A/N: You all are probably where the name Ethelinda came from… right, I can understand that. I was browsing on a names website to find a name and found that one. Not only did it sound cool, but also it means "noble snake". I was trying to find something that just meant snake… but I didn't find anything. So… yeah. That's where that came from! Now, on with the chapter!
Fire Inside The Man – Chapter 9
The Preparations
((Gippal's POV))
"So… what exactly needs to be done?" I asked my best friend was we walked through the halls of the temple. His cane made a constant tapping sound against the hard marble floors. Baralai's normally calm and relaxed demeanor was gone as he furrowed his brow to think about the answer to my question. I noticed that he hasn't been normal since he had been shot… but then again, none of us have been the same.
"I know that I need to get the wall defenses ready… and train some more troops. We don't have near enough troops to even plan a quick attack against her army."
"Do you really think that it's as big as the reports say?"
Baralai sighed, "I don't know what to believe anymore. I thought that Spira was going to be a peaceful place after Vegnagun, but now look at it. It's a mess."
I hung my head and watched my feet walk over the patterned tiles. "Hey… I'm sorry-"
"For what? None of this was your fault."
"I know, but I feel kind of responsible…"
He stopped walking and looked at me dead in the eye. "Please tell me why. You and I both know that you have done nothing-"
I sighed, "I know that, but I still do. She's my sister and-"
"No. She's not your sister." Baralai said firmly. I looked up at him, slightly startled but he just went on. "The woman you know as your sister is long gone, this isn't her. I haven't even met her and I know that. I know you, and you are way to kind hearted and selfless to even think about harming someone."
I blinked. I was selfless? Since when did this happen?
"And if you don't believe me, just ask anyone here. Heck, ask Rikku, she'll be honest with you. You're probably the best person that we have around here. You're always willing to help someone no matter what is, and you even manage to run a whole faction when Nooj and I thought you couldn't handle a training exercise. You've proved us all wrong so many times during the Squad, and you continue to amaze us even to this day. None of this is your fault, and you certainly shouldn't be blamed for your "sister's" actions. She's not you."
I was speechless. Where did that come from? I blinked a few times, starring hard at my friend and searching my brain for something to say.
Baralai's face flushed a bit, "Sorry… that was a little unexpected…"
I laughed, "Don't worry about it. I… I think I needed to hear something like that. Thanks 'Lai."
He smiled and inclined his head, "Anything for a friend."
I nodded and continued walking down the halls. "So… do you need any help with getting the city ready?"
Baralai shook his head with a sigh, "You don't give up do you?"
"Nope." I said with a smug smile.
It's been a day since we learned that Azar was on the move, and Baralai's done a good job in getting Bevelle in order. No citizen can leave, nor can anyone enter without special permission from the praetor himself. Nooj and Leblanc have moved their forces in, and are currently getting them settled down in the empty barracks that haven't been used since the time of Sin. They used to house warrior monks, but the time for them has been long gone. He told me that even when this is over, he'll start training them again and have them be a police force. Shiva knows that there needs to be more people patrolling the lower streets of Bevelle.
But, that's not the point.
Paine and Tidus volunteered to train the young men that signed up to help fight, and I can safely say that they'll be busy for a while. Yuna's been helping the medics get ready and teach them new spells. Along with Dr. Niec, she's packed bags of medicine for the field medics so they can help during the battle.
I haven't seen much of Rikku, but she's been floating around somewhere. I saw her with Yuna, helping pack a huge amount of medic bags this morning; but I was helping Baralai get the temple in order to stop and say anything. When I went back to find her, she was gone.
"Yuna, do you know where Rikku went?" I asked the former summoner.
She smiled sadly. "I'm sorry Gippal, I don't. She may have gone outside to help with the recruits, but that's just a guess."
"Thanks."
I walked outside into the bright sunlight and squinted. Where was she?
"All right, take a five minute break!" I heard Paine call, and I looked to my left.
She and Tidus were teaching the new recruits like usual, but someone else was with them. I smiled as I saw a yellow and red scarf dance in the slight breeze. I walked over and put my hands over her eyes.
"Guess who!" I cried in a higher voice, seeing if she would get it right.
She put her finger to her chin, like she always does when she's thinking really hard… or when she's pretending to. "Let's see… is it… Yuna?"
"Nope." I said in a really deep voice, trying not to laugh.
Rikku did. "All right Gippal, quit playing with me!"
I finally let out my laugh and removed my hands from her face and gave her a peck on the cheek. "Aw, you're no fun."
Paine rolled her eyes, "If you're going to flirt with her Gippal, take it inside."
I smirked, "Yes ma'am!"
"Hey, I have to stay out here and help tra- WHOA!" Rikku told me before I scooped her up into my arms.
"So, I'm allowed to hijack her for the rest of the day?" I asked Tidus and Paine with a smile.
The red-eyed warrior just shook her head, and Tidus laughed. "By all means, take her inside!"
"Gippal, I was helping!" Rikku complained as we strolled through the bustling halls, hand in hand.
"I know, but I haven't seen you in a few days. I didn't want you to become a stranger."
She giggled, "Become a stranger? I think that would be impossible. You would make sure that you got to spend time with me." I smiled, and she blushed. "Oh shut up."
"So, do you know where Brother is?" I asked, trying to break the silence that had fallen.
"Oh! He's not here!" She cried, letting go of my hand.
"And that's… bad?"
"Yes! Azar is attacking, and he's not exactly safe in an airship! I've gotta call him!" She exclaimed, running back toward her room. "I'll see you later Gippal!"
I sighed in defeat. Well, so much for spending time together. Maybe tomorrow night… In the mean time, I had nothing to do. I mean, I can't exactly blame her for wanting to make sure that Brother was safe, even if she pretended she hated him. Heck, she might even love her dad way down deep… but I think you might have had to dig for it.
That immediately stopped all of my thoughts. Cid.
He doesn't know about me a Rikku. And come to think of it… I'm not sure I want him to. I know that we can run off somewhere and never talk to him again, but I certainly don't want to get beaten to a pulp for laying a hand on his only daughter. I sighed; I knew that I had to tell him at some point. It was better than him hearing it from someone else.
"Come on in." A gruff voice said.
I took a deep breath, and opened the door to Cid's room. "Could I talk to you for a minute sir?" I asked.
Rikku's father looked up and smiled, "Well, if it isn't Gippal! What's eatin' ya'?"
Closing the door behind me I came over and sat down in front of his desk. "I wanted to talk to you for a bit, and ask a question."
Cid stopped what he was doing and leaned back in his chair. "I'm all ears boy. Shoot."
It was now or never, and I knew it.
"As you know, Rikku and I were a couple before I left for Crimson Squad. I honestly didn't want to leave, but in my mind at the time, I thought it was for the best. Turns out I was wrong, but that's beside the point. Rikku's given me a second chance at us, and I'll admit I've taken it. I just want to have your approval before I do anything more."
Cid sat in silence for a while, and then busted out laughing!
"Cid, I fail to see what's so funny." I said frowning. I was expecting to be dead right now, not being laughed at.
"You!" He gasped in between laughs, "Boy, you think I mind? I would have a few months ago, but she's been so happy, and I had a hunch that you were the cause! Now all I want to know is when you're going to give her a ring and when I get to hold my first grandchild, 'cause I'm dead sure I'm going to get them from Brother!"
I sat in stunned silence. Whoa… this was something way off the charts. "Well… I certainly didn't expect this to happen…" I said nervously.
He seemed to get over his laughing fit. "What did you expect?"
"Honestly… I thought I was gonna be killed."
Cid shook his head and chuckled. "No, Rikku would kill me if I did. But listen to me kid. If you want to marry my little girl… you have to rule the Al Bhed one day with her by your side. You can't do that and be in charge of the Machine Faction. You have to put your heart and soul into our people and New Home. Sometimes you don't know whom you can trust or who's even worth your time. But the one thing that you can count on is the woman you go home to every night. Promise me that you'll love her with every particle of your being. Promise me that you'll love only her, and that she'll be the only one you go home to at night."
This was more of what I was expecting. "She'll be the only one I'll live for, the only one I'll fight for, and the only one I'll ever love. You have my word on that Cid."
The old man grinned, "I know you mean it, and that's exactly what I want to hear. Now… are you gonna give her a ring?"
I smiled and stood up. "I'll give it to her if she'll take it from me. Thank you Cid."
"No, thank you. Now I don't have to worry about giving the title off to Brother. That's a scary thought." Cid said, leaning forward and picked up his discarded pen.
The both of us laughed.
A ring. Great. Where was I going to get a ring before the battle? And should I even do it before the fighting, or should I do it after the war as a happy thing to celebrate? I was so confused… but on to more important things.
I needed a ring.
I racked my brain for possibilities, and finally I came up with one. I originally got that comb that I gave to Rikku from my mother. When I reached 15, my mother's old things were sent to me in Bikanel. I only carried around small things that meant a lot to me, or reminded me of her. A ring… I remember a ring being among them.
I ran out to my airship and looked in my bedside drawer. I rummaged around for what seemed to be forever.
"Where is it?" I said, gritting my teeth. With a cry of triumph, I pulled out a small and faded, velvet maroon box. I starred at it for a while. I didn't know exactly what ring was in here, but I knew that it was my mother's. I never opened it. I guess it just hurt to look at all of my mother's stuff. I let out a breath, and slowly opened the box.
"Holy… Spira…" I breathed in shook, looking at what was my mother's engagement ring.
It was an 18-karat white gold ring with some serious diamonds going on. It was a pretty thick band, and four small diamonds were set into an indent, all leading up to the bigger diamond in the middle. A smile slowly crept onto my face.
It was perfect.
A/N: I finally updated, AND I finally finished planning this out! It's gonna be 19 or 20 chapters, depending on my mood. So, there ya go! They're gonna get hitched! Well, you acutally don't know that... you never know when Gippal's gonna do it, or even if Rikku wants to get married. ((giggles)) Oh dear, aren't I just evil? ((lol))
Kitsu Kurasei
Angel-Light-Girl
marajade963
VamypreQueen24
This makes me sad, and slightly frustrated. I haven't updated for a month, and I only get four reviews. Normally I would say that would discourage me to write FFX-2 fan fiction... and I think it might. No one seems to really enjoy it. Now, Spirited Away fan fiction is a different story. I usually get about 15 every chapter. So, if you're reading this, and you have never reviewed... I WANT TO SEE YOU REVIEW. I can't get any more serious about it.
And thank you to those four who did review, this chapter was for you.
-Vincent's Angel of Chaos-
