Author's note: Wow! Thank you for all the reviews! ^_^ They made me so happy! I wasn't sure how this idea would've turned out, so I always wondered whether or not I should have posted it. But I'm glad that I did! Rikku may act a bit out of character… you'll se why in the chapter.

Disclaimer: The people from FFX & FFX-2 don't belong to me… but, who knows? Maybe I'll get them for Christmas! ^_^

Love Struck

Chapter 3

Picture Perfect

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"Like him or not- he's stuck with you for two weeks…"

Paine's words rang as clear as a colossal bell in my head. I had to keep telling myself… just two weeks. Which really is…

Fourteen days…

Three hundred and thirty-six hours…

Twenty thousand, one hundred sixty minutes…

And one million, two hundred nine thousand, six hundred seconds…

Something told me that this would seem like the longest two weeks of my life. You can bet that I wasn't very delighted about that. I wasn't expecting this to happen at all. I wished someone would've told me this yesterday so that I could have had a chance to think at least.

I looked over at Gippal, who was taking a little nap on the couch. A sigh escaped my lips. What was I going to do? I was a Sphere Hunter, not a tour guide for cryin' out loud! Well… an ex-Sphere Hunter to be exact…

 Wait… Did this whole thing mean that he'd live with me for two weeks?!

 Wow, just fabulous…

Gippal suddenly began to stir, and his eyes blinked open. After a large yawn, he grinned at me. "Morning!"

"Don't you mean- afternoon?" I replied tonelessly.

Completely ignoring my reply, he stretched out his arms and spoke up. "So… where am I bunking? Out in a doghouse in the yard?"

I sighed. "No… There's a guest room down the hall. You'll be staying there…" Oh, how much did I hate this?

"Great!" He jumped up and walked towards the hallway… but he suddenly froze, as he looked at the mantle where I placed all my old photographs. What got him so interested?

"What's wrong?" I asked a bit concerned.

Gippal lifted a wallet size picture that was in front of my picture with Yunie two years ago. He lifted it up with an accusing look on his face. When I looked closely at what was on the photograph… I nearly screamed.

"Aha… So you actually kept this…" he said to me as if he was impressed.

Oh, Gods… I thought I threw that picture in the fireplace months ago…

That picture- It was taken about a year ago, during the Eternal Calm. Brother told me that he had this friend that he knew I would really like. I had no idea how he looked like or who he was, but my brother set up a date for us behind my back… I remember. I was going to visit Yuna that day, but Brother said "Cancel those plans! You have a date tonight!" I couldn't say that I was mad, or that I was pretty much happy…

 It was a blind date. I always was aware that these things never went well. I couldn't get out of it, though. That night, we met at the Moonflow. I was introduced to my date…

Gippal.

Believe it or not… I actually had a great time. Maybe that's why I hated it. He said he wanted to remember his day, so he asked Brother to take a picture.

We stood in front of the lake where the pyreflies floated among the Moon lilies. At last minute, he put his arm around my waist, and we had a giant grin on our faces.

But… after that day…

I never saw him again.

That was when I heard rumors of Gippal starting the Machine Faction. I went to go see him, and he acted like we never met.

I still may have admired him, but nothing like I did back then. So, I just referred to him as "Gippal of the Machine Faction." Nothing more, nothing less.

I looked at him coldly. "I must've missed that one when I was burning pictures."

"But you gotta admit, this was quite the lovely picture… We could've made a great couple you know."

My face hardened. "That was only one date."

"One great date, I must say." He scanned the photo with his eyes. "Took only a minute to bring back memories, eh?"

"Took you only one year to forget my name and everything."

"I didn't forget everything." Gippal coughed and looked at me straight in the eye. "Your favorite color's yellow, you pig out on fudge brownie ice cream, you think Brother's a pain but you love him anyways, you enjoy summer, you hate winter, you wanted a puppy since you were six, you have a fear of thunder-…"

"Used to have a fear of thunder." I interrupted.

Gippal continued. "You love the book 'Deus Ex Machina,' your dad bought it for you four years ago, you despise peas, I knew your favorite singer was Marika Matsumoto because you were humming one of her songs while we were walking that day, and your name is Rikku- not Rikki…" He took a large breath. "Scared yet?"

I blinked. "Terrified…" Rubbing my eyes, I pointed at him. "How- how did you-…"

"I remembered."

I slammed my palm to my forehead. "I know that genius… but- you remembered all that after a whole year?"

Gippal nodded.

With that I got up and grabbed my jacket, heading for the door.

Gippal reached out for me. "Where are you going?" he asked a bit concerned and worried.

"Just for a walk. I… need to think." I buttoned up my jacket. "I'll be back, okay?" I clutched the doorknob and walked out…

*

I was so confused. This wasn't a good start at all…

Only those who try will become…

I remember Kimahri telling me that two years ago. I wanted not be so vulnerable to Gippal! So… I decided to try.

Starting tomorrow… day one of Gippal's stay.

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A/N: *FFX-2 Mission Complete music comes on*

Chapter 3 Complete!

Ha-ha… just kidding. Ack! This chapter was short! Sorry! I've got school tomorrow (curse school!) and I just wanted to get this event out. It may seem like this is going too fast, but don't worry! Things slow down big time from here on out! ^_^

You see that button on the left? Yeah… click that one! ^_^ Review please!