Disclaimer: I do not own FFX-2!

"…" character's speech

'…' character's thoughts

(…) my rambling

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Enjoy your reading...

Chapter 3

Gippal put on his heavy black boots before picking up his gloves and heading out of the house. He squinted his emerald swirly eye from the sun, and smiled to that bright day. The sky was clear blue and the wind was low, a perfect day for digging. With a satisfied sigh, Gippal headed toward the camp where he would pick up a hover and find himself a nice place to dig around.

Greeting some of the Al Bhed friends in his way, Gippal was caught by surprise when he felt a soft hand grab his own hand. He quickly then gazed up to see who the person was. There Gippal saw, the most beautiful face he had ever seen, greeting him with a wide smile.

"Come on. Follow me." Rikku whispered softly.

Not allowing Gippal to ask any questions, Rikku began to run forward as she pulled him along, compelling him to follow her behind. Confused by her actions, Gippal decided to ask his questions later. He then picked up speed as he ran, looking around his surrounding, trying to figure out where they might be heading to, but he had no clue. Rikku suddenly turned a corner while coming to a stop, and there they found themselves in a alleyway, away from the public view.

Gippal found himself being pushed against the wall, as Rikku leaned forward. Their attached hands were being brought up into view, as Rikku intertwined her fingers with his. She smiled in mischief toward him as she gazed into his emerald eye. Not understanding a single thing, Gippal found himself lost in the situation, but he wasn't complaining. He was actually enjoying it.

What came next surprised him to the extreme. With a wink Rikku leaned closer and pressed her lips against his. So soft and so sweet, that Gippal couldn't help but to circle his arm around her waist and push her even closer. His heart urged for more, as his lips urged Rikku to open her mouth and let his tongue taste her essence.

She softly smiled against his lips as she allowed him to explore her once again. It had been years since he had last had her in his arms, and how much did he miss her! This was driving him insane. Gippal couldn't get enough of her, as he slowly turned around and switched position with Rikku. He now pinned her against the wall as their lips broke apart for air. Gippal then slowly traveled his kisses down her lips toward her neck. Rikku moaned to that sensation, driving Gippal even more crazy.

"Gippal." She whispered, calling his attention.

He gazed up and stared into those innocent eyes and realized that he should stop. Someone might see them, and the last thing Gippal wanted was to get himself into trouble. Forcing himself to push away, Gippal leaned against the opposite wall to gaze at Rikku. She was such a beauty in her thief clothes, with her hair disheveled, and her lips swollen.

"You really must have missed me Gippal." Rikku spoke with a bright smile, and slowly approached him.

Gippal smirked. "What can I say Cid's girl, we haven't kissed like that in years."

Rikku laughed. "Years? What are you talking about? It was just yesterday that we become a couple."

Gippal gazed at her and saw her emerald eyes glow with a certain light. He really did miss her. With his fingers, Gippal began to stroke her soft checks and smiled. So Rikku was back in the time when they were only 14 years old. It was in this time when he first started to pay much more attention to Rikku, and things never went back in being the same.

"It's because I'm crazy about you Cid's girl." Gippal whispered.

Rikku's smile widened while she softly planted a kiss upon his lips. She then pushed away, not giving him time to deepen the kiss for that left him craving for more. Grabbing his hand, Rikku pulled him away from the alleyway, and led them toward another place.

...............................................o.............................................

"POP!!!" Yelled Brother as he burst through the door and ran into the house frantically.

"What is it boy!?! Do you want to kill me with your cries?" Cid asked annoyed at his son, who had interrupted him in the middle of the work.

"Pop, hear me!" Brother started, while trying to catch his breath from the long run. "I saw Rikku and, urgh, Gippal running together!"

"Is that so." Cid spoke thoughtfully as he took a seat onto the chair.

"You must do something!" Brother emphasized with a cry. "Rikku is in big danger!!!!!!!"

"Stop yelling boy or I'll break your neck!" Cid warned.

Brother quickly shut up. Hesitating he continued. "What must we do?" Brother spoke in a lowered voice. "Do I go and beat Gippal up?"

"No. Leave your sister alone. It is her choice and we must not interrupt." Cid concluded, as he got up from his seat to continue the work he had started on the machina.

"But Pop!" Brother tried to reason.

"No more buts." Cid warned with a glare which shut Brother up. "Don't worry boy. I am sure that useless Gippal knows what he is doing. He knows what the consequences will be if he hurts my little girl. He knows."

.....................................o.......................................

Gippal sat comfortably under the single palm tree that stood alone in the oasis. While he leaned back onto the tree trunk, his arms circled around Rikku's waist. She was sitting in between his open legs while leaning herself back against Gippals' strong chest. Both of them sat there smiling contently. Everything was so peaceful and comfortable that they sat there silently, enjoying each others presence.

"I could stay here forever, ya know." Rikku whispered as she turned her head aside and gazed up toward Gippal.

He looked down at her and smiled. He couldn't agree more. Gippal then planted a kiss upon her nose and Rikku understood what he felt. She was glad that he was here with her.

"We only just become a couple Gippal, but things are really great between us."

"Yeah, you're right Cid's girl. We have been through a lot together." Gippal spoke thoughtfully, as he recalled not only of their childhood memories, but as well as recent events that occurred, such as the Vegnagun war.

"Gippal." Rikku started as she suddenly pushed away from his arms and turned to face him.

Gippal worried that something might be wrong, gazed at her attentively. Rikku sat there with her legs crossed, while she faced him with a serious expression upon her face. She took his free hand with her own hand, and laced their fingers together. With a smile she leaned forward to whisper into his ears.

"I love you."

Gippal's eye widened in extreme surprise. When did this happen? Gippal did not recall this event in his past memories. Actually, this never occurred! Rikku pushing back gazed at his shocked eye, and waited with a smile that graced her beautiful face. Gippal didn't want to hurt her feelings, but yet he had to be true with himself. What did he really feel?

Gippal suddenly realized that his relationship with Rikku was different from any other relationship he had ever had. Rikku was different. Everything they did or say were different. He enjoyed her to the extreme, and no one else made his heart go crazy as Rikku did to his. She drove him insane, he craved for her sweet kisses, and he adored her beautiful smile. Rikku had been countless times with him whenever he needed her. This girl was all he cared for and just now Gippal's past feelings were brought back to the surface because of her simple words that never were spoken before.

With a genuine smile, Gippal brought her fingers toward his mouth and kissed it tenderly. "I love you too Cid's girl." He replied back truthfully.

Rikku's smile widened as she launched forward to hug him tightly. Gippal laughed and hugged her back into his warm arms. Pushing away, Rikku returned to her original position, as she turned to lean back onto Gippal's chest. He then circled his arms around her waist and held her possessively.

"You make me happy, ya know." Rikku spoke gleefully, as she caressed his arm with her thumb.

Gippal smiled and kissed her head. "Lets make a promise Cid's girl."

Surprised, she looked up to gaze at his eye and saw a glimpse of fear. Gippal knew that this was only a one day event, soon Rikku would forget this moment and move toward another age. Even though Rikku would forget everything, Gippal would still remember and he would hold this memory dearly into his heart. He couldn't bare to see her move away, not when she confessed her feelings to him. Gippal at least wanted to try to make her recall this event, even if it was only for a glimpse.

"What promise?" Rikku asked curiously.

Gippal took one of the leaves from the palm tree that had fallen onto the ground. Taking the leaf, he intertwined the plant, making it stronger. He then tied the two ends with one another and formed a ring. Gippal slowly took Rikku's hand and inserted the ring onto her finger.

"Promise, Cid's girl, that you won't forget me." Gippal whispered softly as he watched her tenderly.

"What are you talking about Gippal? I will never forget you. You're finally mine." Rikku spoke with a smile.

"Just promise me." Gippal softly urged.

"Alright then. I promise." Rikku replied, as she sealed the promise with a soft kiss.

"Luv ya Cid's girl." Gippal spoke with smirk which made Rikku laugh.

Gippal satisfied, leaned back onto the tree trunk and circled his arms once again around Rikku's waist. He then wondered.

"Hey Cid's girl, what made you say 'I love you' in the first place?" Gippal asked curiously.

Rikku smiled.

"It was the way you passionately kissed me back in the alleyway. Your kiss told me what you felt. I will never forget that, ya know."

Thank you for all the review sand all the support you readers have been giving me!!! Sorry for the delay but at least this is a long chapter, right? Update will be posted up soon!! My exams are finally over, yeah!!!! Now I'm in vacation, and I can concentrate on finishing this fic, but I may be interrupted if I go traveling! So pray that I can finish this fic before that happens!!! Well thanx for everything!! Oh, and HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL OF YOU!!!!! PLZ leave me a review as a Christmas gift for me, I'll appreciate it :)

Well cya and thanx again!