Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy X or X-2
Chapter Ten: The end of a pilgrimage
When I arrived I was surprised to see so many people walking around and enjoying themselves. The city's bright lights illuminated the colors of their elaborate building designs. Stands with games and prizes littered the streets. The air smelled smoky from the food carts that were grilling up tasty meat and vegetables on sticks.
"What's going on?" I asked a man who was enjoying a cotton candy.
"This festival is held every year to honor Yevon," the man said
Besides the game stands and the food, there seemed to be a giant Ferris wheel. The people that swayed in the wind seemed to wave at the on lookers from below. Seeing the children giggle wildly made my small inner child peer her head. I wanted to go out and have some fun.
I walked up to a game stand. I paid the man and picked up the toy gun. The object of the game was to shoot and hit the middle of the aligned bottles that formed a pyramid. I closed one eye trying to concentrate and find my aim.
"Both eyes are better, you see twice as much" I turned around to see who the owner of the soft masculine voice was. It was Baralai. I smiled and put the toy gun down. He came up beside me and gave it a try. He hit the target. The owner awarded Baralai with a small stuffed chocobo, which he handed to me.
"Thanks!"
He smiled softly. I've always been attracted to him. Baralai wasn't handsome, that word didn't fit his caramel skin, dark coffee eyes or his soft snowy hair. He was beautiful. The smoothness of his skin seemed soft and made the boyish features that his face radiated look vulnerable. Yet when he's serious those boyish features age slightly giving him the look of someone fierce and willing to do what ever it takes to accomplish his goals.
We began walking around the area talking about the typical things old acquaintances that haven't seen each other in a while talk about.
"Where are lady Yuna and Paine?"
"Oh…. well you see it's just me. I decided to travel a bit"
Explosions erupted from the sky as tiny bits of sparkling confetti rained down. The fireworks were beautiful and I was mesmerized by their hypnotizing aura. They seemed to color the dark sky and give it life.
"So how is your journey going?"
My eyes tore away and looked at Baralai who was also watching the spectacle that was going on in the sky.
"It's great" I said with a plastered smile on my face. Then my smile melted into a frown. I might as well tell someone who might know something.
"Although… some things have been a little off"
"A little off?" He looked at me this time. The bright lights reflected off his dark bronze skin.
"With the fiends"
"continue"
"There weren't that many in the Thunder Plains, except for one. The woods were empty."
He was silent. He looked at the sky again. The crackle of the fire works made the sky smoky and thick. I felt like I made a mistake in telling him.
"Forget I brought it up, I'm probably over reacting anyway"
"The woods are disappearing," he said breaking his silence.
"Well, yeah"
"Maybe… it can be possible that since the woods are disappearing that the fiends are too and since the thunder plains is connected to it it's going on there as well"
"Oh…will it spread?"
He was quiet again. He looked up at the sky.
"It's highly unlikely…but you never know"
The silence hung thick again and I was beginning to feel awkward. He cleared his throat.
"Would you accept the invitation of joining me for dinner? You came all this way; it would be rude of me to let a guest feel unwelcomed."
"I would love to"
Dinner was nothing special. Although I did pretend a little that it was a date. But my hopes were completely diminished when it was obvious that he wasn't looking for anyone. It couldn't hurt to try right? He insisted that I stayed over for the night. He didn't want me traveling alone at night.
The room I was offered was beautiful. Its powder blue walls made me feel like I was floating in the sky. The large bed was adorned with exotic quilts and the pillows were soft to the touch. Across the bedroom was a balcony that faced the back. I went straight to the bathroom and took a luxurious bath. After my fingers began to get pruney I decided to get out and change into my pajamas. The bag that I left on the floor next to the bed spilled over with the journal. I decided to just get it over with it and write the next entry.
Journal Entry # 9
Sin was defeated and the Calm was set. No one expected Sin to return in another ten years. Yuna did it; we did it. Yet I felt a hollow happiness inside of me. Should I be happy that a monster that had caused so much sorrow was destroyed? I did help defeat Sin; however the noble act could never erase all the turmoil I had caused in my life. It wasn't enough to erase all of my sins.
I realized this when Tidus jumped. That was a day forever embedded in my memory. He and Yuna grew close together and I was happy to see those smiles on their faces. She had someone who loved her and he had finally gotten what I could never give him with out truly harming him…Love.
After that day we all went to our lives. We were like missing pieces of life's puzzle that went to complete the big picture. I was home sick and was glad to be in my room again. I decided to start my own business. Uncle Rin helped me out by teaching me how to respect and handle customers. He also taught me how to manage the gil I make. My little shop was literally half of my room. I was the youngest person to own their own business and this of course made pop proud. I became well known for my work.
I was in my room working on an engine part for a crane that was due in some time. I just needed to put in some loose screws and my week's worth of work would be complete.
A knock on my door interrupted me. I huffed and pouted angrily that someone would dare bug me. I stood up and reluctantly opened the door. My eyes grew wide at the image that stood before me.
The spiked haired blond with a signature black eye patch stood in front of me wearing a fitted violet shirt that outlined his well-developed muscular body. A black belt was around the collar of the shirt and it trailed down to his chest. Red and black-stripped shoulder plates were held into place by yellow straps that formed an X figure on his chest and also held his baggy black pants.
Gippal looked different and it was obvious that he no longer was the scrawny boy that broke my heart but a man. His face lost now smooth and slim was still dark with a bronze tan. His pierced ears and side burn barrettes were the classic sign of rock star rebellion. My eyes devoured every feature from his nose to his lips. Each feature making him more handsome. I felt my heart and common sense. Should I hug and kiss him and tell him how much I missed him? Or should I just yell at him for being an asshole?
Common sense declared its victory as I slammed my door in his face.
"Rikku come on!" his muffed voice said
I walked back to my desk ignoring his pleas. I sat down and screwed in another bolt when I heard my door's lock click and the squeak of it slowly opening. I stood up and didn't bother turning around to face him.
"It's not nice to break into people's rooms"
He chuckled.
"This coming from a thief"
I turned around and his smile disappeared as he saw how serious I looked we stared at each other. He gave into the silence and the mental war we had going on.
"I just want to talk about us"
"There's nothing to talk about concerning us," I almost whispered
He sighed in defeat and I took this as a cue to go back to my work.
"The weather is kind of dry lately"
I nearly dropped my tool
"We live in the desert Gippal,"
"Hey you didn't want to talk about us so I thought the weather was a good topic"
He came over and stood next to me and picked up some bolts
"So what ya doing?"
He was working my last nerve. I turn towards him and looked up to his tanned face.
"Gippal what are you tryin-"
He stopped me in mid sentence with a kiss. His lips were so soft. I was indulging in the warmth of his lips. Instinct took over and I felt my arms rising upwards to circle themselves around his neck. He took my arms off around him and stopped the kiss. I opened my eyes to see his cocky grin. My ears grew hot and I knew they were growing red as I felt my blood rush towards them.
"Now that you're in the mood. Can we talk about us?"
"You jerk!" I yelled and I took the engine part and left my room leaving him behind me shocked Gippal standing behind the door.
I made my way to the work site surprised that Gippal wasn't on my tail. Getting off the hover bike I cradled the part in my arms. I went up to pops ship and as usual I had to show my ID.
"Great you're here" Buddy said smiling at me.
"Yeah, sorry if I'm late, something annoying came up and I had to deal with it"
"Gippal?" he said crossing his arms across his chest.
"How did you know?"
"He won't shut up about you"
I rolled my eyes showing that I could care less and he laughed. We went towards the crane operating room.
"Good we just got a shipment in and we're trying to load it on land" the man in charge said.
"Don't worry the crane will be ready" I said opening the engine hatch and inserting the part. I screwed it in tightly and flipped the button to turn it on. With my own eyes I saw it slowly roar to life. I closed the hatch, happy that it was a success.
"Test it out"
He pulled back the lever and the crane lifted upwards. It picked up the large metal package that probably weighed a ton and lifted it in the air moving it forward.
"Its running smoothly thanks Rikku" the man said
"No problem!" I chirped and I left the operating room. Buddy decided to walk me back to the hover car that was parked near the ship. The crane was working find, loading the packages onto land with people guiding the operator on where to drop the load.
"Listen you want to take a break and hang out later"
"Sorry but I have another part to fix"'
The look of disappointment was apparent on his face.
"It's ok I understand" he said
"Buddy its not--"
A sonic boom erupted as the crane dropped a large metal package. The loud sound made my ears a little deaf. I just stood there watching men run towards the site as blood began to leak from the bottom of the large metal tank. The sand sucked it up quickly trying to get nourishment from it. I could hear my heart in my ears as salty streams rained down my cheeks. Right then and there I felt my world begin to crumble.
"How can you not double check a piece of machina!" he bellowed. The room was quiet besides the sounds of my quiet sobs.
I flinched at those words. I've never seen pops this angry before. Because of me three men were crushed under the weight of the heavy cargo. They said that the lever got stuck and sparks began to fly in the control room. My shoulders hung in shame…I had failed and in the process took three lives. Icried hiding my face with my hands. A face of a monster shouldn't be seen in pain and misery.
"You are not to go near a piece of machine again! Do you hear me?"
"Yes" I whispered
"Go home and clean everything out, I have too much to do now, do you know how hard it's going to be to tell their families?"
I shook my head no, because if I said other wise I knew I was going to be yelled at again.
He sighed as he looked into my puffy eyes.
"Just go home," he said looking away from me. Had I created such disgust in his eyes? I felt abandoned by him. Couldn't he a least spare some words of sympathy towards me? I was his daughter, his baby, yet I became this monster in his eyes. And I knew why…because I took the only thing he would ever love…mom.
When I got back to my room I saw the missing bolts on my desk. I was so distracted with Gippal that I forgot to put those remaining bolts. Anger began to swell deep inside my stomach. It traveled upwards and made my heart pump with heat. How could I be so stupid? Can't I be a professional with out getting my feelings get the best of me? I went to the desk and shoved everything off. All plans were ripped to shreds and thrown in the air. I took the chair and began to beat the desks. Pieces of wood and splinters ricocheted across the room. I sat there on the floor crying. The type of crying that makes you hic-cup when you try to breathe. I felt little again. I fell asleep curled up on the floor.
When I woke up my head began to pound in pain. I felt like I had a hang over. I rubbed my eyes and felt the puffy skin around them sting with irritation. I stood up and looked at my disheveled room. How was I going to explain this? I looked outside my window and saw that night was in the process of ruling the sky. I sat there on my bed. Everything I tried to do always had a consequence involving death. My life had no meaning. I brought about un-happiness and grief.
I went to my closet and took my book bag and began to fill it up with clothes. I knew where I had to go to atone for my sins.
Our people began working on the lighting towers in the Thunder Plains. Although I was great full that now I could walk about with out being struck down it didn't change my fear of it. I decided to camp in a small dome. I knew that there I wouldn't be struck down and I could begin living my life as a homeless inhabitant of the plains. As the week went by storms became more and more frequent. The howling of the wind, the cold rain that plummeted from the smoky sky and the stray thunder bolts that were able to escape their imprisonment from the towers became my companions, my family.
But nothing could help me get over the guilt I had over the three men. I closed my eyes as sleep began its journey.
I woke up to find myself on pops ship again. No one was on it. The orange sky signified that darkness would soon reign as king. I walked on the metal floor. The desert wind picked up and brought the scent of the ocean to my nose. I went to the railing and looked out. The sun was setting and it looked like it was a blink away from falling asleep.
The sound of a moving crane started me. I turned and looked up. The cargo was coming down towards me. I jumped over the rail. The water felt warm. I surfaced to take a breath of air and tried to swim towards the ship again. I swam and swam but the ship kept getting farther and farther. The muscles in my arms and legs began getting tense and tired as the struggled to cut through the liquid. That's when I noticed that the water wasn't water anymore. It was blood.
I felt myself slowing down. My mind pushed my body but it was obvious that it wanted to stop. My body mass soon began to sink in the thick crimson liquid. I went under and the substance stung my eyes. The oxygen that I had gulped began to swell for release in my lungs. I couldn't handle it's pressure and let it out. I felt gallons of the metallic liquid rush into my mouth and nose. I shook my head trying to prevent anymore blood coming in. I was drowning and I couldn't do anything to stop it from happening.
My lungs became heavy with the liquid. I opened my eyes and mouth hoping that I could scream but the only thin I felt was a pain that vibrated through my back. I hung my head knowing that my lungs had exploded.
"Rikku" the distance voice called.
I was dead right? The blood filled ocean was my grave.
"Rikku!"
I shot gasping for air and holding on to who ever was there holding me. A faint smell of cologne and desert sand filled my senses.
"Hey it's ok, I'm here" Gippal said. I held on to him as if afraid I would fall back into the blood filled sea again.
We were both silent. The rain snapped and crackled outside the dome. We looked at each other. His face looked so young. I felt my heart begin to beat slower as he leaned in. the softness of our kiss brought back so many good memories back. The warmth of his mouth was something I needed to heat my shivering body. It was a little piece of heaven that I wanted and never wanted to let go.
We made love right then and there. My body started to remember the feeling of two bodies moving in rhythm as one. The feeling of flesh making contact with flesh created an unbearable desire that made me cling to his every thrust. The electric warm current that shoots up and down the spine when orgasm hits, numbed my brain from any coherent thoughts. We laid there after wards not saying a word. I stared at the rusted ceiling of the small dome. Its intricate veins of orange crusty rust looked like a map. Full of paths that perhaps were recorded from all the travelers that have stopped. I wondered if the pilgrimage was recorded there.
"I should get you back home, your father sent me to get you back not make love to--"
I crushed my lips against his. I left him stunned by my actions. I quickly got dressed and waited for him. After we cleared my things up we left the small dome. As we walked back, hand in hand to my father's airship I noticed that I didn't flinch once in the Thunder Plains. It's funny how a week can vanquish a lifetime fear.
I closed the journal when I felt sleep trying to rape my eye lids. I put the notebook away and stood up and stretched. I walked towards the balcony and opened the door.
A chilly breeze broke in making me jolt in response. Goosebumps quickly covered my body. I stood looking out and taking in the chilled air. The darkness seemed to coat the back corridor with a thick paint of death. Nothing moved, no one dared entered. Yet the only thing that seemed alive were the exotic flowers that let the moon's silver light caress their petals. It was as if the darkness feared such bright life.
At the corner of my eye I saw someone move. I looked up and saw Baralai at his own balcony. I frowned when I saw the blank look on his face. Stress seemed to have made him numb to all emotion. He looked tired but determined to stay awake. It reminded me of all the times I tried to stay up to watch my favorite show with mom…now that's just a distant memory. A tingling feeling started to warn me that I should go back inside into the warmth. I closed the door behind me and buried myself under the covers. I closed my eyes hoping that Baralai would get some sleep.
A/N: I will be honest. This was not my favorite chapter to write. I wanted to explain the Thunder Plains and give more attention to the sub-plot with Baralai. I guess I won't get comfortable until I reach the X-2 story portion of the fic. Oh enough of my useless drabble…tell me what ya think by leaving a review
Responses:
Shiroi Hikari: Yes…Tikkus are the best. Enjoy the rest of the story!
RiPa: Oh now I don't feel bad now. Thank you for the nice complements. It's great that you go back and write better because that's what I do when I read something good.
TearsOfInfinity: lol. Thanks I hope this rocks too.
Anichan: Yes; gothic, creepy and morbid things are all the stars in this story. I'm glad you like that stuff. Enjoy!
Fanfic-Lover: Yeah poor Tidus…but he's still hot.
Hitomi Fanel: I'm grateful for all of your reviews! I'm happy that it's caught your attention. And thanks for the cookies! (Yum)