Words left unspoken
Hi! I'm so happy! My sister's wedding was a few days ago and she looked so beautiful and happy! I can't believe it! I love her to bits and its great to see her so happy! And James is such a nice guy, just like a real brother.
Anyway, that's why I didn't post straight after I got back from Scotland, but I have written a few chapters. I haven't quite finished the fic though like I thought I would, cause I had to read a lot on the holiday too (and then actually do some walks, damn parents, lol). But the next chapter gets kind of strange, but with a good reason honest. It has to do with a possible sequel.
Yep, sequel. When I posted the last chapter I was positive there wouldn't be one, but after writing this and the next chapter I got an idea. But I'll wait to see the reaction to the ending of this first before thinking of that. So let me know what you think about the idea. I'll probably write Three Years of Surviving You first, and finish my ff9 fic if I do actually decide to write it. if I do, the title will be 'Words Now Forgotten'. But beware, it will be angst centered.
Okay, the action is here! Not a lot, I admit, but the last three chapters of this fic (not including the epilogue) will be mostly action! Somehow I've managed to plan out the final battle over three chapters instead of two now, so there's five more chapters still after this one!
In the absence of sight: 6
Three years of surviving you: 7
Tale of two Gippals: 4
babiixwolf: lol, glad you liked it! they have a little argument in this, but I hope you still think its cute!
Shakai: lol! You made me laugh so hard about the Seymour key chain! Yeah, if only they did and Aeries and Shelinda one –evil grin- that would be fun. I plan to hurt Shelinda in some way, maybe the sequel will hold the chance, or the other stories I'm planning…and yeah, I think Gippal's the best male in ffx-2; he has such a cool attitude with everyone, its funny. Anyway, I'm glad you're enjoying this! The end is nigh! And then I'll finish New Soul (eventually)
Emmy-miester: Sleep tight!
Master Thief: here's the update!
Back of Beyond: don't worry, he'll go a little insane later, that's all the hint you're getting though. Lol.
Violent: lol, five chapters more now, I've seemed to have picked up an extra one now. Lol, the fan fiction lord, maybe it was him who put the sequel idea in my head then.
kairiyuna14: yay! I can't wait to see how yours ends! I love it to bits! I sort of have fluff in the next chapter to come; you'll see what I mean. But there's some in this, with Rikku being all concerned for Gippal again. Hope you enjoy!
Red2White: thanks! And here's the update!
FairyIce: lol, glad you liked that part, I loved writing that scene.
oOoRikku4EveroOo: Thanks!
Poison
I was an idiot. How could I ever doubt you Rikku? You always come to my rescue, and this time was no different. You made me realise everything can still work out, that the future will be a good one as long as we pull through. I'm still terrified about facing him, he's like the bogeyman to me; he's my childhood fear that you have to face. I don't want to face him, but I will. Because I'm not alone, I'll never be alone again.
I have a new fear now though, that you will see the likeliness between me and him. Will you see I'm like him? Will you think that one day I might become him?
No, that's stupid. I'm not a killer who thinks he's some angel of mercy. But I am his son, I have his blood. The accident…it happened before I was born, which means the toxin that affected him could be passed into my system. Maybe one day it will cause me to go crazy; that's what really terrifies me.
Once everyone finds out about it, people will come to the same conclusion. I don't want to be thought of as a threat, and I don't want to have the suspicion proven right. They would separate us, and I couldn't face that.
But even with that idea I know we have to do this. It's the only chance of happiness we have. Plus he has to be stopped, even when in his twisted mind he thinks he's doing the world some good. I should have stopped him a long time ago, but I was alone. Mum had given up, just like I almost did just now. But now I have you and our friends, I'm not alone in this.
When I first met Nooj and found out about him being a Deathseeker, I lost respect for him. I'm a hypocrite that way. After what I've been through I assumed no one could have it worse, that because I survived no one else has the right to want to die. I've done some growing up since then. Nooj lost more than two limbs, he lost self- respect and the future he had planned. I could never understand how bad that felt, and I had no right to judge him.
Now, yesterday when I almost lost myself, I finally understood what it was to lose hope for the future. Even back when I traveled with the man I had the plan to escape; it's what I lived for. But Nooj never had that, and that's why he hated living. I understand that now, and I refuse to end up in that way of life. Nooj got out of that with help, just like I did before I fell into it. Now I refuse to be too proud to ask for help, especially from you.
It's going to end soon, I can feel it. But I also know that it's not going to be an easy fight, its going to take everything we are to get through this. But I know we can do it, as long as we stay strong.
Together we can do this Rikku, together we can face the past. And I don't think its just mine we'll have to face before all this ends.
Gippal was snoring and Paine was far from happy with him. He may have been unable to wake despite any noise but Paine was a much lighter sleeper, and the walls weren't that thick to block out the thunderous snores.
"I'm going to kill him one of these days." She promised as she climbed off the bed and headed towards the reception area. She stopped, however, when she saw Rikku standing outside a bedroom door, a frown on her usual carefree face.
"Why are you up?" Paine asked, in no mood to sound friendly. Her tone didn't seem to affect the Al Bhed girl, who by now had long grown used to it.
"Gippal doesn't usually snore, I'm worried." Rikku told her, sounding tired, more tired than Paine had ever remembered her being.
"He's probably doing it on purpose just to annoy us." Paine muttered, not worried. When Gippal and Rikku had returned from he seemed a lot calmer than when he was in the woods, almost appearing to be at peace. At least he wasn't losing his mind anymore.
"It has something to do with the man." Rikku told her confidently. "He's haunting Gippal even in a drugged sleep. I think this snoring is the closest he can get to crying from the memories without losing control."
Paine thought this theory was as likely as Nooj announcing his undying love for a cactuar, but she forced herself to remain silent. For once she knew Rikku would definitely not appreciate her level-headedness.
"Maybe." She said eventually. "You should ask him if he remembers any dreams he had once he wakes up." With that said Paine began to continue her journey to the reception area, feeling slightly annoyed when Rikku began to follow. She needed some time alone to think.
"Paine…did you get abused when you were younger?" The younger girl suddenly burst out, causing the crimson eyed warrior to stop in her shock.
"What do you mean?" Paine asked eventually, trying to avoid any emotions showing in the question.
"It's just…Gippal thought there was another reason you wanted him to felt a grip over his emotions. He thought that you might know how it feels to…to be unable to fight your enemy, enable to escape the past."
Paine didn't say anything, but she didn't start walking either. After so long of trying to hide it…was it really that obvious she was just a weak victim?
"Paine?" Rikku asked quietly. "I know you probably don't want to talk about it, but Gippal has some idea how it feels. You should talk to him…or at least listen when he tries to talk to you. I know he wants to thank you for knocking some sense into him before."
"I'm surprised; I thought you'd be nagging me to spill my secrets Rikku." If she'd turned around to face her friend she would have seen a sheepish grin on her face.
"I know, but after hearing Gippal's story I realised you can't pressure people, if they tell you before they're ready it can be disasterific! I know you'll tell people of you're ready, but until then I can't force you. Gippal knows that, he's going through it too, he can help you Paine. You can help each other. "
"I'll think about it." Paine told her, in a ton that concluded the topic. She turned around then to see RIkku smile. And then Paine realised talking to Gippal may help him as much as it would her.
"Great! Now let's get something to eat!" Rikku said, jumping up and down like a little kid.
"It's four in the morning Rikku."
"Yeah! Time to put some sugar in our system!"
Gippal woke to find a pool of drool on his pillow, which he grunted at, convincing himself someone had put it there as a joke. He didn't like to think that he drooled when he had a certain image to uphold.
Usually when Gippal awakened from his drugged sleep he could jump out of bed and about instantly like a hyper six-year-old. But today he wasn't feeling as refreshed as usual; he felt the need to close his eye again, but knew he couldn't fall to sleep without another dose of potion. He only had two left now.
Please don't say I'm growing immune. He begged silently, while climbing out of bed and heading towards the table. There was a bowl of water on it for washing, which Gippal poured on his head to wake his brain. Maybe the stress is just getting to my subconscious.
"Gippal it's nine 'o' clock, are you awake?" Rikku shouted from the dining area. By this time Gippal was fully dressed, not caring that he'd splashed his pants when pouring the water on his head. He sighed, trying to find his usual cheerful attitude after a twelve hour sleep, but he didn't feel as is it had been that long. What was wrong with him? "Gippal?"
"Pa nekrd drana!" (Be right there!) He called out, pinching himself a few times to wake up. He refused to worry Rikku with this; it was probably just a faulty potion.
It's starting, another part of him argued. I can't even escape his haunting in my sleep. It will end soon, or it will end me.
Tidus saw Rikku frown at Gippal's reply. They had all heard the slight defeated tone in his voice, the tiredness. Perhaps yesterday hadn't been as successful as they first with helping him overcome his fears. Yuna, having picked up on her cousin's concern, gently touched Rikku's arm in comfort.
"He'll probably feel better once we start moving." She said confidently. "Just give him some time." This was one of the many things Tidus loved about Yuna, she always knew what to say in order to lift people's hope. She was always so selfless.
"But Yunie, he was snoring last night!" Unfortunately not even Yuna could understand why this would affect his mental status. She just gave her cousin a puzzled look while tried his best not to laugh. Rikku looked so serious; he didn't want to offend her.
"Well…perhaps he just slept in an awkward position." Yuna tried. "Tidus snores all the time."
"Not all the time." Tidus felt he had to add, which made Rikku giggle.
"Maybe you're giving Gippal bad habits." Yuna teased, poking him lightly. Her made him just grin in reply, giving her a quick kiss despite Yuna's embarrassment to the bold action in public.
"Fro lyh'd fa ajan pa mega dryd eh bipmel?" (Why can't we ever be like that in public?) Gippal suddenly said, entering with a grin on his face. Ever since the journey had begun Tidus had been revising his Al Bhed, so he was able to understand the teasing statement.
To the surprise of everyone Rikku quickly jumped up from her chair and kissed the shocked Gippal almost desperately. Tidus felt himself blink in surprise, unable to form words. He'd never seen Rikku so bold with her affections before, and it seemed Gippal was just as confused that she'd taken his joke seriously. If what he said next was any indication.
"Kuey, are you okay?" Tidus winced at the glare Rikku gave Gippal for the question. This wasn't going to be pretty.
"Fryd tu oui sayh? Lyh'd E gecc so puovneaht fedruid paehk emm!" (What do you mean? Can't I kiss my boyfriend without being ill!)
"Oui ghuf dryd'c hud fryd e sayhd! Cusadrehk'c fnuhk, E lyh damm." (You know that's not what I meant! Something's wrong, I can tell.) Gippal snapped back, amazing Tidus by not backing down against the bad tempered Al Bhed.
"Why did you take so long to get up? Why do you look so tired?" Rikku demanded.
"Why do you need to know everything I do?" Gippal countered, although Tidus could see he was forcing his anger now. Rikku must have noticed this too, for she calmed and gave her boyfriend a searching look that he turned away from.
"Frah femm oui cdub retehk drehkc vnus sa?" (When will you stop hiding things from me?) She forced out, swallowing hard. Tidus couldn't be sure what Gippal felt then, but he did see the man flinch.
"Rikku…"
"You were snoring Gippal! Something is wrong with you!"
The room went silent after this outburst, but Tidus could see the unwilling smirk begin to creep onto Gippal's features.
"You know Kuey, I was drooling too; maybe I should take it easy today."
"Oui...oui ZANG!" (You...you JERK!) Rikku burst, shoving him roughly against the wall and storming out of the Inn.
"That was stupid." Paine commented. Tidus wasn't sure if it was Gippal's or Rikku's reaction she was talking about.
"Maybe you should go after her, she looked extremely upset." Baralai added. Gippal sighed, rubbed his eye tiredly and exited the Inn, heading after the Al Bhed girl.
"Do you think she's okay?" Tidus asked eventually in order to break the disturbing silence.
"She's just worrying herself too much, she'll be fine." Paine told him confidently, daring anyone to challenge her with her gaze. "Has that Al Bhed we found in Macalania woken up yet?"
With Yuna being distracted with for Rikku it was Tidus who answered the warrior's question.
"No, he seems to have fallen into a coma, but the staff here can't understand how or why. It doesn't make any sense, there's no sign of any bite or wound.
"Gippal thought he was poisoned." Baralai added. "Is there another way he could have been?"
"I'm no expert at this." Tidus confessed.
"Maybe we should find one." Yuna spoke up.
"Lyh'd oui tneja drec yho vycdan? Frana'c dra ahkeha bufan?" (Can't you drive this any faster? Where's the engine power?) Cid complained to his oldest child.
"Mad sa tu so zup vydran!" (Let me do my job father!) Brother yelled back. Buddy remained quiet, knowing better than to get involved in the argument.
"Ouin cecdan'c meva luimt tabaht uh ic kaddehk du Mushroom Rock xielgmo!" (Your sister's life could depend on us getting to Mushroom Rock quickly!)
"E ghuf dryd! Cdub bnaccinehk sa yht mad sa tneja!" (I know that! Stop pressuring me and let me drive!)
Cid sighed heavily, beginning to pace once more around the bridge. He's allowed his Rikku to be thrown into danger, again. And what had he been doing? Arranging plans for rebuilding a Home he'd lost long ago. He'd been chasing the past while his past was trying to kill his daughter.
…Cameo. It had been so long since Cid had last seen his friend. But whenever he'd looked at Gippal Cid could see the resemblance, and Cameo had continued to haunt him. He'd been hard on the kid because of it, and he wasn't proud of that, but it is how it is.
Lance had tried to recover from the betrayal of Cameo by adopting his son, making sure Gippal would turn out to be a strong morale Al Bhed. But Cid had never been able to face what happened. He could have died that day, not Lance, him. And Gippal's face reminded him of that pain every time they met. That had been the reason he'd threatened him to break-up with his daughter two years ago. He wasn't proud of it, but he'd rather hate himself than see Rikku go through what he did.
…And now Cameo was back, alive despite Lance's confirmation that Sin has killed him twelve years ago. He had never died, but he had still haunted so many.
"Oui paddan dyga lyna uv so tyikrdan Gippal." (You better take care of my daughter Gippal.) He muttered darkly during his pacing. After all these years he would finally come face to face with Cameo, who he hadn't seen since the night he'd left Home. Soon he would face his old friend…and only one of them would since the encounter, of that he was certain.
"Tneja vycdan Brother, ouin cecdan haatc ic. Yh umt vneaht haatc so ramb eh untan du pa vnaat vnus rec vyda." (Drive faster Brother, your sister needs us. An old friend needs my help in order to be freed from his fate.)
Gippal didn't catch up to Rikku until she'd reached the bridge leading towards the summit that was just before Gagazet Mountain.
"Kuey, fuimt oui cdub?" (Kuey, would you stop?) He demanded, beginning to lose patience. "E zicd tuh'd ihtancdyht fro oui'na cu ibcad!" (I just don't understand why you're so upset!) She finally stopped, whirling around so Gippal could see the tears in her eyes.
"E lyh'd pameaja oui tuh'd dyga sa caneuicmo! Yvdan ajanodrehk fa'ja paah drnuikr oui fuh'd ajah mecdah!" (I can't believe you don't take me seriously! After everything we've been through you won't even listen!) She fell to the ground, sobbing heartily while Gippal stood awkwardly. Why was she getting so upset over him snoring? How…how did she know when something was wrong even when she didn't fully realise what it was?
"Rikku, I…" Gippal began, but stopped as he saw something begin to swoop down towards her. "WATCH OUT!"
Nooj managed a neutral frown when Yuna appeared on the commsphere screen. It was the closest he could come to a smile in these troubled times.
"It's good to hear from you." He told her. "Is that the clam Lands you are in?"
"Yes, we're almost positive the man is in Zanarkand no…but there is a problem." Yuna began.
"I am already aware that the man is an Al Bhed, and Gippal's father. Lance has informed me of it."
"Oh." Yuna said. "Does the rest of Spira know?"
"Not yet, but they will eventually. We need you to bring Cameo back alive, to show Spira he's not like the other Al Bhed. At least then they'll be less likely to blame the entire Al Bhed race for this incident." Nooj told her, making Yuna want to shiver in dread at the idea, the Al Bhed wouldn't deserve that.
"Okay, we'll try. But Nooj that's not the reason I contacted you. There's an Al Bhed here who won't wake up, but we don't know why. Gippal thinks he's been poisoned but we can't be sure. I was wondering if you had any specialists that could help."
"Lady Yuna if I may." Came Baralai's voice just a moment before his face came into view. "Nooj, I have a team of White Mages who may be able to help, but I can't leave the mission to take the injured man to Bevelle. Can you send someone?"
Nooj began to mumble incoherently for a while before he looked back at the sphere.
"I might be able to help you. The Al Bhed leader Cid is on his way here. I wanted to learn everything about this Cameo and give you an advantage. If you wait there I will send him to you. He can tell you everything he knows and then take the injured Al Bhed to Bevelle."Nooj practically ordered. Yuna looked unsure about this plan, but he had no time to argue over it.
"I'm not sure we can wait for him." The ex-summoner told him after a pause. "Gippal and Rikku are very determined to keep going."
"Just try." Nooj said impatiently. "If you're not there I'll instruct Cid to go straight to Bevelle with the injured Al Bhed and you'll have to do without his help."
"Okay, thank you Nooj for all your help." Yuna said with a smile, Nooj just muttered under his breath again. He was about to wish them luck when Yuna's attention was diverted.
"There's a flying machina attacking near the bridge!" A young man yelled out.
"Nooj, I have to go." Yuna said hurriedly, breaking off the connection. Nooj sighed, hoping that they would be safe He tried to place his worries aside as he tried connecting to the Celsius.
Rikku didn't even register Gippal's warning, but she did feel him ram into her, knocking them both to the ground away from her last standing position. It was then she caught the glimpse of silver and felt the ground tremble from the force of the machina's attack. Right where she'd been standing.
"Ed'c vmoehk!" (It's flying!) Gippal yelled at her, scrambling to his feet."Ed'c vilgehk vmoehk!" (It's fucking flying!)
Rikku blinked at this, at first wondering why this had shocked him so much. After all watchers could fly, and airships…
…But one look at the machina made her realise why Gippal was panicking. It was a machina in the shape of a Zuu. A large Zuu, and the beak had already caused a large hole where she'd been previously standing.
"Buubea." (Poopie.) She muttered, pulling out her daggers. Gippal looked as if he was going to be sick, knowing more about the power it possessed than she did. After all, some of its parts were from the Machine Faction.
"Rikku; one blow with that beak and its over." Gippal told her. She gulped nervously but refused to give up to fear so easily.
"Hey birdie! You can't be that powerful if you can't aim properly!" She taunted, hearing Gippal groan beside her.
"Kuey, he can hear you!" He muttered, but Rikku just grinned and moved with lightening speed to attack the bird machina. One of her blades managed to graze it as it dodged away, preparing its own attack.
"Rikku suja!" (Rikku move!) Gippal screamed out, grabbing her roughly and hurling her out of danger. Rikku landed roughly near the bridge, muttering an 'owie' at her grazed elbow. The machina was faster than she'd anticipated, especially considering its enormous size. Gippal had already saved her life twice in less than two minutes!
"Frana ec ed?" (Where is it?) She asked, looking around as she stood. She took the chance to change to her Black Mage dressphere, hoping the magic spell would be more effective with hitting the fast enemy.
"Ed'c hayn." (It's near.) Gippal told her, moving to stand back-to-back with her. Seen as he had left his mortar behind to catch up with her, he had now instead changed into his own modified version of the Gun Mage dressphere. He'd made a habit of always carrying the dressphere since he'd managed to complete it, just in case he could grow closer to scanning the fiends he needed to. Beside him Rikku grinned in anticipation of the battle and began to charge a powerful Thundaga attack. Waiting.
Waiting…
Waiting.
"Tuh'd mad ouin kiynt tufh." (Don't let your guard down.) Gippal warned her, as if sensing her growing boredom. It was hard to stay battle-ready after five minutes of waiting, a charged spell still on hold. Holding it was beginning to tire her out.
"Gippal…"
"There!" He yelled, pointing to her left. Rikku could see it begin to race towards them and released her spell, hearing Gippal shot at the same time.
The bullet missed completely, but the spell managed to strike the tail. But to Rikku's disappointment Rikku saw a shell barrier come up against it.
"Rikku look! Even with shell on it's still damaged!" Gippal laughed. Rikku grinned, seeing the machina rush away from the spell, but its tail come crashing down on the bridge, causing it to collapse under the heavy metal.
"Remind me to make a modified Black Mage dressphere for myself when this is over." Gippal grinned.
"All I need is a clear shot at it." Rikku boasted. "Then I'll take it down!"
"Hand over my dressphere and I can distract it." Rikku risked a moment to give him a disapproving look.
"No way!" She told him.
"We don't have time to argue! I won't need to use any attacks but I need to look like a bigger threat than you." Rikku was almost flattered by the comment, almost. She remembered all too clearly what happened on Besaid when he used it, she didn't want him to die again, not even for a second.
"I don't like this." She said firmly, but grudgingly pulled out the sphere from her pocket and handed it over.
"E'mm pa lynavim, E bnuseca." (I'll be careful, I promise.) He told her, giving her a quick kiss before running some distance from her, transforming into his dressphere.
But to their surprise the machina didn't dive after Gippal, but instead went straight for the Al Bhed girl.
"RIKKU!"
The man grinned as he watched the scene, his hands working expertly over the controls of his precious machina. This was too easy, Gippal had though too highly of himself, believing he was the main target this time instead of his lover. That mistake would cost them both her life.
But before the machina could strike a bright light engulfed the girl; momentarily blinking him and causing him to pull the machina back.
"Huf E's syt!" (Now I'm mad!)
The man gritted his teeth in annoyance at the sound of her voice. How he hated the brat, the daughter of Cid. Unlike her father, who'd had the decency to hide away from the world, she ran around freely, thinking she were an equal. Yet she wasn't, she was an Al Bhed, she would never be an equal to the rest of Spira.
"Foolish girl." The man spat out, seeing she was now in her Machina Maw. "So predictable, do you really think your machina will be strong enough to compete with mine? I've built this beak using the ruins in Zanarkand. Nothing can compete with that power."
Apparently Gippal had realised this too, having inherited the man's brains.
"Rikku, ed fuh'd rumt. NIH!" (Rikku, it won't hold. RUN!) The man grinned at the panic in Gippal's voice before readying his own attack. Finally he would end this nuisance of a girl. "Cameo! Don't do it! Please!" Gippal begged, making the man smirk at such a pathetic display. Cameo was dead.
And now Rikku would be too.
"We're so sorry boss, it won't happen again!" Ormi promised to the image on the commsphere. Wakka sighed heavily as the Besaid Aurochs stood around, watching the humiliation of the two men all too eagerly. They had not been the best with the quiet island dwelling.
"I don't care about your excuses or promised; it's the heel for both of you when you get back! You made me fail my Noojie!"
Behind them a few sniggers could be heard from the team. Wakka was trying his best to contain himself, he could never be sure what Lulu would hear and scold him for.
"I want you back here immediately!" Leblanc finished. "Get the next boat to Kilika, I'll meet you there." She commanded, cutting off the connection. Both Ormi and Logos let out a sigh of relief, and then began arguing amongst themselves about whose fault it was that the boss was so angry at them.
"The next boat leaves in ten minutes, you better hurry." Botta spoke up, trying to be helpful. The two men fell quiet and leapt to their feet, racing off towards the beach.
"Finally, I wasn't sure how much more I could take." Wakka muttered, sighing loudly.
"After the report Shelinda made yesterday, I think they'll be needed soon once the man is caught." Lulu commented, coming up behind him with Vidina in her arms. "If it turns out he's Al Bhed, the ones on Kilika might need protection."
Wakka remained quiet at this, thinking back to two years ago when he himself was so prejudice against the desert dwellers. He had come a long way since then, and he would never forget it.
"Lu…"
"I know Wakka; you better hurry if you want to catch them." Wakka smiled, loving how understanding she always was.
"Thanks Lu, I'll be back as soon as this is all over."
"Rikku!" Gippal screamed, watching as the beak of the machina tore through the Machina Maw. He could hear Rikku's scream, an agonised sound that he knew would want him for the rest of his life. "RIKKU!" The bird had moved off into the air again, revealing the destruction of Rikku's Machina Maw.
Please no. Gippal silently begged, running over despite the heavy metal armour covering his body. Please let her be alive.
"Rikku?" Gippal asked, noticing her still form. He moved some of the now loose parts of the machina, uncovering the rest of her. She was bleeding freely at an alarming rate, but was pulse. "Don't worry Kuey, I'll get you help."
"And how will you do that?" Came an all too familiar voice, one that Gippal couldn't forget no matter how much he wanted to. Slowle he stood up, dreading what would happen next, knowing he couldn't escape it.
But instead of being faced with Cameo when he turned around, Gippal could only see the machina bird. The one he now realised Cameo was controlling manually.
"Hello Gippal." The bird spoke.
Throughout the last twelve years of his life Gippal had often imagined the reunion he might have with his father, but none of them had been like this. But then again, the man was only speaking through a machina, he wasn't actually here himself. And also unlike his imagined encounters Gippal didn't get the chance to reply.
The next thing Gippal was aware of was a searing pain in both his shoulders were the machina talons held him down, its beak horrifyingly close to his only eye.
"I've waited a long time for this moment." The bird told him, before the beak began to move…
Kimahri Ronso would not leave the mountain unless for a very important reason since becoming the Ronso Elder. But now he felt he had to leave and investigate the noise of battle coming just beyond the summit area. He felt that someone he knew was in grave danger.
"Elder?" A female Ronso spoke up. "Let Kendra come with you."
"Garik and Kendra will come with Kimahri." Kimahri confirmed. "But we go now."
Gippal coughed and spluttered as liquid fell from the open beak into his mouth. What was going on? One minute he thought he was about to lose his eye (if not more), and the next he was getting some type of substance splashed into his face.
"It will take five minute to work; then it will all be over." The bird said smugly.
Gippal froze in sudden realisation. Poison!
"S-so it was you who…" Gippal coughed, unable to sit up and stop himself choking when the bird's talons were pinning him down.
"Yes, the Al Bhed in the woods was my test subject with this poison. It's quite unique; any who swallow it fall into a coma, never to wake again. This way I won't have to see you face to face, which has always revolted me."
Gippal tried to register his words. A coma? He couldn't save Rikku if he was in a coma, he couldn't stop the man once and for all…
"Vilg oui!" (Fuck you!) He spat out, grabbing his weapon which lay in reach and firing the hook. Gippal knew the metal on his weapon had no chance of breaking through the machina bird's, so instead he aimed just over the cable would wrap around it and secure itself. His sudden action made the bird increase the pressure on his shoulders, but this only helped fight off the new wave of exhaustion Gippal was beginning to feel. The pain told him he was still alive. And with this thought in mind Gippal smile while letting loose the electric shock through the cables; all with enough pressure on the trigger.
The pain was as mind shockingly painful as it had been on Besaid; because he was under the machina's talons the current ran through him too. But at least the machina would go with him; this one was too vulnerable against thunder for a restart system to work.
And then suddenly the pain stopped for a moment before it returned. The machina bird released him but was now beginning to ascend to the air, taking Gippal with it, whose grip wouldn't leave his weapon.
The electric current was still coursing through the machina, but Gippal knew if the bird to the air it would reach a fairly dangerous height before collapsing…and he would die.
At least I won't end up in a coma. He thought as searing pain spread through his body, every muscle protesting against the movements. This was it, this was the end…
A sudden roar shook Gippal's mind away from the numbness threatening to take over. Then he felt a strong set of arms grab his legs, pulling him back to the ground. Whoever his rescuer was must have been strong, for even though the machina was damaged it wouldn't come down easily. Yet Gippal was aware of being in someone's grip while a loud thud informed him the machina was on the ground.
"It still sparkles." A deep voice spoke, causing Gippal's head a new wave of pain. Sparkles? Did he mean..?
"Press button." He muttered to his rescuer. "On weapon." He added trying to indicate the weapon in his hand. He couldn't unclench his grip around it, and hoped his rescuer could understand that.
"Kimahri understand." Came the response, and Gippal felt his right hand protest in pain as the weapon was removed.
"Rikku hurt. Help. Her." Gippal added before giving into blackness, knowing he would never wake up again.
Rikku…