Where I Belong [log]
Who: Rikku [upbeatprincess], Roxas [oathtooblivion], npc!Brother, two random guards, and npc!Gippal.
Where: Rikku's house, then the city, then a train, then a small village called 'Home'.
When: Thursday 2nd August.
Summary: Rikku and Roxas have planned a day out. Unfortunately, the 'planning' part seems to have failed, so Rikku makes a momentary decision - to take Roxas to visit Home, which Roxas shows interest too. A few deep conversations follow.
Notes: Thank goodness for Al Bhed translators. There's quite a bit of it in here, but it's all translated. Read, because it's cute, and Roxas has a weak spot for Rikku. XD;
Roxas stared up at the door in front of him. The warm mid-morning sun promised today was going to be a good day and shone down, reflecting off the number plate on the door he finally recognised as Rikku's. He hadn't visited her in so long, he'd almost forgotten what her house looked like, but he knew this number was definitely hers. Perhaps he should visit more often, he mused; but with Axel looking like he wanted to burn something every time Roxas as much as mentioned her name, it wasn't all that easy. He had to settle for just seeing her at school.
But now, for better or for worse, Axel was gone, along with his over-possessiveness and jealousy. Something Roxas intended to take full advantage of, even if he wasn't entirely sure what Rikku had planned for their outing today - if anything at all. Frowning slightly in thought, he stepped fowards and rang the doorbell.
As if to conflict the cheerful mood growing on the outside of the house, the door opened slightly with an eerie air, creaking a little, till it was pulled right open, to reveal... not Rikku. A rather tall, dangerous looking man stood there, his eyes piercing down at Roxas, as if to question his identity - and from his rather firm reaction, it seemed he knew who he was.
"What you want?" Brother said slowly, stringing his words together with slight difficulty. Despite living in the main city, he still struggled with English.
"Um..." was the awkward response, Roxas trying his best not to look alarmed at the man's rather intimidating appearance. Blinking and attempting to keep his tone polite, he replied after a slight pause, "Rikku. Is she here?"
"Rikku," Brother repeated, still staring down at Roxas. "You are Roxas," he said rather bluntly - it seemed Rikku had either mentioned the plans to him, or he was just taking a wild guess.
"Yeah," Roxas replied, relieved he knew him and extending a hand for him to shake. "Nice to meet you...?" He trailed off, hoping he would supply a name. Judging by what little Rikku had told Roxas previously, this was probably her brother, but it was best to make sure before he made assumptions.
Brother however, meerly looked down at the hand offered with slight scorn and neither took it or supplied his name. "You make Rikku cry. I no shake with you.."
He was soon cut off by a rather loud voice behind him. "Cdub ed (Stop it), Brother!" A paticularly girly voice. One that could only belong to...
"--Rikku?" Roxas withdrew his hand with a troubled frown, otherwise giving no response to Brother and craning his neck slightly in an attempt to see her. Rikku picked the best timing... not that he didn't deserve such coldness, but he'd half-hoped Rikku's family would have followed her example and move on from the incident.
Running at top speed down the stairs, Rikku nearly crashed into Brother, who, even when she tried to push past him, still blocked her path, before she ducked out of his reach, and managed to get around the side he wasn't guarding, to be standing on the other side of the door, between Brother and Roxas. She looked semi-flustered, waving once to Roxas before turning on Brother. "Aye aye.. oui'na cilr y byeh (You're such a pain), Brother," she said, folding her arms.
Seeming more in safer territory with speaking his own language, Brother responded with the same tone. "Oui cruimth'd caa res, oui'mm zicd lno ykyeh (You shouldn't see him, you'll just cry again)!"
She raised an eyebrow in response, giving him a cool, slightly devious glare. "You think? I'm over it," she said slowly, before adding, "Huf zicd ku yfyo yht tu cusadrehk icavim (Now just go away and do something useful)! "
With that he stalked away back inside, leaving Rikku frowning, with a rather apologetic look on her face. "Sorry, Roxas.. he's just a bit..."
Roxas jerked his head up from where he had been staring guiltily at the floor; apparently he hadn't listened to that short conversation regardless of whether or not he could understand any of it. "It's okay..." he responded quietly, "Guess anyone would be like that in his position."
Briefly glancing over at the figure of Brother still skulking in the shadows, her face looked troubled. "Why? What did he say to you?" It was evident she hadn't heard their conversation at the door - and it seemed common principle for her to yell at Brother whenever he answered the door to begin with.
Roxas blinked in surprise at her, but collected himself quickly. "Oh, um, doesn't matter. Are you ready to go?"
Unconvinced, a slight frown appeared on her face as she nodded. "Yeah... one second," she darted back inside, seemed to have another momentary banter with Brother, and came bounding back again with a bag - which, up until just then, seemed to have been hold hostage by Brother. "He's determined I shouldn't go out," she half laughed. "So childish.. you're ready to, right? Shall we set ff?"
Roxas' face fell further when she returned - Brother really didn't like him, it seemed. He swallowed and turned before Rikku could see his reaction, however, hoping she'd merely interpret that as eagerness to leave. Which wasn't entirely a lie - the sooner they got away from Brother, the better. "Yeah. Where are we heading?"
"Well, I was thinking the city centre, and then..." She waved her hands in the air as if to exaggerate a point, but failing, chose to close the door on Brother instead. ".. just go from there." In truth, she hadn't really thought the entire thing through. Still, the centre was a good starting point.
He nodded in response in such a way that suggested he was only half listening, still avoiding her gaze. "Okay, sounds good... You lead."
Nodding enthusiastically, Rikku bounded onto the road, looking both ways down the road in curiousity. They weren't too far from the square, so it wouldn't take long. Thinking a little, the frown returned, stringing two and two together. "Brother did say something, didn't he."
"If he said anything out to make you sound the bad guy..." Rikku paused in her steps, hesitating slightly as she turned around to face Roxas, looking straight across at him. "Ignore it. He's like that to.. everyone."
Roxas rubbed the back of his head sheepishly and also paused; she'd seen straight through him. "...Alright," he replied uncertainly, but continued, "He - he seemed mad at me for before. For upseting you."
The smile that had momentarily appeared flickered out of existance, before she gulped slightly and forced it back there. "Ah. I'm not that surprised.. I was kinda edgy. He probably took you to be a worse guy than you really are 'cos I didn't tell him anything about you. Like some... horrible monster," she mused, nodding to herself.
"But you don't think that about me, right?" Roxas asked, starting into a walk again and still frowning. He knew full well she didn't, but at the moment he felt he needed assurance on the matter. "I didn't want to hurt you."
Turning and bounding forward a few steps till she was alongside him, Rikku continued, "Of course not," she said slowly, uncertain whether he wanted reassurance or he really did think she thought that. "I know why. I know.. I know it was for the best. Besides, we're friends now.." she looked a little worried. "Aren't we?"
"Yeah," Roxas replied immediately, giving the smallest hint of a smile back at her. "Yeah, we are..." He trailed off, pensive for a moment. "I can't explain my reasons to your brother, but maybe I should try and talk to him again sometime. Show him I'm not all bad..."
"Tell me how you get on with that," Rikku said, almost laughing, before her voice lowered to a whisper. "He's like that with anyone I make friends with. If you get through to him at all, you deserve a-" she looked thoughtful, a finger under her lips as she looked up to the sky. "- medal!"
Roxas looked slightly offended, as he had been trying to be serious about it. Choosing just to ignore her, he continued, "I just don't want him thinking bad things about me when they're not true. Or worrying about the kind of people you hang about with."
"If you ask me, I think he's just got a sister complex," Rikku shrugged. "All that matters is that I know you're not a bad person. That way I can defend you when he starts, right?"
Roxas raised his eyes to the sky, seeing no reason to argue any further. "I guess so." Still, Rikku must've been really upset for him to react like that... With little explanation, he blurted suddenly, "--I'm sorry."
Completely caught off guard with that, Rikku only looked surprised, only magaing a small "hmm?", failing to see what he was apologizing for.
"Just had to say it," Roxas shook his head, smiling at her reaction and apparently unwilling to explain further. They were approaching the square, and Roxas hadn't as much as noticed where they were supposed to be going in the first place. "...Where are we going from here?"
Brought back to the present as Roxas asked her the question, Rikku looked positively flustered. "Well er- see, here's the thing, I didn't actually know where to go," she said, trying to laugh off her embarssment. "Can you think of anywhere?"
Roxas shrugged, at a loss. "You were the one leading the way, so I figured you had something planned," he paused thoughtfully. He didn't have anywhere in particular in mind, either. The mall was nearby, but having visited with Axel not long ago, he didn't really feel like going again - nor would he have the money to buy anything anyway.
"...Nope, can't think of anything," he said eventually, now slightly amused. "Good plan, huh?"
"Y-yeah," Rikku replied, giggling slightly in embarassment. She glanced around at the various shoppers, squinting slightly to see if anything they were holding were give her a hint, and straining her ears to see if anything they said would help out, either. Alas, it was all for naught. ".. there's.. the park. There's the café's down there..." she pointed off down one of the side streets. "Or there's always..."
The mysterious way in which she trailed off instantly had Roxas' attention, and he stopped following her gestures with his gaze to look back at her curiously. "Always what?"
Rikku continued to look thoughtful, her gaze casting over the pathway straight in front of her. "We could just get on it and go. And see where we end up..." she paused, before adding, ".. the train, that is."
"That's crazy!" Roxas said instantly, giving a look as though not entirely sure if she was being serious or not. "We could get lost... or something."
"Yeah. We could." Rikku's voice seemed kind of.. sad, as she replied to Roxas. In truth, she liked doing stuff like that - going wherever her feet led her. "But we could find something, too. I've done plenty of things like that." Just not going out on the train.
Resisting temptation to roll his eyes - he wasn't at all surprised at her answer - he said patiently, "And if we did get lost? Or worse, seperated? What then?"
Rikku looked at Roxas, and for the first time that day, seemed as serious as serious could be. "Then I'd come find you again."
Roxas merely frowned at her seriousness; she really had lost all sense of reason. Sure, being adventurous could be fun, but being stupid and reckless? Decidedly not fun. "I still have the scar to show for it the last time I got lost in the city, Rikku. It's dangerous. Anything could happen."
From the way Rikku's face fell, it was if she would protest again, but her answer contradicted it. "I know. Recklessness is futile..." she hesitated, again, before her eyes seemed to brighten. "There is.. one place we could go to by train." Someplace she hadn't been for at least a year.
"Yeah?" Roxas said, hoping she wasn't lying for an excuse to aimlessly wander like she wanted to. "Where?"
She hesitated once again, wondering if she'd get another rejection to the idea. She sighed slightly, before saying softly, "... well... there's always Home."
Roxas wanted to say, 'but wasn't that destroyed?', but closed his mouth before he could at risk of sounding insensitive. Instead, he settled for looking puzzled and replied, "We can get a train there?"
"I think so. Last time I checked, the train stopped nearby.. but then there has to be a fifteen minute walk or something afterwards. You know, because of why the first raid and everything," Rikku said thoughtfully, bringing up the topic that Roxas was avoiding. "Don't want it to happen again!"
"Yeah," Roxas nodded in understanding. "Fifteen minutes isn't that far, we'll manage." And it was bound to be interesting, as Roxas had always been curious about her Al Bhed origins... As for Rikku herself, she probably wanted to visit her home, so Roxas was willing to tag along at least for that much.
"Awesome! Well, we best get going to the train station then, don't want to spend half the day waiting around for one..." she nodded. "I'll lead," she added, bouncing off in the direction of the station with a newfound optimism in her step. She was going to see it. She was going Home. And she wasn't going alone, either. Roxas was going with her...
Smiling at Rikku, who looked for all the world like an excited little child, he followed after at a somewhat quicker pace than before to keep up. "When was the last time you visited Home?"
"The last time? Well.. quite a while ago," Rikku said slowly. "When I first came here, I went back a few times over those few months. I haven't been back in a year or something..."
Roxas nodded as he took that in. That would explain how excited she was, since she probably missed it a lot... he wasn't all that surprised. "Do you know anyone there? You could visit them, too, while we're there."
Once again, Rikku placed a finger under her lip, indicating she was in thought. "Huh-mm. Well.. there's the rest of the tribe, and then Buddy's probably there, and Gippal.." she mused, her face gradually screwing up as she walked along.
"Yeah?" Roxas replied, privately hoping they'd at least be a little more friendly towards him than Brother had been. Then again, he didn't see why they wouldn't be, unless news travelled that far. "Sounds like you'll be pretty busy, in that case."
"Maybe, maybe not. They haven't seen me in a while, at any rate, so they might wonder who I am," she laughed slightly, before frowning. "Gippal might, though.." she was cut off as the train station came into view, its grandeur casting an aura onto the streets around it, worksman, children, and just the general public wandering in and out. Surprisingly, it wasn't too crowded. Rikku looked around in front of it for a moment, before beckoning Roxas to follow her inside. "I think I know which train it is. I'm pretty sure."
***
Some time later - Roxas had lost track of how much time had elapsed - they'd boarded the train and left the city behind. It had been a little daunting at first, since Roxas hadn't ever left the city before, but now he was a little bored of staring at unfamiliar scenery flashing by their window and found himself having to resist the urge to fidget. He was, generally, a patient person, but he was bored. Turning to Rikku and speaking for the first time in a while, he asked, "How far 'til we're there now?"
Rikku didn't notice Roxas talking to her at first, as, like a small child would, she had clambered up onto the seat on her knees, her hands pressed against the cold glass of the window pane, her face almost touching it. She was intruiged at how things had changed, and the excitement was growing. After a few seconds, she registered Roxas' voice, pulling herself backwards before saying, ".. about ten more minutes. I think. But it's sooo awesome.." she said in awe, returning to staring out into the scenery and listening to the tinkering noise of the train beneath them.
Roxas probably would have shared her interest, but even if he hadn't been outside of the city before, he'd visited other worlds. Most of which were far more beautiful or interesting than New Sanctum, he reflected; even headquarters, which was similar enough. However, he smiled for her sake and replied, "Yeah, guess it is. It's not every day you get to leave the city."
"It's not everyday you have the money for it, either. It's quite a way.." she said, tapping her fingers against the pane as another few scattered buildings sailed in and out of view. "Say, Roxas. You don't know any Al Bhed at all, do you?"
"...Um, no," Roxas admitted with some embarassment. He hadn't even thought of that at all... but of course, they'd probably all prefer to speak their native language. Come to think of it, he didn't know anything at all about their culture, and it suddenly made him rather nervous. "I hadn't even heard of it before I met you, y'know."
"Well, that might be a problem.." she looked over at him, her face looking cautious. "I'm one of the few who's fluent in English. You've heard Brother - can't string a sentence together. Buddy's okay, Gippal's okay, but everyone else.. can't speak it.." she slowed, before her eyes widened. "Maybe I could.. if you wanted to.."
"Could what?" Roxas replied, although he had a feeling what was coming. Thoughtfully, he continued, "You could just translate stuff for me, if anyone wanted to talk to me..."
"True, but if you knew a bit... they might appreciate it and decide you're not an enemy," Rikku replied. "Of course that would mean I was an enemy too, but as Cid's daughter, they gotta be kidding," she laughed, before leaning over so she was right next to Roxas' face - probably a little too close for comfort, but still being totally influxed with excitement for going home, she didn't notice. "So. Wanna learn some?"
"O-okay, may as well give it a shot," Roxas blinked, shifting away from her so she wasn't invading his personal bubble quite so much as he spoke. "But if they don't like outsiders, maybe me coming was a bad idea... Even if I'm with you, would they even let me inside?"
For a moment, Rikku's face looked drastically unsure - but it seemed only a mirage, as she was soon nodding. "Yes. I'll make sure they will. You're not a bad guy, Roxas..." she drifted off, glancing back outside the window to check where they were.
Your brother treated me a lot like I was, Roxas thought darkly, but didn't voice it aloud. To distract himself from his thoughts, he asked, "So, um, besides the language, is there anything I need to know before we get there?"
Rikku looked up at the ceiling, running it over in her mind. "Well, you might have a bit of a culture shock. It's kinda different. Mostly tents, then there's the language, then there's the fact we have machina - you know, like my workshop, but on a way bigger scale. Oh, and Gippal.." she frowned. ".. will be a pest, and will probably tag around all day unless I shake him off. Just.. watch out for him."
Culture shock indeed - all of this wasn't doing much for Roxas' confidence, and he almost seemed to shrink in his seat. Even Rikku didn't seem too sure of herself, and she was supposed to be the one who knew what to do. Her last statement caught his interest, however, since she'd mentioned Gippal repeatedly as if he had some kind of importance. "And who is... Gippal, exactly?"
"My.. friend," she said with some reluctance, crossing her legs and sitting down normally. Even though they hadn't seen each other in years, it still felt that way to her, as if she had only waved him off yesterday. "He's insistant on getting closer to me. When I learnt English, so did he, when I did something, so did he.. he's kinda annoying, sometimes."
Roxas raised his eyebrows, replying with a short, "Oh," He paused, until he was struck by a thought. "...He sounds kinda like Axel."
"He's nothing like Axel," Rikku replied, flicking her hair in annoyance and slunking further back into her seat. "Gippal just is... is... urgh!" she banged her hands against the seat as if trying to find a way to express it, only succeeding in scaring a few people sitting nearby. The momentary anger seemed to disappear as quickly as it came, when she said thoughtfully, ".. he's not still being a pest about the drunk thing, is he?"
Roxas almost looked bemused at her temper, since that pretty much summarized his thoughts on Axel himself. However, the amusement vanished instantly at her question. "No, he's not," was the sharp retort, looking away from her as if to end that particular conversation. It was his fault for this, really; he'd been the one to mention Axel in the first place, when he'd been trying to avoid it.
Silence seemed to fall, as Rikku held out a hand in his direction but faltered, leaving it hanging in mid air, as the sound of the rails echoed throughout the carriage. "--Roxas?" she said eventually, touching him lightly. "You okay?"
It was stupid, really. Roxas was being touchy over Axel, of all people. Did he really miss him? Maybe a little, and maybe he was sort of worried, too. But Rikku didn't need to know that - nor did she need to know he was even gone. Training his gaze up at the roof of the train, he replied, "Yeah. Why?"
Rikku tilted her head to one side, eying him suspiciously. He'd been fine minutes before, and as soon as Axel had come up... "You just looked--" she shook her head, but was cut off as the train ground its way to a halt, the sound reverberating off the walls around them. "Oh!" she exclaimed, surprised. "This is it! Roxas! We gotta run!" she said, her hands waving in mid air as she jumped to her feet.
Breathing a silent sigh of relief at the distraction, Roxas also got to his feet, joining the crowds of people leaving the train. Hopefully she'd be too exciteable now to mention it again, which was for the best. Once he was finally off the train and onto the platform, he turned to wait for Rikku. "Which way are we going now?"
"Ummmm..." Rikku looked around, backing away from the train slightly, swinging her arms as she spun round, watching the flocks of people move away in one direction. "This way," she pointed, in the direction of a slight mud-track, leading off to a forest, by the look of it. "So. Al Bhed lessons, hmm?"
Roxas nodded, starting in the direction of the path. "Yeah. Just... Teach me some words and phrases I'll need to know. I'll try to remember what I can." They were going through an awful lot of trouble just to get there, he thought vaguely as they left the station. The Al Bhed seemed to like being isolated and avoiding the outside world where possible... Which made Roxas feel all the more unwelcome. For Rikku's sake, he'd just have to grit his teeth and bear with it.
Walking with her arms outstretched as if on an invisible typerope, Rikku remained silent for a few seconds, thinking through the worlds in her head. "Hmmm... rammu is a good start."
"Rammu," Roxas repeated with emphasis, to help himself remember the sound, watching her with some amusement. "What does that mean?"
"Hello," she said brightly, tottering over slightly before righting herself again. "Now say... So hysa ec Roxas."
Roxas did so, although he stuttered on the pronounciation slightly. The language was more than a little odd to say. "I feel stupid," he said, laughing slightly despite himself. "I'll screw this up and end up accidently saying something that offends them..."
"Oui fuh'd cyo cusadrehk dryd uvvahtc dras, cemmo (You won't say something that offends them, silly)," Rikku said casually, slipping back into Al Bhed despite herself, still walking the invisible rope beneath her feet. "And if you do, just say.. that you're sorry. Cunno."
"Cunno," Roxas repeated again, having a cynical feeling he'd end up saying that one a lot. "...And talk English, I'm already stumped without you confusing me more."
"Did I slip?" Rikku asked, but it was more to herself than to Roxas, as she merely shrugged in response to herself. "I'll just make sure that things are simple for ya. Or something."
"You don't even notice you're speaking different languages?" Roxas said incredulously, but shook his head without waiting for a response. "So... Is there anything else I'll need to know how to say?"
Rikku wondered - she usually did notice, but not all the time. The times she didn't notice was when she was over excited, which, was like, right about now. "Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't, it just really depends on what I'm doing," she mused. "Well.. dryhg oui, thats thank you, kuutpoa, goodbye, erm, e's rikkus vneaht.." she said hastily, getting overly carried away - which was evident, when she leaned a little too far to one side, causing her to go crashing straight into Roxas.
Roxas was almost knocked off-balance himself, but he managed to regain it again enough to catch her by the waist and pull her back upright. "--Be careful, klutz," he said in some annoyance - then realised he was still holding her and quickly let go. Fighting the urge to blush, he continued, "Walk normally, okay? You're gonna break something at this rate."
Rikku seemed rather surprised at the fact she'd fallen, but unlike Roxas, the blush came out full force. "E-eh.." she said, laughing nervously. "Cunno, huh?" she added, her laugh being even more nervous, as she sidestepped away from him and carried on walking. "W-we're almost at the woods, now. Won't be too far.." she said, helplessly looking for a topic to distract herself with.
Folding his arms as if to try and keep his hands to himself, Roxas looked away as though he'd just done something extremely indecent and replied with similar awkwardness. "...Home's on the other side of the forest, or something?"
"In it," Rikku replied, seeming to gain confidence evern though her face was still clearly flushed. "At least, it looks that way, I never could tell..." she said, her pace slowing as she reached the edge of the forest, before looking around to see if anyone was following, and starting to stroll inside. "If anyone starts shouting, it's probably Al Bhed, so just.. stay quiet and I'll deal with it."
Roxas nodded and followed her reluctantly - she did nothing to bolster his confidence with this as usual, and now he felt like he was going to be jumped by hordes of people hiding behind the trees. Which seemed more realistic and less ridiculous than it sounded, given the way Rikku was behaving. To distract himself, he went through what words he could remember in his head.
His tone noticeably quieter than it had been before they entered the forest, Roxas said, "Maybe one day, you could teach me more Al Bhed, and we could visit again if I become fluent at it?"
"Hmm?" she looked over her shoulder at him - trying to decide whether he was being serious or not, but she already knew he was being serious. Roxas was like that. "If you wanted to..." she started, before trailing of, as she spotted the pathway through the trees, and in the distance, a few tents could be made out...
"It's Home..." she said under her breath, the air of excitement coming back again, her hands mimicking the way she felt inside - utter chaos.
Roxas, on the other hand, felt a mixture of nervousness and apprehension, which was quickly concealed behind a small smile. "I'm guessing we can't just stroll in, though?"
"We could. But there's probably guards or something at the entrance. They'll probably check if I'm lying or not... but I have solid evidence I'm an Al Bhed," she said proudly, nodding away to herself.
"I'll... uh, just let you do the talking, then," Roxas said, eyeing the tents as they came into closer view. "I'm sure they'll figure out I'm not one of them right away."
"It's not talking," Rikku said absently. "It's my.. eyes," she said, looking over at him. "We all have eyes like this.."
"Oh, yeah," Roxas looked closely at her eyes, although there was no need - he already knew the distinctive odd pupils well. Strange as they were, half the time he was too used to them to take much notice. "In that case, they'd still see that my eyes aren't like yours... There's not much point, but should I try to hide them or something?"
Rikku's face screwed up slightly in thought, and then a slightly mischevious grin appeared on his face, before she tapped the goggles around her neck, and quite elegantly lifted them off. "There's always these."
"As long as nobody asks me to take them off, I guess they wouldn't notice," Roxas replied, nodding. It wouldn't be too obvious he wasn't one of them at a glance, that way, and he wouldn't attract unwanted attention.
"Not at all!" Rikku said enthusiastically, thrusting the goggles forwards towards him. "Here."
Roxas took them, pulling them over his head and over his eyes with some reluctance. They hid his eyes well, if not almost entirely, but he still felt more than a little ridiculous. "I bet I look really stupid, don't I?" he asked, eyeing Rikku as if to expect her to burst out laughing.
As would a cat waiting to be fed whilst watching the food, Rikku watched with something close to eagerness as Roxas pulled the goggles down over his eyes. A wide smile broke out, and she giggled slightly. "No, you look fine," she smiled, placing a finger over her bottom lip. For her, she was so used to seeing his blue eyes it was little strange, but overall, they did suit him, and he looked partially cute, too. "Shall we get going, then?"
Although he looked unconvinced, Roxas didn't have much of a choice on the matter as to whether or not he could wear them, so he nodded. "If you say so... Let's go."
Nodding, Rikku tugged lightly on Roxas' arm for him to follow alongside her on the main path. It wasn't too far of a walk, but it felt forboding - as if there was a great meaning for them to get there, but then again, it wouldn't be so bad if they never actually got there. Pushing the thought aside, Rikku kept her stride firm, coming up to the front of the camp, which was surrounded by several high walls - and the two guards that had been chatting stood up, and walked over in their direction.
The first to approach looked down on them both. "Muug. Uidcetanc (Look. Outsiders)," he said to his companion, who merely nodded, keeping a tight hold of the weapon he had in his hands. The first guard looked blankly at Rikku, then to Roxas. "Fru yna oui? Fryd'c ouin binbuca? (Who are you? What's your purpose?)"
Logically, Roxas could figure out what they were asking even if he couldn't understand their speech - since they were obviously guards - but he had no idea to respond, so he nudged Rikku as if to prompt her to do the talking. Home didn't seem to be tolerant to outsiders, and if he messed up and gave himself away, he'd probably be on the recieving ends of the guard's weapon.
Even with Roxas nudging her, Rikku didn't need the prompt. "Dryd'c Roxas, yht E's Rikku (That's Roxas, and I'm Rikku)," Rikku said hurridly. "E's jecedehk pylg (I'm visiting back)."
The guard continued to glare down at her, somewhat disbelieving. "Fru yna oui (Who are you)?" he repeated.
"E's dra tyikrdan uv Cid, cdibet! (I'm the daugher of Cid, stupid!)" Rikku retorted, clearly not amused at the prolonged questioning.
The second guard laughed. "Fa tuh'd ryja y Cid. Ku pylg du frana oui lysa vnus (We don't have a Cid. Go back to were you came from)." But none the less, the pair huddled together to talk, which gave Rikku the opportunity to confer with Roxas.
"Idiots," she muttered to him.
Roxas looked uneasily away from the guards and at Rikku, replying quietly, "Will they let us in? What did you say?"
Placing a hand under her chin, Rikku frowned. "They don't believe me. Or if they do, they don't recognise me and think I'm impersonating."
"You're still an Al Bhed," Roxas pointed out, glancing back at the guards again, who were still having a hurried conversation. "They should let you in for that, at least."
"Yeah, I know, but..." whatever they say goes, she thought sadly. It seemed that their chances of getting in where getting thin. And she really wanted to see everyone again... all the people she really knew, not like these two guards..
Though, it appeared as if all hope wasn't quite lost. As if by sheer luck, a certain Al Bhed was running in the direction of the entrance, having seen Rikku's distinct figure and loud voice and recognised it. Which didn't quite go unnoticed to Rikku, either, as she heard her name called.
"Oh. God," she winced, making to hide behind Roxas.
Slightly alarmed, Roxas glanced behind him at Rikku quizzically, and back at the approaching Al Bhed, who was still heading directly towards them. "Uh... whoever that is, there's no point hiding, Rikku. He's seen you already."
Still attempting to disappear behind Roxas, she mumbled, "I know that. But I'm so so so not ready for this..."
Apparently unconcerned about making an effort of hiding her, Roxas turned around to face Rikku. "Who is he? That guy you mentioned earlier?"
"Gippal. And he's coming this way. And he's getting closer.." it appeared, that due to either nerves, that she had forgotten than had already been established. It also appeared, that Rikku wasn't going to say anymore, as she hid her face with her hands.
By this time, Gippal had reached the guards, and was now conferring with them in Al Bhed at an astonishing speed, before they nodded, and reluctantly turned away back to their posts. Smug, Gippal walked over. "That's a tight one you got yourself in," he commented, still watching the guards. "I wonder why they - hmm? Who're you?" he asked, pointing at Roxas.
Surprised at being addressed - in English, no less - Roxas turned around again to regard Gippal warily. "...I'm Roxas. Rikku's friend," he looked back at Rikku, who was still cowering behind him. Even if she was intent on avoiding Gippal, Roxas was finding the situation too humorous and stepped out of the way to reveal her.
Not expecting Roxas to move, Rikku made a wide array of noises relating to 'don't do it!' and trying to cover her face with her hands once again, before seeing it was a worthless cause, and just feeling more embrassed from it. "Hi-i, Gippal," she said, prolonging the 'hi'. "Long time no see?"
Gippal nodded at Roxas' response, before looking down at Rikku with some humor. "Long time? Two years or something, girl. Almost thought you'd forgotten about us - that aside," he pressed on before Rikku could retaliate, "what brings you back?"
"No reason. Just fancied coming Home. And I brought Roxas with me," Rikku replied, her face still flushed.
Roxas tried to suppress a grin at Rikku's behaviour, failing rather spectacularly. Suddenly struck by an idea, Roxas directed at Gippal, "...They're not letting us in, though. Probably because they don't recognise Rikku." If he took the hint, he'd be able to persuade the guards to let the two of them in, or just Rikku at the very least.
"Smart guy," Gippal replied, though he seemed smug.
Rikku blinked. "You've already told them, haven't you? When you came over? That you recognise me?" her voice was slightly stern.
"Yeah," Gippal shrugged. Turning back to Roxas, he continued, "They'll be no more trouble getting in and about. So you don't really need those anymore," he pointed to the goggles. "It's rather obvious you're not Al Bhed."
Roxas looked as though he was trying to decide if that was meant as an insult to him or not. It was a blow to his acting skills, at least. "Thanks," he replied grudgingly, removing his goggles again and tossing them back to Rikku for her to catch. "They're letting me in because I know Rikku, then?"
"I'd say most likely," Gippal shrugged. "A friend of Rikku's should be allowed in, at any rate. She wouldn't bring just anyone here. She's not stupid."
"I'm right here!" Rikku bellowed over at him, replacing the goggles around her neck, causing a few birds to stir in the trees nearby. "He never changes.." she said to Roxas, sighing.
"It was a compliment," Roxas replied, still seeming faintly amused. From first impressions, Gippal didn't seem nearly as annoying as Rikku made him out to be, either - Axel still upheld the title for Most Annoying Person. "So are we going in, before the guards decide to change their minds?"
"Yeah yeah, sure.." Rikku said hastily, before glaring over in Gippal's direction. Despite the fact she was already trying to dismiss him, it appeared he was going to cling on for all it was worth. "Are you following?"
"Obviously. That is, if Roxas doesn't mind," Gippal looked between the pair of them. It appeared Rikku's opinion would hold no decision if he would stay or go.
Roxas hesistated, torn between whether to honour Rikku's wishes or allowing him to come with them out of politeness. And, after all, he hadn't seen Rikku in two years, so it was kind of mean just to brush him off... He'd feel guilty, either way, but Roxas replied, "Um, not at all. I don't mind."
Rikku head dropped as she sighed, looking momentarily crestfallen. "If you must," she said eventually to Gippal. "But there is something I want to do, and I don't want you around when I get to it!" she said sternly, before turning back to Roxas, all smiles. "You ready to go in?"
"Yeah," Roxas nodded, although he looked slightly curious as to what that something was that Rikku wanted to do. There would be no point asking, however - not with Gippal listening in, so he didn't bother. "So... where are we going first?"
"Just.. in!" Rikku said brightly, taking the liberty to nudge Roxas further in the direction of the camp before parading off herself inside, leaving Roxas to his own devices till he caught up with her and Gippal.
Roxas took a last look at the guards, who didn't as much as bat an eyelid in his direction and ignored him. They really were going to let him by, and Roxas didn't intend to hang around and so hurried to catch up to Rikku and Gippal. He glanced between the two of the curiously, lagging behind slightly, and asking, "How do you two know one another, anyway? Old friends?"
"Old friends," Rikku said lightly, waving her hand in mid air before Gippal could as much as get a word in.
"We grew up together. Same generation and all that," Gippal said casually. "How do you two know each other?"
"We met a while ago," Roxas said, and much to his surprise he could recall it with great clarity. Despite that, however, he was unwilling to go into much detail to a stranger of all people. "And then it turned out she was in my class, and we became friends."
For a moment it looked as though Gippal was going to question Rikku about something, before he was sharply cut off again by Rikku. Whatever the question was going to be, she probably had guessed what it was, and wanted to change topic. "So, Gippal. Buddy's here, right? And everyone else?" she looked to Roxas. "We'll have a look round and visit some people, if you like?"
"Sure. It's up to you," Roxas shrugged nonchalantly. "Whatever you wanna do here, I'll tag along." After all, he was here for her sake; this was more her day out than his.
***
Even though time seemed at a standstill throughout the woods, the sky told a different story. Its colour had long since diminished to an amber-orange, and was now fading all the more rapidly to blue. Gippal had long since been distracted and left the pair to their own devices. However. The day was drawing to a close, and despite Rikku half wanting to spend the night there - it really wouldn't be fair on Roxas, so a mad dash for the last train was in order.
That was, till she remembered something important. "Ah! Roxas, wait! I gotta do something first!" she said, suddenly bounding to a halt as they neared the entrance once again.
She stopped so abruptly Roxas almost ran straight into her, but managed to stop himself in time, frowning. "Is it important? We'll miss the train if we hang around any longer..."
Rikku turned around to face him, and without thinking, took hold of both of his hands. "It is, it is, it really is.." she said hurridly, her face sincere. "I can't believe I forgot, it's really important..."
"Alright, alright, we'll go," Roxas nodded, convinced this would be important enough, and too distracted to pull his hands away or even look embarassed as he usually might. "...But if we miss the last train, how will we get home?"
"I don't know," Rikku shook her head fiercely. "We'd have to walk back on the tracks, or stay here, or, something..." she trailed off, before adding, "You can yell at me if you want to. I mean, it'd be my fault if we did, so you could yell at me..."
Ignoring the last part, Roxas said, "It'd be crazy to walk back all that way, and I guess taxis don't come out this far from the city. If this really is important, I don't mind staying overnight."
A smile twitched on Rikku's lips at that. "Alright... but, if we do it quickly, it should be okay.. I know where to find her.." she swayed slightly as a light wind whipped up.
"Let's hurry, then," Roxas said, taking his hands away from hers again and gesturing for her to lead the way. "Who else did you want to see?"
Rikku looked down off a sideways path, a slight way off from the main village, a weak smile appearing on her face. "Mom."
"Oh, right," Roxas said solemnly, deciding not to say anything else on the matter unless she wanted to talk about it. "There's no need to rush, in that case."
She smiled again. "It's okay." After a few seconds of loitering in the wind, she took a step forward, and another, turning round briefly to check he was following. "It's a little way down here..."
Roxas followed, looking around him at the unfamiliar scenery. "Do Al Bhed have graveyards, or something different?" As usual with most of their time at Home, Roxas had bombarded Rikku with questions - out of sheer curiosity to learn more about the Al Bhed. He wouldn't be surprised if she was a little sick of it, by now.
However, it didn't seem to bother Rikku much at all. It was rare for someone to be generally curious. "It's kinda like a memorial, really.. there's another one, but that's further out, this is for that rampage-ah!" Rikku cut off as she ran forward a little, before squatting down on the ground beside a small headstone of sorts, looking more and more like a lost, little girl. It was clear she'd done this many times in her life before. "Hey, mom."
Roxas hung back to watch in respectful silence, deciding Rikku would rather just be left alone. He was also afraid, as usual when the subject of her mother came up, that if he spoke he would say something stupid or insensitive, because he couldn't even begin to imagine how devastating it must be to lose a loved one.
The silence was only disturbed with Rikku speaking under her breath to the tombstone, intent. It was the one true place she always found she could talk to her mother. Even if some people thought she was mad, it made her feel secure. And she hadn't done it in so long... there was a lot to say. But time was short, so she said the important things, alongside some of the other things. "But I'm okay, now. I'm not alone or lonely anymore. I've got Roxas, now..."
Roxas smiled at Rikku, although there was a quiet sadness about it almost as if he doubted her words. In reality, it was simply because he knew things wouldn't and couldn't always be like this... but that wasn't something Rikku needed to know - especially not now. He started fowards slightly, hesitated, then moved fowards again to crouch by her side, staring up at the headstone. Without taking his eyes off it, he directed at Rikku, "So... Back then, before we met, you were... like me? You never said a thing about it. Not a word."
"Not.. like you," Rikku said in response, hugging her knees a little tighter as she did so. "I knew some people.. albeit, there was a rift, and sometimes still is, because we don't really know each other at all... but even then..." she closed her eyes slightly in recollection. She had her Brother. She had her father. She had those fleeting friendships. Roxas hadn't had any of that. "You were more lonely than I ever was."
"I had old friends," Roxas shrugged, finally looking across at Rikku and moving backwards to sit down, leaning back on his arms to support himself. "So I wasn't completely alone. We just... couldn't see one another any more, is all."
"Your eyes tell a different story," Rikku said bluntly, failing to go beyond that. "And, because of that other thing you told me..." she shook her head.
"...Huh?" Roxas blinked, slightly lost as to what she meant - for both things. "What're you getting at?"
"But maybe.. I don't think it's like that anymore," Rikku resolved. "For the first point, at least. The second, when you told me..." she slowed. ".. what you were."
"That doesn't make me lonely," Roxas said, and, surprisingly, he smiled. "I have you, Axel, Sakura... Kairi too," he counted them off on his fingers. "I'm sure there's plenty of people out there with not even that amount of friends."
"That's good..." Rikku nodded, a true smile of her usual quality appearing on her face at last. "I'm glad."
Roxas' face fell into a frown, his expression faraway. "Although..." he looked on the verge of saying something, but seemed to decide against it. "No, never mind."
About to ask him what it was, Rikku lapsed back into silence, wondering if it was intruding or not. Her curiousity got the bettter of her. "Hmm? What is it?"
"Just thinking out loud," Roxas said, looking away from Rikku again and up at the sky. "About that... Axel's gone away for a while." He didn't seem to want to elaborate any further than that, because he said nothing else.
"Oh.." Rikku said, not directly looking at Roxas and tracing her finger over and over a circle in the dirt beside her. "For a long time, or-?"
"He hasn't been gone that long," Roxas interjected. "But he didn't tell me when he was coming back. In fact he didn't tell me anything," It was said with obvious bitterness, and he scowled up at the clouds. He didn't want to say any of this - it wasn't the time at all - but the words were coming before he could stem them. "He could be dead, for all I know!"
Sitting at a memorial, which was close to being a graveyard, Roxas' words only seemed to encourage the slightly chilling wind to tumble over the pair of them, and the tense silence to seem like enternity. Finally, Rikku pulled up the nerve to speak. "I think if Axel was dead - you'd be the first to know. You'd know."
"And if something just as bad happened to him?" Roxas asked, raising his eyebrows, again not willing to elaborate on what the 'something' could be. "He's stupid for still going there."
Rikku wasn't going to argue on whether Axel was stupid or not - she agreed on that. She pressed on, "He'll come back. He has to come back. And if he doesn't, I'll-" she scowled slightly. "-I'll make him come back. He can't just leave you here by yourself. Forever. It's not fair on you for clearing off."
Roxas almost laughed, replying, "And just how would you get to him, even if you knew where he's gone?"
"I don't know, but I'd do... something," Rikku said, a slight glint of mischeviousness in her eyes now. "I'd make him regret it."
"I'm sorry," Roxas said suddenly. "I didn't mean to tell you about that. Especially not now, visiting your mom and all... Talk about bad timing," he rubbed the back of his head in embarassment, and stood, brushing himself off. "You want a little longer here?"
"No, no, it's okay.. we don't get to talk like this much, me and you," Rikku mused. "And for mom.. I think I'm contented." She looked back down at the tombstone. "Mom... I suppose I better get going, now. Have to get back to Pop and take Roxas back, I guess... and don't worry, I won't be two years to come back Home again," she said brightly, nodding, before dusting off her hands a little, and pushing herself to her feet, almost falling backwards before righting herself again.
Roxas frowned, shoving his hands into his pockets. They didn't talk like that much because Roxas didn't permit himself to do so; that was most likely the problem. Watching Rikku stand, he said, "Like I said before, I'll come back with you sometime if you wanted to. Al Bhed are interesting."
"If you want to?" Rikku's eyes widened a little. "But first.." she smiled in a somewhat sneaky way. ".. we might have a bit of a problem."
"What?" Roxas tilted his head, wondering what on earth was with that odd smile that went along with the statement. "About the train, or something else?"
"The train. We'll have to run, if we're going to dare to make it.." she took a few steps backwards, still grinning. "Fancy trying to beat me at a race?"
"Fine, you're on," Roxas replied without a second thought - it had become routine for him never to turn down one of her challenges, even if he didn't take them all that seriously. "After three."
The grin broadened. "One.." she shook her hands lightly behind her back. "Two-" she then dabbed her shoes lightly in the dirt around her. "Three!" And with that, shot off like a rocket down back to the front entrance, giggling slightly as she went, glancing over her shoulder to see if Roxas was behind her.
Roxas was only fractionally behind her and quickly gained on her, not so much sparing her a single glance as they went, his gaze focused on their route ahead. ...So perhaps he did take their competitions a little seriously, if only to spare himself the embarassment of losing yet again to Rikku.
Rikku pressed on further, merely seeming to become more elegent as she ran, keeping pace with Roxas as they went, soon leaving the village, and the dirt-track, and the forest behind, till all they were were two, slowly fading dots on the lowest rim of the night sky.
Where: Rikku's house, then the city, then a train, then a small village called 'Home'.
When: Thursday 2nd August.
Summary: Rikku and Roxas have planned a day out. Unfortunately, the 'planning' part seems to have failed, so Rikku makes a momentary decision - to take Roxas to visit Home, which Roxas shows interest too. A few deep conversations follow.
Notes: Thank goodness for Al Bhed translators. There's quite a bit of it in here, but it's all translated. Read, because it's cute, and Roxas has a weak spot for Rikku. XD;
Roxas stared up at the door in front of him. The warm mid-morning sun promised today was going to be a good day and shone down, reflecting off the number plate on the door he finally recognised as Rikku's. He hadn't visited her in so long, he'd almost forgotten what her house looked like, but he knew this number was definitely hers. Perhaps he should visit more often, he mused; but with Axel looking like he wanted to burn something every time Roxas as much as mentioned her name, it wasn't all that easy. He had to settle for just seeing her at school.
But now, for better or for worse, Axel was gone, along with his over-possessiveness and jealousy. Something Roxas intended to take full advantage of, even if he wasn't entirely sure what Rikku had planned for their outing today - if anything at all. Frowning slightly in thought, he stepped fowards and rang the doorbell.
As if to conflict the cheerful mood growing on the outside of the house, the door opened slightly with an eerie air, creaking a little, till it was pulled right open, to reveal... not Rikku. A rather tall, dangerous looking man stood there, his eyes piercing down at Roxas, as if to question his identity - and from his rather firm reaction, it seemed he knew who he was.
"What you want?" Brother said slowly, stringing his words together with slight difficulty. Despite living in the main city, he still struggled with English.
"Um..." was the awkward response, Roxas trying his best not to look alarmed at the man's rather intimidating appearance. Blinking and attempting to keep his tone polite, he replied after a slight pause, "Rikku. Is she here?"
"Rikku," Brother repeated, still staring down at Roxas. "You are Roxas," he said rather bluntly - it seemed Rikku had either mentioned the plans to him, or he was just taking a wild guess.
"Yeah," Roxas replied, relieved he knew him and extending a hand for him to shake. "Nice to meet you...?" He trailed off, hoping he would supply a name. Judging by what little Rikku had told Roxas previously, this was probably her brother, but it was best to make sure before he made assumptions.
Brother however, meerly looked down at the hand offered with slight scorn and neither took it or supplied his name. "You make Rikku cry. I no shake with you.."
He was soon cut off by a rather loud voice behind him. "Cdub ed (Stop it), Brother!" A paticularly girly voice. One that could only belong to...
"--Rikku?" Roxas withdrew his hand with a troubled frown, otherwise giving no response to Brother and craning his neck slightly in an attempt to see her. Rikku picked the best timing... not that he didn't deserve such coldness, but he'd half-hoped Rikku's family would have followed her example and move on from the incident.
Running at top speed down the stairs, Rikku nearly crashed into Brother, who, even when she tried to push past him, still blocked her path, before she ducked out of his reach, and managed to get around the side he wasn't guarding, to be standing on the other side of the door, between Brother and Roxas. She looked semi-flustered, waving once to Roxas before turning on Brother. "Aye aye.. oui'na cilr y byeh (You're such a pain), Brother," she said, folding her arms.
Seeming more in safer territory with speaking his own language, Brother responded with the same tone. "Oui cruimth'd caa res, oui'mm zicd lno ykyeh (You shouldn't see him, you'll just cry again)!"
She raised an eyebrow in response, giving him a cool, slightly devious glare. "You think? I'm over it," she said slowly, before adding, "Huf zicd ku yfyo yht tu cusadrehk icavim (Now just go away and do something useful)! "
With that he stalked away back inside, leaving Rikku frowning, with a rather apologetic look on her face. "Sorry, Roxas.. he's just a bit..."
Roxas jerked his head up from where he had been staring guiltily at the floor; apparently he hadn't listened to that short conversation regardless of whether or not he could understand any of it. "It's okay..." he responded quietly, "Guess anyone would be like that in his position."
Briefly glancing over at the figure of Brother still skulking in the shadows, her face looked troubled. "Why? What did he say to you?" It was evident she hadn't heard their conversation at the door - and it seemed common principle for her to yell at Brother whenever he answered the door to begin with.
Roxas blinked in surprise at her, but collected himself quickly. "Oh, um, doesn't matter. Are you ready to go?"
Unconvinced, a slight frown appeared on her face as she nodded. "Yeah... one second," she darted back inside, seemed to have another momentary banter with Brother, and came bounding back again with a bag - which, up until just then, seemed to have been hold hostage by Brother. "He's determined I shouldn't go out," she half laughed. "So childish.. you're ready to, right? Shall we set ff?"
Roxas' face fell further when she returned - Brother really didn't like him, it seemed. He swallowed and turned before Rikku could see his reaction, however, hoping she'd merely interpret that as eagerness to leave. Which wasn't entirely a lie - the sooner they got away from Brother, the better. "Yeah. Where are we heading?"
"Well, I was thinking the city centre, and then..." She waved her hands in the air as if to exaggerate a point, but failing, chose to close the door on Brother instead. ".. just go from there." In truth, she hadn't really thought the entire thing through. Still, the centre was a good starting point.
He nodded in response in such a way that suggested he was only half listening, still avoiding her gaze. "Okay, sounds good... You lead."
Nodding enthusiastically, Rikku bounded onto the road, looking both ways down the road in curiousity. They weren't too far from the square, so it wouldn't take long. Thinking a little, the frown returned, stringing two and two together. "Brother did say something, didn't he."
"If he said anything out to make you sound the bad guy..." Rikku paused in her steps, hesitating slightly as she turned around to face Roxas, looking straight across at him. "Ignore it. He's like that to.. everyone."
Roxas rubbed the back of his head sheepishly and also paused; she'd seen straight through him. "...Alright," he replied uncertainly, but continued, "He - he seemed mad at me for before. For upseting you."
The smile that had momentarily appeared flickered out of existance, before she gulped slightly and forced it back there. "Ah. I'm not that surprised.. I was kinda edgy. He probably took you to be a worse guy than you really are 'cos I didn't tell him anything about you. Like some... horrible monster," she mused, nodding to herself.
"But you don't think that about me, right?" Roxas asked, starting into a walk again and still frowning. He knew full well she didn't, but at the moment he felt he needed assurance on the matter. "I didn't want to hurt you."
Turning and bounding forward a few steps till she was alongside him, Rikku continued, "Of course not," she said slowly, uncertain whether he wanted reassurance or he really did think she thought that. "I know why. I know.. I know it was for the best. Besides, we're friends now.." she looked a little worried. "Aren't we?"
"Yeah," Roxas replied immediately, giving the smallest hint of a smile back at her. "Yeah, we are..." He trailed off, pensive for a moment. "I can't explain my reasons to your brother, but maybe I should try and talk to him again sometime. Show him I'm not all bad..."
"Tell me how you get on with that," Rikku said, almost laughing, before her voice lowered to a whisper. "He's like that with anyone I make friends with. If you get through to him at all, you deserve a-" she looked thoughtful, a finger under her lips as she looked up to the sky. "- medal!"
Roxas looked slightly offended, as he had been trying to be serious about it. Choosing just to ignore her, he continued, "I just don't want him thinking bad things about me when they're not true. Or worrying about the kind of people you hang about with."
"If you ask me, I think he's just got a sister complex," Rikku shrugged. "All that matters is that I know you're not a bad person. That way I can defend you when he starts, right?"
Roxas raised his eyes to the sky, seeing no reason to argue any further. "I guess so." Still, Rikku must've been really upset for him to react like that... With little explanation, he blurted suddenly, "--I'm sorry."
Completely caught off guard with that, Rikku only looked surprised, only magaing a small "hmm?", failing to see what he was apologizing for.
"Just had to say it," Roxas shook his head, smiling at her reaction and apparently unwilling to explain further. They were approaching the square, and Roxas hadn't as much as noticed where they were supposed to be going in the first place. "...Where are we going from here?"
Brought back to the present as Roxas asked her the question, Rikku looked positively flustered. "Well er- see, here's the thing, I didn't actually know where to go," she said, trying to laugh off her embarssment. "Can you think of anywhere?"
Roxas shrugged, at a loss. "You were the one leading the way, so I figured you had something planned," he paused thoughtfully. He didn't have anywhere in particular in mind, either. The mall was nearby, but having visited with Axel not long ago, he didn't really feel like going again - nor would he have the money to buy anything anyway.
"...Nope, can't think of anything," he said eventually, now slightly amused. "Good plan, huh?"
"Y-yeah," Rikku replied, giggling slightly in embarassment. She glanced around at the various shoppers, squinting slightly to see if anything they were holding were give her a hint, and straining her ears to see if anything they said would help out, either. Alas, it was all for naught. ".. there's.. the park. There's the café's down there..." she pointed off down one of the side streets. "Or there's always..."
The mysterious way in which she trailed off instantly had Roxas' attention, and he stopped following her gestures with his gaze to look back at her curiously. "Always what?"
Rikku continued to look thoughtful, her gaze casting over the pathway straight in front of her. "We could just get on it and go. And see where we end up..." she paused, before adding, ".. the train, that is."
"That's crazy!" Roxas said instantly, giving a look as though not entirely sure if she was being serious or not. "We could get lost... or something."
"Yeah. We could." Rikku's voice seemed kind of.. sad, as she replied to Roxas. In truth, she liked doing stuff like that - going wherever her feet led her. "But we could find something, too. I've done plenty of things like that." Just not going out on the train.
Resisting temptation to roll his eyes - he wasn't at all surprised at her answer - he said patiently, "And if we did get lost? Or worse, seperated? What then?"
Rikku looked at Roxas, and for the first time that day, seemed as serious as serious could be. "Then I'd come find you again."
Roxas merely frowned at her seriousness; she really had lost all sense of reason. Sure, being adventurous could be fun, but being stupid and reckless? Decidedly not fun. "I still have the scar to show for it the last time I got lost in the city, Rikku. It's dangerous. Anything could happen."
From the way Rikku's face fell, it was if she would protest again, but her answer contradicted it. "I know. Recklessness is futile..." she hesitated, again, before her eyes seemed to brighten. "There is.. one place we could go to by train." Someplace she hadn't been for at least a year.
"Yeah?" Roxas said, hoping she wasn't lying for an excuse to aimlessly wander like she wanted to. "Where?"
She hesitated once again, wondering if she'd get another rejection to the idea. She sighed slightly, before saying softly, "... well... there's always Home."
Roxas wanted to say, 'but wasn't that destroyed?', but closed his mouth before he could at risk of sounding insensitive. Instead, he settled for looking puzzled and replied, "We can get a train there?"
"I think so. Last time I checked, the train stopped nearby.. but then there has to be a fifteen minute walk or something afterwards. You know, because of why the first raid and everything," Rikku said thoughtfully, bringing up the topic that Roxas was avoiding. "Don't want it to happen again!"
"Yeah," Roxas nodded in understanding. "Fifteen minutes isn't that far, we'll manage." And it was bound to be interesting, as Roxas had always been curious about her Al Bhed origins... As for Rikku herself, she probably wanted to visit her home, so Roxas was willing to tag along at least for that much.
"Awesome! Well, we best get going to the train station then, don't want to spend half the day waiting around for one..." she nodded. "I'll lead," she added, bouncing off in the direction of the station with a newfound optimism in her step. She was going to see it. She was going Home. And she wasn't going alone, either. Roxas was going with her...
Smiling at Rikku, who looked for all the world like an excited little child, he followed after at a somewhat quicker pace than before to keep up. "When was the last time you visited Home?"
"The last time? Well.. quite a while ago," Rikku said slowly. "When I first came here, I went back a few times over those few months. I haven't been back in a year or something..."
Roxas nodded as he took that in. That would explain how excited she was, since she probably missed it a lot... he wasn't all that surprised. "Do you know anyone there? You could visit them, too, while we're there."
Once again, Rikku placed a finger under her lip, indicating she was in thought. "Huh-mm. Well.. there's the rest of the tribe, and then Buddy's probably there, and Gippal.." she mused, her face gradually screwing up as she walked along.
"Yeah?" Roxas replied, privately hoping they'd at least be a little more friendly towards him than Brother had been. Then again, he didn't see why they wouldn't be, unless news travelled that far. "Sounds like you'll be pretty busy, in that case."
"Maybe, maybe not. They haven't seen me in a while, at any rate, so they might wonder who I am," she laughed slightly, before frowning. "Gippal might, though.." she was cut off as the train station came into view, its grandeur casting an aura onto the streets around it, worksman, children, and just the general public wandering in and out. Surprisingly, it wasn't too crowded. Rikku looked around in front of it for a moment, before beckoning Roxas to follow her inside. "I think I know which train it is. I'm pretty sure."
***
Some time later - Roxas had lost track of how much time had elapsed - they'd boarded the train and left the city behind. It had been a little daunting at first, since Roxas hadn't ever left the city before, but now he was a little bored of staring at unfamiliar scenery flashing by their window and found himself having to resist the urge to fidget. He was, generally, a patient person, but he was bored. Turning to Rikku and speaking for the first time in a while, he asked, "How far 'til we're there now?"
Rikku didn't notice Roxas talking to her at first, as, like a small child would, she had clambered up onto the seat on her knees, her hands pressed against the cold glass of the window pane, her face almost touching it. She was intruiged at how things had changed, and the excitement was growing. After a few seconds, she registered Roxas' voice, pulling herself backwards before saying, ".. about ten more minutes. I think. But it's sooo awesome.." she said in awe, returning to staring out into the scenery and listening to the tinkering noise of the train beneath them.
Roxas probably would have shared her interest, but even if he hadn't been outside of the city before, he'd visited other worlds. Most of which were far more beautiful or interesting than New Sanctum, he reflected; even headquarters, which was similar enough. However, he smiled for her sake and replied, "Yeah, guess it is. It's not every day you get to leave the city."
"It's not everyday you have the money for it, either. It's quite a way.." she said, tapping her fingers against the pane as another few scattered buildings sailed in and out of view. "Say, Roxas. You don't know any Al Bhed at all, do you?"
"...Um, no," Roxas admitted with some embarassment. He hadn't even thought of that at all... but of course, they'd probably all prefer to speak their native language. Come to think of it, he didn't know anything at all about their culture, and it suddenly made him rather nervous. "I hadn't even heard of it before I met you, y'know."
"Well, that might be a problem.." she looked over at him, her face looking cautious. "I'm one of the few who's fluent in English. You've heard Brother - can't string a sentence together. Buddy's okay, Gippal's okay, but everyone else.. can't speak it.." she slowed, before her eyes widened. "Maybe I could.. if you wanted to.."
"Could what?" Roxas replied, although he had a feeling what was coming. Thoughtfully, he continued, "You could just translate stuff for me, if anyone wanted to talk to me..."
"True, but if you knew a bit... they might appreciate it and decide you're not an enemy," Rikku replied. "Of course that would mean I was an enemy too, but as Cid's daughter, they gotta be kidding," she laughed, before leaning over so she was right next to Roxas' face - probably a little too close for comfort, but still being totally influxed with excitement for going home, she didn't notice. "So. Wanna learn some?"
"O-okay, may as well give it a shot," Roxas blinked, shifting away from her so she wasn't invading his personal bubble quite so much as he spoke. "But if they don't like outsiders, maybe me coming was a bad idea... Even if I'm with you, would they even let me inside?"
For a moment, Rikku's face looked drastically unsure - but it seemed only a mirage, as she was soon nodding. "Yes. I'll make sure they will. You're not a bad guy, Roxas..." she drifted off, glancing back outside the window to check where they were.
Your brother treated me a lot like I was, Roxas thought darkly, but didn't voice it aloud. To distract himself from his thoughts, he asked, "So, um, besides the language, is there anything I need to know before we get there?"
Rikku looked up at the ceiling, running it over in her mind. "Well, you might have a bit of a culture shock. It's kinda different. Mostly tents, then there's the language, then there's the fact we have machina - you know, like my workshop, but on a way bigger scale. Oh, and Gippal.." she frowned. ".. will be a pest, and will probably tag around all day unless I shake him off. Just.. watch out for him."
Culture shock indeed - all of this wasn't doing much for Roxas' confidence, and he almost seemed to shrink in his seat. Even Rikku didn't seem too sure of herself, and she was supposed to be the one who knew what to do. Her last statement caught his interest, however, since she'd mentioned Gippal repeatedly as if he had some kind of importance. "And who is... Gippal, exactly?"
"My.. friend," she said with some reluctance, crossing her legs and sitting down normally. Even though they hadn't seen each other in years, it still felt that way to her, as if she had only waved him off yesterday. "He's insistant on getting closer to me. When I learnt English, so did he, when I did something, so did he.. he's kinda annoying, sometimes."
Roxas raised his eyebrows, replying with a short, "Oh," He paused, until he was struck by a thought. "...He sounds kinda like Axel."
"He's nothing like Axel," Rikku replied, flicking her hair in annoyance and slunking further back into her seat. "Gippal just is... is... urgh!" she banged her hands against the seat as if trying to find a way to express it, only succeeding in scaring a few people sitting nearby. The momentary anger seemed to disappear as quickly as it came, when she said thoughtfully, ".. he's not still being a pest about the drunk thing, is he?"
Roxas almost looked bemused at her temper, since that pretty much summarized his thoughts on Axel himself. However, the amusement vanished instantly at her question. "No, he's not," was the sharp retort, looking away from her as if to end that particular conversation. It was his fault for this, really; he'd been the one to mention Axel in the first place, when he'd been trying to avoid it.
Silence seemed to fall, as Rikku held out a hand in his direction but faltered, leaving it hanging in mid air, as the sound of the rails echoed throughout the carriage. "--Roxas?" she said eventually, touching him lightly. "You okay?"
It was stupid, really. Roxas was being touchy over Axel, of all people. Did he really miss him? Maybe a little, and maybe he was sort of worried, too. But Rikku didn't need to know that - nor did she need to know he was even gone. Training his gaze up at the roof of the train, he replied, "Yeah. Why?"
Rikku tilted her head to one side, eying him suspiciously. He'd been fine minutes before, and as soon as Axel had come up... "You just looked--" she shook her head, but was cut off as the train ground its way to a halt, the sound reverberating off the walls around them. "Oh!" she exclaimed, surprised. "This is it! Roxas! We gotta run!" she said, her hands waving in mid air as she jumped to her feet.
Breathing a silent sigh of relief at the distraction, Roxas also got to his feet, joining the crowds of people leaving the train. Hopefully she'd be too exciteable now to mention it again, which was for the best. Once he was finally off the train and onto the platform, he turned to wait for Rikku. "Which way are we going now?"
"Ummmm..." Rikku looked around, backing away from the train slightly, swinging her arms as she spun round, watching the flocks of people move away in one direction. "This way," she pointed, in the direction of a slight mud-track, leading off to a forest, by the look of it. "So. Al Bhed lessons, hmm?"
Roxas nodded, starting in the direction of the path. "Yeah. Just... Teach me some words and phrases I'll need to know. I'll try to remember what I can." They were going through an awful lot of trouble just to get there, he thought vaguely as they left the station. The Al Bhed seemed to like being isolated and avoiding the outside world where possible... Which made Roxas feel all the more unwelcome. For Rikku's sake, he'd just have to grit his teeth and bear with it.
Walking with her arms outstretched as if on an invisible typerope, Rikku remained silent for a few seconds, thinking through the worlds in her head. "Hmmm... rammu is a good start."
"Rammu," Roxas repeated with emphasis, to help himself remember the sound, watching her with some amusement. "What does that mean?"
"Hello," she said brightly, tottering over slightly before righting herself again. "Now say... So hysa ec Roxas."
Roxas did so, although he stuttered on the pronounciation slightly. The language was more than a little odd to say. "I feel stupid," he said, laughing slightly despite himself. "I'll screw this up and end up accidently saying something that offends them..."
"Oui fuh'd cyo cusadrehk dryd uvvahtc dras, cemmo (You won't say something that offends them, silly)," Rikku said casually, slipping back into Al Bhed despite herself, still walking the invisible rope beneath her feet. "And if you do, just say.. that you're sorry. Cunno."
"Cunno," Roxas repeated again, having a cynical feeling he'd end up saying that one a lot. "...And talk English, I'm already stumped without you confusing me more."
"Did I slip?" Rikku asked, but it was more to herself than to Roxas, as she merely shrugged in response to herself. "I'll just make sure that things are simple for ya. Or something."
"You don't even notice you're speaking different languages?" Roxas said incredulously, but shook his head without waiting for a response. "So... Is there anything else I'll need to know how to say?"
Rikku wondered - she usually did notice, but not all the time. The times she didn't notice was when she was over excited, which, was like, right about now. "Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't, it just really depends on what I'm doing," she mused. "Well.. dryhg oui, thats thank you, kuutpoa, goodbye, erm, e's rikkus vneaht.." she said hastily, getting overly carried away - which was evident, when she leaned a little too far to one side, causing her to go crashing straight into Roxas.
Roxas was almost knocked off-balance himself, but he managed to regain it again enough to catch her by the waist and pull her back upright. "--Be careful, klutz," he said in some annoyance - then realised he was still holding her and quickly let go. Fighting the urge to blush, he continued, "Walk normally, okay? You're gonna break something at this rate."
Rikku seemed rather surprised at the fact she'd fallen, but unlike Roxas, the blush came out full force. "E-eh.." she said, laughing nervously. "Cunno, huh?" she added, her laugh being even more nervous, as she sidestepped away from him and carried on walking. "W-we're almost at the woods, now. Won't be too far.." she said, helplessly looking for a topic to distract herself with.
Folding his arms as if to try and keep his hands to himself, Roxas looked away as though he'd just done something extremely indecent and replied with similar awkwardness. "...Home's on the other side of the forest, or something?"
"In it," Rikku replied, seeming to gain confidence evern though her face was still clearly flushed. "At least, it looks that way, I never could tell..." she said, her pace slowing as she reached the edge of the forest, before looking around to see if anyone was following, and starting to stroll inside. "If anyone starts shouting, it's probably Al Bhed, so just.. stay quiet and I'll deal with it."
Roxas nodded and followed her reluctantly - she did nothing to bolster his confidence with this as usual, and now he felt like he was going to be jumped by hordes of people hiding behind the trees. Which seemed more realistic and less ridiculous than it sounded, given the way Rikku was behaving. To distract himself, he went through what words he could remember in his head.
His tone noticeably quieter than it had been before they entered the forest, Roxas said, "Maybe one day, you could teach me more Al Bhed, and we could visit again if I become fluent at it?"
"Hmm?" she looked over her shoulder at him - trying to decide whether he was being serious or not, but she already knew he was being serious. Roxas was like that. "If you wanted to..." she started, before trailing of, as she spotted the pathway through the trees, and in the distance, a few tents could be made out...
"It's Home..." she said under her breath, the air of excitement coming back again, her hands mimicking the way she felt inside - utter chaos.
Roxas, on the other hand, felt a mixture of nervousness and apprehension, which was quickly concealed behind a small smile. "I'm guessing we can't just stroll in, though?"
"We could. But there's probably guards or something at the entrance. They'll probably check if I'm lying or not... but I have solid evidence I'm an Al Bhed," she said proudly, nodding away to herself.
"I'll... uh, just let you do the talking, then," Roxas said, eyeing the tents as they came into closer view. "I'm sure they'll figure out I'm not one of them right away."
"It's not talking," Rikku said absently. "It's my.. eyes," she said, looking over at him. "We all have eyes like this.."
"Oh, yeah," Roxas looked closely at her eyes, although there was no need - he already knew the distinctive odd pupils well. Strange as they were, half the time he was too used to them to take much notice. "In that case, they'd still see that my eyes aren't like yours... There's not much point, but should I try to hide them or something?"
Rikku's face screwed up slightly in thought, and then a slightly mischevious grin appeared on his face, before she tapped the goggles around her neck, and quite elegantly lifted them off. "There's always these."
"As long as nobody asks me to take them off, I guess they wouldn't notice," Roxas replied, nodding. It wouldn't be too obvious he wasn't one of them at a glance, that way, and he wouldn't attract unwanted attention.
"Not at all!" Rikku said enthusiastically, thrusting the goggles forwards towards him. "Here."
Roxas took them, pulling them over his head and over his eyes with some reluctance. They hid his eyes well, if not almost entirely, but he still felt more than a little ridiculous. "I bet I look really stupid, don't I?" he asked, eyeing Rikku as if to expect her to burst out laughing.
As would a cat waiting to be fed whilst watching the food, Rikku watched with something close to eagerness as Roxas pulled the goggles down over his eyes. A wide smile broke out, and she giggled slightly. "No, you look fine," she smiled, placing a finger over her bottom lip. For her, she was so used to seeing his blue eyes it was little strange, but overall, they did suit him, and he looked partially cute, too. "Shall we get going, then?"
Although he looked unconvinced, Roxas didn't have much of a choice on the matter as to whether or not he could wear them, so he nodded. "If you say so... Let's go."
Nodding, Rikku tugged lightly on Roxas' arm for him to follow alongside her on the main path. It wasn't too far of a walk, but it felt forboding - as if there was a great meaning for them to get there, but then again, it wouldn't be so bad if they never actually got there. Pushing the thought aside, Rikku kept her stride firm, coming up to the front of the camp, which was surrounded by several high walls - and the two guards that had been chatting stood up, and walked over in their direction.
The first to approach looked down on them both. "Muug. Uidcetanc (Look. Outsiders)," he said to his companion, who merely nodded, keeping a tight hold of the weapon he had in his hands. The first guard looked blankly at Rikku, then to Roxas. "Fru yna oui? Fryd'c ouin binbuca? (Who are you? What's your purpose?)"
Logically, Roxas could figure out what they were asking even if he couldn't understand their speech - since they were obviously guards - but he had no idea to respond, so he nudged Rikku as if to prompt her to do the talking. Home didn't seem to be tolerant to outsiders, and if he messed up and gave himself away, he'd probably be on the recieving ends of the guard's weapon.
Even with Roxas nudging her, Rikku didn't need the prompt. "Dryd'c Roxas, yht E's Rikku (That's Roxas, and I'm Rikku)," Rikku said hurridly. "E's jecedehk pylg (I'm visiting back)."
The guard continued to glare down at her, somewhat disbelieving. "Fru yna oui (Who are you)?" he repeated.
"E's dra tyikrdan uv Cid, cdibet! (I'm the daugher of Cid, stupid!)" Rikku retorted, clearly not amused at the prolonged questioning.
The second guard laughed. "Fa tuh'd ryja y Cid. Ku pylg du frana oui lysa vnus (We don't have a Cid. Go back to were you came from)." But none the less, the pair huddled together to talk, which gave Rikku the opportunity to confer with Roxas.
"Idiots," she muttered to him.
Roxas looked uneasily away from the guards and at Rikku, replying quietly, "Will they let us in? What did you say?"
Placing a hand under her chin, Rikku frowned. "They don't believe me. Or if they do, they don't recognise me and think I'm impersonating."
"You're still an Al Bhed," Roxas pointed out, glancing back at the guards again, who were still having a hurried conversation. "They should let you in for that, at least."
"Yeah, I know, but..." whatever they say goes, she thought sadly. It seemed that their chances of getting in where getting thin. And she really wanted to see everyone again... all the people she really knew, not like these two guards..
Though, it appeared as if all hope wasn't quite lost. As if by sheer luck, a certain Al Bhed was running in the direction of the entrance, having seen Rikku's distinct figure and loud voice and recognised it. Which didn't quite go unnoticed to Rikku, either, as she heard her name called.
"Oh. God," she winced, making to hide behind Roxas.
Slightly alarmed, Roxas glanced behind him at Rikku quizzically, and back at the approaching Al Bhed, who was still heading directly towards them. "Uh... whoever that is, there's no point hiding, Rikku. He's seen you already."
Still attempting to disappear behind Roxas, she mumbled, "I know that. But I'm so so so not ready for this..."
Apparently unconcerned about making an effort of hiding her, Roxas turned around to face Rikku. "Who is he? That guy you mentioned earlier?"
"Gippal. And he's coming this way. And he's getting closer.." it appeared, that due to either nerves, that she had forgotten than had already been established. It also appeared, that Rikku wasn't going to say anymore, as she hid her face with her hands.
By this time, Gippal had reached the guards, and was now conferring with them in Al Bhed at an astonishing speed, before they nodded, and reluctantly turned away back to their posts. Smug, Gippal walked over. "That's a tight one you got yourself in," he commented, still watching the guards. "I wonder why they - hmm? Who're you?" he asked, pointing at Roxas.
Surprised at being addressed - in English, no less - Roxas turned around again to regard Gippal warily. "...I'm Roxas. Rikku's friend," he looked back at Rikku, who was still cowering behind him. Even if she was intent on avoiding Gippal, Roxas was finding the situation too humorous and stepped out of the way to reveal her.
Not expecting Roxas to move, Rikku made a wide array of noises relating to 'don't do it!' and trying to cover her face with her hands once again, before seeing it was a worthless cause, and just feeling more embrassed from it. "Hi-i, Gippal," she said, prolonging the 'hi'. "Long time no see?"
Gippal nodded at Roxas' response, before looking down at Rikku with some humor. "Long time? Two years or something, girl. Almost thought you'd forgotten about us - that aside," he pressed on before Rikku could retaliate, "what brings you back?"
"No reason. Just fancied coming Home. And I brought Roxas with me," Rikku replied, her face still flushed.
Roxas tried to suppress a grin at Rikku's behaviour, failing rather spectacularly. Suddenly struck by an idea, Roxas directed at Gippal, "...They're not letting us in, though. Probably because they don't recognise Rikku." If he took the hint, he'd be able to persuade the guards to let the two of them in, or just Rikku at the very least.
"Smart guy," Gippal replied, though he seemed smug.
Rikku blinked. "You've already told them, haven't you? When you came over? That you recognise me?" her voice was slightly stern.
"Yeah," Gippal shrugged. Turning back to Roxas, he continued, "They'll be no more trouble getting in and about. So you don't really need those anymore," he pointed to the goggles. "It's rather obvious you're not Al Bhed."
Roxas looked as though he was trying to decide if that was meant as an insult to him or not. It was a blow to his acting skills, at least. "Thanks," he replied grudgingly, removing his goggles again and tossing them back to Rikku for her to catch. "They're letting me in because I know Rikku, then?"
"I'd say most likely," Gippal shrugged. "A friend of Rikku's should be allowed in, at any rate. She wouldn't bring just anyone here. She's not stupid."
"I'm right here!" Rikku bellowed over at him, replacing the goggles around her neck, causing a few birds to stir in the trees nearby. "He never changes.." she said to Roxas, sighing.
"It was a compliment," Roxas replied, still seeming faintly amused. From first impressions, Gippal didn't seem nearly as annoying as Rikku made him out to be, either - Axel still upheld the title for Most Annoying Person. "So are we going in, before the guards decide to change their minds?"
"Yeah yeah, sure.." Rikku said hastily, before glaring over in Gippal's direction. Despite the fact she was already trying to dismiss him, it appeared he was going to cling on for all it was worth. "Are you following?"
"Obviously. That is, if Roxas doesn't mind," Gippal looked between the pair of them. It appeared Rikku's opinion would hold no decision if he would stay or go.
Roxas hesistated, torn between whether to honour Rikku's wishes or allowing him to come with them out of politeness. And, after all, he hadn't seen Rikku in two years, so it was kind of mean just to brush him off... He'd feel guilty, either way, but Roxas replied, "Um, not at all. I don't mind."
Rikku head dropped as she sighed, looking momentarily crestfallen. "If you must," she said eventually to Gippal. "But there is something I want to do, and I don't want you around when I get to it!" she said sternly, before turning back to Roxas, all smiles. "You ready to go in?"
"Yeah," Roxas nodded, although he looked slightly curious as to what that something was that Rikku wanted to do. There would be no point asking, however - not with Gippal listening in, so he didn't bother. "So... where are we going first?"
"Just.. in!" Rikku said brightly, taking the liberty to nudge Roxas further in the direction of the camp before parading off herself inside, leaving Roxas to his own devices till he caught up with her and Gippal.
Roxas took a last look at the guards, who didn't as much as bat an eyelid in his direction and ignored him. They really were going to let him by, and Roxas didn't intend to hang around and so hurried to catch up to Rikku and Gippal. He glanced between the two of the curiously, lagging behind slightly, and asking, "How do you two know one another, anyway? Old friends?"
"Old friends," Rikku said lightly, waving her hand in mid air before Gippal could as much as get a word in.
"We grew up together. Same generation and all that," Gippal said casually. "How do you two know each other?"
"We met a while ago," Roxas said, and much to his surprise he could recall it with great clarity. Despite that, however, he was unwilling to go into much detail to a stranger of all people. "And then it turned out she was in my class, and we became friends."
For a moment it looked as though Gippal was going to question Rikku about something, before he was sharply cut off again by Rikku. Whatever the question was going to be, she probably had guessed what it was, and wanted to change topic. "So, Gippal. Buddy's here, right? And everyone else?" she looked to Roxas. "We'll have a look round and visit some people, if you like?"
"Sure. It's up to you," Roxas shrugged nonchalantly. "Whatever you wanna do here, I'll tag along." After all, he was here for her sake; this was more her day out than his.
***
Even though time seemed at a standstill throughout the woods, the sky told a different story. Its colour had long since diminished to an amber-orange, and was now fading all the more rapidly to blue. Gippal had long since been distracted and left the pair to their own devices. However. The day was drawing to a close, and despite Rikku half wanting to spend the night there - it really wouldn't be fair on Roxas, so a mad dash for the last train was in order.
That was, till she remembered something important. "Ah! Roxas, wait! I gotta do something first!" she said, suddenly bounding to a halt as they neared the entrance once again.
She stopped so abruptly Roxas almost ran straight into her, but managed to stop himself in time, frowning. "Is it important? We'll miss the train if we hang around any longer..."
Rikku turned around to face him, and without thinking, took hold of both of his hands. "It is, it is, it really is.." she said hurridly, her face sincere. "I can't believe I forgot, it's really important..."
"Alright, alright, we'll go," Roxas nodded, convinced this would be important enough, and too distracted to pull his hands away or even look embarassed as he usually might. "...But if we miss the last train, how will we get home?"
"I don't know," Rikku shook her head fiercely. "We'd have to walk back on the tracks, or stay here, or, something..." she trailed off, before adding, "You can yell at me if you want to. I mean, it'd be my fault if we did, so you could yell at me..."
Ignoring the last part, Roxas said, "It'd be crazy to walk back all that way, and I guess taxis don't come out this far from the city. If this really is important, I don't mind staying overnight."
A smile twitched on Rikku's lips at that. "Alright... but, if we do it quickly, it should be okay.. I know where to find her.." she swayed slightly as a light wind whipped up.
"Let's hurry, then," Roxas said, taking his hands away from hers again and gesturing for her to lead the way. "Who else did you want to see?"
Rikku looked down off a sideways path, a slight way off from the main village, a weak smile appearing on her face. "Mom."
"Oh, right," Roxas said solemnly, deciding not to say anything else on the matter unless she wanted to talk about it. "There's no need to rush, in that case."
She smiled again. "It's okay." After a few seconds of loitering in the wind, she took a step forward, and another, turning round briefly to check he was following. "It's a little way down here..."
Roxas followed, looking around him at the unfamiliar scenery. "Do Al Bhed have graveyards, or something different?" As usual with most of their time at Home, Roxas had bombarded Rikku with questions - out of sheer curiosity to learn more about the Al Bhed. He wouldn't be surprised if she was a little sick of it, by now.
However, it didn't seem to bother Rikku much at all. It was rare for someone to be generally curious. "It's kinda like a memorial, really.. there's another one, but that's further out, this is for that rampage-ah!" Rikku cut off as she ran forward a little, before squatting down on the ground beside a small headstone of sorts, looking more and more like a lost, little girl. It was clear she'd done this many times in her life before. "Hey, mom."
Roxas hung back to watch in respectful silence, deciding Rikku would rather just be left alone. He was also afraid, as usual when the subject of her mother came up, that if he spoke he would say something stupid or insensitive, because he couldn't even begin to imagine how devastating it must be to lose a loved one.
The silence was only disturbed with Rikku speaking under her breath to the tombstone, intent. It was the one true place she always found she could talk to her mother. Even if some people thought she was mad, it made her feel secure. And she hadn't done it in so long... there was a lot to say. But time was short, so she said the important things, alongside some of the other things. "But I'm okay, now. I'm not alone or lonely anymore. I've got Roxas, now..."
Roxas smiled at Rikku, although there was a quiet sadness about it almost as if he doubted her words. In reality, it was simply because he knew things wouldn't and couldn't always be like this... but that wasn't something Rikku needed to know - especially not now. He started fowards slightly, hesitated, then moved fowards again to crouch by her side, staring up at the headstone. Without taking his eyes off it, he directed at Rikku, "So... Back then, before we met, you were... like me? You never said a thing about it. Not a word."
"Not.. like you," Rikku said in response, hugging her knees a little tighter as she did so. "I knew some people.. albeit, there was a rift, and sometimes still is, because we don't really know each other at all... but even then..." she closed her eyes slightly in recollection. She had her Brother. She had her father. She had those fleeting friendships. Roxas hadn't had any of that. "You were more lonely than I ever was."
"I had old friends," Roxas shrugged, finally looking across at Rikku and moving backwards to sit down, leaning back on his arms to support himself. "So I wasn't completely alone. We just... couldn't see one another any more, is all."
"Your eyes tell a different story," Rikku said bluntly, failing to go beyond that. "And, because of that other thing you told me..." she shook her head.
"...Huh?" Roxas blinked, slightly lost as to what she meant - for both things. "What're you getting at?"
"But maybe.. I don't think it's like that anymore," Rikku resolved. "For the first point, at least. The second, when you told me..." she slowed. ".. what you were."
"That doesn't make me lonely," Roxas said, and, surprisingly, he smiled. "I have you, Axel, Sakura... Kairi too," he counted them off on his fingers. "I'm sure there's plenty of people out there with not even that amount of friends."
"That's good..." Rikku nodded, a true smile of her usual quality appearing on her face at last. "I'm glad."
Roxas' face fell into a frown, his expression faraway. "Although..." he looked on the verge of saying something, but seemed to decide against it. "No, never mind."
About to ask him what it was, Rikku lapsed back into silence, wondering if it was intruding or not. Her curiousity got the bettter of her. "Hmm? What is it?"
"Just thinking out loud," Roxas said, looking away from Rikku again and up at the sky. "About that... Axel's gone away for a while." He didn't seem to want to elaborate any further than that, because he said nothing else.
"Oh.." Rikku said, not directly looking at Roxas and tracing her finger over and over a circle in the dirt beside her. "For a long time, or-?"
"He hasn't been gone that long," Roxas interjected. "But he didn't tell me when he was coming back. In fact he didn't tell me anything," It was said with obvious bitterness, and he scowled up at the clouds. He didn't want to say any of this - it wasn't the time at all - but the words were coming before he could stem them. "He could be dead, for all I know!"
Sitting at a memorial, which was close to being a graveyard, Roxas' words only seemed to encourage the slightly chilling wind to tumble over the pair of them, and the tense silence to seem like enternity. Finally, Rikku pulled up the nerve to speak. "I think if Axel was dead - you'd be the first to know. You'd know."
"And if something just as bad happened to him?" Roxas asked, raising his eyebrows, again not willing to elaborate on what the 'something' could be. "He's stupid for still going there."
Rikku wasn't going to argue on whether Axel was stupid or not - she agreed on that. She pressed on, "He'll come back. He has to come back. And if he doesn't, I'll-" she scowled slightly. "-I'll make him come back. He can't just leave you here by yourself. Forever. It's not fair on you for clearing off."
Roxas almost laughed, replying, "And just how would you get to him, even if you knew where he's gone?"
"I don't know, but I'd do... something," Rikku said, a slight glint of mischeviousness in her eyes now. "I'd make him regret it."
"I'm sorry," Roxas said suddenly. "I didn't mean to tell you about that. Especially not now, visiting your mom and all... Talk about bad timing," he rubbed the back of his head in embarassment, and stood, brushing himself off. "You want a little longer here?"
"No, no, it's okay.. we don't get to talk like this much, me and you," Rikku mused. "And for mom.. I think I'm contented." She looked back down at the tombstone. "Mom... I suppose I better get going, now. Have to get back to Pop and take Roxas back, I guess... and don't worry, I won't be two years to come back Home again," she said brightly, nodding, before dusting off her hands a little, and pushing herself to her feet, almost falling backwards before righting herself again.
Roxas frowned, shoving his hands into his pockets. They didn't talk like that much because Roxas didn't permit himself to do so; that was most likely the problem. Watching Rikku stand, he said, "Like I said before, I'll come back with you sometime if you wanted to. Al Bhed are interesting."
"If you want to?" Rikku's eyes widened a little. "But first.." she smiled in a somewhat sneaky way. ".. we might have a bit of a problem."
"What?" Roxas tilted his head, wondering what on earth was with that odd smile that went along with the statement. "About the train, or something else?"
"The train. We'll have to run, if we're going to dare to make it.." she took a few steps backwards, still grinning. "Fancy trying to beat me at a race?"
"Fine, you're on," Roxas replied without a second thought - it had become routine for him never to turn down one of her challenges, even if he didn't take them all that seriously. "After three."
The grin broadened. "One.." she shook her hands lightly behind her back. "Two-" she then dabbed her shoes lightly in the dirt around her. "Three!" And with that, shot off like a rocket down back to the front entrance, giggling slightly as she went, glancing over her shoulder to see if Roxas was behind her.
Roxas was only fractionally behind her and quickly gained on her, not so much sparing her a single glance as they went, his gaze focused on their route ahead. ...So perhaps he did take their competitions a little seriously, if only to spare himself the embarassment of losing yet again to Rikku.
Rikku pressed on further, merely seeming to become more elegent as she ran, keeping pace with Roxas as they went, soon leaving the village, and the dirt-track, and the forest behind, till all they were were two, slowly fading dots on the lowest rim of the night sky.