Disclaimer: Square-Enix Incorporated owns all copyrighted material this fanfiction may include. All other materials, such as characters, events, dialogue, et cetera, all belong to Zeshin-kun.
Author's Note: Boo, no reviews. . Anyway...
The other chapters so far have been pretty simple on the surface. I think I prefer the more major characters as the games show you more of their personalities than the others. This following chapter will be in Paine's POV and show the bridge between who she was since X-2's ending and how she developed come Last Mission. Some elements of the chapter adhere to her role in Last Mission. I felt after some of her less than in character actions in previous chapters, particularly well back in the beginning with her Oprah moment, perhaps it was time to see where she was at this point. Notibly, there is development to show how she's progressing from cold and stoic warrior princess to how she was at the end of Last Mission. I think if she's well received, I'll try to have more chapters with her, too. I was trying to widen the range of characters already with a Wakka and Lulu chapter earlier, but it was too hard to write worthwhile chapters for them as you don't learn enough of their personal dealings once X-2 started. I didn't think after two years, they'd still have the same concerns, but I had no real choice but to incorporate that for them since I didn't really know what else to talk about. Paine was similar since you learn about the one significant event in her life that turned her into La Femme Nikita, but beyond that, you just see how she became softer through the game and how she became much more open by Last Mission without much detail to her in between.
Okay, that's a lot of banter to get you lot started, so let's move on. I'm sure it's already no surprise that this story, while involving and even taking the POVs of other characters, is still basically another Shuyin story. I figure that FFX was Tidus' story, X-2 was Yuna's, and Shuyin's never really had one told, though Eternal Love could've been mine for his. However, considering it in that light, Spira should be viewed as its sequel and therefore still another rung of Shuyin's Story. I plan to move away from Final Fantasy after this one is finished, especially with my plan to start another story about the anime, Ga-Rei Zero, alongside this one soon. However, I may choose to return with maybe a Lenne story or Rikku story in the future, but that's a ways away.
Yes, more banter so let's get on with the show!
Spira: The Eternal Discord
Chapter 28: The Fall of Cherry Blossoms, A Warrior's Honour
Paine
"Ahh!!" I heard the dream of the fayth groan.
Both of us were recovering from the Byakko's icy aura, though I was being a little more quiet about it. I guess it couldn't be helped. The guy was hit harder than I was.
"Wakey wakey, Dr. P!" Rikku's voice hollered, coming from behind and knocking on my shoulder.
"Four respect points." I grunted back at her.
"Aw, how many do I have now?" She continued to pester.
"I lost count."
"Hah, that means I start with a clean slate!" She suggested.
"Or you could be in the negatives."
"That could be dangerous." Yuna noted, walking up on my other side.
"How long have I been out?" I asked them.
"You two were gone for about five hours. The technology salvaged on this ship doesn't cover freezing and no item or typical nul spell was strong enough against Byakko's Aeon-fiend power." Shuyin lowly stated, taking his leave after adding, "You two need to be more careful next time."
"Well, isn't he a killjoy!" The dream complained.
"Well, between your whining and …" Rikku tried to say, "I used that expression wrong, didn't I?"
"No, not wrong. Just Rikku." I answered, getting up to leave.
"Are you sure you should be getting up so soon?" Yuna asked me.
"I'm fine and I could use some air."
My first stop was the cabin. I figured it was too noisy in the med bay with everybody around and I needed some time alone. From this adventure, I was changing and I knew that I enjoyed it deep down. Still, it was a long and hard trip that got my personality to how it was before I joined the Gullwings. I'd grown accustomed to it already, even to go so far as saying I enjoyed the distinguishing factors of it to the rest of them. But the way things had been going, finding myself forgiving what happened to me those years ago and even blowing up with those touchy feely things that one time, I knew I was getting that old Paine back. I was going back to the happier Paine, the one that chilled out with Gippal, poked fun at Baralai, and…
"Nooj…" I sighed, staring up at the ceiling now that I had gotten to my bunk.
Instinctively, my hand found its way to my chest and rubbed the area where the scar still existed. That memory stayed with me even after I found out he wasn't the one that shot us. It was just the look in his eyes, what he said to me, and how far he separated himself from us later. Some part of me could never forgive him even if I consciously had. It was likewise why I couldn't forgive Shuyin. Traveling with Yuna and Rikku, I found out that it was really Shuyin that used Nooj and shot us all. It was him that forced Nooj to leave us all behind. I hated him so much for doing that to us, to me, and I wanted to have him destroyed somehow, but I had to settle with a sending. Later on, I found out why he was acting like that. He wasn't really trying to hurt anybody. It was just his own broken heart so I had nobody to blame for what happened to me again. And I was fine with that since I still helped get the guy sent, but then he came back. He came back and I was honestly terrified that he would ruin it all again. Nooj, Baralai, and Gippal reconciled after we had him put to rest. They and I could start again and they were trying to unite the three factions.
"Nooj…" I whispered to the ceiling, rolling over to my side.
After seeing those spheres, it was no secret that I cared about him. I would never admit it to any of them out loud, but they'd have to be the dumbest people on Spira not to get it. But he was in love with Leblanc, for whatever reason he might have. I know it can be seen as jealousy, but really now, what can a person see in her? At the end of our last quest, though, I think I could say I had to have respect for her. Even though she couldn't do anything against Vegnagun, she fought because she loved Nooj and wanted to protect him. It was the one and only time she ever thought nothing about herself. Like she said in the end, "The power of love conquers all…" and she was an idealistic believer. No matter how much I hated to admit it or how much I want to say otherwise, I was very jealous of that part of her. Yuna had that about her, too, and because of it, a dream of the fayth that was supposed to be gone forever was brought back to life just for her. She saved the world twice, both times out of love, the second time with love.
Grumbling and beating up my pillow, I threw it against the wall above my mattress and got up. Next stop for me was the engine room. Walking downstairs, I saw Shuyin waiting for the lift in the distance and take it up. Getting to the lift myself, I took it down, but made a note of its earlier passenger. When I got to the engine room, I walked over and leaned against the railing.
"Whaddaya got in mind for fun? Any ideas, Dr. P?"
I smiled at the memory that presented itself. Looking down at the railing and the engines further along, I took a deep breath and headed down there. I fiddled with the consoles a little, checked them for proper function and really just wasted time to replay the memory.
Smiling as I looked at one of the converters, I cleared my throat and recited, "Me? A ship that glides through the air. That thing you mentioned before. If it's for real, I wanna fly it."
And now I was on one of those things. Gippal was a sort of engineer, rather a leader of a conglomeration of engineers. It seemed our aspirations took a slight skew from how we envisioned them, but it was working out. Gippal was a capable leader… Did I really just think that now? As for me, one day I'd fly the Celsius. I knew Yuna was only a part-timer now. We were together because of this new epidemic, but the Gullwings were breaking apart. The main objective of our team leader was accomplished already after all. I wasn't sure how I felt about it, but she had her special one back with her and to take that private life away again would be cruel. And then there was Gippal. At one point, he was with Rikku. The feelings seemed there, at least. Shuyin was getting in the way, though, but maybe those two still have a chance. If they didn't…
"Snap out of it, Paine. Remember who you're talking about here." I grumbled aloud, noticing the blush my cheeks were making.
There was no chance in this life that I'd be with Gippal. We were friends and my heart was with Nooj. Besides, just looking at his track record told me that I'd end up killing him if we ever got together. No, he wasn't for me. If anything, he should be with Rikku. Those two seem of a pod and I have to admit Rikku was cute when flustered about the guy. Who knows? Maybe two blondes can make a brain? With a light chuckle, I decided to move on.
At first, I wasn't really sure where I wanted to go. I stood in front of the lift, blankly staring at the door. I could only go up at this point, but where did I want to ascend? It seemed life threw a few of these choices at me. Did I want to go into the depths of the Den of Woe? Did I want to start that first mission with Yuna and ascend Gagazet? Did I want to find out what was under Bevelle? Did I want to know what other secrets were ahead in Via Infinito? Did I have what it took to drop into the Farplane and save the world? Looking away from the lift's doors, I thought about how much Bevelle had affected my life and the lives of my friends. There was so much conspiracy behind its walls and hidden beneath its underbelly. Two years after being betrayed twice, Baralai found his way back to them and even became the new Praetor. Even after all that, he still headed a version of the organization that tried to kill him. I think I admired that determination. Regardless if his impressionable nature would only be preyed upon by those old coots, Baralai was always the most determined of all of us.
After we parted ways, it was our own agendas we started looking into. Nooj, well Shuyin in his form, lashed out at Bevelle and the Yevon teachings by establishing the Youth League. Even if Shuyin was probably behind it, it never struck me as odd because of who Nooj was. Gippal's loyalty to his people and the hidden leader inside his goofy and shallow exterior allowed him to build the Machine Faction and develop that excavations team in Bikanel. As an Al Bhed, he was always fond of technology. He told me once that his ultimate dream would have been to rebuild the Machina Cities of Old Spira, though he knew it was impossible. I think the Machine Faction was his move at trying to get that done. Meanwhile, I shut myself out. Nooj's betrayal left me broken and much more so than either of the others. I'd say it was a stroke of luck that I ended up with the Gullwings. But of all of us, only Baralai was compassionate and steadfast enough to stay with the lie and try to work at it from the inside. Baralai stayed with what Spira was told to believe for generations, knowing it was completely fabricated by then and tried to give it a fresh start. It was quite admirable.
"But does that mean me and…" I started to say before the lift door opened.
Getting on, I decided I'd go to the deck. If I was right, I wanted to be there with my thoughts. When the doors opened, I saw him, sword in hand and gliding effortlessly in the wind. The speed of each maneuver and the gentleness of the follow-throughs made it seem as though he was a warrior in complete inner peace even while utilizing a tool meant for fierce and unrelenting war. Aside from the fluid motion of each strike, there were no rough transitions between them either. Each move seemed to have a distinct need to join into the next, though he could change that move at a whim without any notice. Still, though it was completely graceful, it also reminded me of the harsh power behind it. When we were in the Farplane with that graceful performance as our enemy, there wasn't anything we could really do to stop him. It took Yuna having Lenne in her to finally stop him. I couldn't help but feel helpless facing him.
Maybe that was why I broke down when he came back again. We couldn't beat him before and it took Lenne and nearly dying to get him to stop. If he had come back to cause trouble again, we didn't have Lenne anymore. What would stop him then? I wouldn't admit this out loud to the others, but I was truly shaken when I saw him again in Besaid. Wretched memories I thought I was finally free from came flooding back. Dread poured out, but I had to be strong so I swallowed it and kept sucking it down each time I had to look at him until I just couldn't anymore. What was worse, Rikku was infatuated with him and chose to take the Celsius with him to Gagazet alone. I tried to stop her because I was so afraid of what he could do to her, just like what he had done to me, but she went with him anyway and I lost my calm.
But now… I can't feel it anymore. I don't see this Shuyin like the one that shot me as the Nooj I cared so much for. This Shuyin was a tortured soul, too, plagued by his own "Shuyin"s and wanting out. I didn't want to admit it to myself, but I think there was a kindred spirit in him now. I turned into this Paine, so alone and distant, because of what he'd done to me. He had it just as bad, though, actually worse. Trapped in those memories for so long without the Gullwings to slowly bring him back from the brink. I've started seeing what I could've become in him and I guess I pitied him. And he was stronger than me. I was shot by the person I cared about most. I guess that doesn't really compare to having your home and all your friends butchered in front of you only to fail at the final moment as the ultimate capitalization. I felt for him. I think maybe even…
The Celsius' broadcast alarms went off and Brother's voice came over the speaker, alerting us to come to the bridge immediately. I turned to call for Shuyin, but he was already next to me, nodding his head for us to hurry.
"You guys better get a move on, ya? These pyreflies got us all stuck in here." One of the Aurochs said from the Comsphere he managed to pluck from the hut.
"You're leaving out some important details there, buddy." The dream hollered, leaning down to get in better view of our comsphere.
"Do you know who is causing the pyreflies to behave in that way? Have you seen him?" Yuna asked from her seat.
"No, the doors of the temple just closed on us, ya? Then, these pyreflies started flying all around the walls and doors. We can't touch it with them around." He answered.
"Don't worry. My other half won't harm them if he knows we're coming." Shuyin stated, going over to Buddy to have him navigate the fastest route from the Calm Lands to Besaid.
"You guys just hang on, alrighty?" Rikku yelped, hopping to the other side of Yuna, "We'll be there as soon as we can!"
She took off right after that to where Shuyin was and the two began talking strategy while I was left on the sidelines of both conversations. Seeing those two together all the time made me feel… Yea, right, like I'd be feeling something like that. I took to keep with Yuna and the comsphere, standing behind her chair with my arms folded. The pyreflies were reminiscent, too. At the moment, the Besaid Temple resembled the Den of Woe incredibly, pyreflies swirling around angrily with wails that would disturb the most stoic of warriors.
"Don't let it get to you." A voice interjected, breaking me from my trance at the comsphere.
Turning my head, I noticed Shuyin was standing next to me, arms folded just like I had done. It was noticeable and obvious that I jumped at that, but I tried my best to maintain my composure.
"Your old pyreflies only piss me off. There's nothing that can make them 'get to me'." I said in retort.
"Good. Keep it that way." He plainly replied, "Otherwise, your chance at vengeance might be missed."
I was taken aback with a blush that I immediately hid by turning away with a grunt, "You just better stay out of my way when I'm carving him up!"
"I'll keep that in mind. How long?" He returned, turning his attention to Brother immediately after.
"We being there soon! Don't give your horses holdings." Brother haphazardly answered him, struggling more with the language when anxious.
By the time we reached the Besaid village, everything was in flames. Shuyin, Rikku, and Yuna quickly changed to Black Mage and squelched them with Watergas aimed into the sky. Shuyin reverted quickly, Yuna and Rikku stayed to cast a few more Waters to make sure the fires were all out. I saw Shuyin fiddle with his sword, but decide not to unsheathe it. What did he sense?
"Looking for me?" His voice purred, but the origin was from nowhere in sight.
"Oh, just get your ass out here so I can beat you senseless already." Our Shuyin shouted into the air.
An odd strum echoed throughout the village and a tree planted itself behind us. From the back appeared a person in robes, his face hidden by a large straw hat. As he cleared the tree, he slowly lifted the hat and revealed his menacing face, a near Cheshire grin emblazoned on it, accented by two glowing blue pearls decorated in war paint.
"Cheesy entrance. I give it a 2.1." Our Shuyin said as a lazy reply.
"What's this now? You aren't getting bored of me, are you?" Dark Shuyin returned, "Besides, I have to pay you back for last time."
"You got what was coming to you, jackass!" The dream growled.
"What the star said." Shuyin continued, pointing over a thumb at him, "But to cut to the chase, why don't you just crawl back into that cave I ditched you at and leave well enough alone before I have to shove another Flare up your ass?"
"Yea, well, two can play on borrowed skill. What do you say? Bushido?" The shadow purred.
"Why are we still talking again?" I finally added, "Chapter's not long enough?"
"He started it!" The dream responded.
"Let's go! Y!" Yuna shouted, readying her staff.
"We'll rock his world! R!" Rikku yelped, doing a stretch before changing to Gun Mage.
"Shut him up, send him packing. P!" I said, lifting my sword and getting in position.
Shuyin walked out in front and extended his left out to the side, looking at us before turning back to him, "Bushido it is."
With that, he activated The End's Samurai dressphere. White light draped across him like silk and cherry blossoms fluttered around it, swirling down from the sky. When the silk shroud fell away, Shuyin was adorned in shimmering armor, crimson guards and ebony plates lining every inch of his person. As the cherry blossoms all fell to the floor, he looked up and hovered one hand over the scabbard housing his katana.
"One… on one." He added, glancing back at us again.
"One on one my eye!" Rikku screamed, locking her gun on the shadow.
"He wants you to fight alone!" Yuna added.
They were all about to advance, but the look Shuyin gave me before, what he said to me on the airship, it told me not to overreact with him like Shuyin had before. There was no point in ending it quickly if it could jeopardise the others. Shuyin's unkempt anger sent him after us, after Spira before and after Bevelle before that. Each time, it cost him. He knew we were all starting to hate Dark Shuyin the same way and rush in to make the kills, but Shuyin had been very manipulative on his own accord. It was a sure bet his crueler unsent self, now devoid of his warped compassion, would only utilize it further. Right now, it held a few of Besaid's people as hostages in the temple, surrounded by pyreflies he could control at a whim. If we didn't accept his challenge, he could use the trump card and we'd only hate him more. Also, Shuyin was right. He did seem desperate now that Seymour was defeated and he wasn't drawing on Shuyin's self-hate anymore. And there was one more reason he silently shared with me.
"No interferences. Shuyin's got to fight for his lost honor." I said, sticking my sword out ahead of the lot when they went to attack.
"But that's exactly what…" Rikku tried to whine.
"That's exactly what he wants, I know. But we have hostages in the temple, Rikku. What do you think Dark Shuyin'll do to them if we don't abide?"
"Listen to her, Rikku. And besides, who said it's only what he wants?" Shuyin commented, presenting both of us with a sly glance before returning to his position.
Before any of us could blink, Dark Shuyin dashed and closed the gap between them, a strike thrust out at our Shuyin. With a quickdraw, Shuyin blocked the attack and held his dark half at bay. Recoiling, the shadow tossed the scabbard he attacked with back toward the tree and unveiled three kozuka, which he would throw two of in quick succession. Shuyin deflected each, then caught the unsent's arm as the third kozuka came down on his head. With a stiff kick, he pushed Dark Shuyin back to his original spot.
"Ooh, so professional?" He cooed, kneeling down to greet Daigoro as it appeared beside him.
"Let's see you handle my pet, then. You remember him, right? You skewered him on the tip of your sword, the last time." He noted, looking up, "Trista was always a pathetic summoner, wasn't she? Couldn't even control this sad lump of an Aeon at first; couldn't unlock its full potential even when she died."
"She was her own nemesis." Shuyin calmly suggested, "She thought too highly of herself and all her minor successes."
"Not like you or me, eh?" The unsent glimmered, "We were always oh so clever. When we took this Aeon, we controlled it with an iron fist. But if I recall correctly, it was still far from anything remarkable."
"I wasn't interested in style then. You were only interested in the kill. I'd say we were each other's greatest adversary, as well, but it'd be too redundant."
"Now… I'm free."
Daigoro leaped up at Shuyin as he made a strike to slice it apart, but it suddenly exploded into a cloud of pyreflies, revealing the katana Dark Shuyin was using before. With a mind of its own, it began attacking as Shuyin defended itself. From afar, I saw Dark Shuyin unsheathe his wakizashi and lunge for Shuyin.
"Look out!" I shouted.
Rikku was about to make a move, but I held an arm out to her chest to hold her back. Shuyin locked with Daigoro and pushed to the side, blocking for both before allowing their combined attack to push him back. It would keep like this for a while, Daigoro's new form as a disembodied daito and the Yojimbo'd Dark Shuyin attacked in sync, but Shuyin managed to block every hit. Eventually, I could see the odachi in his hands pulse and he stepped into a power stance. Daigoro struck the weapon dead center and sparks flew from the impact. It was then the pulsing spread to Shuyin's body and he would break the lock and lurch quickly forward, making a vertical slice at the sword. The clash was made with a loud snap and Daigoro pulsated until it shattered into tiny fragments of metal. Dark Shuyin was visibly daunted, but pulled more kozuka to throw. Each one was deflected again and Shuyin pushed on. Dark Shuyin released wakizashi again and Shuyin parried and disarmed him with another stiff kick.
"Okay, you're good." The unsent grinned, wiping his lip with a hand.
Standing straight, Dark Shuyin closed his eyes and held out his hands. A green and blue smoke began to exude out of them and spread in a straight line, linking between them and pushing out on either side. Dark Shuyin grabbed the smoke, revealing another scabbard and daito, this one heavily adorned with runes. Unsheathing it, he tossed the scabbard to the side and set the weapon in side stance. Meanwhile, Shuyin shifted to adopt a more offensive stance, stepping forward with his foot to lock himself into place, the katana's luster emanating in the light and he held it overhead. Without warning, the unsent flew towards him, taking only one step in between to start off a spin, cherry blossoms appearing as if cut from the air by the Zanmato in his hands. Shuyin didn't even budge, his eyes simply fixed on all of his dark half's movements. Following the final chord of the spin, Dark Shuyin let out a roar and collided the Zanmato into Shuyin's neck, the force of the blow sending dust and cherry blossoms into the air.
For a while we waited for the air to clear without any sign of an outcome, but it was easy to see everybody was anxious. When two figures became clear in the fog, I heard the sound of a sword hitting the ground and strained to see whose it was. Dark Shuyin gasped for breath as pyreflies streamed from him, returning him to his pure form. Yojimbo had been defeated. Looking up at our Shuyin, he revealed himself to share the same look we all had about us.
Shuyin's eyes were gentle, yet cold, "His spirit still guides me, flows through my being. What is your borrowed talent good for against that?"
Sheathing the odachi, he locked it in place and turned from his opponent. The unsent could only grimace in anger and frustration, taking off again.
"Takuma, I can never carry out your last request, but maybe I can still find my own way. Your teachings will guide me to them." Shuyin whispered, reverting back to his original form.
Author's Note: Takuma, remember him my old readers? Yes, he told Shuyin not to shoulder the weight of the world and be disappointed about failing. As a self-claimed empath, Shuyin has already decided he can never accomplish that task, but Takuma's other teachings, his mentoring could still prove useful to him. Perhaps with the acceptance of his new life, Shuyin might find a new way to deal with the situation at hand and succeed where he faltered last time. Can he truly bring his story to a satisfactory end?
At this point, I'd wonder what everyone thinks those unsents' motives are. After all, there have been a few blatant clues and Shuyin's not getting any younger. We're getting closer to the end, though it still has a while yet to go. Still, by 36, the number that ended Eternal Love, there will be a major turn of events in this story followed by its final arc. Stay tuned to find out! ^_~