I don't really have any author's notes for this chapter, sorry! However, this story is completely written now...(it only took me five days!) so it will be posted chapter by chapter...there are only 12 chapters, so it's short compared to the two other chapter fics I have written. However, it is my favorite out of everything I have written...so yay! I am also in the process of writing a Final Fantasy VI fic about the relationship of Locke and Rachel. (Locke Cole is my favorite Final Fantasy character by the way! swoon) Hopefully that one will be up soon as well. Okay, I guess I did have a few things to say...hee hee...Happy reading!
3. The Crazy Al Bhed
"So what was that all about?" Yuna asked as Rikku entered the hotel room Yuna and Tidus were sharing. "I thought things were going well with the two of you. I wasn't exactly foreseeing any trouble in paradise."
"Well, we broke up like a week ago, and ever since, he's been getting really strange." Rikku scrunched her nose as she continued to think of what she overheard Nehl say. Why did he say that I was looking for Gippal? I wouldn't look for him…I want to give him space and time to heal…because I know that's what I need right now…
"You guys…broke up?" Yuna said as she gave a worried glance toward Tidus. Tidus obviously didn't have the slightest idea of what the look was for so he shrugged his shoulders.
"Yeah. I told him how I missed being the independent woman that I was when we were all part of the Gullwings. I don't like being tied down. It's not for me." Yuna sat down on the bed, holding her stomach the entire way down. "You okay, Yunie?"
"I'm fine," she said as she sighed. "It's just that, Gippal called me about a week ago and asked me for some recipes and stuff. He had a really romantic night planned out for the two of you."
"Oh no," Rikku said as a pit started to form in her stomach. The pieces were all starting to fall into place, and she didn't like what the picture was forming. "That's what his surprise was. That's why he was so pushy about me going over to his house. Th…That's why he told me to get all dressed up."
"I'm sure he's okay now, Rikku, it was only dinner," she added, not bringing up the ring. She wasn't sure if Rikku knew about it, so she didn't want to be the bearer of more bad news.
"I hope so," Rikku said as she started to play with the end of one of her braids that hung around her face. She cleared her throat to dry the tears that were forming in her eyes and decided to start a new topic. The Gippal one still was an open wound that stung when salt was applied, so it was her plan to avoid it at all costs. "So, uh, do you know when everyone else will be arriving?"
"Lulu and Wakka said that they were going to leave sometime today and I haven't heard from Nooj or Baralai," Tidus said as he lifted a large suitcase onto the bed to unpack it. "Sweet Zaon, Yuna! What did you pack?"
"Just some necessities, dear," Yuna replied as Tidus moaned. "It's not that much."
"I'm just going to check if you packed the entire village of Besaid in here somewhere," he stated as he started to sift through the suitcase. Yuna playfully scoffed and threw a pillow at him. "Nope. I just had to check. However, there are still about another three suitcases here. We're here for three days, Yuna. You didn't need to bring half the island with you."
"Very funny, Tidus," Yuna grabbed another pillow that was next to her and tried to prop herself up.
"Here, let me help you." Rikku watched in admiration as Tidus grabbed the pillow that Yuna threw at him off the floor and lovingly helped her get comfortable. Although, I'm not sure how anyone could get comfortable with that huge baby tummy sticking out! He kissed her gently on the forehead and squeezed her hand, making Rikku miss being in a relationship. No! No no no! I'm an independent woman now! I don't need a guy to hang on to! "Better?"
"Yeah, thanks," Yuna stuck her tongue out as she shifted her weight again. "I want this thing out of me!"
"Give her time, Yunie," Rikku said as she walked over to her pregnant cousin. Yuna let out a giggle at Rikku because, again, she insisted that the baby was a girl. "However, I agree. I want her out too so I can play with her!"
Rikku had to admit that it was rather odd to see Yuna in maternity wear and not revealing clothing. When they were both in the Gullwings, they had their share of clothing with short skirts and shorts along with shirts with plunging necklines. Rikku wasn't complaining though, she felt it easier to move around in her thief outfit than anything else that she owned. Not to mention that it was able to catch Gippal's attention, so that was a plus at that point in time. I guess that's just proof that she grew up and I'm still just a kid…
"Well, I'll let you guys unpack," Rikku said as she stretched, reaching her fingers out as far as they could go. "I'm gonna go shopping or see if anyone else arrived yet."
"Are we not entertaining enough for you, Rikku?" Tidus asked as he feigned sadness and pouted. "Gosh, I see how it is."
"Aw, you know I love you guys," she said as she hugged Tidus again. "I'm just antsy and I want to see what's going on in this town. I haven't been here in a while."
"Okay, you have fun," Yuna said as she rested her hands on her stomach. "Don't spend too much of Uncle Cid's money."
"Well, he entrusted me with his Standard Spira Gil card, so I'll try to behave myself." Rikku flashed them an exaggerated smile as she opened the door.
"Have fun," Tidus said as Rikku shut the door behind her. "All right, I guess I better finish unpacking."
"Honey, I would love to help," Yuna started as Tidus smiled at her. He knelt next to the bed she was reclining in, grabbed her hand, and gently brushed her lips with his own.
"Nah, don't worry about it," he said as he looked her in the eyes. "Besides, you can pay me back eventually."
"Hey, part of this is your fault," she teased as she pointed to her stomach. "However, I am the one carrying it, so I think our debt is even."
"All right, I'll accept that," Tidus said with a chuckle as he kissed her again. "Back to unpacking."
"Yay, I'll observe." He had to laugh at the girlish grin on her face as he walked back over to the pile of suitcases.
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"Oh, good old Luca," Baralai said as he and Paine stepped off the dock where their boat stopped. "It's been quite a while since I've been here."
"Yeah, I guess," Paine said dryly as she looked around. "It still looks the same though."
"Not much changes in this world," Baralai replied as he placed his arm around Paine. "I think Gippal said that he would be here early, so let's go have a look around. He shouldn't be too hard to find—the boy seems to stand out in the crowd."
"Well, he doesn't really stand out, but his girlfriend sure does," Paine said as she noticed a very familiar blob of blonde bouncing through the crowd. "See what I mean? I could point out that bounce anywhere."
"Let's go see if she knows where Gippal is." Baralai and Paine made their way over to Rikku, who was frantically walking up to people and asking them things that resulted in her receiving bewildered looks. She pouted in defeat as she sat down on one of the benches.
"Hey, Rikku," Paine said as they reached Rikku. She looked up and smiled.
"Hi!" She blinked several times and stood up. "You're…" After a few seconds of her looking determined, she focused on them again and smiled. "Baralai and Paine!"
"Y..Yes, Rikku, we know that." Baralai said as he and Paine exchanged a confuse glance. "Are you okay?"
"I'm looking for Gippal. He seems to have run away from me." Paine rolled her eyes at the dependency that Rikku had on Gippal and gave Baralai a look. "He thought he could leave without me following him, but he thought wrong. So here I am! Have you seen him?"
"You deal with this insanity. I can't handle it," Paine whispered to Baralai. He simply chuckled and faced Rikku again.
"Well, we're looking for him too, so if you want to come with us, you can." Rikku started to nod her head at Baralai in response to his statement and Paine thought that her head was going to fall right off. "Okay, where do you think we should start?"
"I'm going to go find Gippal, bye!"
"Wait, what?" The two of them watched Rikku disappear into the crowd again and they couldn't help but sigh. "Well, that goes against my statement where I said not much changes in Spira, because she definitely has…changed."
"And to think that I thought I had it bad when she was in the Gullwings. I don't think I could've tolerated her like this for longer than five minutes," Paine said as she rubbed her temple with her forefinger. "I know this sounds scary, but I actually think that Yuna had a sane influence on her."
"Well, she was just looking for Gippal, that's all," Baralai said with a shrug. Paine sighed and he placed a kiss on her cheek. "Come on, let's go see if we can find him and tell him that—"
"Baralai! Dr. P!" They whipped their heads over to where the voice was coming from.
"Well, well, well, speak of the devil," Paine said as Gippal ran over to them.
"Hi, Gippal," Baralai started as Gippal gave him a huge hug. "Nice to see ya too, man."
"So, Gippal, we just saw your overly dependent girlfriend," Paine announced matter-of-factly and Gippal whipped his head toward her.
"You…You did? Where?" Both Baralai and Paine pointed in the direction of where she happily walked off to, and Gippal gasped. He grabbed onto Paine's shoulders, causing Paine to grimace at him. "How was she?"
"The same Rikku, only more spastic," Paine admitted as she pushed his arms off of her shoulders. "She kinda reminded me of how you are right now, now that I think about it."
"What was she wearing?" He asked, ignoring Paine's sarcastic remark.
"The same skanky things that girl has been wearing for the last two years."
"Was her hair down or up?" He asked, Paine crossing her arms.
"Gippal, the next time she talks to me, I'll get my sphere recorder out to save myself from the game of 20 questions." Gippal sighed and Paine continued. "I've been great, thanks for asking. You've been great as well? Well, isn't that nice."
"Sorry," Gippal apologized as he nervously looked out toward the crowded streets. "I just…remembered that I need to give her something. So I will catch up with you later okay? I promise!"
"Okay!" Baralai shouted after Gippal, who was sprinting back into town.
"I don't get it," Paine started as she and Baralai started to walk to their hotel. "What is going on in Bikanel that's making all the Al Bhed go crazy? Well, crazier than usual anyway."
"Um, a sand storm brought in a new crazy disease?" Baralai joked as Paine cracked a smile. "I really have no idea."
"Come on," Paine said with a slight smile. "Let's go see if we can actually find some sanity in this town."