One More Time

The storm wasn't letting out, and if Gippal didn't get this tower fixed, people could be in danger. He hammered away at the tower, rain soaking him to the bone. He was working at the Thunder Plains, where one of the towers had broken. Later that day, travellers from all over were going to go through to Bevelle for a festival.

His clothes were sticking to him like glue, he wore his normal clothes. His arms were complaining with pain but he continued. The lightening in the distance reminded him of Rikku's fear. When they were kids at Bikanel, she used to always come to him during a storm and he found it cute how she used to jump at the bright flashes. He smiled through tears. If only she hadn't gone out on that last misson... Maybe he would be with her.

After defeating Vegnagun, Rikku, Yuna and Paine with the addition of Tidus set out to sort a riot down at Bevelle. The groups were at turmoil when they found out that Vegnagun had been hidden in their sacred city.

Gippal remembered painfully how Rikku had gone out in front of everyone and tried to calm them down...

Flashback

"Stop it right now!" Rikku yelled into the microphone. Millions of people were fighting and guns were aimed but not shot. Everyone quietened down and looked to her. "This is stupid. Put your guns away and make peace! Vegnagun is a thing of the past! It is gone, it won't come back!"

Everyone in the crowd had different reactions. Some put their guns away but others chose to shout insults at her.

"Why should we listen to an Al Bhed scum-bag!"

"Go back to your desert and stay there!"

"You don't deserve to live!"

I looked to Rikku and saw the unfallen tears spring to her eyes.

"This isn't about me! This is about our future!" She yelled back but no one was listening. They had gone back to their fighting and yelling to each other then... The first gun shot sounded through the crowd. Everyone went quiet and looked for the wounded.

"Rikku!" I yelled and ran up to Rikku's wounded body. The shot had caught her just below her ribs. Blood was flowing everywhere. Tears fell freely down my face as I caught sight of her open, pale, lifeless eyes. I caressed her head in my hands, her hair soft against my rough skin. "Rikku..."

"I never could get her to shut up, until now..." Nooj smirked from behind me, a recetly fired gun in his hands.

End Flashback

I beat the hammer harder onto the metal of the tower.

I will get you back one day Nooj... I vowed to myself. I lost my grip on the tower as a lightening bolt hit the tip of the tower. I yelled out in surprise as I began to fall backwards.

Then everything seemed to slow down. I could no longer feel the cold of the rain, but I began to warm up. My thoughts were on an Al Bhed princess, her smile, her eyes, her golden hair... They all played in my mind. But I couldn't seem to get a full picture in my head of her.

If only... I thought, before I hit the rough ground, pain racking my body, my world going black.

If only I could have seen her face... One more time...