Chapter 5:

Her lungs were on fire but Rikku couldn't stop, not yet. Not while the tears continued to fall. 'Why Paine? Why do you have to be so stubborn? We could have all ran together!" Feeling the weight on her arm increasing, Rikku looked back to see Yuna gasping for air and struggling to keep up. With a sigh, Rikku slowed her pace down until they were both walking.

"Rikku! We have to stop. I can't run anymore and we need to be close enough for Paine to find us."

Swallowing against the lump in her throat, Rikku nodded without looking at Yuna. Clearing her throat a few times she managed to speak without her voice cracking. "I hear running water ahead. Maybe we can find a shelter nearby again."

As they approached the water a green plant reached for Rikku; it's tendrils covered in sharp spines causing Rikku to jump back and almost fall. "Guess we can't go that way huh Yunie?"

Yuna nodded then gasped. Footsteps, irregular and dragging, came from the woods they had just exited. Rikku shushed Yuna, who had not said anything, then motioned her to run into a small cave hidden partly by brush.

"Rikku, in here we're trapped!"

Rikku waved her hand dismissively. "I'm going to hide in the bush next to the cave and attack the creature as it comes up with my daggers. You just give me the signal as to when!"

"What signa.." Yuna started but Rikku was already out of the cave. A few dragging minutes later as the sound got louder with each passing second, Yuna suddenly saw a figure in front of the entrance. It was far smaller than before, and it appeared heavily wounded as it limped and used the wall for support. Yuna, without thinking called out, "Hey!"

As soon as the word left her mouth she realized everything about the moment was wrong. The golem was at least double the size of the figure in the light. No matter how wounded it was it would not be so small. Suddenly the figure jerked to the side as Rikku dove onto it.

(A short while before)

Paine ducked under the arm of the golem and jumped back as it heaved its other arm down into the dirt at her feet. She took this opportunity to run up its arm and shoulder, pushing hard off the back of its head and causing it to stumble forwards. "Please let me hold it off long enough for Yuna to get away."

The golem spun in a rage and backhanded Paine with blinding speed and immense strength sending her hurtling through the air then tumbling violently across the dirt. Before she could stand even the creature was over her again and hit her devastatingly hard in the ribs with an upward swing, spinning her up and against a tree a few yards away. Paine struggled to get up but felt her muscles give in and refuse to function. Paine kept struggling, hoping to get up just one more time, giving Yuna those extra seconds.

Somehow her body reacted and rolled out of the way just in time to avoid a swing that splintered the base of the tree she had hit. Slowly getting to her knees the golem looked at her with what could only be described as confusion, not understanding why this meat creature continued to fight when she had no way of winning.

Paine stood shakily and motioned for it to come and finish her. Ducking out of the way of one swing, she kicked it hard in the stomach then rolled to the side, the actions taking a lot out of her already broken body. The golem growled at her and spun, its eyes flashing a dark red color. Paine pushed herself backward with her elbows, trying to scoot away from the angry beast.

Paine closed her eyes in resignation, knowing she was done for. "Please spirits, please let Yuna have gotten to safety. I don't care if I die just grant me this one wish."

The golem reared back with both hands clasped and brought them down with all its might in an effort to turn this pesky meat creature in to paste. As the beasts massive hands came towards her, Paine saw a bright flash of white and then darkness.

"Paine?"

She turned towards the sound and saw Yuna stepping out of the elevator and out into the outer deck of the Celsius where Paine had been contemplating a great many things. "Yuna." She replied flatly.

Clasping her hands behind her back, Yuna leaned closer to Paine with her head cocked to the side. "Why are you out here all alone?"

Suppressing the smile that threatened to form and break her cold exterior, Paine couldn't help but think how cute Yuna looked just then. "I often come out here alone. Why are you up here Yuna?"

Fidgeting Yuna looked out to the horizon, glad to be free of the burden of saving the world. It had been a calm few months after their triumphant victory but Yuna still couldn't place her finger on why exactly she had turned down going with Tidus. Maybe…

"Yuna?"

She jumped, realizing Paine had crossed the deck and was standing right behind her with a half-concerned, half-annoyed at being intruded upon then ignored. "Oh I'm sorry Paine, I guess I kind of zoned out there."

Paine's frown deepened. "You've been doing that a lot lately. It's because of him isn't it? Do you regret your decision?"

Yuna swore that Paine had an emotion in her voice that she couldn't place just then. "No." She smiled at Paine who looked off towards the horizon but not before Yuna noticed her expression lighten. "I am okay with how things were. I don't regret my decision and I'm much happier that all of us stayed together."

Feeling an uncomfortably heat rising in her neck Paine cleared her throat. "I never said I was staying." She jumped as Yuna grabbed her hand with both of her own.

"But Paine you can't go!" she suddenly exclaimed.

Paine jerked her head to look at Yuna, and as their gaze met she felt her chest tighten and heart skip a beat. What was this feeling and why did she feel this way? "I don't understand, Yuna."

Squeezing the hand she held within her own, Yuna leaned close, only inches from Paine's face as she studied the taller warrior. "You are very important to me Paine. I saw you be more than this cold façade you put on. I never want you to change but I want to get to know all of you, even the soft side."

"Yuna…" Paine started, moistening her lips before continuing. "I just-"

"Why is everyone up here?" Rikku had appeared from the elevator, interrupting Paine.

Yuna looked back to Paine hoping she would continue but saw from the distant expression on her face that the opportunity was gone. With a sigh she looked back to Rikku. "Just getting some fresh air. Is everything alright?"

Rikku nodded, eying the two other girls suspiciously. "Yeah, I was just wondering where everyone went Yunie." With that she turned around and hopped in the elevator, returning to the main floor. 'What could they have been talking about?' she wondered.

Paine offered Yuna a small smile before heading back to her perch on the far side of the Celsius. "Thank you for coming up Yuna. It was," she paused a moment. "nice to have some company."

Smiling and approaching Paine from behind, Yuna embraced the taller girl tightly. "Thank you Paine, for talking with me."

The feeling rose in Paine's chest again, this time accompanied by butterflies in her stomach. Oddly, she did not find the feeling quite so unpleasant.

Paine sat up in a daze and looked around for some sign of where she could be but recognized nothing through the foggy haze she was in. She was propped under a tree, leaning against the trunk with black cloth wrapped around her abdomen covering very tender ribs. Standing slowly, Paine gasped at seeing her sword leaning beside her against the tree. 'How in the name of all the spirits is my sword here?'

Looking around, it all came back to Paine; the giant golem, the crushing blows and that light… 'What was that light?' Shaking her head to clear her thoughts and sword in hand, Paine made her way after Yuna and Rikku; their trail was easy enough to follow. She couldn't help but wonder what happened to the golem but at the moment, simply cared about catching up with her companions.

Brushing through the woods, Paine found her mind wandering to her adventures with Rikku and Yuna back with the Gullwings. From LeBlanc to New Yevon their journey had been one of endless peril and constant adrenaline rushes; Paine had relished in it. With a shiver, she recalled her fear during that time though. Every day they got closer to solving Yuna's mystery about Tidus.

She ground her teeth and felt her grip tighten on her sword before relaxing with a deep breath. It was okay; they had found him and yet Yuna chose to remain with them. Why though? Why would Yuna turn away the one thing she searched so very hard for? Risked everything for?

As she contemplated this she came to a stop just before a clearing near flowing water and the hairs on her neck stood on end. On the other side of the water she saw Yuna and Rikku which elated her but sitting with them was…

She gasped and fell back against a nearby tree, dropping her sword and clutching her heart. 'No, it can't be… It can't be him!'

Trembling, she retrieved her sword and slowly made her way out towards the group, her eyes focused on the third person sitting by the water's edge. Her blood turned to ice as she gripped her sword with white knuckles and glowered at the short, blonde hair.

Author's Note

I do not own the wondrous Paine, Yuna, or Rikku nor Tidus.

Speaking of Tidus, is he here? Is he coming to mess up whatever these girls have going on?! Who knows?! I know I don't! Because until I get reviews I'm not writing anymore! 5 chapters in a night is enough to wait and see if people even read it!