Joseph

“There. The medicine has applied and should be working, just don’t move your arm for now. We’ll examine it again before you go back into the Via Infinito,” the nurse explained, wrapping my arm in bandages.

“Thank you,” I said, carefully slipping my arm back into my jacket before heading out of the tent.

Walking out, I began to head to Nikki’s flat. After all, she did invite anyone to stay at her place from what I overheard. However, my mind was on other things, more specifically about Kyra. I had overheard the conversation between her and Mishka which happen just outside the tent.

‘So she’s actually not from this place. I’ve heard a rumor about the Al Bhed finding someone in a pod quite a few years back but I never paid much attention to it. Must be such a change from where she came from,’ I though, walking down the high bridge. Shrugging my left shoulder, I picked up my pace, wanting some rest.

I arrived at a Nikki’s place, taking a moment to observe the place before walking though her front door. I was mildly surprised to see Kyra and Cyan holding up Mishka with Val just behind them. Mishka looked like she took a pounding outside the Via Infinito.

“The hell happened here?” I asked.

“Not exactly sure but it involved Mishka, Yuukou, Yuki and waking Nikki up,” Kyra explained. I scratched my head as Kyra and Cyan moved Mishka to an available bed.

“Don’t blame her. I wouldn’t be too happy being woken up when I’m in need of some rest. But actually assaulting a person? Isn’t that taking it too far?” I asked. However before someone could answer, something hard hit me on the back of head. I looked down to see a CommSphere rolling to a stop. I turned around to see Nikki.

“Was that absolutely necessary?” I calmly asked, rubbing the impact spot on my head. Kyra and Cyan were giggling a bit while Val smirked.

“If it gets you to shut up then yeah it was,” she replied, turning around and heading back to her room.

“Women. Just don’t get them sometimes. Maybe it’s her time of the month,” I muttered. Unfortunately for me, Nikki actually heard my comment and so threw a heavy book. By luck, a very good aim or fate having a cruel sense of humor, it nailed me on the exact same spot the CommSphere did. That book almost knocked me off my feet and left me kneeling while clutching my head in pain. The others just started laughing at the turn of event.

“NIKKI! WHAT THE HELL!?!?!?!?!” I roared, turning to see her grinning like an idiot. Even I cracked a smile despite the pain and loss of dignity.

“Man you should’ve seen the look on your face,” Val managed to choke out in between his bouts of laughter. Cyan and Kyra were just as incapacitated by laughter as he was. I shook my head, careful not to overdo it due to the pain.

“Whatever. I see you guys later,” I sighed, turning and heading to get some sleep.

~ AUTO-MERGED POSTS ~


Nikki looked around at everyone, that Adamantoise from before, had totally sucked up everyone’s energy and to Nikki despair she hadn’t learned any new abilities, she only had enough energy to learn the basic elements, but even then she hadn’t learnt all of them. She still had to learn Thunder Arrow and Blizzard Arrow. She growled in frustration. “The unsent must be taking the AP for herself somehow” she thought to herself. Nikki sighed, everyone was worn out they had to rest, she noticed Joseph standing nearby, she rubbed her forward. “Well I have to ask...” she thought as her stomach got into a knot as she walked up to him. “This is ridiculous I’m just asking a ****ing question,” Nikki wasn’t the best at asking for help, she hated it. She tapped him on the shoulder and he turned to face her. “Joseph, do you think it’s a good time to call it a day?” she whispered to him. He seemed shocked at first and then slightly smiled.

“Personally? Yeah I think it would be a good time,” he whispered back, Nikki nodded to him as she turned to the others.

“People, lets head back up to the surface and rest up” she said. “Hey maybe this leader thing isn’t too bad, I’m getting better... I think” She thought.

“Are you telling us to abandon our search for Rikku? Because I’m not doing that. Even if it’s just for some time to rest, it means our chances of finding her alive gets slimmer!”

“I’m going to knock him out and drag him to the surface if I have to!” thought Nikki as she clenched her fists. But she didn’t need to as Joseph was at that moment yelling at Val, Nikki relaxed not really paying attention to what he was saying because as she looked around she could see that a lot were hurt. “It was the best choice.” She thought. “We rest for 8 hours and the head straight back in alright?” She noticed that everyone looked gratefully at her for the rest and people began to move towards the exit. Paine walked along side Nikki.

“I’m going to go on ahead, I’m worried that Gippal is going to stupidly work through the night” said Paine.

“Do you have anywhere to stay?” She asked, after all she had enough beds, she sometimes wondered why she brought a place with so many beds with a crappy door. Paine nodded.

“I have a few places in mind, I’ll see you in the morning.” Paine smiled.

“You seem perky considering it’s your friend in here.”

“Rikku can look after herself, there’s a reason she hasn’t come up to rest at night. I trust her.” With that Paine ran on ahead. Nikki stopped and rubbed her forward head as she went through the portal and the light engulfed her. As she walked into the main temple, she heard footsteps running behind her, Nikki turned around to see the new girl Kyra running up to her.

“Hey Nikki where are you going?” she asked, Nikki sighed.

“To bed. My house isn’t far from here. I have a few free beds there if you’d like. My doors always open. Just don’t bug me when I was asleep. If you do: Someone’s going to get hurt real bad” She had a tiring day and all she wanted now was her own comfy bed. She then continued to walk home.

When she got there she noticed that the damn door was open! “That’s it! I’m getting a new door!” she growled she then went inside, she didn’t bother assigning rooms. “Find your own rooms!” she said she then went to her own room and then simply collapsed on her warm bed and drifted off to sleep.

Next thing she knew something had attacked her and her fist came into contact with it, sending whatever it was flying off her bed. I was all very quick she heard a very loud...
“OW!” This alerted Nikki that this wasn’t a dream and she immediately woke up to find the twins running out of her room and Mishka on the floor. Fury just entered Nikki and she grabbed Mishka lifted her up and shook her.

“WTF ARE YOU DOING WAKING ME UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT?! DID YOU THINK IT WOULD BE FUNNY TO LAND ON ME, IT’S NOT ****ING FUNNY YOU RETARD! WHO THE HELL COMES INTO SOMEONE ELSE’S ROOM AT NIGHT WE HAVE TO BE UP EARLY IN THE MORNING!”

“Hey, get your hands off my woman!” Nikki immediately stopped shaking Mishka and turned to see the brat standing there with a smirk on his face.

“What the hell...” thought Nikki, “How did he get in?”

“Nikki, I think I really need to rest right now.” But Nikki wasn’t really listening and she let go of Mishka who fell to the floor with a thud. Nikki stormed over to Kai and grabbed his arm, and dragged him literally out of her room and into the lounge where she heard the others talking.

“...actually assaulting a person? Isn’t that taking it too far?” said Joseph.

“Assaulting?! I didn’t god damn assault her! She’s the one that landed on my bed! I’ll show him assaulting!” she thought, she let go of Kai and grabbed a nearby Sphere and threw it at him. Kai whistled.

“Good aim there Nikkster.” Joseph turned to face her while rubbing his head.

“Was that absolutely necessary?”

“If it gets you to shut up, then yeah it was.” Nikki then turned to Kai, she had to take him home.

“Women. Just don’t get them sometimes. Maybe it’s her time of the month?” On hearing this Nikki clearly saw he didn’t learn his lesson the first time and so she picked up a near by book and threw it at his head, and it landed SMACK right in the same spot. Everyone giggled around her and Nikki couldn’t help but smirk and giggle with them.

“NIKKI! WHAT THE HELL!?!?!?!?!?!?” Shouted Joseph at Nikki but she could see he was smiling too.

“Man you should’ve seen the look on your face.” Said Val, Nikki smiled he was actually laughing and smiling, that was definitely good to see, because if he was going to mope any more she was going to have to knock some sense into him. Not that it wasn’t his fault Cyan had been captured but they had successfully retrieved her.

“Whatever, I see you guys later,” Said Joseph with that Nikki saw Joseph go into a spare room. Everyone else was still giggling, Nikki grabbed Kai by the ear.

“HEY, OW NIKKI!” moaned Kai.

“I’m taking you home, this invitation to stay WASN’T extended to you!” said Nikki she dragged him out of the door.

When Nikki came back, the flat was quiet, she assumed everyone had gone to bed and so she headed to her small kitchen. The moonlight had flooded the kitchen, Nikki liked the night it made her feel calm. Her kitchen was tiny there was a wooden floor, a high cream table in the middle with stools around it, there were cream tiles on the white walls and on the window...

“Dammit my plant died!” thought Nikki as she looked at the window ledge. She then sighed and strode over to the sink took a glass and got some water from the tap and then went to sit at the table. Sipping her water she heard a bedroom door creak open and footsteps head to the kitchen.

Kyra was standing at the door. "Oh sorry Nikki I didn’t know anyone was here.” She was about to turn to leave, when Nikki stopped her.

“No it’s okay, can’t sleep?” asked Nikki.

“Yeah, it’s hard to sleep with what’s just happened.” Nikki nodded as she took a seat next to her. Nikki set her glass down.

“Look, I’m sorry about how I’ve reacted towards you. Our meeting wasn’t in the best circumstance” Nikki smiled at that. The girl smiled back.

“That’s okay.”

“You know I wasn’t always like this...” trailed off Nikki “Should I tell her more, I haven’t thought about them for years, does she really want to hear my boring story.” Thought Nikki.

“What happened?” she asked perking up.

“Sin, it took away my parents and sister when I was young. I thought by not making any more friends, I wouldn’t get hurt. I haven’t had people round at my flat... well for a long time.” Kyra looked sympathetically at her.

“I’m sorry.” Nikki shook her ahead.

“Nah long time ago, what about you? I heard you come from another planet, what was it like?” With that Kyra seemed to really get excited and began to tell her all about her home, the wonders about it all she had seen the people she met.

“Woah” thought Nikki, “Sounds awesome.” Nikki smiled at her. “So what’s that weapon called then?” she asked motioning to her weapon by the door. Kyra smiled and walked over to it and a brought it over.

“It’s called a Gunblade!” She exclaimed in excitement. Nikki raised her eyebrow.

“Seriously? What a ****ing lame name!” Nikki smirked, “May I?” asked Nikki motioning that she wanted a closer look. “Wonder how it works?” she thought as Kyra laid it out on the table. Nikki traced her hand along it. “I’ve never seen anything like this, this is one awesome weapon, light...” said Nikki as she lifted it up a bit to feel the weight, she then carefully laid it back down. “Also made of a very strong metal, I don’t think we even have this metal in Spira. You’ve looked after it well.” Excitement bubbled in Nikki, if there was one thing in the world she got excited about it was weapons and armour.

“Wow Nikki you sure know your stuff.” Said Kyra, Nikki turned to see she was observing her closely with a smile on her face.

“I... Errr” Nikki was not used to compliments. “Time for bed!” exclaimed Nikki as she hastily went to her room and slammed the door. She then slid down to the floor with her back against the door.

“What the hell am I doing?! I’m getting too comfortable; they are your comrades nothing more!”Very early next morning Nikki was in her dead front garden shooting at the targets she had set up. She let go of the arrows one by one with a ping each time, and each time they hit the bulls’ eye. Normally Nikki would do this every morning for about 15 minutes but this morning she had already done half an hour. Joseph had come out to observe.

“Why the **** did I have to tell her all that stuff last night?” thought Nikki as with a ping three more arrows hit the bulls eye.

“Nikki shouldn’t you stop?” questioned Joseph, Nikki lowered her arrow and turned to see everyone at the door, she could tell they had been talking about her,

“Oh sorry didn’t realise the time, better do breakfast.” Said Nikki as she went inside past everyone she headed to the kitchen, all the time feeling disappointed in herself that she had let her guard down and had actually let people in. She could hear them whispering to each other, something about someone trying to talk to her to find out what’s wrong. But she paid no attention as she went to the cupboard to get out some eggs and then went to about frying the chocobo eggs, she suddenly heard the twins shout out.

“Nikki is there something”

“wrong?” asked the twins, Nikki shook her head.

“Nah it’s fine” she replied. “How can I tell them it’s because I can’t make friends?! What a stupid reason is that!” she thought.

“Yes so if there is nothing wrong, why are you burning our eggs?” Nikki could hear the smile in Mishka’s voice.

“What?” asked Nikki she looked down at the burnt eggs, “OH ****!” Everyone laughed around her, Nikki grinned despite burning breakfast, she served them up and put them on the table. Everyone soon stopped laughing when they saw that was indeed what they were going to eat. “And this is why you don’t laugh at my cooking” grinned Nikki at everyone. The twins were the only ones smiling at the food and to the surprise of everyone they were the first ones to help themselves.

~ AUTO-MERGED POSTS ~

Joseph

The sunlight streaming in from the window woke me from my slumber. I sat up on the bed and looked around for a few moments, confused because the room looked unfamiliar to me.

‘Oh right, Nikki’s place,’ I thought, slowly getting up and stretching. I grabbed my toothbrush and walked out of my room, heading into the bathroom. After relieving myself and brushing my teeth, I walked back my room. On the way, a door opened and Kyra walked out. She looked at me and blushed. I couldn’t figure out why till I looked down. In my haste to relieve myself, I forgot that I took my shirt off and was walking around only in my pants. I scratched my head and grinned a bit before walking back to my room. Inside, I carefully put my shirt back on, followed by my jacket. I heard the flutter of arrows and after doing up my boots and grabbing my sword, went to investigate.

Outside, Nikki was shooting at targets set up on her garden. I watch as she shot the targets with great accuracy. It seems that despite the accurate shots, something was bothering her. I continued to watch her for 20 minutes. During that time, the others gathered outside to watch Nikki shoot.

“Nikki, shouldn’t you stop?” when I decided to intervene. She blushed a bit, seeing the crowd that gathered.

“Oh sorry, didn’t realize the time. Better do breakfast,” she said, finally putting down her bow. We followed her in as she began to make something to eat. I put a kettle on the stove to heat some water while observing the others. The others seem to get along just fine, the only problem being Nikki. Since seeing her this morning she practically ignored the others even when asked a question.

‘Could it be something to do with us?’ I thought, pouring some hot water into a cup before adding some tea leaves I bought with me. The scent of burning eggs became heavy in the air. I turned back to see Nikki burning the eggs but she apparently didn’t notice it, being too wrapped up in her thoughts.

“Nikki is there something wrong?” I heard the twins asked.

“Nah, its fine.”

“Yes so if there is nothing wrong, why are you burning the eggs?” Mishka asked. I grinned a bit as Nikki realized her mistake. I just shook my head and grabbed a piece of toast from the toaster.

“I’m heading to grab a couple of things from the shop and to the medical tent. I’ll see you guys outside the Via Infinito in 30 minutes,” I announced, walking out the door. Walking back to Beville, I went to the pharmacy and stocked up on potions and more importantly eye drops. After that, I walked back to the medical tent where the nurse looked at my arm once again. After 10 minutes, she finally took off the bandages.

“It’s healed but please be careful next time,” she said. I thanked her and walked out. I grabbed a potion from my stash and threw it up. Using my right arm, I drew my sword and slashed off the stem of the bottle and grabbed it out of the air.

‘Finally, I can use this arm,’ I thought, drinking the potion. At the entrance of the Via Infinito, the others have gathered to go back in.

“Alright, everyone’s here. Let’s go,” Val said. I nodded as we entered the dungeon once again.

~ AUTO-MERGED POSTS ~


“Wicked you’ve made fried chocobo’s eggs!” exclaimed a voice Nikki felt a gust of air come in through the door and heard the squeak of the stool being pulled back, she quickly turned around to find Kai sat down on the stool quickly digging into breakfast with a cheeky grin on his face.

“Kai, why aren’t you having breakfast with your mum?”

“She’s gone out, I was still hungry and smelt the eggs” He poked them with his fork and scraped off the burnt bits, and continued to eat. Nikki sighed she didn’t need Kai this morning to do this. The others seemed to be in a state of shock that he just barged in once again. Mishka seemed to quietly chuckle at the situation while Val and Cyan were busy in a conversation between themselves.

“Don’t you ever knock?” asked Kyra. Nikki didn’t hear his reply though as she walked out of the kitchen grabbed her bow and arrows and went outside to clear her head.

“MORNING NIKKI!” exclaimed a young voice, Nikki groaned but smiled inward to herself as she turned to her right and saw a little girl of about 8 years of age with blonde hair in a plait with blue eyes peep over the fence into her garden. Nikki walked over to the girl she could never remember her name but she found the young girl quiet likable at times.

“Morning,” Nikki nodded to her as she approached the fence she could see that the young girl was wearing a black shirt and a t shirt that said I love chocobos on it, with a chocobo in the background on it. The girl smiled brightly at her with her blue eyes.

“I saw some people in your house, are they your friends?”

“No just some people I know.” The girl screwed her face up in confusion.

“But people only have sleepover with friends. Mummy said she heard people last night in your house.” Nikki gave a little chuckle at the girl’s theory.

“It’s complicated, you’ll understand when you’re older” The girl gave a pout and put her hands on her hips.

“OOOOOOOOOOh why do grownups always say that!?” Nikki then heard her mother call her from inside the house and the little girl ran off. Nikki shook her head and headed towards the Via Infinito. Nikki was still wrapped up in her thoughts as she got there, when everyone assembled Val spoke but Nikki wasn’t really listening. Her mind had drawn a complete and utter blank, all she knew was that she was worried, she was worried about getting too close and about what would happen if the unsent girl succeeded.

“Halt!”Nikki snapped out of her thoughts to find a guard blocking their way.

“It’s okay we’re here to rescue Rikku.”

“Or what’s left of her...” mumbled Val who also seemed to be trapped within his own thoughts.

“I’m sorry you are to go in, when the night team return.”

“Night?”

“Team?” questioned the twins. The guard nodded at them.

“Nooj arrived last night and gave the order that a team should be in 24/7, if we have any chance of finding Rikku...” the guard was interrupted by a flash of light from the teleport a girl staggered leaning on her staff she drew in gulp of air. She had long black hair brown eyes was wearing a red crop top, red shorts and red sandals. She held her head and Nikki immediately recognised her as Mayu, one of her comrades she worked with in the youth league, she rushed over to her. She saw she was going to collapse so she caught her.

“Ughhh... my head...” Mayu said.

“Let’s just get you to a bed” said Nikki as she began to lead her over to one of the rooms, she just looked at the others but Cyan was already helping as she grabbed Mayu’s other arm. The others just seemed to be gawking. “Either stop ****ing gawking or help!”

“Heh... you don’t change Nikki” mumbled Mayu as they lead her inside a bedroom and laid her gently down. “No... Wait I need to report!” she sat up but then held her head again “Ow...” Nikki noticed that Val had entered the room too.

“You need to rest.” Said Nikki Mayu looked down, the girl seemed to be struggling with her thoughts.

“Hello Mayu” smiled Cyan at her, Nikki looked at her and didn’t realise she also knew Mayu. Mayu looked up and smiled at them.

“It’s good to see you again, Cyan, Val.”

“Mayu what happened in there?” asked Val. Nikki turned her attention to Mayu, she was a social girl so she probably met them at the Youth League, and made friends outside their own squadrons. Well that was Nikki though, she didn’t actually know, but the important thing was to find out what happened. Mayu bowed her head she seemed to have trouble to find any words.

“I couldn’t save them...”

“I think it would be better if you three join the others and go over to the computer. Mayu is too worn out to say anything.” Nikki turned around to see Nooj had entered the room Nikki nodded and silently went out the room and down where the others first had their briefing. On the way Nikki heard arguing, she noticed it was between two Albehd one had tattoes all over his chest and the other one seemed to be older and bold. Nikki didn’t stop though as they were arguing in Albehd she only caught the word “Rikku” being spoken.

She got to the room and approached the others who were huddled around the computer, Gippal at the centre Baralai next to him, Nikki also noticed that Paine was also there. She wondered what the hell they were doing but went with it anyway.

“Okay this is the footage we got from the watcher who was following the night team.” Gippal then pressed a few buttons on the computer and the footage played.

“Okay people, we are making good progress. We’ll just check out level 20 and then we can go to bed.” Nikku heard Mayu’s voice say, there were cheers from the others.

“Where are they?!” said a familiar voice, the footages showed the unsent girl appear in front of the group.

“Careful! She’s unsent!” exclaimed Mayu

“Where are they?!” the unsent asked again.

“Where are who?” asked a male voice.

“My friends! Only my friends can play here! Where are they?”

“... Hunny your friends are in the Farplane, do you want to see them?” said Mayu trying to calm the situation.

“NO! They’re not in the Farplane! They came down here today! You took them away! You took my FRIENDS!” Nikki then noticed that a more grown up voice seemed to overlap the girl’s own voice, in a more menacing tone. “YOU WILL PAY I WILL SAVE THEM!” There were screams as people died and suddenly the footage went dead.

“Mayu was the only survivor,” Nikki turned around to see Nooj had entered the room he walked to the front, Nikki watched him her whole attention was on him a sense of dread came to her, she could predict what was going to happen next, and she was going to go with it, after all she knew she was in no state to go back in.

“Nooj it’s only one unsent...” said Gippal. Baralai shook his head.

“I’m sorry Gippal, Paine and anyone else that knew Rikku, but we cannot allow you to go back in. Rikku would have never survived in there for long. If you go on in you won’t survive.”

“But the girl said she was looking for her friends, she’ll be calmer with us in there.” Said Mishka.

“Even so those are you orders, we can’t take that risk” said Nooj, alot of people seemed to talk at that point. Noise... It was all just noise to Nikki, she began to leave. But Val stepped in front of her.

“So that’s it then! You’re just going to leave!”

“There is nothing more we can do.” Said Nikki simply she began to walk past Val but stopped at the sound of Paine’s voice.

“I thought you were better than that.”

“... I’m sorry” said Nikki she went out the door, “it was probably for the best anyway, they can’t get hurt now. I can’t... No, she... I mean them I want nothing more to do with anyone.” Thought Nikki feeling very withdrawn from the world she headed to the only place she felt good Macalania Woods.

~ AUTO-MERGED POSTS ~

Joseph


I watched as Nikki left the room, ignoring the chatter around me. I turned to Baralai, angry at what he said.

“So that’s it? Letting a person die down there just because of one unsent?! That person being someone who save you and everyone on Spira twice?!?!!” I yelled in his face. My statement pretty much caused everyone else to shut up in the room.

“I’m sorry, but it’s just too risky. That unsent is much more powerful than…” Baralai started but he didn’t say anymore when I punched him hard across the jaw. He fell into the table behind him as the guards rushed in to restrain me. However, just by my glare, they had second thoughts about doing that and backed away. I turned to address the crowd gathered.

“I never abandon a person when they’re in danger. I don’t run from a situation when a friend is in need. So I’m not abandoning the search for Rikku until I either find her alive or a corpse. That is the least I could do for a person who’s saved us twice. If any of you disagree, feel free to walk out now,” I said. The others thought for a moment, then Cyan stepped forward.

“I think I speak for all of us when I say: to hell with the danger,” she responded. I nodded as the others began to cheer a bit.

“Right, get the equipment ready to go and wait till I return,” I said, heading out the door.

“Where are you going Joseph?” Kyra asked. I turned to face her.

“I’m going to find Nikki. We need her back regardless of where she went,” I told her.

“We’re going with you,” Val said, the others gathering up. “She’s our comrade and she needs some sense put into her.”

“…..She would’ve gone to Macalania Woods,” I heard Mayu say. “She always goes there to think or calm down. Just follow the wave of destruction.”

I was confused at the last part but I thanked her anyways, We quickly ran to the Woods. Despite the Woods slowly dying, they are still beautiful. It wasn’t hard to understand what Mayu said. There were fiend corpses slowly fading back into pyreflies, all down by an arrow fired by an expert archer. Soon we found Nikki firing and killing some more fiends. She heard us entering the area and fired at us, mistaking us for a fiend. I drew my sword and cut the arrow out of the air.

“What the hell are you doing here?” she asked angrily. I kept hold of my sword in case of more shots.

“Trying to convince you to come back with us to the Via Infinito,” I calmly replied.

“They told us to say on the surface. I’m going to do just that,” she replied, nocking an arrow.

“So that’s it huh? Running away from a problem you couldn’t solve. Are you really the person who led us down there? She was made of much sterner stuff than that. I think you’re afraid of something. Most likely of losing one of us. That way you don’t have to take any responsibility for it,” I said, taunting and using logical deductions in it. It worked as she fired the arrow at me.

“Don’t you dare judge me Joseph!” she screamed, as I cut down the arrow. The others readied themselves in case they were attacked by her, but her anger was focused on me. I smirked as she began to fire wildly at me.

‘Let’s hope this works,’ I though, dodging the arrows.