One Day, We'll Meet Again
Chapter 8: Ice cream!
By: KawaiiLeena
Disclaimer: I do not own FFIX!
Wai… I only got few reviews last chapter… I feel sad… but no worries, after this chapter, if I don't have any REVIEWS, I'll DELETE it! BWAHAHAAHAH…
Ehem… back to the story… here's your chapter!
Chapter 8: Ice Cream!
"I…"
Eiko leans closer, so that she could somewhat hear what her friend is trying to say with her tiny and cracked voice, continued with soft sobs, when she was rudely interrupted with that Ruby.
"Is everything alright, Eiko?" Ruby asks with a worried frown. "Have you found Dagger yet?" she asks again from afar, Zidane by her side, also worried.
She turns to Dagger, waiting for her reply is she should say yes or no. Dagger immediately shakes her head furiously, then says, "Tell them you didn't found me… and go to them… I'll just catch up after a minute…" she smiles at her best friend. "… I just have to make this foolish tears go away."
Eiko sighs, but nods. She stands up and walks towards the others and responds to them with a cheerful smile, "Nope, haven't found her."
Zidane looks at her suspiciously, "Um… Eiko, why are wearing a smile like that?"
Eiko rolls her eyes as she replies back,"Why, is it a crime to smile? Am I not to smile inside your territory?" she crosses her arms and looks away, Vivi glaring at his business partner for making her mad.
Zidane swallows hard and replies, "No… no! It's not like that!" he scratches the back of his head, "I'm just curious why you are happy in this situation where Dagger is missing…"
Ruby turns to her manager and thinks, He must care deeply for this Dagger girl… and I am sure she also feels the same.
Eiko turns to the Joltan Company owner and smiles sheepishly, "Oh! You should've said that earlier!" she blushes. "Sorry for arguing you." Then she turns back to normal. "Well, I know Dagger enough. She'll be back after a minute. She must be chasing butterflies."
"Butterflies?" the trio, Ruby, Zidane and Vivi exclaims in unison, very surprised. Dagger looks more matured enough to be chasing… butterflies?
Eiko sweatdrops and scolds herself mentally and her big mouth, so she said quickly, "No! I mean… I think she's chasing flowers!" the trio again looks oddly at her. Dagger? Chasing flowers?
Ruby thinks for a while as she speaks up, "I didn't know flowers could run…"
Eiko again scolds herself personally and refrain from slapping her forehead, as she said calmly as she could, but not too convincing, "Oh… um… never mind what I said earlier! I am just a bit on the clouds today!"
Meanwhile…Dagger pulls her handkerchief and starts wiping her tears away that seem to be dwelling in her beautiful eyes, "Foolish tears… why do you keep coming?" she wipes them away. Then, suddenly, the image of Ruby and Zidane together appears in her mind once again, as another pack of water came into sight. "ARGH!"
Dagger takes a deep breath as she said to herself, "Calm yourself, Dagger. You are a fearless female of 21. You should not be shedding tears just because of a measly man who wouldn't even look your way." She takes a deep breath again. "There are many out there in the world, so, if he is already taken, then he wasn't meant to be yours. Now, this tears should permanently stop!"
But they kept adding.
"Stupid water that comes out of this eyes of mine…" she curses to herself. "Now, I'm going to make a vow… I will never cry for a man EVER again."
And what do you know, the tears stopped.
"Okay, now that worked," Dagger mumbles, amaze at her discovery. "Well, I better get back to them. Who knows what kinds of words that will slip in Eiko's mouth of hers." She giggles for the first time since she cried. "Go, Dagger… you can do this."
So, she stands up and walks calmly and coolly as she could back to the others, when she was surprised when the three of them suddenly surrounded her.
"Are you alright? Oh Gods, I thought you would never come back!" Zidane sighs, a panic that was earlier on his face fading away.
Next, was Vivi, "What kind of butterflies did you catch?"
Then, it was that Ruby. "How are you? How was it? Was it fun seeing flowers do a physical activity? Would you want to deliver your amazing discovery to the news?"
Dagger looks at each of them with a puzzled look, as they continue to rant at the same time, making her so confused and know not what to do. So, she only did what was appropriate. She yelled, "STOP!"
So, they stopped.
The brunette takes a deep breath before saying in a low tone, "What… are… you guys… talking ABOUT?" the trio looks at each other then starts talking again at the same time, making Dagger irritated.
"Can you guys speak one at a time, please?" Dagger requests, annoyance in her voice that made them stop. "There, that's better. Now, what's going on, please? I don't want to be left out, you know."
"Well, Eiko Carol said that maybe you were out and suddenly got kidnapped by terrorists, but said you would come back because you know martial arts," Zidane told her. Dagger looks at him shocked. Her? Get kidnapped, by TERRORISTS? That's the lame excuse ever! And she knows no martial arts!
"Actually, Eiko told us that you were out chasing butterflies," Vivi says in a low and shy voice. Dagger looks at him more shocked. Her? Chasing butterflies? Now that's another lame excuse! She's too old for that childish play!
"Eiko-san told us that you maybe you were out chasing flowers. I didn't know flowers run!" Ruby wonders out loud. Dagger was shocked than ever! Chasing Flowers? How silly could that get? Besides, flowers DON'T run!
Dagger sighs and says in a certain tone, "Okay, the things that you all told me aren't true, they are just things that would eventually slip in Eiko's big tongue, right Eiko?" she turns to her best friend and gives her a menacing glare. Eiko nervously laughs and nods. "So, we better should leave that for now and the ice creams are waiting for us!"
And so, Eiko and Vivi sat in the front, since Eiko begged Dagger to let him, for which she eventually agreed, meaning it will be Zidane, Ruby, and Dagger to be in the middle, which is very unfortunate for the new singer.
Dagger was seated on the right side, and Zidane on the left side, which gives Ruby to be in the middle. All through the trip, silence developed the three, except for the chattering of Eiko and Vivi (that rhymes!).
This is so awkward… Ruby thinks with a secret pout. I'm in the middle! Worse, there is silence! I know these two are in love with each other… but…! Then she smiles as she thought of a plan, maybe…
After a few more minutes, they finally reached the Alexandrian Mall, which was pretty tall and big and looks very welcoming. The group leaves the Mitsubishi Adventure Sports Car and walks towards the big entrance.
Zidane was about to go to Dagger, since Eiko is with Vivi, leaving her alone, when suddenly, Ruby clings to his side. "R-ruby?" he starts, looking very startled.
Ruby smiles warmly at him and says, "Oh, Zidane! Let's go together!" Zidane was about to protest and tell her to go ahead when he was dragged up further away from Dagger.
Dagger looks at Zidane being walked away with that pretty blue-head Ruby with sad eyes, losing the hope of being with her childhood friend. "What am I thinking?" she laughs secretly to herself. "I'm jealous when I don't even feel a thing for him… we're just friends… just… friends."
The brunette sighs and silently follows the others. Eiko and Vivi seem to be having a really good time, and it seems that they never notice everything that surrounded them. They were a pretty cute couple. As Dagger glance to where Ruby and Zidane were, she can't help but feel a twinge in her heart.
I can't believe this… this has to stop! Dagger scolds herself. Dagger, get over it! Its just Zidane! But… but… Zidane is Zidane… that's why I like… no… love him… yeah, that's right… I love him… but I can't stand seeing them together like this… then she smiles weakly. Maybe the ice cream shop is near… then…
Unfortunately, the ice cream shop is at the end of the wing, giving them a few more time to do window-shopping.
"Oh, she stole my designs!" Eiko cries angrily, crossing her arms in front of her as she looks up at a dress from the store named Rinali (I made it up) by the left side. Vivi turns to her with a sweatdrop. "Look at it! The material, the styles, its all MINE! How dare she steal it!"
"Now, now, Eiko!" Vivi stammers, getting a bit afraid. "Its just clothes! I'm sure you'll do better! Besides, to me, you're the most greatest fashion designer!"
Eiko turns to him with a blank look, then blushes a deep shade of red, as she asks, "… Really?" she looks away, completely flushed. "Do you mean that?"
Realizing what he said, Vivi blushes with the same redness and looks away, rubbing the back of his head, "Uh… yeah…"
Eiko grins brightly and hugs him tightly like a teddy bear, "Oh, thank you, Vivi! You're so sweet!"
Meanwhile, at the other side, Dagger silently watches Ruby cling to Zidane's arm as they window-shop a jewelry store, Ruby admiring the pretty diamonds and amethysts.
Then, one jewel caught Ruby's eye. It was a red Garnet necklace, and it sparkled all over. Ruby smiles to it as she says, "Wow… so beautiful."
Zidane turns to her and asks, "What's beautiful?" Ruby turns to him and points the Garnet necklace. Zidane smiles at this and agrees, "Yeah, you're right, and I'm sure it will look good on a certain someone."
I wonder who's that certain someone… Dagger thinks as she continues to watch the 'couple' from their side. If it was only me… that would really make my day…
Dagger sighs. She can't stand it any more. The more Ruby hangs out with Zidane, the more pain she is suffering. The more Ruby clings to her childhood best friend; piece-by-piece her heart is shattering. She just can't take it anymore.
Why her, God? Why can't it be me? Dagger thinks to herself, her soul crying. Why can't I be the center of his attention? What does she have that I don't? Yes, I know, it is very unlikely of me to feel this way… what's more, it's very selfish of me… but my spirit is shattered already… my skin is yearning for his touch, my eyes longing for his, and most importantly, my heart aching for his love…
Eiko turns around and saw her best friend so sad in one corner. Her eyes were blank, and it seems that she is so deep in thought. She turns her head slightly to the right to see Ruby hanging out with Zidane.
She narrowed her eyes, "That witch…" she says dangerously. "What is she doing? I'll confront her later…"
"Hey, guys!" Vivi exclaims, waving his right hand for the others. "Look! The ice cream is over here! Let's dig in!"
The other three followed soon, and Zidane glances to Dagger for being so alone, as he thought, I'm sorry, Dag… I'll make it up to you later…
They finally reached the ice cream shop, which is mildly crowded, but luckily the found a perfect seat for five. A table that is beside a window that lets you see what's happening in the other side of the mall.
"Hey, me and Vivi will get you some ice creams," Zidane grins brightly at all of them, the brightest for Dagger, which she replies with a faint smile. "So… uh… what do you want?"
"I'll have a strawberry one!" Eiko smiles.
"Mint chocolate!" Ruby smiles also, shifting comfortably since she is beside Dagger, who seems to be not moving at all. The blue-haired girl turns to Dagger and asks her, "How about you, Dagger?"
Dagger jumps and turns to her and replies to Zidane and Vivi, "I'll have the Vanilla one. Thanks." Zidane and Vivi nods and heads out to the counter. Dagger looks at Eiko and Ruby and tells them, "Excuse me for a minute. I'll be in the bathroom." So, Dagger stands up and heads slowly to the comfort room.
This is the perfect chance to confront her, Eiko thinks angrily as she turns to Ruby.
"Ruby, I don't really know you personally," Eiko starts with a frown. "So, I really don't know what is your true intentions." Ruby turns to her with a surprised look. "Don't give me that innocent face! You know what is happening with Zidane and Dagger, huh?"
"W-what –" Ruby was about to say something when Eiko interrupted her,
"You know Dagger is in love with Zidane! Why are you doing this? Who do you think you are?" Eiko asks angrily. "Don't you know that this innocent tricks of yours is hurting my best friend? Look at her! She feels so miserable! Why, Ruby… why?"
Ruby sighs and replies, "I –" but again is interrupted.
"It is also seems that you are trying to avoid Zidane from Dagger," Eiko starts again. "Zidane is Dagger's childhood best friend! They have been apart for 17 years! Don't you think they deserve to hang out even for a minute?"
"Can you please just let me speak even for a second?" Ruby asks politely but in an annoyed tone. Eiko glares at her and shuts up. "Thank you. I know how you feel. I saw that Dagger is quite… um… miserable when I was trying to keep Zidane busy."
"Then, why are you doing this?" Eiko asks again with narrowed eyes. "If you know what was going on, why do you keep doing this?"
Ruby smiles kindly at her, as she speaks, "Because I have a plan."
To be continued…Okay, so Ruby has a plan? For what and for whom? Does her 'plan' seem worthy? Oh, it seems that Ruby is quite brilliant herself! Let's see if this plan deserves to be trusted… in the next chapter!
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Or else… no chapter… worse… I'll delete this! BWAHAHAHAHA!