A/N-Alright! Thanks for the reviews, you guys! squeezes the life out of everyone Let's continue with this story! I haven't got much to say! I think I'm going to have much more fun with this story than Every Heart. Hopefully I won't get writer's block so keep your fingers crossed! Also, for the answer to the little "game", the song is called Adieu from the anime series Cowboy Bebop. Such a pretty song, no? Oh, and just for the record, in this story, Gippal and Rikku did not date! They were just childhood friends! Also, Happy Belated Birthday to knivesgirl346! Give your moogle a hug for me! Ok, onward with the story!
♫Caprice♫
Chapter Two: Comical Interlude
"Let's be happy
A natural ambition
Tomorrow will be even better than today
Let's make a promise
Let's talk through the night."
Yuna picked up a plastic cup left on the floor and wrinkled her nose, placing the litter into the black trash bag she was carrying.
"Need help?" Tidus appeared by her side, dumping an empty can into the bag. Yuna smiled sweetly back up at him and he chuckled, hugging her close to him. After the party, there was a huge mess left and only a few people had volunteered to help out. The crickets were humming a lullaby faintly in the background, making everyone even more tired.
"Thanks, Tidus. What time is it anyway?" Yuna pushed back the bangs in her eyes after they embraced, dragging the trash bag around with her halfheartedly. Tidus checked his watch and frowned slightly, shaking his head.
"It's already half past one. Maybe you should get some rest, eh? I'll finish cleaning up," the ex-blitzball player offered, gently taking the bag from her. Yuna shook her head politely and offered a tired smile to her boyfriend.
"No, it's alright. I'm used to staying up late, what with Rikku chatting incessantly on our sphere-hunting journeys," the ex-summoner joked, earning a low chuckle from Tidus.
"Nah, don't sweat it, Yuna. There's not much left and I'm not tired. You look ready to fall asleep, though," Tidus said seriously. "And I'm not taking no for an answer." Yuna eyed Tidus warily, before begrudgingly relenting.
"Alright, you can do the rest, but I'm going to supervise," she compromised. Tidus rolled his dark blue eyes and gave in as well, picking up some litter from the ground.
"Deal. Oh hey, speaking of Rikku, how are you going to get them together? When you were dancing with that guy, you were telling him something, but I couldn't read what you were saying." Tidus continued picking up litter and gave her a curious sideways glance. A smirk slowly appeared on her pretty face and she leaned back against the hut she was using as support.
"Oh, I struck up a deal with Asher, that guy that bumped Rikku into Gippal." Tidus stopped picking up litter and turned his full attention on Yuna. One of Tidus' fair brows shot up in amusement, a goofy grin beginning to form on his face.
"Excuse me? …Asher?"
"Yes. His name is Asher," Yuna replied, drawing a circle in the warm sand with the toe of her black boot. Scooping up a bead necklace after regaining his composure, Tidus cocked his head to side innocently.
"And what's his last name?"
"Ness."
"His name is Asher Ness."
"Yeah…and what's your point?"
"Asher Ness? Does that not sound in the least bit weird to you?" Tidus whispered, his mouth twisting into a wince. Yuna tilted her head to the side, not getting 'it'.
"No…"
"You'd think a guy as good-looking as him would have a more…tasteful name, let's just say. I mean…His Asher Ness," Tidus replied, continuing with his trash-picking, grinning. Yuna giggled after a moment, waving her right hand in a conversational gesture.
"Well now that I think about it, it is strange, huh?"
"You don't say."
Yuna giggled again and then crossed her arms. "Well anyway, about that deal; it was kind of a strange conversation, really. I didn't think he'd be so…enthusiastic to participate. I guess he has a wild side or something because he wanted to do something that was quite...well, wild."
"Oh really? Do tell," Tidus said over his shoulder, swinging the trash bag over his shoulder. Yuna leaned back against the tent, arms still crossed, and a teasing smile on her face.
"Well…"
Yuna moved away from Tidus and walked through the dancing mob, searching for someone in particular. After scanning her mismatched eyes on the sidelines for a while, she found the stranger scowling at the dancing couple. "Bingo," she whispered. She sauntered up to the handsome stranger and tapped him politely on the back.
Said stranger turned around, recognizing the famous summoner's face. His grey eyes closed and he bowed politely. "Lady Yuna."
"Oh, there's no need for that!" Yuna waved it off with a smile. "I was just wondering if you'd give me the honor of a dance." The stranger looked slightly wary at Yuna's disarming smile, but nodded after a brief pause. She grabbed his arm and they moved to the dance floor.
"For acquaintance's sake, mind telling me what your name is?" Yuna asked, wrapping her slender arms around the chestnut-haired man.
"It's Asher. Asher Ness."
"Nice to meet you, Ness."
"You can call me Asher." He gently twirled her around skillfully, and she smiled in admiration.
"You're a great dancer, Asher."
"Lady Yuna…I don't mean to be forward, but…Is there something you want?"
"Actually, yes there is…" Yuna smiled charmingly at Asher and he cocked a brow. The ex-summoner leaned in and whispered in his ear. "I believe you already know who Rikku is. You see that man she's dancing with?" Asher twirled them around so he could see and his grey eyes narrowed in jealousy. "That's Gippal. Now, I know you wanted to dance with her, but she's sort of already taken by him. The two of them just don't know it yet."
"And…what do you want me to do about it?"
"I need your help in getting them together."
"Why me?"
"Well…I noticed that when you greeted her about wanting a dance, you came off as…creepy."
"What!"
"Shh…" Yuna smiled nervously as some of the people in the audience looked at them oddly. "I'm sorry, but that's just how it came off as."
"…"
"Anyway, now that I've seen how creeped out my cousin was by you, maybe we could form some sort of alliance in order to get her and Gippal together. What do you say?"
"I don't know…"
"Please? I really owe Rikku a favor. She's already done so much for me…" Yuna trailed off. Asher noted the immensely happy expression in the ex-summoner's two-toned eyes as she glanced at a man with dark blue eyes and spiky blonde hair. Asher sighed. He had a feeling he was getting into a huge situation. 'Why am I such a kind person?' he wondered to himself.
"What do I get out of it?" 'I might as well get something out of this for being so kind.' A sly smile appeared on Yuna's face.
"How's 1,000 Gil sound?"
"Make it 5,000 and we have a deal."
"3,500."
And the bargaining began.
"4,000."
"2,500."
"Deal! Hey…wait a minute!" Asher exclaimed in protest of being cheated. Yuna chuckled, mentally patting herself on the back for a job well done.
"Too late, Asher! The deal has been sealed!" The grey-eyed man sighed in defeat and nodded.
"Alright. I don't even know why I'm doing this. So…got any ideas?" They continued dancing, oblivious to the Al Bhed couple giving them suspicious stares. Yuna's easy smile slipped slightly and she shook her head 'no'. "I see…Well…since you said I was creepy…How about…I'm a serial killer who goes after young Al Bhed women?"
Yuna stumbled slightly and stared at him with wide eyes. "…What?"
"Well, you did say I came off as creepy. If we can somehow make Rikku believe that, she could perhaps stay with that guy…or something. Or maybe I could target that guy, too and she'd have to constantly stay near him to protect him as well!"
"Oh, I see. Why do I have the feeling you're looking forward to doing this?" the ex-summoner questioned, trying not to laugh at the pure amusement shining in Asher's eyes. "Leave that up to me. The Gullwings can make a trip to Djose Temple, and on our way, you can follow us, tree-to-tree or something, and then feign an attack on Rikku…That should shake her up a bit."
Asher cocked a brow. "I was just kidding, but alright. What weapon should I use? I don't want to actually end up scoring a hit on her."
"Don't worry about that. Rikku's a very talented fighter. Whatever you throw her way…I'm sure she'd be able to dodge it. Just use a gun," Yuna replied casually, ignoring Asher's surprised stare. "…And then when we get to Djose you can call her, like in those scary movies and say 'I know where you are…' in a creepy voice."
"…Ok then. So…when should we start?"
"Tomorrow. We'll be staying here in Besaid for the night…Meet me in front of the temple at 7:00, alright?" Asher nodded in understanding and the song ended. They parted ways. One thought remained on Asher's mind. 'Who knew Lady Yuna was such a strange woman?'
Tidus blinked once. Twice. He couldn't help it. Laughter exploded from his mouth as Yuna stared at him in amusement, a confused smile on her tanned face. "What's so funny?"
"S-S-S-Serial killer?" The blonde blitzball player choked out, dropping his trash bag as he clutched his sides.
"Yes, I thought it was quite odd, too, but it just might work!" The goofy grin was back on Tidus' face. He shook his head, still laughing.
"I see. Who have you informed about this?"
"You and Paine." The blonde man's jaw dropped, blue eyes widening incredulously.
"That's it? You don't plan on informing anyone else that this Asher guy isn't really a serial killer?" Yuna smiled serenely and shook her head, her layered hair swinging back and forth gently.
"If Cid knew he wouldn't allow it, if Brother knew he'd probably tell everyone in Spira, if Baralai knew he wouldn't approve…I think…And if Nooj knew…I don't think Nooj should know," Yuna finished, wincing at the thought of Nooj telling his wife, Leblanc. Tidus nodded seriously.
"I get it. So…did you guys think of a fake name for this Al Bhed serial killer?"
"Actually, yes. Asher obviously doesn't want use his real name, so I suggested we just use his first name initial and his last name. That way it's not something corny like 'The Evildoer Guy' or whatever." Yuna's blue-eyed boyfriend paused for a moment as he let the information sink in. Then it struck him.
At first she thought Tidus had collapsed and was having a violent seizure, but as she frantically ran over and kneeled beside him, she realized he was laughing so hard he couldn't breathe, his cheeks dark red as he gasped for oxygen. "Tidus? What's wrong? What are you…laughing about?"
"Serial….kill…er's…na…me…!"
The brunette cocked her head to the side and spoke aloud with a totally straight face.
"A. Ness?"
A/N-Don't worry, people. I'm done with the guessing game. Tee-hee! The quote at the top is lyrics from the song Let's Be Happy by Utada Hikaru. Oh, and if you haven't noticed, if the chapter titles don't make sense, I'm trying to. You see, I'm trying to give this story a musical and lighthearted feel, ya know? Either the title of every chapter is going to be the title of a song, or a musical term (like Timeless Waltz). sweat drop I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Also, I might just write this story in third person. Or maybe I'll alternate depending on how I think it'll fit the story best. Anyway, please leave a review and tell me what you think. I'm writing this story for your entertainment, so I kinda need your opinion!
Moshi Moshi Mai