Chapter 10: Shadows Of The Past Return

Rikku got off Andy and Andy handed Rikku her clothes. "Thanks," Rikku said.

"No problem," Andy said in return, getting his clothes.

They both got their clothes on and then Rikku took both of Andy's hands, and kisses Andy deeply and softly, in which he returned. After they broke the kiss, they began to walk towards the bridge holding each others hand. Andy smiled at Rikku as they walked and RIkku returned with a smile of her own. Andy knew he finally felt a great connection with Rikku.

Yuna looked back at her cousin and smiled softly and Paine looked back at them and placed her hand on her jaw. "Whats the matter Paine?" Yuna had an almost worried look on her face.

"Got a cavity."

"How?"

"Too much sweet at one time."

"Rikku smiled. "I'll take that as a complement seeing how your usually so cold."

"Damn, thats not good," Andy said. "Also, we're even now on walking in on people having sex. Are you happy now?" he said with a laugh.

Paine shook her head. "No I'll be scared for life now I saw Rikku topless having sex."

Rikku pouted. "Like I wanted to see Yunie like that."

Yuna shook her head. "Anyways so now what?"

"I have no idea," Andy said with a sigh. "Something needs to happen like right now..."

Buddy smiled. "Well if I may interupt there are some serious waves comming from Bevelle. So new guy ready?"

"Oh hell yeah I'm ready. I've been ready." Andy said with a nod and a grin.

Paine shook her head. "Well Bevelle isn't a nice place we'll be killing people as well as feinds can you handle that?" Paine's voice had a hint of concern in it.

"Hopefully these people will have a reason to be or this will not be good..." Andy said concerned.

Paine shook her head no. "They will try and kill you because you are simply with us, and they will also try and kill you because your not a follower of Yeavon. So it will kill or be killed out there are you still sure you can handle that?" Paine looked at Andy her crimson eyes stareing deep in to Andy's blue eyes. "Well?"

Andy blushed at the way Paine was looking at him. "Uh... yeah, I can do that." he said mostly confedently.

Paine nodded. "Why the hell are you blushing?"

"The... The way you were looking at me..." Andy blushed even more and covered his face. "Damn it Paine stop that!" he said.

Paine chuckled. "Stop what?"

"Stop embarressing me!" Andy said, his face still covered.

"How am I embarassing you?"

Andy sighed, "The way you were looking at me. Damn it, why are you being mean?" Andy said glaring at Paine.

Paine smirked. "I'm not interested in you your a guy, and you know its rude to look at a womens chest while trying to intimidate her."

Andy walked away. "One, I wan't looking at your chest, and two, Im getting away from this before I go postal..."

Paine shook her head. "He really needs to lighten up."

Yuna smiled. "You don't need to be so harsh."

Rikku smiled. "She was joking I know that I'll go talk to him." Rikku walked over to Andy. "You realize Paine was only jokeing around with you you don't have to worry about her unless she's yelling."

"Yes, I know Rikku, she was embarressing me way too much..." he said in return.

"Awww how was she embarressing you?"

Andy sighed. "The way she looked into my eyes. I mean, I know she wants me safe, but that just didn't feel right."

Rikku smiled. "She's just worried about you is all her hands along with mine and Yunie have been stained with blood and she remembers how me and her reacted when we first had to kill a Yeavon soldier and honestly her reaction was cold and calas she never hesitated in battle even though we were fighting humans not feinds. She doesn't want your hands blood stained unless she's sure you can handel it."

"Ok, I understand, I should apologize..." Andy said.

"It would be a nice gesture, just assure her you can handle the responciblity of killing a man." Rikku smiled and kissed Andy softly.

Andy wrapped his arms around Rikku and softly kissed her back. "Oh I will. I'll just think that they look like someone who hates me in my world. Though I dont know if I would kill them... oh well."

Rikku nodded. "You have to sure you would kill them or if anything Paine won't let you fight."

"I meant I dont know if I would be able to kill the people who hate me in my world, I can kill the people here. Come on, lets go." Andy let go of Rikku walked past her, and while he did that, he grabbed RIkku's ass. "Payback." he winked.

"OH you are gonna get it later."

"Oh we'll see..." Andy laughed as he walked back to the group. Andy walked up to Paine and patted her on the pack. "Hey, I'm sorry for walking away like that. I didn't know you were trying to ensure my safety, I would hug you, but, I don't feel thats right." Andy laughed.

Paine shook her head then nodded. "Its fine and yea not a huggy person. Just be carefull out there ok."

"I will." Andy said with a nod.

"You better." Paine nodded and turned to Yuna. "Ready when you are."

Yuna smiled and nodded. "I'm ready let's go."

The group got off the airship in Macalonina Wood and snuck into Bevelle. Upon walking half way the walk way to the temple they were met by six armed guards. "Stop right there traitors!"

"Here we go, hope your ready Andy because they are byonde hurt they are dead." Paine's features were cold and looked to be carved from stone when she rushed forward killing one of the guards. As the one fell to the ground another turned and shot at Paine, she blocked the bullet with the blade of her sword and ir ricashaded off back at him killing him also. The next guy fired a shot at Andy. "Watch it Andy."

Andy threw himself to the left behind Rikku as the bullet missed him. "Hold there for a second." Andy took the dressphere out of his pocket and tossed it in the air and he changed into his theif form. "Now why didn't I do that before we got here." he asked. "Anyway, lets finish them off!"

Yuna returned fire with both of her guns and smiled as two fell. "Andy, Rikku you finish um off two of them two of you."

"Gotcha Yuna!" Andy charged at one of the guards. He leaped, and sliced the throat of one of guards. A tingly feeling got into him, he never killed anyone before. That didnt stop him though.

Rikku's smirked and rushed forward stumbeling a bit before burrying her dagger deep into the chest of the final guard. "Oh Yea!"

Yuna giggled. "DUCK SOUP!"

"Duck WHAT?" Paine gave Yuna a questioning look.

Andy had to laugh. "What the hell was that for Yuna?" he asked, still laughing.

Yuna simply smiled. "Once inside the maze below the temple we'll spit up. It changes direction once every hour so we need to move quickly and get to the main room. Once in the maze we'll be fighting some mutant feinds be carefull everyone."

The group moved quicky and took the lift to the maze. Paine sighed. "Rikku you go east, Andy you go west, Yuna go north, I'll go south. Any questions."

Andy shook his head. "Nope, let's do this!" Andy said as he ran down the west passage.

Andy ran down the west passage and found himself in a maze. He cursed to himself and entered the maze. The maze was small, but hard. He hit a lot of dead ends.

About half way through the maze, he came up to two more guards, he hid and the guards looked around. One of them went by him, and it was perfect since he wasn't looking. Andy then backstabbed him and he went down and then charged at the other one. The other guard fired at him, but he slid to dodge the bullet and then jumped up from the ground, taking out the final guard.

"Dang guards…" he said to himself. He continued the maze and after another twenty minutes, he finally made it out of the maze. 'Dang, that was hard…' he said to himself as he walked down another small passage. He then entered another room. He then saw a sparkling object. "This must be one of those spheres Rikku was talking about!" Andy slowly approached the sphere, not knowing of what danger was lurking in the room.

Yuna, Rikku and Paine fought they're way to dead ends. In frustration Paine growled and hit the wall. "Damn that hurt."

From the room a loud growl was head. A large shadow dragon roared loudly as it rose up out of the ground.

Andy looked up at it. "Oh... my... god... This... is not... good..." Andy stood ready to go. He thought, 'This is my fight, I will fight with honor and do my best.'

The shadow dragon swung at Andy with its spiked tail hard and fast.

Andy barely jumped over the tail of the dragon. He ran up and began slashing at the dragon, trying to deal out some damage to it.

The dragon roared and grabbed Andy and threw him to the ground hard.

Andy slammed into the ground hard. He was able to get up and keep going. The black vest he was wearing was now just a little bit ripped up. He went back to attacking it, now trying to dodge any more incoming attacks.

The dragon snapped at him. Its large teeth barely missing him. The dragon quickly swiped at him with its tail n its claws came from the other direction.

Andy jumped over the dragon's tail to dodge both attacks. He took a defensive stance and waiting for the perfect change to strike.

The shadow dragon roared feircely and spit a stream of fire at Andy.

Andy wasn't quick enough to dodge as the flames engulfed him.

By this time the other three heard the roars and they ran as fast as they could. They all arrived in the room at the same time. Paine saw Andy and growled and then looked at the dragon. "Rikku get him to safty now me an Yuna will handle this."

Rikku grabbed Andy's hand and drug him out of the room. She knelt down and checked his vitals. "You seem ok I'll fix you up in now time." Rikku ran her hand along his cheek.

Andy stood up, he was wounded, but something made him keep going, an fire burned inside of him. "Just like the battlefield when the soldiers in my world go to war, you don't quit. Even if it means dieing on the battlefield. Im going to keep going, and even if I die, I've done my part..." Andy walked back into battle, he was now in rage. You could tell by the look in his eyes. "No."

Paine looked at Andy. "What the hell are you doing?"

"Im finishing the fight, wether I die or not!" Andy said confedently.

"Are you crazy?"

Andy looked over at Paine. "I may sound crazy," he started in a much calmer voice, "But I will finish what I have started. I won't quit because of some injuries." Andy faced the dragon. "Come get some!" he yelled at it as he charged. At that time, the swung at him with its claw. Andy seen it coming, but it was too late. Andy was hit, and he flew into the wall and it left somewhat of a mark. His vest was now all ripped up and his bare chest could be seen. He had wounds on his chest, arms, legs, and face, with blood trickling out of his mouth, he was out cold.

Paine sighed. "Fine be that way." Paine used her 'Excaliber' spell and the dragon fell to the ground dead.

Rikku ran to Andy's side. "Andy!" She tossed a phoenix down at him.

At first, nothing happened, then Andy's eyes slowly opened. His eyes then closed again. He was out of energy, but alive.

Paine picked him up and draped him over her shoulders. "Lets get back to the ship. He's got the sphear. I feel it digging into my back." The group headed back to the airship. Once on board Paine slowly made her way up the stairs and flopped Andy on the bed. "Damn your heavy."

Rikku came up and sat on the bed and held Andy's hand. "Please be ok."

There was no responce, his breathing slowed down, not much that he was in critical conditions, but still, its slowed a little.