~~ Okay, so… I'm feeling oddly inspired to write… so, I'm thinking I'll update twice this week, or more. We will be reaching a slight climax in the upcoming chapters, so grab a box of tissues, your favorite snack food, and sit down to enjoy the show XD~~
Rikku sat on her bed, looking at the now blank Commspehere. When she had heard about the blitz tournament, she was all up for going. She loved to Blitz, and adored to watch the sport. Now, all of that seemed irrelevant. Rikku bit her lip nervously, she hated to lie to Yuna and Paine…. To everyone for that matter. However, seeing as Yuna and Paine clearly didn't trust Gippal, and Yuna clearly didn't approve, there was no way that Rikku could just say,
'Oh hey, Sorry guys. I'm bailing out on you to go be with Gippal…' Rikku cringed as those hollow words echoed in her mind.
'Heh. Fat chance that would go smoothly.' Rikku thought.
She opened her bedroom door, and crept as silently as she could down the hallway, which didn't turn out as well as she would have thought, because as she was walking down the wooden stairs, her socked foot slipped on the edge. Rikku screamed as she began to fall. Her hand reached for the banister, but she missed and ended up rolling down to the base of the stairs.
Yuna and Paine both came running out of their adjacent rooms, after hearing Rikku's scream. They looked as the bottom of the stairs, seeing Rikku laughing, laying on the ground.
"Did you fall down the stairs?" Yuna asked as she rushed down the stairs.
"Oh my God… that was absolutely horrible!" Rikku gasped out between her uncontrollable laughter.
"Are you hurt?" Yuna chuckled, Rikku was always falling down or getting hurt somehow.
"Just my pride I think." Rikku smiled, standing up.
She looked at the already dark shadows of bruises beginning to form on her arms and her legs. She looked like she had just gotten jumped. Or…
*FlashBack*
Rikku suddenly stopped laughing remembering that there had been one, who had caused more than just bruises on her, he also had almost taken out Gippal's eye. It was Buddy's younger Brother, Yuji. Gippal, Yuji, and herself had grown up together being the best of friends. It was after her Mother's death that their relationship began to falter. Rikku of course loved Gippal, but when Yuji found this out, he grew to be jealous. It had been said that if anything happened to Gippal, Yuji would be the next in line for Rikku to marry. Rikku hated the idea of any type of arranged marriage. Although she didn't look like it, she wanted to marry for love, to have a real family.
Right before Gippal had announced he was leaving for the Crimson Squad as soon as he could, Yuji had tried to take advantage of Rikku. She of course rejected him, but he didn't want to take no for an answer, and did all he could to force him on her. Gippal had heard her screams and had to come to her rescue, but Yuji had his own thief blades out and had sliced upward, nearly taking out Gippal's eye. Cid had run in, hearing his baby girl crying and had seen this. He had stripped Yuji of all his merits as an Al Bhed warrior, and had banished him. It was said that Yuji had drank himself to death , which made Rikku sad. Yes, she had almost been raped by him, but she knew that if she could have the chance, she might have been able to save him.
*End Flashback*
"What's on your mind?" Paine asked, seeing her friend in deep thought.
"Just thinking about someone…" Rikku responded.
"Gippal?" Paine suggested with a raised eyebrow.
"No. Well yes, but not really. You know how you had your ties with Baralai, well still do.. but with Nooj and Gippal?" Rikku mused as she opened the cabinet for a glass cup.
"Yeah, what about it?" Paine asked, taken back by her response.
"I had a similar thing once upon a time, just take out Nooj. So, it was me and Gippal and a guy named Yuji. It was a love triangle from Hell. I loved Gippal, who loved me, but Yuji wanted me. Long story short, Pops had always thought an arranged marriage would be best for me. Gippal was of course the first pick, then Yuji would be the next. Well… Long story even shorter, Yuji didn't want to be second, he wanted me… and made that painfully clear. He did some bad stuff and was exiled from the Al Bhed. No one knows what really happened to him, though some say he drank himself to death in depression. I don't know if I really agree with that, but you know, if I had the chance, I could like to talk to him… maybe save him." Rikku explained with a light smile.
"Arranged marriage? Surely that's not how it is now? You can't marry Gippal! He's so not fit for that…" Yuna exclaimed.
"And you just turned 18, what's the rush?" Paine asked with a concerned glance/
"Nawh, that tradition has been broken. Pops has awhile before he dies, so I have awhile before I have to find 'Him'." Rikku chuckled.
"Would you have married Gippal if things had been different?" Paine asked, probing.
Rikku scrunched her face in thought. She was still really confused if she was still just crushing on Gippal, or if it was love.
"I honestly don't know, Paine." Rikku shrugged, as she swallowed her glass of water quickly.
"But I have to go talk to Sho before he leaves. I'll be right back!" Rikku smiled as she ran out of the house.
As she walked down to the hut where Sho was staying, thinking about Gippal. She stopped as she walked into the foresty area about 10 meters away from the huts. She scaled up a tall tree, using her thief blades to dig her way up. Finally, she reached the very top, and sat on the branch, her back against the back of the tree. Her fingers clinged to the locket, as she whispered the words.
"Oui'mm hajan pa ymuha." (You'll never be alone)
With that, the locket opened up. An image of Gippal and Rikku smiling and laughing and kissing played before Rikku's eyes.
"Gippal, Do you ever think when you're all alone, all that we could be? Where this fling could go?" Rikku asked to his image.
"To be honest, I'm really confused about all of this. Yes, I love you, but I never thought you would feel the same way back, not after what I did to you.. I know we're both scared, but I can't fathom the idea of you being with anyone else. I really wish if I knew if this was love, or just a crush." Rikku murmured, rubbing her temples.
"I just don't know about love Gippal…. I really wish I knew. It's almost like I'm holding back, like I always do… but I don't know what else I can do. I guess I'll just have to talk to you when I get to Djose…" Rikku sighed, closing her eyes as she closed the locket.
"You're going to Djose?" Sho asked, as he jumped onto her branch, causing Rikku to jump.
"Shhh!" Rikku scolded, putting a finger to her lips.
"Ah. Miss Rikku is up to no good… well what do you need me to do then? As your brother, I have to make sure that you don't get caught." Sho smiled, playing with his lip ring.
"Here's the deal. I need to go to Djose to help Gippal with a Machina thing. Everyone here is going to a Blitz tournament for two days out in Luca. So… I'm going to be ill. You're then going to take me to Djose, without telling anyone where I am, no matter what." Rikku explained.
"Why not just tell them about Gippal, Rikku?" Sho asked, looking at Rikku.
Rikku sighed, and cast her gaze to the ground.
"Because they don't approve of him for me. But you know what… I've been good all of my life… now, I can't help but to think what the Hell. Why not take a chance? So what if I have to do what is best for me, myself and I? I need answers from Gippal about a lot of things…. And maybe I want a little adventure of my own. I've been stuck here, watching Yuna's life grow right before my eyes. Am I jealous of her? Maybe a little bit… Sometimes it just feels like I could never measure up to her! She's the princess of this small little Island, the savior of Spira, and just look at her! She has perfect skin… Perfect hair…. She's never too harsh or too demanding… and secretly I wonder if Gippal had the chance, if he would try to date her!... I mean she's the Queen of Spira, and I'm just the girl next door." Rikku sighed.
"Don't say that! Sure, Yuna is freaking hot, but so are you! And don't forget, you are the Princess to the Al Bhed. You are important too!" Sho argued back as they walked back into the village.
"I guess… I shouldn't feel so upset about it. I should be happy that she was Tidus and everything is finally going well for her, Paine too! I just…. Ugh! Why can't I have a happy ending too?" Rikku sighed as they opened the door to her hut.
"You will! I mean, it's like what Paine said ' People who want a happy ending, have to write their own." Sho replied, changing his voice to sound all monotone.
"Hahaha… She doesn't sound that depressed!" Rikku howled with laughter.
"I guess you would know better than me, although that girl can dance!" Sho smiled.
"Awww, you falling for her?" Rikku teased as Sho blushed.
"Not even!" He smirked.
"That would be really weird, we would almost be related then!" Rikku giggled.
"So, tell me what you really want about 'Him'." Sho whispered.
"I'm not saying!" Rikku giggled as she stuck out her tongue.
"Don't make me force it out of you." Sho smirked.
"Psh, bring it!" Rikku smirked with a shrug of her shoulders.
"You asked for it!" Sho yelled as he tackled Rikku.
"You jerk! Get off!" Rikku laughed as he landed on top of her, as she hit the hard wood floor.
"Tell me!" He laughed as he began to tickle her.
"Sho… Stop it… I mean it….!" Rikku giggled as she squirmed to get out of his hold.
"Don't until I get it out of you!" Sho smiled as he pinned her wrists to the floor.
Rikku stiffened, her playfulness gone.
"Get off." She glared. She hated being held down.
"Not a chance sweetheart." Sho smirked, unable to see the change in her behavior.
Suddenly Rikku shot her legs up, and launched Sho off of her as she kicked him hard in the gut. He slammed against the cabinet, and looked up clearly pissed.
"What the fuck?" He growled, wiping away a thin line of blood coming out of his mouth.
"Don't. Ever. Try. To. Hold. Me. Down." Rikku growled, her body trembling.
"Shit. I'm sorry… I didn't mean to remind you of that night with Yuji." Sho murmured, walking slowly over to Rikku.
"No… I'm sorry… I over reacted." Rikku sighed, falling to her knees as the adrenaline left her.
"It's okay." Sho grimaced, as he felt his dislocated ribs snap in and out of place.
"I'll fix you up! Don't move!" Rikku exclaimed as he picked him up and placed him on the couch.
"Like I could even if I wanted to…" Sho sarcastically smiled.
Rikku ignored his comment, and ran up the stairs to her room. She slid the bracelet that had been Shinra's invention on her wrist. It was a bracelet that all the Gullwings had to wear all the time. It had a Commshpere on one side, while it their Grid for their dresspheres on the other side. She ran out of the door, and jumped off the balcony to skip the stairs.
Rikku quickly activated the White Mage dressphere. Her body glowed white as her usual outfit was replaced by white robe and boots with purple and orange flames on the sleeves, in her hand stood the Spiked Rod that Yuna had used on her travels.
"Forgive me." Rikku sighed, as she cast a Curega on Sho.
"Ugh!" Sho grimaced in pain as the spell began to work.
"This is going to hurt a lot…" Rikku muttered, as the magic snapped all the ribs back into place, causing Sho to grip the couch in pain.
"Yeah… Um…. Hold on. I've got a better idea." Rikku thought for a moment.
She flicked her wristband, and activated her Alchemist dressphere.
"That's…. better…. Makes you look…. More like…. Us." Sho forced out between gasps.
"Yeah, well… stop talking. I have an idea. This is going to either stop the pain immediately, or could kill you. I've never tried this mix before…" Rikku explained.
"Go for it…" Sho smiled through the pain.
"Are you sure?" Rikku asked, biting her lip.
"You're….gifted… I trust you…" Sho nodded.
Rikku breathed in a deep breath, and quickly grabbed two items out of her stock. She mixed them together, and sat down as she poured the concoction down Sho's throat.
"Well… If I'm gonna die… at least this stuff tastes good." Sho smiled.
Within a few moments, Sho stopped breathing heavily, but was breathing just the same.
"Rikku… it worked!" Sho shouted jumping up from the couch.
"Phew." Rikku sighed as she fell down onto her knees.
"What did you mix?" Sho asked, stretching.
"An elixir and a Hero drink." Rikku responded.
"That could have turned out bad… A Hero drink can be used to instantly kill an enemy…" Sho sighed with a roll of his eyes.
"Hey! I warned you!" Rikku laughed.
"So… Tell me! I think you owe me now…" Sho responded, indicating that she should sit down on the couch next to him.
"Fine… You know what I really want? I want to blow Gippal away… amaze him with everything about me. I want to spend each day and night with him, holding him close. I want to see him down on knee… asking if he could marry me. That's what I wish for…" Rikku blushed.
At the end of that statement, Yuna and Paine walked in the door, just back from picking up some needed materials down from the market.
"That's really deep Rikku, why couldn't you just want something simple, like a good one night stand with someone you don't even know? At least that could happen!" Sho chuckled.
"Oh stop it. You don't even know how annoying it was being on that airship, CONSTANTLY turning Buddy down. I mean geez, like I would ever have sex with Yuna and Paine nearby. Like… Hello! Totally personal... Speaking of which, why am I even talking to you about it?" Rikku glared playfully, throwing her hands up.
"True. It's hard to talk about something you've never done." Sho smirked.
"Yeah. Thanks for reminding me. I don't know why I ever tell you a single thing. Keep this up, and I'll break you, again." Rikku responded, her face blushing with her hands on her hips.
"Well, hey, the Sun is setting. Yuna and Paine should be home soon from the market. I'll you tomorrow, sicky." Sho smiled, as he left the hut.
Rikku walked up the stairs to her bedroom, and lay down on her bed. She felt rather excited to be sneaking around, like she always used to. Sure, a layer of guilt had build it's way into her stomach, but she ignored that.
"You got your happy ending Yuna, now it's time for mine." Rikku whispered, before falling asleep.
On the bottom of the stairs Yuna and Paine stood. Their presence had not been known to anyone, but they had returned when their bracelets had flashed, saying which Dressphere Rikku had been using. Being worried, they had retunred home early, to see that everything was okay.
"Well I guess we got worried over nothing." Paine mumbled, as she walked up the stairs.
"She probably just was showing them to him, you know." Yuna smiled, as she walked into her Cousin's room.
Yuna laid on the bed, next to Rikku who instincitvaly curled around Yuna like a child.
"She's really adorable when she sleeps, ya know?" Yuna whispered.
"Are you going to stay with her tonight?" Paine asked.
Yuna and Paine had taken turns sleeping with Rikku spontaneously just in case Rikku woke up from a bad dream.
"Yes." Yuna nodded, as she wrapped her arms lovingly around Rikku, who moved into her Cousin's embrace, who laid awake.
Most nights Rikku was fine, and there was no concerns. Unfortunately… Tonight wasn't going to be one of those nights….
~~ Step one of the Climax Walk. Are you ready? Right here, Right now, Rikku starts her own story!~~
+Awoken Dreamer+
