Chapter 6
"Goodnight, Vidina," said Lulu, smiling as she tucked the adorable demon child into his nice, warm cot.
"Nipe-nipe, Mama," said Vidina.
"Aren't you becoming such a big boy?" she said, tweaking his nose. "Sometimes I think you understand more of what's going on than Tidus- though that's hardly difficult…"
"Love Titarus," said Vidina dutifully.
"He's nice, really," Lulu agreed, "just annoying."
"Titarus," said Vidina, then he screwed up his face a little before poking his mother twice.
"Poke," said Lulu, poking him back.
"Titarus poke," said Vidina, nodding.
"Such a smart little boy, aren't you?"
"Mama love Bidima."
"Always, little one."
"Love Mama."
"I'm glad," said Lulu.
"Lai love Pay," said Vidina and Lulu laughed a little. "Lai love Pay," he insisted, a little put out at not receiving a reply.
"Oh, I know," said Lulu with a lovely tinkling laugh that was heard a lot more since her marriage to Wakka.
"Pay love Lai," said Vidina and Lulu nodded.
"Very, very much."
"Love," said Vidina, sighing contently.
Lulu pressed a soft kiss to his forehead, "and I love you and your father very much too."
"Love Mama…"
Lulu chuckled and blew out the candle, "goodnight, Vidina."
"Nigh-nigh, Mama."
She went into the adjoining room and found Wakka smiling at her, "what are you looking at," she said, giving him an odd look before turning around to change into her nightgown.
"This really is the Never Ending Calm, isn't it," said Wakka, rolling over to look at her as she climbed into bed beside him.
Lulu touched his face smilingly, "at last."
-
"Less than a week 'till the wedding," Rikku giggled, dancing around Yuna the next day, completely and utterly hyperactive.
"Yupyup!" Yuna agreed brightly.
"Any last minute arrangements to be made?"
"Well all the food and decorations and stuff for the reception have been order… but there's just one vital thing left to decide."
"Yeah?"
"Music," said Yuna.
"Hmm… that's pretty big- have you talking to Tidus?"
"He doesn't mind," said Yuna, "just as long as we dump a couple of slow tracks in there."
"Oooh! I know! I can get Gippal to help us!" Rikku squealed, "when we were little and Gippy couldn't afford a proper birthday pressie, he'd make me these awesome CD mixes of our favourite songs- they were perfect, really!"
"I'm up for it," said Yuna, grinning.
"Awesome! I'll tell 'im!"
-
"So will ya help us, Gippy?"
"If you'll stop calling me that, then yes- Oh. My. Mother. Fucking. Fayth."
"What?" said Rikku. "What is it?"
"I have the best idea!"
"Well, what is it?" asked Rikku, cocking her head to one side.
"I've got to go and talk to Baralai! Leave it to me!"
He ran off and Rikku followed.
"Why are you coming?"
"Like you can shake me off that easily!" laughed Rikku, running alongside him.
The two slowed to a halt as they caught sight of Baralai and Gippal whistled, loud and long.
"What's up?!" yelled Baralai, turning towards them.
Rikku gestured for him to come and he obeyed.
"What's up?" said Baralai again, more quietly now that he was up close.
"You said Paine was a singer," said Gippal, slightly breathless.
"She what?!" Rikku exclaimed, eyes bugging.
The boys ignored her.
"Yeah," said Baralai, "why?"
"Me 'n' Riks have been put in charge of music for the reception," Gippal explained, "I figured we could get Shinra to build us a smaller SphereScreen- like from Yuna's famous performance in the Thunder Plains- and put some music vids up there. It would totally rock if you had one of Paine!"
"Why don't you ask Paine herself?" asked Baralai.
"Because she'd never give us 'em!" said Gippal, "and besides, you've got heaps, I'll bet."
"Some," Baralai corrected him defensively.
"Any we can borrow?" asked Gippal.
"They're all in Bevelle," said Baralai.
"Then we have to go there and get them!" Rikku exclaimed, "this is just an awesome idea- we need Painey up there!"
"Even when your respect points are in danger?" Baralai chuckled.
"This is Yunie's wedding," said Rikku, rolling her eyes, "it's totally worth it! …Besides, I wanna see!"
"I'm in, then."
-
An hour or so later, Rikku had successfully flown Baralai and Gippal to Bevelle and they were walking up to Baralai's room, where he proceed to fumbled around in his drawer of music spheres for any of the six he had recorded of Paine at various concerts.
"Do you want to watch all of them?" asked Baralai, pooling them onto the bed.
"Uh-huh!" Rikku squealed and Gippal shrugged.
He turned the first on.
"How long ago was this filmed?" asked Gippal, falling back a little in surprise.
"Before the Crimson Squad," said Baralai.
"Painey's hair… it's like starlight," Rikku whispered.
Baralai nodded, "she's beautiful."
Gippal gave him an odd look, then nodded.
-
Songstress Sphere 1: Paine
The music began- a soft, slow piano tune, soon accompanied by a single quavering note on the flute.
"Can't you tell that I'm still waiting?
Wanting more than what you are
Cant you see that I'm not coming with you
Down this bloodied midnight path.
"Don't you want a better end
Than the blade of your lost dividends
Destroyed by that which you once were
Still searching for a long-lost cure
For your loneliness.
"I'm waiting here for you to see
I want someone better
Someone who knows everything about me
And doesn't wait for the easy way out to appear
When I am in trouble
I want you near.
"And if you don't come
If you don't feel my pain
I'll will keep moving on…
Not one more day will I be lonely, in love
You're just not enough.
"All did for me was hollow
All I knew was a lie
But I'm still holding tight
To your love
I'll be lonely, always
But you will be lonelier still…
"I will forget, over time
I just know that it's right to be on my own
Again…
No matter how it seems that everything's alright
I know that sometimes it just ain't fine.
"Still miss you…
Lonely in love
But I won't save you,
I'm gonna find me my own
Strength.
Shouldn't be lonely in love.
Shouldn't be lonely in love."
The music stops here, Paine is smiling straight at the sphere, waving. The audience goes wild and eventually leaves, one by one. Paine leaves the stage and the filmer sets the sphere down, obviously not planning on leaving. Soon, Paine's voice is heard, but she remains out of sight.
"Baralai, I'm so glad you came," she walks into the sphere's view and flings her arms around his neck.
"I told you that you could do it," said Baralai, his voice muffled by her long silver hair.
-
"We don't have to watch this," said Baralai, reaching for the sphere quickly, but Gippal and Rikku simultaneously grabbed his hands and held him so that they could watch the end.
-
Songstress Sphere 1: Paine (continued)
"You didn't need to be afraid," Baralai went on.
"I know," said Paine, stepping back and holding him at arm's length. "Just… thank you for being here."
"No problem- anytime, Paine. The world needs to hear you sing, yeah?"
Paine grinned and kissed his cheek lightly, "thanks a lot," she whispered, and left quickly.
Baralai walked over to the sphere and turned it off, leaving.
End Songstress Sphere 1: Paine
-
"Hang on a minute," said Gippal. "Not only is Paine being… completely unPaine here… but you said this was filmed before the Crimson Squad- you already knew Paine?"
"Paine said you met in the Squad," said Rikku.
Baralai shrugged, his eyes gaining a far off look, "maybe she's trying to forget."
"Wha…?"
"You can watch the rest of them," said Baralai, standing up. "I'll see you later on the Celsius."
Rikku and Gippal watched, perplexed as he left.
"I guess Lai and Painey go back farther than we thought," said Rikku eventually.
"She sure was different…" said Gippal.
"I guess the Crimson Squad hardened her," said Rikku.
"No, it wasn't that," said Gippal. "Ever since I've known her- since the first day of the Squad- she's been like she is now… harsh, sometimes unfeeling… I thought that was all there was to her. I never knew…"
Rikku laughed a little at the look on his face, "well, I knew Paine just had to have a soft side," she said, grinning.
"Have you ever seen it?" asked Gippal cynically.
"No," Rikku admitted, "not until now… whoa… Sphere Paine was young and beautiful and… happy- what happened?"
Gippal raised an amused eyebrow.
"I mean… urgh, you know what I mean! Paine's still hot but… all smiley and huggy like that…? Doesn't she like us."
"She was a different person then," said Gippal, shrugging, "I just wish I'd gotten to see it… if it helps, though, I think she really is happy- just not in the same way."
"She just expresses it differently," said Baralai, standing in the doorway.
Rikku and Gippal looked up in surprise and Baralai bent down to pick up the sphere they had just watched.
"I'd rather you didn't show this one," he said, shrugging, his mouth a straight line.
Gippal nodded understandingly, "you got it, man- anything else?"
"The rest is fine," said Baralai, and he left again.
"Should we watch the others?" said Rikku, somewhat awkwardly.
"Uhm… yeah…"
-
"She really was great," said Rikku, awed as the last of the spheres came to an end.
"Really great," Gippal agreed. "I mean… I never thought of Paine as a singer."
"Well, it's obvious how Baralai thinks of her, isn't it?" said Rikku.
"He loves her," said Gippal.
"And Painey loves him!" Rikku exclaimed, aggravated.
"What's wrong?"
"She's completely in denial!"
"Have you asked her?"
"She got all mad," Rikku huffed. "Kinda like how Lulu used to when I talked about her liking Wakka, but a lot louder."
"I can imagine…" said Gippal. "You know, me and Nooj once found Paine and 'Lai bein' all cozy like when we were camping in Macalania."
"Huh?"
"Yeah," said Gippal, "we went looking for them and there they were, sitting by the lake. Paine was in 'Lai's lap, leaning back against him and he had his arms around her- it was so cute!"
"What happened?" asked Rikku, wide-eyed.
"I yelled 'boo!' of course," said Gippal, as though it were obvious. "And Paine jumped up and ran off. Baralai looked murderous but me and Nooj teased him for weeks after… good times…"
"Hey, what's that?" asked Rikku, standing up and taking one last sphere out of the, otherwise empty, music drawer, "maybe we can use it in the wedding?"
"Turn it on," said Gippal, shrugging.
"Hey- this one's of Paine too!"
-
Songstress Sphere 7: Paine
The sphere zooms in on Paine, standing in the centre of the stage with her back turned, looking the other way. She begins her song, looking this way and that, but never towards the sphere recorder.
"I miss you,
I miss your smile,
And I still shed a tear
Every once in a while.
"And even though it's different now,
You're still here somehow,
My heart won't let you go,
And I need you to know,
"I miss you,
Shalalalala,
I miss you"
The song ends and Paine takes a quick glance towards Baralai's seat, before closing her eyes, shaking her head and fleeing the stage.
End Songstress Sphere 7: Paine
-
"She looked upset," said Rikku, furrowing her eyebrows slightly.
"That's the most recent sphere," said Gippal, checking the dates. "Last concert, you reckon?"
"She looked much older," said Rikku. "Pretty much like she does now."
"I have a feeling that this one is post-Crimson Squad," said Gippal.
"We should talk to 'Lai," said Rikku.
"Uhm… you know, I don't think he'd want to see it."
Rikku looked at him like he was nuts, "uhm, helloooo? Gippal? When has that ever stopped us before?!"