Words left unspoken
So sorry guys, I've been sick, and on holiday and really busy with college work. I have exams coming up in six weeks, so most likely I won't be able to update till afterwards, but I'll try. I haven't checked this chapter properly, so if there's any mistakes let me know. In this chapter I've finally included Tanya Takaishi's characters hope you like them, I had to change the original idea of Gippal flirting about with her because of what's happening. Hope you don't mind.
Oh yeah, by the way the flashbacks aren't Gippal's dreams, because he doesn't dream when he's taken his potion. Its just flashbacks I put in to continue explaining what happened. Votes are this so far:
In the absence of sight: 4
Three years of surviving you: 6
Tale of two Gippals: 4
Violent: Thank you! I'll try.
Princess of Sorrow: You guessed right, lol. Definitely a long run, although the end is in sight now.
K-Jaye: Glad to hear it!
Back of Beyond: Thanks!
Cute-Kitty: I cried writing it too. glad you liked it.
Angry girl: Thank you!
Jen: Yep, the man is evil, but at least he had Lance as a foster parent later . I want to hug him too, lol, I'll have to get Rikku to do it instead ;)
Kairiyuna14: quick updates probably won't happen until after my exams, sorry.
Nox Fiorre: Okay, lol, plushies are cute!
Milkie: glad you liked it! Thanks!
oOoDancingQueenoOo: thank you!
Mipku: Thank you!
Interceptorsherp: thanks, that means a lot to me.
Rikku-thief: lol, sorry –hands a tissue over- Gippal interrogation would be so fun with you joining in, lol.
Witchyinuyashagurl: four years? Whoops, sorry –hands a tissue- lol, glad you like it, and thanks for reading! By the way, I love Inuyasha! Lol, I'll read your fics as soon as I can.
Arami Heartilly: thank you!
LilChibiLai: thanks! Lol, I'll try to update more after exams.
Asga: I'll try to update more after exams, promise.
Green-eyed-blonde: thank you! Glad you like it.
Shakai: lol, almost. Reno is so cool in your fic. Thanks for the review! And the ready Aires-Shelinda death thing was so funny!
Family complications
You really are a strong person Kuey. I'm so lucky to have you with me. When my mother died I just ran, but you never did that. You stayed though and looked after your father and brother. If I hadn't run into Lance the day Acacia died I don't think I'd be here right now.
That's your gift Rikku; you can face truths straight on and accept them quickly. You did that with me and my past and you've done it before. So I have no reason not to tell you about the man being my dad. I have no excuse not to tell the truth.
Yet everytime I begin to try, I can't. I know you'll accept it and that's not the reason I don't want to tell you. The real reason is because of me, because I don't want you to accept it. No one should have to accept the idea when I never really have myself. I guess that's the real reason, I don't want to tell you because I still don't want it to be true.
But it is…I think. The man is my biological father; even if his real self died long ago it's still him. Does that make any sense? Mum used to tell me about before, about a time when he was different, kind, loving to all. She even said he was once Cid's friend. But something happened to him; he forgot who he used to be and tried to kill his friend. For that he was banished from Home, and my pregnant mother decided to go with him.
She told me I was born on the boat that sailed us from Bikanel Island; that I was always going to be stuck in between the two because I was an Al Bhed living in the rest of Spira. I'm glad she was wrong about that much. I'm not stuck because my home was never solid. My home is where those I love are, where my people are. And I know that sounds sappy but it's just what I think.
Telling Landon the truth has made it a little more real to me, but I still can't fully believe it. The man became someone other than my dad long ago, before I was even born. How can I see him as my father when I never really met that part of him?
I used to so desperately want to impress Cid when I first came to Home. I knew he hated me, but he's one of the few people who knew my dad before. He knows who's son I am, that's why he can't stand me, he thinks I'll become like him and betray my friends, become a murderer. Well, I'm not like him, I never was. I don't want people to judge me by my family, or how they used to when Al Bheds were hated. It's just not fair.
Fayth give me strength. I have to tell you Kuey, I have to. It's the only way I'll be free from it, but it's still so hard. What's it like to have no secrets? To not be worrying that you will one day be discovered as traitor's child? Nothing is worse than uncertainty and that's what I've always known. I have to end that. I have to.
The man had finally reached his destination and wrapped himself in a blanket close to the fire.
"Damn Gagazet. So damn cold." He complained to no one. "Those stupid Ronsos almost ruined everything! So untrusting now the leaders back from Besaid." His spiral eyes gazed up at the setting sun, cursing it silently. "It will take all night for my distraction to reach them, damn desert rat lovers!" He sighed, closing his eyes to calm down. "No matter, it will do its job well."
Yes it will stop them, but why didn't you programme it to kill them? He asked himself in disgust.
"The masterpiece will do that once they reach here, better to wait."
You were willing to kill them on Besaid and on the Highroad, but you've been hesitant since you saw Lance injured. Having second thoughts are we?
"No! He will die with the rest of the traitors!"
And your son? He's like them so why are you taking so long to kill him and Cid's daughter?
The man grumbled wordlessly to himself, trying to block out the doubtful thoughts. That wasn't his son…right? He wasn't like him, yet he conceived him after his rebirth. Could he really end Gippal's life? Could he really murder Cid's daughter?
"Yes." He said firmly, gazing out at the dead city and smirking. "YES! They must DIE!"
"Gippal are you okay? You're quiet, it's worrying me." Baralai half joked. The Thunder Plains were in its constant night setting, soaking them with rain as they trudged towards the Inn.
"I'm fine." Gippal told him quietly. Baralai sighed and knew better than to question him further. Leaving Landon so soon must have been hard for the Al Bhed.
"It's so peaceful with both of them quiet." Paine commented. "I like it."
"Dryd'c hud vyen!" (That's not fair!) Rikku complained, looking back at her friend and sticking out her tongue. "Besides, I'm only quiet because I'm trying to figure out what Gippal's problem is."
"I'm just tired okay." Gippal snapped, clearly agitated. Rikku just rolled her eyes and poked him in the arm.
"There's something else too, I know you too well to realise when something's bothering you." He stayed quiet, merely gazing towards the distant Inn.
"I'm sure they'll have the items you need for your sleeping potion." Rikku said softly. "Gippal…please don't be so worked up."
"Would you prefer I got you all worked up instead?" Gippal teased, a smile finally back on his face.
"You could try, but you wouldn't succeed." Rikku said confidently. Gippal didn't reply but just continued smirking at her, making her suddenly nervous.
"Why does it have to rain here so much?" Paine complained darkly.
"It's not that bad." Tidus told her. "At least the lightning doesn't hit us anymore."
"And Rikku doesn't get all freaked out." Gippal added.
"Crid ib oui!" (Shut up you!)
"Can we just get to the Inn please?" Paine broke in. "You can flirt about later." The two Al Bheds blinked slightly then smirked. It was just too tempting not to say…
Nooj tried to stay still as he waited for the sphere to connect to Kilika. He knew Logos and Ormi should have reached the island by now but so far there had been no word. For all he knew the Kilikans may have already heard about the machina attacks and taken the law into their own hands.
"Hurry up damnit! The former Crusader demanded, very tempted to smash his hand down on the stupid commsphere. "I don't have time for this!"
Finally an image of Kilika came into view and Nooj sighed. So far he couldn't see any dead Al Bheds. But then again he couldn't see anyone.
"Hello." He demanded, sighing. It had been deserted at the League headquarters there too, which naturally Nooj had tried contacting first.
"Hey! It talked." A little girl's voice spoke up, her face peering closely at the screen. Nooj was granted the chance to see the remains of a sticky snack around her mouth. "I can see a grumpy man in it!"
"Um, little girl…" Nooj began, silently cursing his luck. "Were is everyone?"
"They gone to fix ship." She said laughing. "Want to see?" Before Nooj could object the girl she'd picked up the commsphere and headed off towards the forest, skipping. Watching the jumping image was making him dizzy, and that didn't improve his mood. "They better be here."
"Daddy! There's a grumpy man in the sphere!" The girl giggled as a Kilikan came into view.
"Really sweetie; lets have a look…ah! Mevyn Nooj!" Nooj just sighed.
"I need to speak with someone older than seven." He demanded.
"O-of course sir. How can I help?"
"I…I see everything is peaceful there, no arguments."
"No arguments sir, the airship is being repaired in good time."
"And has it always been peaceful like this?"
"Well…there was a, err, slight delay when we received news of machina attacks. But the Al Bhed here explained that someone stole the technology from then months ago and are using it to attack Spira's leaders. They say as soon as the ship's fixed they will help their Faction Leader stop the one responsible."
"…And no one was hurt when you found out about the attacks?" The man merely blinked at him stupidly for a minute before finally understanding what he meant.
"Oh no! We wouldn't hurt them sir, they're our friends." Despite the fact the man sounded like his daughter Nooj was impressed. So the Al Bheds really were being accepted now and treated as equals.
"Just one more question before you get back to working. Where is Ormi and Logos?"
"Who, sir?"
"Hurry up Gippal! We want use it too!" Rikku complained.
"She's a bossy one as always." Lance chuckled through the commsphere. "Just like her father that one."
"You should be resting." Rikku protested.
"I am; I'm laid on a bed with a commsphere while resting." Gippal couldn't help but grin at his persistence; Rikku wasn't the only bossy and stubborn person around. "You caught him yet?"
"No not yet but we know where he's hiding." Gippal told him, looking away. Landon knew who the man with the machina really was, he'd probably known before Gippal had dared to even guess it. "I ran into Landon in Guadosalam though."
"Did you give him his hairclip back?" Lance laughed. He had never really understood why the item meant so much to Gippal.
"He wanted me to keep it."
"Probably thinks you need it with that hair. I'll have to go visit him myself once Rin lets me move."
"Trust you to want to be up when you finally have a chance to relax a little." Gippal muttered.
"I must have rubbed it off onto you then." Lance countered.
"You're not even talking about anything important." Rikku whined. "We have to contact Besaid and make sure everyone's okay!"
"But I haven't contacted Kilika yet…"
"You already contacted Djose! It's our turn! Nooj already said he'd take care of things in Kilika."
"Then I should contact Mushroom Rock too."
"I'm still here." Lance complained. "When's the last time you got some sleep?"
"We'll contact Nooj for you." Yuna broke in calmly. "You should get some rest."
"I'm okay, celebrity." Gippal protested weakly, but already knowing that with Yuna, Rikku AND Lance nagging him he wasn't going to win. "I want to make more sleeping potion first."
"Don't be an idiot." Lance sighed. "I'm cutting you off now kid before Rikku turns her wraith on me. Get some sleep!" And with that he cut off the connection.
"Lufynt." (Coward) Gippal muttered. "Fine, I'm going to sleep, but we have to set off early tomorrow."
"Lock your door." Baralai warned, glancing nervously at Paine. "She's still a little mad at you."
"It was a joke! I thought Baralai would have been more offended than you." Gippal protested.
"Cra fyc uhmo uvvahtat palyica ed'c dnia." (She was only offended because it's true.) Rikku muttered with a slight giggle.
"E raynt dryd! E'mm cruf oui cusa naym byeh ev oui tuh'd pa xiead!" (I heard that! I'll show you some real pain if you don't be quiet!)
"Famm oui tet cyo oui fyhdat du kad uid uv dra nyeh, yht fa ymm ghuf oui yht Pynymey cryna y nuus..." (Well you did say you wanted to get out of the rain, and we all know you and Baralia share a room...) But Rikku didn't get to finish explaining, and Gippal didn't stay to see what Dr.P was going to do to her. After all, she'd come after him next if he didn't disappear from her sight.
"Idiot! How dare you fail me!" The man yelled, striking the young Gippal across the face. "Can the do nothing right?"
The three of them were at the second lightning tower in the Thunder Plains, hiding away from any Guado guards which might approach them. Gippal fell in the mud from the blow but sat up again, bowing his head in an indication of shame. He'd promised himself not to give the sphere to the man and he wouldn't. But he had to get rid of it in case his mother realised he really did have it; she was more observant than the man when it came to their son.
"I'm sorry sir."
"I don't want to hear it! We must get moving before they find us. And if you collapse on me boy then I will leave you there! Your mother got some of the ingredients for you; you'll have to make do with what she got but you can't make it yet."
The dash to the Travel Inn was the hardest Gippal had done for a long time. He was beyond exhausted and his thought was ridden with guilt over Landon, the Guado guard. The only reason Gippal didn't stay down when he tripped was because of the hair clip in his hand. He had to survive and go back one day. He had to. He couldn't let himself be struck by lightning here like Acacia was attempting to do.
"Damnit woman if you wish to die so badly I'll think of a better way to do it myself!" The man exploded, picking her up and carrying her for the rest of the way. "Now listen, we will not harm any of the Al Bhed scum here tonight, not until we've rested. But in the morning…" Gippal shivered at the thought and tried not to let tears show. He hated living like this; now more than ever before.
"Welcome, how may I be of service?" A darker skinned Al Bhed asked when they entered. Immediately Acacia began her act.
"Oh please help us! The Guados are searching for us, a-accusing us of murder! They saw our Al Bhed lineage and seek to hurt my baby! Please!" She sobbed.
Gippal almost felt like applauding her; she really knew how to trick people. The Al Bhed man looked slightly alarmed but then recovered and ordered a room to be made up for the family. No charge.
"You will be safe here, they won't risk crossing the Thunder Plains unless they have a guide and all of them are here." He told the man, who was now pretending to comfort his wife.
"Thank you." The man said, only Acacia and Gippal could have detected the disgust in his voice.
"Your son is hurt!" A lady Al Bhed exclaimed and came closer, from her worn out clothes but protective clothing Gippal guessed she was one of the guides. "His face is swollen and he looks exhausted!"
"He has a sleep disorder, we went to Guadosalam to buy some items he needs to make a sleeping potion but they accused us of thievery and then said we had murdered a woman. We had no choice but to run…but they managed to strike my poor child first." The man explained; his voice dropping low as if ashamed he'd failed to protect his family.
"You couldn't have escaped unscathed with such violence against you." The owner said kindly. "I am Rin, and you are welcome to stay the night here for free. Maybe I can even help with your son's needed potion."
Meanwhile the Al Bhed woman was fussing over Gippal, trying to clean his muddy face and informing him he was 'such a brave boy'.
"The room is ready." Another Al Bhed informed them. "If you'll come with me I can show you where to get cleaned up." Acacia nodded, beginning to tug at Gippal to follow.
"Please, let me help him while you go rest." Rin told the two of them. "He will be safe here." The man nodded and followed the other Al Bhed with no argument, Acacia hesitated but soon followed. Gippal waited until they had disappeared down the hall before looking straight at Rin.
"Please help me."
"You sure you're okay Rikku? You look kinda down." Wakka told her through the commsphere. Yuna couldn't help but laugh a little.
"She got all her respect points taken away from her."
"It's not funny! I was trying so hard to get them back!"
"You'll never be able to earn them all back now." Tidus teased.
"I don't care." Rikku lied, glaring when Wakka started laughing.
"Nice to see this whole thing hasn't changed ya." He chuckled, causing Rikku to feel a pang of guilt. Maybe she should be acting more serious. "How's Gippal doin'?"
"He's sleeping." Rikku said slowly, catching the strange look Wakka was giving her.
"Is Lulu around?" Yuna broke in politely, not wanting Wakka teasing Rikku more when she was in this mood.
"She's asleep with Vidina; he has a bit o' a cold and kept her up last night."
"And you slept right through it?" Yuna accused teasingly.
"It's not my fault I sleep heavy!"
"Well, say hi to both of them for us okay?"
"Will do ya. Hey, I heard about the airship crashing in Kilika, hope everyone's alright. I would have gone to help but, well, didn't want to risk leaving Besaid unguarded."
"When we saw them they seemed good, only a few were badly injured but no one died." Rikku said.
"And Nooj told Gippal he'd make sure no one put blame on the Al Bheds there about the machina attacks happening." Paine added.
"We have to contact him next." Yuna finished.
"Alright then, I better get some sleep anyways. Take care ya here?"
"We will!" Rikku and Yuna chimed together before cutting the connection.
"So, who's talking to Nooj?" Paine asked eventually.
"Not me!" Rikku burst and ran out of the Inn door.
"I will." Yuna said.
"Please, allow me." Baralai offered. "I wanted to discuss other matters with him anyway." He picked up the commsphere and vanished into his and Paine's room before Yuna could answer.
"He's worried." Paine explained.
"About which part?" Tidus asked. "The man or how it effects Spira?"
"All of it."
"You two look so cute together!" Rikku burst out, making the two travelers blush.
"Um, thanks." The woman muttered. "Do you know whether there are any rooms available?"
Rikku had been watching the travelers approach for a while now in order to avoid talking to Nooj. He was okay, but he could be a little creepy at times.
"Yeah, I think there's one left, I can bunk with Gippal and let you have it, and he's already sleeping anyway so he won't mind."
"Thanks, I'm Tanya by the way." The woman smiled.
"I'm Leo." The man beside her said. "We're heading for Bevelle to visit my family."
"Cool, you live in Luca then?"
"Yeah, is it that obvious?" Tanya laughed. Rikku just shrugged. "We're sorting out wedding ideas there."
"You're getting married? That's so cute!" Rikku squealed. "My cousins engaged too! And my best friend."
"What about you?" Leo asked as they moved into the Inn; only the receptionist was around.
"Just got into a relationship, but we've been friends for years." Rikku said absently.
"I'm sorry, but…" The receptionist began.
"It's okay, they can have my room." Rikku told the Al Bhed quickly. She handed the key to Tanya. "Luimt E ryja dra cbyna gao vun Gippal's nuus? E drehg ra mulgat ed." (Could I have the spare key for Gippal's room? I think he locked it.) She asked in Al Bhed, not wanting her new friends to hear in case they got the wrong idea.
"Cina" (Sure) The receptionist said, smirking a little. "Ryja y kuut hekrd." (Have a good night.) Rikku ignored the hidden implication and turned back around after she had the key.
"You guys must be tired, but do you want to meet my friends? We're gonna have a late meal before we go to sleep…except Gippal, because he's already asleep."
"Sure, we'd love to. When are you eating?"
"About nine thirty, so in ten minutes. See ya then!" Rikku grinned before she made her way towards Gippal's room. She could only hope he slept in his clothes.
Yuna and Tidus were the second to arrive in the small back room used for eating. Paine was already there waiting, unable to do in her room while Baralai was talking to Nooj.
"Rikku's not here? I wonder where she went." Yuna said, sighing.
"She'll be here soon." Paine said in a bored tone. "She's probably gone to wear herself out a little with fighting fiends."
"But she shouldn't go alone, especially when she's getting so fed up of fighting all the time and that man's still releasing machina." Yuna said, worriedly pacing about.
"She can handle herself." The Baralai interrupted as he entered the room. "She's a good fighter."
"But if she's out numbered…"
"Who's outnumbered?" Rikku asked as she walked in. "Hey, I invited some people staying here to eat with us. Is that alright?"
"We don't really have a choice now." Paine muttered.
"Where were you?" Yuna questioned angrily.
"In Gippal's room, I gave my room to the two people so I have to share with Gippal. I…" Her face was a shade of red now, which made Tidus smile broadly.
"You didn't know it was a double bed, did you?"
"I'm sleeping on the floor." Rikku told him firmly.
"He's practically in a coma anyway, so what's the…ohf!" He finished after a warning elbowing from Yuna.
"Do whatever you feel comfortable with." She said sweetly. Paine just rolled his eyes.
"So what did Nooj say?"
"Everything is fine in Kilika, no fighting. It seems they believed the Al Bhed when they explained the machina is stolen parts and not under their control."
"That's a relief." Yuna breathed.
"Yht y crulg." (And a shock.) Rikku muttered a little bitterly.
"He's slightly concerned about Ormi and Logos not reaching the Island yet, but besides that everything is fine."
"That's good news, now we just have to worry about the man with his machina."
"Oh Leo, its High Summoner Yuna!" Tanya's voice interrupted.
It wasn't until after Rin had helped with making the potion before he asked Gippal what he need help from.
"He kills people, he killed that woman in Guadosalam and he wants to kill you." Gippal told him, not looking away from his potion. "I don't want to have to be afraid anymore."
"Are you sure? What about your mother?"
"She loves him too much to leave him. She won't even leave for me. She keeps hoping he'll become who he used to be before he was a murderer."
"And who was he?" Rin asked softly, Gippal knew he still wasn't sure whether to believe him.
"I don't know; I never met him. But he was called Cameo." That caused Rin to stiffen. Gippal guessed all the Al Bheds would have heard that name.
"So that woman was Acacia…and you are the child she was carrying when she left Home." Gippal just nodded.
"Can you help?"
"I know a man staying here that could." Rin said. "I'll go get him." Gippal didn't move as Rin disappeared, too afraid of what he was about to do. Could he really do it? Could he really finally escape them?
"This is Cameo's son?" Asked a new voice. Gippal looked up and saw a man a little older than Rin standing there, looking grave. "He looks a mess to me." Gippal blushed slightly, realising his hair was cut at different lengths and his body was bruised all over. But he felt confident with this man, just knowing he was a good person.
"Here." Gippal said; pulling out the sphere with the Home coordinates stored inside. "The Guados had it, the man wanted it. Please take it, make sure they don't get it. I'm too small to protect it." The two Al Bhed men studied the men in a state of shock and then began talking lowly to themselves, glancing at Gippal every so often.
"Lance!" The man's voice suddenly interrupted. He stood behind them, with Acacia nearby, pointing a gun in the man's direction. "So you still live."
"Cameo." Lance said calmly. "I see you are still suffering from the toxin."
"Don't call me that! I have waited for this day a long time."
"NO!" Gippal screamed, standing in front of Lance. "Don't you dare hurt him!"
"OUT OF MY WAY!" The man screamed, and fired.
At five in the morning everyone in the Travel Inn was sleeping soundly and was at first unaware of the machina striding across the Thunder Plains, barging through any fiends that tried to block its way. It was the receptionist who woke first, but that wasn't until the machina was arranging its two large flat arms to clamp down on either side of the building.
"Cred! Ed'c rika!" (It's huge!) He burst out as a loud bang echoed through the Inn, waking all its other occupants up. "Ajanouha kad uid!" (Everyone get out!) The Al Bhed quickly ran out to the front and grabbed as many items as he could, stuffing them into a bag. Rin wouldn't be happy if he didn't at least try to save some.
"What's going on?" Leo asked, Tanya by his side. Yuna and Tidus arrived at the reception next.
"You have to leave now!" Yuna told the three of them sternly. "The machina is after us, not you. So just slip out and head towards the woods, it won't follow you." The three nodded, knowing it was pointless to stay, if the High Summoner couldn't defeat it then they didn't stand a chance.
"Thank you Lady Yuna, please say farewell to Rikku for me." Tanya said before turning and exiting the crumbling Inn.
"Gippal! GIPPAL! YOU HAVE TO WAKE UP! FYGA IB HUF!" (WAKE UP NOW!) Rikku screamed, beginning to grow fearful. They needed to fight, but they had to get out of the Inn before it was crumbled to bits. Gippal had another two hours of sleeping before the potion wore off. "FYGA IB! FA'NA KUHHY PA VMYDDAHAT EV OUI TUH'D!" (WAKE UP! WE'RE GONNA BE FLATTENED IF YOU DON'T!)
"Fryd?" (What?) Gippal muttered sleepily, his eyes half open. "Fro yna oui eh so nuus?" (Why are you in my room?)
"Gippal, you have to stand up, can you do that? GIPPAL!" She screamed and hit him when he closed his eye again. She began shaking him. "I need you to stay awake!" That seemed to work better, but he was far from being awake, more like a zombie. He was so quiet it was scary. "Come on Gippal, lean on me and stand up." Gippal tried to help, but it wasn't working, he was too drugged to even control his legs.
We're going to die Rikku thought in a panic, which gave her the strength to drag him out of the room. Tidus and Baralai were in the corridor.
"He's still drugged up." Rikku explained. "He can barely stay awake let alone move." The two men just nodded.
"We'll have to carry him then." Tidus yelled over the crumbling noise and wrapped on of Gippal's arms around his shoulder. Baralai did the same and the two began to drag Gippal down the corridor. Rikku followed close behind, glancing nervously as the ceiling started to crack under the pressure of the machina arms.
"WATCH OUT!" She screamed just as a chunk began to fall on them…