Author's note: Once again, I thank everyone for the reviews! By the way, I'm welcome to suggestions and tips! ^_^ I already agreed to try and make my chapters longer… Great, isn't it? J

 Boy… the things that went on in the last chapter were kinda weird, eh? I came up with the event that same day while I was in Language Arts at school… ^_^

By the way, sorry this chapter came out a little late. I was stuck in bed for about a week because I had a horrible case of the flu… -_-; Yup. I was one of the thousands of people who happened to catch the flu… it sucked but luckily it wasn't too serious. Still a bit sick but I wanted to work on the next chapter. ^_^

Disclaimer: I don't own it… but I'm almost positive it'll be under my Christmas tree!

Love Struck

Chapter 4

Day One!

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A few minutes later, I strolled back home. I'd been thinking that whole time. Confusion swept over me in a mere second. I recalled what I had told everyone back then, when all of us played a part as Yunie's faithful guardians.

"Memories are nice, but that's all they are…"

I understood that.

So- I followed it.

When I reached my door, I took an intense breath. Here it goes… Placing my fingers gingerly on the doorknob, I turned it unhurriedly, inviting myself in.

"Hello?" I called throughout the house before I took off my coat.

"Gippal? Are you here?" Not hearing any response, I walked around the house. I wandered down the hall and found Gippal snoozing once again in his room. I made sure I was quiet and softly closed his door.

My first stop was my room. I went over to my bathroom and took a bath to wash away the troubles… I turned on my television and watched the Luca reports as I dried my wet hair with a towel.

My mind drifted of to the picture…

 I wasn't expecting that to become a topic. Actually I had always hoped it didn't. But that was just a memory… and that's all it is.

*

Day One…

 After my hair dried and I had finished watching the news, I went to bed pretty early. It was about eight o' clock in the morning. As my eyes gradually fluttered, I could smell something in the kitchen. I got up, still in my yellow jammies, and snuck down the hall. There I saw Gippal flipping a few pancakes and whistling to himself. I suppose he heard me come in, because he automatically turned around and smiled at me. "Morning! Hope you mind that I took the liberty of cooking breakfast!"

I yawned quickly and shook my head. "No, I don't mind… I can't cook anyways."

…Really, I can't cook!

He shrugged and cracked open an egg with one hand. "Alrighty then! Leave it to me!" he said cheerfully. "Le' Chef Gippal at your service!"

Oh, brother…

I sat down at the table and rested my chin on my palm. "So what's on the menu, Chef Gippal?" I teased.

"Le one moment!" he told me in his fake French accent. Cracking two more eggs he tossed in a bit of pepper.

"First- Le eggs!"

"And why must Chef Gippal always say- Le?"

"Because ze Chef must look professional!" he replied with a giant grin. I couldn't help but laugh.

"What if there was a professional chef that was mute?" I asked, testing him.

"Well it sucks to be them!"

I simply rolled my eyes. "Whatever."

After a while of hearing him say 'Le,' he handed me my plate and took his seat across of me propping his napkin in his lap.

I took a bite of my chocolate chip pancakes and blinked in wonder. "Wow… This is really good, Gippal!" I took another chunk of it and put it in my mouth. "Where'd you learn how to cook?"

He chuckled proudly. "Saw it on those cooking channels… thought that it'd be useful." Gippal took a sip if his juice then all of a sudden froze.

"Rikku…"

"Hm?" I asked with my mouth full.

"About that picture…"

I froze. Was I surprised?

…Or just plain terrified?

"Are you… okay about it? I didn't really want that whole- subject… to throw everything off, you know? I mean I seriously didn't intend for it to."

I sighed. "Don't worry. I'm okay about it, honestly!" Gippal glared at me in disbelief.

"Really…" I replied reassuringly. "It's a nice memory-"

"But that's all it is…" He replied, finishing my sentence.

"Exactly."

Taking a bite of his breakfast, he sighed. "Yeah. I gotcha."

"Good." I replied not looking up. He knew that too. It was an Al Bhed saying of course. Pops mentioned that in a speech he preached out to our people many years ago…

I remember.

It was intended to be at a memorial service…

For my mom.

Believe it or not, Gippal told me he was there. I was amazed that he was in the row behind me sitting next to Brother that day. I guess I didn't notice since I was crying so much… Dad really loved Mom. When she left, he always seemed to be in a depression. And to get rid of that depression, he decided to leave it all behind. That's where all of us got that saying.

"Is Cid's girl daydreaming again?" Gippal asked, bringing me back into reality. I just playfully punched his arm in response. "Crid ib…" I muttered in Al Bhed.

*

As soon as we finished our meal we headed into the living room and turned on the television. My phone unexpectedly rang and I jumped towards it.

"Hello?" I said cheerfully despite my mood.

"Hey Rikku, how are you?" I recognized that voice.

"Yunie!" Relief came over me like a wave, and I relaxed in my seat. "It's a relief to hear from you…"

"That's good to hear. By the way- I heard the news from Paine."

I merely whined. And I thought Paine seriously was one who would never tell others secrets… at least- not hers.

"She told you, eh?"

"Yup."

"She just lost five respect points…"

I could hear Yuna giggling from the other end. "So how are you holding out?" She asked me concerned.

"Okay… I guess."

"You guess?" Yunie echoed suspiciously.

I got up and walked into the kitchen and propping myself lazily on one of the dining table chairs.

"Life fell rock bottom…"

Yuna sighed. "I can sense you're not very happy?"

"Damn straight."

"Rikku!" she gasped disapprovingly at my language.

"Sorry, sorry…" I rubbed my forehead, trying to calm my nerves. "Anyways, you're right." I lowered my voice and whispered into the mouthpiece. "I'm not happy at all. In fact- I'm living a nightmare."

"Oh please, how bad can it be?"

I recalled the picture.

"Bad."

"Sure…"

There was a pause from Yunie's side.

"You like him, don't you…"

Why in Spira does everyone always suspect that!?

Because it's true you dumb-dumb…

I gasped at my inner thoughts. It is not!

Is too.

ARGH!

"I'm taking your silence as a yes?"

I snapped out of my mental argument

"N-no! Of course not!"

"Baralai and Nooj say the same thing…"

"You're kidding me, right?" I asked, supposing that was a joke.

"Not at all… I was a bit surprised too. But they found it pretty amusing."

I leaned my head to the side. "Why Yunie?"

Pause.

"They said Gippal spoke about you all the time."

I was shocked. Yet, a bit mad. What kind of things did he say about me? Insults? Compliments? Who knows? I never told anyone about him. Except for the Gullwings… but that was back when they first met him.

Yunie continued. "Paine told me."

"She did?"

"Surprisingly, yes."

"Oh." Can't say I was taken aback.

"Maybe you should ask her?" Her suggestion gave me something to do.

"I think I do just that. Thanks Yunie!"

"Anytime Rikku."

*

I ran back into the living room and headed towards the door. "I'll be right back Gippal!" I yelled quickly as I passed.

"Where are you going now?" he asked me while rolling his eyes.

"Just next door, no worries!"

Gippal sighed in response. "Alrighty then. Come back soon, 'kay? This is boring my ass off here…"

"No prob…" I walked outside and jumped over the short white fence between our patios. Paine was reading a book out on her bench while drinking some juice.

"Paine!" I called out.

She looked up, setting down her drink. "What is it now, Rikku?" Paine asked a bit annoyed.

"I need to ask you about something…"

"And that something would be-?"

"Gippal."

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A/N: Day One – part 2 in the works! ^_^

Once again, sorry this is late! The flu took over me once again and I was supposed to have this out last week, but my plans were a bit faltered… stupid medicine. Knocks me out every time…

Next chapter is where the fun will begin. *laughs evilly.*

Should I add a bit of fluff? Wink, wink!