Chapter 9: Stage 9: Lost Together
Warnings: none
A/N: okay, so I haven't updated in forever, but I'm on Christmas break; so, I'm going to see what I can do about finishing this thing. Ahead of time, I want to say that you don't need to worry about any sex or anything happening in this fic- so yeah… Also, I don't think anything has been revealed about how exactly Gippal ended up with an eye patch- if I'm wrong, then I apologize in advance, but I found nothing about it. So, yeah, I really like this chapter. I was actually able to write it the whole way through without several day pauses. As per usual I have an Al Bhed translator link in my profile, also R&R and CC is appreciated! Enjoy, and I will try and get the last chapter up when I can:)

Rikku ran out into the streets of Bevelle. "Paine! Paine! Aw, where'd you go?"

"Which way do you think she went?" Gippal walked up behind her.

"Well, how am I supposed to know?!" Rikku threw up her arms, "I've never been able to tell what she's thinking anyway."

Gippal snorted, "No kidding. One of the most stoic girls I've ever met."

"Hey!" Rikku turned to him with a glare, "Don't be insulting her! She's gotten better, ya know?"

Gippal looked exasperated, "But you just said the same thing…" He sighed, "Well, which way do you want to look for her?"

Rikku looked down the two pathways; one was brightly lit and led to a cheery looking garden, the other was dark and led to a series of suspicious-looking alleyways. "If I was a hoard of evil chocobos, I would take my prey…This Way!" Rikku pointed energetically towards the creepy-looking path, "I bet we'll find Paine injured and in need this way!"

"You sound so cheery as you say that…" Gippal began to question the girl's sanity as he glanced down the none-too-welcoming path.

"Let's go! We'll need to reach her before they decide to cook her and eat her for dinner!" Rikku didn't wait for Gippal to respond before she started running in the direction she had pointed.

Knowing there was no point in arguing, Gippal sighed and jogged after her.

It had been an hour. An hour of walking down suspicious pathways, dodging drunkards, and listening to Rikku call over and over again, "Paine! Paine! Paine!"

"You know, maybe we went the wrong way…" Gippal began to forget why he had decided to come in the first place.

"But what if we didn't?" Rikku responded, "What if she's just around the corner? PAINE!"

"And what if the hoard of evil chocobos is right around the corner too?" Gippal retorted sarcastically.

"Meanie." Rikku stuck out her tongue, "I don't know why you have to be such a jerk anyways. What did I ever do to you?"

"Um, maybe you decided to overreact over some stupid kid!"

Rikku stopped abruptly and turned to face Gippal, "You say that. But you didn't see Miyo when he found out his mother died." She turned away again and walked quickly away from Gippal.

"She died?" Gippal suddenly felt bad, "Hey, Cid's girl—wait up!" When she didn't stop or slow down, he jogged after her, "Hey, hold on, hold on, you never told me what happened."

"Maybe because I thought you could care less Mr. I'm-so-cool-because-I-have-an-eyepatch-oh-look-at-all-the-girls-I-get-do-I-even-care-about-except-ANYONE-BUT-MYSELF!"

Gippal was left speechless by the vehement hatred in her voice. After a long pause, he finally was able to gather himself back enough to respond, "Is that really what you think of me?"

Rikku could feel tears begin to well in her eyes, "I dunno…maybe…no…umm" She looked up at him, and unable to say anything else, tore herself from his gaze and ran away.

Seeing the confusion in her eyes, Gippal suddenly felt himself wanting to help her, to take her up into his arms and make everything feel better. But what she had said hurt, and so he let her run.

The skies began to thunder and a light rain fell down upon the earth.

"You're doing what?"

"I'm camping in the Thunder Plains—for a week." The blonde girl looked up proudly at her friend.

"And you're doing this…why?" Gippal looked down at her disbelievingly. Sure, he has joked and teased her about doing this ever since he found out about her fear, but he had never thought she would be insane enough to actually do it.

"So that I won't be scared anymore."

"And the fact that lightning could come down and strike you at any moment means…nothing?"

Rikku placed her hands on her hips, "Gippy, I'm 16 now- I think it's time I stopped being scared like a little girl. Plus, I protected myself fine against Sin- a little storm can't hurt me!"

"Then you're not going alone."

"What?"

"E cyet oui'na hud kuehk ymuha, eteud." He repeated, "What if you drift off to sleep and then get struck by lightning? Who's going to make sure that you don't do something stupid?" Gippal lightly poked the girl's forehead. "I'm coming with you."

Rikku stuck out her tongue, but secretly, she was glad of the offer. She had been trying to act brave about her decision, but honestly she was terrified. "Fine, byndo buuban. But, you better not hold me back!"

Gippal grinned, "Fine by me. I'm more worried about you causing trouble."

Gippal shoved his hands in his pockets. He had agreed not to tell anyone that he had come along to help Rikku because he knew she would be embarrassed. He sighed, looking around. "Damn, Rikku; you've gone and gotten us lost haven't you?"

He continued to walk down the alleyway. The rain had picked up, as had the thunder and lightning. The water poured down his face and soaked through his shirt, but he had been so distracted by his reverie, that he didn't even notice. "Wonder where she is anyways." He wondered aloud, "She's probably more lost than I am." Reluctantly, he added, "I hope she's okay…"

A flash of light exploded across the sky, closely followed by a crack of thunder.

"Eeep!!!"

Gippal looked up, "I know that eeep."

He ran ahead through the rain, following the source of the shout, "Rikku? Rikku?"

"Cdibet Drihtan..." Rikku stood under a small overhang, wet and shivering, "E ghaf E cruimty kuha dra udran fyo."

"Rikku?" Gippal slowed to a walk and approached her, "Rikku, what are you doing?"

She glowered at him, "Trying to stay dry. What do you think I'm doing?"

"Stay dry, you're already soaked!" He smiled at her, "You really should wear more." He wrapped his arms around her, "You wouldn't be shivering so much if you did."

Rikku moved to push him away, but found herself too cold to do so. Instead, she made a face at him, "You're not really complaining are you?"

Gippal chuckled, happy that she was finally starting to act normal again. "No I guess not. I wouldn't be able to do this if you were warm."

"You betcha." Rikku replied. After a few minutes of enjoying the added body heat, Rikku remembered why they were out here in the first place, "What about Paine? We still haven't found her."

"Hm? Paine?" Gippal unconsciously placed his head against Rikku's hair, "I'm pretty sure we don't need to worry about her."

"Didddn't ssseem you thththought that wwwhen we fffirst left…" Rikku mumbled through chattering teeth.

"Look at you." Gippal held her out in front of him, "You look a true Al Bhed, getting all worked up over a little cold." He laughed, but at the same time, he was ready to get out of the cold himself. "Let's find an inn. They'll have a commsphere so we can contact Baralai and the others. They're probably wondering where we are right now."

"Yyyyeah. Yyyunie's probbabbbly throwing a fffit."

It took quite a bit of wandering before the two Al Bhed finally stumbled across an inn. Gippal walked up to the host, Rikku still in his arms, "We, uh, need a place to dry off."

"Of course, Mister—"

"Gippal."

The host nodded and gestured to another girl working in the inn, "Get these two a room and some extra towels."

"A room? We just need to dry off—"

The girl nodded and ran off to make preparations.

"Or not." Gippal shrugged. He looked down at Rikku with a chuckle, "Looks like we're, uh, getting a room."

"Just don't get any funny ideas." Rikku replied, gratefully taking a large towel that the other girl has just brought for her.

"Your room is ready."

Gippal and Rikku followed the girl to their room and entered, thanking her, and assuring that they would call should they need anything.

"Finally!" Rikku plopped down on the bed, curling up on the pillows in her towel.

"You're gonna get the bed all wet!" Gippal exclaimed.

"Deal with it." Rikku stuck out her tongue, "Not like you're joining me anyway."

"Whatever." Gippal went to the commsphere, "I'm going to call Bevelle and let them know where we are."

"Okie." Rikku realized that her clothes weren't getting any more comfortable all wet. She rose from the bed and went into the bathroom, "I'm taking a shower. No peeking!"

"Right."

As Rikku began to remove her clothes, she recalled how ironic it was that Gippal had found her out in the rain. How many times now had he come to her aid now? She undid her braids, letting her hair fall over her shoulders. She really did owe him a lot. Rikku started the shower and stood under the hot water as it poured over her, and in that moment, she realized how ridiculous this whole argument had been.

After washing, Rikku wrapped a towel around her and stepped out of the room, "Gippal…"

"Yeah, so we need to rest a bit, and then we'll be back some time tonight, probably when the rain dies down."

"Okay, be safe." Baralai responded.

"And take good care of Rikku!" Yuna added in the background.

"Will do." Gippal turned off the commsphere and turned to Rikku, "yeah?"

"I'm sorry."

Gippal stood and walked over to her, placing his hands on her arms, "Yeah, me too."

"I've been a real poopie. I overreacted and—"

"You're in nothing but a towel!" Gippal let go of her and turned away quickly with a blush. He wasn't sure why he didn't realize this before, but suddenly he felt as if he shouldn't be looking.

"Oh…yeah…" Rikku looked down at herself, "My clothes are still kinda all wet."

"Mine too." Gippal replied, "But that doesn't mean I'm suggesting that we both start walking around naked." It wasn't that he minded, really, but he knew better than to try and test his limits, "Could you just please get a robe on, or something?"

Rikku began to blush herself as she realized what must be going through his head, "okie…" She walked back into the bathroom, properly drying herself, and found a small kimono robe left in there for guests. Pulling it on, she walked back into the room, "All dressed!"

Gippal turned around and was taken aback. Now that he was looking at her properly, he could see how stunning she looked, in her cute kimono with her long hair falling over her. In fact, this might be the first time he had seen her without braids ever since she started wearing them. "Wow…"

"What?"

"Uh, I mean…I'm going to do it right this time." Gippal decided out loud.

"I still don't—" Rikku was becoming rather confused, but her stammering was soon cut off as Gippal walked up to her, pulled her close to him, took her face in his hand, and kissed her.

Slowly, he pulled back, "Are you going to be mad again?"

Rikku could feel her heart beating quickly in her chest, and her legs felt weak. The foremost thought in her mind was why did he stop so soon? Gathering strength, she reached up and pulled him to her once more. Their lips met and their tongue mingled and their hearts beat. Passion rose, and soon each found themselves wanting more, moving their hands over the other and slowly walking towards the bed. Gippal fell back upon it, and Rikku landed on top, laughing, "You're still all wet."

Gippal chuckled, "Yup." He leaned forward and picked her up, placing her on the bed, "I should probably get my clothes off."

Rikku laughed, but she began to sound nervous as the sound came out of her mouth.

"Don't worry. Don't worry." Gippal assured her, "Not all of them." He pulled off his shirt and pants, leaving on an undershirt and long boxers he had underneath. "See, it's like I'm still wearing a whole outfit." Gippal went into the bathroom to hang up his wet clothes and then came back, "Since when did you start taking my jokes seriously, anyway?"

Rikku blushed as she saw Gippal, his defined muscles revealed now that he was wearing less, "eheh…how 'bout since we both ended up in a room together making out?"

"Hm? Yeah, you're probably right…" Gippal scratched the back of his head, "Sorry."

Rikku smiled. She was glad he seemed to not want to push it any further. She sat up, "It's okay!"

Gippal smiled too, "Mind if we still cuddle?"

Rikku laughed, "My how girlish of you." She patted the space next to her, "I guess I can allow that."

"Excellent." Gippal walked over to the side of the bed and promptly jumped on it, letting himself land next to her, "You look great, by the way." He put an arm behind her and flashed a cocky grin.

"Thanks!" Rikku cuddled into his arm, "So…what do we do now?"

Gippal shrugged, "I dunno, talk the night away?"

"Won't we need to get back to the party?"

"Only if you want to."

Rikku looked up to him, smiling. She didn't want to head back yet either. Right now, she was perfectly happy just to be with him.

"Um, by the way," Rikku began as she looked at him, "Have you ever told me how you got that eye patch? I can't remember."

Gippal's hand went to his eye. It was funny how he could forget about this thing. He had gotten so used to having messed up peripheral vision. "Not, uh, in detail."

"Oh yeah." Rikku responded, "Machina accident."

"Yup."

"So, what are the details?" Rikku asked, now curious.

"It, uh, was a rampaging machina." He paused, as if trying to decide something, then continued, "the…same one that got your mother."

Rikku gasped, breathing in sharply, "You… saw it happen."

"Yup." He replied, though differently than usual, "I tried to stop it, but there's only so much a little kid can do. You might remember I found you later with a bandage over my eye."

"You said you bumped it. You didn't tell me you were blinded."

"I wasn't at first. It, uh, took a while for it to really set in. Then, when you asked about it, I didn't want to bring up your mother again; so, I didn't tell the whole truth." Gippal was now looking forward at the wall in front of him, afraid to meet her gaze.

Rikku sat in shock, "I can't believe it. You were there the whole time…"

"Your mother was one of the best Al Bhed there ever was." Gippal looked down at Rikku, hoping to cheer her up a bit, but found that she was already smiling.

"Gippal, you've always been there for me. How is it, that no matter how hard I try, you always end up being the one to pick me up in the end and help me?"

Gippal wasn't sure how to answer, "Talent?"

Rikku laughed and rolled on top of him, giving him a kiss, "Guess so!"

Gippal rolled her back over and leaned over her with an arm on either side, "E ruba ed cdyoc mega dryd. Sa paehk dra uha du ramb oui."

Rikku looked up at him, once more able to feel her heart beat, "Sa duu."

Gippal smiled, not a cocky grin or even a smirk, but a real smile. He leaned down and kissed her forehead lightly, keeping his face by hers for a moment longer, before lying down next to her and pulling her close to him. Together, Rikku and Gippal cuddled until eventually they fell asleep…