Well welcome back, I hope you enjoy this chapter I really should be sleeping right now.

Chapter 2

Even The Darkness Can't Hide Love

Paine's POV

I walk over to my bed and begin getting dressed into my usual uniform. I take off my pajama top and pants and turn around to see Rikku and Yuna staring at me in my underwear and bra. I send them a glare and reach down for my usual out fit. Their eyes watch as I slowly put back on the clothes from the night before. I finish buckling the last belt and give them a nod.

I follow Rikku and Yuna down onto the bridge. I raise my eyebrows as Rikku stops walking and looks at me with her thick lashed eyes.

Rikku grins, "Hey Dr. P what do you want to do today?" I look at her and then at Brother who looks like he is about to cry.

"What's going on brother?" Yuna asks, Brother looks up and falls to his knees.

"My dear Yuna, I have terrible news. Seymour, he is back." Brother says, I dive forward catching Yuna before she falls to the ground.

Seymour… Seymour..

I blink before my eyes suddenly grow the size of dinner plates. "Seymour," I whisper, I feel hot tears on my neck as Rikku breaks out in tears.

"Oh Yunie, don't worry we will send him back to the hole he crawled out of." Rikku whispers hugging me from the back.

Am I Rikku's new huggy bear? Why does she keep touching me….

I gently place Yuna on the ground and stand up, Rikku stands up with me and this time latches onto my side. "Rikku, must you latch onto me like life support!" I snap, I watch as more tears start to form in the al bhed's swirling eyes. "Rikku," I whisper, I watch as she lets go of me and runs back up towards the cabins.

"Are you blind Paine, I mean its pretty obvious she cares about you." Buddy says keeping his eye on the path ahead but turning around for a brief second.

"Rikku! Rikku doesn't care about Paine, Rikku loves Gippal!" Brother yells, I close my eyes and take a deep breath.

I open my eyes again and look at a panicking Brother. "Don't worry Brother, your right she loves Gippal." Brother looks at me and nods, Buddy then pushes some buttons and a loud voice calls out auto pilot.

"Paine, don't be so stubborn. I know she likes you, you know she likes you. Don't hide it, don't be scared." Buddy says his hand resting on my shoulder. I keep a blank face up and watch Brother grab Buddy.

"Rikku doesn't like Paine, No one likes Paine!" Brother yells, I step towards Brother and before I know it my hand is in his gut. I smirk, that punch felt pretty good.

Note to self, punch Brother more often

I give him one last glare before retracting my fist and walk back up to the cabins. I hear a small shriek and a loud thump as he hits the ground. I step into the elevator and tell it to go up to the cabins. I walk into the room and look at Rikku huddled in a ball bawling her eyes out.

(a/n Note how I completely ditched Yuna hehhehe a/n)

"Rikku," I whisper sitting on the edge of her bed.

She looks at and takes a quick breath, "Go away." I look at the ground and sigh.

"Rikku, I didn't mean what I said." I say fiddling with my belts. She looks at me and lets a couple more tears slide down her face.

Damn this feeling, stupid guilt.

I look up at her, crimson eyes meeting swirling emerald. She moves over and rests her head on my shoulder. "I know you didn't, I'm sorry Dr. P." she whispers letting out a quiet sigh. I gently lean back letting Rikku's head lay on my lap.

"Do you think we should rescue Yuna, Brother might be raping her you know." I whisper, Rikku giggles and closes her eyes.

She snuggles up against my stomach. "But I'm so comfy!" She protests putting on the biggest puppy dog eyes I have ever seen.

Don't look! Don't look!

Rikku's POV

Paine can be such a softie sometimes, the look on her face when I pout is just too cute. I wonder why she hasn't kicked me off her lap yet and gone to save Yuna.

Maybe….

"Dr. P," I whisper my voice shaking as she raises an eyebrow. "Do you like me?" I squeak out, her brow furrows and she looks away.

Now we have done it!

"I… I'm sorry Rikku," She replies looking over at the stairs. I bite my lip and look up at her lips. I bet I could kiss those lips, I really shouldn't be thinking these things.

"Come on, we better go save Yunie," I mumble rolling my eyes at what Brother might be doing. "You know it really is wrong that he cant see that she is our cousin." Paine nods and takes my hand as we start to walk towards the bridge.

Be still my beating heart…

I let out a yawn as we stand in the elevator waiting for the click to signal we are on the bridge. "Rikku," Paine says looking me in the eye.

"Yeah?" I reply stroking her hand with my thumb. Paine looks at this and sighs.

"Not now," She whispers letting my hand fall to my hip. She retracts her arms and puts them in her pose crossed over her chest before taking steps forward as the elevator clicks. My heart sinks as I hear the sound of her boots walking out of the elevator.

"But Paine… I don't want to be alone," I whisper, she keeps walking her silver hair swaying back and forth as she moves. Hot tears begin to form in my eyes, she turns around and walks back into the elevator. And watches burning tears slide down my face, she reaches out and lifts my head wiping the tears with her thumb.

"No one wants to be alone, but I guess some of us just are." She whispers, I sniff and nod at her. We both walk out of the elevator and over towards the now standing Yuna. I start to jog up to her and she turns to face me, woah her face isn't red at all. And dry as a bone, jeez poor Yunie she has gone nuts. She gives me a nod and I pull her into a big hug, her arms don't wrap around me back they just hang at her side.

"Yunie, we are going to beat him. Beat him for good this time!" I reassure her breaking the embrace to look at her in the eye. She gives me a weak nod but keeps up a blank face. Jeez Yunie looks like Paine, but when Paine does it… She looks good.

"Where is he Buddy?" Paine ask her voice louder than usual. Buddy looks at a blinking map of spira and turns around.

"It appears he is in Besaid." Paine nods and looks at Yuna.

"Then let's head to Besaid," She orders crossing her arms over her chest and glaring at him. He nods and types some things into his keyboard. I grin at Paine, she looks at me then looks away. Aww poopie why does Paine act like this, is this what she uses to show affection. Wow my head hurts, even more than that time I drank Barkeep's strange blue drink. I feel the ship lurch as we land on the soft golden shores of Besaid. Yuna runs off the ship and Paine and I follow behind her only briefly sending each other a nod.

"Yunie, wait for us!" I call out jogging to catch up with the snarling brunette. She keeps her head down and keeps running, my legs begin to tire as she begins to speed up. My eyes spring open as I feel warmth pass through me as Paine speeds past me and grabs Yuna's arm.

Paine looks her in the eye, "Look Yuna, we know you want revenge. But wasting your energy isn't going to help!" She says with an unusual glare. Yuna nods and keeps walking towards the village, Paine walks beside her with her sword at the ready. And then there is me, walking behind the two. Staring at one with love and looking down on another with pity. But ill let you guess which one is which.

A dark glow erupts from the ground and I feel a sudden pull across my chest. "PAINE!" I scream my lungs filling with no air as I start to fall down into a hole.

My eyes crack open and I stare up at two glowing red eyes, I try to move my arms but they wont budge. The glowing red eyes grow closer and I feel soft hair against my neck. "Rikku, is that you?" It asks, my mind starts racing. Paine was straddling my waist and I cant move my arms or legs, I can feel her breath on my neck yet I cant do anything about it.

She cares for us, she cares for us as we are her friends.

"Yes its me, Dr. P," I whisper my voice cracking as a sharp pain hits my throat. I feel strong arms wrap around my shoulders Paine pulls me into a hug. "What's wrong?" I ask as Paine holds onto me like a baby with candy. I feel her loosen her grip as two glowing eyes look back down at me.

"I'm guessing its in the minuses on the thermometer. If we don't huddle together we will both freeze, and I'm not giving up now." She said, I open my lips and I cringe as more pain hits me.

"What happened to me?" I ask letting out a shiver as a cold draft suddenly hits my back.

"You, you got taken away from Yuna and I by Seymour. We tried to get you back but half way through the fight Yuna just stopped." Paine whispered pulling my limp body onto her lap.

"Stopped?" I ask my heart racing as she wraps her arms around me again.

"She just stopped moving and looked at Seymour, he held his hand out and she took it. I tried to get her back but he made this giant hole and pushed me into it. I heard some whimpering and then I found you, I'm sorry I shouldn't have let him take you in the first place." She says tightening her grip on me, I put my head against her cold stomach and let out some dry tears.

My arm starts to tingle as warm liquid begins to pour down my arm. "So what do we do?" I ask feeling the potion's effect starting to activate.

"Well I just gave you a small potion which should help you move. Then I guess we just find a way out of here," She replies with the same emotionless voice that I know to well. My arms suddenly start to sting and I jump up, I start to stretch my legs and look into the darkness at the two crimson eyes that slowly move higher as she stands up.

"Come on, let's go save Yunie!" I say jumping into the air before latching onto Paine's side for warmth. Well that's my excuse anyways.

Paine's POV

Damn, Damn him. Damn them all for doing this, how the heck am I supposed to get out of this tunnel, its pitch black and Rikku is yet again latching onto me. But now I'm being mean, It is freezing in this place and she doesn't wear much as it is. Maybe I'm too hard on her, she does try to be my friend. I pull Rikku closer as another freezing air draft hits our bodies, I feel her shiver as we keep walking.

"Come on Rikku, think of hot things. The dessert or the sun, or even a certain blonde." I say hoping my comment would brighten up the girl.

I feel her dig her nails into my side and her teeth start to grind. "I hate Gippal, he is a stupid, bossy idiot and he will never have me!" Rikku yells her voice echoing down the pitch-black tunnel.

Note to self, punch Gippal for hurting Rikku.

My eyes widen at my sudden thought, I quickly shoo them away and look down at the two glowing green eyes.

Note to self, don't think about Rikku.

"Paine?" Rikku asks her arms wrapping around my side, I feel her start shivering again and bite my lip.

"Yes Rikku," I reply letting out my own shiver.

I feel a tug as Rikku stops walking, "Thankyou Paine, thankyou for saving my life." She whispers, walking back to my side but stopping to lean up and plant a small kiss on my cheek. I feel a sudden hot rush into my face thanking the darkness for hiding this blush.

Blush? Paine doesn't blush, what has happened to us. Is this love?