Disclaimer: I do not own the song '1000 Words'.
Hm. Another chapter, and much quicker than usual. Inspiration strikes again. Ah well, on to the replies.
ShadowStar05: Thanks.
Iron Reaver: Yeah, that was quite the amusing conversation. And my stereo is gimped now...thanks a ton...
Gester: If you really stop to think about it, once you have relatively powerful characters for the fights that ensue, I.E. Geosgaeno, and become good at the mini games, it IS pretty easy to acquire them. Just a little time-consuming. And as I said before, what do butterfly chases and chocobos have to do with the most powerful weapons in Spira?
MysticSuperSaiyanGohan: It's coming soon enough, don't worry.
desert-tiger: I hope it'll be interesting enough as to how he gets it and what it is. It won't be very long now.
Now that that's over with, onwards to the chapter!
Chapter 31—Where I Belong
"Well, kiddies, we're here. Macalania Woods." Cid says, and I look up, sheathing my sword again. My examination of it has been going on for the past 10 or 15 minutes now, and my mind is in a state of confusion.
'I feel...I feel as though I belong more here than in my world. But...would it really be right to stay? I can't just leave everyone that I know back home to stay, but...I can't just leave Rikku.'
"Are you coming, Ben?" Tidus asks, tapping me on the shoulder.
"Huh? Oh, yeah. Sorry. Zoned out there for a minute." I say, standing up and walking out, towards the airship exit.
When I get outside, I recognize the area. It's the place with one of the biggest trees in the forest, near the pond. Probably the prettiest place in Macalania Forest. Smiling a little, I walk over towards a secluded area, and stare out over the tranquil waters.
'I don't know what to do. Do I stay, or do I go...how will everyone take it? How will Rikku react? I just don't know...'
"What's wrong?" A voice behind me snaps me out of my thoughts.
"Oh, hey Yuna. It's...well, I'm not really even sure, to tell you the truth." I reply. She scared me a little; I didn't even hear her walk up behind me.
"Do you want to talk?" she asks, and I contemplate the offer for a moment, before nodding silently.
"I...I don't know where I belong. I feel like I belong back home, with my family and friends, but I also feel like I belong here, that I'd be happier here...but I don't know. I'm so confused right now..." I trail off, looking from Yuna to the lake, and back again.
"Follow your heart, Ben." she says, and I look her in the eyes.
"Follow your heart, huh...how ironic...my heart's the one thing I can't follow." I say, chuckling a little.
Walking over, Yuna puts a hand on my shoulder. "You can. You just don't know how yet." she says, before turning and walking off.
"Maybe...maybe you're right." I say softly to myself, looking back over the lake. It's amazing how much talking can help. Just talking that short time with her has made me feel better.
I don't really know why, but I feel like singing. To be more precise, singing 1000 Words. This is the first song that's coming to my mind, so may as well go along with it. I usually don't sing much, unless I'm alone, but I don't really care right now.
It's a little strange, though. I can hear the melody in my mind, but it's almost as if I can hear it out loud too. I can hear my voice, carried out over the open expanse of the lake too, but the melody seems to be there, more so than the sound of my singing.
I'I can hear the melody...that's definitely it...but no one should know about this song but me...unless...' My thoughts during the last part are broken by the melody moving into the chorus. As I continue to sing, and the chorus ends, I take a moment to think during the instrumental part.
"What is going on?" I say softly to myself. I can hear the melody clearly, as if someone were playing it right beside me. "Wait, if the melody is here, does that mean..." I trail off, smiling softly. Continuing to sing, I'm pleasantly surprised to hear Lenne's voice singing with me. Despite how unusual this seems to me, I don't stop singing, and pretty soon finish the last chorus, before taking a moment to gather my thoughts.
As the melody fades, I find myself staring in disbelief over the crystal waters of the lake. The entire melody was just played along with the words to the song. But, no one was around to play it, and to say the least, no one should know it.
"Lenne...was that your doing...? Wait a minute...it had to be. She was just singing with me, it had to be her work...but how...she's in the Farplane...it doesn't make sense." I mutter to myself. "Maybe my being here affects more than I originally thought. Maybe it affects the Farplane too...I don't know..." Shaking my head, I try to clear the thoughts away, when I hear a noise behind me. Turning, I see Yuna standing at the edge of the path, clapping softly.
"That was nice. I didn't know you could sing." she says, and I suddenly go red, realizing she had been listening the entire time.
"You...were listening...?" I stammer, almost embarrassed. Yuna just nods, and I feel myself going even redder.
"Don't be embarrassed...you sing quite nicely. But...who was singing with you? I didn't see anyone. And, for that matter, where was the music coming from?" she asks, and I snap back into reality.
"Honestly, I don't know where the music was coming from." I tell her, though leaving out my speculations. "And as for who was singing with me...you'll know later." I say, smiling a little and walking off, leaving Yuna staring at me with a confused look.
"Did Yuna come this way?" Tidus asks, as I walk back towards the group. Nodding, I point towards the lake, and he nods. "Thanks." he says, walking towards her. Stopping, and turning, I decide to listen in. I have a penchant for eavesdropping, it seems. Standing, or floating, in the middle of the lake, Yuna turns after hearing Tidus approach, but turns back to the lake. Tidus walks into the water as well, moving beside Yuna, as she begins to speak.
"I always thought that this would be easier somehow. I thought that everyone would help me...with all my new friends together beside me. I've been trying so hard."
"Maybe you're trying too hard." Tidus says, looking out over the lake. "They told me...everything." Yuna looks at Tidus, slightly startled.
"Everything?" she asks, Tidus nodding. "Well, so then...you know."
"Yeah." he says, looking at her. "I'm sorry." Yuna also turns to face him, as he continues. "It's just, you know, all those things I said. Like, 'Let's go get Sin!', or about Zanarkand...I didn't know what would happen to you, Yuna. I guess...I hope it didn't make you sad. Forgive me."
"I wasn't sad." she says. "I was happy." Tidus looks at her for a moment longer, before diving underwater. A moment later, he resurfaces, a few feet from her.
"Yuna. Just don't do it."
"The pilgrimage?" she asks, and he nods.
"Yeah. That's right. Forget all about Sin, about being a summoner. Forget all that. You know, live a normal life. Come on now, Yuna, what do you say?" Yuna thinks for a moment, before looking at Tidus.
"Maybe I will." she replies, and Tidus looks a little shocked.
"Huh?" he asks, swimming back up to her.
"Wouldn't everyone be surprised?" she asks.
"Yeah." Tidus agrees. "Except Rikku. She'd be with you. Lulu and Wakka wouldn't hold out long."
"Kimahri would say yes, too, I know. But Sir Auron..." she trails off, Tidus looking at her.
"I'll make him understand, Yuna. It's the least I can do for you."
"No, I should tell him." she says, shaking her head softly. "He deserves it." Laying back on the water, and beginning to float, Yuna looks up at the sky. "What'll I do if I give up my pilgrimage?" she asks, Tidus appearing to think for a moment, before looking at her.
"Hey! Zanarkand! Let's go to Zanarkand!" he says, Yuna giving him an odd look. "Not the one in Spira, the one I'm from. Yeah, we can all fly there! Everyone can go! Then we'll have a big party at my place!" Tidus says, starting to get excited.
"And then we could see blitzball!" Yuna says, moving back to a standing position in the water.
"Yeah!" Tidus exclaims, smiling at Yuna.
"Your Zanarkand Abes would play! We could all watch you play, in the stadium all lit up at night! I'd cheer and cheer until I couldn't cheer anymore!" Yuna says, sounding quite happy.
"Right on!" Tidus agrees.
"Well, what about after the game?" Yuna asks, voice quiet again.
"We'd go out and have fun!" Tidus replies.
"In the middle of the night?"
"No problem! Zanarkand never sleeps! Let's go to the sea, before the sunrise. The city lights go out, one by one. The stars fade...then the horizon glows, almost like it's on fire. It's kinda rose-colored, right? First in the sea, then it spreads to the sky, then to the whole city. It gets brighter and brighter, till everything glows. It's really...pretty. I know you'd like it." Tidus says, painting quite a beautiful picture with words.
"I'd like to see it, someday." Yuna says softly.
"Well, you can, Yuna. We can both go!" he says, as a faint ripple hits the area around them. "Yu...?" he says, noticing Yuna's head held down now, shoulders shaking a little, as she sobs.
"I can't. I just can't! I can't go!" she exclaims, crying harder now. Tidus walks over to her, and puts a hand on each of her shoulders.
"Yuna." he says, softly, Yuna looking up at him, before he pulls her into a passionate kiss. Yuna doesn't resist, and they go underwater, Yuna wrapping her arms around Tidus as they sink into the lake. Smirking, I walk back to the others, humming softly to myself.
"Rikku...can I talk to you? Alone?" I ask, as I enter the clearing where everyone else is.
"Sure..." she says, standing up and following me, as I walk over to another secluded part of the forest. "So, what's on your mind?" she asks, and I sigh.
(Play FF8 theme Where I Belong)
"Rikku...when we beat Sin...I'm going to have to make a choice. Stay here...or go back where I belong." I say, looking over at her, before turning away. "I don't know what to do. Here...I have friends, people who I can trust. Back home, I have family, people I care about more than anything else in the world...but no life I'd like to lead."
"Well...what do you want to do? That's more important than anything. You have to do what you think is right, you know?" she says, and I turn back to her.
"I want...I want to stay here. I want to be here, with you, and everyone else. But...I can't just leave my family behind. Rikku...I love you, more than I've loved anyone else. I just can't leave you behind either...but I might have to. I hope you can forgive me." I say, almost ready to cry myself.
"Ben...I love you too...but if you feel like you want to leave, that's your choice. I'll still love you...no matter what you choose to do." she tells me, and I smile, walking up to her.
"Thank you." I say, before pulling her into a kiss, Rikku embracing me as well.
'I wish this moment wouldn't end...I've finally found happiness, and might have to leave it behind. But...there are some things you just have to do.' I think, before breaking the kiss.
(End FF8 theme Where I Belong)
Walking back to the clearing, I notice Yuna and Tidus walking back as well, holding hands. Yuna stops, before looking at all of us, turning to each one as she speaks.
"Sir Auron? Wakka? Lulu? Kimahri? Rikku? Ben? Everyone, we leave at dawn. And...I'm sorry for putting you through all of this. And...um..." she says, Auron cutting her off by walking over to her.
"Enough. You need your rest." he tells her, and I look up, to notice it's getting dark. The trees' shade mimics the darkness of the evening, so it's somewhat hard to tell sometimes when it's late.
"Yes. Good night." she says, walking over to a small area of the grassy clearing, and lying down. Everyone else does much the same, and I yawn, finding a small spot, and lying down.
'I hope everything goes alright...I really do...' I think, before falling off to sleep.
Well, onwards to the Calm Lands, legendary weapons, and the foot of Mount Gagazet! As always, please review!
