Prologue

"Cid's girl, we need to talk." I announced as I stepped in inside her tent. I really didn't want to do this, but it was for her own best. She looked up at me from the trunk she was leaning over.

"Yeah, I need to talk to you to, but you first, Gip. Watcha wanna say?"

I loved her smiles, but now, it made me so extremely uncomfortable. She wouldn't smile so bright when I had told her of my plans. More likely, she would kick my ass all the way to hell.

"I... I need..." 'What the hell is wrong with me?!' I took a deep breath. 'I never run out of words!' I started over.

"I've been selected to join the Crimson Squad, Rikku." She stared at me. Not certain of her emotions, I continued with my speech.

"I have to report for service in Luca by tomorrow morning." She didn't even flinch. I was getting worried.

"Uhm... What I'm trying to say here, Rikku, is that... Er... I think we should...break up." I looked at her, vigilantly (A//N: Is that a word?). Suddenly, an expression of relief came over her face and I sure as hell didn't like it. 'Where's her ballistic explosion of rage?'

"I'm happy for you, Gip! Now I don't have to feel guilty for leaving you..." She gave me a pale smile.

"Leaving?" I stiffened. "What do you mean with LEAVING?"

"I'm going to join my cousin Yuna on her pilgrimage. I wanna help her defeat Sin."

"FRYD?"(WHAT?) I couldn't help the rage bubbling inside me. In two strodes I stood before her, my hands on her shoulders. 'She's doing what?'. "YOU'RE DOING WHAT?!"

"Don't you shout at me, you big meanie!" She tried to free herself from my hands, but I tightened my grip, forcing her to look at me.

"You're not leaving this desert before I tell you so!"

"Excuse me?" She stared at me, eyes sparkling with anger. "Since when do you have the right to tell me what to do?"

"Since NOW!"

The thought of her facing Sin was sending chills down my spine. I knew she was gonna join her cousin as her guardian and that scared the shit out of me. Every thinking creature knew what happened to guardians.

"You are NOT going and that's THAT! Your place is HERE!" I pushed her down on the bed and walked to the trunk. Furiously, I began to throw its contents around me. When the trunk was empty, I lifted it up and threw it out of the tent. I turned around to face Rikku, who stood up from the bed. She opened her mouth to yell at me, but before she could say anything I pushed her onto the bed again.

"Girls like you have no place in WAR! Your place is HERE, where you wait and prepare for your men to come back home! You would only be in the way and we don't need any DISTRACTIONS!" That was just a part of my speech, but you get the picture, the rest is not suitable for childrens ears...

"Is that really what you think of women?" Rikku's voice was cold as ice, but her face revealed her feeling of disgust.

"YES!" I was far too scared to let my anger go. But the anger wasn't helping. Rikku rose from the bed. Putting her hands on my chest, pushing me backwards while screaming at me, with every word another push.

"WELL, IF THAT'S HOW YOU FEEL, YOU CAN GO TO LUCA AND STAY THERE!!" I tried to hold her back, but she's a force of nature when she's mad. And she was MAD.

"I HATE YOU! You big MEANIE!" She gave me one last push that sent me flying out the door, wich she slammed shut behind me. I jumped on my feet, rushing to the door.

"RIKKU! OPEN THE DAMN DOOR!!" No answer. 'If that's the way you want it.' I thought as i kicked the door one last time. 'Then fine by me!' I turned on my heels.