soon as she said it Rikku knew she shouldn't have. Athilda went sort of rigid, and all that could be heard was horns from the ships, the squawks of seagulls in the distance, and the waves lapping against the docks.
"Did I…say something?" Rikku asked in a tone, which indicated she was higher than Athilda. She didn't want it to come out that way, but it…kinda slipped.
Athilda snapped out of her trance like state and gave a tinkly laugh. "What? Oh no. Witch is just such a…such a harsh term. I forbid it from my vocabulary."
"…Okay." Rikku said in a confused sort of way.
Athilda gave another nervous, tinkly sort of laugh. "I guess I should explain myself, hmm?" She straightened out the front of her robes nervously. "Um-well…I'll start at the beginning. I didn't go to Bevelle because I pray to Yevon every living moment of my life, or drink up their religion like a man lost in the desert. No, my mother sent me there in disgust. She-she hated the things I could do. I was magical. And not just in one area, either. I could do all sorts of things, and my house would always be in shambles because I couldn't control it. My mother finally lost it and shipped me off. The only person who has ever cared for me was—was my elder sister, Karren. She came with me when my mom had gotten rid of me. At the temple I was taught about my magic. It's an odd one, see. It can only be used when the adrenaline starts to rush in my veins—when I'm afraid. The situation must be dire for me to use my magic. So they made sure not to calm me too much, for if they had in situations needing my magic I would be unable to use it. Thus, my nervous habits and appearance. And that's how I saved you—using my magic because I was afraid you and Sir Gippal were going to die and—and my task would be incomplete." She added hastily.
All Rikku could do was stare at her. "…Wow." She said. "That's some story."
I feel a bit bad… She thought. I acted like such a little kid.
"Well…er…keep searching?" Athilda asked, flattening out her robe once more and looking around.
"No need!" Rikku cried suddenly. Her eyes had been scanning the harbor. "I see him over there!" She flapped a hand over to where a large poster rested on a stone column. "That stupid guy!" She cried, laughing from relief. "I thought…" She shrugged it off and ran full blast at Gippal.
"GIPPAL! GIPP!" She cried, waving a hand frantically. Naturally he turned around at her voice—after all, she was shrieking her lungs out. He gave her a small wave and a cocky grin.
"Hey Cid's Girl!"
Rikku stopped shouting. And smiling. But she didn't stop running. As soon as she got beside Gippal she slammed her fist into his arm. Naturally, it would hurt twice as much considering she had been running at him at full blast.
"OW! Geezuz Rikku, what was that for?" Gippal scowled at her and rubbed at his arm.
She gave him a grin and placed her finger beside her nose and gave him a wink. "It's to teach you my name, silly. Cid's Girl is someone completely different. I'M Rikku."
Gippal circled Rikku, gazing at her intently. Rikku suddenly felt like she was being inspected. "Um…Gippal?" She asked quietly. He didn't answer, but instead squinted his eye.
"Same blond hair…same green eyes and—clothing choices…same happiness, giddiness, whatever you wanna call it. Oh yes. And same ugliness. Nope, you got it wrong kiddo. You're Cid's Girl all the way."
He cracked a huge grin as Rikku started to yell at him in Al Bhed.
"Fryd'na
oui dymgehk ypuid Kebbym! ikr! IKMO? Dryd'c cu ekhunyhdcu
camvecrcucu OUI!"
(What're you talking about Gippal! ugh!
UGLY? That's so ignorant…so selfish….so—so—YOU!)
Gippal gave her a nervous, frightened sort of smile. "Hey Princess! Calm down, I was only joking…"
Athilda saved Gippal from being yelled and screamed at some more. Rikku was rather touchy about her name.
"Sir Gippal!" A relieved smile was plastered on her face. "It's wonderful to see you!"
He gave her a small smile, but immediately it turned into a frown. "Well, there's something I need to ask you about before I say it's 'wonderful to see you' too…"
Rikku watched him with curiosity. What did Gippal need to talk to her about? Immediately Rikku felt a pang somewhere in her chest as Gippal took Athilda by the elbow over to a more private spot. Thank goodness he didn't block Rikku out all together.
But she wanted to get closer. "I need to hear what they're talking about!" Rikku hissed quietly. Frankly, she hated being left out. And Gippal had looked so serious…so unlike himself. So Rikku desperately wanted to know what had caused him the sudden change.
She shrunk into the shadows of the piled high boxes as much as she possibly could. Then, thanking her past career as a thief, Rikku snuck deftly through the darkness until she could hear Gippal's whispered voice like he was standing right beside her.
With a shocked, yet quiet intake of breath, Rikku realized it was true. The only thing separating Gippal, Athilda and her was a pile of boxes.
"You lied to me." Were his first words: they were harsh. Rikku couldn't help but cringe.
"I-I-I did?" Her voice sounded very nervous, and Rikku remembered how she couldn't be taught how to calm herself…poor girl.
"Yes! You said no boat went to Bevelle. You said we had to go through the Moonflow." He pointed a hand back at where he had been standing.
"See that poster? It's a table. A table of times and destinations of the boats. Right there, on the top, written very clearly, it reads 'To Bevelle, every two hours'. You said it didn't go to Bevelle, remember!"
He was greeted by silence. Rikku was watching with a disappointed sort of fascination from between two boxes. Athilda had lied to them. Gippal had outsmarted her. But if she wanted them through the Moonflow, that would mean…
"Are you working for him!" Gippal finally voiced Rikku's thoughts.
Athilda gasped. "I do not know who you mean by him, Sir Gippal, but please don't take that tone with me! The boatmen must have just made a silly mistake. Come, I'll ask one for you." Athilda sniffed and whirled around, marching in the opposite direction.
Rikku watched, afraid to move out of her hiding spot. Instead, with labored breathing she watched the two silently walk up to a large man who was holding a paddle in his hand.
"Excuse me Sir. Are you a boat driver?"
The fat man looked down at them with squinty eyes. Rikku stuck her tongue out in disgust. He was so fat and his clothes were grossly tight and stained. He scratched his belly as he nodded slowly. Something like flies buzzed around the rare wisps of auburn hair sticking out of his bald head. Rikku could see Gippal looked just as appalled, but he was better at hiding his horror than her.
"Well—um…" Athilda stopped there, and Gippal butted in.
"Does a boat leave here to Bevelle every two hours like the poster says? She keeps saying it doesn't and we'll need to take the one to Moonflow, but when I looked at the poster…" His harsh voice fell into silence as the fat, balding and smelly man glowered down at him. Then his gaze shifted over to Athilda whom was standing timidly behind Gippal.
Now, Rikku didn't know if it was a trick of the light, or if it had actually happened, but she swore Athilda shook her head—just the tiniest bit. The sun caught on her hair from a different angle, and a few stray hairs had fallen at the movement. But Rikku couldn't be sure.
And yet it was a gut feeling.
The man stared at her for a longer time, and then turned back to Gippal. "Nup. You got it wrong, boy. There ain't no boat that goes to the big city. Musta been a mistake. I betta fix it. Now go away until the boat to the Moonflow is ready to get outta here."
Rikku shivered again. Something about his decision…maybe Athilda had been hiding something as she told her past to Rikku.
But she couldn't be sure yet again.
Gippal seemed disappointed with this answer. With a shrug he turned around and faced the boxes. Rikku shrunk into the shadows, hands and back flat against the stone wall. She waited without breathing until she heard a,
"All right Cid's Girl, you can come out now. We're not playing hide and seek."
Rikku sighed as she kicked a loose stone. "How did you know I was here?" She asked as she jumped over the pile of boxes. He shrugged.
"You're really obvious."
Rikku was about to punch him before Athilda interrupted. "The boat to the Moonflow leaves now. Shall we board?"
Gippal was silent, and Rikku knew why. He still hated boats. After all, it wasn't just his fear from the beginning. After being nearly burnt to death on their last boat expedition she was feeling a bit queasy herself.
"Don't worry Gippal." Rikku whispered. She had suddenly come beside him and looked up into his eye. "I'll be more careful this time. I promise not to walk into a room loaded with bombs."
She grasped for Gippal's hand and he squeezed hers, letting out a small chuckle. "All right Cid's Girl. That's a promise I expect you to keep."
Rikku nodded, deciding to leave the Cid's Girl nickname alone for a while.
Athilda was up to her old ways. "Come on you two!" She called from the deck of a boat right beside them. Rikku opened her mouth in shock. That boat hadn't been there moments ago, she just knew it…
"Are you sure this is the one to Moonflow?" Gippal asked from the dock, still holding Rikku's hand. She felt her face flush, but stayed silent. Athilda nodded hurriedly.
"Hurry up now!"
Grudgingly the two walked up the plank and onto the wooden boat.
Rikku let out a small gasp. "Gippal! It's the same fat stinky man from the docks!" She pointed to a waddling thing of lard turning the corner. Gippal cocked an eyebrow suspiciously.
"I knew something was funny about that guy…"
Suddenly the boat lurched out of its spot on the docks. Gippal clutched Rikku's hand tighter automatically, and Rikku saw his eye wide with fear.
"Calm down Gippal…we'll go down to the cabins, okay?"
He shook his head slowly. "No."
"Why not?" Rikku asked curiously.
"Too dangerous."
"Dangerous?"
"They could easily corner us in the cabins. I'll be okay on deck…I just need a place…a place to sit…" He looked like he was about to be sick and squeezed his eye tightly shut.
"You okay?" Rikku asked in an alarmed voice. She wasn't used to Gippal showing weakness. He wasn't supposed to have a weakness. None at all.
Well he's only human. Chided a voice.
"Yea…yea I'm fine." He said, opening his eye and shaking his head a little. "No need to have a fit over my well being Princess." He gave her a smirk and turned around to walk towards the benches near the front. Rikku watched him silently for a few seconds until his knees buckled underneath him.
Rikku ran up beside him and caught his arm just in time. He grasped onto one of her arms and her should weakly. "Well—er—maybe I need a little help." He said meekly. Rikku giggled. Just like a little lost puppy. And she loved puppies.
"Come on you big lug. This way."
Gippal and Rikku slowly made their way towards the benches. After toddling along at a child's pace, the two collapsed onto the wooden benches. Gippal let out a relieved sigh and his vice-like grip lessened on Rikku, for which she was eternally grateful.
"Thank Yevon that's over." He mumbled, rubbing at his eye and yawning.
"How early did you get up this morning?" Rikku asked, resting her head on his shoulder and closing her eyes contentedly. Something about the rhythmic sound of the ocean waves hitting the boat, or the salty air smell or the cries of the seagulls was relaxing and lulling. Already Rikku found herself yawning and clutching to Gippal's arm like it was a blanket.
"I dunno. Six? Five? Who knows?" She felt something in her hair and went rigid at first. Then she realized it was Gippal's hand stroking her hair. She sighed happily. Just like old times. Except they were out in the middle of the ocean instead of the middle of Bikanel Desert.
"How come you left?" She managed out, still awake because of the sunlight making its way through her closed eyelids.
"It just sounded…fishy how no boat went to Bevelle, ya know? I guess the board made a mistake…" He was silent after this, and Rikku knew he was far from being convinced.
"I don't think so." Rikku said for him. "I think something's weird about that boat driver. He-he didn't say no until he looked at Athilda…" Rikku yawned again. "It looked like…looked like she had shaken her head."
She rubbed at an eye sleepily, looking like a young five year old. Gippal smiled down at her and continued to stroke her hair gently. "I'll remember that Rikku."
………
Gippal may have acted relaxed, but he was far from it. Something weird was going on. Him and Rikku were being chased by a mad man, people were being kidnapped, Athilda had some strange talent, and they were now on a boat being driven by a drunkard who would probably send them all to their death. Not to mention he was on a boat.
"The things I do for you, Rikku." He mumbled. He wasn't just going to Bevelle to meet Baralai. He knew staying in the temple there would be good protection from any harm. At least for a little while. So he was sort of thankful he could kill two birds with one stone…
But there was just something about Athilda…something that made him very suspicious…
He sighed and rested his own head on top of Rikku's golden one. He closed his eye and shivered as sea spray tickled the back of his neck. It was a little scary here.
But for some reason, not as much as the last boat. Probably because this boat held more people then just him and Rikku and some weird Al Bhed. It held innocent parents and children, elders and teens. He knew nothing too bad would happen whilst they were surrounded by innocent people.
What was it about those three Al Bhed that was so creepy anyway? Gippal wondered. Other than the fact they tried to kill us…I wonder why…
He knew perfectly well why, but he was just too tired to think. Soon his mind drifted off into the dreamland everybody knew and loved. The one with cotton candy trees and gingerbread houses. With a contented smile Gippal drifted off to sleep, his hand still clutching Rikku's.
………
They make such a good couple. Athilda thought. She sat opposite the couple on another row of benches. Shrieking children ran past her, and an old couple beside her were twittering away about how Rikku and Gippal reminded them of themselves when they were young.
Athilda gave a small smile. She was so close. So close to achieving her goal. But it was a blackened goal—it was evil and twisted. But the prize meant so much to her.
She would do what she needed to do. After all, she didn't even know Sir Gippal and Lady Rikku! Whereas her sister…well, that's a different story. She loved her sister with all of her heart.
She deserved to get her back.
…
Right?
But was this the right way? She just…just didn't know. Her mind was filled with thoughts and words. She knew it was useless to pray to Yevon. Yevon hadn't helped her when her sister had been kidnapped. Yevon didn't help her when she was given the strange magic that caused her parents to hate her. Yevon didn't help her when she was told to do such an evil thing to save her sister.
It was just too confusing. She decided to take one step at a time.
First things first: to go to the boat driver and tell him he did the right thing. After all, she hadn't been expecting a poster there with the times. She was stupid for not thinking about it, but luckily she knew the boat driver. Luckily, he was in the same boat as her.
No pun intended.
With a swish of her robes she stood up, brushing the stray hairs away from her face and giving a loud sigh.
Things will all work out in the end… She thought, looking over at the sleeping Gippal and Rikku. She couldn't help but smile again. They looked so peaceful and happy together. But then she frowned, realizing she could ruin that happiness.
They must.
A/N: …No comment. And by the way, once again, you are not supposed to understand EVERYTHING Athilda is saying. You probably already do because I suck at plots, but hey. Review please!
