Words left unspoken
Hi everyone! I only made you wait a week –evil grin-. Lol, just to warn you, it gets pretty weird from here, but there is a good reason, which would be the main plotline for the sequel. I have loads of ideas for that now, so I will be writing it…when I will is another issue. This isn't a long chapter, just a filler before the final battle begins, which is in three parts. So I hope you enjoy!
The Final Fantasy: really? Cool
FairyIce: here it is!
Sweet Raine: lol, cause I'm evil. Don' worry, you'll see what happened in this chapter!
babixwolf: yep, but for how long is the main question. Stop torturing you? Lol, sorry, but I have no choice.
Jezzi: Here's he update!
Sweet Demon Slayer: sorry about the cliffy, but here's the update!
Shakai: evil, aren't I? I think the next three chapter endings will be cliffys as well, sorry about that. Lol, glad you like it, nice to know I'm improving, although I'm gonna do a lot of work on A new soul once this is finished. –grabs chibi Turk- cute!
kairiyuna14: an update? Yay! –goes to read-
Back of Beyond: It gets stranger, just to warn you. Hope you'll still like it though!
Trapped
I never realised a coma would be like this, but then again I should have expected it would be different from what I thought. Sleeping was. But this is beyond weird, I can hear everything yet I can't open my eyes or move my body. I can't let anyone know that I'm okay.
No one has told me what's happened to you, Rikku. I don't even know I am or who's here with me. I can hear voices nearby, but they're the umfamiliar gruff voices of the Ronsos. Where are you Rikku?
"Male Al Bhed has yet to wake up." Came one voice. I try to move, show them that my mind is still awake. I think my finger twitches, but that's all. "Elder, how is female?"
"Kimahri sent for help, Yuna will come, heal her." Once voice says confidently, who I recognise as my rescuer. "She will help this one as well."
I wasn't so sure about that, how could Yuna cure a poison no one had come across before? But I just hope she can heal you in time, if she saves you then his life I'm in now will have been worth it.
"Bridge was destroyed." I wanted to scream out in frustration at hearing this. Yuna is you only chance. I-I couldn't bear the thought of you dead. Fayth help you RIkku, because I no longer can. I might as well be dead myself.
…I hate Cameo. I hate him more than I can ever show. How could he give up on the precious life he had so easily? How could he become the man? How could he hurt you?
I refuse to be like him. I refuse to give up. I refuse to let his poison stop me, after all, I am his son and I share only he has in his blood. Something I'm sure will help m overcome this poison. Not only that, but I have my insomnia, and I know that the toxin I've inherited has made it worse.
I refuse to stay like this. I will see this mission through, I will go after Cameo.
I feel my hand twitch, and I know I'll recover soon. I am trapped, but not for long.
He will you pay for what he did to you.
Yuna had resorted to a nervous pacing, silent tears running down her face as she continued to stare at the broken bridge. Beyond it Rikku's ruined Machina Maw was all easy to spot. Yet they couldn't get across they couldn't see if her cousin was safe.
"Kimahri will have found her." Tidus reassured her, desperate to keep her calm. "He'll take care of her."
"But she might need healing, she might already be…" Yuna couldn't finish, too overcome be helpless sobs to continue the thought.
"Yuna, if she were dead then Kimahri would be on the other side of the bridge telling us so. You have to keep hoping for the best. Rikku's strong, she'll be okay." He assured her.
"But she was so upset." Yuna whispered, stopping her pacing and sinking to the ground. "And I didn't stop her."
"None of this is your fault Yuna." Tidus said firmly. "Rikku ud just beginning to find her own story, and you can't keep coming to the rescue, no matter how much you want to."
Yuna looked up at him in surprise. Tidus understood. Hadn't he done what Yuna ws meant to? During her prilgrimage he had let her continue her journey even when he knew what would happen. He'd realised she couldn't stop. And…he gave up his story to her by fading away. Was she now meant to give up her story and allow Rikku to continue alone? Leaving her to fight this battle with Gippal by her side?
"But this isn't her story, its Gippal's past they're facing." Yuna said finally.
"Yeah…but she's a part of it, like you were with mine, and I with yours. Her story will come next, but we have to let her be in his alone before that can happen. She needs that to find peace, like we have." Tidus had knelt down beside her now, wrapping her in a warm embrace.
"…So what do we do now?" Yuna asked quietly.
"We wait, wait and see how it all ends. We're not involved in this battle Yuna; it's for those who have suffered in the past by him. Not us."
Yuna would never fully understand how Tidus had become so wise, but she knew it was all true. This was no longer her story, she was no longer responsible. The idea made an unseen weight leave her, and fot the first time in years she felt as though she could breathe freely. But she still had a small part to play, to ensure her cousin was alive and reasy, to ensure she would finish this story for them all.
The deathinging sound of an approaching airship filled their ears and the two stood slowly, walking back throught the small rock passage to the Calm Lands.
There, outside the Travel Inn, was the Celsius.
"Owie." Rikku muttered, slowly beginning to open her eyes. Her side felt as if it were aflame every time she moved, and her head was pounding in protest of having to think. "Frana ys E?" (Where am I?)
"Rikku awake, Kimahri glad."
"Kimahri?" Rikku askedm groaning. What was going on? What happened?
"Kimahri gave Rikku potions that she was carrying. Help to stop bleeding." Kimahri told her.
"Oh, thanks." I remember the machina, and its beak, then someone shouting…
Gippal!
"Where's the machina? Where's Gippal?" Rikku demanded, sitting up and receiving a searing pain for her effort. "Is he okay?"
"Machina destroyed, Rikku's too." Kimahri told her, rikku groaned, her Machina Maw destroyed?
"Never mind that, where's Gippal?" She insisted; dread beginning to take hold of her. "Is…is he alive?"
"Al Bhed male with strange eye is sleeping, yet to wake." Kimahri told her. "Kimahri worried."
Oh no…
"Is he hurt?" Rikku asked quietly, feeling herself go pale.
"This Gippal man used strange weapon to shock machina, but shocked self too. Asked Kimahri to help Rikku before he passed out." Kimahri reported.
"I want to see him." Rikku demanded. Kimahri just nodded and moved to pick her up. It was only then Rikku noticed she was in a tent, one specifically put up for her. She ignored the pain of being moved…and the humiliation of being carried while Kimahri exited the tent. She groaned slightly as she moved her head, seeing she was at the entrance to Mt. Gagazet, which was warmer than further up. Rikku took in a deep breath of the frosty air, needing to feel alive again.
"Gippal in other tent." Kimahri explained, carrying Rikku a few paces to the tent next to hers. "Close so Kimahri could watch over both."
"Thanks for everything Kimahri." Rikku told him weakly, almost near tears. If it hadn't been for him, who knows what would have happened to Gippal.
They entered the tent where Rikku instantly spotted the sleeping Gippal, who was being examined by a female Ronso. The Ronso glanced up and bowed her head in respect.
"Kendra has seen no changes." She reported, before standing and leaving. Kimahri just grunted before setting Rikku down next to where Gippal lay.
"Gippal?" Rikku asked, taking his hold of one of his hand tightly. She noticed he was still in his special dressphere, and also saw his weapon lying nearby. Anger boiled up in her at the sight. "I can't believe you! You promised you wouldn't use that stupid thing!" She dropped his hand and began rummaging in his pockets beneath the armour, not noticing his hand twitch in response to the sudden lack of her touch.
Rikku ignored the pain from her side and continued to search, finally finding Gippal's usual Alchemist dressphere and activating it. At least now he would be able to breathe properly, and his eye socket would stop bleeding. It was only then Rikku noticed how pale he looked, and how cold his skin seemed…
"Rikku!" Yuna burst out as she entered the tent, seeing her cousin pale but alive. "I was so worried." Rikku turned to face her with blank eyes, which made Yuna stop in shock. ""R-Rikku?""He won't wake up Yunie, and he's so cold…" She whispered, her voice cracking with tears. At her words Yuna felt herself tuen cold with dread as she stumbled over to Gippal's side, instantly checking for a pulse. "He's still breathing." Rikku told her blankly, slightly aware that the others had now entered the tent, as well as Cid and Brother.
Baralai politely moved forward to stand over Yuna, who was now in White Mage form and casting a cure spell on the motionless Gippal. Baralai knew then, when the magic failed, what Gippal was suffering from. He sighed heavily, but remained quiet long enough to heal Rikku before explaining.
"He appeared to have the same symptoms as the Al Bhed we found in Macalania." Yuna looked up at him in surprise.
"But how?" She asked. "It doesn't make sense."
"Before you healed him, did he have any bite marks?" Paine asked.
"No, just badly bruised shoulders; and an injury to his right…eye." Yuna told her. "But that must have been from the battle with the machina." She explained. "And Kimahri said he was awake he found the, do how can he be comatose now?"
"Cameo." Came Cid's unexpected answer, who then shoved past everyone to take a close look at Gippal and his daughter. "You alright?" He asked her.
"What did you say?" Rikku asked. Cid took a moment to check her over before replying.
"After the….accident Cameo began experimenting with poisons, developing new types. I think at first he was trying to develop a cure for himself, but it soon turned into a project to hurt others. He'd test them on fiends and I remember one sent them into a comatose state, making them as cold and pale as death.
"Yet he had a theory that they were still aware of everything, but are just unable to control their own bodies." Cid coughed a little, turning away from Rikku and facing Gippal. No one protested when he opened the Al Bhed's mouth, they were too shocked to by the bizarre action to. "Look in there, his tongue is blue because that was the colour of the poison. They ain't bitten, but are forced to swallow it."
"So the machina had it in it's beak." Rikku concluded. "Which the man was controlling."
"Is there a cure?" Baralai asked, glancing at his still friend with new determination.
"Not that I know of…but Cameo did make it, he should know the cure." Cid said slowly. "But I doubt he'd tell ya."
"Ra femm." (He will) Rikku said firmly, standing up and gripping her daggers. "E'mm syga cina uv dryd. " (I'll make sure of that.)
"Ya can't just go marching up to him Rikku." Cid said as calmly as he could, which wasn't much. "I used to know him, I've faced him before! We have to think of a plan, but firstly I'm gonna get an empty bottle to put some of this poison in." He explained, wiping a finger across finger's tongue. "You just wait here and talk to him; after all, he is still aware of everything."
No one stopped him leaving, but Rikku desperately wanted to ignore his command. How could she just sit here when there was a way to cure Gippal?
"Rikku." Yuna beganm as if knowing what she was thinking. "Cid's right, Gippal needs you right now. Besides, you need to rest after the battle you've been through." Rikku just sighed in defeat and knelt down next to Gippal.
We'll finish it together.
"Okay Yunie, I'll wait." She promised, taking hold of Gippal's hand, not noticing slight squeeze he gave her in response.
As night fell over the mountain Paine found herself hovering outside Gippal's tent, unsure whether she dared to enter. Rikku had fallen asleep at his side an hour ago while the others were waiting patiently for Cid to exit the ship and provide a briefing on what to expect.
Yuna and Tidus had claimed the other tent, where Paine could hear them talking quietly; deciding what to do now that Gippal could no longer help in the fight.
"…The best help for you in Bevelle once this is over." She heard Baralai say softly, he'd entered the tent ten minutes ago and had been talking softly to Gippal ever since, careful not to wake Rikku.
He looks so helpless. She thought with a shiver. Just like he once was against his father, just like I was against… Paine tried to shove the memory aside, glaring at the snow instead. She didn't want to remember that, never. Gippal may have suffered abuse like she did, but it wouldn't help either of them to talk about it. Gippal had, and now he was in a coma.
"Will it ever end?" She asked absently, sighing heavily. "Can you ever escape the past?"
"I thought the idea was to face it." Came a warm voice behind her, one which always brought a smile to her face.
"Like Gippal tried?" Paine countered.
"Is still trying Paine, don't talk as if he's dead." Baralai spoke firmly, almost sounding angry. "We are here to help him face the past, and we'd be there for you if you only let us."
"I don't think I can, not now, not yet." Silence fell on the two, but the Paine felt a hand on her shoulder which she held onto tightly.
"It's okay to be scared Paine, just don't keep it locked up for so long. Gippal tried that and you saw what almost happened."
No, that wouldn't happen to her. She was stronger than that.
…wasn't she?
"I don't have to know Paine, just do what feels right." Baralai assured her.
"…Let's just go talk to Gippal more, someone needs to entertain him."
Rikku was dreaming as she lay asleep next to Gippal, dreaming of the last time she'd seen him in such a weak, helpless state…
The thirteen year old Rikku was sobbing heartily, hiding at Lance's house from her family. She didn't want them to see her like this, not when she'd promised herself to be strong for them.
"Cid's girl, are you alright? What are you doing here?" Gippal asked uncertainly as he entered the room, his room. He was hiding something behind his back, but Rikku barely noticed through her tears.
"She has it Gippal! I know she does! Mum's so tired all the time! And y-yesterday I caught her buying some of Rin's potion, the one that he made to slow the effects." At hearing this Gippal blushed guiltily, stuffing whatever had been behind his back into a drawer. "I don't know what I'd do if she died!"
"Ree, calm down, maybe she was just buying it for someone else." Gippal said meaningfully, but Rikku didn't notice the hidden meaning. "And even if she does have it, there's a chance she'll be okay."
"But so many have died already, people are beginning to think about leaving Home! No one knows what t-to do!" Rikku wailed.
"Lance and Rin think it's some kind of poison put in the food or water, they just have to find out which one. But they know the fish are okay, because we catch them from the sea, so just eat fish for now." Gippal told her, sitting next to her on his bed and holding her close.
"Okay." She sniffed, hiding in his chest with a sigh. Being near Gippal always made her feel so much better, and especially when he was acting nice.
"You alright there?" Lance shouted to them as entered the one floored house. It was a small place, but Rikku loved it here, seeing Gippal and Lance always make a mess in the three rooms there were. Rikku liked to think she added a unique woman's touch that was needed…by helping Gippal decorate his room with feathers and sand. Even Lance had insisted they clean up after that.
"Yeah." Gippal called back softly. "Can Cid's girl stay for lunch?"
"It's fish on the menu." Lance said as an answer. "You can come help cook it." Rikku giggled at the command, she loved Lance, he was so relaxed and friendly with Gippal; the complete opposite of her pops, who was always busy and tried too hard.
"You up to it?" Gippal asked her softly. "I can tell him to shove off if you're not." Rikku laughed again, loving the small family even more for being so understanding.
"No, I'm okay. Maybe if I help here I can cook the fish at home so mum won't eat anything poisoned."
"Yeah." Gippal agreed, pulling her up and wiping away any traces of tears. "Lance is a pretty good cook when he tries. Let's go."
"…Thanks Gippal." Rikku told him, smiling at him happily before heading towards the door. Gippal beamed back, glad to see her smile…but then his smile faltered as a wave of dizziness overwhelmed him.
No, not now. He begged
"Gippal, are you coming?" Rikku called, turning back. Her smile fell when she saw him sway and grab onto his desk for support. He'd gone deathly pale. "Oh fayth Gippal, please no…" She began to babble.
"It's not that Rikku." He said weakly, not wanting to cause her anymore pain. "I just haven't slept in a while, you know how I get." But Rikku wasn't listening, she knew it wasn't that. He'd called her by her full name; he only did that when something was seriously wrong. Before he could protest Rikku opened the drawer he'd stowed whatever had been hidden behind his back. And then at seeing what lay there she began to cry again.
It was a potion. One of Rin's new green coloured ones to fight off the poison. Not only that, but it was the one she'd seen her mother buy, she could tell by the number '112' it was labeled as.
"Gippal." She begged, watching him smile weakly.
"I told you your mum was okay." He said weakly before stumbling and collapsing completely. For a moment Rikku couldn't speak. Couldn't move. Couldn't even breathe.
Gippla was always the strong one, he was the one who made her feel stronger, and now…
Please no.
"LANCE!" She screamed over and over, unable to do anything more. Not daring to go near Gippal. It would make it all too real; this just wasn't possible!
He can't die. Please don't let him die…
Paine sat down awkwardly, noticing Rikku was frowning deeply in her sleep.
"She really needs you right now." She muttered to Gippal's still form. She noticed a slight twitch of his fingers and smiled widely. Gippal was definitely a fighter. "You still owe me a thank you for slapping you." She added. Paine heard Baralai chuckle behind her and the sound gave her strength. "And you have to wake up so you and I can have a nice long talk.
"We…we share a similar experience, and I know that you know that; Rikku has a big mouth. I…I really want to talk to you about it because…I need to know how you cope with it. I've tried forgetting about it but it won't work. I need your help in facing it, in understanding everything. So…so you better wake up soon, because we all need your help in ending this."
Baralai's hand gently touched her and Paine sighed. It was hard for her to open up, to show she was vulnerable like everyone else. So she allowed herself to enjoy his touch and let him wipe away the single tear that was on her cheek.
Rikku sat silently sat beside Lance in the medical room, tears still running down her face. Lance had a comforting arm around her, but was too worried himself to supply any encouraging words. All Rikku could think about was how pale Gippal had looked when he hit the floor and how alone she felt when his eyes were closed.
"Rikku honey." Came Lidea's voice. Rikku looked up and felt her strength fade, throwing herself in her mother's arms and crying whole heartedly.
"H-he was so pale." She sobbed, wishing she could erase the memory forever. "H-he can't die! He can't!"
"Don't worry honey, Gippal's a strong person, he'll fight this." Lidea told her, but Rikku didn't register her words.
"He's my friend, he's my friend…"
"How yer coping Lance?" Cid asked his old friend, who hadn't moved when they came in. lance didn't even look up at Cid.
"I can't lose him." He said simply. "I won't." Cid said nothing, unsure if he could. The two men had seen all of the horror Cameo had caused, yet his son had become Lance's lifeline from wallowing in guilt. He gave Lance a reason to believe in people again. "I made him just eat fish, I don't know how this happened."
"What about water?" Cid asked. "Has he drunk anything different?" Lance just shook his head.
"He's always drinking that potion stuff." Brother muttered. For once, he's actually said something smart.
"It could be possible." Lidea breathed. "If the poison was in one of the ingredients to it, one of those we get from off the island…"
"One other people use as a spice in his food." Lance added. "He always adds that stinky spice so he'll wake up jumping out of bed."
"Are you all here to see Gippal?" One of the Al Bhed healers asked. "He's awake now, he's still feeling weak, but he's okay for visitors." Rikku instantly left her mother's embrace and ran into the room, searching frantically for Gippal's bed. She'd only been here once before, and that was when Gippal had lost his eye saving her from the Zuu.
"Gippal!" She called out, running to his bedside. His face looked as white as his sheets, but despite that he had a strong smile on his face.
"Hey Ree." He managed to say. "I think you were right about my spice, the smell really did do me some harm." He joked, but the statement made Rikku choke down a sob. Trust Gippal to figure it out as soon as he woke up.
"How you doing kid?" lance asked as soon as he'd arrived.
"I had a dream while I slept." Gippal muttered sleepily. "It was about him."
"Who?" Rikku asked.
"Don't question the kid so much Rikku." Cid broke in nervously." We have to ask him about the spice he uses before you tire him out." To everyone's surprise Gippal let out a pained sob.
"I'm so sorry, I should have known, I should have told you to eat only fish."
"Shush, its okay sweetie, none of this is your fault." Lidea soothed; a sad smile on her face.
"Mum?" Rikku asked, Lidea hugged her daughter tightly as well as her son, while she looked up at her husband.
"The poison was mixed into the Moonflow spice Cid, the one I put on my food. I've been poisoned too."
No one spoke after her words; no one knew what to say. All Rikku could think over and over through her shock was:
My mother and best friend are dying…
Cid sat down in the pilot's seat with a deep sigh. Rikku was going to hate him for doing this, but he needed to so it. He had to face Cameo alone.
It had been over eighteen years since he'd seen him, a lifetime of pain and anger was what Cid felt after. He lost so much in the upcoming years because of that day, he lost so, so much.
Lidea.
Now that Cid knew he was alive he had no doubt it was Cameo who'd poisoned the spice sent to the desert. Only he knew that the extra ingredient Gippal used would be the same one Lidea added onto her food. It would have been perfect for him. He'd planned to destroy Cid's reason for living as well as killing the son he so as a traitor.
"E's lusehk Cameo, vehymmo fa'mm aht fryd pakyh cu muhk yku." (I'm coming Cameo, finally we'll end what began so long ago.)
"What are you doing here?" Paine asked as Brother entered the tent.
"Father wanted me to bring a potion down." He grumbled.
"We already have plenty but thank you." Baralai told him politely. It was then they heard the sound of the Celsius' engine.
"Fryd'c kuehk uh?" (What's going on?) Rikku moaned as the noise disturbed her. It took her a moment to recognise the noise, but once she did all sleepiness evaporated. "Bubc! Lusa pylg!" (Pops! Come back!)