Back again!! This must be one of the fastest updates I've done in a LONG while … considering the fact that, well, I still have fics from 3 years ago that aren't done … hmph ANYWAY … So yeah, this is the first chapter, and the song comes in now. Although the song only comes in during specific parts, and Rikku and Gippal each have their own special parts- so if you see lyrics during Rikku's part and not Gippal's, it's supposed to be that way, kay? I'm a little confused about where I want to go with this, cause I have a couple different ideas about a plot. I know!!! I'll make the other another fic hehe. But anyways, back to THIS fic, I did a little bit of backtracking- this explains what was happening while Rikku was thinking in the intro. So, moving on, yeah … here we go!!

Disclaimer- Me no own FFX-2 or any of the characters … because if I owned Gippal, I might possibly DIE from lusting after his body. I'm serious. He's a very sexy piece of male, he is.

A/N- THANKIE for those who reviewed!!! This chappie is for you guys!!!

-After it all-

A fic written to 'Slide' by the Goo Goo Dolls

-Chapter One: Where ya goin', Cid's Girl?-

-Rikku­-

It's been exactly one year since Vegnagun was defeated, and now I'm eighteen. Woo hoo.

Sorry, I do that sometimes …

Anyway, yeah, so it's been a year since we defeated Vegnagun, and Yunie decided to have this big celebration thing- and of course, being High Summoner Yunie and all, she got to have it. So she made me dress up … and I hate dressing up. Although, I have to admit, it was a nice dress … if there is such a thing as nice dresses. Skirts are fine, but I absolutely HATE dresses.

Speaking of the dress- Yunie forced me into this halter-topped green shiny minidress thingy, and then made me wear these black gloves that came all the way up to my armpits, and she made me wear these thigh high black boots … and they have heels. I don't know what Yunie was thinking, but I so cannot even walk in these things. Then she did my hair different!!! She made me wear it down, with only three braids on each side that are pulled back behind my head and tied, and then she pulled out some of my hair so that it falls in my face. The hair is the only good thing about this outfit, I'm telling you. See, Yunie and Paine got to wear long dresses, and they looked about as comfortable as they could be … even Paine, who is the least likely person you'd ever see in dressy clothes. But no, they all sat, looking completely at ease. It made me want to punch something. Badly.

So I'm sitting there, at this big round table, with Paine on my left sitting next to Baralai, and Yunie on my right, sitting next to Tidus. And no, the symbolism was so not lost on me.

And as I'm sitting there, feeling completely and totally out of place, I look over to the other side of this massive meeting room in the temple at Bevelle … and guess who I see.

Gippal, dra zylgycc.

He's standing there talking to Nooj and Leblanc, but he keeps looking at me. I wonder what that's about. He'd probably deny it if I confronted him. Yeah, that sounds like a Gippal thing to do.

And then he decided to come and join us. Oh, joy.

He looked me straight in the eyes, knowing full and well the effect he had on me. I felt my breath catch in my throat as I stared at him, feeling things I didn't want to feel.

"Hey there, Cid's girl."

I rolled my eyes.

"Um, I have a name!!!"

"Course ya do, Princess," he said, smirking.

That smirk was formed to annoy me, I know it was. Now he was just begging to get his arse kicked.

"Crid ib, Gippal," I shot back, feeling even more uncomfortable.

"Oh, that hurts," he replied, his smirk forcing into a smile that made me glad I was sitting down- I felt my knees go weak.

Oohhh … I hate him sometimes. Specially now.

I got up from the table, and walked away. Very mature of me, I must say, because what I truly wanted to do is too violent to be put into words.

"Where ya goin', Cid's girl?" he asked, and followed me. I rolled my eyes and walked faster, but he kept up with me.

"Ku yfyw, Gippal!" I yelled, and ran … which was a really, really bad idea … because I sort of … well … accidentally didn't see the stairs going down in front of me … and after much tumbling and a moment of dizziness,the next thing I knew I was staring at the sky, unable to move.

Stupid boots. Stupid heels. Stupid Yunie … argh! Stupid Gippal!!!

"Princess? You ok?" he asked me, and I could hear the amusement in his voice. He thought it was funny as hell, I bet.

"I'm fine!!! Just leave me alone!!!" I said, and tried to get up. Problem was, none of my limbs would move, which sort of stopped that thought. I whimpered, but stopped quickly. Gippal'd never let me live it down if I cried in front of him. But damn, it hurt.

And then he sighed. Gippal sighed. I didn't even know he could do that.

Then he picked me up, cradling me in his arms … and I screamed.

"FRYD!!! FRYD YNA OUI TUEHK??? BID SA TUFH!!! GIPPAL!!!!!"

"Drec ec fryd E kad vun dnoehk du ramb oui? Tysh ED, Rikku! Lyms tufh! CRID IB!!!!"

I pounded on his arms and screamed as loud as I could. Everyone was staring, but I don't know if it was because of the screaming or because my tiny dress had slid up my hips, exposing my panties to the world. I quickly tired and whimpered again, giving up, and I buried my face into his warm, muscled chest, which obviously surprised him.

"Pfft … fusah …" he whispered, shaking his head. I felt so numb, and I didn't know why. All I did was slip! I couldn't be hurt that bad, could I?

Only after that thought did I feel the world tilt, and a dark blackness consumed my vision, my thoughts, my all.

-Gippal-

I lay Rikku down on the bed inside her guest room, laughing silently.

Only Rikku could defeat Sin, but then pass out from slipping in a pair of heels.

Although I tried to play it off lightly, I knew she was hurt. Rikku was a tough girl, and she didn't normally pass out, even when she was in really, really bad shape. I sat down beside her, and saw that her hair was in complete disarray, covering most of her face. I moved it away, well … cause … ya know, she needs to breathe and all, and then felt a completely random urge as I looked at her still form, her lips still in that classic pout of hers.

I wanted to kiss her.

NO. Not happening. I don't have feelings for her anymore, remember?

………

Yeah, so maybe that's a lie.

Unbeknownst to Cid's little girl there, I broke it off because I was scared. I was scared. I saw what Sin did during Operation Mi'ihen, and was scared out of my ass. Not that I'd admit it out loud, of course. Rikku'd give me hell about it for forever. Not that I wouldn't deserve it. I had been such an ass to break it off with her … but I had to get out of the way of Sin, for a while, at least. And, at the time, I thought I would just … I seriously considered just taking my gun and shooting myself in the head. I was tired of it, tired of Sin, tired of Yevon. But as I stood there on that dingy boat I had left on, I thought of her. I thought of how she would feel … at first, I thought she'd be happy, considering I had just broken her heart in a million pieces. I don't think she realized that by doing what I did I shattered mine, too. I still loved the girl, loved her with everything I had. I felt like that would be the best thing to do. And then, I realized that I sounded like Nooj- Which made me drop the gun and sit down. I had planned my own death, gone looking for it … borrowed the alias 'Deathseeker', if you will. Then I realized that I didn't want to die … not here, not now. And … I really didn't want to leave Rikku. Not yet. I then decided to go back, and to find some way to keep myself busy, something that could keep me away from Sin, and from Rikku.

It was then I decided to form the Machine Faction.

It wasn't called that yet, of course, but I realized that it was the best I could do to keep myself safe, occupied, and pleasantly distant.

I was a damn coward- that's what I was.

I realize now how many things I gave up then. In essence, I also gave up Rikku. I thought that by killing myself, I could get away cleanly. I wouldn't have to face her.

Just remembering these things makes me want to beat the shit out of myself.

And so I sat there, looking down at the beautiful girl that I gave up, with an amazing personality and an attitude to rival mine … and I gave into my urges.

I leaned down, and laid a gentle kiss upon her lips, caressing the side of her face with my fingertips. I then kissed her again, a little harder this time, hoping to wake her, and yet not wanting to.

I pulled away, a feeling inside that I thought I'd never have again. That warm, fuzzy feeling of contentment, of finding your place, of feeling wanted.

But I knew … she didn't want me. Not after the pain I put her through.

Could you whisper in my ear

The things you wanna feel?

I'll give you anything

To feel it coming

-Rikku-

I was dreaming.

I passed out, I'm dreaming, I'm dreaming.

But, if it's a dream, then why does it feel so real?

I can hear Gippal; feel his lips pressed against my ear, whispering sweet nothings in Al Bhed. His warm breath tickling the back of my neck as he nuzzled his cheek against me.

This has to be a dream. Gippal would never, EVER do that.

Then I felt his lips against mine.

A DREAM. A DREAM. A DREAM.

This is so totally my dream right now … why am I dreaming of kissing Gippal?

Why am I dreaming of him at all?

What is wrong with me? I'm obviously not thinking straight. I don't like Gippal, so therefore I should NOT be having dreams of kissing him!!!

Wait … that's a lie. I do like Gippal, the nice, sweet side he had, anyway. Oh, and I like his body. That's definitely my personal aphrodisiac. But I thought I had gotten rid of those fluttery feelings for him, after he hurt me like he did … I guess I hadn't, not quite yet.

But I don't like this dream, because I don't understand it.

Wait.

If I'm dreaming, then how do I know I'm dreaming?!

'Dra zylgycc'- the jackass

'Crid ib'- shut up

'Ku yfyw'- go away

'FRYD!!! FRYD YNA OUI TUEHK??? BID SA TUFH!!! GIPPAL!!!!!'- WHAT!!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING??? PUT ME DOWN!!! GIPPAL!!!!!

'Drec ec fryd E kad vun dnoehk du ramb oui? Tysh ED, Rikku!Lyms tufh! CRID IB!!!!'- This is what I get for trying to help you? Damn IT, Rikku? Calm down! SHUT UP!!!!

'Fusah'- women

NYAH HAHAAAAA!!!! Sort of cliffie, sort of…. (). Well, ya know. So, yeah, Rikku's dreaming, sort of. I think … or IS she??? Mwahahaha … review, and I will get the next chappie up quickly!!! I still need to finish the story though -.-(). I will, someday. Hopefully soon XD. Alrighty, bye for now!! REVIEW!!!!!!

Celestial D