Tittle:Melody
Author: Caiti the Chaos (( or Angel-chan on Ficwad ))
Full Summary: After the excitement of the return of Tidus has died down, and Brother comes to terms with the fact that he was never meant to have Yuna anyway, the Gullwings swing back into action! Shinra has left to investigate further into the Farplane energy, with the helpful funding of Rin, and Cid begins plans to rebuild Home! Looking for more Al Bhed to help rebuild Home, Rin offers the assistance of his daughter, who disapproves of her father and Shinra's plans for the Farplane energy. So, with the help of Rin's daughter, Phenix, and the Machina Faction, the rebirth of Home is going swimmingly! The Gullwings stop by to see the reported progress, and unexpectedly add another member to thier happy little group -- due to some conspireing between Cid and Rin. Now with Tidus and Phenix in thier happy party of Sphere Hunters, what new adventures shall they face? YxTRxGPxBBROxOC
Short Summery: The Gullwings swing back into action! With the rebirth of Home, and Tidus and a new young lady on thier team, what new adventures will the gullwings face? and what are Rin and Cid planning! YxTRxGPxBBROxOC
Catagory: Action/Adventure, Humor, Romance
Disclaimer: I do not own FFX/X-2 or Square Enix, nor do I claim any of it's characters. Basically,...anything you recognise from the game, is not mine, anything you don't recognise from the game, is MINE D ((oh, and also note: Keyakku is not made up. If your enough of a game freak like me, you've played the game a million times and know just about everyone in the game XDD ))
Contact Address: for character pictures, questions, comments, or even if you have any fanart! fanart is LOVED!
Rin arrived at Bikanel, riding upon some odd sort of new machina, created by the genius of the Machina Faction. His swirled Al Bhed eyes gleamed, and coupled with the Cheshire-cat grin he wore, one could not help but worry about what the man was up to. He had come to this place with a very distinct perpose.
He stood in the hot golden sand, looking out the way he had came, watching as a figure, also upon the same type of machina, make their way to the merchant,
"Ah, so there you are, Phenix," Rin said as a young Al Bhed girl parked her machina next to Rin's.
The girl, Phenix, pulled off the helmet she wore, and ran her fingers through her almost shoulder-length blonde hair,
"Sorry, Daddy," The teen said, with a sheepish grin.
Phenix was a pretty girl, a bit on the short side, slender, but not without some muscle. Her skin was slightly paler then most of her kind, but then again, she was more the type to sit inside and program machina, rather then build. However, she did not agree with the research that her father was funding, and refused to help work on such research. So, since her father had no other work for her to do -- he wouldn't let her run any of his agencies without him there -- she was forced to do what was known as 'physical labor.'
Looking out across the desert, she fumbled with one of her earrings, turning it about in her ear in a nervous manner that was characteristic of her. She tried to ignore the burn of the sun on her unprotected skin -- all she wore was a yellow swim-top, and a yellow and green skirt, layered on top of longer black shorts, a blue fabric 'belt,' and then white and blue ankle boots. She wore such, so that she could show off the tattoos on her back and stomach.
On her back, was a lovely tribal-like phoenix, which covered from her lower most back, to her shoulders, and on her stomach, a pretty tribal pattern around her navel. The body art, to her, was a way to show her personality, and who she was; Even if her father didn't really approve.
Phenix was jerked back to reality as Rin cleared his throat, "This way, my dear."
Phenix followed her father, as they made their way over and down dunes, before the tents of the habitants of Bikanel appeared. Many Al Bhed were scampering about,...digging for machina, or repairing others. now that Phenix saw just what she was getting herself into -- or what she THOUGHT she was getting herself into -- she didn't feel too antsy anymore, and cracked a grin.
"Ah, Cid, I am pleased to see that you are here, like you said." Rin said with a greeting bow.
"Yeah, where else would I be? Yuna said no more Zanarchand tours, so now I might as well stay here!" the balled man said, as if offended by the marchants words,..though Phenix had to admit,...her father could say things in a way that came out rude.
"Yes, well, I am here to inlist my daughter, Phenix, in your efforts to rebuild Home, as well as discuss some other things,..." The man never lost the wide, sinister grin that he wore when he was cooking up a plan,...and Phenix just wished she knew what it was that he was plotting,...
Cid looked over the girl, who could only offer a shy smile and a 'hello,'
"Eh, c'mon in,..." Cid said, waving for them to inter a large tent, which more than likely served as the Al Bhed leader's office. Phenix was about to follow, when Rin motioned for her to stay outside.
"Awww!" Phenix huffed, and kicked at the sand. She hated it when her father was keeping secrets from her.
'-,-'-,-' In Cid's Office '-,-'-,-'
"I didn't know you had a daughter," Cid said, sitting down at his desk, Rin taking a seat in front of him.
"Yes, well, she lived with her mother in Luca for some time,..." Rin explained.
"Ah,...so, she's here to work?" Cid said amused.
"Yes, but I also have a proposition for you,..." Rin's grin grew wider
"Well, on with it!" Cid said impatiently.
"Well,...I am aware that you had three children,...two of which were sons, and the last, a daughter?" The last part was formed as a question.
Cid looked at the man, about the same age as him, with a critical eye, "Keyakku, Brother, and Rikku, yeah" He was beginning to get a bit touchy. After all, it hadn't been that long ago when his first son Keyakku, and been slain by the Guado, before Home was destroyed.
"Ah, yes! And you have Rikku, and only one son left,...I would be a fool not to know that this subject is bothering you, so I shall move on."
"Please do" Cid said, trying to remain cool. Surely the guy wasn't proposing what Cid thought he was!
"Ah, the two of us are not getting any younger, Cid. I know you want your children to marry into high class, am I correct?"
"Damn straight" Cid crossed his arms, leaning back.
"And you would consider my family upper class, no?"
"No." Cid stood up from his chair, and got into Rin's face, "Listen here, I don't know what kinda sick freak you are, Rin, but don't even DARE think I'd let you marry my baby girl, Rikku! Hell your as old as I am!"
At this, Rin could only laugh! Cid thought he was talking about marrying Rikku! Cid stood back, looking enraged as Rin laughed at him merrily.
"Cid!" He finally calmed his fit of laughter, " I would never DREAM of marrying Rikku!" Truth was,...he would be afraid of what his ex-wife would have to say about that one!
"This what is this about then!" Cid asked, flailing an arm.
"Well, I wanted to ask that you consider my daughter as a fit wife for your remaining son,..."
Now it was Cid's turn to laugh,..and laugh he did. Cid laughed and laughed, till tears had formed, as well as everyone outside looking towards the tent curiously. However, Rin waited patiently for the man to calm down. Even though he was not all that happy about the pairing, it was the man's greed that made him carry through. Besides,...what better honor was there, than being able to say your daughter was married to the Al Bhed leader's son?
Still Laughing, Cid spoke once more, "You want that pretty lil thang out there to marry my annoying as hell hyperactive son?" He asked, not really believing it.
"I am serious, Cid. After all, he didn't used to be like that, no?"
No. Brother had once been a serious, hard working, talented young man. But that was before the mission to save the summoners from their pilgrimage. Cid had pushed him to be more like Keyakku. This brought jealousy into the young man, and he changed.
Cid sure didn't blame himself for that, though! No way!
"Meh, your right,.." He finally admitted, after a long lull in the conversation.
"So, you will consider my proposition?" Rin asked, the Cheshire smile hiding the greed behind it.
"I ain't garunteein' ya nothin'! I can't just stick the two of 'em together and tell 'em 'yall are gonna be married, so there'! I'll have to let 'em get to know eachother." Cid said. He wasn't romantic by any means, but he did want his kids to marry someone they could love, even if he'd prefer them to marry into high class.
"I see." Rin said, hiding his displeasure, "Well then, Phenix will be staying here to help rebuild Home then, at the very least?"
"Yeah, yeah" Cid said, walking to the entrance of the tent, followed by Rin, who acted as humble as he could.
'-,-'-,-' Outside Cid's Tent '-,-'-,-'
Phenix was sitting in the sand, a good ways from Cid's tent, drawing in the sand with her fingers, the work of a good sunburn on her shoulders. Cid, now knowing what he knew, looked closely at the girl. Maybe she and Brother weren't all that different,..with the amount of piercing, and tattoos that the two of them had, at least.
Phenix looked over at the two, who had just exited, and stood, wincing as the burn on her shoulders and upper back was disturbed by the movement,
"Well?" She asked, light green swirled eyes wide, and eager.
"Well, it's gonna be good to have ya on the crew, Phenix!" Cid said, putting an arm around the girl's shoulders, making her wince once more. Rin had obviously pampered his only child. Heheh.
"Aweshome!" Phenix smiled, using her own little 'word' which she had used since childhood. The act reminded Cid of Rikku after she became a Sphere Hunter.
Rin turned to Cid, and with a seriousness in his eyes spoke to Cid,
"Don't let her get hurt, Cid" Just because Rin was using his daughter for boastful purposes, didn't mean he didn't care about her safety.
Cid nodded, "Just like is she was my own flesh and blood!" he told the merchant, offering a smirk, that suggested back to what they had been talking about earlier, and Rin grinned back with a nod, before waving to the two.
Soon Rin had left, and Cid let out a breath he realized he had been holding. The whole issue that Rin had talked to him about had really got him on the edge. He didn't believe in betrothal, and didn't know what he was gonna do to play matchmaker between Phenix and Brother.
"So," Phenix spoke up, "What do you need me to do, Sir?" She asked politely.
Cid chuckled, "Call me Cid. Right now there ain't much for ya to do, until the Machina faction gets their asses over here, and work starts," He explained.
"I see,.." She nodded.
"Though you might want to set ya up a sent for the night." Cid Said. Sure enough, looking to the sky, the sun was beginning to set.
Phenix nodded, complied, and picked up the large back pack she had brought along, "Any particular place?" she said, carefully lifting the heavy bag onto her back. Cid pointed to a row of tents, "Over there". Phenix set off in that direction, and plopped her bag down in the sand at the end of the row. Now for the real challange,..getting the tent up. Heheheh.
'-,-'-,-' The Celsius, a few days later '-,-'-,-'
The setting sun glared into the grey-green eyes of the Al Bhed pilot, who squinted his face up to lessen the burn. There wasn't much light left, but enough to be of a hindrance. Brother scowled, mentally cursing the bright rays. Soon he would be landing the ship for the night, since he couldn't pilot well in the dark. Today had been an uneventful day,...no Spheres detected,...no reports of Spheres,...not even FIENDS needing to be terminated.
Brother could even list where everyone was, and what they were, most likely, doing:
Buddy: Right there at his usual post
Rikku: Sleeping in the co-pilot seat
Paine: Sitting at Shinra's old seat, typing in information that needed to be updated.
Yuna: On the deck, watching the sunset.
Tidus: On the deck, with Yuna.
And that was everyone. It hadn't taken long for Brother to get over the fact that Yuna loved Tidus, and not him. Inside, a part of him had always known that she would never fall for him, so it really wasn't all that hard of a hit. He coped better than the others thought he would. Hell, he and Tidus were even managing to get along. About like he and Keyakku did when they were young boys. Fun sibling rivalry. Of course, with Keyakku, and a large push from Cid, the rivalry had ultimately become sour with jealousy, which Brother tried not to have with Tidus. Seriously, he was trying, and everyone had to admit that his efforts were successful for the most part.
Finally, with the final rays of the sun leaving the sky, the Celsius, too, found rest on land. Brother stood, and stretched. Sitting there for so long really made your rear go numb,... He walked to the cabin, and went up to the bar, to get a simple, tasteful drink. He was not into drinking alcohol, of any kind, and quite preferred his caffeine to the nasty toxic crap that somehow some people could pour down their throats. It wasn't long before Rikku came in, tired, and rubbing her emerald spiral eyes, asking for a fruity drink.
She laid her head down on the wooden bar, and looked to Brother, "Boring day?"
"Yes, 'boring day'! Like yesterday, and the day before that,..." He said in a 'naw dugh'-like fashion.
Rikku rolled her eyes, "We need some ADVENTURE!" She said, taking a sip of her drink.
"I second that!" Tidus said, stretching his arms up into the air as he and Yuna walked in.
The bar was getting crowded, was the only thought that ran through Brother's mind as everyone began filling to the room. He had been unusually quiet lately. Maybe it was because, despite the amount of energy he had, that seemed unlimited, was running out. He could hardly remember the last time he had had time to himself,...other than the bathroom, but that didn't count! Seriously though, even though he liked to be around people, he would love some alone time. Some good soul-searching.
"Paine!" Brother said abruptly to the worrier who had just walked in, "You pilot the ship tomorrow!" He ordered.
"Why?" She asked, and leaned against the wall.
"Because I need 'ME time'!" He said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"And just what are you gonna do with your 'you time'?" Rikku asked, jabbing his chest with her finger.
"Why do you care, NOSEY?" he said to her, sticking out his tongue like a five-year-old.
It was this kind of playful banter that served to liven up the, otherwise, uneventful days. A few members of their little group chuckled at the siblings, and Paine complied to piloting. Truthfully she couldn't wait to get her hands on the wheel, and ass in the pilot's seat, but she didn't show it. Brother was already making plans for tomorrow. Most of which included sleeping, sleeping, eating an actual meal, rather then taking food whenever he had the time, and sleeping. Maybe he'd play around with some machina, he hadn't gotten to fiddle with anything mechanic in a while,...
"BROTHER!" Rikku shouted, jerking Brother out of his thoughts.
"WHAT?" he screeched back.
"Yunie was asking you a QU-ES-TION!" Rikku said, holding out the word for her own amusement.
Yuna chuckled, "We're in Luca, I was wondering if it'd be alright if,..Tidus and I went,..to the Sphere Theater for a while?" She asked shyly. Even though He'd have to stay up till they got back to let them back on the ship, he let them. It got him 'respect points' from Rikku and Paine,..who had added him to their little 'respect point' game.
Yuna clapped her ands happily, "Thank you, Brother!" She smiled.
---
It was later that night, that Brother was sitting at Shinra's old seat, fixing a button that had come loose. He cursed some obscenities in Al Bhed, something about it's sexual preferences, as the button did not want to stay. Finally, the button was back, and staying, and Brother triumphantly pumped a fist into the air, when a flash on the comphere system began to bleep.
He stared at the little red light that flashed on the screen blankly for a moment, before answering to the Bikanel Comsphere.
To his surprise, the face of his father popped onto the screen, making him fall out of the chair.
"Boy get your ass back in that chair!" Cid scowled, and Brother complied, annoyedly.
"Whaat do you want?" He asked, making it obvious that he was annoyed.
"I need j'yall down here tomorrow." Cid said simply.
"What for? I have PLAANS,.." Brother complained,...so much for he 'me time'.
"I don't care what 'plans' you have, boy, just make sure yall are here tomorrow bright and early!"
"'Bright' and 'Early?' Aye-yae-yae" He said, shaking his head. Needless to say, he would NOT enjoy telling Paine about this,...
He shut off the Comsphere connection, not careing about any more his father had to say. If he had to tell her, might as well get it done and over with,...what a day to decide to take 'Me Time'.
---
Paine had taken the order quite well,..there was only a SMALL dent in the door. So now, Brother was back in Shinra's ex-seat, and it was nearing midnight before Yuna and Tidus returned.
"Well, it's about time you two got back." Brother complained as the two finally returned.
"Eh,...Sorry?" Was all Tidus could say, as he rubbed the back of his neck and smiled apologetically.
"We're really, really sorry,..." Yuna added in her usual way of apologizing. She hadn't changed much, since Tidus had returned, other than she was happier now. All of her sadness was gone. This made Brother happy, to see Yuna happy.
With a loud yawn, and a stretch, Brother was more than ready to get to bed, "Gah,...we leave bright and early tomorrow for Bikanel. Get some sleep,..that's an order!" he added the last bit as a joke, and the couple left behind chuckled, then gave way to yawns.
Yeah,...it was DEFINATELY time to go to bed!
Okay,..yeah,..long, rather un -eventful chapter,...I hope yall like it so far though! I've got a hopefully great plot planned out, but right now we just have to get through the slightly boring parts XDD