Chapter 10: Sin Strikes Back…Again!
I wandered across the deck of the ship, exploring every nook and cranny because you can't get into every nook and cranny in the game. I didn't want to miss a single detail. Tidus, being the perv that he was, watched Lulu through some binoculars he had hijacked from an unsuspecting passenger. "You're a perv." I growled swatting at him. He simply laughed and jumped onto the deck. He ran over to Wakka and the two began chatting. I shook my head and turned toward the back of the ship. That's when I noticed him. He was standing with three other people. Two men and one woman. The woman looked to be about my age. The one I was staring at had bright blonde hair and an eye patch. And like so many things in Spira, I had seen him before. He caught me staring at him so I leaned over the ship railing as he walked over to me. "Something catch your fancy?" he asked me.
I shook my head. I never could talk to guys I like. I always got really giggly or really quiet. Either way I was really freaky. "The name's Gippal." He said trying to catch my gaze.
"Siry." I whispered. I knew I had seen him before. He's awesome Gippal from Final Fantasy X-2.
He nodded and continued staring out at the open water, "Payitevim…" he said.
"What's beautiful?" I asked.
He smiled and turned to me, "You…" oh wait that's just my imagination. He didn't really say that. Sorry!
(The real conversation)
"Payitevim…" he said.
"What's beautiful?" I asked.
"The water. It's nice out here isn't it?"
I nodded. "I didn't know you spoke Al Bhed." He continued.
"Oh it's rusty. I don't really use it that much."
He smiled, "Rusty or not. It's nice to see a non Al Bhed make an effort to learn our language."
"Gippal!" The woman of the group shouted.
"I better go." He said walking toward them. I gazed at his back and he turned and winked at me. Oh man was I in love! But, I couldn't help but wonder what he was doing on this boat. I didn't remember this being part of the game.
Suddenly, I heard Yuna scream as the boat began to lurch violently in the water. I regained my balance and looked toward the front of the ship. Sin's huge fin and nearly tipped us into the water. Not again. If Tidy and I came in contact with it again where the heck would we end up next? Siberia? I ran forward just as Kimahri wrapped his arms protectively around Yuna. Sin began swimming rapidly toward Kilika. "No!" Wakka shouted, "You stick a harpoon in him and we'll all get dragged down under!"
"B-but our families are in Kilika! We have to distract it! Lady Summoner, forgive us." A crewmate yelled looking back at Yuna.
She nodded slowly and the man fired the harpoon into Sin's fin. And needless to say, it didn't do much good. "Smart move, boys! Now the boat is stuck to the bloody thing!" I said running up to them.
Sinscales began littering the deck of ship. "Not more of these things." I groaned.
"Quit your complaining. As long as you travel with us you're going to work, ya!" Wakka scolded.
"Yes sir, boss man. You're worse than Auron." I mumbled. But then I perked up. This did give me an opportunity to try out the gloves Luzzu gave me. And I had the most perfect name for them. Payitevim. Beautiful. Thanks Gippal! Almost in sync all of us began taking the Sinscales apart as if they were no big deal. Suddenly, though, Sin's fin lurched forward, snapping the harpoon from the boat. That was a waste of time. Because it was still heading for Kilika anyway. The passengers on the boat watched helplessly as Sin began destroying the tiny village, leaving only the blitzball of a small boy behind. "Tidus, we've got to…" I began but stopped. Where the heck was Tidus? Wakka looked around frantically for him but there was no use. He wasn't anywhere on the boat. Wakka and I dove off the boat at the same time and found Tidus slowly sinking down into the water, being eaten alive by piranhas. Wakka chucked his blitzball at them, sending them off into the distance. He then quickly tossed a potion on Tidus, snapping him out of his funk. Of course though, this wasn't going to be easy. Another Sinspawn attacked us. Wakka hurled his blitzball in a mad attempt to injure it and as expected, he only made it mad. I pointed toward the monster and Tidus, Wakka, and I surrounded it. Tidus unleashed Spiral Cut on the monster as Wakka blinded it with Dark Attack. I punched it down into the water and Tidus delivered the finishing blow. Kimahri helped pull us back onto the boat as we turned to see the remains of Kilika. We arrived at the docks and Tidus drooped his shoulders. "What's the matter with you?" I asked, as the rest of the party disappeared to help the town.
"I thought that if I ran into Sin again, that I could go home. But I guess this is my new reality. Huh?" He gave me a weak smile before disappearing into the village. Speaking of home, I wondered when I was going back home. Where was that little purple kid when you needed him? I followed Tidus into the village and found him standing next Lulu asking another dumb question, "What's the sending? Are we going somewhere?"
Lulu looked him up and down, "Are you sure it's your memory that's the problem?" she asked, suspiciously.
"The dead need guidance." I said walking up to them, "If a summoner doesn't send them to the Farplane, their resentful feelings will turn them into fiends."
Lulu nodded in agreement, "Summoners send them to the Farplane where they may rest in peace."
We watched on as Yuna began to dance. The sun shone off the water as if a thousand pink gems were scattered across the ground Yuna was standing on. Pyreflies began swirling around her and the water began to rise underneath her, adding to the strange beauty that seemed to permeate from her. Whoa I just got way deep man. Permeate, I never use that word. I is so smart. "It must be tough, being a summoner." Tidus remarked, his eyes still glued to Yuna's back.
"Yuna knew what it meant from the beginning. All we can do is protect her till the end." Lulu said affirmatively.
"The…end? What's the end?" He asked rather loudly.
The townspeople all turned to look at Tidus. Boy bet he feels like a dork. "Until she defeats Sin." Lulu said before walking over to Yuna.
Tidus looked a bit bewildered as the people gathered around Yuna. "You okay?" I asked.
He was silent for a long while. I thought he had lost his voice but then he finally spoke, "This is all horrible." He said, "I hope I never see it again."
"All right guys we're bedding down for the night." Wakka said, leading the Aurochs through the town. The party followed him into the inn, but I wasn't ready to sleep just yet. I wanted to finish exploring the town. I stood on the dock, watching the sun as the last part of it slipped under the horizon. "So we meet again." Said a voice behind me.
I whirled around and spotted Gippal standing behind me.
"Oh hi." I said quickly. I turned around and began watching the water.
"You're not very talkative, are you?" he asked stepping up beside me.
I bit my lip to keep from saying anything stupid. "Say something…come on." He said nudging me gently.
"What will you have me say?" I said, hoping I didn't sound too weird.
"Where are you from?"
"Where are you from?" I answered.
"Home." He replied, "I answered your question. Now you have to answer mine."
I rested my chin on my hands, "I'm a wanderer. I don't have a home."
"Gippal! Get over here now with those supplies! We gotta finish repairing the boat!" a voice from the docks yelled.
"Coming Nooj. I gotta go." He said, gently touching my shoulder.
He touched me…insert fan girl squeal! I walked back toward the hotel with a half smile on my face. I may never wash my shoulder again.
Author's note: Sorry if the Gipster (Gippal) seems out of character. This is my first time trying to write him. And I kind of think Gippal is capable of showing some depth, just listen to him at the end of Final Fantasy X-2.