These characters don't belong to me, so please don't sue me
These characters don't belong to me, so please don't sue me!
Pinch Me, I'm Dreaming
Rikku sat up and stretched as she woke. She looked around her room and tousled her hair before standing up. She had slept peacefully for the first time in years, but she still had a strange feeling; it was like she was forgetting to do something.
She heard her stomach growl.
((I better go and eat.)) Rikku thought, chuckling.
She went downstairs to see Yuna already serving breakfast.
"Morning, Yuni." Rikku said, sitting down and beginning her breakfast.
"Good morning Rikku, How did you sleep?" Yuna asked, sitting down as well.
"I slept pretty good. So, what do you plan on doing today?"
"I'm not really sure what I'll be doing for the whole day, But I do plan on checking up on Paine. She hasn't really come out of the aircraft."
"You know how she is; the lone ranger."
Yuna laughed.
"Yeah, but she still should come out. And at the very least, talk to Lulu. To tell you the truth, Paine reminds me of a young Lulu."
Rikku chuckled.
"I thought I was the only one who thought that. But just think, if Lulu was to ever have a daughter she'd probably look like Paine; Maybe not so much as a doom-sayer, but still pretty close." Rikku joked.
Yuna laughed.
"I think the baby has helped her attitude." Yuna said.
"True. Still, I don't think the world can handle another Paine."
Both girls laughed and with that finished eating their breakfast. After washing the dishes, both girls headed for the door.
"Yuni, I was going to go down to the beach for a little while, want to join me?" Rikku asked
"Sure." Yuna said, opening the front door.
"Hey, how about we race?" Rikku asked.
Yuna smiled and nodded.
"Ok, sounds fun."
Both girls stepped outside.
"Ok, GO!" Rikku shouted, taking off in a sprint.
Yuna laughed as she began to run.
"Hey! You could have given me a better warning!"
Rikku simply laughed and continued on her way down to the beach. When she arrived she suddenly came to a halt causing her to slightly slide in the sand. She noticed a strange figure laying face down on the beach and slightly covered in sand.
((What is that?)) Rikku wondered, taking a few steps closer.
The figure began to slightly move and slowly got up from the beach shore. Sand fell from its body revealing its appearance. The man shook the sand form his hair and stood tall. Rikku's hand flew to her mouth. The man leaned forward peering at her.
"Rikku?" The man asked.
Rikku didn't respond. She was shocked stiff, her eyes widened. Yuna's laughter came nearer as both of them stood there.
((Can it be?)) Rikku thought.
Rikku didn't get to finish the thought. She felt her knees buckle and she began to fall as she lost consciousness. The man took a swift step forward, but then stopped.
((Maybe now is not a good time for a reunion.)) He thought.
He looked back down at Rikku with a worrying eye, but quickly ran to hide behind a large rock. As Yuna came, she ran and bent down next to Rikku taking her in her arms as she tried to wake her.
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Rikku woke up on the livingroom couch at Lulu's house. Once fully awake, she bolted up and looked around.
"Wow, Rikku, calm down. Are you ok?" Wakka asked.
Rikku shook her head.
"No! Where is he?" Rikku asked, in an urgent tone as she stood up.
"Where's who?" Lulu asked.
"Where is he? I saw him!" Rikku said, looking around.
"Rikku, what are you talking about?" Yuna asked, worriedly.
"I saw him! He was on the beach with me before I fainted." Rikku insisted.
"Rikku, I didn't see anyone at the beach. Are you sure you're ok? Who is this man you're talking about?" Yuna asked.
Rikku finally calmed down. She slowly began to stare at the floor.
"I thought I saw… "Him"…" Rikku answered.
Yuna slightly tensed up as she drew in a deep breath.
"You think you saw…"Him"?" Yuna asked, taking a step close to Rikku.
Rikku slowly nodded before looking Yuna in the eyes.
"While we were racing… I got to the beach and saw something in the sand… It stood up and it was… "Him"… I fainted soon afterwards." Rikku explained
"Are you sure you just didn't dream it?" Lulu asked.
Rikku shook her head.
"No, I know what I saw." Rikku insisted.
"Rikku… I know you might want to believe you saw "him"-" Yuna began.
"I did see "him"." Rikku interrupted.
"-But there was no one at the beach. It was empty when I came and got you. Why would he hide?" Yuna finished.
"I don't know… But I'll prove to you I'm not making this up!" Rikku said, hurriedly walking out of the room and out of the house. Yuna and the others followed.
"Rikku, where are you going!" Yuna asked.
"I'm going to wait until he comes back." Rikku replied, as she continued her brisk walk down o the beach.
Yuna stopped and watched. She sighed. She wanted to believe he was back, but how could she when there was no sign of him?
"Do you believe her?" Lulu asked. Yuna turned to face her.
"I want to but… I don't know." Yuna said, as she began to walk back to her house.
Lulu stood for a while before going back inside.
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Rikku had been standing at the edge of the ocean shore for hours. It was already past lunch and she hadn't eaten, but she still wasn't going to move.
((I'm not making this up. I saw him, I know it!)) Rikku thought, as her breath quickened. Her eyes began to water.
"I saw him…" Rikku said to herself as she looked down at the sand. She quickly looked up at the horizon.
"I SAW YOU!" Rikku shouted.
"Why are you doing this? Why won't you come out! You big jerk! This isn't funny!"
Tears ran down her cheeks.
"I'm not crazy, I saw him."
She quickly wiped the tears away.
"I'm not moving, until he decides to show up."
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"Hey, Lu?"
"Yes, Wakka?"
"Do you think Rikku actually saw, uh, "you know who"?" Wakka asked.
Lulu sighed.
"I'm not sure." She answered.
"Yuna says she hasn't come from the beach yet. She's pretty upset." He said.
"Rikku has always wanted him to come back. If she thinks she's seen him, she won't stop until she proves it." She said.
"Ya, but the way she's acting, it's almost as if she's-"
"In love?"
"You think so too?"
Lulu sighed.
"Friends miss friends don't they?"
"Ya, but friends don't stay at the beach all day waiting."
"All we can do is wait." Lulu said standing up from her seat and walking towards the kitchen.
"What do you need, Lu? I'll get it."
Lulu smiled.
"I want to get it myself this time."
Wakka smiled and nodded. Lulu paused at the kitchen doorway.
"Why don't you ask "him" when he comes?"
She then continued into the kitchen. Wakka chuckled and shook his head before walking into the kitchen.
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Yuna was pacing the floor. It was past dinner and Rikku still hadn't come back.
"Why is she so determined to sit and wait?" Yuna asked herself.
"I guess that's an obvious answer. But why would he hide? Wouldn't he want everyone so celebrate his return?"
Yuna then sat down on the couch.
"This whole thing is making me nervous with anticipation. Should I stay up?"
Yuna shook her head.
"No. I'll just be even more nervous with each hour."
Yuna stood up.
"I'm going to bed."
She went upstairs into her bedroom and got into the bed. As her head hit the pillow she gave a sigh.
"I hope Rikku proves me wrong."
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Rikku stirred in her sleep and slowly began to open her eyes. She slowly sat up, yawned and stretched, then stood up. It was sunrise and she had spent the night on the beach. As she looked out at the soft rolling waves lit by the sunlight, she felt a pang of sadness. She continued to look out into the horizon.
As she stood and watched, she felt a pair of arms gently drape themselves over her shoulders, and a chin resting on her shoulders as well.
"You've changed." Came a male voice. Rikku recognized that voice. She could feel her heart about to beat out for her chest, but she managed to calm her voice.
"You have too. You've changed a lot." Rikku replied.
"But you still know me." He said.
"You still know me."
He lightly chuckled.
"We know each other." He said.
Rikku paused for a moment before speaking.
"Why didn't you stay when Yuni came?"
"I felt like it was bad time; maybe when everyone wasn't so rallied up?"
Rikku turned to face him.
"Tidus…"