Ruby and Emerald (part 5 of 9)

Note: This chapter is a little dark. Still within rating, just giving warning.

“Dammit Yuna, what the hell?” Paine twisted to look to where Yuna had been pointing as Rikku tried to sit up a bit better and see herself. The already pale woman went a lighter shade as she spied what it was that caused Yuna to react in such a fashion. “…oh…”

Rikku felt a twinge of worry at seeing Paine’s reaction, managing to prop herself up with her good arm and look over the warrior’s shoulder. Her eyes widened and she lightly bit her lip, a shudder flowing through her.

The stand of trees wasn’t very large, much easier to see in the daylight than it was in the dim firelight. The trees were knotted and gnarly, bent from growing under the buffeting of the ocean winds and storms. A few sparse grasses grew about the base of the trunks, a thick, odd-looking vine winding around as well. None of this was so unusual, but what was higher up off the ground was. Strung up with the vines and pieces of wire were the corpses of several beings, set up in a rather macabre scene, as if reenacting a battle. Four bodies, dressed in Al-bhed style clothing were set up so they were facing off against a Ronso, Guado, and two Yevonites, all with weapons drawn and in a stage of attack. A few pyre flies floated among the corpses as they swayed slightly in the wind.

“That’s…not normal.” Rikku broke the silence, her eyes locked on the Al-bhed, disturbed by what the scene represented almost more than the bodies themselves. She noted that despite the likely humid location of the island, the corpses looked like the bodies occasionally found in the desert during digs, dried and stiff.

Yuna turned around and faced the water, and began to talk to the communicator, trying to get Buddy or Shinra online, her eyes still clenched closed. Paine blinked a few times and shook her head. “I’ve never seen anything like that.”

“It’s like it’s some sort of…snapshot? Of the things that happened in the past. A disturbing memorial to something, but why way out here where there’s nothing? Paine, help me stand.” Rikku bit her lower lip as she pushed herself up further.

“Why?” Paine didn’t try to keep Rikku down, standing as she lifted the thief to her feet. Her eyes looked over Rikku, a little dismayed to see that the suns light didn’t do much to help improve the way the girls’ injuries looked.

“I want to see it closer…” Rikku took a few steps towards the center of the island.

“Don’t go near it!” Yuna spun about and ran in front of Rikku, holding her arms out as she faced her cousin, tears in her eyes. Rikku blinked and stepped back once, bumping lightly into Paine, who automatically rested her hands at Rikku’s side to steady her.

“Yunie? I know it’s not exactly the nicest thing to see, but I want to see who did it and if there’s a sign of why someone did it…”

“No! I know who did it, and when we leave we have to set fire to this island.” Yuna was visibly shaking at this point.

Paine narrowed her eyes slightly. “Yuna, we should at least bury them, or you should do a sending, you’re still a summoner even if the aeons are gone, setting the island on fire is a little extreme…”

Yuna shook her head, taking Rikku’s good hand in hers and looking to her with pleading eyes, back and forth between her and Paine. “No, there’s nothing that I can do, a sending wouldn’t work, and it might make things worse. Please, let’s just get in the raft and get away from here a little?”

Rikku frowned, looking irritated and exhausted. “Yuna, I’m not moving until you at least tell me why this is making you so upset!” Her expression softened as a choked sob came from the dark haired girl, and she squeezed Yuna’s hand. “Yunie, please?” She leaned back against Paine slightly.

“I…it’s…it’s not something that’s done anymore, and it hadn’t been done for years. Part of my training as a summoner was to look for these, and destroy them. They were something that even the church was against, even though it had been the idea of a counsel so long ago.” She let go of Rikku’s hand and sank down to her knees, shivering and wrapping her arms around herself. Rikku leaned heavily against Paine, murmuring to the warrior, who helped the thief sit, settling behind her herself.

“What are they?” Paine asked, looking up to the center of the island again. Death wasn’t a stranger to her, but this particular thing was. Rikku stayed silent, but reached out and took Yuna’s hand in hers.

“Curses. The people who made them knew that the Al-bhed traveled, and believed that these would haunt them, or keep them from settling somewhere.” She squeezed Rikku’s hand, not looking up from her lap, and Rikku scowled a little, glancing up at the trees again.

“So they murdered innocent people and strung them up in trees?” Rikku narrowed her eyes. The cruelties of the old church of Yevon were far from unknown by her, but this was a new one for even her.

Yuna nodded lightly. “The Al-bhed were killed on sight back when this was in place. The others in the scene were usually volunteers, actually. The Ronso eventually stopped being involved in this, and when one of the more pacifistic leaders who preached forgiveness as a method to change them instead of being so violent came into power, these were outlawed and commanded that they be destroyed. All summoners were taught to destroy these with fire when found.” She reached up and ran her fingers through her hair. “Trying to perform a sending would be bad. I was told it would awaken some type of ancient fiend that had a habit of settling below these. If you went near it Rikku, you might have woken it up.”

Paine made a light sound of disbelief. “How old is it then?”

Yuna shrugged. “Hundreds of years.”

“But, I never heard of anything like this! We aren’t exactly shy about talking about the horrors that Yevon did to us, and something like this would definitely have been mentioned. There’s no way that all of them would have been destroyed before someone found them…” Rikku was completely confused.

“I imagine most were destroyed rather quickly, the church could work fast when they wanted to. How long was this…’program’ in place, Yuna?” Paine ran a hand through her hair, faintly rubbing at her tired eyes.

“I don’t know, they didn’t exactly get that much into the history. It was mentioned during my training only as an aside, since it was believed that all of them were destroyed. They obviously missed one.” Yuna scowled, her pretty features twisted with the expression. “It was one of the things I hated the most, the blind stupidity. I didn’t…I mean, for fayth sake, I’m half Al-bhed! I just…grah.” She stood up and paced towards the waters edge, jabbing at the communicator again. “Dammit Buddy, wake up.”

Rikku looked towards Yuna’s back for a few quiet moments, then sighed and looked back towards the trees. “Ironic in a way, then, that this island should save my life. Maybe they’re making up for it, in some small way.”

Paine smiled lightly. “Maybe. Shall we do as Yuna asked?” She tilted her head towards the raft, an eyebrow arched slightly.

“Eh, why not. And the burning will be like a funeral pyre, which is what we do anyway.” The blond grunted lightly as she shifted to her knees and stood, leaning slightly away from Paine’s touch. “I can stand, it’s okay, now that I’m more awake.”

Paine kept her hand at Rikku’s elbow anyway. “Just because you can doesn’t mean that you should.”

“I’m only picking up your stubbornness.”

“You certainly don’t need any more of that, meddma dreav.” (Little thief)

Rikku blushed lightly as she walked over to Yuna, tilting her head slightly as she caught the tail end of the conversation the gunner was having with the Celsius. “Well, if you can’t pinpoint it, don’t worry, there’ll be a lot of smoke.”

Buddy’s voice sounded tinny through the little earpiece. “Hey, great idea Yuna, a signal fire will definitely be visible. Just be careful, okay? Don’t need anyone else hurt in all of this.”

“Sig…oh, yeah, right. Yeah, we’ll be careful. Likely sit in the raft or something just incase.” Yuna looked a little guilty as she spoke, and Rikku had to smile a little. “Yuna out.” The communicator clicked off with an electronic beep.

“Any idea how long it’ll take them to get here?” Rikku faintly bit her lower lip as she adjusted the makeshift sling of her scarf.

“Buddy said about an hour. The controls are fixed, but the strain he put on the engine yesterday broke a few things, and Brother’s working on it. He’ll use the auxiliary engines to guide it here.” Yuna turned around with a soft sigh, looking back at the center of the island. “Anything specific you want to do in regards to the pyre?” She looked sideways to Rikku and Paine, Paine looking a little confused for a moment until she remembered the mention of the Al-bhed funeral practices earlier.

“Heh, didn’t think you remembered that.”

“I was there, remember.”

“Not totally. Pops wouldn’t let me out of his reach for a month, and I was younger than you.”

Yuna disappeared for a moment in a brief flash of light, reappearing in her Black Mage dressphere. “Well, regardless, I remember. I just don’t know if there were any specifics?”

Rikku shook her head before bowing towards the center of the island, her lips moving as she murmured something to soft to be heard. She turned around and walked to the raft past the still confused Paine, who was attempting to piece together what the short conversation meant without asking directly. “Nothing else. Go ahead Yunie.”

Paine briefly looked as if she were going to give in and ask, but decided that the seriousness of the issue should be left as is, and that she was too tired to ask anyway. She helped Rikku into the raft and pushed it into the water, standing with the water up to her knees, holding the raft still while she turned and watched Yuna. “Careful not to wake anything up, hey Yuna? I’m not in the mood to fight anything.”

Yuna smiled faintly. “That’s a first. Mark that down, Rikku.”

Rikku giggled lightly, looking out towards the ocean. “Noted.”

Rolling her eyes, Paine crossed her arms and watched with a calm look hiding her curiosity as she watched Yuna prepare to cast Fira. Twirling her staff about, Yuna took careful aim at four points about the sides of the trees, easily launching the spell, hitting on target. Flames almost immediately started to grow as Yuna watched for a moment. Selecting four more points, she cast Fira once more, the double shot of magic quickly overtaking the trees and grasses. Thick black smoke began to rise into the sky as Yuna bowed, then turned and walked to join Rikku in the raft, changing back to gunner halfway.

Paine stood for a moment after Yuna climbed into the raft and settled herself behind Rikku, letting her cousin lean against her. The warrior’s eyes traced the flames as they steadily consumed the trees and bodies within, tilting her head back and watching the smoke drift up into the calm morning sky. “Cleansing.” Rikku made a sound of agreement and Paine settled herself in the raft, taking control of the engine and directing the raft a short distance away from the island before turning the engine off to save power. Silence settled on the three girls, Rikku drifting off to sleep again in Yuna’s arms as Paine leaned against the side of the inflatable raft, still watching the island.

“How are you going to set her arm?” Yuna’s question was so soft spoken that Paine almost didn’t realize it was said for a moment.

“Me?”

“Yeah, I figure you’ve more experience doing it, and I’d rather not have Barkeep doing it, even if he knows medicine.”

Paine arched an eyebrow as she lightly crossed her arms. “And what makes you assume I have experience with it?”

Yuna gestured a little with her free hand. “You’re a warrior…this is kinda your thing, isn’t it? On the pilgrimage, Auron and Lulu did everything that I couldn’t. Auron because he had to on his previous pilgrimage and it was in his training, and Lulu because well, she just sort of fell into it.”

Paine smiled faintly. “That motherly thing she has going on.” She had met the Black Mage a few times when Rikku made them stop in Besaid while sphere hunting before Yuna joined, wanting to check in on her cousin.

Yuna smiled. “Yeah, that motherly thing. With the Celsius in such beat up state, I don’t want to wait and try to get to Besaid, and this really needs to be taken care of…” Her dual colored eyes shone with worry as she looked down at Rikku.

Rubbing her forehead, Paine sighed lightly, leaning her head back and staring upwards at the sky. “Yeah, I know. I just. I don’t want to be the one to cause her more pain.” Her voice was soft as she spoke, words almost lost in the wind.

“How about you cast Sleep on her before? You’re a little higher in the Black Magic skills than I am, I’ve not learned that much.”

Paine blinked lightly. “That would work perfectly. It should last long enough that I get the bone set, and her wrist, and then you use Cura. That should heal it almost fully.”

Yuna nodded. “She’ll still have to be careful for a few days, but yes, that should do it. What did you guys do before I came?”

“Barkeep. Like you said, he has some training, and well, it was all we had now and then. If something were really serious we’d fly to Luca or Bikanel, which ever was closer. Since Shinra only figured out the dressphere abilities of the spheres we found just before you came, we didn’t have the ability to change into a White Mage. Rikku had limited magic, things she learned with you I suppose, but it wasn’t good enough for serious injuries. Barkeep, potions, and a fast airship.” Paine stretched her legs out, glancing over to the island again for a moment.

“Oh.” Yuna made a faint sound that roughly translated to ‘Glad I don’t have to deal with that’, and fell silent again. She and Paine both looked towards the island when an echoing crash sounded from it, one of the larger trees falling, taking down anything that was left standing. Yuna sighed again and closed her eyes, turning away. “I wish we hadn’t found that. I’m glad that we were able to take care of it, but, still…”

Paine didn’t answer, simply continued to watch the flames as they started to die down. She sat more upright after a little bit and started the boat engine again, moving it back a little closer to the island, the current having taken them away a distance. Turning the engine off again, she tilted her head, turning and squinting at the horizon. “Here comes the Celsius.”

The red airship glided up to the raft a few minutes later, Buddy and Brother at the cargo doors to help pull the raft in. It apparently took an amazing amount of self-restraint for Brother to keep from hugging Rikku to him; the two talking in such rapid fire Al-bhed that Paine could barely keep up. Yuna made an offhanded remark about how no matter how much they argued, Rikku and Brother still cared for each other, and as Brother actually picked Rikku up despite her protests, and carried her to the cabin, Paine had to agree, even if she did feel a little irritated that it wasn’t her carrying the thief upstairs.

As they followed, Buddy filled Yuna and Paine in on the repairs and their suspicions. Shinra had gotten in contact with Kilika and found that some New Yevon troops had come down from the temple a few times into the city, and Dona immediately suspected that it was one of them who had sabotaged the ship in revenge for the Gullwings giving the sphere to the Youth League and essentially joining their ‘side’. He and Brother weren’t completely convinced that it was sabotage, surprisingly; they had had a few similar issues with the airship when it was first salvaged, but Shinra was positive that something had been fiddled with. Instead of arguing with the kid, Buddy and Brother settled for simply getting the airship as repaired as they could, working through the night and not taking any breaks so that they could get to the island and get the three girls.

The rode to the cabin in silence after Buddy got off at the bridge, Paine changing into her Black Mage dressphere as they did, Yuna into White Mage. Stepping out, they heard Rikku and Brother still talking at a fast pace, a thrown pillow soon chasing Brother down from the upper level of the cabin. “Yuna! You fix Rikku, yes?” The lanky man walked up to Paine and Yuna, Barkeep and Oaka sitting at the bar and looking up towards the girl’s sleeping area as Paine walked past Brother and towards the stairs.

Yuna nodded, holding her staff up a little. “We will Brother, don’t worry.” She gave the pilot a smile, the unusually subdued Brother nodding and simply leaving the cabin.

“Mish Paine, Mish Yooona, do you need help, yesh?” Barkeep gestured about a little with his large hands.

Paine shook her head. “No, we got this.” She didn’t look to the others as she slipped quietly up the stairs, pulling her hat off to lower her profile, peering up over the edge towards the beds. Rikku was lying on her bed, eyes clenched closed as she grimaced in pain, her hand holding tightly to the sheets. Paine could only figure that Brother had jostled something painfully, and had to smother the bit of anger that drew up. Lifting her staff, she gestured lightly in the air and spoke the words needed, Rikku blinking her eyes open for a moment before the Sleep spell overcame her and quickly sent her into a relaxed state of unconsciousness.

Following Paine up the stairs, Yuna nodded lightly as she saw Rikku fall asleep again as Paine shifted back to her usual warrior self, quickly walking over to the bed. She faintly bit her lower lip as she untied Rikku’s scarf from about her neck and arm, feeling where the bones were moved to now that she didn’t have to worry about causing too much pain, even though Rikku occasionally grimaced.

“Tyssed.” (Dammit) Paine swore lightly, gently shifting Rikku about so she could get into a good position.

“That bad?” Yuna stood at the foot of the bed, holding her staff tightly.

“Yes.” Paine closed her eyes for a few moments, taking a few deep breaths. “You might want to turn around, Yuna.”

Yuna bit her lower lip for a moment and nodded, turning around. She quickly decided she was glad she did as she was able to hear the audible grinding of bone, grimacing as even through the spell Rikku still cried out lightly, and Paine cursed again, a darker series of words. “Is it okay?”

“Just a moment.” Paine felt like her heart was being ripped out as she pulled at Rikku's arm again, causing Rikku to whimper in pain. “E’s cunno, meddma dreav.” (I’m sorry, little thief) She murmured lightly. Even though she knew this was needed, she still hated the fact that she was the one making it hurt. Rikku’s wrist was easier and brought no reaction from the girl, and Paine let out the breath she was holding. “Okay, quickly, huh?” Paine stood from the bed and started to pace a bit along the foot of the beds, flexing her hands into fists and releasing them again, her jaw clenched.

Nodding, Yuna turned and moved to take Paine’s place, reaching to brush a bit of hair from Rikku’s forehead, leaning down and murmuring something to quiet for Paine to hear before she started to cast the needed spell. “I’ve got you. This’ll help.”

Paine clenched the railing as she heard Rikku groan softly while the healing white light sank into her, the warrior taking a few controlled breaths. Yuna apparently put a fair bit of energy into the spell, the girl staggering back and sitting heavily on her bed when she finished. Paine turned, raising an eyebrow slightly as she glanced at Yuna before moving over to Rikku’s side. “You okay, Yuna?”

“Yeah…just…put a lot into that. I think…I’m going to take a bath.” Yuna’s voice was thick with exhaustion as she dropped her staff heavily onto the bed. She stood and swayed for a moment, then shuffled to the end of the loft and into the bathroom, an audible click as she locked the door, a sure sign of having every intent of using the bathroom for a long time.

Paine smiled lightly before she sat lightly on the bed next to Rikku, letting out a soft sigh of relief as she looked over the now much better looking thief. She closed her eyes, taking up Rikku’s good hand and leaning down over her, lightly resting her forehead to Rikku’s shoulder. “Don’t ever scare me like that again. I need to figure out how to say how I feel…” She lifted her head and glanced towards the bathroom door, and figuring that Yuna was going to be in there for a few hours at least, Paine took a deep breath before she lightly shifted Rikku to the side a little, and lay down next to her, taking the Al-bhed into her arms.

Rikku shifted a little in the spell-induced sleep, curling closer to Paine, sending a small thrill through the warrior. Paine tried to keep her eyes open, wanting to stay alert in case any came up the stairs, or Yuna left the bathroom, but try as she might, soon enough, she joined Rikku in dreamland, the two sleeping in each others arms.