Fire Inside The Man – Chapter 10

The Question Of A Lifetime

((Gippal's POV))

I have a ring. I have the desire to have Rikku as mine for the rest of my life. But I don't have the courage to actually ask her. Besides, when would be the best time anyway? Before we run off and kick Azar out of Spira, or after as another reason to celebrate?

I sat down on the edge of my bed and thought. Who could possibly help me with this without blowing the surprise to Rikku?

Baralai.

I smiled and stood up. I was going to get some help on this, and I knew he wouldn't laugh at me if I asked him what he thought. As I walked toward his office, I fingered the small box in my pocket. I had to refrain myself from grinning like an idiot at the thought of finally marrying Rikku. She may not know it, but it would make me the happiest man in Spira… and probably inflate my ego to an unwanted size, but I didn't care. I'd have her and she'd bring me back down to the ground.

I knocked on the polished wood doors and heard nothing. I knew he was in there so I went on in.

I wish I didn't do that.

Paine was sitting on Baralai's lap, and they were… um… keeping themselves occupied. I tried to back out of the room, but Baralai heard the door. He pulled back and glared at me.

"Can I help you?"

I chuckled nervously. I thought I would laugh if I caught him and Paine making out… but I was quaking in my boots at the look he was shooting at me. "Um… heh, sorry about interrupting…"

"What do you want?" he said in a frustrated tone.

"I wanted to ask you a question-"

"A question. Can this question wait?"

"Uh yeah, sorry about barging in."

Paine stopped me, "What was the question about?"

I stopped and looked at the couple over my shoulder. "No, really, it's fine. I'll come back later."

Baralai sighed, "I'm sorry Gippal. What is it?"

"I wanted to ask you a quick question and hopefully pick up a piece of advice." I said, looking at him dead in the eye. I sent him a silent message that I hoped he picked up. He didn't, but Paine got it.

"Is this a guy thing?" she asked in a monotone voice.

I chuckled nervously, "Heh… sorry Paine. Could you give me a few minutes?"

She nodded, "No problem." Baralai began to protest when she got up but she put a finger on his lips. "I'm coming back, so don't move." And with that, she left the room and shut the door behind her.

I looked appologeticly at my best friend, "I'm really sorry. I did knock-"

"No no, it's fine. It's just really embarrassing…"

I laughed, "Oh man, but the glare you were sending me was the best. You had me petrified there for a second!"

"Seriously?"

"Heck yes! Shiva, you were scarier than Paine!" I said, walking up to his desk.

He chuckled and sat forward in his chair. "So, what question do you need to ask me that Paine can't hear?"

"She can hear it, but I would rather her not. It's… personal."

Baralai sat back in surprise. "Wow. Okay. Usually the positions are switched for this kind of situation, but I'll do my best. What is it?"

"It's about Rikku."

"Okay… what about her?"

I sat down in a chair facing his desk and starred at my hands nervously. "I… I want to propose to her, but I don't know when."

Baralai broke out into a huge grin. "That's great! Do you have a ring?"

"Yeah."

"Then what are you doing in my office? Go ask her!"

"No, no! I don't know when the best time would be."

"What do you mean?"

I ran a hand through my hair and sighed. "I don't know if I should do it before the fighting or after. If I do it before, I'm afraid that it might not be the happiest time when it should be. But if I do it after, it would be another reason to celebrate. I'm just torn on what to do."

Baralai nodded. "Oh, I get it now. Well, it wouldn't really matter to her as long as you do it."

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, I know that. But what would you do if you were in my position?"

He thought for a minute before he spoke. "Personally… I would do it before. That way I would let her know that I loved her and I had an extra reason to come home after the battle. Plus, it would give me an extra drive to fight. Not only would I be fighting for my people and what I believe in, but I would be fighting for the one I love."

I smiled, "Is Paine your motivation for this?"

He winked, "She always is."

I stood up and inclined my head. "Thanks Baralai."

He chuckled, "Hey, anything for a friend."

"And I'll send Paine in so you two can pretend that I never came in." I said over my shoulder. I surpressed a laugh when I saw his face go red.

I had my answer… but it wouldn't hurt to ask one more person would it? I walked through the halls, wondering where Yuna would be. I eventually found her outside under a tree, reading a book with her head on her husband's sleeping chest. I tiptoed up to them and squatted down next to the couple.

"Yuna, could I have a word with you?" I asked softly.

She looked at me over her book and nodded slightly. "Of course. Let me put my bookmark in and try not to wake him…" she set her book to the side and slowly sat up.

"Hey… where are you going?" Tidus murmured sleepily, wrapping his arms around his wife to prevent her from getting up.

She giggled, "I'm going for a short walk with Gippal. I'll be back in five, okay?"

He yawned and nodded his head, "Yeah sure." And with that, he fell back asleep.

She shook her head at me, "He's out. Come on, follow me." We walked a distance away from the slumbering blitz player and she looked up at me with her bi colored eyes. "What is it Gippal?"

"I actually wanted your opinion on something. I wanted to propose to Rikku-"

"Yevon!" she cried with a huge grin on her face, "Do you really? Oh Gippal, that's amazing! Please tell me that you're going to do it before the fighting starts!"

I blinked. "You think that's a good idea?"

She starred at me like I was crazy. "Why wouldn't it be? This place needs something to be happy about. Proposing now would be the best thing you could do."

I smiled to myself in victory. Tonight it was. "Yuna… do you think that she'll say yes."

This time the ex-summoner stopped walking. "You're not sure?"

"I'm sure that I want to marry her… but I'm not sure if she wants to get married just yet. The both of us aren't even 20 yet."

"You're 19 right?" Yuna asked, and I nodded. "That's when Tidus and I got married. It didn't bother us and I really don't think that it would bother her. Have you talked to Cid about this?"

"Yeah, he's all for it."

"Then why are you asking me?" she asked, laughing. "Get inside and ask her all ready!"

Baralai had all of us eat dinner together that night. He said that it would be a great way to talk to everyone and have a nice dinner, but I knew the real reason. He was insuring that everyone would be there to witness the proposal. I knew he meant well, but it had my nerves all in a knot. No one saw my discomfort… except Rikku.

"Gippal, are you okay?" she whispered, a hand on my arm.

I nodded my head quickly. "Yeah I'm fine."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course. Why wouldn't I be?" I asked, looking into her emerald eyes.

She frowned but didn't say anything more. Paine looked at the two of us and managed to catch my gaze. I managed to send her a small smile and she knew immediately that it was fake. She looked at Yuna, cutting her steak.

"Yuna… how's married life?"

The young woman was startled at the change of subject, but welcomed it with open arms. "Amazing. I think you'd like it Paine."

Tidus rolled his eyes. "Baralai, I'm here if you need anyone to talk to."

"Hey!" Yuna cried, slapping him on the shoulder.

"Ow! Woman, you hit hard!" he whined, pretending to nurse his shoulder. The entire table burst into laughter.

Rikku smiled sadly. "I'm jealous."

Paine smirked. "Aw, does little Rikku feel left out?"

"Yeah… wait, no! I'm not!"

Tidus laughed. "That sounds like a yes to me…"

She blushed and looked down at her plate. "I'm not you guys…"

I felt bad for her and put an arm around her shoulders. "Rikku… look at me." When she looked up at me I looked deep into her eyes. "Tu oui naymmo?" ((Do you really?)) I asked, knowing fully well that two or three people understood what I just said.

"Ed tuach'd syddan..." ((It doesn't matter…))

"Oac ed tuac. Tu oui naymmo vaam mavd uid?" ((Yes it does. Do you really feel left out?)) I asked again, hope rising in my chest. Did she really want to get married? Was she waiting me to ask her?

"Ed naymmo tuach'd syddan, ruhacdmo. Ed'c hud mega oui ryja y nehk uh oui nekrd huf." ((It really doesn't matter, honestly. It's not like you have a ring on you right now.)) She said with a sadsmile.

I pretended to be hurt. "Rikku, tu oui naymmo tuipd sa mega dryd?" ((Rikku, do you really doubt me like that?))

Her eyes went wide at my response and I stood up. I pushed my chair back, pulled the ring box out of my pocket and got down on one knee. "Oui ghuf sa paddan dryh dryd." ((You know me better than that.))

"Gippal…" she began, starring at me wide-eyed.

I smiled and switched back to Spirian. "Rikku… will you marry me?"

A/N: I understand fully that this might have been a disappointing chapter, and not because it's short. I REALLY don't like how this chapter turned out, but I hope that the next few will be much longer and will hopefully have more substance. I'll try anyway.

marajade963
Lokii
for always x
Kitsu Kurasei

I'm really sad that not a lot of people read FFX-2 stuff. I think that after this... I might not write anymore. Yes, I'm debating if I want to do a sequel for You Don't Know The Real Me or not. If you really want to see one, let me know.

-Vincent's Angel of Chaos-