23: Plant Plié

Rikku loitered at the end of the path, trying to decide whether the heaviness in her stomach was the result of guilt or relief – or maybe just the Guado spicy bread she had earlier. Sucking in her breath, she marched towards the portal leading into the Farplane.

Even in the past, it looked the same as ever – a red stone hexagon etched into Guadosalam's darkened walls, surrounded by mist and pyreflies. Six cloudy windows surrounded the portal that framed the doorway into another dimension; it was a work no mortal hand could have created, and yet somehow it was too perfect to have been achieved by nature alone.

It was as though the gateway itself was summoned into existence – but no one could answer the question of how it came to be. According to legends, the gateway had existed long before the art of Summoning. The Farplane was eternal, an ancient and sacred place even in Shuyin and Lenne's era a thousand years ago. The portal was as much a part of Spira as its sky and seas. Perhaps it was the Farplane itself that had created the Summoners, and not the other way around.

All too suddenly, Rikku's feet carried her to the entrance of Spira's eternal mystery. She shook her head and tried to remind herself of Al Bhed lore – that the Farplane was nothing more than the home of the pyreflies, that it wasn't truly a bridge between the world of the living and the dead. Then she let out a soft sigh. Who am I kidding? I don't believe those teachings anymore. She thought of Braska, of even Yuna's unshakable faith despite everything the other girl knew and had seen.

I guess even Al Bhed can be wrong sometimes. We really do let our pride blind us, don't we? The portal seemed to sigh and ripple in response, pyreflies dancing around her. Souls, she'd told Jecht when he'd asked; she believed that now. They were souls, releasing their sorrows as they sang nostalgic memories of their forgotten lives, searching for someplace to call a home, waiting to be reborn.

She stared into the swirling light, then reached out and touched the barrier. It pulsed under her palm, scattering fractured rays of light into the air. A wave of dizziness hit her, along with a tickling sensation. It's not cold like before. Bright colors beckoned to her, and every sense was singing with anticipation. If I could just break through, she thought to herself with a sudden, almost violent need. Somehow, she knew everything would be okay in the Farplane; every mistake she made, every question and uncertainty she felt would be set to rights. There would be no more doubting, no worrying about Sin's attacks, Jecht's drinking habits, Braska's depression, or even Auron's temper –

Warmth, and the steady beat of a heart against her cheek.

Rikku's certainty wavered, but the feeling of rightness pulled at her again, and she shook her head.

"This is what I want. This is what Spira needs."

Her words cut through the silence with startling clarity. Rikku really didn't enjoy the sound of her own voice, despite Brother's petulant claims to the contrary. She thought it too childish; she couldn't manage Lulu's smooth, throaty timber without sounding like she had a terrible chest cold, and she didn't even bother trying to emulate Yuna's musical, breathy pitch. But somehow, hearing her own imperfect voice echoing in her ears broke the incessant need to pass through the barrier. If everything was right behind it, why did her voice still sound so wrong?

The nostalgia and contentment the Farplane brought to its visitors was no surprise to Rikku, though she was uneasy at their intensity. Still – everyone felt the pull to some extent when surrounded by the otherworldly atmosphere. Despite the sensations it evoked, however, people always said something was slightly off about it. Beautiful as it was, most visitors were eager to leave when they finished paying their respects.

Here, though, it was different. The Farplane's call felt perfect; there was no longing to return to the real world. It was as though the slight oddness, the strange dichotomy between comfort and alienation had vanished completely. In fact, being this close to the portal made Rikku feel as though the rest of the world was off, rather than the Farplane itself: like putting on a pair of glasses and seeing the world come into focus for the first time. Only it wasn't her sight that had sharpened, but her feelings.

It's like... coming home. The way Home had felt, before Yevon had blown it to bits. Or maybe the way the Celsius felt, after all the time she'd spent on it as a Gullwing. With a sudden pang, Rikku realized how much she missed her Brother's scolding, Buddy's even-tempered interventions, and even Shinra's boasting.

The Farplane's entrance churned, jagged streaks of shadow trailing after her fingers where they penetrated the light, reflecting and amplifying her own doubts. Rikku frowned; why was she hesitating? She stared into the now-murky depths of the portal. The sense of longing fought for dominance over her newfound reluctance.

Because he's waiting for you. The darkness in the portal spread, mingling with the clear light and turning it into a distorted swirl of grey clouds. "I can't be of two minds," Rikku mumbled. That was what Auron had told her, wasn't it? To choose one path and to follow it. Wasn't that exactly what she was forcing Auron to do? To choose between protecting Braska and pursuing her? Between his feelings as a Guardian and her desire for his affection?

She thought of Auron as she'd known him during Yuna's Pilgrimage; he had possessed a dedication to duty that would have impressed his younger self. She wondered if Auron would recognize who he'd become in the future, if he could know. The thought of Auron meeting himself stilled her confusion.

No... he wouldn't be surprised, Rikku concluded with reluctance. I keep trying to fool myself but in the end, they're the same person.

Steeling herself, Rikku leaned into the portal. The warmth blanketed her as it never had before, and a small sigh of release escaped from her lips.

Is this what it's like when you die? Is this what he felt that time? No wonder he didn't want to stay with the rest of us.

Something warm traced a path down her cheek, tickling the side of her nose. Rikku's tongue darted out and met with the taste of salt. She realized with some surprise that both of her cheeks were wet.

Why am I crying? It's just the Farplane!

But it wasn't; she was drowning in emotions. The Farplane was turning every stray thought she had into powerful feelings that assaulted her. She couldn't shake the image of him turned away from them, gruff and tired, his graying hair bathed in the light of Sin's destruction even as his soul dissolved into pyreflies before her very eyes and he never looked back, not even once –

A familiar whistle filled Rikku's ears, one that was steadily growing louder.

I've heard this before. It's like pyreflies screaming...

The whistle became a roar, and Rikku recognized it as the faint strains she'd heard in the Farplane Wind she'd pulled from the Espada. But the strand was only a simple melody; the Farplane itself was pure, orchestrated chaos. Despite the screaming in her ears there was no discomfort. It was the direct opposite of the painful, abrupt shock she'd felt before the Chamber of the Fayth; if anything, the cries were almost seductive, hypnotizing her with its pull.

The Legendary Guardian hadn't looked back, not for Yuna, not even for Tidus. But the young man who had yet to fill that role, the man with the smooth-skinned face and two eyes had sought her out in the darkness of Guadosalam, had told her he would wait for her.

Scared, Rikku tried to pull back. Maybe Bahamut was right; maybe she wasn't ready yet. Her hand, though, refused to cooperate, no matter how much she tugged. A spike of panic shot through her and she stopped fighting.

"Let me go," she demanded, as though the Farplane itself was a living entity. There was no answer but her body remained stationary, arm outstretched, even as her mind raced. Then she felt it; a change in the song of the pyreflies, a presence she was coming to know all too well.

Bahamut! Rikku whipped her head around, searching for the usual manifestation, but all she saw nothing. "You're not going to hold me here! Not this time!" Gritting her teeth, Rikku struggled against her partial-paralysis. With enough effort, she could shift her body forward, but it still felt like she was trying to wade through Wakka's hair gel. Experimentally, Rikku pushed her weight backwards; movement was easier when she stopped trying to force her way into the Farplane. Frustrated, Rikku focused instead on dropping her hand.

As if sensing her capitulation, the hold on her body eased, and Rikku grimaced. It wasn't very fun being held hostage by an aeon, and not even knowing how or why he was doing it. As soon as she could move, her hand darted to her belt. It was a long shot, but Rikku remembered the shock she'd experienced the first time she used it in Bevelle – the white lightning that had raced through her veins. If the pain it caused was the exact opposite of the warmth and comfort of the Farplane, then maybe it was just what she needed to shock herself out of Bahamut's grasp. It's time this rotten luck started working for me, Rikku thought as she launched herself forward and activated the grid.

She wasn't disappointed; a jolt shot through her fingers, a sharp stab of pain that would have made her scream if she could move her jaws. It worked, it worked! She opened her watering eyes as she fell through the wall of light and watched the ground rise up to meet her –

– and pulled up short, her mouth twisted open in a cry of surprise as her body was suspended mid-step. Even her hair had stopped falling around her face; she was tilted at an angle that by all rights should have had her face-planting into the ground. But she wasn't falling; she was frozen. She couldn't even move her eyeballs to look to either side. And, Rikku realized, she didn't need to, because the body of a small, ancient child appeared before her.

"Bahamut!" she yelled. Or at least, she tried to. All she managed to do was stare at a point a few centimeteres below Bahamut's hooded face, since she couldn't even roll her eyes upwards to look him in the – hood, most likely. No one even knew if his human form had eyes.

I told you not to come here. She wondered how he managed to sound scolding despite the monotone of his voice.

She felt the muscles on her face relax, and fixed her glare on Bahamut's face. "What about Spira? You know, it's not like I could be changing the fate of the rest of the world or anything, huh!"

You really believe yourself so important? he answered her.

Rikku felt her anger boiling over, even as his words hit her pride with a stinging slap. "So what if I'm not Yuna?" she snapped. "That doesn't mean you can play around with my life! What kind of sick joke is this? Why are you doing this to me?"

Bahamut paused before answering her; he sounded almost amused, if that was possible. Still thinking of only yourself, even now? Perhaps your hubris makes you who you are.

At least I'm alive, she wanted to spit back. But she couldn't. She couldn't even look him in the non-eyes. Rikku wondered if there was a special hell for Al Bhed heretics who talked back to god-like aeons. If there wasn't, Bahamut would probably make one just for me. Maybe I'm there right now.

Go back and join them, he said. You must see this through to the end. This journey was your own wish; don't run away. Be strong enough to live your dream.

Her anger was subsiding, replaced by a sense of shame. He was right, she realized – everything that had happened was only what she'd wanted; to feel important, to have Auron look at her with something more than irritation. In her attempt to run away from her own life and live in her regrets for the past, she'd forgotten to embrace the future. She hasn't realized what a stupid wish it was, and now Bahamut wasn't going to let her have a take-back. With a sinking sensation, she put up a last feeble protest. "But I can't. I can't face them like this!"

You don't have a choice anymore. He was growing brighter as he said that; it hurt to see, and Rikku cringed, ducking away from the light and shielding her eyes. In that moment she realized she could control her body again and whipped her head forward.

"Wait – !"

The two Guado sentries standing before her spun around, lances at the ready, and eyed her suspiciously. One leaned over and mumbled something to the other in the native Guado tongue, and Rikku didn't need to be trilingual to know that he hadn't said anything complimentary. With a laugh, the two guards turned around and ignored her.

Straightening out of her crouch, Rikku realized that was probably a good thing. She couldn't spare the time to be embarrassed at her sudden appearance at the entrance to the path leading to the Farplane; more pressing was the question of how she'd gotten there. She hadn't even felt anything; one minute she was shooting the mental breeze with Bahamut in the Farplane, and the next she was being laughed at by the guards in Guadosalam.

Turning around, Rikku looked at the path to the portal – now calm and no longer murky – and let out a slow, irritated huff. "Well... that was an aeon-sized door slam if I ever saw one," she muttered, adjusting her braids. Lifting her chin and doing her best to ignore the smirking Guado, Rikku marched past the guards and towards the city. There really was only one place to go – back towards the inn.

"No use crying over spilled milk," she told herself. "Besides, he's waiting for me, right?"

She almost thought she could hear Bahamut laughing and tried to ignore it as she stomped down the pathway. Me and my stupid dreams. Why couldn't I just let go?

Suddenly, seeing Auron didn't seem as exciting of a prospect as it had before; in fact, the entire city of Guadosalam was losing its fascination. The sleepy twilight of the underground cavern made her restless; the walls were too close, the lichen lights too wane, the air too rank. More than ever, she felt a need to see sunlight, to have fresh wind blowing in her hair and burning sand stretching before her. Rikku was tired of the burden of the Pilgrimage. Her Al Bhed blood was calling to her, demanding freedom, and the urge to run away was overwhelming.

Pivoting on her feet, Rikku strode down another path that she hoped would lead to a release from the tightness that gripped her chest.

.x.x.x.

Dappled sunlight shone through the dense canopy. Auron was the first to emerge from the roots of the giant tree that housed the entrance to Guadosalam, his expression solemn and his head lowered. Even so, the contrast of the bright sunlight after so much time traveling in darkness was painful, and he raised an arm before his face. When he lowered his hand, blinking, he saw her and slowed to a stop.

Rikku kicked her boots against the root she was sitting on. "Finally leaving?"

Auron squinted up at her with an inscrutable look on his face; somewhere, Rikku hoped that unfamiliar expression was hosting more than just surprise. Maybe... he was even a little relieved? No, Rikku decided, quashing her fledgling hopes. To assume anything Auron didn't give away was just inviting trouble, she knew all too well. Still, he wasn't scolding her, so Rikku took that as a good sign.

When he started moving again, it was towards her. He stopped at the base of the high root she was dangling off of, and a few of the tense lines around his mouth and eyes eased as he nodded at her.

A warm feeling flooded Rikku, and she found herself grinning back at him. "So, umm, hi," she said softly.

"So here you are," Auron replied, as if to confirm that she wouldn't turn around and high-tail it into the forest at the sound of his voice.

Rikku smirked. "Like gum stuck to the bottom of your shoe," she answered.

Ignoring her, he stepped closer with an intense look. Rikku swallowed; it was almost easier to face Auron when he was annoyed, as he usually was when dealing with her. This, though... this wasn't his angry face. His eyes, she noted, were still piercing, even when charged with an emotion other than rage or frustration. He lifted his hand halfway towards her, and then seemed to check himself.

"Lord Braska – " he began with a slight frown. The hesitation passed almost as quickly as it came, leaving Rikku to wonder if she imagined the whole thing. And then, he smiled at her. Auron smiled. At her.

Rikku nearly fell off of the tree root.

"... Lord Braska is helping Jecht," Auron continued, ignoring Rikku's scrabbling attempts to recover and lower herself to the ground. "He'll be here soon, so perhaps you'd care to... prepare yourself." The last line was delivered with a definite tone of amusement, as he relented and assisted Rikku in her ungraceful slide towards the forest floor.

"I totally meant to do that," she said as she failed to lower her skirt, which had ridden high. It was hard to maneuver when Auron was still holding her securely in his arms.

"Al Bhed fashion," Auron muttered with a derisive snort, though she didn't miss the glint in his eyes. "Function before form, was it?"

Rikku huffed. "Bevellian silk would've ripped, I'll have you know."

"More's the pity," Auron mumbled, leaving Rikku to gape.

As if on cue, there was a loud grunt, and Rikku peeked around Auron and saw them – Braska slowly trudging out of the cave, and Jecht, leaning on him. The summoner's slight frame was bent under the other man's weight. Stopping when he saw them, Braska lost his precarious balance and nearly fell over.

"Rikkma? We thought you had left us last night." His jaw shut with an audible click. "I-I can see you are somewhat… engaged… with Auron right now, but if you could spare a moment – ugh!" He cut off abruptly, trying to keep Jecht from tipping over.

Face burning crimson, Rikku struggled out of Auron's arms and righted her clothing before scurrying to Braska's side. "Why aren't you helping?" she called out to Auron. "Aren't you like, I don't know, Mister Perfect Guardian all the time? Don't you think this counts as one of your duties?"

Auron shrugged, the humor in his eyes fading into a less alien expression of annoyance. "Having to bear Jecht's weight is hardly a life-threatening activity."

Jecht chose that moment to burp wetly and covered his mouth, and Braska winced. Rikku's steps slowed down; listening to the rest of Auron's argument seemed like a really good idea. Her boots were white, after all; and, if she could help it, they'd stay that way. "Oh, uh, so, you got that covered all by yourself then, Braska?"

"Not really," Braska grunted, hefting Jecht upright.

"Don't help him," Auron snapped, freezing Rikku in surprise as she reached out to lend a hand. Braska met Auron's gaze and the two began a staring contest that was punctuated by Jecht's snores.

"Wait, so do you actually want me to help out or not?" she blurted in exasperation as tension crackled between the two men.

Auron sighed and broke off the staring contest to address her. "I suppose you could say Braska and I are trying to teach each other a lesson." He stopped and watched the two men fumbling towards him.

Rikku let out a loud sigh. "Guys, this is stupid." Then, cautiously – because she really was serious about keeping her boots white – she leveled a sharp kick at Jecht.

"OWW!" the huge man roared, shoving off of Braska and flailing. He spun into a patch of bright sunlight and collapsed in a messy pile of limbs onto the ground. After a few moments of groaning, Jecht raised a meaty palm over his face to block the glare. "Whoa, tell somebody to turn off the lights," he mumbled before dropping his arm over his eyes.

Rikku winced. "Uhh... that didn't work out like I planned." She kneeled by Jecht's side to help him up and regretted it when she caught a whiff of his breath. Braska inhaled that at close range? His respect points just went up about 300 percent! Pinching her nose shut with two fingers, Rikku tried to breathe through her mouth.

"Ewww! Gross! Have you been marinating yourself in alcohol?" She scrambled to her feet. Jecht was hardly in a state to answer her, mumbling something incoherent under his breath; it really wasn't worth making an effort to understand what he was saying. She was too glad that his head was pointing towards the ground while he was saying it. Instead, she looked to Braska for an explanation. "Why do you put up with this?"

Braska studied her with an odd expression. "You sound like Auron." It shifted into a heartfelt, if somewhat reserved smile. "We all struggle with our demons," he told her as he knelt beside her and reached for Jecht.

How does he do that? Rikku wondered as she sucked in her breath and dutifully shouldered some of Jecht's weight. With just a few simple words, Braska made her feel guilty for not putting up with Jecht's 80-proof cabbage-wilting breath. As they grappled with the drunk man, she noticed that Auron was still watching them with disinterest, rather than joining the cause. "Why aren't you helping now?" she asked.

"It's not Auron's duty to help," Braska replied, his expression closing.

Auron stiffened and shook his head. "The best way to help Jecht is to keep moving. He'll walk it out of his system." He turned around and strolled away from them.

The nerve of that guy – !

Rikku raised a hand. At least, she tried to; Jecht stumbled, and both she and Braska grunted as they caught him. "You need to go on a diet," she complained. "Hey, Auron! Little problem with your plan there. How can he walk it out of his system if he can't, you know, walk?"

"Where there's a will, Yevon will provide a way," Auron answered smugly.

"Yevon?" Rikku scowled. "I don't look like Yevon. Hey Braska, do you look like Yevon?" Without waiting for an answer she continued talking, pitching her voice louder. He was making communication difficult by quickening his pace to stay ahead. Not that it was very hard when they were wrestling with a near-comatose Jecht. Maechon could probably outpace them at the rate they were going.

"Wait! Come back! Our girly-muscles can't carry Jecht! This should be your job!" she railed.

"Girly?" Braska mumbled under his breath. "You think I look like a woman, Rikkma?"

Rikku weighed the benefits of screaming out her frustration before deciding it would only cause her to inhale too much of Jecht's tainted air. "Don't jump to conclusions just because you wear your hair longer than mine!"

"You do," Braska concluded in dismay, and Rikku sagged under his disgruntlement. Literally, as the brunt of Jecht's bulk leaned into her side. Jecht's groggy head lolled onto her shoulder, and Rikku received a full frontal blast when he belched directly into her face.

Oh, forget it. I didn't really need a supply of fresh air anyway. "Hey hey hey!" she yelled to Braska as she shoved Jecht back over, her voice shrill. "Focus on Jecht right now!"

"Try not to let him get his hands on anything else to drink while I scout ahead," Auron added, scanning the forest before them. "I can keep the fiends from doing any damage, but I can't stop Jecht from creating his own problems."

"Great, who's the babysitter now?" Rikku scowled.

"I ain't no baby..." Jecht mumbled, drifting in and out of consciousness.

"Jecht is hardly a child," Braska concurred, and Rikku hid her expression. Why does he always have to be so responsible? Jecht smelled like the ass he currently was, and not even Braska's principles could carry him far enough away to ignore it. She opened her mouth to say as much when suddenly Jecht's weight shifted and she found herself supporting far more of it than before. Grunting, she looked up from the sudden onslaught, only to find Braska standing in front of her and rolling his shoulders.

"He only resorts to drinking as a method of escape," Braska told her in the same effable tone. Rikku didn't like the look of his placid smile. Well, theoretically, it wasn't any different than his normal smile, but the fact that he wasn't holding Jecht up anymore was setting off all sorts of alarms. "What he really needs is someone to cheer him up. Someone with a bright and lively personality."

Rikku blinked. He can't be serious. "You can't be – "

"... speaking of you? Why, yes, Rikkma. That is precisely what I was thinking as well. So, please – do your best!" Braska walked away from them as quickly as his robes would allow.

"Hey! HEY! Where do you think you're going?" she called out after him.

"It would be irresponsible to let Auron scout alone."

Dimly, she noted that for wearing a multitude of floor-sweeping robes, Braska could move pretty fast when he wanted to. Jecht chose that moment to let out another burp, and Rikku panicked.

"HEY! Wait just a minute! I'm Auron's fiend-kicking partner, not you! HEY! Don't leave me here with him!"

Braska and Auron were out of sight by the time Rikku managed to close her working jaw. "Oh well... I guess this is my punishment for letting them think I was leaving," she sighed. "Come on, stinky. It's just you and me for now."

.x.x.x.

"We're getting nowhere fast," Rikku mumbled, wiping some sweat from her brow. She leaned back and took a long drink of water from her flask, eyeing the slumbering man from the corner of her eye. Auron and Braska had been true to their word so far; not a single fiend had yet dared disturb them on the forest path. Still, even with the lack of fighting, traveling was anything but easy. Jecht was heavy and more than once, Rikku wondered if she should don a dressphere to ease the journey.

She toyed with her belt and looked down the path. What if Auron comes back?

Jecht let out another loud snore, and Rikku groaned. "If we don't catch up with him soon, he will have to come back." She looked at her sphere grid. "Please, please, please don't hurt, okay?" Then she fingered the dressphere one last time before activating it.

As the familiar light washed over her, she felt her thoughts darkening. This was a terrible idea. She spun, her hand reaching out and grasping the sword that materialized in her palm. Then, with a heavy sigh, she planted it into the ground before her, eying Jecht with muted disgust while shaking the cherry blossom petals out of her hair. "Wake up."

Jecht let out a snore and turned on his side. " 'S too early, Auron. Go 'way."

One eyebrow ticked in annoyance. "Jecht. Do I sound like a man to you?"

Jecht grumbled, pushing his face into the mossy earth. "Sounds 'nuf like Auron t'me."

Rikku's shortened temper snapped. "Clean Slate!" she shouted, flinging a hand towards Jecht. She followed the defiant gesture immediately with another, flinging the remaining contents of her water flask into Jecht's face. "Now stand up and start acting like a man instead of a diseased primate, you moron!"

Jecht managed to collect his scattered senses in record time, the alcoholic stupor burning out of his body from her spell. He spat and threw his now-soaked bangs out of his face, glaring at her. "The hell did you do that for, Blondieeh?" He trailed off, eyes widening as he looked her over from head to foot. Then he rubbed his eyes and looked again. "Uh, did I get thrown into the future with Auron and Rikkma's kid or somethin'?"

"No, you didn't." Rikku folded her arms and settled on a harsh glare. "If you have something to say, think very, very carefully about it first. Or better yet, keep your mouth shut anyway." She tapped the hilt of her sword for emphasis.

Jecht considered her words for a moment and then shrugged, clambering to his feet and avoiding the reach of her weapon. "Whatever. S'not my business who you stalk."

Rikku's mouth tightened into a thin line. Why in Spira had she ever thought Jecht was amusing? Well, he was funny, but not in the ha-ha way. More like funny in the off with your head, weirdo way. She eyed her sword, fingers twitching.

"So why'd you wake me up? Where the hell are we? And where's Braska?" Jecht squinted, taking in the unfamiliar forest surrounding them with a surprising measure of aplomb. Rikku opened her mouth to reply, but Jecht waved, cutting her off. "Naw, don't tell me. I bet he's with Auron doin' that Guardian duty thing, right? You wouldn't be in that getup if the Stiff was around."

Rikku sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. "I woke you because we need to catch up with them." You idiot, she appended. "Being unconscious tends to be a detriment to efficient traveling." She fidgeted, restless. "Besides, we need to find Lord Braska. He's in the middle of an argument with Auron right now – no thanks to you, by the way – and I'd prefer if we were there to protect him in case something happens."

Jecht only shook his head, staring at her. "Damn, ya even cloned the stick up his ass! Don't use that costume too often, alright? It's bad enough with just one of him."

Rikku closed her eyes and began to count down from ten.

"But at least you make the coat look hot. Nice wraps! I mean the ones up there," Jecht added, motioning at her chest. "Those things on yer feet just look kinda retarded. Not that anyone's lookin' down, eh?"

Rikku gave up counting and grabbed her sword. Patience was overrated anyway. So was Blitzball, when push came to shove. "Zantetsu!" she yelled.

Jecht picked at his ear and then inspected his finger. "Never heard Auron say that before," he noted. "Nice and dramatic, though. Right up his alley. Uh, how long are you gonna point that thing at me?"

Somewhere overhead, a fiend cawed.

"Shoot," Rikku muttered, lowering her sword in defeat. "Fine. Let's move," she grunted, shoving her way past Jecht and stomping down the path, eyes fixed on the ground.

"Well, I would, but – "

Rikku spun around, the last bits of her temper fraying. "You're impossible!"

Jecht jogged to catch up with her, pulling his own sword off of his back. "Yeah, but – "

"Oh, so you want to fight me now? Please! You wouldn't stand a chance against this costume! You wouldn't stand a chance even without this costume!"

" 'ey! Take it easy, Blondie! I was just tryin' to tell ya that – "

Frustrated, she whipped her own sword around and pointed it at Jecht. "Will you just for once in your life do something intelligent and shut up?"

Something roared in agreement behind her, and Rikku blanched.

"... yeah, see, there's this big green thing with just about a million tentacles and a skirt standin' in the middle of the road, is all," Jecht finished, dropping into a battle crouch.

"Sweet Yevon, why me?" Rikku groaned to herself as she turned around to face the Ochu.

"Say, is that thing dancing?" Jecht tilted his head as the beast undulated back and forth. "... actually, it ain't half bad." He even began to sway in time with the Ochu, mimicking its motions. "That plant's got some sweet moves! Say, I know a few clubs in Zanarkand that could really use talent like that..."

This seemed to appease the Ochu, which stopped dancing and preened itself with its tentacles. For some reason, the sight was just too surreal. Here she was, a Guardian, trying her best to save Jecht, another Guardian, from Yevon-knew-what in the forest so they could get back to their job, which was to protect Braska. And what was her hapless companion doing? He was flirting with a plant!

"Stop dancing and kill it!" Rikku roared, hefting her sword over her head. She hadn't yet decided which of the two she was going to rush, but her outburst upset whatever atmosphere Jecht had been cultivating with the Ochu through his moonwalk. The Ochu let out another loud-mouthed roar and belched a cloud of yellow pollen from its impressive mouth.

Rikku would have seen red, were it not for the pollen descending over her. Instead, all she saw was stars. It felt like she was wading through molasses, and in the misty haze that refused to clear, she couldn't tell where the Ochu – or Jecht for that matter – was. Something slapped Rikku on her butt, and she whirled around and slammed her sword down on it.

I hope that was Jecht, she thought as she heard an answering roar of pain. Then, ignoring the two blurry figures moving around her – it looked like they were both dancing again – Rikku concentrated on focusing her willpower on herself. "Clean Slate," she mumbled, waving a hand in front of her own face. The yellow fog lifted, and Rikku's senses cleared. She blinked, and watched Jecht rush past her. Then she blinked again as she was bathed in yellow once more – this time in sap, rather than pollen. A few tentacles flopped to the ground next to her, and Rikku looked up in time to see Jecht hacking away at the Ochu with his sword. His style lacked any sort of finesse whatsoever, but he made up for it with determination and speed. She noted with some disappointment that Jecht still seemed to have both of his hands before hefting her sword and rushing in to help him.

A few short but messy chops later, the former Ochu lay in pieces on the floor, and Rikku was kneeling by her sword, panting. Jecht was flat on his back, nearly plastered to the ground by the yellow goop that the Ochu had spewed all over them.

Paine always was better at this dressphere than me, Rikku thought as she surveyed the damage they had caused. Sighing, she deactivated the grid; mixing the remnants of Auron and a real, live Jecht was destined to have disasterrific results. Some of her annoyance faded alongside the Samurai costume, as well as the pressing need to jump up and set off at a run down the path until they found Braska.

"This is so gross," Rikku commented as she shucked an armful of goop off of her head. "Why can't Ochu guts just pyrefly away like normal fiends do?" The answer was simple; wild Ochus weren't really fiends, they were just native and unusually sentient plants. Life really was unfair sometimes.

Frowning and parting her bangs, Rikku looked around to find Jecht. He hadn't moved from his spot on the ground, still staring into the forest's canopy with wide eyes. "Jecht? Hey, are you okay?"

"I took it down," he muttered. Then he sat up, his eyes gleaming and his fists clenched. "I took it down! By myself! Without Auron! Well, okay, with you dressed as him, but that don't count! Did ya see that?" With a whoop, Jecht somersaulted off of the ground and began dancing around the Ochu's remains, even going so far as to pick up a severed tentacle and swing it around his head like a lasso. "Yeah, baby! I'm the best!"

Rikku shook her head, trying to stifle a giggle. He looked ridiculous, covered with Ochu juice and dancing around like a madman, the Ochu's tentacle wrapped around his head like a macabre bandana. It was a little bit weird, a little bit cute, and a little bit stupid... kinda like Tidus when she thought about it. Her sniggers died out, and Rikku watched Jecht performing his victory dance with a wistful smile. I really wish Tidus could've known his dad like this. Then she shook her head. Well, I'll just have to tell him when I get back, then!

"Jecht!" she yelled, causing him to stop mid-spin and slip on a patch of slime, which he landed on with a wet splat. "Ooh, that looked like it hurt."

"It's just the sweet pain of victory," Jecht answered, still happy.

"Well, get over your sweet pain, buster," Rikku replied. "We've still gotta catch up with Braska and Auron. Last one there's a Yevonite!"

"Hah! You'll be eatin' those words, Blondie!" Jecht yelled, springing to his feet. He stopped as Rikku whirled, nearly knocking her over.

"Oh, and Jecht? Could you... umm... y'know, not tell Auron about that... little... uh... thing..."

Smirking, Jecht picked up the end of his Ochu tentacle and smacked her forehead with it. "Are ya kiddin'? That stuff is quality blackmail material. I'm gonna save it for somethin' important!" His mischievous grin was infectious, and Rikku found herself smiling back with real gratitude despite the threat.

"Thanks, Jecht. You're a good guy, under all that... stuff," she added, wrinkling her nose. "Oh, and see you!" With a cheeky wave, Rikku spun around and took off down the path at a run, laughing.

"Cheater!" Jecht yelled after her. He didn't follow, however, as she disappeared around a bend in the road. Instead, he looked back at the mangled remains of the Ochu. "By myself, huh," he repeated with a note of pride, fingering his sword. "Maybe I can do this after all."

Then he picked up the dripping end of the tentacle, still wrapped around his forehead, and inhaled. A deep grin crossed his face, for he'd figured out something that not even Rikkma knew.

Ochu juice was fermented.

Abilities used:

Clean Slate [Samurai] = "Restore HP and cure user of status ailments."
Zantetsu [Samurai] = "Instantly defeat one enemy. Sometimes fails."

edited 8/16