It Started With a Kiss

There were rules for these things. You never went against the rules. No exceptions. The moment they broke the rules was the moment things would unravel. The moment they broke the rules was the moment they began down a path they had to finish.

Chapter 1: Made For You


T'was a strange night. Not like the rest. The skies were overcast and a cool damp breeze was about the cast yards. A delicious smell of the open terrain was in the air. And 17 year old Rikku was in her bedroom at the wishes of her father, the great King Cid of the Albhedian Empire. She had not understood why he would wish for her to retire so early but she didn't question him. It was coming close to her coming of age ceremony. A big ball in her name. She wasn't about to upset her father so close to it. 2 weeks. That's how far away it was. So she obliged. And here she was. Enjoying the evening air on her balcony in a nice autumn appropriate nightgown and robe.

She told herself she would retire to bed in a few moments but then she's become so comfortable on the balcony. It wasn't until she spotted something that made her confused...and uneasy that she decided to go in. A carriage with a certain crest on it was heading towards the castle. Led by 4 gray horses. A lion crest. Or something likes it. She remembered seeing it sometime before but...it was maybe years ago. But it brought this uneasy feeling. And Rikku didn't like feeling uneasy. She went into her room.

"Yuffie" She called for her chambermaid who came to her side immediately.

"Yes, milady?" She asked.

"Is there an expected guest to the palace tonight?" Rikku asked.

"Not that i have been informed of your ladyship. The nobles don't arrive for 3 more days." Yuffie informs her.

"Then why does a carriage bearing a lion's crest approach?" Rikku inquires.

"This I cannot tell you, your grace." Yuffie looks down in remorse.

"It is alright. I will retire then for the evening." Rikku says. Yuffie bows and goes to turn back the covers for her bed. But just then there is a knock at the door.

Another chambermaid goes and answers the door at Rikku's word. In walks a messenger who seems he had been running to her quarters. Rikku allows him some moments to catch his breath and has one of her chambermaids get him some water.

"News?" She inquires.

"Yes, your highness." He takes one final deep breath. "Urgent news. It seems that you have an unexpected gift from The Order."

"An unexpected gift from whom? The Order?" Rikku cocks her head a bit. "Does my father know of this unexpected gift?"

"His Majesty and her Ladyship knew of his arrival. But they were unable to inquire further. His delivery to your quarters is only moments away, Princess." The messengers says.

"His? What exactly is this gift?" Rikku is now confused.

"It is not in my liberty to say. My apologies. "The messenger bows to her.

"Thank you. You may take leave." Rikku says. He obliges.

She paces her room as soon as he leaves. Her chamber maids watch in waiting. This was a strange matter. A gift from an unknown order of some sort that her mother and father obliged to but a messenger can't give further information? No wonder the air seemed new. No wonder she had this feeling of unease. This couldn't be good. She could sense it. She would wait and see what was to come but she did not like this gift already.

-Knock knock knock-

The gift. She could feel it was this gift'. She nodded for Yuffie to answer the door but before she could in walks three hooded figures.

"Remove your hoods and reveal yourselves at once." Rikku orders. No one was to walk in without her admittance. And these figures seemed to be quite large in size. She did not feel safe at this moment. She debated whether to call for the guards. Why had the guards let them by so easily anyway?

"Please do not be alarmed, Princess." One speaks. The front one on the left. A gentle male voice reaches out along with a raised hand. "Excuse our rudeness but we had not been thinking to remove our covers. We are a little behind schedule."

"Well it seems we had not been informed of your arrival until just a few moments ago. Now remove your hoods please." Rikku says. She closes her robe tighter and crosses her arms.

"Yes, you highness." The male says. And the three hooded figures turn into 2 very handsome gentlemen of albhedian decent and 1 hooded figure.

The one who spoke had a short buzz cut. A dark tan and wore goggles. But he had strong shoulders and a confident demeanor. The second was on the right and the next nearest in the room was a stocky and strongly built man. Goggles worn on his head and long blond hair. He was darkly tanned as well. But the third lay a mystery to her. When he began to remove his hood the second stopped him. She only saw a pair of lips. Pink almost. He was not as dark as she could tell from his exposed chin. He was her tone. He had broad shoulders from what she could tell under the cloak and was tall as well.

"We are from The Order. I am Buddy." The first one who was speaking originally said. He gestures to the second man with the long hair. "And this is Rin. We are the deliverers."

"Deliverers of what? And who is the third man?"

"We are deliverers of your Sire. And that is who this is." The third man nods to the third man and he removes his hood. "This is your Sire. Gippal."

Rikku was confused. "I was told someone was bringing a gift. I was never told about a Sire. I don't even know what a Sire is. A creator?"

"No, Princess, please." Buddy says. He moves out the way for Gippal to come to the front.

"Let him explain."

Gippal comes to 5 feet from Rikku and kneels down onto one knee. His head bowed.

"My name is Gippal. I was raised at The Order of Albhedia to become your Sire. I am yours to do with as you please. I have vowed to please and be loyal to only you and i will do so for the rest of your days."

"This, your highness, is your gift. He is your gift." Rin says.

"I beg your pardon... I'm receiving...a person? A bred human being?" Rikku was completely mind blown.

"I am no human being, Milady. I am a Sire. A being of pure decent." Gippal looks up to her and she shook her head.

"I will not take a ...b-being as a slave to do my will. I refuse this gift. From...from...i don't know who but you may return him." Rikku turns her back to them in fury. She couldn't fathom what was happening.

"This is not a refutable gift, your highness. I apologize." Buddy tells her. She turns and looks to him incredulously.

"And why is this so?"

"It is so because it is a personal gift from The Aria herself." As soon as Rin said that Rikku felt defeated. The Aria was like the holy entity of the Albhedian people. She had final say of everything. If she had given the gift it was against her people if she were to refuse it.

"..." She thought her next move. "What exactly am i to do with a Sire. I've never heard of one of these."

"These are of a rare breeding. Only one exists at a time. And they are bred every 600 years."

"600 years? How old is he exactly?" Rikku's eyes widened.

"I am 126, your grace." Gippal says and it sounds like gibberish to Rikku's ears.

"Pardon me...your how old?" Rikku asks. She nearly loses her breath. Her heart stops for a second.

"I am 126." Gippal repeats. He begins to rise but stops himself and remains in his position. "My grace, are you well?"

"But how?" She ignores his question.

"Milady, there is always time for Gippal to explain things to you. But the sun is setting and you should rest. We apologize for the sudden events but we had only learned of this gift to you merely days ago." Rin says. "We must now take leave and return to The Order."

"But wait" Rikku steps forward as they begin to leave. She pauses just behind Gippal.

"What am i to do with him?" She asks.

"He has arrangements for his own quarters but they are yet to have finished. He is to stay with you." Rin answers.

"With me? But he is a male? How am i to let this strange male stay with me?

"Well that is one of his main purposes. We bid you farewell because we can speak no further." Buddy says and they leave before she can get another word out. Despite her calls.

It has been about 20 minutes since they left and Rikku has not ceased her constant staring at Gippal since. She had ordered him to sit on the chair by her table. He did so without question. She sat on the opposite side of the table looking at him. Debating what to do. She had nothing in mind that she could do. She had accepted that she had to keep him. But what did she do with a hundred and twenty-six year old Sire. Nothing in her raising prepared her for this.

She would keep him only because The Aria had given him to her. But she would only have him as a companion she supposed. He would be nothing intimate to her. Now for where he would stay. There was no beds ready for him at this moment. And he wasn't sleeping in hers. So what to do?

"If I may, Milady. I can sleep on the floor if you would be so generous as to provide me with a pillow and covering." Gippal broke through her thoughts.

"I beg your pardon?" She didn't quite catch what he said.

"I can simply retire on the floor if I were supplied with a covering and pillow. Or just a pillow." Gippal said.

"How did you-" She began to ask.

"I am a Sire. I am gifted with many abilities. One being the power to hear you. Emotionally, physically, or mentally."

"You can read thoughts?"

"Not everyone's. Just your thoughts. I am your Sire. I am in tuned with only you, Milady." He told her.

"Why only me? "She asks him.

"Because you are the only that matters in my existence." He states it so simply. So serious.

That had her quiet. She was tired so this idea of his worked for her for the moment. She turned to tell Yuffie to arrange it but she already had gone and retrieved spare blankets and pillows. Gippal rose and took the covers and pillows from Yuffie. He went to a spot across the room near the end of her bed and arranged the make-shift bed. She watched as he took off his boots and cloak. He had on a blouse that was thin. He would be cold. But she'd be a chocobo if he didn't look absolutely gorg-. She stopped that thought in its tracks. But she knew he heard. She cursed herself.

"It is quite alright to think that way, Milady. I am yours in every way. What you desire, I will give you." He says to her. She blushes. Then shakes her head.

"No. I want none of that. If i must keep you then you will only serve as a companion."

"Companions can please each other. Sometimes quite better than mates are able to." He smiles.

"Out of wedlock? I think not." She huffs. "I am a properly raised princess. And I will act as such."

"Of course, Milady." He says.

He watches her as she moves to her bed. Yuffie comes and takes her robe and she climbs into her big queen bed. Gippal moves to lie in his makeshift one. Yuffie and the second chambermaid put out her lights and left to their quarters. That left Rikku and Gippal. Her mind raced. She couldn't sleep. So many thoughts raddled her brain and it frustrated her. Had this not had happened she would be able to sleep soundly. But now that her mind raced with questions, she could hardly close her eyes. She sighed in frustration.

"Would you care for me to hum a lullaby to you to ease your mind?" She heard Gippal ask. She didn't respond.

Would that even help? But before she could think, he began to hum a sweet lullaby. She didn't recognize the song. But as his voiced soothed her mind she found her eyes closing. And soon enough his sweet lullaby was cradling her mind into a deep sleep. Something was in his voice. Something was in him. Was this good? Or had this been the beginning signs of trouble?


So this is my first new latest fic. I enjoyed writing this and I hope you enjoyed reading it. More to come. I have big plans for this story. =] R&R.

XOXO,

Ayata-Ayumi