Disclaimer: I do not own Cloud, Rikku, Leon, or Yuffie. I do not own Squaresoft or Final Fantasy. (But wouldn't it be cool if any of us did?)

Chapter 2: A Blast of the Past

In Gippal's place stood a young adult man. He had spiked hair, golden blonde in color, blue eyes, dark colored clothes, and a massive sword that looked bigger than him. I started in disbelief. How could Gippal leave me alone with... with this strange man? Where was he, anyways? I was mad at Gippal for just leaving me, but something about the stranger attracted me. It might have been curiosity, or maybe his odd sword. Perhaps, he charm and handsomeness, or maybe the wounds that seemed all over him. Blood was dripping from his blade, and his arms and legs were full of nasty cuts and bruises. He seemed extremely fatigued, and he nearly fell over while standing there.

I carried him to a bed- Gippal's- and tended to his wounds. It wouldn't have been very nice if I had left him there to almost die. As I carried him, and washed his marks of battle, I noticed his physique- muscular and very firm, yet soft in a way to show incomplete full development of his muscles. His shoulders, arms, legs, stomach, and hands all seemed so strong, and yet delicate. He was a perfect man, beautiful blonde hair and blue eyes. He wasn't too old, or too young. He obviously was strong- he had to be if he carried a huge sword like that- and yet, youthfulness showed through. He was old enough to be able to care, protect, and love a girl right, but he wasn't old enough to be boring. And... he's right about my age.

I bandaged his wounds, and placed the blanket over him. I knew how cold the desert could get at night- freezing. I blew out the lamp by his bedside and left him to recover. I really didn't feel right around him, like a sense of guilt had crept over me. I thought about Gippal, is he all right? Is he hurt? Is he gone forever? The 'visitor' made me feel warm inside, a giggly kind, the one that girls' get when they see an attractive guy. I didn't want to call it cheating, it wasn't, and besides, I haven't down anything yet. All I did was help him to get better. So what if I saw him without a shirt on- have I ever seen Gippal without a shirt? - it still wasn't cheating! I'm just helping him out... his handsome body is just an added bonus.

I left the tent and started to set up a makeshift sleeping bag, since I wasn't going to sleep in the same place as a stranger. I once again changed into my White Mage outfit, rolled myself up in my blanket and fell asleep. When I woke up, it was early in the morning, but I could already feel the heat rising off the sand. I changed into my Alchemist dress sphere; it wasn't too revealing, it wasn't too hot, and I could still defend myself with the giant gun. Besides, I looked more Al Bhed, too. After I had changed and rolled up my sleeping bag, I went to check in on the patient. He was up and looked like he was very bored and confused. I wonder if he can talk English... or maybe he knows Al Bhed. What if he doesn't understand me at all? O... I wish he knows one of our languages. "Can you understand me?" I figured English would be more appropriate language to use, since most people use that instead of Al Bhed. I made sure to speak slowly and loudly.

"Yes, I can understand you. And no, you don't have to talk so slowly. Where are we? And, who are you?" He stared at me, waiting for an answer. I just looked back- dumbfounded- and glad that he could talk to me. "O... well it's a good thing we can communicate. We're in the Bikanel Desert, on the Bikanel Island, the homeland of Al Bheds." I wonder if he knows what an Al Bhed is...or where the Bikanel Island is. He doesn't look like someone from Spira. "Bikanel Island... Al Bhed..." he was utterly confused, "Can you tell me some places that make sense?" I was right; he wasn't from Spira. It was mid morning and we were getting hungry, so I offered to make us breakfast. He was glad, since he probably couldn't cook. I kept wondering who he was, where he was from, why he was here, and where Gippal was. It seemed to me that he didn't know himself.

"Now, where exactly is this 'Bikanel Island' located? I mean, is it by Midgar, or Niblehiem, or what? And, how do you keep changing your outfit like that?" Now, it was my turn to be confused. "Midgar... Niblehiem... what in all of Spira are you talking about?" He seemed surprised that I would yell at him. He thought for a minute, and finally asked, "Alright, forget about the cities. Where is your closest Shinra building or Mako reactor?" I just stood there. He clearly wasn't from Spira, and so naming these places wouldn't help. I thought about what to say, and he went to finish his breakfast.

We didn't talk for a while, he went into the tent, gathered his things up, and was going to leave to find someone who could help him. "I wouldn't do that! The desert is a dangerous thing!" He didn't seem to care, or maybe he couldn't hear my shouting. He just kept walking away and the sand blew his hair- it was then I realized my feelings for him. I liked, perhaps loved, him. "WAIT! WAIT!!" I ran after him; luckily he heard me this time and stopped. I ran up to him, breathed heavily for a while, and then got up. "Since you don't know your way around here, and I do, I've decided to be your guide." I wouldn't take 'no' for an answer, and gladly, he accepted. And so, our journey started.

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"Rikku? Rikku, are you listening?"

"Huh?" Of course I wasn't listening! I was thinking about how I met you... it makes me feel happy. "O, sorry. I was remembering when we first met."

The two lovers had arrived at the party. They were outside in front of the doors. It was fall, and the night was chilly. Rikku stood with Cloud and they hugged. She embraced him in an 'I'll never see you ever again' fashion. They kissed and started to enter. Cloud opened the door for Rikku and they were welcomed by warmth from the building. Although it was making her hot, Rikku kept the jacket on, so Cloud would feel better. As they walked down the hallway to the party room, they could hear singing, laughter, and music. "Cloud, let's not go in just yet..." she had a faint tone of sorrow or regret in her voice, "can't we just wait outside the room, for a couple of minutes?" She wanted to spend all the time with her companion, for she never knew if he might disappear as suddenly as he had appeared. He accepted, for he didn't mind spending time with his loved one, and he sat down right next to her. As he sat down, he looked at her until she noticed and then smiled. Rikku smiled back and felt warm inside. They put their arms around each other and cuddled. They sat there, hugged, cuddled, and kissed each other for a few minutes. After their lips parted from their last kiss, Cloud began to get up and said, "Ready to go? I'm sure they'll be glad to see us." Rikku nodded and smiled. She got up and they walked in together.

Lights immediately flashed in their eyes, bright lights shown from all over. They could see guests eating, talking, singing, and dancing. They spotted Leon and Yuffie dancing closely together and headed over there. As they approached them, the song had ended and Cloud and Rikku didn't feel so bad to stop them dancing. Leon and Yuffie were still dancing, swaying back and forth. Leon was in a slick jet-black tuxedo with a light purple flower in his outside pocket. Yuffie was in an almost pure white dress with a hint of purple. Her gown came all the way to her feet, and it over exaggerated her movements. She had moved back her veil and had her hair just flowing down.

What a beautiful couple. I wonder if Cloud and me will ever get married? Rikku watched them and wished for thought to come true. Yuffie noticed Rikku and Cloud standing there and whispered to Leon. He turned his head, let go of Yuffie, and went over to greet his friends. "Cloud! Rikku! Glad you could come. Have you been here the whole time? I've been kinda busy and haven't really noticed a lot." He laughed a little and smirked. He put his hand to scratch the back of his hair as he said haven't really noticed. Yuffie came over and welcomed them to their party. She said something to Rikku and she giggled. "Cloud, Leon, do you mind if we go to talk for a bit? We'll be as quick as we can!" The two men nodded and the girlfriends walked over to talk.

"So, Cloud, how's it going with Rikku?" Leon wasn't the best at starting conversation, neither was Cloud. The women usually did that; they're good at small talk. Cloud shrugged and replied, "Good as ever. I think we might be getting more serious." Cloud paused, thought, and then added, "Leon, did Yuffie ever treat you like she'd never see you again? Because, Rikku's doing that, and I'm kinda confused."

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"Really? You're going to ask him?" Yuffie was excited. The two women had been talking for some time now and they noticed that Leon and Cloud were talking too. Yuffie almost burst out of excitement. "So, you really are?" Yuffie wanted to make sure she heard Rikku right. Rikku just stood there, almost annoyed. "Of course I'm going to! How many times do I have to tell you?" Rikku glared at Yuffie. Stifled between laughs, Yuffie managed to say, "One more time..." Rikku loosened up and laughed along as well.

Yuffie settled down and went over to be with Leon; she had been gone for about an hour or so. As she walked towards him, she heard them talking about... Rikku? "... kinda odd, but, not entirely bad." they stopped talking as they saw Yuffie. Leon excused himself, went over, and hugged his new bride. They kissed, and started dancing right where they left off. Cloud felt a little disappointed because Leon and he were having a great conversation. They hadn't seen eachother in a while, and they had a lot of catching up to do. But, Cloud quickly felt better as Rikku came over and grabbed him, and started dancing. Cloud was surprised at first, but soon he started to dance, too. He leaned in closely to Rikku, slowly and careful so Rikku wouldn't notice. He looked at Rikku's eyes and was lost in the sphere of emerald green. Rikku looked up, and was lost in the sea of blue in Cloud's eyes. They poured into eachother until finally they both leaned even closer in. Their lips slightly quivered, but they never lost sight of eachother's eyes. Their lips met, touched, and caressed the other set of lips. Rikku and Cloud were overfilled with a new sense of love and intimacy. They continued to kiss until the music stopped and so they stopped dancing as well. They gradually took their lips apart, and unhurriedly they let go of one another.

They stood, embracing, and looked around them. Beautiful streamers and balloons decorated the walls. The wedding cake was off to the side, over halfway eaten. A band played soft, romantic music as couples gathered together to dance. Food, abundant and hearty, filled a whole wall. The lights were tinted blue, and it gave the room a feel of romance. Cloud and Rikku just stood there hugging, and said but a few words.

"I love you"

End of Chapter

Please Review, thanks! -AntiMusicMan