"Don't scream!" the voice repeated again, blue eyes glimmering so gently and calming that Rikku, glancing at them through the corner of her eyes, almost sighed calmly "I'm not gonna hurt you, I promise, I just need…to talk!" the voice finished.
Rikku nodded upon seeing the eagerness and sadness by which this creature wanted, so desperately, to have a rational conversation. She could almost sense he was confused, but ignored reasons, ignored everything about this spirit. Rikku was a student at Mechanical and Industrial Engineer, she studied Machina, not floating hazes of mist. This was Yuna's area, and her studies of Theology and Magick Science.
The creature released her face, and the girl breathed in a deep gulp of warm air, and caressed the freezing spot tenderly. The green, spiralled orb stared at the blue sparkles with accusation. The spirit, however, stared at the Al Bhed with a nervous glance, a look of admiration but confusion shading the radiant, pale skin.
"Who are you?" Rikku, pale herself with reticence and her inner fears, inquired.
"I'm… Tidus!" the ghost extended a hand, smiling nervously yet more brightly.
"Right…" Rikku glance at the hand suspiciously, and kept her own ones still, stuck next to her sides as if glued on them, "I'm Rikku!" she said after a small instant of decision.
"Hum… yeah, it's a nice name, I guess!" the boy looked down awkwardly, as a very uncomfortable silence became denser around them, engulfing them in a thick slime.
"I…this is not a good place to talk, why don't you come to my room?" Rikku inquired after a long while of silence, now less frightened and more curious.
"Great!" Tidus looked up abruptly, and the way his features glowed with delight, with happiness, made Rikku feel sympathetic for the small creature.
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"Where do you come from?" inquired Rikku, laying on her bed and observing the ghost as he hovered calmly next to her.
The girl felt much calmer now, she had seen the creature was friendly, or at least appeared to. The intense colour of his gaze, and the way they sparkled captivated her. The boy seemed gentle, with a kind heart, and that, in a way, made Rikku trust the ghost and not judge by appearances.
"I ran away!" Tidus grinned mischievously, staring at Rikku with a smile in his eyes.
"You ran away from where?" Rikku now turned to stare at him.
"From the Farplane, where from?" Tidus pointed out matter of factly, grinning so pleased with himself.
"Why?" Rikku felt scandalized at the thought that more souls could flee if they desired.
"That was not my place, and I'm sure that was not my time, so I ran away!" Tidus was euphoric as he explained his little tale, "I crossed many towns, many places that were so familiar and so distant, and finally I ended up here!" the boy finished, smiling brightly at the girl, "sorry for scaring you!" he finished sheepishly.
"It's ok, but why did you choose me?" inquired Rikku curiously, "I mean, over all people you have met, why me?" she asked once again.
"Well, because I saw something in you, I can't explain, but there it was, and I knew we could be friends!" Tidus smiled gently, staring at the girl with the seriousness he could only manage when things required it.
Rikku nodded, smiling so brightly that the room seemed to be filled with a luminescence only possible in the hidden and mysterious realms of wizardry. "Friends!" the girl affirmed staring at the boy through her sparkling, spiralled eyes.
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"I can't believe it!" gasped Rikku through furious, ragged breaths.
She threw her bag pack on the soft bed with anger, and glared at it as if it was the cause of her annoyance.
"What's wrong?" inquired a gentle, chirpy voice next to her.
"I can't believe what Father is doing!" she pointed out as if it was obvious, her eyes staring at the floating, white figure next to her.
"What is he doing?" inquired Tidus calmly, staring curiously at the Al Bhed.
"I told him to allow me go to Home next month, it's my birthday and I wanted to be with Brother, but he said no, that I'm better off here and that they would be too busy!" she snapped angrily, clenching her fists with frustration.
"It's your birthday? Maybe they want to prepare you a surprise or something?" Tidus pointed out calmly, staring at the girl with a sweet smile.
"Maybe…!" Rikku was thoughtful at this last comment, and stared down into nothingness.
"Don't worry…" Tidus' voice was so sweet, and gentle, Rikku stared at him with bright, happier eyes.
The girl had felt the impulse of hugging her ethereal friend, and had made the attempt but stopped dry in her try. Although the two had known each other for nearly a month already, and they had become great friends, Rikku had never touched the ghost, except that time when he had clamped her mouth shut in order of talking to her.
"Go ahead." The boy said extending his four fingered hand.
"This is just too weird, I…I wont hurt you or something, will I?" Inquired the girl reluctantly.
"No." Tidus said after a second of thinking.
More valiant, the woman extended her own hand, and approached the white appendices with slow, careful movements. The palms touched, and Rikku could almost see the blue eyes blazing with a luminescence, an eagerness in them that thirsted unconsciously to feel the touch of skin against skin. The woman only felt a surge of energy soaring through her, a feeble tingle that made her smile comfortably. The white hand went through her palm, and a white haze, like pale shreds of fog, floated calmly tearing from the fingers and the ethereal skin.
"Wowser!" gasped Rikku breathlessly, glancing at her hand brightly and amazed.
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"Come in Yuna, I want to show you something!" Rikku was chirpy and cheery as always, giggling as brightly as a teenager in her first date.
"What did you build or fix this time Rikku?" Yuna inquired innocently, pointing out that expertise in Rikku's ability for fixing almost any machinery, and make it function again.
"You'll see!" Rikku pointed out opening the door to her room with her most mischievous and mysterious glance, a sparkling star glinting so brightly in her spiralled eyes, an illusion so strong and so faint.
Yuna almost could recognise the light that, dimly, had began to illuminate the Al Bhed's face, but couldn't assure her suspicions. The Yevonie was allowed into the room, such a calm, tranquil light floating lazily across the small chambers. It was faint, it a watery vapour feeling in it, fresh and humid, and strangely sweet and soothing. But nothing was odd in the room, or at least nothing that Yuna could perceive.
"What is that 'something' you want to show me?" Yuna inquired, her curiosity blending with the excitement of her cousin.
"Hey I'm not a something, I'm Tidus!" proclaimed such a lovely, joyful voice Yuna snapped her eyes forward startled.
There he was, bright blue eyes shinning like sapphires in the glaze that floated through the room. A smile so vibrant, so gentle and true, and the presence of such a noble heart, and such a good will. In contradiction there was one minor problem, that the figure before her was as much alive as the legendary Yunalesca. So Yuna, guided by the impulses of surviving, and the fear that reigned her sanity, collapsed on a heap, nearly fainting.
"Yuna!" Rikku kneeled before her friend, and caught a firm grip from her back and right arm, worried eyes glancing at her.
"What is…what?" Yuna muttered incoherently, glancing pleadingly at Yuna, begging for some explanation while her head was still dizzy.
"His name is Tidus." Rikku explained, upon the mention of his name a smile flashed briefly in her lips, weak, ethereal, but there it was.
"He has a name?" Yuna inquired faintly, her mind trailing across the various books of spirits she had read during her studies.
"Of course I do!" Tidus bellowed offended, making Yuna drown a yelp, hence creating a new wave of nausea soar through her.
"Tidus, stand back just now, please, I'll fix it!" Rikku pleaded, staring at the ghost with a look begging forgiveness.
The little ghost stared at her for a brief second. He was feeling slightly miserable, recalling other encounters where people had fainted, yelled, or attempted to exorcise him. He recalled the very same night Rikku had freaked at his appearance, and a brief ray of light seemed to ignite his heart with hope. Tidus nodded, letting Rikku do, and retreated to one corner, visible but patient.
"Yuna, he is the ghost I saw that night!" Rikku began her brief explanation, staring at the girl with understanding eyes.
"He is?" Yuna took in several gulps of deep breaths, and ruffled her squirt nervously.
"Yes, his name is Tidus, and he is as friendly as you and I, he won't harm you!" the girl said now bearing a gentle smile.
"He wont?" a faint thread of voice was all mustered by Yuna's vague throat.
"No, I wont." Tidus, more animated, approached the girl, affirming so gently that Yuna glanced at him with different, more tranquil eyes.
The ghost and the Al Bhed held the girl, each from one arm, and pulled her into a standing position, to help her onto Rikku's bed, place where she sat until her nervous breathing subsided and her pale skin recovered the natural tan. Yuna felt slightly uneasy, but now, at least, she was not about to faint, or loosing control over her body like a rabid dog. She glanced at the two with curious eyes, and saw the worry still spraying their faces, she saw the heart beating so gently in the see through form. Long whiles after Yuna was calmer, more trusting, and the trio shared an animated conversation.
"By the way!" commented Yuna, suddenly remembering something, "about the party, what have you got planned out? Do you need help with something?" she inquired gently, staring at the girl innocently.
"Oh, no, I think a good dance at a disco would do, but I still didn't think of the place!" Rikku commented chirpily, "I need a dress, but it's all right, I won't need help with that!" she nodded with a bright smile.
"Party?" commented Tidus, who had followed the brief conversation with interest.
"Yeah, hum, my birthday party." Rikku stared at Tidus slightly uncomfortable.
"Can I go?" Tidus asked with pleading eyes.
"I don't think that would be such a good idea." Rikku explained looking at the boy sadly, her penetrating gaze making him understand her reasons.
Tidus drew in a deep sigh, and his smile faded, his light extinguished, and he looked dark and miserable. The boy was hurt, and his body vanished into thin air, becoming invisible and disappearing from the eyes of the two girls.
"Tidus, don't do that, please!" Rikku moaned sadly, and begged forgiveness and understanding, but she, herself, felt miserable and cruel.
"Don't feel bad." Yuna intervened, "You know it's impossible, he would cause havoc, not knowingly, but his only presence would." Yuna pointed out wisely, yet comforting her friend by her soothing voice and the warming rub of her shoulders.
"I know, but I can't help feel like a racist and a traitor." Rikku looked down, feeling her eyes itch, and her heart shatter like glass films.
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The young girl pulled off the rubber band that kept her ponytail firm and tight. Gold strands of hair fell on a cascade of silver as the crescent moon caressed each silk thread. Rikku then brushed her hair and prepared it for sleep. She was not specially caring with her beauty, but always admired her hair, and loved to work it out into the most amusing styles she could imagine.
"Hey!" chimed a voice behind her, startling her in the darkness of night.
"Tidus!" Rikku exclaimed, smiling happily, but also slightly exasperated.
She had turned around and saw the pale figure floating before her. The boy seemed to be entertained on dancing with an invisible pair, while his eyes flashed stray, begging glances at the girl.
"I'm a good dancer!" Tidus explained twirling around one last time, and finishing in an elegant pose of victory.
"Oh, Tidus, not again!" Rikku moaned turning around to fix her desk a bit.
"Come on, we will have fun together!" Tidus explained, floating closer to her and standing behind the girl.
"Tidus, you know you can't come!" Rikku turned around exasperated, and stared at the boy sadly.
"Give me three reasons why I'm not allowed to come!" Tidus crossed his stubby arms, and stared at the girl with a cunning, smart glance, tempting her to admit his dare.
"Three? I can give you a thousand!" Rikku threw her arms in the air and turned around again to continue her work.
"Come on, I bet you not!" Tidus, acting cool and calm, added placing his arms in jars.
"Tidus!" Rikku turned around swiftly to stare at him seriously, "you have no pulse!" she pointed out with a brief, sad smile.
"Such an insignificant detail!" commented the boy staring at his whitish body, and raising an eyebrow at the girl.
"Come on, you have no tan!" Rikku could not hold back a giggle at his attempts at humour.
"What for? Pale skins are on the order of the day now!" Tidus kept debating her arguments with strategic sarcasm.
"Tidus, you have no reflection!" Rikku added attempting to look more serious, and glancing at a mirror briefly.
"Ok, I won't go to the bathrooms, it would be the only place where I would find a mirror!" Tidus added with a broader grin, one that was a lie.
A sharp image stabbed his soul painfully, making him stagger imperceptibly. It had been just a second, one flash of memory that had shinned in his mind, lights of all colours slithering in a dazzling dance, people swaying, leaping and yelling with euphoria. But it was gone, and all that remained was the hollow emptiness of his soul, and the hole his lost memories had left in him.
"Tidus, you big meanie, you are a ghost!" gasped Rikku exasperated, not noticing the change in the boy.
"Yeah, you are right." Tidus gave in sadly, glancing down profoundly depressed, luminous lights still flashing in his eyes. Suddenly, and idea.
Rikku's eyes had been staring at the boy so miserably. She wanted to say something to comfort him, but sentences such as "Death can have good things, you can become invisible" and "Don't worry, I will always be your friend" sounded awful. It was then when Tidus' head shot up, and his twinkling eyes shone so brightly and knowingly, his happiness recovered, or the most of it. He smiled so happily as his idea took a firmer, more solid shape. Rikku, on the other side, stared at him suspiciously, and almost thought of recoiling, not knowing what kind of reactions could a depressed ghost have.
"Tidus?" Rikku stuttered gently, staring at the boy with observant, careful eyes.
To Be Continued…
AN: What kind of crazy idea has Tidus got? You will find out in the next chapter. Sorry for taking so long to write, but I have been very busy. Thank you to my reviewer Blackrose1179, and to my readers as well. I'll keep writing this, and hope you like it.