A/N: Thanks for reviewing. I don't really like writing in first person either... but I thought it would be fun. And maybe I did over use 'Cid's girl' in that chapter, but I had written it at all different times. So I guess I just didn't realize I had it in there so many times. Yeah... Gippal doesn't seem like the type of guy to get jealous... huh? Or at least get jealous and admit it. I wanted to begin the triggering of this blossoming relationship early, because we all know Gippal's going to hide it. Okay, Well before I let on TOO much I'mma gonna shut up now and try to look pretty.

Emerald On Emerald

Chapter 3 – "Machina Machina"

The rest of the day went by as usual. There weren't really any major problems at the faction. I hadn't seen Rikku since earlier, but I knew it was best to leave a teenage girl alone when they're upset. Especially if it's something you've done to them. But I just couldn't shake off this awful guilt that was welling up inside of me.

Zenira walked out of the temple only fifteen minutes with a look of triumph on his face. He didn't turn to look at me, though it was obvious that he knew exactly where I was. He walked across the bridge and down Djose Highroad. Oh! I forgot to give him his letter of permission for him to dig. Darn! Hmm... Oh well.

The day passed by PAINFULLY slow, but it passed. I walked into my comfy room and stretched, yawning. Man, did I mess up. Trying not to think, I fell into my bed and sighed. I kicked off my boots and they landed next to me with a loud thud. I slipped off my gloves and tossed them across the room, massaging my hands gently. I closed my eyes and drifted off into a dreamless sleep. Not even prepared what I had in store for me.

The next morning...

"Wakey wakey, Gippal!" Someone shouted into my ear, as I was fast asleep. Or at least I was fast asleep. I bolted upright and looked around, next to me... stood Rikku. She smiled at me playfully. I guess she had forgiven me. Oh, thank Spira, who knew how long I could have gone before I went crazy of guilt? Did I just thank Spira? Oh well... no worries.

I rolled back over, trying to ignore her. I could smell the rich fragrance of her hair. What WAS she using? I held my nice, cushiony pillow up against me as I attempted to go back to sleep. But it seemed like the young blonde headed Al-Bhed girl had other things in mind.

"Get up! As leader you should always be the first one awake!" she tugged at my pillow. Too bad I had a pretty firm grip on it. But she didn't give up... until...

I let go of the pillow and Rikku fell back onto her rump, sulking like a little girl. "Owie..." She whined, rubbing her butt as she stood up. I was wide awake now, and watching her with interest out of my half closed eye. I wanted to burst out laughing... but I kept it inside. I would just let it out later when she did something else silly. "Oh... Gippal!" she cried, looking at the floor, obviously embarrassed.

"What time is it, anyways?" I asked, rolling onto my back and looking up at her. At her golden blonde Al-Bhed hair and big green eyes. I averted my gaze to the ceiling when she looked back at me.

"It's 6:45!" She half shouted at me. Yup... I was right. This girl was a walking clock. I guess I'll have to set her for two hours later when I have the time. Now... I wonder where her switch is. I examined her slowly... When she realized what I was doing, she turned a light shade of pink and stuck her tongue out at me. I had to cover up somehow.

"Ugh... Rikku." I complained. "Are you going to be doing this EVERY day?" I asked.

"Yes sir!" She replied grinning widely. "As long as I'm here."

I slumped out of bed, than looked at her, a grin sliding across my face. "Well... are you going to stand there and watch me undress?" I asked, crossing my arms as I took off my shirt. "I mean... not that I'd mind!"

"Eeeewww gross, no!" Rikku scrunched her face up like she had just eaten a lemon and skipped out of my room. I laughed and watched her leave. The aroma of her hair was still circling around my room. Not that I minded. It made me feel like she was still in the room with me.

So... I got ready for work and was out of my room before 7:30. Rikku was running around, helping out as much as she could. That was Rikku for you. She was such a caring, giving, helping person. And, despite all the torment I put her through. I always cared. In fact, that was my own way of showing that I did. I crossed my arms and stared at her with a smile of gratitude on my face. She really was a great person inside and out. Other people might have noticed this in her, but not like I did at that moment. I don't even think I had ever looked at her like I did at that moment. The world seemed to stop around me and all I saw was her petite body running around.

She turned and looked at me, smiling back. I turned slightly red, embarrassed that she had caught me. I looked down, trying to recover from this sudden blow. I shook my head and walked forward once again. I stopped to look at a few of Rikku's repairs. "Pretty good." I said to myself out loud.

"Hmmmm? What was that?" Rikku's perky voice came up from behind me.

I turned around and looked at her. "Huh?" I said, smirking slightly. "What are you talking about?" I asked trying to play it cool.

She looked at me with suspicion in her eyes. "You just..."

"Hey, Rikku." I looked at her, cocking a brow slowly. "Why don't you take a break, you've been working pretty hard." I added.

She looked at me hard for a couple moments. Then shrugged and skipped off to her room. I rubbed the back of my head and sighed. I continued to look at her machina, picking it up. It wasn't very big and was incredibly light, but at the same time very complex. It was obvious that she had put it together by scratch. I set it down and walked outside. I stopped at the bridge and leaned up against it, my elbows supporting my upper body. As I stared down at the small canal that ran under the bridge, I saw a familiar face appear next to me.

Rikku mimicked my pose and smiled into the water at me. "Hey..." Was all I managed out.

"Thank you Gippal, but you don't have to treat me different you know." She replied.

I turned to look at the real her, not just her reflection. She was inches away from me. Why was I all of a sudden this nervous? I just grinned. "Well you want to start working again?" I asked, grinning.

"Uhm..." She put a finger to her lips. "If you want, Leader." She smiled up at me.

I laughed and messed up her hair. "Naw... you can start to work again when you feel ready..." I put my hands to my hips and grinned down at her.

Her smile remained the same. She nod her head a couple times, then started back towards the temple. Heh... I guess she was ready. "Just don't work to hard. I don't want dear daddy coming after me!" I yelled after her.

She turned around and stuck her tongue out. "Maybe I will on purpose!" floating back to me with the breeze. A smile creased my lips and I shook my head with laughter. Like I said earlier. That was Rikku for you.

I decided to walk towards the Highroad to see if any of our machina had gone astray or gotten crushed or anything in particular. When all of a sudden a giant machina came out of nowhere and grabbed my leg. I wish I had foreseen this. Was it one of ours? I couldn't really tell because I was now hanging upside down in the air. Where was my weapon when I needed it? It turned me around so I could now see its cold plated body.

Something shone brightly a blinded me for a second. What was that? Maybe... If I could swing to it... it looked like a hatch. I was so focused on staying alive that I didn't realize the crowd that I was causing. Half of my employees were running around shouting orders in Al-Bhed, looking as if Sin had came back and was destroying the temple and everything with it.

"Move!" I heard Rikku shout. She was in her 'Gun- Mage' dress sphere. I saw her wearing it under Bevelle once when they followed me. She pointed her gun in the direction of the machina and I.

"Rikku! Don't get involved! Somebody stop her!" I shouted. My attention fell from the hatch and my own life and was now on Rikku's and the crowds. Her life was much more important then mine.

I watched her fight off most of the crowd. At a point she got pulled away, then she charged right back up. She pointed the gun at the machina and shot at us. The bullets came pretty close to hitting me. "Watch it!" I shouted, now fearing for my life once more.

Okay, so now this 'Big Bad Machina' was really pissed, it threw me against a wall. I didn't lose consciousness, but my vision was pretty blurry. It started running towards the ground, shit shit SHIT! But then, I saw Rikku riding what looking like another giant machina. It sent some lasers out from its sides and took its opponent down.

Then... I passed out. I didn't know what happened after that because all I saw was darkness. But when I woke up...

A few al-Bhed men were looking down at me, "Gippal!" they said excitedly when they saw my eye open. I was back in my room. They asked me how I was and so on... I was actually feeling quite fine. My head hurt a bit, but like I would actually tell them. That's when I heard her voice.

"What? He's awake, is he okay?" I heard Rikku almost shout. Then I saw her worried face as she pushed through the three that had surrounded my bed. It looked like, she had been crying.

She bent down next to me and looked me in the eye, emerald on emerald. I looked up at the men that were in my room. "Can you please leave me and Rikku alone for awhile?" I asked.

They nod respectfully and left us in our peace. I looked at her after they closed the door. A single tear rolled from her eye and down her cheek. It dripped off her chin and landed on my mattress. "Rikku..." I said. I put my hand to her face and smiled.

A/N: Okay, alittle bit of fluffiness, but not too much. Sorry I didn't have much with the machina. I'm not very good at that sort of stoof. I hope you guys can forgive me if this chapter's lame, but I just don't want to me too much happen at once. Please R&R and give me any little details you think I should brush up on. Thanks.

Riu