I know the Blitzball matches are kinda short... but I suck at writing any kind of sport. _ So there ya go.
CHAPTER 3
After we docked at a Luca Port, we entered Luca at last. The streets were busy with tourists seeing the sights before the games began. I was more interested in the games themselves. The Al-Bhed's and I walked in a horizontal line. Rikku stood at one end, and I at the other. She was definitely still confused about what just happened, and truth be told, so was I. She was back in her armour too, so I guess for now I won't have any of those strange outbursts again.
"Today is going be great!" shouted Brother as he raised an arm in the air. "The Al-Bhed Psyches are gonna take the cup for sure!"
"You know it!" replied Neko.
"I just wish the damn tournament wasn't sponsored by Yevon" murmured Dyren.
"Hey Dyren, give it a rest! We're here to have fun, and you're not gonna dampen our spirits." I replied, punching his shoulder playfully.
We continued laughing and shouting on our way to the arena, when a voice started shouting from behind us.
"Chappu? CHAPPU! HEY CHAPPU, WAIT!"
I turned around to see a large, tubby looking man in front of me. He wore a yellow outfit, and had a big orange point in his hair. He looked familiar... but I couldn't place my finger on it...
"Uh... I think you've got the wrong person" I replied.
"Oh... sorry... I thought you were someone else, ya?" he replied.
And with that, the man walked away. I had that weird feeling of deja-vu again. I shrugged it off, and continued walking with the Al-Bhed into the stadium.
There we were, fourth row from the front in the Blitzball arena. These seats were great. Close enough that you could see a great deal of action... far enough that you didn't have to crick your neck up and stare at the sky most of the time. I sat with Brother and Neko to my sides, while Rikku left a space between her and Brother. Dyren wasn't here at the moment. Turns out his brother actually plays for the Al-Bhed Psyches.
"First match today is the Psyches against the Besaid Aurochs!" said Brother, psyched for the match. "The Aurochs always lose in the first round, so this should be a cake walk, no?"
"Awesome!" I replied. Just then, a nervous Dyren ran up to us.
"Guys! We've got a big problem!" he shouted.
"Cool your jets!" replied Neko. "What's going on?"
"One of the players is injured!" shouted Dyren. "He was doing his warm-ups and he tore a muscle or something! He can barely walk, let alone blitz! And the official Blitzball rules say, that if a replacement isn't found... then the team forfeits..." he trailed off.
Someone must have been smiling down on me. I knew this was my opportunity to get back in the game.
"Uh... I'll replace him!" I suggested. The other Al-Bhed turned to me. "I was the star player of the Za... uh... my team where I came from!"
"Good enough." said Dyren, as he grabbed me by the arm and pretty much dragged me to the Psyches locker-room. The rest of the Psyches looked down in the dumps, as they sat around the injured player, who held onto his leg.
"Guys! I've got your replacement!" shouted Dyren.
The players all perked up and immediately surrounded me. They looked me up and down.
"He's not Al-Bhed though..." one of them said in disappointment. "His eyes don't show it..."
"Oh... I've got it!" said Dyren, as he grabbed a pair of goggles from within his suit. "Tada!" He put them over my face. They were kinda tight, but if it meant I could blitz today, then it was worth it. The Al-Bhed applauded the goggles.
"That'll work." said the Psyche team member from before. "Ok kid! Get warmed up! The match starts in a few minutes. And no tearing anything like bozo over there." he said, as he pointed at the injured Psyche on the bench.
I began stretching, as I overheard two of the Psyches speaking to each other.
"We're a shoe-in to win today!" he said.
"With that Summoner kidnapped, I don't think the Aurochs will be trying anything drastic." he replied.
"Huh?" I perked up. The two Al-Bhed looked at me.
"We've kidnapped a lady summoner from the Aurochs side." replied the first Al-Bhed.
"Huh? What for?" I asked.
"We're guaranteeing victory here. We told them that they have to lose on purpose, or else the girl will get it!" laughed the second.
"W-what? That's terrible!" I protested. "How are we supposed to be taken as a credible blitzball team, when our victory is the result of kidnapping and not from skill!" I argued. The two Al-Bhed scratch their heads.
"Yeah... you do kinda have a point there..." said the first Al-Bhed.
"Jeez... we should probably release her..." said the second.
The first Al-Bhed spoke to a few others. One of them spoke on a hand-held radio of sorts. The first Al-Bhed returned and updated us on the situation.
"They're letting her go now..." he said.
I guess that's the end of that matter then. Now all I had to do was focus on the game... and on victory!
The first half was an even tie. 2 to 2. The strangest thing was... that guy from earlier... the one who had the orange point in his hair... he was the Captain of the Aurochs! Maybe that's how I thought he looked familiar. Maybe I saw him on a poster or something. Yeah, that had to be it.
Eiga, the captain of the Psyches, stood in front, giving a pep talk to the team. I looked out the window, and stared outside. I could see a woman in a white and purplish outfit run up to a Ronso, and woman in a grey dress... again... I felt the deja-vu... what the hell was up with that?
My mind returned to Rikku. Damn... I felt like such a bonehead... we were really good friends at that point, and I might have just gone and blown that right out of the water. I wondered where we'd go from here. Would it just be awkward silences like now? Would we go back to being friends... and always having that moment in the back of our minds? I didn't know...
I turned back to the captain of the team, who was finishing up his big speech. The Al-Bhed cheered for him. We all stood, and left the room. It was now time for the second half.
Entering the Blitzball arena, I could see a bright blue flare in the sky. Strange... must be one of the fans loading off some fireworks. The Aurochs noticed it too. The Besaid captain giving a devilish grin as he looked at us.
It was the final minute of the match, and we were still tied 2-2! I knew if we were going to win this... it would be me who had to take control. I grabbed a pass from a Psyche, and proceeded to pass by most of the Aurochs. It was down to me and the goalkeeper! I kicked the ball off of one side of the goal... one off the other... then I swam up high, and delivered a hard kick. It was good! The game was 2-3! The buzzer sounded for the end of the match, as I was surrounded by the Psyches, getting pats on the back and smiles. The Aurochs in the corner of my eye looked disappointed. They swam slowly out of the arena. And I was left in adulation of the Psyches.
We swam back to the locker-room, where we continued to celebrate. In the corner of my eye, I could see Brother, Rikku, Dyren and Neko at the stairs applauding. They approached me and gave their congratulations as well.
"Tidus that was amazing! You sure showed the Aurochs who's boss!" praised Brother.
"With moves like that, we're gonna take the cup for sure!" agreed Dyren.
Rikku didn't say anything. She just turned and walked away. I knew I had to follow her. Without saying a word, I sprinted after her, and caught her outside.
"Rikku... Rikku!" I shouted, hoping she would stop. She didn't. I finally caught up to her. "Rikku... what's wrong? Why have you been avoiding me?"
Rikku turned to me with tears in her eyes.
"It's because I knew something would happen for you in Luca... and you'd leave us... and the moment we had, would mean nothing!" she said, tears now streaming down her face.
"Hey... what are you talking about?" I asked. "Nothings happened for me!"
"Oh no? After that win, I bet the Psyches are gonna beg you to join their team!" said Rikku as she sat down at a bench nearby.
I followed and sat next to her. "Look, I love blitzball and all... but I don't think is the time to do anything as sudden as joining a blitzball team." I assured her.
"Are you sure?" she asked, as she sniffed.
"Positive." I replied. Rikku rested her head on my shoulder. "And look, if it'll make you feel any better, then I won't play the next match." I suggested.
"Really?" asked Rikku as she looked up at me with big wide eyes. "But it's the final!"
"I think the Psyches will do fine." I said.
"But... what about a replacement? The Psyches will need another player." she asked.
"You just leave that to me." I said with a wink.
The finals were underway. The Psyches up against the Goers. My replacement swam around excitedly in the arena.
"Look Rikku! Look! I'm playing Blitzball with the Al-Bhed Psyches!" shouted Brother from within the sphere. Rikku and I both laughed from our seats.
"Are you sure he'll be alright in there?" asked Rikku.
"Positive." I replied, as Rikku rested her head on my shoulder again.