*dances in* just FYI, all my faithful readers, i'm REALLY sick right now so i might not update again for a while. *consoles her weeping fans* i know, i know! quite depressing! i'm sure this chappie while just leave you hanging on a cliff and begging for more! hope you like! ~~~sa~~~
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Ch.5 Next Stop: Macalania!
It wasn't until he and Rikku burst out of the club laughing and still dancing somewhere near dawn did he realize who was following them. He glimpsed the eye patched figure glaring at him from behind a trash bin before disappearing into the freshly shadowed allies. Smirking, he placed the face with a name and smugly slipped an arm around Rikku's waist. She laughed loudly and collapsed against him, exhausted. "Gankee, thanks." She breathed, falling asleep where they stood. Chuckling, he picked her up and carried all the way to his house where he covered her with a blanket before heading out for the day.
With his swank new duds, he looked like he belonged among the other richish people of Luca Proper. He had sworn never to re-visit the streets of his youth unless he was in dire need of something. And he was. He wanted to swing by his father's weapon shop to pick up his custom made weapon. Spending the evening with Rikku had reminded him that he desperately wanted to know about his past. She had told him about her life as a sphere hunter before their little excursion to the club. Her quest for the truth behind Yuna's lost love. He remembered the pained looked in her eyes at the telling of that story. She seemed somewhat angry that she had never gotten the chance to throw her life away and go searching for something for herself.
What Gankee was going to suggest wasn't exactly a quest for Rikku's truth. It was a quest for his own self; his past. He was adopted into the rich family he was raised in. Obviously, he had been deserted as a baby by his husbandless mother. She had been ashamed of him for some reason.Wanting to know who she was and where she was along with who his father was enough to drive him insane. The years he spent under Maechen's historically accurate wing had also given him a love for ruins, spheres, and anything forgotten by the rest of Spira. Smiling at the memory of his kindly tutor, Gankee swung into his adoptive father's shop confidently.
Rikku sat swinging her legs back and forth on a dock in one of Luca's less favorable harbors, nearest the stadium. Gankee had been gone for a while, longer than she had been awake and she didn't feel like chasing after him. She knew he'd find her. That's how their friendship worked. Smiling as a warm breeze brought the smells of salt and fish to her nose, she stood and stretched. She loved the leisurely feel of this practically deserted port. Nothing was fast-paced and rushed, like life on the Celsius. She always felt like things were moving too fast for her to track when she was on the Celsius. Speaking of that huge red airship, Rikku thought back to the day before when Brother had been screaming over the loud speaker at her. They were obviously looking for her, which made her feel sorta bad for leaving. Sorta.
She was pissed at Gippal because Gippal was the only person that knew she was leaving. He didn't know part of the reason she left was because he was there. He seemed to want her back, badly. And yet, she wasn't about to let herself be sucked into him again. The last time she trusted her heart and went after him, he deserted her. Without a second thought on the matter, Rikku turned and stomped down the dock towards the blitzball stadium.As soon as she entered the clean whiteness of Proper Luca, she heard a voice she hadn't ever wanted to hear again. "Yunie!" She gasped, shocked.
Yuna was standing with Tidus, Paine, and Brother near a merchant. They were anxiously questioning him about Rikku, obviously. Snarling, she was tempted to stalk up to them ranting, but felt a restraining hand on her shoulder. Whirling, she saw a clean shaven, washed, and armed Gankee motioning her to follow. Taking the hint, she hurried after him quietly. Jogging behind him, she noticed a tatoo on his arm she had never seen before. It looked like two black dagger-like lines swirling to meet at a spikey looking ball on his upper arm. On his opposite upper arm he sported a metallic arm band that appeared beaten and old. Also, a gauntlet of sorts adorned his wrist and lower arm, extending to wrap around his middle finger. It gleamed oddly and Rikku guessed it was welded with crystals from Macalania, a rare accessory in deed.
When Gankee finally stopped jogging along the allies, they were near the outskirts of the city. Both gasped in some much needed breaths before Rikku starting questioning him. "So? What's with the armor and that bundle? Goin' somewhere? Huh huh huh?" Gankee, smiled at her energentic bouncing. She was also she excitable, even when she was depressed. She needed this journey just as much as he did. Nodding, Gankee slid the dirty cloth off the long bundle he was holding. Rikku's eyes widened when she saw what lay within. It was a glaive of sorts with a mean looking, G-shaped blade at the end. The handle was inlaid with something resembling a mixture of gold and sphere crystal, like his gauntlet. A dark red gem was set where the blade met the staff.
"Nice, isn't it? My father made it especially for me. He said the gem," He tapped the garnet-esque stone. "Was around my neck on a chain when I was found. He melted the gold down for the handle. And the blade with a secret mixture of metals and sphere crystal." Gankee's voice had adopted a tone of pride. Rikku smiled. "Any sphere hunter would loooove to get her hands on that." She said, giggling slightly and pretending to snatch at the weapon. Surprisingly, Gankee's reflexes were quicker than she thought. In less time than it took her to blink, he had her arms tightly clasped behind her back. He dropped her quickly, as if he had realized the kinkiness of the situation. Blushing, Rikku laughed off her defeat. "Well, what's the suiting up for?" She probed, poking his ribs through the rich guy's shirt he still wore. It looked good on him anyway. Gankee, a faraway look in his multicolored eyes, sighed.
"I'm going to find my real parents. Wherever they are. My adoptive father gave me the go ahead, this weapon, a LOT of gil, and this gauntlet." He held up his right hand to the late afternoon sun, watching the relfection off the crystal. Rikku felt an inspiring speech bubble up inside her. A feeling of awe and excitement washed over her and she clapped. "Alrighty! Let's hit the road! Next stop..." She trailed off, still pointing up the hill where the Mi'hen Highroad began. Rikku glanced over her shoulder at her close friend, an inquiring lift of the eyebrow adding to her already quirky charm. Gankee laughed, sliding his glaive into a specially built belt with two strong rings to hold it strung across his back. He joined Rikku in her pointed pose, grinning from ear to ear. "Next stop, Macalania."
As the two battled their way down the road, Gippal followed closely, not bothering to respond to Brother's frantic radio calls. He didn't need the whole Gullwings crew trailing him. It was hard enough staying quiet enough to escape Gankee's expert tracking skills. The guy was like some kind of advanced Al Bhed hybrid. His exceptional way with machina got them a free night at the Agency and his prowess in battle made the way easy to hoof. Growling every time the dark haired halfing so much as touched Rikku, Gippal was getting VERY impatient. He wanted to know the nature of their sometimes affectionate, sometimes sorta distant relationship. Oddly enough, Gippal wished he had never left the Celsius one particularly rainy night when Rikku had to take shelter undeneath a teeny little excuse for a cliff. Of course, Gankee was right there. They even slept like that. Feeling as if he should just give up that next morning, Gippal radioed the Celsius.
"Gippal here. Brother? Buddy? Come in." He muttered, trying to stay out of sight while Rikku skipped ahead of Gankee. Tidus' voice came over the speaker, sounding sorta quiet, too. "Tidus here. What's up, Gippal? Where are you?" Gippal sighed, feeling a huge pain in his chest where his heart used to be. "Mi'hen Highroad. Figured I needed some battle time, ya know?" He was an awesome liar. Tidus groaned. "Aw, come on! Why didn't ya tell me? I woulda come with. I need to get off this airship!" He sounded abosolutely frantic. Gippal chuckled, sympathizing with that urge to be anywhere but stationary. "I hear ya. What's the situation? Who's PMSing?" Tidus chuckled back. "Brother." Both burst out laughing only to hurriedly muffle their joy when they remembered they were trying to be quiet. "OK, do you wanna be picked up or something?" The blonde, non-Al Bhed whispered to his tall new found friend. "Yeah, I'll be at the Agency." "Alrighty. Over and out." Tidus muttered cheerfully. Gippal closed his eyes, feeling as if he was just gonna get stuck on that ship. With no Rikku. With no happiness.
"Gankee!" Rikku's voice had hit its all time whiny maximum when the two were heading to Djose temple to pick up some supplies a few days after Gippal's re-arrival on the Celsius. She was trudging along behind his stern back, whining and complaining about everything. "Gankee, why can't we just rest for a-" A huge basilisk crashing down from above them and Gankee quickly slashed at it while Rikku cast a few Flare spells as a Black Mage. Transforming back to a Thief, Rikku groaned and plopped down onto the stony ground. Gankee shook some hair out of his face and sheathed his glaive. When he turned to look down at her, she felt that weird deja vu again. Who had looked down on her like that? Kinda condescending in nature, yet still a glimmer of concern somewhere deep in the eyes. Shaking her head, Rikku waited for him to say something. Anything. He didn't say a word.
Yup, he just stood there completely motionless while the rainy smelling wind played with their hair. Rolling her eyes, she leapt to her feet, defiantly crossing her arms. With a victorious smirk, he turned on the heels of his combat boots, continuing on his steady way. Groaning, Rikku jogged to catch up with his decidedly quick pace. After a few minutes of tense silence, Gankee spoke just as the temple came into view. "Rikku, no one forced you to follow. I just thought you needed this journey, too. A journey of the heart." Stopping in her tracks, Rikku tried to place that philosophical tone of voice desperately. His eyes bore into hers relentlessly and she felt like he was looking into her soul. Shivering suddenly, she hugged herself, looking at the ground sheepishly. "Uh, I kinda need this. Yeah I do. I'm sorry for complaining." Gankee smiled and turned back towards the temple. "Its OK. I understand. You miss him." With not another word, he hurried onward leaving Rikku to swallow her pride and her tears. 'Yeah,' she thought. 'I do miss him. More every day.'
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AN: see? Rikku is totally heartless! she really does still care about Gippal. she just needs some time to think it all over, ya know? a journey with an increasingly familiar guy may be just what she needs. and, no, i won't tell whether they hook up or not. that's not fair! *winks* keep reviewing! ~~~sa~~~
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Ch.5 Next Stop: Macalania!
It wasn't until he and Rikku burst out of the club laughing and still dancing somewhere near dawn did he realize who was following them. He glimpsed the eye patched figure glaring at him from behind a trash bin before disappearing into the freshly shadowed allies. Smirking, he placed the face with a name and smugly slipped an arm around Rikku's waist. She laughed loudly and collapsed against him, exhausted. "Gankee, thanks." She breathed, falling asleep where they stood. Chuckling, he picked her up and carried all the way to his house where he covered her with a blanket before heading out for the day.
With his swank new duds, he looked like he belonged among the other richish people of Luca Proper. He had sworn never to re-visit the streets of his youth unless he was in dire need of something. And he was. He wanted to swing by his father's weapon shop to pick up his custom made weapon. Spending the evening with Rikku had reminded him that he desperately wanted to know about his past. She had told him about her life as a sphere hunter before their little excursion to the club. Her quest for the truth behind Yuna's lost love. He remembered the pained looked in her eyes at the telling of that story. She seemed somewhat angry that she had never gotten the chance to throw her life away and go searching for something for herself.
What Gankee was going to suggest wasn't exactly a quest for Rikku's truth. It was a quest for his own self; his past. He was adopted into the rich family he was raised in. Obviously, he had been deserted as a baby by his husbandless mother. She had been ashamed of him for some reason.Wanting to know who she was and where she was along with who his father was enough to drive him insane. The years he spent under Maechen's historically accurate wing had also given him a love for ruins, spheres, and anything forgotten by the rest of Spira. Smiling at the memory of his kindly tutor, Gankee swung into his adoptive father's shop confidently.
Rikku sat swinging her legs back and forth on a dock in one of Luca's less favorable harbors, nearest the stadium. Gankee had been gone for a while, longer than she had been awake and she didn't feel like chasing after him. She knew he'd find her. That's how their friendship worked. Smiling as a warm breeze brought the smells of salt and fish to her nose, she stood and stretched. She loved the leisurely feel of this practically deserted port. Nothing was fast-paced and rushed, like life on the Celsius. She always felt like things were moving too fast for her to track when she was on the Celsius. Speaking of that huge red airship, Rikku thought back to the day before when Brother had been screaming over the loud speaker at her. They were obviously looking for her, which made her feel sorta bad for leaving. Sorta.
She was pissed at Gippal because Gippal was the only person that knew she was leaving. He didn't know part of the reason she left was because he was there. He seemed to want her back, badly. And yet, she wasn't about to let herself be sucked into him again. The last time she trusted her heart and went after him, he deserted her. Without a second thought on the matter, Rikku turned and stomped down the dock towards the blitzball stadium.As soon as she entered the clean whiteness of Proper Luca, she heard a voice she hadn't ever wanted to hear again. "Yunie!" She gasped, shocked.
Yuna was standing with Tidus, Paine, and Brother near a merchant. They were anxiously questioning him about Rikku, obviously. Snarling, she was tempted to stalk up to them ranting, but felt a restraining hand on her shoulder. Whirling, she saw a clean shaven, washed, and armed Gankee motioning her to follow. Taking the hint, she hurried after him quietly. Jogging behind him, she noticed a tatoo on his arm she had never seen before. It looked like two black dagger-like lines swirling to meet at a spikey looking ball on his upper arm. On his opposite upper arm he sported a metallic arm band that appeared beaten and old. Also, a gauntlet of sorts adorned his wrist and lower arm, extending to wrap around his middle finger. It gleamed oddly and Rikku guessed it was welded with crystals from Macalania, a rare accessory in deed.
When Gankee finally stopped jogging along the allies, they were near the outskirts of the city. Both gasped in some much needed breaths before Rikku starting questioning him. "So? What's with the armor and that bundle? Goin' somewhere? Huh huh huh?" Gankee, smiled at her energentic bouncing. She was also she excitable, even when she was depressed. She needed this journey just as much as he did. Nodding, Gankee slid the dirty cloth off the long bundle he was holding. Rikku's eyes widened when she saw what lay within. It was a glaive of sorts with a mean looking, G-shaped blade at the end. The handle was inlaid with something resembling a mixture of gold and sphere crystal, like his gauntlet. A dark red gem was set where the blade met the staff.
"Nice, isn't it? My father made it especially for me. He said the gem," He tapped the garnet-esque stone. "Was around my neck on a chain when I was found. He melted the gold down for the handle. And the blade with a secret mixture of metals and sphere crystal." Gankee's voice had adopted a tone of pride. Rikku smiled. "Any sphere hunter would loooove to get her hands on that." She said, giggling slightly and pretending to snatch at the weapon. Surprisingly, Gankee's reflexes were quicker than she thought. In less time than it took her to blink, he had her arms tightly clasped behind her back. He dropped her quickly, as if he had realized the kinkiness of the situation. Blushing, Rikku laughed off her defeat. "Well, what's the suiting up for?" She probed, poking his ribs through the rich guy's shirt he still wore. It looked good on him anyway. Gankee, a faraway look in his multicolored eyes, sighed.
"I'm going to find my real parents. Wherever they are. My adoptive father gave me the go ahead, this weapon, a LOT of gil, and this gauntlet." He held up his right hand to the late afternoon sun, watching the relfection off the crystal. Rikku felt an inspiring speech bubble up inside her. A feeling of awe and excitement washed over her and she clapped. "Alrighty! Let's hit the road! Next stop..." She trailed off, still pointing up the hill where the Mi'hen Highroad began. Rikku glanced over her shoulder at her close friend, an inquiring lift of the eyebrow adding to her already quirky charm. Gankee laughed, sliding his glaive into a specially built belt with two strong rings to hold it strung across his back. He joined Rikku in her pointed pose, grinning from ear to ear. "Next stop, Macalania."
As the two battled their way down the road, Gippal followed closely, not bothering to respond to Brother's frantic radio calls. He didn't need the whole Gullwings crew trailing him. It was hard enough staying quiet enough to escape Gankee's expert tracking skills. The guy was like some kind of advanced Al Bhed hybrid. His exceptional way with machina got them a free night at the Agency and his prowess in battle made the way easy to hoof. Growling every time the dark haired halfing so much as touched Rikku, Gippal was getting VERY impatient. He wanted to know the nature of their sometimes affectionate, sometimes sorta distant relationship. Oddly enough, Gippal wished he had never left the Celsius one particularly rainy night when Rikku had to take shelter undeneath a teeny little excuse for a cliff. Of course, Gankee was right there. They even slept like that. Feeling as if he should just give up that next morning, Gippal radioed the Celsius.
"Gippal here. Brother? Buddy? Come in." He muttered, trying to stay out of sight while Rikku skipped ahead of Gankee. Tidus' voice came over the speaker, sounding sorta quiet, too. "Tidus here. What's up, Gippal? Where are you?" Gippal sighed, feeling a huge pain in his chest where his heart used to be. "Mi'hen Highroad. Figured I needed some battle time, ya know?" He was an awesome liar. Tidus groaned. "Aw, come on! Why didn't ya tell me? I woulda come with. I need to get off this airship!" He sounded abosolutely frantic. Gippal chuckled, sympathizing with that urge to be anywhere but stationary. "I hear ya. What's the situation? Who's PMSing?" Tidus chuckled back. "Brother." Both burst out laughing only to hurriedly muffle their joy when they remembered they were trying to be quiet. "OK, do you wanna be picked up or something?" The blonde, non-Al Bhed whispered to his tall new found friend. "Yeah, I'll be at the Agency." "Alrighty. Over and out." Tidus muttered cheerfully. Gippal closed his eyes, feeling as if he was just gonna get stuck on that ship. With no Rikku. With no happiness.
"Gankee!" Rikku's voice had hit its all time whiny maximum when the two were heading to Djose temple to pick up some supplies a few days after Gippal's re-arrival on the Celsius. She was trudging along behind his stern back, whining and complaining about everything. "Gankee, why can't we just rest for a-" A huge basilisk crashing down from above them and Gankee quickly slashed at it while Rikku cast a few Flare spells as a Black Mage. Transforming back to a Thief, Rikku groaned and plopped down onto the stony ground. Gankee shook some hair out of his face and sheathed his glaive. When he turned to look down at her, she felt that weird deja vu again. Who had looked down on her like that? Kinda condescending in nature, yet still a glimmer of concern somewhere deep in the eyes. Shaking her head, Rikku waited for him to say something. Anything. He didn't say a word.
Yup, he just stood there completely motionless while the rainy smelling wind played with their hair. Rolling her eyes, she leapt to her feet, defiantly crossing her arms. With a victorious smirk, he turned on the heels of his combat boots, continuing on his steady way. Groaning, Rikku jogged to catch up with his decidedly quick pace. After a few minutes of tense silence, Gankee spoke just as the temple came into view. "Rikku, no one forced you to follow. I just thought you needed this journey, too. A journey of the heart." Stopping in her tracks, Rikku tried to place that philosophical tone of voice desperately. His eyes bore into hers relentlessly and she felt like he was looking into her soul. Shivering suddenly, she hugged herself, looking at the ground sheepishly. "Uh, I kinda need this. Yeah I do. I'm sorry for complaining." Gankee smiled and turned back towards the temple. "Its OK. I understand. You miss him." With not another word, he hurried onward leaving Rikku to swallow her pride and her tears. 'Yeah,' she thought. 'I do miss him. More every day.'
~~~~~~~******~~~~~~~~~
AN: see? Rikku is totally heartless! she really does still care about Gippal. she just needs some time to think it all over, ya know? a journey with an increasingly familiar guy may be just what she needs. and, no, i won't tell whether they hook up or not. that's not fair! *winks* keep reviewing! ~~~sa~~~