Shadow of Darkness

AN: It took a bit longer for me to update than I had originally planned because I was sick the past couple days. Thank you for your patience! And not to worry, I have already finished writing chapters 4 and 5. I just need to type them up. Ciao!

Thank you kingleby for your review!

Chapter 3:

Kilika was always a quiet village, Rikku knew, but this was eerie. The only people who were outdoors were people who absolutely had to be. There were no children playing, no couples walking hand in hand, no friends chatting, no families going on picnics. Silent. She only saw the occasional patrol and even more rare, a fisherman. Rikku glanced up at the well kept little huts along the pier, searching hopelessly for the one that would house the renowned healer, Marin. Nothing looked remotely medical. She frowned. Well, that had been a load of help.

"Perhaps I… ugh, should ask Dona." Dona- the snobby ex-summoner that Rikku couldn't stand! Unfortunately, she and her pushover Guardian/lover, Barthello, were the only people she knew well enough to bother.

She wandered to the end of the left pier and looked up at the hut before her with a grimace. Inside lurked the bitter she-beast, as Rikku secretly thought of her. This wasn't a visit she looked forward to, but Yuna's life rested in her hands and sacrifices had to be made. Taking a deep, calming breath, she climbed the wooden ram p to Dona's hut. Hesitantly, she pulled on a string of silvery bells and waited. Moments later, Dona's head peered out the doorflap.

"What is it?" She noticed Rikku then. "Oh, it's you," she said crisply. "Well? What do you want?"

"Nice to see you too."

She gave a haughty sort of sniff. "Yes. Charmed, I'm sure."

Rikku rolled her eyes. This was why she didn't like dealing with Dona.

"Well? Come now, I don't have all day you know," the woman said impatiently, when she didn't state her business immediately.

"Yeah yeah…" She took a deep breath. Biting off Dona's head would do no good at a time like this. But boy, would she love a chance in the future! "I was wondering if you knew where this healer named Marin lives?"

"Yes."

Rikku waited for directions but none came. With an annoyed sigh, she asked, "Well, can you tell me where that is?"

"I could. But it wouldn't be of any use to you. She's not here."

"Excuse me?"

"She. Is. Not. Here. I don't see how I can make it any clearer," Dona replied frostily.

'Excuse me for living,' Rikku thought. "Well, where is she then?"

"How should I know? I don't keep tabs on her."

Rikku gave her an annoyed look. "You're making this difficult on purpose!" That was so like her.

"As flattered as I am that you think so, I'm not. She's been summoned to several different places to take care of this epidemic."

"Epidemic?" She looked puzzled.

Dona gestured about. "Look around. Don't tell me you haven't noticed the emptiness. It affects Kilika now."

"What is it?"

She shrugged. "They're calling it the Dark Plague. Whoever contracts it behaves as though possessed. Apparently, they're bodies are filled with darkness- they have no control over themselves. They destroy whoever or whatever comes in their path."

"Darkness…" Rikku echoed. She looked at Dona. "Yuna's been attacked by someone with the Dark Plague. We need Marin! Yuna's life is in danger!"

"And so is everyone else's." Dona held a hand to her head. "Why don't you just go home? If or when Marin returns, I'll send her to Besaid."

"Yuna needs her now!"

"And no one else is important? Honestly, girl. She may have saved Spira twice, but that doesn't make her any more or less important than anyone else. I said I'd let Marin know. If you don't leave now, I might change my mind. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have things to do." She disappeared back into her hut.

Rikku scowled in frustration. How irritating! Of course others were important, she thought as she headed down the wooden ramp again. But some people, regardless of importance, didn't really deserve their chance! Given the choice between saving Yuna and saving someone like Gippal (or Dona), she'd definitely pick her cousin.

She walked back through Kilika towards the dock. As she walked, she took not of the village's emptiness for a second time. No wonder there was hardly anyone about. They were afraid. Afraid to catch this Dark Plague. Afraid to hurt the ones they loved. And Rikku didn't blame them.

''''

It was dark when Rikku reached Besaid. Exhausted and heavy-hearted, she shuffled across the dock. She dwelled on this Dark Plague and how they could help Yuna the entire trip. She still thought about it. Unfortunately, there was no Marin with her. She had failed to bring the woman. Failed. It left a sour taste in her mouth. She didn't want to be known as Rikku the Failure. 'Paine probably would have succeeded.'

Wholly concentrating on her frustrated thoughts, Rikku failed to notice the wolfish field prowling the bridge she was crossing until she was nearly on top of it.

"Ur tysh," ::Oh damn,:: she muttered. She was unarmed. All her weapons, dresspheres, supplies… they were all still in Wakka and Lulu's hut. The only thing she could do now was- "RUN!" she screamed. She bolted past the fiend.

"This is ridiculous," she moaned as she tore down the road. "I'm gonna die! Whoever heard of anyone outrunning a wolf!?"

She glanced over her shoulder. It was so close. Too close! And it was gaining! She screamed again and pumped her legs faster. Suddenly a second fiend joined in the chase.

"Oh cripes! Why me? Why always me!?"

The village was in sight. She was in the home stretch. And it was about time! Her legs were cramping, her lungs burning, and there was a stitch in her side. But she pushed herself harder. She couldn't stop just yet. Not until she reached the village entrance! She tripped over her own feet and tumbled head over heels- thankfully, straight into the village. "Ouch…." Wearily, she pushed herself up, panting heavily with exertion. She glanced back. The fiends paced at the village entrance, growling menacingly. She pushed her long blond hair off her sweaty face.

"Ha! Didn't catch me, did you?" Then she winced, clutching her side. "But it certainly was close." She dragged herself to her feet and staggered for Lulu and Wakka's hut. She pulled on the string of bells, and immediately, Wakka appeared.

"We've been waiting, ya? What's wrong with you?" he asked.

"Fiends… no weapons… running… nearly eaten. Ugh," she gasped.

He nodded. "And… where's the healer?"

Rikku whimpered and staggered into the hut when he stepped aside. "The healer- she wasn't there. She wasn't in Kilika." Lulu appeared then. "According to Dona. This… thing is called the Dark Plague and everyone is getting it. Apparently, Marin was summoned to a lot of different places at once and no one knows where she is right now." She sank to her knees as tears trickled down her cheeks. "I failed! I'm so sorry!"

Lulu sighed and kneeled next to her. "This wasn't your fault."

Wakka nodded. "Yeah, you didn't know she wouldn't be there."

Rikku sniffled. "You're not mad then?" She looked up at them.

"No. Frustrated, maybe, with this whole situation," Lulu said. "But not mad."

She nodded. "How's Yuna?"

Lulu shook her head. "Not doing too well. Neither one of them." She gestured to Tidus, tucked snuggly on a cot across the room from Yuna. "Their temperatures have dropped drastically. I've been curing them, so their temperatures have remained steady, even though they are low. But the low temperatures can't be doing them any good."

"And none of your spells can reverse it?"

"She's more of an accomplished black mage than a white one, but she's trying, ya?" Wakka interrupted.

Lulu managed a small smiled. "Yes. I only know the standard restorative spells- not very strong, but they do seem to be fending off any further drops in temperature."

It was then that Rikku noticed the tightness around Lulu's mouth and her bloodshot eyes. "Have you been working your magic all day?"

"Mostly."

"Are you trying to kill yourself?!" she squawked. "Get to bed!" She thrust her finger towards the bedroom. Magic was derived from the user's own body's power and, without rest or special, restorative liquids, death was a very real consequence. Even still… all day would take its toll, no matter how much the mage replenished his or her power.

"That's what I've tried to tell her," Wakka said wearily. "She wouldn't listen to me."

"That's because you hardly know any white magic," Rikku pointed out. Then she turned to Lulu. "I'm stronger in white magic than you, Lulu, so I'll stay up through the night. Just tell me what to do."

Lulu frowned and looked as though she'd say no, but, at the last minute, glanced wistfully at her bedroom. "All right… What I've been doing is using a spell on both of them about every half hour. Since you say your white magic is stronger, you could probably get by with just once every hour." She glanced back at her room. "And now… I think I'm going to try to get some sleep."

Rikku smiled. "That's a good girl. Wakka, go tuck her in like a proper husband."

Wakka managed to return the smile and, taking Lulu's arm, led her off. Rikku sat next to Yuna, who was tucked snuggly under several heavy blankets on a small cot.

"C'mon Yunie… don't give up," she murmured, squeezing the girl's limp hand. It was cold as ice. Rikku shuddered. It was like touching a corpse. She shook her head. No, that was an awful thought. 'Stay positive, Rikku.'

She glanced over at Tidus' body. Like Yuna, he was firmly wrapped in at least a dozen blankets. She flushed with embarrassment when she noticed the white gauze bandage someone had swathed around his head.

"Got him good, didn't you?" said a voice at her side.

Rikku jumped and looked over. "Oh, Wakka. It's you…"

"Yeah, me." He smiled and sat down. "Anyone but him probably would have died from that blow. You have a lot of power in you, for such a small girl." He glanced at Tidus as well. "His head is as hard as a rock, ya know?"

She giggled a bit. "Thanks, Tubby," she said with a faint smile. "That made me feel better."

He took a deep breath. "Well… I have something to tell you that won't make you feel so good…"

She frowned. Something that would make her feel bad? What more bad news would she be forced to endure? "What is it?"

"See…" He fidgeted uncomfortably. He didn't want to tell her, it was obvious. Rikku knew it was something worse than news that would make her 'not feel so good'. "Well…" he began again. "The people of the village… You know their thoughts on the Al Bhed, right?"

"I know how they used to be," she said uncertainly. "But they've changed. Since Yuna defeated Sin."

"Yeah. I thought that too."

'Thought?" 'Oh no…' Rikku thought.

"Yeah. See… the villagers," he took a breath and started over. "The villagers, they think that you tried to kill Yuna."

"What?!" she screeched. "Me? Me?! Why would I try to kill Yunie? She's my cousin! I was one of her Guardians. I was with her when we defeated Sin and Vegnagun! I-"

"You're an Al Bhed," Wakka pointed out. "Yes, things are getting better for your people, but you're an easy scapegoat. Think about it. Why would Tidus try to kill Yuna?"

"I don't know! You tell me!" she squawked, outraged. How dare they try to blame her? She was always on Yuna's side!

He held up his hands in an attempt to appease her. "Let me finish, ya?" She fell silent, still fuming. "Tidus was also Yuna's Guardian. So why would he try to kill her? Everyone knew they loved each other. And that night, you were the one who discovered his attempts. You hit him over the head to stop him, yeah, but there are no other witnesses. And both Tidus and Yuna have yet to wake up, ya know? So no one knows what happened but you."

"But…" she said weakly.

"But nothing. Lu and I've heard… to the villagers, it looks like you attacked Yuna and then Tidus when he tried to stop you-"

"That's not true!" Rikku wailed. She was framed! Framed by those who didn't even know what happened. "I'd never hurt Yunie! Well… I might step on her foot- gah! You believe me, don't you Wakka?"

He nodded. "Of course. Lu and I both do. We tried to convince the others you were innocent, but they won't have it. We didn't have any evidence to prove our claims." He shrugged again. "And then there is the fact that people can't forget that you're Al Bhed."

"But… but Yuna's part Al Bhed too!" she sputtered. Why did they just hate her?

"The villagers don't know that."

"Oh come on! They know I'm her cousin! All they have to do is put two and two together!" She folded her arms over her chest in a gesture of defiance. She wanted to see him top that one!

Wakka frowned. "Let me rephrase that- they don't want to see that. They don't want to believe an Al Bhed saved Spira, even a half-n-half. They don't want to believe that an Al Bhed was right about Yevon's lies. So they pretend she is just like them."

Rikku sighed and buried her face in her hands. Why, why, why her? It was enough to give her a migraine. With a sigh, she looked at Wakka again. "What about the Dark Plague? Did you tell them about it? Did you tell them that's why Tidus went… absolutely stark raving bonkers?"

Wakka shook his head. "We didn't know that there even was such a problem until you came back. Besides, how do you know that this is what his problem really is? Maybe it's not the Plague. Maybe Tidus really is… 'stark raving bonkers'."

She frowned. No… She knew he was normally a good person. It had to be the Plague. She was certain. "I… I just know. It has to be."

They were silent for a long time after. Rikku's day went from bad to worse to a rotten day on the dark side of the final ring of hell. How was this possible? Where was the logic? She came to Besaid to celebrate her cousin's engagement. And now she was charged with her attempted murder?! She flopped back against her chair and sulked.

"Rikku, I would leave early tomorrow morning if I were you," Wakka finally suggested.

"What?" she demanded, sitting up abruptly. "Why!?"

"The villagers might… react to you being here. You could be in a lot of danger. Lulu and I were glad you returned after nightfall. There were others watching out for your arrival until just a few hours ago."

"What?… But where will I go?" She couldn't believe what she was hearing!

He shrugged a bit. "I don't really know. Back to Bikanel Island, maybe?"

She shook her head and her blond hair flopped about, making her look a lot perkier than she was feeling. "I no… not many people really want me in Bikanel either," she finally admitted to herself. It really hurt. Damn Gippal. "Besides, digging isn't all it's cracked up to be."

"Look for Marin then," suggested a voice beside them.

"Lu!" Wakka yelped.

"Aren't you supposed to be asleep? Rikku asked.

"With all your talking? You are both so loud!" Lulu shook her head and sat next to Wakka. "I just couldn't sleep. I was worried." She glanced over at Yuna.

Rikku toyed absently with a braid. "You… you think I should look for Marin then?"

Lulu nodded, stifling a generous yawn. "It will give you something to do, anyway."

"And if you can bring Marin back, she might be able to revive Yuna and Tidus and clear your name," Wakka added.

She thought about it for a long time before eventually nodding. "All right. But… I'll need a way to Kilika."

"Kilika? Again?" Wakka arched a brow. "Why are you going back? Marin's not there."

"I know. But I'll have to stare there to get clues to where she might have gone. I doubt she got the messages through telepathic senses."

Lulu gave a small smile. "Perhaps you've grown up more than we thought."

"Rikku nodded. "Of course I have." She stood abruptly and tossed her hair back. "Now, when does the next ship leave for Kilika?"