"Yuna!" Rikku burst onto the Celsius as if she were on fire.

"Gippal needs help! NOW!"

Two weeks later…

"Give up, Rikku." Tidus shook his head and cracked his knuckles. "We're not going to find him. There's just no way."

"There has to be…I have to find him…I know he's here…" Shoving rocks aside with her numb, cold fingers, Rikku sat back on her heels and started to whimper.

"Oh…Tidus…he can't be gone…"

"Hey." Tidus helped her up and held both her hands. "It's okay. We'll have to stick together so we don't lose anymore friends, okay?"

"Gippal…"

"What're you writing, Yuna?" Tidus peeked over her shoulder. "'We've told her countless times that she should just give up. Countless will never be enough for Rikku. She's so sad now. I couldn't believe the look in her eyes yesterday. And when Wakka called her "Cid's girl", she banged her fists on the table and ran out sobbing…'"

Tidus whistled and sat back in his chair.

"Well, you're right…but this is the last time. She told me. After this, she gives up…"

Wading through snow and ice was never on Rikku's agenda. Lately it had become a daily thing. Freezing, teeth chattering, lips blue, Rikku searched into the far reaches of the cave. Not really to find Gippal. She knew Tidus was right; Gippal was gone. Any human would've died by now…but…they had almost kissed. Just the thought of it made Rikku smile…although sadly. Before she knew it, there were tears frozen on her face. She was lost too. She had been wandering for an hour, hoping self consciously that she would get lost and meet the same fate as her old friend. She would never leave.

Then she heard the mumbling.

"You……idiot…. (Ow) this is no time to (Ow!) cry...you have to (Ow, fuck!) dig me the hell out of here..."

"Gippal!" Rikku leapt into the air, and coldness forgotten, she began clawing frantically at the debris around the voice.

When she finally had him out…

"…you look HORRIBLE."

"Nice to see you too."

"Are you human? You must not be human."

"Would you shut up?"

"Let's get you out of here."

"Do you think I can walk?" Gippal asked tartly.

"No."

"Do either of us know where we are?"

"No."

"Are we going anywhere?"

"…apparently not."

"Good girl."

After spending about a month waiting for Gippal to heal and wandering around together…

"Ah, praise New Yevon, we're finally out of there!" Gippal said. "Ah! Sunlight! Too bright!"

"What are you praising New Yevon for? They certainly didn't get us out of there."

"Hey…where's…Gippal?" Rikku peeked into the room. Gippal was sitting on Yuna's bed, talking in whispers with her. Rikku gasped, then stormed into Tidus, who was walking by.

"Hey, Rikku!"

She snarled at him and walked past him. She couldn't believe she'd just seen Gippal flirting with her cousin!

"That…that…Urgh!"

"Rikku, what're you doing?"

"Oh…hey Tidu---why, hello, Tidus…"

"You don't think they saw us talking, did they?"

"I hope not. We wouldn't want Rikku to know what she's getting for her birthday."

Laughing, Gippal walked onto the bridge of the Celsius. As he did so, Rikku leaned back as Tidus caught her in his arms and kissed her.

"Rikku…?" He asked suddenly.

"Gippal." Rikku stood up and blushed.

Furious, Yuna stomped over to Tidus.

"Is Gippal telling the truth? Did you kiss Rikku?"

"It was an accident, Yuna…"

"You expect me to believe that she just accidentally fell over and kissed you!"

"If that's what happened…I mean, yeah…."

"You…infuriating…!"

"I can't believe you kissed another guy!"

"What business of it is yours, Gippal?" Rikku asked, cheeks flaming. She now regretted it, even though it had only been a simple plot for revenge….right?

"But him of all people!"

"That's enough!" With a strong backhand against Gippal's face, Rikku stood up. Gippal wouldn't meet her eye, but she saw the tears on his face anyway, which just made her cry too.

"You're acting like I'm pregnant," she cried, "And I'm not! Just let it be!"

"Okay," Gippal said softly, turning away. "If that's what you want."

"Lost again!" Rikku paced back and forth in the small stretch of trees that hid them from possible attack. They'd been separated from Yuna and Tidus.

"Why me…?" Rikku mumbled.

"…" Gippal hadn't said a word to her since she'd accidentally kissed Tidus. Tidus was being a pain and wouldn't stay away now, and Yuna was insufferable.

Rikku screamed at the treetops.

"Of all the stupid positions I get myself stuck in!"

Gippal leaned against a tree trunk, bored, as Rikku continued ranting.

"Nearly drowned in a bay off some island near Besaid, forced to dance with the prince of said island, suffocated in the Bikanel, then again in those ridiculous caves…. Now LOST again!" Rikku marched up to Gippal, fuming, so they were nose to nose.

"And it NEVER fails," she spat, "that I always get stuck in these situations with YOU!"

Gippal closed his eyes and sighed.

"Would you rather be stuck in them alone?"

"Last time something happened, it was because of me, and the results were drastic."

"We all lived."

Rikku, fed up of all this dancing around this subject like idiots, threw herself at the tree above Gippal, catching herself by slamming her hands out, against the trunk, leaning over Gippal.

"You know, Rikku," he said, slowly standing between her arms so that his nose really was touching hers, "maybe it wouldn't be so difficult for you if you admitted your feelings." He ran a hand through his hair. "I know about that vow you made four years ago. I'm not going to lose anything else because of one kiss. So don't think that running away from me is going to solve anything. Don't jump ahead of yourself."

"How dare you…you assume that…" Rikku was weakening. He was right.

"My eye was worth that moment…and I'd gladly lose the other one." With that, Gippal gripped her tightly, and pressed his lips to Rikku's.