A/N: If I update, it'll be on Mondays.

HMMmm... Be aware, I don't know if I'm going to turn this into a Rikku/Gippal romance by the end. Most likelyit will, but still, I don't know... Perfect endings with perfect couples... it gets tiring, you know?

Cute-Kitty: LOL I don't know whether to be flattered or insulted. It's great to know that I make it seem like I know, but I honestly don't. Ahaha, I just read about it (cough, loser) / because the storyline is so interesting :(. Every time I want to write something for this story I get so freaked out because I'm worried that I'll say something wrong. I get my info from fan sites and fan fiction. That's all. Ahaha, I seriously need help. In actually, I had to do a lot of "researching" to make sure I got Rikku's and Gippal's personalities right (cough, double loser). Writing characters with these hyper and fun personalities is something I've never done before (If you've read my first fic, that one is the closest to my actual writing style). I couldn't write them sad and depressed like I usually write my characters because then that would be inaccurate. Really, I had to read a lot to get my facts straight. Ahha long explanation, I know, but I just feel a bit offended :( LOL

ArikkugippalFan: HOLY. Thanks a lot! Lol. There's one part I'm a bit confused with. When did he tell her he was doing the whole Machine Fraction thing? Wasn't he in the squad stills, like how did he find her to tell her?

Thanks readers! Yay, 20!

PS: Didn't have time to read over this chapter.Wanted to get it out so you guys could read it. Hope you enjoy.

Oh, HEY! (Waves) I haven't seen you for months now, where have you gone?

… Oh, I understand. It's okay; I have those days too.

But now that you're back, oh my, you have so much to catch up on!

Let's start with… Hmmm… I don't know…la de la de la… TODAY!

Guess what I'm thinking!

(Grins) Life is like a big, blue, basket of brilliant, blooming, budding, bunches of the best…

Opps… Oh dear… Hmm… B… B…

Uh, heh… Life is BBBBeautiful!

As beautiful as a newborn baby cuddled in his mother's arms; as beautiful as the thriving nature around us; and as beautiful as the love two people can share…

"Oh damn, that's ugly."

I jumped at the voice, before sinking into a pool of comfort. Oh that voice always gave me weird feelings. Good weird. Sometimes bad weird. And other times just weird weird. But this time, it made me feel tingly, warm. It made me smile.

I waited for him to walk up from behind me and wrap his arms around my giddy self. I leaned back on him and asked,

"What's ugly?"

I could feel a grin curl on his lips. "Your face."

I elbowed him and turned around with narrowed eyes. Pushing him slightly I shouted, "Meanie! Your face isn't that pretty either." I stuck out my tongue and crossed my arms.

He laughed and generally strode over to me. "That's not what you said last night."

Oh… (Giggles) Last night…

… Hmm?

Oh! That's right! You weren't there, you sleepyhead. Don't worry! I saved all the best details for you!

… What?

(Dramatic gasp) NO! (Frowns a big frown) I turned 15 not 22, okay? Seeshhh… I'm starting to like him but I have my pride, you know.

Last night was… sweet.

I was dreaming of adventures, of exploring a deep, dark, dangerous, delightfully dreadful cave. I was looking for something – for someone, I forget who or what though – when suddenly, a monster attacked me from behind, and I rolled back into reality.

That was probably the main reason why I let him wake me up and pull me out of bed. Sitting up yawning I asked him, "Wheree we going now?"

He was wide awake, a hint of playfulness in his eye. "You'll see."

I didn't want to see. I wanted to go back to exploring my dream cave. But Gippal's so-called 'charm' has been getting to me lately, and I've been responding to his flirtatious ways.

Like, totally crrrreeeppy mann.

Anyway, I stumbled over to my drawer and fumbled with the handles. "Just let me (yawn) get (yawn, blinks the sleepiness away) dressed… Whoa, my head is spinning like a propeller…" And I was going to collapse from dizziness too if he hadn't caught me.

Aww, I know, he's great isn't he?

"Hmm… guess I gotta help you then eh?" he replied.

Well, he's not an angel.

I slapped his hand away from my waist. "In your dreams."

He pulled back. "Even in my dreams you say no."

I laughed, my conscious slowly coming back. I leaned against my drawer and smiled at him mischievously. "You dream about me?"

He shrugged. "How could I not?"

I know, I know, you're as baffled as I would have been if I had missed out for months. But you see, things have sorta changed since you've left. You can tell right? I mean look at him! He's making me feel tingly.

You're disgusted with me, I know.

I bit my bottom lip. "Maybe I'll just go in this."

He looked at my attire. Shirt, shorts, what more did one need?

He smirked. "Don't forget your thong."

Okay, so he hasn't changed THAT much.

I pushed him. "Let's just go."

The minute we got outside, my world went black. He blindfolded me.

"HEYY! Gippal! What are you doing?" I waved my arms franticly.

"Whoa there, Cid's Girl. Calm down will ya? Just wanna make it a surprise. No need to get so fussy." He tightened the cloth around my head.

I frowned. "You're not going to lead me somewhere… bad, right?" I asked uneasily. He was always a very sneaky, tricky person.

"Rikku," he said in a tone of disbelief. "Trust me a bit will ya?"

And I did. Because, even though he has done lots of rotten things in the past, one thing you can be sure of is that he's very protective over the people he cares about. And well, he cares about me… you think? Well he has to; I'm Cid's daughter.

And then he began pushing me; left, right, forward, backward, and around and around until I lost my sense of direction altogether. After what felt like an era of darkness, he slid the blindfold off and exclaimed,

"Ta da!"

I think I was supposed to be amazed.

But I couldn't. It looked the same as if he hadn't taken off my blindfold. It was dark in every direction I turned – muddy, mucky, murky black like a puddle of oil. I couldn't even see my hand in front of my face. I whirled my arms around frantically. "Gippal? Gippal, where are you?"

Silence.

I began to whine like a child. "Gippal? This is so not funny you know! Where are we? Where are you?"

Silence.

I stomped my foot on the ground. "GRRrr! Gippal! Show yourself right now!"

Two arms suddenly fastened around me and I felt his cheek graze mine. "Or whatcha goin' to do about it, Cid's Girl?"

Ou, I could spit on him! Did he always have to rub it in my face that he was stronger? "I would – I would… I wouldn't talk to you."

Oh, shut up. There's only so many things a girl my age and size can do to someone with his cocky attitude and muscles, alright?

"Of course you would," he challenged.

"No I wouldn't." It was a good thing he couldn't see my chili-red face.

"We'll just see about that," he replied, and then suddenly slipped away from my grasp.

I panicked. "Gippal! Gippaaaaaaal!"

"Thought you said you wouldn't talk to me," he said from behind.

I reached out for him and for once, hugged him like he was a god. "I wasn't talking to you. I was yelling at you, jackass."

Didn't mean I had to treat him like a god.

"Jackass? Tch, Cid's Little Girl shouldn't be using such naughty language."

I banged my head against his chest in annoyance. "Can you just tell me why did you bring me into this endless pit of darkness?"

He let out a sigh of amusement. "Thought you liked these places." He began to walk, and I followed him, gripping on to his arm tightly.

"Why would I like to be here? I can just close my eyes if I wanted to see nothing."

Suddenly, he yanked me from the side and held me protectively. I heard rocks tumbling around. "Watch out, you could've died."

"Huh?"

"You almost walked into an opening that goes down a couple hundred meters deep," he told me.

I raised my eyebrow, like he could see. "H-How do know?"

We began to walk again. "I know this place backwards and forwards."

"So… where are we?"

"Umm… I'll let you guess," he told me teasingly.

I placed a hand on my hip in frustration. "Fine. Let's see. It's dark. There are invisible holes all around. There's rocks. Uhhh… Hmmm…Hey, are we in-" A dim moonlight ray appeared in the corner of my eye. I turned and noticed it came from the ceiling, and revealed… stalagmites? "-a cave?" I turned to him for conformation. The dim moonlight softly outlined his face in a ghostly blue. "Wow, you're hot…"

AHHHHH! Oh my goodness! WHAT did I just say! What evil soul has possessed me into muttering such horrible lies!

He starred at me, baffled for a second and then turned away. Was he blushing?

Rikku, jump off the moon, die right now.

I quickly regained my cool. "Gippal, a cave? Why?"

"Not just any cave, Cid's Girl." He looked up.

I didn't get it until suddenly, my veins exploded with excitement. "The Forbidden Caves! Gippal? We're IN The Forbidden Caves!"

He shrugged his shoulders like it was nothing.

HELLO! My father would make me dig a hole to the ocean floor if he found me here! No Al Bhed is allowed here unless they've got some special permission and a whole rescue team trailing after them.

I shook him intensely. "This so cool!" I exclaimed, and I noticed how my voice echoed throughout the cave. "Why – why - what are we going to do here?"

He draped an arm over my shoulders and began walking towards the light. "I wanna show you something."

"What? What?" I sounded so desperate.

He laughed. "Chill, Rikku."

I couldn't, I was too ecstatically happy. It was only a few hours ago that I had dreamed of being in here.

AH HAH! Proof; dreams do come true.

Suddenly, WHOOSH, he swept me off my feet and held me tight.

"I know this place better than you," he explained. "Don't want you getting hurt."

Awe!

I looked up at him. I felt warm. "Really?" I whispered.

"Yeah. I wouldn't have anyone to pick on anymore."

Psh…

I stuck a fist into his shoulder. "How sweet."

Eventually we reached the stray strand of shadowy silver light and he made me walk again. We climbed down a small cliff until we landed in an open flat area.

I looked around to see if I could make out anything in the dark.

"Am I supposed to see something?"

He grabbed my arm and dragged me with him.

"I've been working on it for a few months now," he said as we walked.

"Working on what?"

He stopped suddenly and focused his eyes straight ahead. I followed his gaze and noticed an opening that lead outside. "Aww, we're leaving already?"

He didn't answer me and instead latched his hands over mine and pulled me along with him.

I was frowning like an ugly upside down umbrella. I didn't want to go. I wanted to continue exploring in the cave. It felt so rebellious, so dangerous, and so totally wickedly cool! And I'd probably never be able to go back unless Gippal took me. It felt so mysterious in there, like every step could be your last. It was so dark, as if something was going to pop out of the ground and swallow you whole. Outside it was just… sand… wind… Whoopdie-do… I decided to voice my opinion.

"Gippal, you suck."

He didn't hear me. He released my hand and jogged up the hill of sand.

I clambered after him, groaning all the way. "I'd rather be asleep. I'd rather be cleaning my room. I'd rather be dead in the stupid cave instead of out- (Gasps) Whoa…"

I knew he was smirking but I didn't care. What I saw in front of me was enough humiliation for doubting him. But I was confused. "A ship?"

"Found it a few months ago." He began to walk down the slope to the rusted machine below. "Someone abandoned it. It doesn't work anymore, but you watch…" He patted the metal covering lightly. "…One day, this'll be my ship, and I'll make it fly the fastest for all to envy."

I had followed him and examined the machine's structure. It looked in fair condition; a few broken windows, missing bolts, pieces scattered about and rusted metal. I ran my hand over it, trying to picture how it'd look when he finishs it. "Does anyone else know?"

He shook his head and climbed to the roof of the ship. "I don't think so. I've been working on it for a while now and nobody's been here. The only way I know how to get here is through the caves. It's too far from home for anyone to care I guess." He extended his arm towards me. "Get up."

I took it and pulled myself up and onto the top of the ship. He lied down and motioned for me to lie down next to him. "So, why'd you bring me out here for?"

"Wanted you to be the first to see it," he replied.

I smiled. "Why me?"

"'Cause you're gonna be the first person I take on this ship when it's finished."

"Really?" I asked excitedly. "Oh, thanks Gippal!" I hugged him softly.

"Yeah, you can be like, my servant. Captains need a lot of cleaning and stuff to be done while they're busy flying."

I pulled away and glared at him. "Gee, thanks."

He chuckled lightly. "And maybe, just maybe; if you be good, I'll let you fly it one day." He inattentively slipped his arm around me, and pushed me so that I'd leaned my head against his chest.

And we stayed like that for awhile, just staring at the stars in the sky and the moon looking down at us. Everything felt very calm and surreal, you know? Sorting through the ideas he had thrown into my head of his fantastic future flying career and me by his side, it made me realize that maybe being with a guy like him years from now, wouldn't be so bad…

Yeah, last night was… sweet.

Didn't I say life is just bbbbbeautiful?

"Rikku?"

Oh hey, look, we're back here again. Ouch, all that time in the dark cave has made my eyes sensitive. Ahh, evil sun!

He cocked his head to one side and ran his fingers through my hair. "Hey, you alright?"

I nodded slowly, savoring his touch. Oh, infatuations…

"I know eh?"

Uh… Did I say that out loud?

Before I could react, he tackled me to the ground with a thud and knowing I wasn't going to protest, pressed his anxious lips on mine.

Spira, life was good…

"GIPPAL!"

…sometimes.

He instantly got off of me and I grabbed on to his outstretched hand to pull myself up. Leave it to Brother to ruin anything and everything.

We began to run. "How does he always find us?"

Gippal shrugged his shoulders. "I don't really care."

"GIPPAL! GET AWAY FROM MY SISTER!"

I glanced over my shoulder and my eyes grew wide in fear. Brother was holding something awfully big and heavy and potentially dangerous for the head if thrown. I gulped.

Gippal didn't hesitate.

Suddenly I was swept off my feet and hanging onto his neck as he raced across the desert sand with Brother trailing behind yelling in rage.

My hero just smirked and shouted back. "Gotta catch me first!"

And not long after, we finally lost him with in the crowd of people walking along the streets. Immediately, Gippal held me close, and I felt like a medallion around his neck that he wanted to show off to the world.

Girl's gotta have her glory.

We walked aimlessly around the city like that for awhile, receiving various looks from people passing by. Some were shocked, some were awed, and some didn't really care at the sight of seeing us two together.

I didn't need them to care. I only needed one person to care for me, and his care was all that I wanted.

Oh my gosh, look at what he's done to me.

Suddenly, a female voice exclaimed, "Whoaaa."

We stopped abruptly and I nearly tripped right into her. Tsk, she didn't know her manners! Looking up at her, I realized she was one of Gippal's friends. Behind her, a couple more guys and girls.

I scanned the female faces.

Half of them have already been in my position: head over heels for this arrogant and amiable and an absolutely amazingly awful adolescence and altogether absurdly attractive and also an ass kind of guy. Sighh, what can I say? He's persuasive.

"Are you two like… going out or something?" the girl asked Gippal. Her voice sounded like someone stuck siren down her throat.

He simply responded to her with a shrug of his shoulder.

Cool. Very cool.

"Fo real?" a guy said. He rolled his eyes.

I straightened myself. Hey! He made that sound as if it were an insult. Meanie. Hope the Boogie Man eats him tonight.

Gippal shrugged his shoulder again. "She's a friend."

That's right, you tell them Gippal!

"Oh," went Siren Girl again. "That's…" She eyed me up and down as if I were a machina on display. "…nice…"

Oh, that was SO not nice.

She looked at me. "You're Cid's little girl, aren't ya?"

"Rikku," I replied through gritted teeth.

A wave of whispers grew throughout the group. Gippal's grip on me was lessening.

Siren Girl gave a tiny smile. "Oh, Rikku. Right." She glanced at Gippal and then back at me. She held out her hand. "Name's Khlana."

OKAY, did you notice it yet? Yes? No?

… Oh, THANK YOU! Me too! I saw it the minute she opened her mouth. It's a girl's thing, you know. A girl can always tell if another girl is a bitch.

It's like a seventh sense.

The sixth one being fashion sense.

Anyway, I did what any girl in my position would do: I gave Krlana The Bitch's Glare.

Yes ladies, you know what I mean. That hidden radar thingy you get in you eyes and just shoot it towards the dog. The left side of your lips become curled upwards exactly 12 degrees and your head is cocked slightly on the right side of your neck. Your hip moves to one side and you balance all your weight on one leg. Gents, I present to you, The Bitch's Glare.

"Nice to meet you," I responded sweetly.

Thanks for reading. Please Review.