Bit of a song chapter for ya. And yes it is a real song sung by Rikku's voice actor. 'Without You' fit so well, I had to use it. Gin
"I hear the girl is heading for Bevelle."
"That is correct, but I do not want anything to happen to her until I give the word. She is to remain untouched until that time comes."
"But milord, you do know what will happen if the city were to find out there is an Al Bhed within the limits?" The servant protested.
"Do not worry. I have everything under control. All will be revealed in due time." The master replied. "Your job is to make sure all preparations are ready. You can handle that, can you not?"
"Yes sir, everything will be ready."
The sphere clicked off signaling the end of the conversation. The master leaned back in his seat and smirked. This was too easy. Shame Jecht was unable to finish the job. He would have been rewarded well. No use thinking on that now, it was one less thing for him to concern himself about.
--
Two days had passed before the boat Rikku was on stopped to await the passing of a storm. It was nighttime when Seymour left the bed and headed into the office set aside in his cabin.
About twenty minuets after Seymour had been gone; a knock came at his office door. "Enter." He called out. He knew it was Riana. In the middle of the night it could be no other.
"Seymour, what are you doing? I woke up and you were gone."
"I'm sorry, love. I was unable to sleep, so I came in here to get some work done. I did not mean to worry you so." He cooed to her.
Rikku stepped into the room and slid behind him. Her hands gently began to massage his shoulders. "You're tense. Thinking about being Potentate again?" She whispered seductively in his ear.
Seymour chuckled. He turned in his seat, reached out and grabbed around her waist before nuzzling her neck. "You know me too well. You are the only one I can trust with my deepest fears."
"That's because I love you and would do anything for you." She giggled lightly.
Seymour smiled. Her devotion was amazing. "Look into my eyes, Riana. I want to see that love for myself."
She shifted so she could do as he requested. His blue oculars dove deep into her green as if he was looking into her soul. At first she felt a chill run down her spine then nothing. It wasn't until he spoke was she released from the trance-like state she was in. "Head back to bed now. I will be there shortly." He kissed the top of her head before sending her off.
Rikku smiled and stood as if nothing happened. "I will be waiting for you then. Good night, Seymour."
--
Auron watched and waited, growing more and more anxious with each passing day. He was more and more short tempered with those around him; snapping at those who dared mention anything about Rikku.
Tidus had taken a chance and challenged him in friendly duels to help ease the stress. That was stopped after Auron broke one of his light swords and almost his arm at the same time. He had run to Yuna to be cured. She had yelled at the older man, but it did nothing to ease his mood. Finally the island found it best to leave him alone.
Over a week had passed and still there was nothing to be heard about Rikku. Auron knew that if she was with Seymour in Bevelle then surely there would be something about her on the sphere. But perhaps he would be lucky today. Today the ceremony for Seymour was be held. It was going to be broadcast all over Spira for everyone to see.
"Hello and welcome to Spira News. Today is a special day for all of us here in Bevelle and around the world. Today we celebrate the rise of Lord Seymour of Guadosalam as our new Potentate. My name is Shelinda, and I will be presenting this event as it happens live." A woman with a huge grin and medium length brown hair stood talking into a microphone. Auron remembered her as the anchorwoman of the popular news show Spira News.
He gazed around at the people who gathered in Kimarhi's small hut and took note of the expressions they held. Wakka still seemed in awe of the soon to be anointed Potentate, his wife stood next to him arms crossed. It never was an easy thing to tell what Lulu was thinking, she was much like him in that she guarded her emotions well. Tidus sat on the floor next to Yuna trying to contain the anger before it could overcome him. Yuna was calm and took in what was being presented in front of her with discretion. Kimahri stood giving nothing away. Though Auron knew he agreed with him in the whole Seymour issue. He turned his attention back to the sphere.
"I am standing here on top of Bevelle Temple waiting for Lord Seymour to emerge. It is almost time. Perhaps I can ask this person here their thoughts about today. Excuse me sir, can I ask you a few questions?" Shelinda moved over till she stood next to a man in a black hood.
"I would rather not if you don't mind." The hooded figure responded before quickly moving away.
Auron widened his single good eye in shock. He knew that voice, though it had been years since he last heard it.
Shelinda was not daunted. "No matter. Oh look! Here comes Lord Seymour now. Let's listen to Potentate Mika as he speaks."
"Denizens of Spira, I welcome you today to this special day. Please welcome Lord Seymour as he prepares to lead us into a new age. Today I will step down as potentate as he will take my place. I ask that you support him just as you have supported me. And now Seymour, I ask that you step forward so that I can pass on the title to you."
Seymour stepped up as a young blond girl followed behind him. She was dressed in a long green dress with sheer covering over top. Her arms were bare, and her hair was pulled into intricate curls on top of her head. Elemental gems strewn throughout, giving an aura of beauty and deadliness.. Auron barely caught her figure before the camera moved away and focused on Seymour. No one else seemed to have seen, or if they did, no one said anything.
"Seymour Guado, you have agreed to take over in my place as Potentate of Spira. But this means more then just making people happy. You must be willing to set aside your own personal agendas and focus on benefiting Spira. You must be willing to do all you can to help those around you to succeed. Are you prepared for this?"
Seymour waited before answering as if he was thinking the question over. He then smiled and nodded as he replied. "I will do all that you ask and more." He turned slightly and held his hand out to someone standing behind him. A small tanned hand placed itself into his own as the sphere pulled back to view who this new person was.
"In an amazing turn of events, the new Potentate has presented us with a new woman who I assume will be ruling along side of Lord Seymour here in Bevelle. Isn't this exciting folks? I can only speculate as to who she might be." Shelinda commented on the action.
The hut in Bevelle stopped listening as soon as they saw the outsider step into the screen. She did not smile, she didn't even look happy. It wasn't until Seymour leaned over and appeared to kiss her cheek before a smile broke out. Though Auron could see how phony it looked.
Tidus was the first to say anything. "What the…? Wasn't that…Riana?"
"You're right, but yet, I wonder. She didn't even look happy, did she?" Yuna asked.
As Wakka joined into the conversation next, Lulu sauntered over next to Auron. She talked in a hushed tone. "You knew she was in Bevelle, did you not?"
"I did." He answered.
"Then why have you not done anything? You can see for yourself how unhappy she is."
"She made her choice. Riana chose Seymour over me. There is nothing I can do now to change that." He dropped the conversation at that as he left the hut. Lulu's heart broke as she watched him give up on what he truly felt.
--
A celebration was held in honor of Lord Seymour's new position. Rikku stayed by his side for an hour or so before he dismissed her. She slowly made her way to her room and stripped out of the green dress. Throwing it onto her bed, she quickly changed into something more relaxing. Green shorts and an orange top filled that job quite well. Not that she remembered where it was from, it didn't matter.
Rikku slipped silently down the halls and into the garden behind the mansion. She needed some fresh air. A salty breeze blew from Bevelle Sea cooling her face and exposed skin.
Finding a hidden path, she made her way to the sea. The steps were old and deteriorating, but as long as she was careful she could do it. Reaching the bottom, Rikku placed her first step onto the soft sand. A wind blew past her again, and she could feel someone calling her name. Turning suddenly as if expecting someone to be there, she found nothing. She was alone. Another wind and she felt her name called again. A face entered her mind, one lost within her memories. He had dark hair and one scared eye, but for some reason Rikku was unable to place a name with the face. Yet she knew deep down she missed that face.
A sadness now filled her heart as she walked closer to the sea. Softly, slowly she began to sing.
"I
miss you"...that single phrase, I wrote in the sand
The blue
of the ocean that day was too bright.
Finding herself feeling more confident as she sang Rikku continued.
A
congested city, within the people crossing
I wander alone looking
for you
I could faintly hear a voice calling me
I turned
around, but there was no one there.
The words came to her as she sang with all she was feeling inside.
That
kind of pain is just difficult
The sun shines on me and it hurts.
Tears began to form at the corners of her eyes, yet she had to get this out.
"I
miss you"...that single phrase, I wrote in the sand
The blue
of the ocean that day was too bright
"Please deliver
this"...that single phrase, when I whispered it
The color of
the clouds that day was too sad.
Rikku lifted her face to stare at the sky. Deep down, she knew her words would reach the man that she was unable to say these words to.
"It's
not a story without end, or anything like that"
You, who
murmured this as you averted your gaze,
Although, in this late
hour, the time I've been made to understand the meaning of those
words,
You aren't here.
Had he been the one to say those words? Somehow Rikku knew it to be true.
The
day I repeated playing dress-up
I finally realized that it was
just empty.
How true, so very true of what she felt now.
"Thank
you"...that single phrase I want to express
The crowd of
people run through the setting sun
This heart that wants to cry
is screaming
The sun is looking and laughing at me.
In
the space where, tired of crying, I slumber, I dream of
Whether
or not you'll come to meet me. I Miss You.
Tears now poured down her face as she tried to wipe them away. She had one last thing she had to say before she was done.
"I
miss you"...that single phrase, I wrote in the sand
The blue
of the ocean that day was too bright
"Goodbye"...that
word, if I say it
I wonder if I can be saved from this feeling
that's going to burst.
Rikku sat down on the sand until dusk watching as the waves washed in and out. It was serene, calming to her soul. The tears long since dried, a smile came across her features.
Another set of footprints joined her on the sand. She turned to see who it was.
"Lady Riana, Here you are. The master has been worried sick about you. Why didn't you have someone come down here with you?"
She stood and brushed the sand from her shorts before speaking. "I'm sorry. I needed some time alone. Where is Seymour at now? I shall go to him."
"Very good, milady. If you would follow me please." The servant turned on his heel not waiting to see if she was indeed following.
--
Seymour sat in his office waiting to hear from his lady. He had dismissed her to her room during the party, but he had not expected her to disappear. Seeing as there were no signs of struggle, he assumed she had left on her own. He only hoped she was still close by, perhaps still on the grounds?
If she were to leave and enter the streets of Bevelle, Riana might run into trouble. The population of the city would not like to have an Al Bhed within its borders. He had to protect her until the appointed time.
A gentle knock broke him from his thoughts. A male servant stepped into the room. "I'm sorry to disturb you master. But I have found Lady Riana. She is waiting for you sir."
Seymour smiled. "Very good, Maurice. Please, send her in."
He bowed before leaving and a moment later Rikku stepped in still dressed in her shorts and tank.
"Lady Riana." Seymour began until he took in her state of dress. "Riana, a lady should not be wearing such clothing. Whatever happened to what I had provided for you?"
"Sorry. I wanted to go for a walk in the gardens, but some of them are so nice that I feared I would ruin them if I wore them outside." Rikku apologized as she hung her head.
"Then we would just replace them. Do not concern yourself with such a trivial matter." He used one finger to lift her chin. Kissing her forehead he spoke again. "Let me take care of everything."
