Here we are with another update. We've only one more chpt to go. I thank each an everyone for reviewing. Well, on with the chpt!
The blaze was so bright and the heat was so intense that it could be seen and felt from miles away. Rikku had already jumped from atop the building where she landed in the water below. The blaze was totally out of control and all it took was merely a few seconds for the entire building to explode. Rio shouted, putting up his hands to shield himself from the explosion only to be knocked clean into the water below from the impact of it all. Just then Tidus and Yuna arrived at the scene just in time to see the entire building go down in flames. Yuna was most certainly beside herself, for and Tidus both thought that they were too late to save Rikku.
"NO!" Yuna shouted. She started to run towards the blazing building, however, was stopped by Tidus.
"Yuna, no!" Tidus said as he reached out and grabbed Yuna by the waste.
"Let me go!!" Yuna shouted while she struggled to break free. "I have to save my cousin!!"
"Yuna, it's too late!" Tidus blurted out, however, did not mean to do so. He jerked Yuna around who was fighting back the tears. "If Rikku were still inside, there's no way she could have survived that cave in we just saw." Yuna just lowered her head, tears fell from her eyes like rain. She buried her face in Tidus chest only to break down seconds later. All Tidus could do was comfort her the best that he could. He stroked her hair, kissed her forehead only to rest his head upon the top of hers. Suddenly, small ripples appeared in the water below and Tidus happened to see them as he looked over the side of the dock. He narrowed his eyes slowly releasing his grasp on Yuna and taking a step forward.
"What's wrong?" Yuna asked while she cleaned her face of tears.
"Something's. . . in the water." Tidus said slowly while he leaned forward a bit to look over the side of the dock when suddenly a hand appeared at his feet below. Yuna gasped as Tidus withdrew his gun and took aim when out of no where Rikku appeared.
"Rikku!" Yuna and Tidus shouted in unison.
Rikku coughed a bit only to take a deep breath. "Man, what a thrill." she joked nervously. Tidus gently grabbed her forearms and helped her to her feet, looking her over to make sure that no harm had come to her. "Are you checking me out, Tidus? I know I'm fine, but seriously- -"
"She has a near death experience and here she is cracking jokes like a stand up comedian in a local night club." Tidus spatted only to look at Yuna as Rikku bounced around in her usual manner.
Yuna only giggled. "That's our Rikku." They then met each other in an embrace.
"Isn't that touching?!" came an eerie voice. Tidus, Yuna and Rikku turned only to see staring down the barrel of a 45. "At last we meet. . . face to face, gun to gun." He stepped forth only to be greeted by the barrel to Tidus' gun.
"One more move and I'll- -" Tidus began though was interrupted by Rio.
"Not so fast." Rio warned. "You even move an inch and these pretty ladies will be blown away."
And with a quick snap from Rio's fingers, two goons appeared out of no where and grabbed Yuna and Rikku from behind and placed a gun to the side of the heads. Both girls were scared into almost complete hysteria. Their hearts pounded and the blood rushed through their veins, the very sweat slowly guided down from their foreheads. Tidus was between a rock and a hard spot and this he knew. He knew that if he killed Rio that the girls would be killed and then possible even himself. Therefore, he had no choice but to back off.
"Good choice, Tidus." Rio said with a smirk upon his face. "Drop your weapons onto the ground and kicked them over here at my feet!" Tidus and Yuna did as they were told and he narrowed his eyes in pure hatred at Rio. "Why the angry look? We're all friends here."
"The only friend you got is yourself." Tidus said through clinched teeth. Rio gave him a very stern look.
Rikku carefully watched the goon in the corner of her eye just waiting for something to distract him and then a grin spread across her face. "You know, I've always liked a boy with a big bad toy."
"Eh?!" the goon questioned while lowering his gun from the back of Rikku's head.
Yuna looked at Rikku with serious, wide eyes. "Rikku?!"
Rikku waited a few seconds while she watched the goon in the corner of her eye and when the timing was right. . . "NOW!!!"
Just then Rikku quickly kneeled to the ground, doing a backwards leg sweep. She knocked the goon's legs right out from under him and he feel straight backwards, however, he hit the ground hard, which triggered an instant reaction from the not so steady gun that was ready to go off, for it fired. The bullet flew at a deathly rate only to bury itself into the side of Rio's neck. The instant reaction surprised Tidus, the goon holding Yuna at bay looked down at the other goon and then aimed at Rikku, which gave Yuna just enough time to elbow the goon behind her right square in the face. He yelled out only to stagger backwards and fall over the side of the docks and into the water below.
Rikku stood up. "Nice one, Yunie!"
Tidus immediately picked up his gun, grabbed Yuna's and tossed it back to her. "Ever handled a gun, Rikku?" he teased. Rikku shook her head. Tidus then stepped over to Rio and kicked his gun loose from his hand and it slide over to Rikku who then picked it up.
"Nice." Rikku said as she examined the gun. She then heard movement behind her. She and Yuna turned only to see an army load of goons. With gun in hand, the goons took aim. Rikku then gulped.
"Ohh, boy!" Yuna said.
"RUN!!" Tidus demanded.
Tidus, Yuna and Rikku sprinted away as the goons started firing away.
"What do we do now?" Yuna asked
"We keep running!" Tidus responded.
Rio staggered to his feet though was in a great deal of pain. He then turned to the goons and signaled for them to seize fire and back off. Two guns were tossed to Rio who caught them, spun them around on his finger, and then tucked them away. And with the weapons he already had on him, he turned away from the mob of goons and walked away.