Chapter 7

Rikku was sent flying as Garin died right before her. She had escaped, but Garin had not. She felt feelings she had never felt for a person. After a few minutes of awkward flying, she righted herself but it had been programmed to one direction. Rikku thought about Garin's final words as they echoed throughout her head:

"How do you feel about me now?"

She began crying as she thought to herself

Of course he liked me, I just was too blind with Yuna's sadness I couldn't see it.

And she thought of what happened in the beginning of their adventure, it was a month prior to the Tidus/Yuna reunion.

"Paine, why are you leaving the Gullwings?" Yuna asked

"I wish I could answer that myself. I just can't remain a sphere hunter forever. It's not you guys, you've been the closest thing to sisters I've ever had." Paine said as she packed her stuff.

Paine tried to be inconspicuous as she rubbed her eye. Rikku ran up and hugged her, as did Yuna.

"Promise to send spheres?" Rikku asked after letting her go.

Paine actually smiled and said "Sure, of course."

And so Paine had left…

It had been Shinra's idea to ask Gippal if he had anyone strong that was in the Faction could join the Gullwings. And so Gippal had sent Garin with a warning that he was sensitive to his age but was very strong and so a week later Garin had come…

"Where is that person Gippal is sending?" Rikku asked as she waited in the bridge.

Yuna looked at a clock and replied "anytime now."

Almost as soon as she said that, the hatch door opened and there stood a boy of 12 with a sword tucked in a sheath and a knapsack slung over his back. He had blond spiky hair, like Gippal but with a red jacket and white undershirt and blue denim pants. He had a stoic expression as his eyes bounced around the ship.

Rikku had walked right up to him and greeted him warmly.

She hadn't noticed it then but when she thought back she remembered that from then on his expression changed to happiness and that his eyes no longer were stoic and cold, but warm and held a small spark. He responded more to her than Yuna, Buddy, Brother or anyone. As these memories flooded her mind tears began flowing.

The hallway was dark and quiet so Rikku couldn't see anything when she yelled "GAAAARRRRIIINNN"

Kino and Paine's trip led back to the three way fork, where they remembered what Tidus had said

Rikku and Garin, take the left path, Kino and Paine, the right. Yuna and I will take the middle path.

"Kino you go find Rikku and Garin, I'll find Yuna and Tidus." Paine said.

And so they went separate paths…

Kino went down the path in silence, she felt lonely and time seemed to pass quickly. Then she saw something strange, machina sentries sliced in pieces. After another half hour she saw something much more disturbing. There sat Garin, bloodstained and full of bullet holes.

"Garin!" Kino cried as she grabbed his body.

Kino felt his body, cold, lifeless flesh was all she could feel. Kino sat over him and began crying when a voice called out for her

"Kino, help."

Paine walked down a path filled with pyreflies so hers was slightly lit.

"Yuna?" She called out, her voice echoing.

Then, out of nowhere, three figures from pyreflies appeared. Gippal, Nooj, and Baralai. Each gave her a welcoming smile. Paine looked over each of them, smiling and asked:

"What are you guys doing here?"

"Oh, we're just here to do something fun." Baralai answered.

Paine looked at them confused, but still smiling. Suddenly all four had weapons out.

"You're not my friends!" Paine yelled.

"Oh, my dear Dr. P. Yes we are, and once you're dead we'll kill my baby brother." Gippal answered with a twisted smile.

" He's not your baby brother anymore, AND HE COULD KICK YOUR FAKE ASS!" She yelled as she struck Gippal down, who exploded.

Nooj and Baralai began to attack her, but she threw her sword at Nooj, making him explode. She then grabbed her sword and attacked Baralai, who was starting to back away. Once the group of pyreflies dissipated she sat down. Suddenly a familiar voice yelled out

"Who's there!"

"Yuna?" Paine asked back into the darkness

"Paine?" Yuna's voice called back.

"Yeah, it's me." She answered.

Then she, Tidus, and (to Paine's surprise) Lenne walked into focus.

"Did you find the entrance to Vegnagun?" Tidus asked.

"Yeah, but we have to find Rikku before we go to it." Paine said.

"You split up?" Tidus asked.

"Yeah, Kino went to find Rikku and Garin." Paine answered.

"Let's take this left pathway." Lenne said, pointing to a wall, which upon closer inspection was a path, branching to the left.

After a long walk, the path reached its end and the hallway was black and unable to see anything.

"So which way?" Tidus asked.

Then out of nowhere a flash of light could be seen coming closer, really fast. Then someone yelled out loud

"GAAAARRRRIIIIRRRRNNNN!"

"That's Rikku!" Yuna said shocked.

"Leave it to me." Tidus said walking into the hallway's center.

He stood very still, and when Rikku went by, he unstuck the jet from her and pulled her down. Rikku looked up with tears and saw Tidus, Yuna, Lenne, and Paine.

Then, without thinking she yelled "GARIN'S DEAD!"

Yuna's body fell completely numb, Tidus stood frozen with shock written all over his face, and Lenne put her hand up to her mouth,

Paine's body fell completely breathless and empty.

"We ended up running into a sentry and we ran and they trapped us and he told me he loved me and then he strapped that to my back and then I shot off as he died!" Rikku cried, all in one breath.

"Maybe we can save him!" Lenne uncertainly said.

They ran down the path and soon saw Kino crying over a body.

"Kino." Yuna said.

Kino turned and looked at them with tears in her eyes and ran up to Paine and cried into her shirt.

Rikku ran up and hugged the corpse and felt how cold it was. Then, the bullet holes mended and breath escaped Garin.

"Rikku." Garin said weakly.

Yuna looked at them and at everyone's smile as they suddenly seemed to be happy again.

"How'd you do it Garin?" Tidus asked smiling.

"Well it's, I'm just, um I'm…" he said weakly.

"Unsent." Yuna finished.

Everyone's warmth left again as they stared at him and as he looked away.

SO what'cha think, there's only going to be 2 / 3 chapters left. So anyway I will finish it in two weeks at least, IT WILL BE FINISHED, unless I don't get any reviews.

Gippal: abso-posi-you better or you're dead! (hold's up gun to my throat) Bye…