-the storyline

2007-09-06T06:14:00.000-07:00

YES! Yes! It's over! I'm free!~

Rikku jumped in the air and clapped for joy. She suddenly felt like singing and she would have if she wasn't still feeling the after effects of visiting her grandparents. Her stomach growled uncontrollably. Dealing with her grandparents always made Rikku hungry. With a carefree stretch, Rikku waltzed towards the kitchen. The worst parts were finally over!

The toasty pizza aroma wafted into her nose as Rikku took a deep breath. Selphie was flitting around the kitchen, revealing a crispy pizza as she opened the oven door.

"Oh mummy! I love you! You're the best! Pizza rocks, you rock!" Rikku pounced onto her mother in glee, "You must have known I was suffering up there, right? Oh, I love you!"

Selphie giggled as her daughter snuggled into her embrace. "Oh Rik, it's not that bad... I think. Well, don't dislike them for being this way. Their just trying to be happy... in their own special way, I guess."

"Yeah right, it's too special that sometimes, even I can't stand it. Don't really understand what's going through their minds." Rikku chewed at her pizza thoughtfully before continuing, "I don't dislike them though. I'm just... not really used to it even after these years, ya know?"

Selphie nodded and gave Rikku a comforting smiles. It was another one of those I-understand-what-you-mean-but-some-things-are-not-meant-to-be-said-aloud kind of smile. And then all of a sudden, the smile turned sour.

Very sour indeed.

I think there's no need to guess. It's him and his old habit again.

Rikku knew the reason behind her mother's sour face for there could only be one. The feminine giggles coming from outside just proved her guess right.

"You know, I'd like to say 'I can handle this, so chill, mum'. But you know I really can't handle this and I know you really can't chill now. You'd better go do your thing like how you've always been doing for all these years." Rikku patted her mother's shoulder helplessly before getting out of the kitchen with another slice of pizza at hand.

Selphie took a deep breath and with clenched fists, made her way towards the source of the irritating giggles on this fine day. Okay, maybe it wasn't a very fine day. At least it's not going to be fine for Irvine, that is.

Selphie is going to kick his butt.

"So as I was saying, I spotted that alligator, slow and agile, making its way towards the poor injured animal trapped on the bank. I took pity on the poor thing who was going to be eaten alive by that giant alligator and so I took out my handy rifle and aimed for his eye. And right at that mome-- Ah!" And Irvine's charismatic story telling has come to a painful end, once again.

Selphie was practically pulling the poor man's ears out.

"And what were you saying to these fine ladies here again? Maybe you'd like to continue telling that old tale of how you killed that stupid alligator with one shot. I'm sure I'd like to hear that lousy bluff for my millionth time. Right, dearie?" Selphie threatened Irvine as she tugged harder at his aching ear lobes.

"What? That was a bluff?! So uncool!" The ladies screwed their noses in disgust at irvine and turned their heads to walk off promptly with a "Hmph!". Leaving poor Irvine in the hands of his unexpectedly fearsome wife, Selphie.

"I thought you were offering to mow the lawn? How come you've time to chat with idle ladies? What about the lawn?! Get to work, you jerk!" Selphie dragged Irvine in front of her by his ear and gave him a sharp kick up his butt. Irvine fell squarely in his face with a loud "Oof!" and there was nothing heard from him, not even the heavy breathing from just now. Selphie just rolled her eyes at his usual act.

"If you think acting dead is going to get me worried for you like the first time you tried that trick from me, you are dead wrong! How do you think I got into the SeeD academy if I was stupid enough to fall for the same trick twice? When I come back later, the lawn better be tidy OR... You. Will. Know. the. Consequences!" And Selphie stormed off, leaving Irvine and a very weedy lawn of course.

"I don't know how I ever doubted if I could survive through SeeD training. Living with Selphie is far more terrorizing than any tough SeeD misson I ever went through..." Muttering under his breath, Irvine started up the lawn mower relunctantly. Rikku observed from a corner, amazed by her mother's hidden powers. If there was anyone who could get her dad's lazy butt off the couch, it's her mother. Who knew sweet little Selphie was so tough in handling her asshole husband, Irvine the Flirty.

"You just never learn, Dad. Can't you stop your flirting ways to prevent mum from kicking your butt like she always does?" Rikku teased her Dad as she finished off her pizza.

"Fortunately, you did not choose to study at the SeeD academy. I wouldn't know how to survive if there was one more woman in the house, trying to kick my butt."

"You'd survive if you don't try to flirt, Dad. Don't even know why you flirt when you claim to love mum so much..."

"You don't understand, Rikku. The women of the world need me, they are calling out to me! I can't be selfish to only care about my happiness when the women of the world need me to comfort them. It is a true gentleman's job to protect these women from despair and fear. But even though the women of the world want me, the only woman I truly love is your mother. I am only doing my job as a gentleman to those ladies."

"... Seriously, I don't know what to say."

"You don't have to say anything, Rikku, as long as you understand how I feel..."

"The point is... I don't understand and I don't want to, okay? So don't start another one of those talks about your view on flirting because I refuse to be your audience."

"BUT HOW COULD YOU?! I'M SO HEARTBROKEN!" Irvine burst into tears childishly and started murmuring something about how daughters' always try to fly out of their cages once their wings gather strength. Rikku just rolled her eyes and walked off. Somehow, Grandad's only same habit as Dad was the love to start up a weird lecture but it was only that Grandad's speech always started with "As children of Jenova..."

As Rikku strolled into the back yard, deep in thought, a low voice called out to her, chuckling.

"Hey Cid's girl!" A blondie smirked at her playfully from over the low wall seperating the two houses. He was wearing a black eye patch over one eye.

"Hey Gip, would you stop calling me that?! That is such a lame nickname! What's with Cid's girl anyway? Who's Cid?" Rikku grumbled as she ran her hand through her own blonde hair, frustrated at his habit.

"Don't ask me, how would I know?" Gippal continued smiling as if innocently.

"How would you not know? You are the one who gave me that name!"

"Hmm... I don't know. You just look like Cid's girl to me."

"And how exactly does Cid's girl look like?"

"Dunno... Maybe like you?" Rikku sweatdrops and rolls her eyes. Gippal can be quite stupid at times.

"Hey, wanna come over and play? I've got that new racing game for my playstation. I bet I can win you at that anytime!" Gippal chirped excitedly and grinned arrogantly.

"Oh yeah, says who? You always lose to me, Gip. ALWAYS." Rikku smiled back and swung herself over the low wall.

Maybe her day wasn't going to get so bad after all.

adopt your own virtual pet!

Chapter two- Disgust

2007-06-29T20:28:00.000-07:00

Rikku strolled along the corridor towards her grandmother's room. She felt relieved now that her insane grandfather is not harping on and on about how children of Jenova should behave. Now all she had to do was to request her grandmother to bring him a glass of water and...

Rikku stopped in her tracks. She just remembered catching sight of someone familiar when she was at the living room a while ago. It was none other than THAT GUY. Wherever Grandmother was, he would be behind, wagging his tail at her. Realisation dawned upon her as a statement of truth flashed in her.

She was going to have to face the lovey dovey scene of Ultimecia and her young boyfriend, Vayne Solidor.

Rikku slapped her forehead in annoyance. She immediately regretted visiting her granddad for the 10000000000000th time after she did. He wouldn't ask her for a cup of water from Grandma if she didn't go into his room and she wouldn't have to fave the lovey-doveyness of Grandma and Vayne. But wait, maybe she could get Granddad the glass of water herself. But that would certainly mean another hour of about "How Children Of Jenova Should Behave"!

Argh, why can't I get anything done right in this house. The easier option now, was obviously to endure the loving scene. Rikku held her breath as she knocked on the door and poked her head in.

She immediately regretted her decision.

There was her grandmother, sitting on this young man's lap and affectionately feeding him cherries. Not to mention the huge contrast in age. It was such a revolting image that was replaying itself again and again in Rikku's mind and she hurriedly slam the door shut.

DANGER! DANGER! IN NEED OF A BUCKET!

The warning signal went off in Rikku's mind as she got ready to hurl. Fortunately for her, she managed to do it in the toilet and not on the oh-so-expensive carpet that Vayne bought for her Grandma. It seems that her life seemed full of regrets whenever she visits her grandparents. After a moment of cleaning whatever's in her stomach, she could finally shake off the image. The first sight of the two of them together after a long time was definitely the hardest part. It shouldn't be so bad after you get used to it while soaking up in the lovey-dovey atmosphere. Even though, it would still suck after all.

Alright, it might have been better if you announced your arrival in a rather loud voice before you go in. Maybe they would have noticed then despite the thick lovey-dovey mist that clouds around them. Thus, Rikku decided to go for her second attempt with a loud announcement.

"Grandma, is it okay if I come in?"

There was some shuffling from behind the door, and the long awaited reply came.

"Sure, Honey."

With a gulp, Rikku stepped into her temporary hell. Ultimecia had propped herself beside Vayne and was lying against his chest with a rather affectionate expression.

Attempt two: Tips = try to convince yourself that it's not a big deal by repeating that statement in your mind even though you think it's a hell lot of a deal.

It's not that bad. It's not that bad. At least their not feeding each other with their mouths or whatsoever. It's not that bad. It's not that bad. Argh! It's not working!

Rikku forced herself to walk in and sit down on the couch. Okay, wrong choice, there's an even clearer view here. Ultimeica giggled and snuggled closer (Eww, why is she doing that? How old is she already?) Altough Ultmecia had been making constant efforts to keep up her youth, a young-looking 70-80 year old will still look as old beside a 20-30 year old young man.

"Was it you just now? I heard some noise from the door."

If you heard gagging sounds then it's probably me. Not that you would notice through all that lovey-doveyness...

"Erm, I think so... heh heh, didn't think that you would hear me." Rikku felt that for now, maybe she should just keep her opinions to herself.

"So what do you want?" Vayne eyed Rikku wearily, as if irritated by her presence.

Sorry for disturbing your whooping time with a fragile old lady, mister, but I didn't want to come either.

"Oh, Granddad was asking for a glass of water. And he asked me to pass you the message."

"What!?" Ultimecia slammed her her palm on the coffee table, "That old geezer who doesn't care about me expects me to get him a glass of water? How dare him!"

It was quite amusing to see Grandma saying that while getting up to pour the requested glass of water. How very contradicting. But then again, she was right. Grandad really was a jerk who didn't care for anything. I mean, which man in his right mind wouldn't give a damn when his wife is off at a rendezvous with some other guy? The only person like that was probably Sephiroth. As Ultimecia went off to give Sephiroth his stupid drink, Rikku was left in an awkward situation with her Grandma's young boyfriend.

Rikku looked at Vayne in wonder. What the heck make him like Ultimecia when she's so old? I mean, he's young and in fact, quite handsome. What made him go for her Grandma? Was it really love? Or was it for the fortune? The latter wouldn't really make sense for he's one wealthy man himself... So what was it? Vayne turned and caught Rikku staring at him. He glared his coldest stare at her and turned his head with a "Pfft."

Alright that's it. What's his problem?

Fortunately, before Rikku could flare up, Ultimecia returned, still grumbling about her stupid ass of a husband. With a sigh, Rikkua immediately excused herself and went out. Facing two of her problematic grandparents were quite a pain. Especially when her Grandma is off with a fling. Why can't her family be normal for a second?

Really, life seemes to be full of regrets when you're Rikku visiting her grandparents.

Chapter one: Annoyance

2007-05-07T05:35:00.001-07:00

Rikku popped her head into her granddad’s somewhat messy room. (Lucky her grandma, Ultimecia had already made an attempt to clear up the room or else it would probably be inhabitable due to the emerald liquid that had covered most of the furniture, making it seem like a chemical factory.) Sephiroth sat in his rocking chair, staring into space dreamily. In his lap, he held a piece of metal which appear to look really smashed up and was even dripping with a green-like substance. Yuck. Rikku grimaced when she saw it. The last time she had tried to take a look at that lump of metal, named Jenova (although Rikku always wondered why a piece of metal needed a name), her granddad had almost screamed his head off at her. What was so important about that piece of worthless junk anyway? Rikku did not understand why her granddad always had to hold it in his lap and stroke it like it was a pet or something. She wrinkle her nose in distain, surely a rat would make a better pet than that metal junk?

Deciding she had really better take a look to make sure her granddad is still alive, not that she wanted him to be, Rikku stepped into the room, closing the door behind her.

“Granddad?” Rikku called out, the sound of her own voice came echoing back to her in that empty and big room. Not empty as in nothing inside but empty as in there was a lack of liveliness there. When she had gotten no response from her abnormal grandfather, she went right up to him and stuck her face in front of his soulless eyes.

“Ooooh graaaandddaaaaaaad?”

Sephiroth continued to stare right past her, as if she wasn’t there at all. And to top it off, he was drooling. Rikku suppressed a shudder as she looked right into that pair of emerald cat-like eyes. Unable to take it anymore, she shifted her gaze and shook her granddad’s shoulders.

Suddenly realising that his granddaughter was standing right before him, Sephiroth seemed to snap out of his trance and hurriedly ran his right hand across his face to wipe off his saliva. Rikku took a step back from him, looking disgusted by his actions.

“Ahh, Rikku. I didn’t hear you enter.”
“It’s alright, granddad, I didn’t knock,” came the bored reply.
“Children of Jenova should knock when they enter. It is rude to do otherwise,” Sephiroth chided her while looking at her disappointedly.

Seeing that her granddad has yet to leave this world, Rikku was about to go back to her own doings when she heard his reproaching. She sighed, squaring her shoulders in the process to hold herself back from glaring at her creepy excuse of a grandfather. However, Sephiroth seemed to have notice that.

“Children of Jenova would not be rude to their seniors as well,” Sephiroth continued. Somehow, to reasons unknown to Rikku and her brothers, her granddad had always acknowledged them as his “juniors” but never as his grandchildren and had refused at first to be given the title of “granddad” when Squall had first called him that. It seems silly to Rikku. After all, which grandfather would not like to be acknowledged as a grandfather when he had grandchildren?

Rikku grinded her teeth with annoyance as she rubbed her temples with her forefinger. She forgot to mention that her granddad was just as annoying as he is creepy.

“Yes, Granddad” Rikku practically hissed through gritted teeth.
“Don’t “yes” me, child. Mother would not be happy to hear that.” Oh, and did she mention that her granddad refer to that lump of metal as his mother? How crazy.

“Yes, granddad. I would not be rude again.” Rikku said again, this time keeping her anger in check.

“That’s the proper way for Children of Jenova to behave. Now ran along and tell your grandma to bring me some water.” Sephiroth said, smiling at her with a hair-raising expression.

“Yes, granddad.” Rikku felt like as if she was in the army, saying yes to the commander again and again. Just as she closed the door, she thought she heard her granddad mumbled something which sounded suspiciously like “Mother, Your children may have your genes, but they definitely lack respect for you.”

Now left in the doorway all by herself, Rikku let out a loud sigh, followed by a frustrated scream. She mentally noted to herself that she would not visit her granddad anymore unless it was a must.

And when that happens, she will bring ear plugs.

Prolugue

2007-05-02T06:37:00.000-07:00

“Rikku, good thing you’re back. Sephiroth’s been making some weird noises for a while in there.” Gippal smirked at he pointed towards the awkwardly large mansion.

“Granddad’s been what?”

Rikku shook her head. She sure has a weird family that is always doing unusual stuff. To start it off, there’s her creepy grandfather. He’s the one always giving everyone the creeps with his weird smile; it was as if he’d cracked or something. And he’s forever droning on about something called Jenova, which from Rikku’s point of view, was a dirty and smashed up lump of metal which is always dripping with some weird emerald liquid. Here he goes again, carrying it like some treasure and fiddling with it lovingly while calling out “Mother” repeatedly.

Sure seems like he’s really cracked.

Then there was, Rikku’s grandma. She was abnormally slim and well, you could say she was pretty, which was the most surprising thing to expect from some eighty year old or so granny. From what she heard from Dad, she was a sorceress, that’s probably the reason as to how she could keep her youth. Speaking of the devil, here she comes, sashaying up towards Sephiroth. You’d think she wouldn’t be able to stand such a turnoff as her granddad but well, it is worse. Ultimecia doesn’t even care. Well, it seems that she and Sephiroth’s relationship had long gone down the gorge ever since god knows when. The case seems even more so after the great Vayne Solidor made his great entrance. From what Rikku heard, this time from her mother, there was a point when Ultimecia still bore hope for the two’s relationship but seems so that Sephiroth wouldn’t seem to cooperate. Well, their fate was sealed when Vayne stepped into the whole relationship by seducing Ultimecia during her worst days. Ultimecia obviously welcomed him as she was so very deprived from company for such a long time. To this, Selphie admit helplessly that there was nothing she could do to stop it. She was just a daughter-in-law after all, if Irvine, Ultimecia’s own son didn’t even bother, what could she do?

If these two characters weren’t weird enough, there was still Irvine and Selphie, Rikku’s very own parents. How two such different people would be able to come together as man and wife was still a mystery, even more so of a mystery when Irvine was such a lady’s man. He enjoyed any woman’s company and women enjoyed his. It is indeed a wonder how Selphie could keep this man stuck in marriage for such a long time. And that’s not even the most mysterious thing. The most mysterious and ironic thing was that how such lively and happy people as these two could give birth to two sons who seemed to be fated to be stuck with depression since the time of birth. There was Squall, the elder brother of the two. If you could describe him with one word, it’d definitely be paranoid. He’s always thinking way too much and in a pessimistic way too. He feels insecure about every relationship he gets into, no matter friendship or love. Then there was the younger brother of the two, Cloud. He would be the quiet, depressed guy who needs lessons on anger management. Both he and his brother, Squall, have always been problematic. Most of the time, they were problems revolving around emotional matters. They certainly need counseling. Thankfully, this problem has been improving ever sine both of them acquired wonderful girlfriends such as Rinoa and Tifa. The liveliness of these two beautiful girls has certainly brightened up the dreary atmosphere hanging off them. There was one thing you could say whenever you see them hanging out with their girlfriends.

God has been kind to them.

That was what Rikku thought as she saw the four of them walk through the large iron gates of the mansion together. Well, this was her family, an awfully weird family but even so, it was where she belonged in.