Seraphim
I do apologize dearly for the tardiness of this chapter! And I do warn you… I've become obsessed with Gundam Wing (see my fiction for it under the name one-hep-cat). Because of that, and the fact that I've been writing a lot since I've been sick all winter break (and vastly inspired) my writing style has changed a bit. I'm trying not to let it reflect in this story but… if it has, I apologize!
Special thanks to The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Travel for how to survive a sandstorm. grin And thank you so much to everyone who offered names for this chapter! I chose Syoheki, which was offered by HeavenlyAnimeAngel-Amaterasu. Merci beaucoup! –curtsy-
Chapter 5:
She knew this feeling, this myriad of light that swirled into and around her. The only thing she didn't know was why it was happening. Her body arched delicately and slowly lifted into the air as if guided by invisible hands. Brilliant light swirled around her like eddies of water, tousling her hair gently. Her skin tingled with magic. A sphere change. But she didn't understand. She didn't invoke it. She shouldn't be changing!
Her traditional Al Bhed jumpsuit dissolved into tattered violet gauze and beaded sandals replaced leather boots on her feet. With a cry of agony and a burst of blinding light, feathery gray wings exploded from her shoulder blades. The transformation was complete. Slowly, slowly she sank to the ground, the gray wings cocooning her body.
Behind her was a voice, taut with worry and disbelief. A voice she knew dearly speaking a name she did not.
"Rikku, what the hell was that? Are you okay? Rikku!"
Slowly, she lifted her head and looked over a winged shoulder. There he was. What was he wearing? He looked ridiculous. She straightened and turned, her wings arching behind her. "Rikku… why do you call me this?" He stared at her as though she'd grown a second head. "I asked you a question, Syoheki."
"Syoheki?" he repeated. "What are you… Rikku, it's me, Gippal."
"Gippal." Her mouth was awkward around the name. "You mean to tell me that you are not Syoheki?"
"Yeah… obviously. Rikku, this game isn't funny."
"Game?" Her face looked severe. "You think this a game?" She took a step towards him and he stepped back hastily. But there was no need for it, for as she moved, she faltered and sank to her knees. "Oh… what's… happening?" The world spun before her eyes and she collapsed. A brilliant flash of light engulfed her and moments later she was as she had originally been, in the sandy jumpsuit, unconscious.
Gippal seized her shoulders and gave her limp body a vigorous shake. "Rikku! Rikku, come on! Wake up!" Her head flopped around on her neck like a limp rag doll.
He spat out a sudden mouthful of sand and it was then he realized that the wind had picked up tremendously. The sandstorm!
"Damn, damn, damn, damn, damn!"
Scrambling over to the hover, he seized two bandanas from his hip pouch and soaked them in water from a half empty canteen, wrapping it around the lower half of his face. He returned to Rikku and tied the other around her face. Already, the sand was stirring, tearing at his exposed skin. "Come on Rikku! Now would be a great time to wake up!"
But she didn't listen. Gippal fell back to swearing profusely, despite the fact that it wouldn't help.
Well, he couldn't just let her remain there and get eaten away by the sand bit by bit. Squinting against the wildly lashing sand, he crouched down to pick her up. Overhead, the yellow sky brightened with the blue-white flash of lightening. "Why me?" he moaned, scooping her body off the ground.
Almost blinded by the storm now, Gippal staggered to the hover. He nearly missed it too and only the sound of Rikku's flailing arm smacking on it alerted him to its presence. Unceremoniously, he dumped Rikku into the back and, with great effort, secured the reinforced canvas flaps against the violent storm.
Sighing heavily, he plopped back against his seat and stared out the windshield at the literal wall of sand brewing before him. Behind him, Rikku groaned. His brow furrowed and sand showered into his lap. Making a face, he brushed the particles out of his hair as he wondered what the hell had just happened to Rikku. He'd never seen anything like it. Now the startling change in clothing could be explained by a sphere change- he'd never seen one but he could make an educated guess. But what would explain the wings? Those damn things were real! And her personality, talk about tense! What would explain the change in that? Had she finally gone mental? Was she playing a dirty trick on him? Or was he simply dreaming?
"Oh my head…" Rikku croaked behind him. She sat up, wincing as a lancing pain threatened to split her very skull in two. "What… happened?"
Gippal turned to face her. "That is what I'd like to know."
"Huh?" She shook her head and sand scattered across the hover's already sandy floor. "All… all I remember is … being forced into a sphere change."
"Forced?"
She nodded, wincing again. Oh the pain! "I certainly didn't choose to do it."
He frowned deeply. "Something… very weird is going on."
''''
There was a loud shriek. On the other end of the commsphere, Yuna winced. But her smile was unmistakable. Rikku plopped down before the sphere. "In three days?" she squeaked. "You're wedding is in three days and you're only telling me now?"
"I know, I'm sorry! We wanted to keep it quiet…" She paused and glanced over her shoulder for several seconds. "Though I think I just heard a spherecast…" She sighed and wrinkled her nose. "You can still come, right?"
"There is no way I'm going to miss it!" She sighed gleefully. "Tidus and Yunie, joined at last. Even a thousand years couldn't keep them apart. So romantic!"
Her cousin blushed. Through a laugh, she said, "I'd better go. I have a lot to do and I still have to get a hold of Paine."
"Right. Okay! See you then!"
The sphere went blank. Rikku sat back on her bed, grinning from ear to ear. Yuna and Tidus were finally getting married. It seemed like ages ago when they first got engaged, not simply a few months. She frowned thoughtfully. So much had happened in such a short time. And the wedding! Wow!
The commsphere rolled off her bed with a heavy thunk. Grunting, she leaned over to grab it. Now all she needed to do was find herself a date. As if reading her mind, the sphere squawked at her. With a yelp, she toppled off the bed. Blushing despite the fact that no one could see her, she righted herself and connected the call.
"Ah… Gippal, hi," she squeaked blushing her tousled hair from her burning face.
"Hey, I've been trying to get in touch with you for the past hour."
"Oh yeah, Yunie called."
He laughed. "I can't imagine what you two could talk about for so long. How is she?"
"Fabulous! Getting married in three days!" She held up three fingers. "And she just tells me now… Speaking of which, I want to take off for that day so I can go. And hey, if you want, you can even be my date?"
Gippal frowned. As did she. This was not a good reaction. "Rikku… I don't think you should be goofing off at a time like this-"
"But-"
"We have to figure out that weird sphere. I'm really worried-"
She interrupted him with an exasperated snort. "It's one day, Gippal! It's not like I'm going to lie about on the beach and work on my tan! My cousin and best friend is getting married and I want to be there! It's not goofing off!"
He looked upset now. "You have a job to do-"
"And a life to live!"
"Are you telling me you quit?"
She exhaled loudly. "No! Jeez, what's gotten into you?" He didn't answer. "Fine- how about this? I'll take the damned sphere with me. That way I only stop working on it for what, an hour?" She glared at him. "Do you think I could have an hour off?"
Gippal sighed. "You make it sound like I'm a tyrant."
"You're acting like one!"
"I'm just… Rikku, I just-" His nostrils flared. "Oh never mind. Go. Have a good time."
"I will!"
"Fine!"
"Well?"
He stared at her through the sphere. "Well what?"
"Are you going with me or not?" she asked.
"I…" He paused. His face made it look like he was going to say yes. But then he shook his head. "I… er… have a lot of things to do," he said hastily.
Was he… blushing? "Gip-"
"How are things going with the sphere?"
Rikku frowned, watching him. "Still not sure about it. I'm pretty sure it's a dressphere but I can't figure out why it went wacko on me." And it didn't help that she was afraid to find out.
Gippal pursed his lips, looking frustrated.
"Hey, are you… okay?"
"Fine. I'm just- Look, I've got to go."
"Gippal-" she began again but the connection was broken. She stared at the commsphere with a deep-set frown. He was acting oddly ever since 'The Incident' with the mystery sphere. That had been over a week ago. Normally he'd never pass up an opportunity for a small vacation. And she had been certain he'd want to attend Yuna's wedding. All of Spira wanted to, for goodness' sake.
With a sigh, she fiddled with her commsphere. Well, there was no way she was going to that wedding by herself. After a bit of consideration, she made another call.
"Hey Zanno, want to go to Yuna's wedding with me?"
''''
Rikku sighed, checking her carefully piled hair in a small mirror for the fifth time during the flight. Behind her Zanno chuckled weakly.
"You look fine," he said, his voice still somewhat raspy.
She turned to him, smiling. "I just can't help being paranoid. My hair rarely does fancy upsweeps well." She plopped in the chair beside him. "It has a mind of its own."
Again, he laughed.
"Thanks for coming with me, Zanno. I know you just woke up last week and you still need to rest…" He was still pale and a great deal thinner than usual from his stay at the infirmary.
He shrugged. "Ah, I've rested enough. Any more rest and I'd go insane."
She laughed and followed it with an impatient stamp of her foot, which was clad in dainty green sandals that matched her gauzy green dress. "Are we there yet?"
"Raring to go, are we?" he teased.
"Of course! I want to be there already! I want to see Yunie's dress before the rest of the world gets to!"
"You haven't seen it yet?"
"No! Can you believe it?" she asked as if positively scandalized.
"Tsk. And you her own cousin!"
She made a face. "Now you're just making fun of me."
"Yeah," he admitted.
She gasped and swatted him. "Come on fly boy. Speed it up. I want to get there early."
By the time they walked onto Besaid's port, Rikku was certain the little island was going to sink to the bottom of the ocean beneath the weight of all the wedding guests and their many ships. Gracelessly, she elbowed her way through the crowd, dragging Zanno behind her.
"Rikku!" came a shout.
She glanced around, but everyone was a head talker than her and she didn't see a face she recognized immediately. But she thought she knew the voice. "Tidus?" she shouted over the din.
"Over here!"
"Yeah, I can't see you, dummy!"
Zanno laughed. "I think I see him." He seized her arm and hauled her off in a direction opposite to the one she was heading.
Seconds later she heard another exclamation. "Holy crap Rikku, you actually look like a lady!"
This earned Tidus a slug in the arm. "Meanie!"
He laughed and gave her a tight hug. "It's been a while."
"I know! Nervous."
"As hell."
She grinned. "Where's Yunie?"
Getting ready. She won't let me see her."
"Of course not! It's wedding taboo for the groom to be a filthy peeping tom!"
He sputtered and turned scarlet. "That's- I mean- Rikku!"
With a laugh, she said, "I'm teasing. So, shouldn't you be getting ready?" she asked, eyeing his lack of wedding attire as they headed down a less traveled path towards the village.
"It'll take me a lot less time than it's taking Yuna. Lulu's treating it like she's getting ready for her coronation. And she made Wakka and the Aurochs stand guard. It's actually pretty hysterical. So that's why I'm the one meeting you here." He then glanced at Zanno. "Who's this? I thought you'd be coming with that… Machine whatsis leader."
"This is Zanno and no."
Tidus smiled congenially at him. "Er… rammu :hello," he said haltingly.
Zanno grinned. "I speak Basic."
"Great! I mean…"
They laughed. "You can't get out of it now Tidus!"
They chatted and exchanged playful banter the rest of the way to the village. Rikku was astounded to see it was just as crowded as the port- and these were all different people!
"Is the wedding going to be broadcast all over Spira?" she squawked, seeing the priestess-turned-reporter Shelinda milling through the crowd brandishing a microphone.
"Yeah… kind of unfortunately. They snuck up on us. But if they weren't here, the crowd would be ten times worse," Tidus muttered, leaning them towards Yuna's hut.
Rikku nearly laughed at the sight of Besaid's slightly bumbling blitzball team surrounding the hut. They looked almost as serious as they would for the league tournament! She grinned.
"No way," Wakka said importantly, standing guard before the door flap. He pushed Tidus back. "No grooms allowed!"
She peered around Tidus' shoulder. "What about cousin and best friend?"
He seized her arm. "It's about time you got here. Lu's gone crazy and Yuna's not too far behind, ya?" He shoved her through the door flap.
With a yelp, she stumbled in. All activity in the hut halted momentarily. It was a hysterical sight. Yuna was half in her dress- a beautiful and simple white gown that blended into a watery blue color near her feet. Lulu was clutching a tuft of Yuna's stubborn hair. Their good friend Paine was there too, teetering precariously on her toes as she reached for a box atop a cupboard.
"Hey guys."
Paine promptly stumbled into the cupboard. Lulu fell into her chair as Yuna burst out from her care and threw her arms around her cousin.
"You're here! I think I'm going to go insane! Look at all these people! All of them! And there are more watching at home! I just wanted a small wedding!"
"Yunie?" Rikku held her out at arms length, gripping her shoulders. "It's called breathing. Inhale. Exhale. Repeat as necessary. Okay." She smiled. "Now… you have a big wedding about to happen. If you wanted a small wedding, you should have married him before you defeated Sin."
Yuna groaned.
"Kidding, kidding. What can I help with?"
All three of them shoved a project into her hands. She chatted enthusiastically with them as she laced up Yuna's bodice, rearranged her bouquet of white roses and baby's breath, and filed her nails. Yuna finally seemed to calm down, prompting Rikku to ask teasingly, "Remembering how to breathe now?"
"I think so."
She grinned. "You'll be fine. There. Nails are done." And it was just in time too. Outside the door flap, Wakka was shouting that they had to get going. Immediately, Yuna's nerves jumped again.
"Hey. Don't start wringing your hands, they're not dry!" Paine said, pulling her fingers apart.
"And remember, you've done this before," Rikku teased. "Only this time you're marrying someone you actually like, let alone love."
Yuna choked on a laugh. Even Lulu and Pain chuckled.
"Thanks," she said, slightly tearful. She gave Rikku a tight hug.
"Hey, that's what I'm here for," she murmured, returning the embrace. She gave her a light kiss on the cheek and smiled, feeling a bit tearful herself. "Break a leg. But not really."
She, Paine, and Lulu filed from the hut.
I can't believe Yunie's finally getting married!"
"She deserves it. She's put Spira's happiness before hers for so long."
"I know Lulu… boy do I know. Oh, I just love weddings!"
"You're not going to start crying, are you?"
"Oh shut up Paine! You meanie… And so what if I cry!"
"Rikku!"
She turned from the playful banter at the sound of her name. With a grin, she waved at Zanno. "I'd better get to my seat. See you after the ceremony!" And she ran to join her friend.
With a hand on the small of her back, Zanno guided her through the throngs of people to the chairs situated before Besaid's well-kept ex-temple of Yevon. Rikku pointed out people she knew, people she liked, and people she didn't like so much.
"There's Dona… she's kind of psychotic. And her lover Barthello… even more psychotic. And…oh, that's Beclem. And I said Dona was psychotic? He's the Youth League recruiter, gung-ho and a little trigger happy if you ask me. Why he'd come to see Yuna's wedding is beyond me."
"Rikku?"
She glanced over her shoulder, as did Zanno. Her jaw dropped in surprise. "Gippal?"
''''
If you wish to see what the Seraphim dressphere looks like, go to my website: , click on dolls, characters, page 2. I have an example for Rikku and I tried out Yuna and Paine, though theirs has nothing to do with the story -grin-.