Disclaimer. I DON'T OWN ANYTHING FROM FINAL FANTASY! NOTHING!
Authors note: Before you read this chapter, you MUST READ MY OTHER STORY! This is a sequel to 'To reunite in Zanarkand'. If you don't read that one first, I'm sure you will get confused at least once during this story. Thank you! Just trying to save you from mass confusion!
Paine and Gippal had departed from the Celcuis only moments before, leaving a tearful Yuna behind. It would have ripped Paine's heart out to see herself leaving Yuna like that, if she had any heart left to be ripped out. She had been walking around the ship in an emotionless haze for days before Gippal said she needed a break. So, he took her to stay Inn at the Thunder Plains. Not exactly your peaceful thinking place.
Yet, it was peaceful to Paine. Nobody was there other than them, and the Innkeeper. Very few people passed by during the day time… if there even was a day considered there. Clouds all the time, and rain and thunder… it was the same no matter what the time. Paine liked that about the Thunder plains. She didn't have to worry herself over meaningless daily chores, or worry if it was too late to be up. She could sit alone, and collect her thoughts… well mostly. Because Gippal was around more than she wanted. And no, he couldn't just sit quietly either.
For some reason, after the sphere of Rikku, Gippal had found it his job to stay with her. Wherever she went. And to be blunt, she was annoyed more than usual. And now was one of those rare times she wanted to talk to him about.
Paine was lying frustrated on her bed, and Gippal sat on the bed next to her feet looking out the rain battered window.
"Look, Gippal, you don't understand me! I can get over this on my own."
"I used to understand you. The Crimson squad was one of the best parts of my life, we knew each other so well back then…"
"And now the Crimson squad is over. We went our separate ways, and things were good for a while. But anything good for me always ends Gippal! Just let me get on with my life, okay?"
He was silent for a minute. She was right, nothing ever seemed to go right for her. But he couldn't just let her go on with life thinking that. "I can let you go on with life, but I'm going to be there."
"Why! Why do you need to be there?"
"Cause that's what Rikku wanted me to do…"
"And that's it?" Paine asked quietly, cutting Gippal off. "It's all for Rikku? Not because you want to stay?"
"Paine, I…"
"Leave my room. Now."
The force in her voice said 'leave or I'll make you', so he left the room. The clock said it was late anyway, and he was tired. But he was truly worried about Paine. Not just because of Rikku, he really screwed up in there. But what was he supposed to say? He was never a wonder with words…
Paine woke up the next morning… was it morning? She looked at the clock.10:02 PM. This place was really screwing her up. She was starting to hate it. She wasn't quite sure what to do though, and she would decide what to do so that she could leave. She knew that she didn't want to be a sphere hunter again.
Sphere hunter… Rikku's face popped into her mind. Her eyes started to get blurry with tears. I can't cry, I will not cry. Why am I crying so much? Why the hell am I doing this? I shouldn't worry so much about her. She's fine. She's okay. I'll never see her again… why the heck do I care?
She sat up. She was only wearing a blood red slip, but she wouldn't have cared if Gippal came in then. But he was probably sleeping. She looked at her bare, surprisingly dainty, toes. She had painted them black, but on one she put a small yellow dot in the middle. It was her way of remembering Rikku. It still hadn't faded yet, and the memory still haunted her.
"…Paine can't go, because she was in the crimson squad! What if the past was altered!..."
Gippal was in the crimson squad. He said they were the best times of his life. But why? It was great, but all good things come to an end. Like good friendships, she thought. She slipped back into bed as more struck towers repeatedly right next door. What would she become? She couldn't just wander aimlessly looking for random jobs… or could she? She thought about what she almost became before joining the gullwings. She joined that just because she wanted to fly, not because she was good at finding spheres. She was good at fighting. She almost became a bounty hunter. That's it! I'll be a bounty hunter, nothing about that job will remind me of Rikku… and I'm good at it, that's what I will become. And if Gippal wants to follow me, then so be it. With that she fell asleep and started to dream…
"And what do you want to be when you are older, little one?"
"I want to be a dancer!"
"A dancer?"
"Yes! I want to float about and fly through the air, just like a bird! I want to dance!"
A little group of boys appears. "More like a fighter to me!" says the main one. "fighter, fighter!"
Gippal appears from the group of boys, but he's younger. "Don't worry, I'll protect you. I'll make sure that nobody hurts you. Just like Rikku told me to."
Rikku appears. "Lighten up a little Paine, lighten up!"
Lighten up!
Lighten up!