Authors Note: Wow, two chapters in one day! But this just was not part of chapter one, so… it is chapter two! Yay! This one's Rikku's POV.

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By xDante

Chapter Two: A Light Shining Through

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She didn't realize, but I was awake.

I don't think she ever realized that I wasn't sleeping, actually. I remember the first time she was there. The day had been a slow one, so I was having trouble sleeping. I heard someone get up, and I rolled over to see who it was. There she was, looking a little surprised. I asked why she was up. She told me she was just thirsty. I believed her. That time.

After that, she was there every morning. It was odd, at first, but… I got over it. After time, I actually started setting myself up before she woke. I would lie back, or hang slightly off the bed, or toss my hair across my face. I would stifle a smile when she laughed softly at my 'sleeping' position, or pretend to be talking in my sleep, muttering inaudibly and groaning. She would always leave just after sunrise. Normally, I went back to sleep. But that morning… I knew something was different.

I didn't go back to sleep. I thought for a long time about going to find her, though I knew where she was. But I didn't. I just lay there until I heard the bathroom door open and her heels tapping on the way out of the cabin. It seemed like ages, but it must have only been a few moments, before the others began to stir. I rose before any of them. For some reason, I didn't want to be around them then.

She wasn't in the bridge when I got there. I thought she must be on the deck. The deck of the Celsius was probably her favorite place. At least it occurred to me to be that way, since she spent so much time up there. I could have gone up, too. But I didn't. Instead, I walked to Brother's control station and kicked the ship into action. I closed my eyes as the familiar vroom and clunk of the engines starting up filled the ship. I was rarely the ship's pilot, because of my ability to oversleep, and it was nice to hear those heavy, almost thunderous sounds.

As the airship settled into its gentle, quiet wurr, the sound it made when it had warmed up and was ready to go, my peace was broken by the even more familiar sound of Paine's tapping heels. I quickly jerked out of my reverie and sat up straight, as if I were already piloting the thing.

"Brother, I—" Pain began to speak, but she stopped when she realized she had mistaken me for my brother. Her mouth closed, and she turned, briskly leaving the bridge for the cabin.

"Pa—Paine! Wait!" I called after her, throwing myself out of the commander's seat and running after her. I saw her, at the end of the hallway, hands grasping heavily on the bars of the elevator, facing away from me. My pace quickened, although I knew it was too late. The door closed before I was halfway down the hall. I would have to wait.


Authors Note: And so ends chapter two… I have indeed finished it on Mar. 22, 2006, the same date I finished Chapter One, but it won't be posted until Mar. 23 or 24, 2006. This is because it is late (very late), and I have not yet received chapter one reviews… I think I'll wait until I get at least one before posting this. Anyway, sorry in advance for the wait, thanks for reading, and if you like it, thanks for being a fan! I love you all! Love, Dante; Mar. 22, 2006

Authors Note 2: Thanks for the few people that left reviews on Ch. 1. I'm so glad you liked it! I hope you like this chapter just as much, because this is where the story really starts to kick in. Stay tuned for -ahem- 'love' scenes full of adjectives! Yay. Next Chapter: "Chapter Three: You're Barely Waking", Paine's POV, lots of fluff. I already know how Ch. 3 starts, so I'm sure it'll be up soon. I hope you like the cliff hanger at the end of this one. Bwahaha! Love, Dante; Mar. 23, 2006 (posting date)