Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy, Squeenix, or any of the affiliates.
Rikku, Sunday April 14, 1912, 11:40 pm
Rikku awoke quite suddenly, though why she did not know. Yuna continued to slumber quite contentedly beside her, but something felt wrong to Rikku. She climbed out of bed and looked around for a long moment before she realized what was so different. The deep, constant thrum of the ship's engine had stopped. Why had the engines stopped? Leaving Yuna to her sleep, she dressed quickly and left her room, looking around the hall to see that several others were also looking quite befuddled in their pajamas and dressing gowns. She grabbed the arm of a passing steward.
"What's happening?" she asked. "Why have the engines stopped?"
He smiled at her, looking perfectly at ease. "We've probably thrown the rudder, miss, no need to worry. The problem will be dealt with momentarily. Can I get you anything?" Rikku didn't feel like she shouldn't worry. In fact, she was fairly positive worrying would be the smartest thing to do at the moment. The steward looked at her expectantly.
"No, thank you," she answered. He nodded once before starting off down the hall again. Rikku slipped back into the suite, setting off across the room towards Yuna. She turned on the lights and shook her cousin awake.
"Yuna," she said loudly. "Yuna, you must wake up."
The brunette opened her eyes, gazing up confusedly at her cousin.
"Rikku, what's the matter?" she asked, shielding a yawn and blinking.
"I think something is wrong Yuna. The engines have stopped. Get dressed and we'll go up on deck."
Yuna was suddenly very awake. She jumped out of bed and began pulling on her clothes as quickly as she could. The pair set off for the deck together a few minutes later, immediately regretting the decision when they realized how cold it was outside. Rikku could almost feel herself freezing where she stood.
The crewmen were rushing about, shouting orders to each other and setting up complicated looking machines. Rikku grabbed Yuna's wrist and started toward where she could see a large crowd of passengers. As they drew closer, she could see large chunks of ice littering the deck. A couple men were playing an impromptu game of soccer with one rather rounded piece of ice, laughing like they were a bunch of children. Rikku approached a third class man who was watching in amusement.
"What happened out here?" she asked. "Did you see?" He nodded excitedly.
"A 'uge iceberg came from that way!" he pointing toward the front of the ship. "The ship turned but I think we hit! Anyway, a 'ole bunch a ice came crashin' down on the deck."
Rikku gasped and whipped around to look at Yuna, who had paled considerably.
"An iceberg?" she whispered. "But…Rikku what does that mean?"
The blonde shook her head, her mouth gaping wordlessly. "I don't know, Yunie. Whatever it is, it can't be good. We must go find my parents. We have to tell them what happened."
Yuna clutched her hand tightly, keeping her from moving.
"Rikku…"
"Yuna…I believe that the ship is going to sink. It's not possible to hit a berg and have that much ice on the deck and be just fine."
Yuna nodded and they started off again, down toward the card room where they were sure to find Cid. Women didn't usually venture past the doors of the card room and they received many strange stares as they rushed through the room, looking for Rikku's father.
She felt as if all the weight of the world were resting on her shoulders. She was greatly regretting her decision regarding Auron, she had to find her father, stand up to her mother, keep Yuna from having a breakdown, and on top of all that, she was on a ship in the middle of the Atlantic ocean on the coldest night she'd ever felt, and the ship was potentially sinking. If she survived the night, she figured she'd be entitled to an emotional breakdown.
"Rikku!" Yuna said. "There he is!"
Rikku wasted no time dashing across the room toward her father's bald head.
"Father!" she called out, her hands coming to clasp the back of his chair. He looked up at her, almost shocked to see her there.
"Rikku, Yuna…what is it, what's the matter? You look a fright…"
"Father…the ship…the ship has struck an iceberg," Rikku spoke quickly, trying her best to keep her composure. Cid looked instantly foreboding, but several other men at the table merely laughed.
"Not to worry, silly girl. This ship can't sink!"
Cid, however, stood at once, snapping up his jacket off the back of the chair.
"Excuse me, gentlemen. I must go check on my wife. Come girls." They followed him out of the room quickly, almost breaking into a run as soon as they were on the promenade.
"How exactly do you know what happened, Rikku?" he asked as they went.
"I woke up because the engines stopped. Can't you feel it, father? I was worried, so I went into the hall. A steward said that there was nothing to worry about, but I wanted to see for myself. The crew on deck was in frenzy and there were large chunks of ice everywhere. A man said we'd struck an iceberg."
They'd reached their adjoined suites and Cid unlocked the door hurriedly, only to find that Arianna had slept through it all. He'd just sat back to decide what to do next when a heavy knocking came on the door. A moment later it opened and a steward let himself in.
"Excuse me, sir, I'll have to ask you to dress warmly, put on your lifebelt, and report to the deck."
"Sir…what is happening? Is…Titanic sinking?" Rikku asked, almost breathless in waiting for his answer.
The steward stared at her for a long moment, and she could easily see the answer in his eyes. Yes. Yes, the ship was sinking.
"I can't say I know what you're talking about, Miss. Most likely just a drill. Lifebelts on and up to deck, captain's orders." Cid nodded and the man left.
"Go put your overcoats on, girls," he instructed. "I'll see to your mother."
They made for the next room over and almost instantly Yuna started hyperventilating.
"Rikku…Rikku, what will we do? Everyone said that Titanic couldn't sink. She was supposed to be the safest ship in the world…and now what? What will happen to us now?"
"I don't know," Rikku answered honestly. "But Yuna…I must find Auron. I said some things to him earlier…terrible things. I must apologize. He must know I didn't mean them."
Yuna nodded, noticing Rikku's desperation.
"Of course, Rikku. I'll help you look."
Captain Wakka, Mr. Kimahri, and the ship builder, a man by the name of Baralai, were in the Captain's office, speaking in hushed quick voices.
"What's the damage, Baralai?" Wakka asked, looking tired and stressed.
"Five compartments are filled with water. She won't hold," he said with finality.
"But…the pumps," the captain spoke desperately, knowing the spectacle was his fault entirely.
"The pumps will give us minutes, that is all. She can't stay up with five compartments flooded."
The three men stared at each other in sickening silence, bound by their fates.
"What are you saying?" Kimahri breathed, looking disbelieving.
"She'll go down by the head. Titanic will be at the bottom of the Atlantic in an hour, two at most," Baralai said.
The captain nodded and sighed heavily.
"Everything I ever knew was wrong," he breathed. He left the room swiftly, heading down to find Dona, the ship's messenger. He found her right where he thought he would.
"Dona. I need you to send a message in all directions as far as you can. CQD, we need immediate assistance."
"CQD, sir? Dona asked as if expecting him to correct her foolishness.
"Yes. Tell them we're going down by the head." The captain exited the room quickly, fretting with his own stupidity.
Cid led them all up toward the deck, but they were stopped in the great hall. Apparently, the crew had decided to hold them inside because it was too loud and cold outside. It was all so stupid. Didn't they realize the ship was going to sink? All around her, people were chatting as if nothing was happening, asking stewards and maids for things, heading back to their staterooms in order to fetch jewels and other things that would no doubt make their person sink faster due to weight.
Arianna was one of the people throwing a fit about leaving the room.
"It's so cold out here, Cid!" she complained. "I don't see what all the fuss is about. It's utter ridiculousness, I tell you."
"Mother!" Rikku snapped, losing her temper. "This is extremely serious. Titanic is sinking and there aren't enough lifeboats for everyone! Half the people on this ship are going to die, don't you care at all?"
"Rikku, you're being hysterical," he mother snapped coldly. "No one is going to die, this is just a drill. How many times must we say it? This ship can't sink."
"But I'm afraid, ma'am, that she will." Rikku spun around at the sound of Auron's voice from behind her.
"I just overheard the captain speaking with the crewmen. Titanic is going down by the head. They say we have two hours, at most." Arianna merely rolled her eyes.
"Come, Cid, let us go over there. Girls, let's go."
"No mother," Rikku spoke up. Arianna stiffened, turning to look at her with narrowed eyes.
"I'm sorry Rikku, what was that?"
"I…I said no," Rikku whispered. "I…I'm staying with Auron. Because I love him."
There was silence between them before Arianna threw up her hands in exasperation.
"You're being ridiculous. You don't love him; you're just being defiant. You will see your foolishness soon enough and don't cry to me when you finally do. Come Yuna." Yuna, faltered and Arianna let out a cry of annoyance. "Honestly, you too? Don't tell me that you are also in love with this man."
Yuna shook her head quickly. "No. Not him…someone else. I…am in love with a steward. I must find him, Aunt Arianna. I thank you for all that you have done for me, I really do…but I cannot go with you now. I must find him."
Arianna growled angrily at them and turned, striding away, toting Cid along with her. He looked back at them and Rikku met his eyes for a long moment. He didn't agree with what she was doing, but he understood that she had to. Rikku only turned to look at Auron when he was completely gone from her sight.
"I'm so sorry!" she gasped out instantly, moving to clutch at his jacket, noticing that he wasn't wearing a lifebelt.
"I didn't mean any of the horrid things I said earlier. I was being stupid, so very stupid. Please, you must forgive me."
"Did you mean it?" he asked.
"No!" she exclaimed. "Everything I said then was stupid. It was fear…"
"No," he said. "When you said you loved me. Did you mean that?" She blinked up at him for a moment before nodding shyly. "Yes. I love you."
He leaned down and kissed her sweetly for a moment before drawing away and whispering, "I love you, too."
She let out a breath of contentment and hugged him hard before remembering their current predicament.
"What will we do?" she asked.
"We get you on to a boat," Auron said sternly. "The both of you." Yuna and Rikku shook their heads in unison.
"Not without you," Rikku vowed.
"I have to find Tidus," Yuna said determinedly. He looked at the pair of them, identical looks of stubborn fortitude set on their faces.
"I won't change your mind?" he asked Yuna. She shook her head firmly.
"All right, then." He grabbed a passing crewmember's arm.
"Where would I find a steward?" he asked. The man blinked in confusion for a long moment before saying, "Most of the stewards are in the lower decks."
Auron thanked him and they hurried off, finding the nearest lift.
"Take us down," Auron ordered the man.
"I'm sorry, sir, the lifts are closed," the man said, trying to remain pleasant and calm.
"Take us down!" Auron snapped, scaring the man enough to make him push down the lever.
As they reached steerage, freezing cold water began flooding in drenching their feet and making Auron curse. Yuna pushed open the gates and started out. Rikku followed her and Auron behind them. She could hear the lift going back up behind them. They were now in the belly of the gigantic ship, searching for a single person out of twenty-two hundred.