The Troubles of Love

Flaming Soul: I'm back! I must say that I am really not liking school right now, and that's a reason why my updates have been long, for all the home work that I got. ::Shakes a fist at the pile of home work on my desk.:: Not to mention all the essays and tests that I've been getting, it's crazy!! Any way, here's chapter!

Also not to mention, read Armor King's 'Who am I?' a fellow Rikku/Yunie fic, he even has a sequel for it! It's called 'Letting go of the Past', so if you like 'Who am I?' go and read it!

"Speaking."

'Thoughts.'

'Al Bhed to English.'

Chapter 5: Piecing Things Together

The lift slowly came to a stop, and Paine came out. Her emotion-less look back on her face, as she saw Rikku bouncing up and down. 'Please don't tell me that she's been eating candy again. . .' thought Paine as an exasperated sigh escaped her lips.

"Hey Dr. P!" giggled Rikku as she bounced to Paine, a smile on her face. But Paine looked into Rikku's eyes, and found a surprisingly well hidden pain in her eyes. 'Since was Rikku so good at hiding emotions? Heh, she must have had some practice from a certain former summoner. . .'

"What do you want now, Rikku?" asked Paine in her usual monotone. Rikku raised an eye brow at Paine's sudden change so Paine winked at her, and Rikku soon got the idea.

"Why are we going to Wakka and Lulu for?" asked Rikku energetically, dancing around Paine all the while.

Paine rolled her eyes, "To check up on them and well, I don't know."

Rikku faked a gasp, "The all knowing Paine not knowing as to why we're going to Wakka and Lulu? -Gasp- Has the world come to an end?"

Paine rolled her eyes and sighed again, "Rikku . . ." threatened Paine but as usual Rikku just kept on saying some thing about the world coming to an end and fiends ruling the world.

"That's 3 respect points Rikku," said Paine finally after finding an empty space in Rikku's seemingly endless chatter.

Rikku immediately stopped talking and looked at Paine in a spilt second she was on the ground crouching, her right index finger making shapes on the metal floor and saying, "That isn't good. . . So how many do I have left?"

"Errr. . . 47," said Paine, saying a completely random number for the moment as least.

"That isn't a lot," mumbled Rikku, as she still traced shapes in the metal.

Paine sighed, she knew that Rikku was only doing this so that Paine would have to give her respect points to make Rikku back into her normal self, "Fine, add 5 points then."

At that Rikku bounced right up, beaming at Paine and dancing around, "Yayayaya! 5 more respect points!!!"

Paine sighed again and shook her head, allowing herself a small smile. 'Guess that's one way of cheering up Rikku. The other should be coming soon . . .'

And after a few seconds Rikku's second reason of being cheerful just arrived.

"So, are we going or what?" asked Yuna as she jumped and landed beside Paine, who was smiling some what.

Yuna gave Paine a look, "What with the smile Paine? You're not planning some thing, are you?"

"Nothing at all, Yuna. . ." said Paine, hinting with her voice that she was actually thinking of some thing devious.

Yuna looked at Paine suspiciously this time, "What are you planning Paine?"

Paine waved a gloved hand, "Nothing, nothing at all." Was all she said, a smirk on her face. As she brushed past Yuna, meeting Rikku.

"So tell me Dr. P, what are you planning right at this very moment?" asked Rikku, in a mock business like manner. Yuna giggled behind Paine at Rikku's antics.

Paine just gave Rikku a small smile, "Like I said before to Yuna, nothing." Then Paine brushed past Rikku and went to the transport sphere and got transported to the ground.

Rikku pouted and crossed her arms, "Dr. P ain't that much fun any more."

Yuna once again giggled and grabbed a hold of Rikku's hand. A warm feeling emitted from Rikku's hand as Yuna held on, the warmth spreading from her hand to every where else in her body. Yuna noticed that Rikku was blushing and thought, 'Why is Rikku blushing?' Yuna pushed that thought aside and transported both her and Rikku to the ground.

There they saw an amused Paine, with her arms crossed, her usual stance.

Paine's crimson eyes darted to Rikku's and Yuna's hands, and smiled, 'No doubt that the time would be soon.' She them met eyes with Yuna and darted her eyes once more, Yuna then followed Paine's quick gaze and saw that she was still holding hands with Rikku. Yuna blushed and after a small squeeze, that didn't go unnoticed to Paine, let go of Rikku's gloved hand.

The warmth that had been there had gone when Yuna had let go of Rikku's hand and she almost frowned because of it but she managed not to. So Yuna smiled instead.

"So, are we going to Wakka and Lulu's or what?" said Yuna enthusiastically. Her miss matched eyes shining brightly in the light.

Rikku matched her Yuna's enthusiasm, ran towards them hut and yelled over her shoulder, "Last one there has to buy me candy!"

Paine and Yuna when they had heard this ran as fast as they could, knowing that if they were last, they wouldn't have that much gil left.

Rikku's run slowly turned into a jog then a walk, as she reached Wakka and Lulu's hut, turning around to see Paine and Yuna running.

"And the winner is Paine!" yelled Rikku as Paine came to a stop in front of her. "And here's Yunie!"

"You're paying for Rikku's candy Yuna," said Paine not even winded by the run.

Yuna smiled, "Fine but I get to have some too!"

Paine smiled inwardly, 'I would believe that just came from loving Rikku for so long.'

Lulu walked out of the hut and was surprised to fine Paine, Yuna and Rikku in front of it, "Hmm?"

"We just wanted to check up on you," explained Yuna as Rikku dashed forward and poked at Wakka again, teasing him on his current 'tubbiness'.

"I'm doing just fine . . . Don't know about Wakka though.," smiled Lulu as she watched Rikku teasing Wakka.

Yuna giggled, and Paine allowed herself a smirk, "Yes. I have been with the Gullwings for only a short time and I already I'm very used to Rikku's teasing and all. Don't know about Wakka though," pointed out Paine as she smirked still.

"I heard my name!" said Rikku as she stopped her teasing. She then walked over to Lulu, Paine and Yuna.

Paine shook her head, "Girl, only got hearing for her name and candy," muttered Paine quietly.

Rikku turned her head towards Paine, "I heard candy!"

Yuna giggled and Paine shook her head once more, 'Once again she proves to be what some say she is.'

Wakka gave a silent thank you to Paine, when Rikku had left him. (AN: Lol, just like me sometimes. XD) "How about we go to the beach, ya?"

"That would be a good idea," said Lulu. "I'm going to get towels, wait here."

Paine, Wakka, Yuna and Rikku nodded, soon after Lulu came out carrying with her a few towels.

"Let's go then!" smiled Yuna.

Paine nodded silently, as usual. Rikku and Yuna looked at each other and ran towards the direction of the beach.

Lulu and Wakka looked confused and surprised but Paine merely smiled a bit, "You're surprised? Rikku and Yuna sometimes share the same mind, and a good example is right now. No doubt Yuna and Rikku made a silent bet by just looking at each other, knowing Rikku it's about candy. . .again."

Wakka chuckled and walked ahead, "I'm going to see who's going to win, ya?"

Lulu and Paine nodded, "No doubt Rikku would win again, seeing as when ever it's about candy, she'd do almost anything for it."

Wakka chuckled again and jogged ahead.

'I think Paine must know some thing I don't, enough make her smile means that she's knows quite a bit.' "What do you know that I don't?" asked Lulu, making it straight to the point.

Paine smirked and raised an eye brow, "Hmm? You might know already if you watch carefully. Either that or one of the two told you already."

"What are you talking about?" asked Lulu.

"Are you sure you want to know? It might come as a shock to you," said Paine, as she looked at Lulu in the corner of her eyes.

Lulu nodded, "Of course, why do you think I'm asking?"

"Yuna and Rikku aren't really in terms yet, but soon they'll know that they . . ."

"I win!" yelled Yuna as she reached the edge of the crystal-clear waters. Rikku panting beside her.

Rikku pouted, "Aww man, those that mean that we have a tie and we don't give each other candy?"

Yuna covered her mouth as she giggled, "No Rikku, we just trade candy. How about that?"

Rikku shrugged and sat down, "I'm fine with that, all I want is the candy."

Yuna giggled and lied down on her back, "Remember when you were sitting out on the deck of the Celsius, Paine said that you were thinking about something, what were you thinking about?"

'About. . . yo- ahem. . . .' "Nothing that important," shrugged off Rikku, as she lied down. The warm sand shaping around her body.

"If it wasn't important then why did you isolate yourself?" asked Yuna logically.

"Umm . . ." 'How do I get out of this one?' thought Rikku, praying for an interruption so that she wouldn't have had to answer, and thankfully her prayers were heard.

"Who won?" asked Wakka, as she saw both girls lying down.

Yuna looked up at Wakka, "I did."

"Heh, looks like someone is going to have a lot of candy," chuckled Wakka.

"Hey, where are Lulu and Paine?" asked Rikku, grateful at Wakka's usually bad timing.

"I dunno, I just ran here cause I wanted to see who was gonna win," shrugged Wakka.

Rikku and Yuna sweated dropped, "That's our Wakka," stated Rikku as she got up on one of her elbows.

Yuna quietly as possible splashed some water on her arms then stuck her arms in the sand, covering them. Then silently hugged Rikku from behind.

"Yunie! Now you're gonna get it!" yelled Rikku as she also got her arms wet and covered in sand. Yuna squealed and ran, Rikku right behind her.

Soon Lulu and Paine came into view and as they did so, Rikku had managed to catch up to Yuna and tackle her lightly.

Paine and Lulu smiled both thinking some what along the same lines as the other.

Rikku then started to tickle Yuna, "Hehehe! Give up Yunie?"

"Never!" Yuna then flipped her and Rikku over then carried Rikku to the water, and swam, with out getting Rikku wet, "Give up?" she asked in a teasing voice.

"No way!" With that Yuna dropped Rikku, but what she didn't notice was that Rikku had a light grip on her wrist, and as Rikku had felt Yuna let go her grip on Yuna's wrist tightened, thus pulling Yuna down with her.

Wakka, Lulu and Paine gave a laugh as a huge splash and a shriek was heard.

While underwater Rikku had wrapped her arms around Yuna, a warmth spreading over her body.

Yuna felt Rikku's arms and thought, 'This feels right. . . Wait is this what Paine was talking about?'

Rikku then kicked with her feet and soon both her head and Yuna's popped out of the water.

A fountain of water came out of Rikku's mouth comically, "That's 1 for me and 1 for Yunie!"

Yuna smiled and leaned in close to Rikku, her mouth close to Rikku's ear.

Rikku almost shivered at the warmth of Yuna's warm breath against her ear, "Let's give Paine another hug, she looks lonely."

And then Yuna swam towards the shore, the warmth that was once there was gone, and at that Rikku shivered, then she too swam to shore.

As the two had gotten there both ran up to Paine and hugged her again.

"Cold!" yelled out Paine as she felt the cold water seep through and contrast to her warm skin. She goose bumps ran down her stomach and arms as she shivered at the cold water.

Yuna and Rikku let go of Paine and ran for it, heading in two different directions.

"I'm so going to get you guys!" yelled Paine as she wiped the rest of the water off herself, and grabbed two towels and ran after them.

Lulu and Wakka just sat down on the sand and watched Rikku and Yuna squealing and laughing while Paine ran after them, shouting something in Al Bhed, in which Rikku gave her a reply every time.

Wakka looked confused, "What are Paine and Rikku yelling?"

Lulu smiled, "Probably insulting each other in Al Bhed, as usual, or as usual it is for them."

Wakka gave a hearty laugh, but that laugh was soon cut short as a thought came back to him, "What ever happened to that girl in the sphere ya'know?"

Lulu stiffened, "I'm sure that Paine and Yuna have already looked her up, I shall ask the both later, we need not disrupt the fun, it's a good way of forgetting about problems for the moment."

Wakka nodded, and continued to watch and laughed at the three girls.

Paine had managed to catch up to Yuna and when she was near enough she took a towel and tackled Yuna, wrapping the towel around her, trapping her.

"That's one," smirked Paine as she made sure that Yuna's arms were pinned down securely but gently. "As for the other. . ."Paine turned around and tackled Rikku, who was trying to sneak up on her. Grabbing the other towel, Paine also wrapped it around Rikku, successfully pinning her arms to her sides.

Paine smirked and looked at both girls, "I win."

"Poopie," said Rikku, as she struggled to get out.

"I'll unwrap you guys if you promise that you won't do that again, okay?" asked Paine, the smirk still on her face.

"Awwww!" whined Yuna and Rikku, as both started stating a whole bunch of reasons and other propositions.

"Well then, I'll just leave you two here then," With that said Paine started to walk away.

"Paine! Come on! Fine! Just get Yunie and I out!" yelled Rikku, hiding a smile. When Yuna gave a look, all Rikku did was wink and smirk at her.

Yuna blushed as Rikku winked at her, but she fought down the blush as Paine came back and crouched down.

"Promise?" asked Paine as she still smiled.

Yuna and Rikku sighed and mumbled a "Yes. . ."

Paine's smile got bigger, "Good." Then she started to unwrap the two girls out of the towels.

When Paine finished unwrapping Rikku and started on Yuna, Rikku rolled up her towel and smacked Paine in the butt.

Paine yelped and glared at Rikku. "You only said no more hugs," said Rikku innocently and ran for it.

Yuna laughed and also did the same as Rikku, and ran after she smacked Paine.

Paine shook her head, "Here we go again. . ."

"Yunie!" whispered Rikku, as Yuna ran past her. Yuna stopped and turned around, Rikku motioned for Yuna to come closer and pointed to a cave.

Yuna nodded and went in after Rikku. "Hehe, Paine won't find us here," whisper Rikku, as she sat down, there wasn't much space so Rikku's face was very near to Yuna's.

Yuna held down a shiver as Rikku whispered to her, the hot air of Rikku's breath tickling her ear. "Let's hope not," whisper Yuna back as she moved her back for a more comfortable position.

Rikku saw this and grabbed Yuna, lifted her, and sat Yuna back down on her lap, so that Yuna was leaning against Rikku.

Yuna's face turned bright red, "Rikku?"

"If you haven't noticed there isn't as much space in here as I thought there would be, and besides. . ." Rikku blushed and didn't say any more. 'I hope that she doesn't get the idea or any thing.'

Yuna rested her head on Rikku's shoulder and relaxed into Rikku's warm and comforting embrace, "Besides, what?" asked Yuna, a smile creeping on to her face. 'This feels so. . .right. . .'

"Nothing Yunie," said Rikku, once again into Yuna's ear.

Yuna turned and looked at Rikku, "Tell me, Rikku?" asked Yuna, as she gave a small but cute puppy face.

'Awww! Yunie looks so cute!' Thought Rikku as some of her resistance fell when she had seen Yuna's cute face. "It's nothing really. ."

"Come on Rikku," said Yuna, as she made an even cuter face. "I won't laugh or anything, and I won't tell any one."

Rikku finally gave in and sighed, 'Please don't hate me for this Yuna. . .' "It's just that," Rikku began, not looking at Yuna's face. "That this. . ." emphasizing what she meant by hugging Yuna closer. "It just feels so . . right. . ."

Yuna gasped, her eyes widened. 'Does she. . .?'

Rikku didn't look back at Yuna, and gently pushed Yuna off her lap, and made her way out, thinking that Yuna was rejecting her or something along those lines. 'I knew I shouldn't have said it. . .' A salty tear slid down her face, as she was about to reach the entrance of the small cave.

Just then Rikku felt Yuna's arms wrap around her from behind, hugging her. 'Wha-?' thought Rikku, as her back rested against Yuna's chest.

'I can't believe it. . .And Paine knew all along. . .Thanks Paine, for making me realize what was so obvious and yet what I had missed. . .' thought Yuna, as she held Rikku in her arms.

"Y-Yuna?" whispered Rikku, her heart throbbing in her chest.

"Rikku. ." whispered Yuna, her mouth near Rikku's ear. "It does feel right, doesn't it?"

It was Rikku's turn to gasp. 'I can't believe it! Yuna she . .'

Flaming Soul: Hehe. I'm not going to say anything, well except the thank you's for the reviews.

Thorn on a Rose: Thank you. I like that too. Well I do like do that a lot.

Rikku ist die Beste: Thankies! Don't worry, I continued this fic, after all I did update.

Jon: No, you're not the only one reviewing, just look at the list of thank you's for all the reviews I got. This is to YuRi, Jon here says that you got a loyal reviewer if you're going to make an account and post fics. I too will also review, and I'm sure other will as well. Btw, I like leaving cliffies.

Armor King: I'm sorry that it's so confusing. o.O Glad that you like the Rikku and Yunie moments. I had to tell them off, after all I have to find some way of expressing the fact that some people have some really perverse minds. o.O Lol.

AAAyekoms: Woot for Rikku and Yuna goodness! Love if you made a Rikku/Yunie fic!! After all, we need more Rikku/Yunie fics on And I'll be sure to review your Rikku/Yunie fic, that is if you're going to make one. (Which I hope that you do.)

Well that's it for me. I have to get back and do my homework. Be sure to review, and I'll be sure to make the next chapter one to remember. Well laters!