AN: Finally! I got chance to update! I was starting to think I wouldn't have time, what with my finals coming up. I've been studying really hard.
Rikku: You're capable of studying?
DT: Uh, yeah actually I am.
Ryu: And here I though you were just lazy.
DT: I can be serious when I want to. After all I better be serious with my math test. Can you believe it's at 7:40 am! On a Saturday!
Rikku: What! You aren't even awake at that hour on weekends.
Ryu: Are you gonna be able to make it?
DT: I have no choice. My grade is riding on this test. Darn you finals! (clears throat) Anyway enough about that. I would like to thank Faye Leingod, Rikku, Blood Pixie, Blu Rose, and plZ gO oN! for leaving such wonderful reviews. I hope you enjoy the chapter.
Also, I wanted to let everyone one know that "Passion" (the Kingdom Hearts II theme) is AWESOME! I can't get enough of that song. Oh and Yuna, Rikku, and Paine will be in the game as well! Except they are like Chibi's, but that doesn't bother me. They look adorable. I think they're suppose to be some kind of summon. Either way it looks cool.
Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy X-2 or Kingdom Hearts. However I do own Ryu, Maya, Karen, Kai, and Yuri. Other than them, there really isn't much I do own. Enjoy the chapter!
Ch 10 Time Off
Everyone was about to walk into the bridge when Ryu stopped them.
"I want the fact that Maya and Karen are related to me to remain a secret between us."
"Why?" they asked. Although Maya and Karen screamed it.
Ryu sighed. "Just do it. I can't tell you why right now, but trust me, it's for the best."
They agreed, but Maya and Karen were not happy about it. Once they walked into the bridge, Brother and Buddy were curious to find out who their new guests were. Yuna told them that they were friends who were helping them defeat the Heartless. Unfortunately that lead a long explanation of what the Heartless were and how to stop them. After the explanation, Yuna attempted to contact Baralai, but it seemed that he went to meet Nooj and Gippal at Djose Temple. Yuna was happy that they were all in one place. It would be easier to explain to them what was going on. Brother set a course for Djose Temple. In the mean time the Gullwings wanted to get to know their new friends. They went to the cabin and into Yuna's room. Yuna, Paine, and Rikku sat on Yuna's bed. Ryu sat on a chair nearby. Kai, Maya, Karen, and Yuri opted for sitting on the ground. The Gullwings were amazed to hear about the other worlds the four teens had visited. When they started to talk about their parents, Ryu paid close attention to what Maya and Karen said.
When he was little, he had always dreamed of finding his parents. However as he grew older he became angry. It angered him that he had been abandoned. Soon he lost interest in finding them. He had told himself that he didn't care anymore. Now that Maya and Karen had appeared in his life, those old though came back. Maya talked about how their father was really powerful swordsman. He wielded a large sword, mush like Ryu's Katan. They also mentioned how Ryu resembled him in many ways. Maya told them about their mother. She was a healer and knew a lot of powerful white magic. It seemed that Karen looked more like her mother than the other two kids. After they were done, they also wanted to know more about the Gullwings. Yuna and Rikku told them about Sin and the journey they went through to destroy it. Paine told them about her time in the Crimson Squad and how she came to join the Gullwings. Ryu soon found that they were expecting him to share something with them.
At first he only looked at them like they were kidding. He inwardly hoped they were. However, Maya and Karen insisted he tell them something about himself. After all, Ryu was like a stranger to them. The Gullwings realized that even though they had spent so much time with him, they too knew little about him. Ryu refused to say anything. He really didn't want to tell them about his past.
"Come one Ryu! It can't be that bad." Maya urged.
'You have no idea.' He thought to himself.
"In that case you leave us no choice." Paine said. She called the girls over to them.
The boys were left to wonder what the girls were going to do to get Ryu to talk.
"What!" they heard Rikku exclaim.
Paine shushed her and they went back to whispering. Ryu was starting to get a bad feeling. Soon they got out of their huddle and shoved Rikku towards him. Rikku managed to stop herself from falling on top of him. She looked at him, but then she turned away and looked back at the girls.
"Oh, why do I have to do this. Karen or Maya should be the ones doing this!"
"Just do it Rikku! You're the only one who can!" Karen cheered her friend.
Ryu stared at Rikku's back all the while. He tried to figure out the heck they were using Rikku for. Was she suppose to seduce him into telling them? He doubted that, but still he couldn't rule out the possibility. Girls were unpredictable creatures. However, there was one thing he knew for sure. They would not get anything out of him. He noticed Rikku take a deep breath. Then she turned around. Ryu cringed. He wasn't prepared for this attack. Rikku was giving him the dreaded puppy dog eyes.
"Please Ryu." She pleaded.
He quickly felt his resolve crumbling. 'Darn it! These girls are playing dirty!'
"I-I said no." he managed to blurt out.
Rikku could tell he was caving, so she went in for the kill. She made her bottom lip quiver and her eyes go teary. Ryu slouched over in defeat.
"Stop! I'll talk."
The girls let out a cheer while the boys only chuckled in amusement.
"I told you he had a soft spot for you." Paine said.
Rikku blushed slightly while Ryu sat up straight and rubbed his forehead. Well at least they didn't tell him to give every detail of his life.
"Well, I was found by a group of monks. They brought me to Bevelle so that the Maesters could decide what to do with me. They decided to let me live in Bevelle and be brought up by the monks."
That startled Yuna, Rikku, and Paine. For someone who was brought up in Bevelle he sure didn't seem religious.
"When I was seven I met Auron. I became….attached to him. I guess I saw him as a father figure. He was the one who began to teach me to wield a sword. Unfortunately he left because he refused to marry the high priest's daughter. Soon I heard he joined in High Summoner Braska's pilgrimage. I was happy to know he was doing something to save Spira. I…wanted to grow up to be just like him. After Sin was destroyed, I heard rumors that he died, but I didn't have time to mourn since I was soon taken to be trained."
"Trained? For what?" Yuna questioned.
Ryu looked hesitant to answer. He opened his mouth, but then closed it.
"Ryu?" Maya asked concerned.
"I was trained so I could do…… work for the Maesters."
Yuna gasped. Rikku and Paine looked shocked.
Maya looked at her brother. "What did they make you do?"
Ryu's expression became darker. "A lot of stuff. They brainwashed me. It's not hard to do that to a seven year old. They had to so they could make me completely devoted to Yevon and the Maesters. I did many things that will never be forgiven…..and I have to live with that." He finished. Then he stood up and walked out of the room. As the door closed behind him he punched the wall.
'Damn it! I should have just kept my mouth shut.'
He walked off to the elevator and to the deck. The only place he could clear his mind.
-------------------------------------------------
The next day, everyone was gathered in the bridge, minus Ryu. Everyone had agreed to give him some room. As they neared Djose Temple, Rikku was getting antsy. She wasn't sure how she should act around Gippal. She had only spent what felt like five minutes with him after they had gotten engaged. She though about what she could do to try to take her mind off of it. Deciding fresh air sounded good, she took the elevator to the deck. She wasn't surprised to see Ryu laying there. His sword laid to his side. She smiled mischievously and tipped toed her way over to him. She managed to sit next to him without him noticing. That's when she realized he was asleep. She peered into his face and though for a second she was looking at someone else. She was use to seeing Ryu with a bored expression or a brooding face. Now he had no defenses up. His face was serene, calm. It made him look innocent. She smiled. Then without thinking she reached out and stoked his cheek. He still didn't stir.
"Rikku!" a voice came out of no where.
Rikku jumped away, startling Ryu in the process. He jumped up to his feet and got into a fighting stance.
"Rikku!" The voice said again. "Find Ryu and get back to the bridge, now!"
Ryu relaxed and realized it was just Brother over the intercom. He looked at Rikku who looked like she was about to have a heart attack. She was sitting on the ground breathing heavily. He went over to her and offered her a hand. She gladly took it and stood up.
"I suppose you were sent to find me."
"Uh, yeah, that's right." She said. Inwardly she was glad he didn't know what she was doing before Brother interrupted.
Ryu picked up his sword and sheathed it back into it's scabbard.
"Lets go." He told Rikku.
She nodded and followed him. When they arrived in the bridge, Brother was gracious enough to tell them that they had arrived. They all filed out. Gippal, Baralai, and Nooj were waiting for them outside the temple.
"Welcome back!" Gippal said as he opened up his arms. Of course, he was expecting Rikku to run to him for a hug. Well, she didn't run to him, but she did give him a quick hug before she pulled away and introduced their new friends.
"Gippal, this are our new friends. Yuri, Kai, Karen, and Maya."
'Hello.' Gippal though as he eyed Maya. Though he made sure it wasn't blatantly obvious.
Yuna then approached them as well. "Have you been waiting for us?"
Baralai nodded. "Yes. I received a message from Bevelle. They warned us of your arrival."
Ryu then walked up with the rest. Baralai's eyes widened as he looked at Ryu.
"It's you." He said in awe.
"Yeah, nice to see you to." Ryu responded.
Everyone else looked surprised at them. "You know each other." Paine questioned them.
"Unfortunately." Ryu and Baralai said.
They decided to get the story later. They headed into the temple and to the meeting room. After an hour later. They had gotten all the facts together and decided to work out a plan the next day. They would have done it that day, but Gippal was anxious to go to Luca and catch up on shopping for the wedding. Rikku begrudgingly agreed. Yuna and Paine offered to go along. She brightened up at that. She was about to ask if Ryu wanted to join when Gippal cut her off.
"Why don't you take the day off Ryu? I'm sure you must have had your hands full with these three."
Rikku looked at him pleadingly. She wanted him to come. She had grown accustomed to having Ryu around wherever she went. Ryu glanced at Rikku. She was giving him those eyes again.
"Are you sure you won't need me to protect her?" he asked Gippal.
Gippal waved him off. "Don't worry. I'll be there and so will Yuna and Paine. Go ahead and take the day off."
Ryu shrugged. "Okay, whatever you say."
Gippal lead the three girls out of the room. Rikku looked back one last time. Ryu sat with his arms crossed, but he didn't look at her.
'You idiot. Couldn't you tell I wanted you to come with me?'
After they had left Nooj and Baralai took their leave. Baralai did tell Ryu that he wanted to have a private chat with him the next day. Ryu nodded and Baralai left. Maya looked at her brother with a frown.
"You know she was practically begging you to go along."
"You should have at least said good-bye to her." Karen added.
Ryu got up and walked towards the door. The other teens followed him. Maya continued to glare at him. They walked all the way outside. Ryu looked at the sky and found that the Celsius was gone. He turned to look at them.
"Guys, we're going to Luca." He finally stated.
"What?" Yuri questioned. "Didn't that guy tell you that they didn't need your help?"
Ryu smirked. "I know. I'm not going for that. I just happened to have a friend who lives in Luca. I though it would be nice to stop by and say hi."
Kai, Maya, and Karen's eyes lit up at what he told them.
"But doesn't that mean your using that as an excuse so you can follow Rikku?" Yuri asked again, totally clueless.
Kai smacked his friends upside the head. "Of course that's the reason stupid. We realized that already."
"Oh." Yuri said lamely.
The girls sighed at the boys. Ryu shook his head.
"Well if we're going to go, we might as well fly. Think you can carry the boys?" he asked his sisters.
They nodded their head. Kai and Yuri looked at the girls with a bit of apprehension.
"No way am I going to be carried by either of….." Kai didn't finish since Maya had grabbed him and took off in the air.
Yuri looked nervously at Karen. "Now Karen, I don't think…." He also didn't finish as Karen flew with him into the air. Ryu shook his head at his sisters antics and flew up with them. He looked at his sisters wings and then at his own. Their wings were pure white. He, on the other hand, had a black wing and a white wing.
"Why are my wings different colors and yours aren't?" he asked them.
"Uh, good question." Karen and Maya said at the same time.
"Can we please just go?" Kai said impatiently.
"Okay, okay." Ryu said.
Ryu flew in Luca's direction with Maya and Karen following him with their grumpy passengers. Meanwhile, Rikku was sitting on the deck of the Celsius. She looked angrily at the sky.
"Stupid Ryu. He's such a big meanie."
That was all she could think of. Yuna and Paine soon joined her on the deck. Yuna looked sympathetically at her cousin.
"It's not his fault you know. You really shouldn't blame him."
"Yes I can." Rikku answered.
Paine shook her head. "Ah, young love."
"It's not that!" Rikku retorted.
"Then why are you mad? Isn't it because he's not here with you?" Yuna asked.
Rikku didn't answer that question.
Yuna continued. "When you love someone, just the though of them not being with you can make you anxious and frustrated. It can even turn into anger."
Yuna then stood up abruptly after she finished and ran towards the elevator. Rikku and Paine heard her mumbling something about making herself miss Tidus.
"Don't worry." Paine said as she got up. "I'm sure he wouldn't abandon you like this."
She left to give Rikku some time to think, but mostly to cool off. Rikku though about what they both said. Mostly though, she though about what Yuna said.
'Love? No, I like him but……?'
She stopped her train of though and it wasn't because she didn't know what else to think. It was because she had just admitted to herself that she indeed liked him more than just a friend. She covered her face with her hands. She could feel the heat radiating from her face.
'Oh no, I think I do.'
AN: Yay, I'm done with this chapter!
Rikku: Ryu is such a meanie.
Ryu: I am right here you know.
Rikku: Good, I don't have to repeat myself then.
Ryu:………
DT: Uh, yeah. Anyway I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please read and review, but no flames. Later!
