Tori: Heya, well we're now writing the third story in my fiction, the Paine and Baralai! Well unfortunately not as much romance than with the other couples (Plus there's some NoojxLeBlanc) Well bare with me because I'm planning to do a lot more with these two couples in the fourth story. PLUS you see this story's rating may go up a little, I don't know because some of the stuff in here is kind of adult content! Oi though, I had to cut a whole bunch of stuff out of this fic, kinda like editing for a movie LOL. It was thirty pages long so now it's twenty...
Rikku: ToriTsubasa does not own FFX2!
Tori: Thanks Rikku, now:
:- to end and begin the fic
- Switch to where someone is and/or change of P.O.V
()-- - Author commentary
NOTE: PLEASE READ! This story may not fallow how you played the game, I'm writing this fiction with the story that:
1)in FFX you beat the Luca Goers as Tidus and the Aurochs,
2) in FFX2 you sided with the Youth League
4) FFX2: you are champions of the Blitzball season (chapter 5)
5) You received Lady Luck, Trainer and the Mascot Dresspheres (Yes I know they are hard to get but somehow I did! all proud... even though it took me four games)
"Oh Meyvn Nooj, such a nice day isn't it, lovely weather for a 'special' time of year?" She greeted him and then looked down at her clip-board.
"Really, I haven't had time to admire it," Came his calm reply, although he still wasn't sure what she meant by 'special time of year'.
"Yes it's quite beautiful outside, too bad we couldn't enjoy it more but duty calls, here a sphere came to you this morning," Lucil handed it to him rather excited and then nearly ran off to continue her duties.
Nooj stared at where her form had once been sincerely worried about her well-being, she was rather full of energy most of the time but not like now, she was like a babbling school girl!
He sighed, entered his office and sat down, looking at the sphere Lucil had placed in his hands. He shook his head smiling somewhat as he played the LeBlanc Syndicate sphere.
LeBlanc's blonde face came onto the sphere, she smiled at him then waved. The sphere became a little lopsided and she glared at the camera-man and it automatically straightened out.
"For god's sake you buffoon can't you do anything right!" LeBlanc snapped and then looked back into the camera, "Hello Love, I hope this got to you in time, you see one of my Fem's found this strange sphere and we wanted you to come and see it. I'll expect you Saturday evening 6 o'clock sharp, Bye-Bye!" The sphere cut out with a loud buzzing noise.
"Well I can't exactly say no to that can I?" Nooj asked himself aloud and then placed it onto his desk, Saturday was tomorrow and it was too late to decline.
He once again thought about how weird everyone had been acting since that blonde Al Bhed Gullwing had arrived a few days ago. Almost every time he walked into a room someone always seemed to ask him how he was doing, or what he thought of the weather, someone even asked him what his favorite color was!
Baralai, his P.O.V
I stifled a yawn as I flipped through my schedule for the next week, I was almost booked full of work and meetings. Across the room a knock sounded on my office door, I got up to open the door wondering who it was. Just as my hand touched the knob the door opened to have me barely enough space to not be flattened against the wall by the force.
"Y-Yes?" I asked half in shock as I saw a tall thin man whom I'm sure I've seen before, I just can't remember where, he was at least half a head taller then I was.
"Praetor Baralai, I presume?" He questioned looking down at me with a look of disapproval on his face.
I simply ignored that expression and desperately tried to remember where I've seen him, I stepped out of the way so he could come into the office and then closed the door behind him.
"Yes, and can I ask who you are?" I replied going back behind my desk, I hoped he wasn't some guy who had come to complain about something.
"My name is Logos, my boss LeBlanc would like me to give you an invitation to Meyven Nooj's Birth-date Party." He told me in a formal and cold voice, he sure seemed to dislike me greatly...
"Um, I'm really sorry but I'm fairly busy for the next little while-" I started to tell him but he cut me off rudely.
"The boss will not accept a 'no'," With that he handed me a piece of paper with the LeBlanc Syndicate imprint on it and then left my office yelling at one of my guards to get out of his way.
I was literally at a loss for words, I stood there with the letter in my hand and I'm sure a look of question on my face. After a few moments of complete silence I sat down at my desk, opening the letter.
Praetor Baralai,
You are hereby invited to Meyven Nooj's Birthday Party at the Guadosolam mansion this coming Saturday at 5:00. Presents are optional. We hope to see you there.
The LeBlanc Syndicate
"Knowing LeBlanc she'd be after my head if I refused, but what am I going to do?" I thought aloud as I looked to tomorrow in the small booklet, I needed to be at a meeting with Rin about the Machina in the thunder plains...
I got up again, walked over to the small desk to my right and picked up the Commsphere and hooked it up to Djose Temple.
Where Gippal is his P.O.V
"Huf dra nayldun luna ec vneat cu fa haat du-"(Now the reactor core is fried so we need t-) I was cut off suddenly when that stupid Commsphere began to beep, I rolled my eyes and told Dasa to wait a moment while I answered it.
Ever since Shinra allowed other Commsphere's to access mine this stupid thing has never stopped ringing. I knew it couldn't be the Gullwings because I was sure they were still in Besaid.
"Hello?" I asked not bothering to hide the annoyed tone in my voice.
"Hi Gippal, Love!" Came a familiar voice, I groaned as video came on and LeBlanc's face came into view. "And what was that for?" She asked glaring.
Wow what is it, the SEVENTH TIME THIS BLOODY WEEK that she's contacted us, and REFUSED to leave a message?
"Well anyway I'm glad that I got a hold of you-" She started and I muttered 'I'm not'. "I'm throwing Noojie Woojie a birthday party you see and I wanted to invite you since you're a crimson member thingy like Noojie was." The way she used his pet name made me want to gag, man how he could stand this woman is beyond me...
"Sound's great what time and place?" I asked yawning out of sheer boredom.
"That's 5 tomorrow you hear, Guadosolam, you WILL be there," She gave me a menacing glare and I chuckled.
"Chill out 'Blanc, I'll have to check with-"
"The Gullwings will be there"
Sigh, persistant..."OK, I suppose Dasa can take over for one night,"
"I knew you'd see it my way," She smiled and then shut off the Commsphere and I did too, somehow I feel that I've just been played...
I walked back to where Dasa was and explained the situation to him, he didn't seem to pleased to be in charge for a whole day on his own but I reminded him what LeBlanc was like.
"Drehg uv ed yc y bayla dnyta," I said with a smirk and he chuckled and shrugged, turning around and walking over to someone who was working on the experiment machina that the Gullwings had defeated for the fifth time a few weeks ago. (Trans: Think of it as a peace trade)
The Commsphere began to beep again and I threw it a glare hoping it would stop ringing. After about the seventh beep I finally went up to it and turned it on while saying "What now LeBlanc?" irritably.
"Got to you too did she?" Came Baralai's voice and then his smiling face came onto the visual. I chuckled.
"Sorry about that navigator, what's up?" I asked kneeling downto his level to talk with him.
"What are you going to do, are you going?"
I nodded, I really wanted to tell him about Rikku and I but Dasa was getting impatient.
"What about you, did LeBlanc try to contact you for a good week, annoying anyone who picked it up?" He scratched the back of his head nervously.
"Er, no but this guy named Logos burst into my office telling me I couldn't refuse," He answered with a sigh. "I noticed he didn't like me much either..."
I laughed again and quickly explained that Logos didn't like him because he'd been possessed by Shuyin and tried to vaporize Spira.
"Hey that's not 'my' fault! Shuyin was controlling me, I didn't have any way to stop it!" He scowled and I shrugged. "I guess I'll go then, do you think the Gullwings are going to be there?" He added blushing slightly, I slapped myself mentally, I'd forgotten Baralai had a small crush on Dr. P.
"Yeah she'll be there, but don't make a complete fool out of yourself," I laughed as he turned beet red.
"Ha, ha, ha. So I'll see you there I have to get a hold of Rin to cancel our meeting tomorrow so I can go." I said goodbye then turned the comm-sphere off.
I wondered if he ever missed being on speaking levels with the others, I sure did. I sort of wanted to see them all again, talk face to face like we used too, geesh since when did I become so damn soft?
On the celcius Paine's P.O.V
"Please, pretty please?" Whined Rikku and I rolled my eyes, turning away from her, crossing my arms across my chest in aggravation.
"That's 30 respect points Rikku," I warned dangerously, hopefully that stopped her constant begging and she did, her body drooped and she put on a pouting face.
The Al Bhed blonde was trying to get me to go to the stupid birthday party and my decision stood as 'NO'. Why would I want to go to Nooj's birthday party, he probably didn't even know about it. Then will be furious with LeBlanc for setting him up... Even thought it would be entertaining to watch that self-centered git fall in her high glory.
"Come on Paine, the invitation said you should be there, I mean it's sort of a reunion." Yuna tried to reason but I refused to listen to either of them, I was NOT going.
"Since when have I ever listened to what people say I should do?" I asked raising my eyebrow at her, skeptically.
"Wow, you are no fun Paine," Tidus said sending me a soft smile, I simply glared back at him as if daring him to speak once again.
"Paine I am captain and I say you go!" Brother spoke up jumping from the drivers seat and walking over.
"You still want to be alive in three minutes, if so then I suggest you crid ib (Shut up)!" I snapped and then walked up the stairs and onto the elevator, I needed to get away from all of that.
Instead of going up to the deck I went down to the engine room and down the stairs. For a long while I stood there and then I walked up and touched the amazing engine smiling softly.
If it would of happened like we had imagined, Gippal would probably be down here commenting how he'd been the one to fix this baby up... not Buddy... Baralai would be up in the bridge searching for where we were to go next, Nooj would be doing exactly what Gippal had suggested, looking important but really doing nothing... And me? I'd probably be talking to Baralai asking him where we were supposed to go...
When I was a part of the crimson squad the four of us were so happy, we became so close that they mentioned separating us for getting too attached. But those were the most wonderful days of my life, I would never forget that one day on the ship, my sphere, Paine's Sphere... (Sorry if it's not exact)
We were all on the boat and the ship was sailing along calmly, we'd been talking about what we wanted to do with our lives.
"So what do you have to do for fun?" Asked Gippal pointing the sphere at me. "Any Idea's Dr.P?"
"I want to find that ship you were talking about," I had said to Gippal
"One that glides through the air, I'd love to ride on it,"
"Then that makes you pilot, and I'll try my hand at navigation!" said Baralai
"I'd be the engineer," Said Gippal and then he pointed the sphere at Nooj.
"What about you Noojster?" Asked Gippal and Baralai joined in.
We all walked closer to the soon-to-be Meyvn as if boxing him in, an idea struck me and I quickly voiced my opinion. "Captain,"
"You'd let an armature be captain?" He had asked.
"Hey no problem Noojster, just stand there, shut up and look important, you'll fit the part," Gippal spoke up.
"Like a glove," I agreed with a smile, there was a silence where he looked at us sceptically and then he tried to say with the straightest face:
"I'll work you all like dogs!" With that we laughed and it was the end of that memory...
I smiled, brought myself back to reality, sat down and unconsciously began to hum the 'Hymn of the Faith'...
I suppose the reason I didn't want to go to that party was because every time I saw one of them or all of us were together it brought back painful memories. Things I just wanted to forget, sometimes I want to go back and end it a different way, and others I just want to erase that chapter from my mind forever...
I smiled sadly... Could I ever forget, could Gippal, Nooj, or even Baralai? Could we have gotten where we are today without each other, without meeting and becoming friends? I doubt it...
I remember talking to Baralai once, (he was a close friend in the crimson squad) and telling him he'd make a great leader, that they all would (Maybe not as much Gippal but hey look at where he is now?).
I was right, Gippal; leader of the machine faction, Nooj; Meyven of the Youth League, Baralai; Preator of New Yevon and then me... I never wanted, and still don't want to be a leader. If it meant knowing those three JUST as some guy I needed to meet with tomorrow or even an enemy I was happy being in the middle. I don't think Nooj cared, but Baralai must of been a little torn when he found out he'd be against a former friend... Although he wasn't too hesitant to point his gun at Nooj and demand why he had shot us.
I thought about my conversation with Nooj during Vidina's party, he'd brought up something I've been trying to forget, Baralai... the wall that holds the water from over-flowing. He was so polite, so untouchable, kind of like stone when you think about it. Like stone that people look up at, it shines but with the help of others, he never lived for himself since he became the preator.
Gippal is a lot more cocky now, I suppose that was his shield, he was acting a little like a jerk. The personality of some sort of a girl user, but Rikku and I saw through that with ease, so when you've known people for longer then a year (Unlike Yuna with the three) you can see through them.
That morning when we went to pick Rikku up from his place I could see the old Gippal shining through, he had told me about Rikku when we were in the squad, his description was almost on the dot, but that's what made them good for each other I suppose.
And then Nooj, at the end of that two years he had forgotten about being a death seeker, he had erased that mission from his time-table. Then he shot us and thought he didn't deserve to live anymore, so instead of dieing he dragged on in life as if frozen in time, immortal even...
He turned into a darkly shadowed Meyven, who always looked at the sun with a sense of loathing, he never thought he could appreciate it ever again like he did before. I kind of felt torn when I saw his sphere that Lucil had shot of him...
I stood up as I heard the elevator door open, I turned around just in time to see Tidus open the engine room door.
I didn't know Tidus vary well, all I knew was that he was once Yuna's guardian and defeated Sin with her. Also that along the pilgrimage they fell in love, he was a dream of the fayth and that I've never seen Yuna this happy before.
He was not in front of me, I looked right at him and raised my eyebrow and waited.
"Heya, um Yuna's been looking for you..." He told me nervously, I suppose it was a little awkward for him as well, I'd only just met him and now we were working together as sphere hunters. "So why don't you want to go to that party?" he asked and then quickly added in his defense; "Even though it's none of my business!"
"Answer me first; if you had someone who you used to know well, and even after years you still want to know them but it's better forgotten, can you throw away the memories and live on?" I wondered, "If you answer me then I'll tell you why I don't want to go," I was going out on a limb here, Yuna told me I should be a little more open to others...
"No, I don't think you can COMPLETELY throw them away. See... heh sorry I'm not making sense... Well what I mean to say is that if this person was once important in your life they always will be, even if they're gone or have moved on. I'm sure he'd like to get to know you again," He answered and then scratched the back of his head embarrassed.
Wait a minute why exactly did he say 'HE' would like to get to know me again?
"Have you watched the crimson sphere's?" I asked turning away from him so he couldn't see my face.
"Crimson...Spheres?" He asked curiously and then stepped closer towards me, I started for the exit and then yelled back;
"Ask Shinra for them, he'll show you!" Which reminded me of the present meant for Nooj, but I didn't think I could give it to him.
I walked into the cabin, up the stairs and onto the second level. Just as I'd sat down my arm gave off a pulse of pain that shot throughout my whole right side. I grasped just below my shoulder where the gash was and flinched as another wave was inflicted on my body.
When I was in Besaid I had in fact been hurt, not badly but the monster had cut my arm, I have reason to believe there's poison mixed in with the blood because the wound won't close.
I changed into a dress-sphere that didn't cover my arm; the Lady Luck (I barely ever use this dress-sphere but it had been the only dress-sphere I had needed to complete so I'm almost done it...) and cast my white mage ability 'cure' on it. The pain became so intense that it made my eyes water, but then it slowly dulled away. I was glad that no one had been in the room, I hated this dress-sphere, it made me look like some slut.
I was panting, probably from all the hurt this wound had just caused me, I quickly bandaged it and then turned back into my Default Dress-sphere.
I didn't exactly want to get into another fight over why I wasn't going to the party so I just stayed where I was absent-mindedly playing with the bottom of my wrap-around top. My mind was blank, I felt so tired that I just wanted to fall asleep, I closed my eyes and drifted off into darkness, not remembering when I had lain down...
The Dream (normal P.O.V)
Paine swerved down a corner in a long dark, dank place she'd never seen before, it was sort of like Bevelle Underground except almost every twenty steps there was a corner. It was like she was running around in circles, her lungs were empty, her breathing was labored. Still she kept running, as if someone's life depended on it, finally after more twists and turns in this labyrinth she reached a large dimly lit room.
Just as she took one step forward a icy cold blast of wind made contact with her body, her whole form elapsed into goose bumps but she didn't even notice. She was face to face with Baralai, Gippal and Nooj, all three were surrounded by pyerflies, just like before when Shuyin had controlled them. But they didn't even notice she was there, she willed herself to take a few more steps closer but the same wind blasted her face, herself in the dream closed her eyes, when she'd opened them the three had formed the same triangle they had when in the den of woe and in Bevelle.
Each pointed their gun at the next and waited for what seemed like an eternity, Paine tried to call out each name in turn.
"G...," She tried to call out 'Gippal' but her voice was gone from her, instead she just simply mouthed the word, 'Nooj' She mouthed and then took in a shallow breath, "Baralai!" Just as she'd cried his name three gunshot's erupted into her mind "NO!" Paine screamed.
She didn't actually see it being done because she was pulled out of her dream and sat bold upright. She was gasping for breath as if she's just been underwater for three minutes straight and was drenched in a cold shivering sweat.
Her mind raced, the gunshot sounded so real, her heart pounded, for minutes that was all she could hear, Paine was almost terrorized in fear.
"Mish Paine, arsh you OKs?" asked Barkeep who had just came up the stairs after hearing Paine yell.
"Y-Yeah, I'm OK, it was just a dream," Paine assured him breathlessly but more herself than anyone. "Damn it!" She yelled punching the comforter in aggravation, "That memory still haunts me," She went onto her back and glared up at the ceiling, suddenly the gunshot rang into her ears again and she ended up right back in the dream.
This time, however she saw that Baralai had been the one to start falling to the cold hard floor, her insides gave a small squirm and her heart jumped into her throat. Gippal and Nooj still stood, their guns lowered to their sides, all three were now staring at Baralai's dead body on the floor, crimson liquid poured from his chest and spread on the ground quickly. Paine started forward, somewhat surprised that the wind didn't stop her, but instead her arm began to bleed heavily. She kneeled there on the ground beside Baralai, once again clutching her arm and staring into Gippal's eyes, for some reason his eye-patch was gone to revile two perfectly dark, malicious; eyes and the same was with Nooj's.
'How could they?' she wanted to know and then she looked away from them and to Baralai, she felt her heart shattering.
Tears stung her eyes, the room became a blur and now a voice was becoming more hearable as the Airship was now in view, and so was Rikku and Yuna; both looking intensely worried.
"Paine, are you OK, what happened? You were shouting in your sleep and crying!" Rikku asked moving closer to her dear friend, her eyes shone with concern.
"I had a dream," Paine told them shortly, and then tried to get up but Yuna pulled her back down.
"You aren't getting off that easily!" Yuna said sternly, staring into Paine's crimson eyes with her own blue and green ones.
"Seriously, it was a dream," She repeated but Rikku and Yuna were far from convinced.
"More like a nightmare, Paine we've known you for long enough to know that you don't cry over 'a silly dream', and you looked terrorized!" Rikku commented, "Besides we'd tell you anything, come on Paine trust us a little!"
Paine sighed, seeing she couldn't exactly refuse she looked Rikku in the eyes.
"My dream was that someone was shot OK?" Paine told her the bare minimum, she didn't want to be hearing Rikku taunt her later about it.
"Oh, so someone killed Baralai?" Yuna asked and Paine stared at her shocked, how did she know?
Yuna giggled and explained to the confused Paine and Rikku.
"I went to go get Rikku after I heard you moaning in your sleep, you said something like 'No' and 'Baralai'"
Paine blushed and Rikku rounded on her, she shot Yuna a look out of the corner of her eye as Rikku began to ask her more questions.
"So who shot him!" Rikku asked curiously.
"Your boyfriend, and Nooj," Paine told them freely, suddenly feeling stupid for crying over such a pathetic dream.
"Gippal shot Baralai, I don't think ANYBODY would see that day, those two are like brothers!" Yuna commented and then looked at Paine sincerely, "Are you sure you're OK?" She wondered again and Paine nodded...
The next day (4:45 p.m) Baralai's P.O.V
I arrived in Guadosolam from the Thunder Plain's entrance and walked up to the old mansion. I stopped in front of it and walked off to the side just so I could look at it.
This was the place I had ran to after the Crimson Squad had been dismantled, I had worked for Seymour. Back then I had become less then human, my life was turned upside down, I was filled with anger towards what I didn't know. And I used that dark fuel to do the Measter's bidding. I was angered with Nooj, I asked myself over and over again why he had shot us? Why did he betray our trust? Why would he shoot Paine, HOW could he? My mind had once swarmed with these thoughts and I failed to see what I was doing to the rest of Spira. In truth, I didn't think I could trust anyone ever again, then I became the preator, I tried to erase my mistakes. I suppose I was a little to protective over Paine, I was mad at him because he shot HER, and then I couldn't believe that she joined up with the Youth League after everything he'd done to us. I was jealous...
No one knew of my mistakes but the four of us and Seymour, I was trying to force myself to forget about everything... It had worked and I lived my life trying to help those who needed guidance just like I had. I took on the job of being the one person that people relied on and it was only after that I realized I had made a mistake, I should not shelter people from the truth.
The day after two years of no word from her, Paine appeared in Bevelle with the Gullwings, she refused to look or even speak to me. It was as if I wasn't there. Then when I had tried to keep them away from Vegnagun she fought me, the way she looked at me pushed me back into the black pit I had dug not to long ago.
Again I was mad at Nooj, I blamed him when it in turn wasn't his fault, it wasn't anyone's. That was how Shuyin was able to control me and transfer himself into me from Nooj, now it was my fault. He used my anger and hate towards Nooj to easily get into my mind and control me. I blacked out and only came too when the girls had defeated Vegnagun.
I sighed, if only I could have seen my flaws when I was making them, then perhaps I could of destroyed Vegnagun along side her, instead of shielding it from her.
Although after Shuyin let go of his control over me Paine actually ran to my aid, I think it was then that I actually considered I really had more then just a crush on her, I probably could never say it though.
"Hello love!" came a voice that snapped me from my musings, I turned my attention to the blonde who was welcoming me and smiled sheepishly.
"Hello, nice to see you again," I replied nervously, although she didn't seem to notice, instead she ushered me inside the mansion and into the front room that was covered from floor to roof in decorations.
I knew LeBlanc had helped in the defeat of Vegnagun but I had never actually paid attention to her until now. I knew she and Nooj were now having dinner together but that was it... Gippal and Paine can't stand her.
There were already quite a few people there, including many I myself had once worked with in New Yevon. There was no more rivalry against the Youth League, they simply were the guardians of Spira and we were the law.
The Youth League was in charge of protecting Spira against fiends and those who broke the law and Bevelle (we didn't keep the name New Yevon we were now known as just Bevelle) ran Spira.
There are still fights between those who were once New Yevon and Youth League but I've been working hard with Nooj to sort these problems out, along with the Gullwings who are now more pacifists than sphere hunters.
Now we show everything to the public since we know that they have a right to see what is going on, I myself have had many interviews with the Luca news reporter Shelinda and told all of Spira myself what was going to happen with regards to the temples and such.
I squeezed through the small crowd to get into the main room, it wasn't as crowded and I searched for any sign of Gippal, even though knowing him he'd be late.
The room had been modified so that as soon as you entered there were many round tables with four chairs around them surrounding a stage that was to the left of the room. To your right there was a buffet table with fruit, meat and drinks. The table that was once in the middle of the room was gone and that part of the floor was empty probably for dancing.
A woman came up to me, she had long black hair that was done in a style of a bun with long strands of hair with black beads tying them near the end trailing down from the bun, she had a gray dress with belts across the front and grayish eyes.
"Excuse me, do you happen to know if the Gullwings will be attending this party?" She questioned in a calm and polite tone.
"Yes do you know them?" I answered hopefully.
"Yes, my husband and I helped raise Yuna and were also her guardians on her pilgrimage, along with Rikku," She told me and then smiled kindly. "My name is Lulu, nice to meet you,"
I remembered my manners and introduced myself.
"I'm sorry my name is Baralai, I-" I was going to say 'used to know' but instead said "know Paine,"
"Well thank-you for your time," with that she walked away and back towards a man with orange hair in an... interesting hair style.
I suddenly realized where I'd seen them before, when I was watching blitzball there was an interview with him in it. Wakka, he had retired from coaching the Besaid Aurochs two years ago, when they'd won the tournament that year.
Tori: OK Chappie number 1 complete stay tuned for the second!