Title: A Fantasy Begins- the Legend of Rikku
Summary: A woman from another world has the power to reshape the destiny of China and find love along the way; this is her story- the Legend of Rikku.
Disclaimer:I do not own the DW characters, they are based off of historical figures that now belong to Koei, and the Dynasty Warriors series. The characters of FFX 2 are copyright of Square Enix. I neither claim ownership for any characters that are not my own nor do I make money off this story.
Ratings: PG 13 to possible M as the story progresses
Warnings: AU FFX 2/DW fusion, title is a working title and may change as the story progresses, formatting changes and edits may occur as well, slight violence and possible language as story progresses.
Important Note: "Words that do not yet have a translation between languages are always italicized and underlined."
Level Two: Shu
Journey to Shu
Wow this place was huge! I wonder what it's used for? Hm, there aren't any altars or statues to Fayths here, so I guess it's not a temple. Although, the only buildings I know of in Spira that come close to this one are the temples, all rough hewn stone. Mostly only the temples and the Ronso used stone in their building. It's just not a cost effective material, you know?
Huh, Guan Ping… he as the same word in his name as Guan Yu. I wonder if they're related. Probably so if Guan Yu was willing to trade with that Cao Ren guy, but I'm still not sure what relation a 'son' is. I guess I'll have to wait until he gets here. It was going to take a while for this Guan Ping guy that Guan Yu was waiting for to arrive. When Guan Yu managed to explain that, I let him know I wanted to go explore this 'castle'. It must be pretty important for Guan Yu to try and fight that one guy over it. I tried to ask Guan Yu what the castle was for, but I couldn't figure out the words to make the question make sense so I let it go and wandered off after agreeing to return shortly.
Several rooms were stocked with boxes and weapon racks. There were some rooms that had desks with scrolls scattered about. There were rooms with strange low tables surrounded by pouf seats and pillows. And rooms with strange looking beds, or maybe they were lounging chairs? They look pretty comfortable. I did find some neat decorations about the place, some wall hangings and statues. Floor screens with pretty pictures of birds and knobby green sticks. Sometimes there are images of a black and white creature eating the green knobby sticks. They actually look cute and furry. I think I get it; this is a place where people live all in one building. But all those weapons… and all those men fighting. Does that mean it's a sort of soldiers' barracks?
There is one wall in particular that grabs my attention as I'm exploring. It is carved from top to bottom with strange fiends and exotic creatures, but it's none of them that hold my attention. Flying above the others there is a familiar form. A phoenix with wings spread and tail waving behind it. They have phoenixes! I'm surprised, in a pleased way to see such a familiar animal when all of the other animals around it seem so strange. Like the one directly below it. It looks like a fiend, a giant snake with sharp talon claws and a head that reminds me of Yunie's Aeons, or maybe some of the more serpentine fiends, but none of them look exactly like this. I wonder if they actually have fiends like this carving here. I glance at the other creatures surrounding it. I hadn't seen any sign of any of these other creatures since I've been here. I glance at the bird above the snake fiend and wonder if the image is proportional. A live phoenix has a wingspan of eight feet and about a twelve foot body length if you don't include the tail. Huh, if the snake creature is proportional to the phoenix then that thing is… really freaking big.
I feel a sharp fission of excitement at the thought.
Oh, I'd love to pit Maw against something like that. I learned how to summon my special dress sphere outside of combat and had begun to make additions to it. I haven't taken on any fiends that were strong enough to really try out the improvements I've been making to my Machina Maw. That's why I was digging in the dessert to begin with, you know, before I was distracted by the new spheres. You should totally see the upgrades! Not just new weapons I added a stereo system and some music spheres that we bullied Shinra into making. The music spheres were Buddy's idea really. Buddy said that it would be nice to have something to listen to on board besides Brother. Hee, I jumped all over that idea. Brother acted like he was all hurt over the comment, but a bribe in the form of a recording of Yunie's song from the concert appeased him. Coupled with the expanded weapon system, Maw is now the rockingest Machina in all of Spira! Booyaka!
Oh man! I've been wandering around too long! I better get back to Guan Yu to see if his guy showed up. I turn around and get back to the corridor that split in two directions. Aww, crappy, I can't remember which direction I came from. Well, the wandering around theory worked once, except this time I do have a destination in mind so I'm not sure if that logic, or lack thereof, actually applies this time around. Well, I'll never get back to the main entrance place if I just stand around here. I take a right and start jogging down the hall. I'll either get where I'm going faster or get lost faster; either way at least I won't be bored. At least this time it's not a desert I'm lost in though so it could be worse.
Finally! I recognized a room enough to figure out where I am and I skid back into the room where Guan Yu and a bunch of guys are all standing around. I ignore the way the men in matching uniforms all turn to stare at me. I fix on the young man standing next to my big friend and immediately decide that 'son' means that Guan Yu is this boy's father. Guan Yu has a protective hand on the boy's shoulder and is looming over him with a concerned gaze. The look they are sharing, even though they aren't touching beyond that hand on the boy's shoulder…
I know Pops loves me, but I can't remember the last time, if ever, that expressed concern so openly about me. Neither does my brother, now that I think about it. Brother and I aren't terribly close, we haven't been for years. The last time I can remember him trying to protect me was when he nearly fried me with a lightning spell when he was aiming at that fiend when I was little. I travel with him but we don't really talk or hang out and do stuff together. When the Gullwings were a full crew with Yunie and Paine on board he never once worried about me when we came back from dangerous missions. Actually, even after we lost Paine and Yuna and I started taking solo missions for the new spheres he never worried about me.
Something twists painfully in my chest, and I drop my eyes so I don't have to keep watching.
I feel someone approaching and I jerk my head up in automatic reaction. It was Guan Yu's son. And I take the time to study him. He kind of reminds me of Wakka. Hm… maybe it's just the hair. Brown spiky hair held in check with a bandanna, I can empathize with him there. He's wearing deep green robes with plates of armor here and there and the hilt of a large sword is poking up over his shoulder. He is blushing, and I'm not quite sure why. Maybe he's nervous of strangers?
"Hello. My name is Guan Ping. I understand I have you to thank for saving my father. I thank you, deeply. If there is ever a need my blade is yours for the aid you gave my family this day."
I don't recognize all of words, but I get what he is saying. I start to try attaching meaning to the words I didn't know before.
"Hello. My name is Rikku," I repeat his greeting back to him. "There was no problem to help next to Guan Yu, to yourfather. I was happy to be fighting with his side."
He gives a small grin at my words. And I feel a moment of panic. Oh no! What if I didn't say that right? What if I mispronounced something and it completely changed the meaning of what I was trying to say? I could have just said something horribly embarrassing, like… I dunno…like offering to sleep with his hypello! Eww, icky!
"I say it wrong way?" I ask in his tongue. Paranoid now I bite my lip and wait for his response. I got the words of that question from the sphere rather than trying to make out what words mean from listening to Guan Yu though so I actually know what they mean, and I'm pretty sure I'm saying them the right way.
His eyes widen and he rushes to respond, "No! No! Father already told me you weren't from our land. I understood what you meant. It's fine. It's good."
"So why did you smile at my saying?" I ask, hesitant.
"It was just the way you speak. I like your accent!" He blurted at me.
"I am not understanding what accent means," I admit.
"It's not what you said it's the way you sound when you speak. It's very um… musical."
I'm not sure if musical is a good thing but he is trying to be nice to me. I smile my gratitude at his reassurance. At least I know I didn't say anything really unfortunate. What a relief that is!
"Your eyes are-!" the boy blurts out. He stares at my face, not finishing his thought.
"I am not understanding what you mean," I respond. But I can hazard a guess, I think with a mental sigh. He's noticed my eyes. I'm going to have to start wearing my goggles so I don't freak people out.
Guan Yu joins us, "My son, I must report to my Brother. I am leaving you in charge of the defense of the castle while I am away. I shall have more soldiers sent to be stationed here as quickly as possible."
"Of course father. I will take care of things here. You have much to report to our Lord. I wish you safety on your trip."
Guan Yu turns his attention to me. "Rikku, will you come with me to meet myBrother? He will want very much to meet you."
Having someone to keep me company and teach me things while I travel?
"Of course!" I bounce on my toes eagerly.
A choking noise comes from my right and I turn to look at Guan Ping.
"Are you well?" I ask, worried about him. His face is really red and he clears his throat.
"Fine," he sounds a bit strangled. I cock my head and look at him. Maybe Guan Ping's getting sick? Guan Yu is stroking his beard with a considering look at his son. He must be concerned about him too. Oh that reminds me!
I should leave some potions here in case Guan Ping gets attacked. Guan Yu thinks some of those other guys might try to sneak back into the castle since they have to know there aren't that many people here. I start mentally shuffling through my inventory and draw several potions and phoenix downs from my item sphere. Proudly I present the bottles to Guan Ping. He's staring at me like I've grown another head. I huff and push them toward him again. When he has the bottles cradled in his arms I pluck two of the potions from his arms and hold the first one up to show the bottle to him.
"This is Potion, it fixes hurts. Um… bleeding hurts. This Phoenix Down-" I show him the next bottle "-is to stay not dead if you are almost lose life." I place them back into the boy's arms, and he stares at the bottles he's holding with wide eyes. Even Guan Yu seems startled, and is staring at the bottles. As are the soldiers who had nonchalantly been moving closer to pretend they weren't eavesdropping on our conversation. Hehehe! How funny!
Guan Yu would be very sad to lose his son, so it's nothing to give him some of my potions stock. It's not like my inventory wasn't maxed out before I arrived. I did mention that Shinra and I had been working on using the spheres outside of battle right? We were still in the process of experimenting to find out completely what all the spheres were capable and all the ways they could be used. That includes the Alchemist sphere. Took us a while but once we figured out how to use the sphere abilities outside of combat I realized that without rushing through battle you can actually use the sphere to create potion stores fairly easily. And I have a nice stock of elemental attack items laid away as well. Now I never run out of potions and things.
Rin was fuming (which happens so rarely that it's hilarious when he is, by the way) when I explained it to him, but we assured him that Shinra wasn't releasing the dress spheres for general use. That was why that sphere thief Leblanc stole Yunie's after all, she wanted to be able to use dress spheres the way we could. Oh yeah and she wanted to be famous. Anyway, only Yuna and Paine and me will ever be able to understand the full use of garment grids. I just think it's cool that I can always make more items when I need them.
Guan Ping's eyes are still wide when he raises them back to me.
"Is this how you saved my father?"
"Yes. It will keep safe for you, yes?" I respond happily.
Yeah you know if I understood exactly what traveling with Guan Yu would entail I would have been considerably less eager to do so.
Oh the land is beautiful. I get to ask all sorts of questions when we stop to rest. And the food is good, that is a man who knows how to cook. I haven't even had to track down any of my own food since he's brought his own along. Learning more of the language is fun, even if trying to find matching words in his language can seem exhausting. So why, oh why am I not happy with my current situation? Let me tell you.
My big friend failed to mention that for transportation we would be riding on the back of a tamed, and I use this term loosely, fiend. This thing is big and red, and… evil.
The first time we stopped for the night Guan Yu had the temerity to suggest that I help him rub the hateful beast down. Apparently he found it amusing that I was afraid of his riding animal. In order to get me over my fear he suggested that I try to do the brushing. He assured me it wouldn't eat me when I asked him about it- repeatedly and with many doubtful looks. Finally I moved closer to it with the hard bristly brush that he had provided for me to brush its coat with.
'Ow! That hurt!'
I really couldn't say how our altercation escalated to the beast rearing on his hind legs or how I ended up with my spear pointed at it.
"Rikku! No!" Guan Yu yelled. Brave man, he jumped between the two of us with his own blade held as an extra barrier. I banished my spear into the weapons slot of my item sphere (where did you think we kept our weapon when we weren't in combat?) to let him know I wasn't going to kill the monster no matter how much it may deserve it. He lowered his own weapon and with his free hand grabbed the reigns of Red Hare and began to speak soothing words to try and get it calmed down. It continued to tremble and stamp its feet. Its eyes rolled like it was possessed. It just might be possessed. That would explain a lot. I glower at it.
"I asked you to brush it, not impale it with your spear! What were you doing?" Guan Yu demanded when he got the horrid thing as calm as it was capable of being.
"It tried to eats me! You said it wouldn't eats me!" I accused, cradling my injured fingers to my chest.
"It's a war horse. You shouldn't put your hand close to its mouth if you don't know what you're doing. They're trained to kick and bite to aid their riders in close combat," he explained patiently. As patiently as one can when speaking through clenched teeth at any rate.
"War horse? It fights? Why you didn't tell me we were riding a… a fiend!"
"Fiend?" he asks, confused.
Apparently I have no words that can explain what a fiend is. The monsters of my world were so varied and the logic behind what they were? Oh this explanation was not working. I stared at him helplessly. Guan Yu's didn't understand when I tried to explain to him what a fiend was. He calls it a horse. I call it Evil. And there is nothing that will convince me to like it. Believe me when I say the feeling is mutual. That thing has it in for me. When I try to tell Guan Yu about his horse fiend's thirst for my blood he simply laughs and says "Well Red Hare can be bit more temperamental than most. That is, he can be hard to get along with at times, if you don't know how to handle him."
So Guan Yu's people capture these fiends and train them so that they are capable of doing damage even while you are fighting. This is actually pretty clever. Kind of like chocobo knights or me with my Machina Maw; except Maw is cute and awesome. This thing stares at me with these beady black eyes just waiting for me to get close enough to try to kill me again. I swear to you it was trying to rip my arm off that first night! Guan Yu won't believe me when I say that his horse fiend is plotting to kill us but one of these days he's going to wake up dead from having his brains bashed in by the wicked thing and then I'll be telling him that I told him so. So there!
And riding it? You know getting anywhere near a vicious brute is an unnerving experience, but being on it…? Guan Yu got tired of my refusal to get near it and hauled me up on the saddle with him the first time he wanted to leave. He's had to do that every time he's wanted to travel fast because I'm certainly not getting up on that hard stiff saddle of that monster voluntarily. The thing that passes for a saddle among Guan Yu's people is stiff leather and nothing like the soft, feathered back of a chocobo. Speaking of which, where are all the chocobos? I never thought I'd say this after having ridden the Celsius or hovers but I miss them.
You don't walk away from a chocobo ride feeling like you were in a game of blitz ball- one where you were the ball. And they're really sweet and friendly when you catch one too. They have a nice side to side swaying motion when they run, and they have soft wings that come up on either side and keep you from falling off. They're closer to the ground so if you somehow do manage to fall off there is less chance of injury. The monster that we are riding has this unnatural gate, front and back and up and down. Now I have bruises in places that I never even knew I was capable of bruising. Owie. But the biggest difference is that I have never had a chocobo try to rip my head off with its beak. I mean, not after you've caught it anyway.
Do you know after that first night he actually kept trying to teach me how to take care of that beast? I had to explain to him that I kill monsters like the horse fiend and I shouldn't be responsible for the care and upkeep of something I'm predisposed to take out. Guan Yu let it go after that. But finally, after what was probably a bit more than a week's travel we arrived at the edge of a city. It could have been less or more than that, it's gotten hard for me to keep track of time of late. Apparently we would have arrived sooner but my refusal to ride his Red Hare slowed our progress. By that time I was getting almost used to the Red Hare and we had settled into a comfortably sullen dislike for each other. I didn't raise my weapon whenever it looked at me now and the attempts on my life had eased up. Maybe in a few years I can be convinced to actually brush him again or something. Unless I can avoid him completely and never see him again. This is a much more preferable alternative. And the horse fiend, I think, would agree.
We get off the horse fiend and Guan Yu takes the reigns and leads it behind him. It's odd. I spent weeks wandering around the forest alone, now that we've reached a city I'd rather not be around people. They're all staring at us. I shrink closer to Guan Yu. He's really big, I wonder if I snuck behind him and walked in his shadow if no one would notice me. I flick a glance over my shoulder to gauge where his shadow is- yeah too freaking close to Red Hare for my comfort, eh heh heh. I'll just, um, stay up here and get stared at thanks. Although I'd really like to know why they are staring, I'm dressed in the same colors as Guan Yu, so my clothes fit in here, right? At least back home I knew if strangers were staring at me it was because I was an Al Bhed. Here I'm different enough to be stared at but I'm not completely sure why. It makes me nervous.
I tug on the green sleeve of his robe, "Guan Yu, they look at us.
"Rikku, you look very different from anyone they have ever seen. That is why they stare."
"I am not the same. So they do not hate I am not the same? Am I not safe?"
"How do you mean?" Guan Yu frowns down at me.
"Not safe with them? No… um, I mean to say not safe from them?"
"Of course you're safe. No one here would dare harm you," he speaks as he always does in his grand announcement style. I probably sound silly asking for reassurance that they aren't going to attack me, but I've had some experiences back home, especially before the Calm that make me nervous about standing out in a crowd. All I want is to know that no is going to take one look at me and decide I need to be shanked. I give him a hesitant grin. There are several bows and nods of agreement on hearing his words, and many people hurry to clear the street before us. Huh? Maybe it's not just me they're staring at after all. Maybe it's Guan Yu who everyone is staring at. He's really big and I guess he seems kind of intimidating… you know, in a big teddy bear sort of way.
We wind our way through the city. I study the people in turn as we continue on our way. They are all so different from anything I've ever known. I can tell some color with my goggles on but mostly I can tell the difference from the shade of the material. Their clothes are made of drab colors. I can make out faded greens, purples and grays, with little hints of bright bold color here and there among the shop pavilions and the apparently higher ranked people. At least they seem more important. It's not just the way they dress with more layers and brighter colors; it's the way the simple clothed people react to them. All of the important people seem to have layers. So, my clothes show I have no rank then? Well, I'm not from around here; of course I don't have any rank.
I continue to reassure myself in this vein as we make our way along the streets, and soon enough I am cheerfully bouncing along at Guan Yu's side asking questions about everything we pass. There are little kids playing in the street and guards walking on patrol. And there are open stalls with food and bright over hangings to protect their wares. Some women in pretty dresses are gathered in a small huddle gossiping and are keeping an eye on the children. Is it just me or does everyone here seem to have dark hair? Over there are some men loading up these strange carts with only two wheels and no evil fiends to pull them. I wonder how that works. Ooh! That guy has to pull it himself? But that looks so heavy! An old man creeks by with a walking stick and another man takes his arm to help him up the steps of the building he was angling for. Guan Yu tries to tell me a bit about the building. It turns out that was some sort of temple place and the old man is likely going there to pray. So they do have temples here. I wonder what kind of Fayth they worship.
Finally we arrive at what seems to be our destination. It's a big building made of wood with large doors, and there are bales of straw scattered around the fenced area extending out behind it. A stable of some sort then? I trot happily along behind him until I step through the open doors and stop dead. Rows and rows of them stretch before my gaze- horse fiends. I'm sure my eyes must be the size of saucers behind the lenses of my goggles and I don't even bother trying to keep the horror off of my face when I turn to look at Guan Yu. This feels like the ultimate betrayal! He knows I can't stand horse fiends! I've had enough of the one I've had to put up with for the last Spira only knows how long, and now he leads me into a stable of them?
He chuckles at my reaction! Actually chuckles! I draw my eyebrows together into my fiercest frown, wrinkles be damned and when that proves insufficient I spit out a string of Al Bhed obscenities. It's rare that I swear, but…. Argghhh! Taste my RAGE, Guan Yu!
"Calm yourself, Rikku," he rumbles with amusement. "We're just here so that you no longer have to ride on Red Hare. This way we can actually make decent time. We need to get to my Brotherand get some men sent back to Fan. You won't have to ride on Red Hare and these horses aren't trained to fight. In fact you won't even have to ride on a horse at all. I'm hiring a cart for use."
I pause my tirade to consider his words.
"I will not ride the horse fiends?" I ask him suspiciously.
"My word of honor," he answers. His attempt at a solemn tone is ruined completely by the amusement dancing in his dark eyes. I huff and cross my arms over my chest, but I can't hold out against his look and I feel my lips start to tremble into a completely involuntary smile. It's a curse I tell you. No matter how angry I am if someone starts smiling at me I can't help cracking a smile right back. Giving into the giggles threatening to escape, I nod my agreement.
"Fine. I will ride this cart you are getting, as long as I don't have to ride your horse fiend anymore."
I notice the man staring at us from beside a fence, the man that Guan Yu had begun to speak with before I had my moment.
"Eh heh heh,… erm… Hello?" I give him a big sheepish grin. I dip my head to hide my blush. Having been raised around rather rough and tumble males there's really not a lot of things that make me blush but I've just added a new one to my list.
Guan Yu says something too rapidly to follow, and the startled man tilts his head back to stare up at my once more friend (yes I've already forgiven him for bringing me into a building full of horse fiends). His alarmed look fades into one of humor and he gestures, a wide sweep of his arm toward the back of the stable. I crane my head to look, but I don't see what he's pointing out. Guan Yu nods his head in agreement to something the small man says.
"Rikku, stay here please. I will be back in a moment."
I open my mouth, arguments springing instantly to the tip of my tongue, but then I remember the horse fiends. I'd have to pass by them all if I wanted to go with him to the back of the stable. I sweep the lot of them with a dark look. I nod to the two men and settle my back against the wall beside the door without a word.
See? I can be taught new tricks.
The two of them wander off and within minutes I am bored half out of my mind. I slide down the wall to sit on the ground and I start to go through my garment grids to keep myself entertained. It's turned out to be easier for me to simply keep wearing my Shu dress sphere, because for some reason when I wear it, the words that I hear seem to make sense, like it's easier to learn the language of Guan Yu's people. I guess it's one of the status effects of the sphere, like dark proof or sleep resistance. So that makes it more practical to equip lore accessories that will allow me to tap my job class skills rather than waste the time it would take to completely change from say the Shu to the Black Mage. This is great because this way I don't have to change into a Black Mage outfit every time I want to cast a spell, and I can keep wearing my Shu sphere. I haven't had to change since arriving at the castle fight.
My not having to change is helped by the fact that all of the garment grids have been inlaid with an automatic item sphere. Shinra made sure that when we shifted grids we would be able to transfer our items with them so we could access our stores as we need them. He's a clever boy our Shinra. Actually, I haven't had to change my garment grid either; I've just kept Supreme Light equipped. One of my absolute favorite garment grids. With this garment grid equipped I can tap all of my White Magic spells without even having to carry the White Mage dress sphere on the grid: not to mention I can use Auto-life if I ever take massive damage and I can use Holy magic if I cycle through enough nodes. It's the little things you know?
My hands trace the nodes on my grids and I begin to place my unused spheres into empty slots. You know, I hadn't really thought about it too hard, but Guan Yu was really startled the first time I used my fire spell to light a fire when we stopped for the night. I didn't even make it a big one. I've learned how to control the size within the strength range of the spells I know. I mean, I can direct and contain the force of the spells I cast now. Darn it, I know what I mean. But still… I haven't seen anyone else use any magic yet. And the way everyone reacted to the items I gave Guan Ping? It was weird. Does that mean that this land doesn't sell recovery items? What do they do when they get hurt? And what… what does that mean about me? I mean if just these couple of things I can do freak them out, then what if they find out what else I can do? Will they be afraid of me? I was worried that people wouldn't like me because I look different, but what if they don't like me because they're afraid of what I can do?
I bite my lip at the thought. Maybe I shouldn't use my other spheres or lores unless I really need them? I mean, Guan Yu already knows about my magic and my items, so I can keep using them, but I probably shouldn't say… bust out my Gunner sphere again unless it becomes necessary. I mean, I know I used it at Fan Castle to chase those guys in the red outfits off of Guan Yu, but I haven't seen anybody else with any guns around here. And those red guys were seriously freaked out by a little gun fire. What a way to seriously stick out. Ok then, I'll only use my dress spheres if I really need them, and I'll only use the garment grids with subtle abilities if I have to change them. There! That should make it easier to fit in. Well as much as possible when I'm a skinny little blond with weird goggley eyes as far as everyone else is concerned.
I let my spare garment grids fall from my fingers and my item sphere catches them in the accessories section with a swirl of white light. Then I let my head fall into my hands as the reality of my situation slams home. Hehe, get it? Home? Ok lameness, I know. I couldn't be farther from home and everyone I love. And worse, I am powerful. I shiver at the thought. I mean I guess I was powerful back home, but there were always things out there that were more powerful. Oh I miss Spira, I miss my friends. I miss being even less of a freak than I am now. I even kind of miss my family, weird as that thought is. This is horrible. Even if I'm making new friends and learning the language, I could lose them if my suspicions are right.
"Rikku, I have the cart ready to go," Guan Yu's voice interrupts my self pity party. Which is probably a good thing because pitying myself more for having powers than for having been torn away from everything I've ever known is a bit weird now that I think about it. Well no use worrying about it right now. I could just be working myself up over nothing. Yeah that's probably it. I just miss my home and that's making everything seem worse than it is. That's all. I give a sharp nod, confirming the thought. I pop to my feet and give myself a little bounce to perk myself up.
He frowns down at me.
"What is wrong?"
"Wrong?" I blink up at him.
"You seemed to be upset about something when I came in."
"No, it is nothing." I wave away his concern. "I had a moment of thinking about where I am from. I am not like people here; it makes me miss where I am most the same. I miss where I am from."
"You are homesick," he says with an understanding look.
"Homesick," I repeat dutifully, agreement lacing my tone. "There is nothing to do for it to be fixed. So it is not happy to think on it. Now! Let us see this cart!" I bounce again and wave my hands animatedly.
"Very well." He strokes his beard and turns to lead the way outside. I can't control my giggle at the gesture but I follow after him.
Oh! So that is what cart means! It's a sort of wagon. One of the horse fiends is attached to the front. Guan Yu climbs up into the driver's seat. The Red Hare's reigns are attached to the side of the wagon in a sort of leash way so that he doesn't have to stay terribly close to the wagon (thankfully) but he can't wander off to eat small children (thankfully). And that leaves me in the back unless I want to get closer to the horse fiends than I have to be. So I clamber up into the back of the cart. There is some sort of hay lacing the bottom; I guess that's for the horses while we travel? Except there's no blood for Red Hare to drink so maybe the hay is just to sit on. I'm about to plop myself down when Guan Yu tosses his traveling cloak into the back with me. I thank him and spread it out over the hay and settle down so that I'm close to the front of the cart so I can talk with him while he's driving.
This is much better. What a much more civilized way to travel than bouncing around on the back of a horse fiend.
We spent a few more days on the road. It's been okay really. Things have been calm since we've started riding on the cart. Somehow though, the past couple of days I've been kind of tired. I guess the stress is finally catching up to me a bit. Man I thought I would kill for a bed and a bathroom complete with indoor plumbing when I first got here. Now? I've never felt my mouth water over anything other than food, but the thought of a nice room to sleep in is enough to make me positively salivate with longing.
Mmmm, a big tub where I'm able to soak as long as I want? That would be heaven. Maybe I'd put out candles to light the room while I relax. There would be big fluffy towels waiting for me when I'm ready to get out. And when I got out there would be a nice comfy bed with feather pillows instead of scratchy straw to sleep on… Oooh, I don't think I'd even bother getting dressed, I'd slowly dry myself off and slide between the sheets. I'd just lay there and enjoy feeling the cool material against my nice clean skin. I'd have used some of my favorite bubble bath and body wash when I was in the tub, so I'd get to go to sleep surrounded with the soft scent of vanilla and honey. Or maybe I'd use the cherry almond or, or one of the other bottles I have stocked in my item sphere. Yeah, I'd use something sweet and soothing while I get to luxuriate in the feeling of a soft mattress beneath my body.
I guess I must have fallen asleep because I wake up to the sound of a crowd of voices all exclaiming. I lay there on my uncomfortable bed of hard wood covered in scratchy straw and wrapped in the big folds of my friend's cloak. Eugh. I should have just stayed asleep. I can see beyond the hood that I pulled up over my head when I lay down that evening enough to see that it's gotten pretty dark. It was still light when I settled down earlier. I shift my arms but I'm a bit tangled. I still and just listen to the voices. Such a mix of emotions: tearful happiness; relief; joy that trembled at the edges with grief. The sound of a reunion where the family and friends were worried for their loved one's safety.
I feel my eyes sting with tears. I'm happy for him that he has so many people to care so deeply for him. I've never… no one has ever acted like that for me before, not even when I was little. They are all speaking over each other and I can hear Guan Yu's name. Actually I can hear Guan Yu's voice speaking to them, asking worried questions. He sounds a bit confused by the display, but heartened that his friends are so worried about him. I blink rapidly, ignoring the snake that wriggles upward through my stomach to wrap around my heart and flick its tongue against my lungs. It hurts my throat to breathe.
I turn my head into the straw, letting the scent fill my nose through the thick material of the cloak. I clench my eyes shut but I force my muscles to relax, one by one. Finally, finally I relax my jaw and the muscles of my face. My chest loosens and I'm able to take slow deep breaths. A meditation that teaches stillness in one's body, and seeks peace in one's heart. I learned this from my mother when I was little, before she died. I have family who care about me. That they aren't here doesn't change the fact that they care. They may not show it like Guan Yu's people, but I know that they must be worried about me. I'm certainly worried about them.
Honestly what are the Gullwings going to do without me now? Yunie and Paine probably won't rejoin them. Pops is back to rebuilding Home with the rest of the Al Bhed. It took him a while to get back on track, but he's given up on the Zanarkand Ruins and back to being the Elder. Buddy tends the Celsius; Shinra's a techno geek even by Al Bhed standards, and Brother… Well he can fight, but he's not the greatest. To be perfectly honest, his aim hasn't really improved since we were children. Since the three of them can't really hunt spheres by themselves I really do wonder what they're going to do without me.
"-Rikku saved my life, and then she helped me capture Fan Castle. She also left healing potions with Guan Ping to help keep his men safe until reinforcements arrive. We all owe her a great debt," Guan Yu pronounces loudly. I guess he's finished calming his crew down; well that's probably my cue. I manage to untangle my legs enough to stand, which I do with a groan. Oww-crick in neck- ow! I tilt my head until my neck pops, and the hood slips farther down my head until it flops down over my face.
"Nothing is owed. It was no problem to be helping Guan Yu. I am happy to be fighting next to your side," I correct him with some asperity. Really, how many times do I have to try to explain to him that it was no big deal, helping him out? I try to put my hands on my hips to stare down at him, but I didn't realize that I'm still standing on the edge of the cloak and the hood is still half blinding me. It turns out this is a bad combination because when I try to shift my weight I loose my balance. My arms windmill and I tumble over the side of the cart and hit the ground with a painful thump. Ow! Ow!-bruise on butt- Owww!
I rub my abused posterior. The hood fell back when I landed and I can see (sort of) so I glance up to a sea of gaping faces. It's too dark to get more than vague impression of lots of white and a dark color that is probably green and beards, and yeah… The goggles aren't helping a bit here. I mean all Al Bhed have great eye sight, which is why we can wear goggles even at night, but even I can't see very much with everyone standing with their backs to the lanterns that are casting light over us. I give them all an unsure grin and wave.
"Hello, my name is Rikku!" I chirp out.
This seems to be a cue of some sort because one man from the group detaches from the crowd and comes forward to offer me a hand. I accept it and he helps draw me to my feet. That's so nice! This close I can make out more of the man's face, he's an attractive middle aged man with a trimmed goatee and kind air about him. He's wearing some sort of armor and a helmet with white plumes sprouting from the top. If layers and fancy clothes signify importance then he must be very important.
"Greetings to you, Rikku. On behalf of Shu I, Liu Bei, thank you for the aid you offered us. And I personally thank you for saving the life of my sworn brother."
"Why do people keep seem to be so surprised that I help? It was not a big fight at the castle, and I have much-" I hesitate for a moment before correcting myself- "have many restore items to share. I am happy to help Guan Yu and Guan Ping. Wait- Brother? You are Guan Yu's Brother? He wanted me to see with you. Um, he wanted me to meet with you," I correct myself and bounce in pleasure at my improvement. I think I'm starting to get the hang of this language thing. Just a few more years and I might actually be fluent or something.
"Yes, I did wish for you all to meet Rikku," Guan Yu steps in and addresses the watching crowd, "however it's been a long journey and I know that Rikku has been wanting to have a bedroom to stay in for some time now. Perhaps the introductions can wait until we're all rested?"
"Of course. You both must be exhausted from your journey. Forgive me for not thinking of it myself!" this Liu Bei man exclaims. As he speaks a waiting servant rushes forward from the shadows and I jump at the sudden appearance of a young woman at my elbow.
"Please show Lady Rikku to a guest room. Bring a tray of food for her and make sure that a tub of hot water is prepared while she eats, and that the bed is ready for her. She is to be treated as any honored guest."
I was about to protest that a big fuss isn't necessary, but I got caught on the words food, bath, and bed. Food is a low third on that list, but I think I may have slept through supper time, so a snack wouldn't hurt. But a bath and a bed! I've been fantasizing for days now.
"I can have bath? And a bed to sleep in for?" I ask in a pathetically hopeful voice that startles chuckles out of several of the onlookers. I can be clean and nice place to sleep for a change? Ha, laugh all you want, if I get a bed and a bath, I couldn't care less.
"Go on Rikku. I must report what happened, but you should get some rest. You can meet everyone else in the morning," Guan Yu, nudges me gently toward the waiting servant. She bows at me and turns to lead the way, and I follow eagerly after. Several times as we wind our ways through the halls I trip on the hem of Guan Yu's cloak, but I eventually grab large folds of it in my fists so that I don't biff it and keep trooping along after her. I'll have to remember to give it back to him later.
Soon we arrive in a room and the servant girl bows to me once more. Wow, these people sure like to bow a lot. So I bow back and smile at her. She is a pretty little thing (a little bit shorter than I am even) with big brown eyes and two ponytail braids of matching brown. She's probably a couple of years younger than me. She looks baffled.
"My name is Rikku. What name is yours?" I ask curiously. I walk into the room into the room and stare around. The room is done predominantly in greens and blues with dark wood furniture and carpets in various shades scattered about the wooden floors. Paper lanterns and some candles light the room. There is a large fire place but it's not cold enough to have any fires lit at the moment. There is a bookshelf filled with books with strange characters marking some of the spines. Most are simply bare except for the dark covers. There's a large bed in the center of the room, it's low to the ground but piled with pillows and blankets. In the corner is a bath tub partially hidden behind a beautifully painted screen. My eyes light up the second they land on it. I spin around with a big grin to see the servant girl staring at me with a look of open fascination on her face. Well, I guess I do seem odd around here. The minute she sees that I am looking back at her (just as curiously, mind you) she drops her gaze to the floor.
"My name is Lin Lixue, Lady Rikku."
"Lin Lixue. That is pretty for a name. Well thanks to you for leading me to this room. It is pretty. I am liking it very much, yes?"
She draws her brows together at me, an uncertain look on her face. Aw come on, I know I didn't mess up what I was saying that time!
"Did you not want a bath to be drawn for you, Lady Rikku?"
"Want a bath drawn for me?" I repeat, mystified. I really don't get that one. There is a knock on the door before I can try to think of a response. Lin Lixue scuttles over to the door. Soon a couple of servants dressed in the green and grey apparently favored among the staff of the place we're at came through the door with large wooden buckets. I stare. What the? They shuffle in with their buckets, careful not to spill anything. Soon they are pouring water in the large tub.
Oh my goodness! If it's the two of them and they're filling the tub like that then… Oh that's so not necessary! I squawk in protest when I realize they plan on fill up the bath by hauling buckets back and forth. I startle one of the men and he nearly sloshes water on the floor but the other servant helps him steady his large bucket in time. Both the men and the serving girl stare at me.
"Sorry, sorry!" I raise my hands and take a deep breath. "That is not needed. I can make my own bath. It is too much a problem for you to carry water," I try to clarify.
The three of them continue to stare at me.
In explanation I walk over to the tub and shove the material trailing over my hands up until it's bunched up by my elbows. I hold my palms over the tub. A moment of concentration and then I cast, "Water!"
The three of them fall back in shock.
"Um… see?" I announce brightly to cover my sudden nerves. Again I forgot that these people aren't used to magic. "I can make my own bath. You don't have to work extra and carry water."
Lin Lixue is the first to recover.
"Lady Rikku is too kind in thinking of us," she says faintly. There is awe on her face as she stares at the full tub. "Truly she is deserving of respect."
Then she bows low. A sharp glance at the men from the corner of her eyes makes the men follow her example. The two also bow deeply and speak soft words that may be thanks, or entreaties for their lives. Considering the fear that had flashed in their eyes when they saw me cast, I was betting on the latter. Of course, hopefully that had eased somewhat now that they know I meant them no harm. Hurriedly the men make their excuses to leave and pick up their buckets. They made several bows as they backed toward the door, and a very quick escape.
I sigh. "They are fear of me."
Lin Lixue shakes her head.
"They are impressed by your power. They are doubtlessly running down to the kitchens this moment to tell all of them about what they just witnessed. By now there is not a single person in this castle who is not speaking about the safe return of Lord Guan Yu, and the foreign girl who saved his life. By morning there will not be a single person in this castle who has not heard of your magic. There were several of us who gathered to see what the commotion was about and witnessed his return. According to the messenger who reported on the battle of Fan Lord Guan Yu fell in battle."
"Eh? He did fall!" I inform her in remembered irritation. "He was freaking heavy too! And it took me a phoenix down and ten whole hi-potions to fix him."
She blinks at my reaction. Apparently she can't think of a response to what I'm saying. Or she doesn't understand what I'm saying. I can't be bothered to expound on the experience. My back aches just thinking about how much that man weighs. Even with my Berserker sphere it was a major struggle to get him out of the rain.
"If Lady Rikku would like to bathe I will have food readied for when you are finished."
"I… That will be nice to do for me. My thanks to you, Lin Lixue."
"I heard what Lord Guan Yu said of you, about you saving his life. Seeing the magic you wield… I believe him. Your thanks are not necessary. We do owe you a great debt."
"People keep speaking of owed. It is not right. I am owed nothing."
"As you say Lady Rikku. Perhaps with your magic you may not think it a great deal, but you saved the life of our Lord's brother. What you have done is greater than you realize. Please don't trivialize it, because his life is worth a great deal to all of us."
This time it's my turn to be unable to really think of a response to what she's saying. Abruptly I change the subject.
"I am going to bath now, please."
With another graceful bow she backed away and quietly slipped from the room. The moment she's gone I groan and face palm. Way to keep a low profile Rikku. Well there's no help for it now. If these people weren't gossiping about me now, those people from the Fan Castle would be, so it's not exactly like my entrance allowed for a low profile. Guan Yu had explained a bit more about the war that was going on around here. Will it even be possible not to end up using my dress spheres to help them? No, not likely. If I can help my friends then that's what I'll do, even if it means crashing a party that isn't mine.
My eyes land on the large tub. I've never seen a tub like this before. This is made of a warm golden brown wood. It had a high curved back perfect for leaning against that sloped down to slightly lower sides. Beside the tub was a small wooden stool. On top of the stool was a carefully folded robe and a few small squares of a soft material. Hand towels? They don't use regular towels? Aw man. Huh… well two out of three isn't bad and I am being fed. I'll take it. I shrug off the cloak and with no place better to put it I toss it over the screen. With my hands free I'm able to shove them into the cool water and a minute later my underwater fira spell has heated the bath to a lightly steaming temperature. Perfect, I purr happily to myself as I set about hurriedly stripping off my grid. Green cloth disappears completely in a shimmer of soft light. I summon my washing supplies and my brush from my item sphere and set them down on the little space I made beside the little towels.
I slide into the warm water and let myself sink until the water is up to my chin. Leaning my head back against the high back of the tub I close my eyes. I know I'll have to work on unbraiding and untangling my hair sometime before I get out of the tub but right now I can't be bothered to care.
Bliss.
End Notes: