Shadow of Darkness
Thank you beach-kitty, kingleby, Tamelia, and Cute-kitty2 for your wonderful reviews!
Chapter 2:
Rikku leaned against the ship's safety railing as if she could make it go faster by doing so. The little island of Besaid was peeking at her over the horizon. She groaned. The ship was taking its own sweet time, she was certain.
"If Brother and Buddy still had the airship, I'd be there already! I would've been there hours ago," she whined to herself. But no. They had to gamble it in Rin's new game, Sphere Break. And they lost it to whom else but Gippal, who always seemed to be good at anything that had the potential to make her miserable.
She paced the deck for a minute or so before looking out to see again. Well, at least Besaid seemed to be getting closer as the minutes passed. She'd fantasized that it would turn out that the longer they sailed towards the island, the further it would go. A true nightmare.
It was half an hour later when Rikku finally disembarked at the Besaid dock. "Yunie!" she squealed, running in a wobbly fashion over to her cousin and embracing her cousin and best friend.
Yuna laughed and hugged her back. "It's good to see you."
"You too! Let's get to town! I want to see Wakka and Lulu and little Vidina! Oh, and Tidus too." She took a few shaky steps forward. "Ugh… sea legs- I forgot about them."
"Well, now you can 'shakey-shake' your way to the village," Yuna teased.
"Not funny," she said, but she giggled anyway.
Both girls grinned, running across the beach.
"Last one there is a chocobo turd!" Rikku shouted, bolting through the tropical wooded area.
"Cheater!" Yuna raced after her.
''''
"Yuna!" Wakka tore down the sandy trail, meeting the girls halfway to the village. His brow was arched up in a tight peak, his eyes wide, giving him a panic-stricken expression.
"What is it Wakka?" Rikku asked, chewing her lip. He looked awful and, though she thought Wakka was a bit of a spaz, he never went this nuts over something. Whatever he had to say, it could not be good.
"Yes, what's wrong?" Yuna asked worriedly.
"I-it's Tidus!" he managed to force out through his gasps of breath.
Yuna's hand fluttered to her mouth as she gasped. "What's wrong?"
It was evident to Rikku by the fear in Yuna's eyes that she had remembered how he had disappeared after Sin's defeat. She knew Yuna wouldn't be able to handle it if he disappeared again.
"Tell me, Wakka!"
"That's the problem. I don't know, ya?" Wakka shook his head. "He just collapsed. And by the looks of it, something is seriously wrong, ya know?"
Rikku seized her cousin's arm and started dragging her down the path. "Come on, Yuna. Let's hurry!" The two girls raced after Wakka to the village.
"He'll be there, Yunie," Rikku told her reassuringly. He had to be.
"I hope so… I'm always so scared that one day… I'll go to look for him and he'll be gone again." She shook her head. "Maybe it's selfish, but I don't want to let him go again! I want to be happy for once."
"You should be happy. You deserve it more than any of us. And, if someone disagrees, just point him out to me! I'll set 'im straight." Rikku grinned. "Or I'll get Paine to do it."
Yuna managed a small laugh. "Thanks, Rikku."
When they reached the village- which, Rikku was surprised to see, had almost doubled in size since Vegnagun's defeat just six months ago- Wakka led them to his and Lulu's humble abode. "He's inside."
Yuna grabbed Rikku's hand, squeezing almost to the point of crushing it.
"Everything will be fine," Rikku said, wincing. As much as she wanted to though, she didn't ask her cousin to released her iron grip. The girl needed some sort of comfort.
Yuna reached for the door flap hesitantly. As she did, it opened from the inside and Tidus stepped out. She dropped Rikku's hand, and her jaw slightly, in surprise. "You're all right then? Wakka told me you collapsed."
"Ya, I thought you had something serious!" Wakka added, clapping the young man on the shoulder.
Even Rikku was stunned to see him up and about. Wakka had panicked as though Tidus would never walk, or something as serious.
Tidus nodded, rubbing his neck absently, as he so often did. "Yeah, I guess I just tripped," he said sheepishly.
"Oh, good! I was so worried that you'd…" Yuna drifted off.
He took her hands and smiled knowingly. "I'm not going anywhere. Oh, hey Rikku."
"Hey." She smiled but it was only slightly. Something was wrong. She felt it deep in her gut, but it puzzled her. Tidus' answer hadn't satisfied her. After all, Wakka wouldn't have freaked out as he had over a mere stumble. Something had been seriously wrong with him!
Lost in this mystery, she didn't know Tidus was talking to her until he jabbed her shoulder. "Anybody home in there?"
"What? Oh… oh, yeah."
He gave her a peculiar look- one she got often from Paine, unfortunately. "Care to come in with the rest of us?"
Rikku glanced around, finally noticing that, indeed, everyone was gone! "Oh! Well… move on over, lover boy!" She laughed and scooted past him, purposely ramming into his shoulder. The moment she touched him, she felt a cold chill trickle down her back. It felt wrong, dark… It was like-
"You okay Rikku? This is the second time you zoned out in like… 2 minutes," Tidus said.
She looked up at him and tried to smile. She had a feeling it looked more like a grimace. "I'm fine."
"Hey Rikku," Yuna called from the table in the middle of the room. "Come look at what Wakka's planned for tonight."
She moved carefully away from Tidus and trotted over to Yuna, peering over her shoulder at the scattered notes. "Ooooh, maybe we can ask him to include a concert, courtesy of our very own Gullwing Yunie!"
"Don't you dare!"
Tidus came over, grinning hugely at the comment. "A concert from Yuna, huh? Sounds perfect to me. I've yet to see you perform."
"Now look what you've done!" Yuna complained. "No way, no how, not ever!"
''''
"I don't know how you managed to talk me into this," Yuna muttered to Rikku, worrying the white silk swags of fabric that draped over her left hip.
Rikku grinned, sporting her own songstress garment. "Oh, come on," she said, dancing around Yuna's small home excitedly. "You know you love it! Besides, I'll be your backup dancer. So you have nothing to worry about." She grabbed her cousin's arm. "Let's go! Your adoring fans are waiting!"
"Wait… wait… just a minute… You go out there. I… I'm not ready!"
She arched a brow and dropped her cousin's arm. "All right… you don't have to be nervous though, you've done it before!" she said in a singsong tone. "But if you're not out in five minutes, I'm coming in and dragging you out. By your ankles!"
Yuna laughed. "Okay, okay. I'll be out in five, I promise."
With a grin, Rikku turned and flounced out the door.
Already the entire village flocked to the fire pit near the Temple of Yevon. A huge bonfire roared. Lighting was set up on the last landing of the rarely visited temple- the stage for her and Yuna. Looking around further, Rikku discovered Wakka tending to the food while his son Vidina scooted around his ankles.
Rikku headed over to Wakka, scooping little Vidina into her arms. "Nice party!" she shouted over the crackling fire. Vidina tugged fiercely at one of her many braids and she winced. "Strong kid too!"
Wakka looked up and grinned. "Thanks." He glanced past her. "Where's Yuna?'
"She's still getting ready. I think she's nervous."
"I would be too, ya?"
Rikku grinned. "Especially in that short skirt, tubby." They laughed.
"Care for a fish?" He held up one that was very well done- burnt, in fact.
"I'll wait. Don't wanna jump around on stage with food in my belly."
She glanced around and noticed with a frown that Yuna still hadn't come out. Honestly! She had nothing to worry about! "I'm gonna get Yunie. Be back in a bit!" she set Vidina down and headed back towards Yuna's place. Just seconds before she reached it, she heard a scream from inside. Her insides went cold. "Yunie!"
She threw open the doorflap and gasped in horror at the sight before her. Sprawled on the floor was Yuna… and sitting on his knees over her with hands clasped firmly around her neck, was Tidus! Yuna clawed desperately at his hands, but his grip wouldn't give. Realization hit Rikku. He was going to kill her!
"Yunie!" she screeched again, rushing over. "Tidus, what are you doing!?"
He didn't answer.
"Tidus!" she screamed.
His face was blank but his eyes burned darkly. Rikku seized his arm and yelped in terror at the tremendous force of utter, total wrong, black hatred and rage, filled her. But she didn't let go. Yuna's life depended on it! Slamming her heels into the floor, she leaned back and pulled his arm with all her might. It wouldn't budge. He seemed to have acquired the strength of ten men. Yuna's face was turning a violent shade of purple and her struggles became weaker.
"Yunie! Tidus, stop it!" Rikku shouted. "You're killing her!" She kicked him hard, but he didn't flinch. "Tellud," ::Dammit,:: she whimpered, shaking the pain in her foot out.
A weapon. She needed a weapon. Unfortunately everything useful that she owned was not within ready reach and Yuna needed help now! She whirled, scanning the room wildly for something, anything, that would stop him. A chair! Seizing it firmly in both hands, she whirled and, throwing her whole body into it, smashed the chair across Tidus' head. The entire seat of the chair, legs and all, broke off from the force and went flying across the room. Finally, he collapsed, unconscious, at Yuna's side.
Rikku stood there for a moment, taking quick shallow breaths from her exertion. What happened? What the hell happened? Her gasps became quaky and she realized that she was trembling. Her heart beat so madly she thought it would beat straight out of her chest. She had been so frightened! Even Sin and Vegnagun combined hadn't given her this much of a scare. She looked down at Tidus' limp form. Blood trickled into his hair and dripped sluggishly to a little puddle on the floor. Rikku felt her insides were like jelly.
"It's okay… it's okay," she told herself, gripping her arms to her chest. "I can cure him… somewhat." But Yuna needed help first. "He- he can wait." She turned. "Yuna, are you all ri-" Her cousin was sprawled motionless on the floor. She dropped to her knees and shook Yuna's shoulder. "Y-Yunie? Yunie, come on, wake up!" She shook her again. "Wake up, this isn't funny!"
She rocked back onto her heels and gave a small, relieved gasp to see that Yuna's chest was moving in shallow breaths. She was still alive! Her fingers itched with the bit of white magic she knew and she placed a hand on Yuna's forehead. "I hope this works." She muttered the word for her strongest curative spell. Blinding colors blossomed in the air around Yuna's body. But something unexpected happened. As the light enveloped Yuna, a black aura flickered close to her skin like an ominous dark fog.
"Yunie…?" Tears glittered in her eyes. What was wrong!? Jumping to her feet, she ran from Yuna's home.
"Help!" she screamed over the noise of the celebration. "Help! It's Yuna!"
Lulu and Wakka rushed over and the crowd, quiet now, was filled with a low, concerned murmur.
"What is it, Rikku?" Lulu said.
"I-it's Yuna!" she managed to choke out as the past events finally caught up with her, moving her to near hysterical tears. "Tidus! He- he," she gulped
"What is it!?" Wakka demanded.
"He tried to kill Yunie!" she cried.
The villagers fell silent. Rikku covered her face with her hands to block the confused, uncertain stares.
Lulu took Rikku's arm. "Take us to her," she said in a low, firm voice.
She nodded, with a hiccup, and led Lulu and Wakka to the scene. "Inside."
They slipped in and went to inspect Yuna first. Red fingerprints had begun to appear around her neck.
"So… he tried to strangle her?" Lulu murmured. Rikku nodded. "Why?"
"I don't know. I didn't think he'd ever hurt Yuna…" Rikku said with a sniffle, reaching out to touch her limp arm. The strange black aura flashed around her cousin again and she drew in a sharp breath, yanking her hand back.
"What is it?"
"N-nothing." She shivered. What did she keep seeing? Didn't Lulu see it?
Biting her lip, she glanced over at Tidus, who was being carefully examined by Wakka. He pointed to the small puddle of blood near Tidus' head.
"What's this?" he asked.
"I um… hit him over the head with a chair." Rikku pointed to the broken pieces.
Wakka wince. "Ouch, that had to hurt, ya? But that's not what I meant. Come here." He motioned to both Rikku and Lulu. They went over to the body and peered at the blood. There was bold black liquid mixed with the red blood.
"What is that?" Lulu wondered aloud.
"I don't know… But… I got that feeling from him when I ran into him earlier today. This dark, dark feeling. He didn't feel like himself, Lulu."
Lulu frowned. "I've never heard of anything like this. What ever it is, it must be serious. I do not believe Tidus would intentionally hurt Yuna. Not under his own power, anyway."
"Do you think he was possessed?" Rikku asked. She had the experience months ago when Shuyin possessed her and then Paine in the Den of Woe, and she knew what a nightmare it was to lose such control of your body.
Lulu shook her head. "I don't know. I don't know. As much as I hate to admit it, this is too much for me." She sighed. "We need to get a trained healer. Even just to revive them, my own magic isn't strong enough."
"There is a woman in Kilika with a good reputation for healing, ya know," Wakka suggested.
"Right. I've heard of her. Her name is Marin, isn't it?" Lulu added. He nodded. "It's settled then. We'll leave at sunrise."
"I'll go. By myself," Rikku said.
"Why just you?" She looked at the girl skeptically.
"Someone needs to look after Yunie and Tidus so they don't get worse, and Vidina, because, well, he always needs to be looked after. I won't mess up, if that's what you're thinking."
"I suppose not."
"Have more faith in her, Lu!" Wakka said.
"Yeah!"
"Just because she had caused that big catastrophe at Mi'ihen, it doesn't mean she's always that unreliable," he added.
"Yeah! Hey! Wakka, that wasn't nice. I told you I was framed!" Rikku insisted.
Lulu smiled on of her rare smiles (which Rikku thought was pretty and made her look so much less forbidding) and she consented. "You seem confident enough. Then you'll leave at sunrise?"
Rikku nodded in confirmation. "Sunrise."
''''
Rikku stifled a yawn as she headed across Besaid to the Dock. Lulu was at her side, rattling off instructions.
"And do you remember her name?"
"Marin," she said, for perhaps the tenth time, with a yawn.
"Tell her it is an emergency. Explain everything- what was happening when you walked in, what happened while you were there, how you stopped it. Especially the black liquid in the blood."
"I know, Lulu. I was there. You don't have to remind me."
"Yes I do. Come on, the ship leaves in five minutes."
Rikku shook her head and sighed as they hurried down the beaten path and across the beach. They barely managed to reach the dock in time- Rikku had to quarrel with the captain to get her passage.
"And you remember her name?" Lulu said.
"Yes! Lulu, it's Marin!" Rikku said impatiently as she climbed aboard. "Trust me for once!" She made a face as she headed onto the deck. Lulu's lack of trust was very reassuring. But she would not fail. She wasn't stupid. She would find Marin and Yuna would be safe! She had to be.
The ship's horn lowed and pulled away from Besaid's dock. Slowly, it gained speed and soon, the island disappeared from view. Again, Rikku stood up front, watching for Kilika anxiously.
"Please let this work," she murmured.