The Echo
Chapter 5: Stop The Rain

I stared at the wall that was across the room from my spot on the couch. Two months had passed since I'd first moved into my small house, and still, nothing adorned the walls. It was pathetic. I was pathetic.

I was glad to be back, despite the fact that I was still miserable. I'd lacked the motivation to do anything helpful in Bikanel. In the afternoon that I'd been home, I hadn't done anything productive in my office. I hadn't even looked through my messages.

I sighed heavily, and pushed myself off the couch. Walking through the dark entryway, I made my way toward the kitchen.

Thunder rolled, shaking the foundation slightly. I was used to it. As I pushed open the kitchen door, lightning lit up the room. I fumbled around for the light switch, blinking as the bright overhead lights creating spots over my vision. I looked out the window toward the temple road before moving to the cabinets.

"Damnit…" I whispered, disgusted with myself. I hadn't restocked my cabinets since before I'd left for Luca… I had nothing. Empty cabinets. Empty house. Empty heart.

I looked back toward the mostly empty counter and shook my head. I took a bottle of rum from my liquor cabinet and poured myself a glass, angry with myself for allowing myself to wallow in self pity. Thunder rolled once more, and I held my glass to the sky. "Cheers."

"Where are you taking me?" I said, rather loud to make my voice heard over the wind and rain.

Brother pointed as we came around the back end of the temple. I squinted through the silver curtain of water that was falling from above, grinning. "So… they finally got around to putting in living quarters for the workers?"

He nodded as he jogged through the rain toward the building. I followed more slowly with Telan, making sure she was covered up before gallivanting through the rain. I didn't really care if I got wet. I was just happy to be here, to be closer to him. I felt a bit better just thinking about it.

Brother opened the door to one of the small apartments on the first floor of the building and ushered me in. My hair was dripping, but I was more concerned about getting Telan comfortable and warm than I was about myself. "Where can I set up her crib?" I asked, looking down the small hallway.

"Oh, yeah… uh… in here." He pushed open a door halfway down the hall, and pointed inside. "It's the guestroom. I'd let you have my room, but I never clean it."

I grinned and thanked him as he dropped my bags inside on the floor. I took a moment to set up the collapsible crib and put down soft, warm blankets, and then, with an anxious look out the window, I pulled a pair of warm pajamas out of the travel bag to change her into.

She whined as I changed her tiny diaper, but I didn't mind it. I was too happy to be back in Djose to mind. "Oh, shush… you get to wear the cute footie pajama's. You should at least be happy about that! I wish I could wear the cute footie pajama's." I carefully swaddled her in a blanket and exited the tiny room, bottle and formula in hand.

I located the small kitchen without much trouble, and set about heating up the bottle without much thought. Outside the small kitchen window, I could see lights shining from little houses across the large clearing, blurred by the rain.

Brother walked into the kitchen and took his niece from me, bouncing her lightly as I waited by the stove for the milk to warm. "Why don't you have a house?" I asked, glancing up at him with a grin. "Not like you need one, it just being you and all, but…"

"I'm not in charge of anything. Only the more important faction leaders get houses." He shrugged with a grin. "I like it here. It's small, I don't need anything bigger."

I nodded. "I'd like it here, too." A question emerged in my mind. "Gippal still lives in the temple, doesn't he? Or…"

"He's got his own place." Brother pointed out to the window towards the house that was most secluded, near the back of the clearing. "It's a small house, but it's bigger than the apartments, and much bigger than the old cloister room he lived in." I frowned and looked at Telan as she continuously yawned.

"When she goes to sleep, could you stay with her for a little while? I need to see him tonight, I need to talk to him."

He nodded and passed the baby back to me. "Of course. Go feed her… let me know when you leave, alright?" With a grin, I pulled the warm bottle from the pot on the stove and turned off the burner, before walking slowly back down the hall to the guestroom.

Telan yawned and I smiled at her; it was much easier to take care of her without any stress, without anyone constantly hovering over my shoulder. I climbed onto the bed and propped myself up against the wall, adjusting her in my arms before offering her the bottle. She began to drink noisily, and I shook my head with a smile. Closing my eyes, I leaned my head back against the wall and listened.

I hadn't felt so at home since I'd left. I was a child of the desert, daughter of the sands, but I'd learned to love the thunder, the crash of the ocean against the cliffs, the sound of rain pounding hard on the roof. Each storm was always worth the trouble, for the calm that followed was even more beautiful and appreciated. I loved this place, not just because of the memories it held, but for its presence. I took a deep breath and peeked down at Telan's little pink face, her bright eyes.

It took her longer than usual to finish her bottle. She was sleepy from all the traveling on the loud airship, and the after dinner fuss that I'd come to take for granted was almost nonexistent. I waited patiently for her to drift off, curled up with her. Once she was asleep, I gently placed her in the little crib and put on my coat, closing the door most of the way behind me.

"You think he'll be awake?" I called out as I walked into the living room, looking around for Brother. He peeked out of the kitchen at me and shrugged.

"I doubt he'll mind if you wake him up, if he isn't." He stood and followed me to the door. "Take your time. Don't rush back."

I rolled my eyes at him and set out into the rain, not caring that my now slightly damp hair would be soaking wet again in a few minutes. As I set off in the direction of the house that Brother had pointed out, there was a familiar bounce in my step, one I hadn't felt in a long time. One I hadn't felt since I'd left. I hadn't even seen Gippal yet, and I was already starting to feel like myself again. It was almost too good to be true.

The raindrops began to thicken as I walked across the hard gravel of the clearing. Thunder caught me by surprise, and I jumped, laughing at myself.

As I approached the house, I looked at it carefully. There weren't many lights on, save for what looked like the kitchen. The little grey stone cottage was right at home among the stone of the cliffs of Djose. A small fence blocked the house off from the rest of the clearing. I hesitated as I reached the gate, before taking a deep breath and unlocking it.

I walked up the small cobblestone pathway slowly. With a glance over my shoulder at the temple, I knocked very softly on the door, and waited.

No one answered. He's sleeping… figures. With an eye roll, I pushed the door open and walked inside.

Her lips pressed eagerly onto mine, and I responded warmly. My eyes closed, I let my hands wander lazily up her back, as her own were behind my neck. She pressed against me, pushing me back into the couch, and I groaned softly into the kiss. My mind was already muddled from the amount of alcohol I'd taken in that evening… this was only making it worse.

I let my hands rest on her thighs, pulling her closer as she began to nip at my neck. I heard a soft knocking sound, but I paid it no attention. It was probably just the couch. She moaned in my ear before catching my lips again, and once more, I responded without thought.

I caressed her thighs softly, making her grin against my lips. My breath was heavy from all the kissing, as was hers. We didn't let that stop us as we pressed against each other, moaning softly. Suddenly, she took a sharp intake of breath, and I pulled away, staring at her. But she was staring at the entryway, at the familiar figure that stood there with her hands over her mouth, confusion in her eyes.

"Rikku?" I asked, utterly confused. I looked at the woman that still leaned on my chest, and panic overtook me. Adena was there… not Rikku. But Rikku was… here? Was I dreaming, hallucinating in my drunken stupor? No… no, I wasn't dreaming, but I was stupid. Utterly stupid. I pushed Adena back, struggling to stand under her weight. "Rikku, it's not what you think!" I said stupidly, falling back onto the couch as I did so. She turned and ran from the entryway, into the dark and rainy night.

Adena stood and stared after her, fixing her skirt. I too stood, frustrated, and zipped up my pants before taking a few long strides across the room toward the doorway. "Where are you going?" she asked, watching me critically.

"Where do you think I'm going? Why the hell are you even here? Why were we just doing… what we were doing?" I was angry now, lost in confusion. When did Adena show up? Why had I consented to this nonsense… or had I started it?

She didn't move, but instead stared at me in disbelief. I pointed at the door angrily. "Out. Get out of my house." She stayed put. "Now!"

With a disgusted sigh, she left the house, making her way towards one of the apartments across the clearing. I stood in the doorway for a moment, watching the two blonde figures cross the clearing, walking in opposite directions, neither paying any attention to the other. And then, I ran after Rikku.

Okay, I'm sorry for how long this chapter took. This and chapter 6 were originally one, but it was giving me so many problems that I took my beta's advice and split it down the middle... And then it was a real bitch to write, to be honest, cuz you know me. I think Gippal's amazing, and he can't do anything bad. But alas! He did. So… stick with it. Keep reading… don't get mad at me, please!

Please Review! Try not to leave a one liner/letterer. I love it when you guys leave advice!