A/N-Wee! So many reviews! Thanks, you guys! You don't know how much it means to me! And to those who are hopeless romantics/sappiness lovers, wait no more! This chapter will include a little romance in it, but not so much that it turns the fic totally lame, if you get my drift. Onward with the story! *points forward with her imaginary stick*
♥Every Heart♥
Chapter Seven: Weathering the Storm
Just as I had suspected! A storm really was coming! I hated storms with a passion. When it came to fighting Sin and Vegnagun, no sweat! But when a storm came upon me, I turned into a little scaredy cat! I guess it's the big booms the thunder makes that really irks me. Looking up into the gray clouds once more, I pulled back the curtains in my room and sat on my bed, hoping that the thunderstorm would pass.
Voices echoed throughout the temple as people entered, mumbling and groaning now that they weren't making any money at the moment. I heard Shinra's voice saying something about shockproof shields for his CommSpheres as the kid passed by my room. Giggling, I curled up into a ball. I looked up as a knock on the door sounded. Yunie entered the room, holding two hot plates of something in her hands.
"Hey, Rikku! I know that you're scared of storms, so I thought that I'd provide some company for you." She walked inside and closed the door with the heel of her left foot, sitting across from me on the bed. She handed me one of the plates and I accepted the offering, taking a fork and poking at my dinner.
"Tidus sleeping?" I asked dryly, taking a bite of what I assumed was meat loaf. I smirked as Yunie blushed, scratching her head sheepishly.
"Well, yeah. He was really tired today so he went to bed early."
"Oh? And does he have a reason to be tired?" I wiggled my eyebrows and laughed when Yuna hid her face in her hands, embarrassed. "I'm just teasing, Yunie!" The ex-summoner looked up and smiled at me, her cheeks still pink.
"Well what about you and Gippel? Anything new?" Now it was
my turn to turn red. I looked down, suddenly very interested in my meat loaf.
"O-of course not!" I stuttered, quickly eating the mashed potatoes, and feeling like a complete idiot. Yuna smiled knowingly at me, taking a bite of her carrot and winking. I rolled my eyes and finished my meal, climbing off of the bed and heading towards the closet. "It's starting to get cold-" as if on cue, rain started to splatter hard against the windowpane and I jumped, opening the closet door, "-so I'm going to change. Do you have a jacket I could borrow?"
"Yeah. Let me go get it." I heard Yunie climb off of the bed and close the door quietly. Releasing a sigh of relief, I changed into jeans and a red tank top, pulling my long hair into a ponytail. I took off the beads and clipped my hair with barrettes shaped like an 'X', which were the Al Bhed trademark accessories. Walking out of the room, I sat down on the bed once more, setting our finished plates on my nightstand. The silence started getting to me, so I contemplated my feelings for Gippel.
Sure, I liked him when we were dating all those years ago, and I still liked him. But did I like him like him, or did I just like him as friends? Did he even think of me that way? Did I want to marry him? I growled in frustration. There was the question again. Being alone in a quiet room could really get one thinking. I hated thinking too much.
Thankfully, to keep me from turning insane, Yunie reentered the room, holding a brown suede jacket. I gratefully accepted the offering and slipped it on enjoying the warmth it gave me.
"Thanks, Yunie!" Lightning flashed outside and I stifled a yelp. Deciding to distract myself from the scary storm, I faced Yunie. "So, how are things going with you and Tidus?"
"Um…well, we're just trying to figure things out, I guess. I've been telling him what's been going on since he disappeared, and we've been talking about our relationship and um, marriage." She whispered the last part, turning bright red. I couldn't help it. I squealed excitedly and rushed over to Yunie, embracing her tightly.
"Wow! This is so great! But don't you think this is kind of sudden?! Oh, who am I kidding! This is great!" Yunie laughed as I continued ramble on and on. "When are you guys getting married? And I am the maid of honor, right?"
"Well, we're still not sure when we want to get married, and of course you are the maid of honor!" I laughed happily, tears of ecstasy streaming down my face.
"I'm so happy for you guys! Hey, I have an idea! Why don't you get married when Gippel and I do? It can be a double wedding!" Yunie gasped, her eyes wide.
"So you've already agreed to marry him? Rikku, this is great!" My eyes widened and I fell silent. Did I just say that?
"I didn't mean that! I…I'm still not sure." I backed away, leaning against the wall. I hugged my knees to my chest and sighed deeply. "I just don't know what to think. It's so sudden, and I don't even know how I truly feel about this. And I haven't even talked with Gippel to decide when or IF we're getting married." The bed moved and Yunie was next to me, embracing me.
"Hey, it's ok. Gippel's a good guy, and I know he wouldn't do anything to hurt you…on purpose. And you know that I'm always here to help my favorite cousin."
"I guess I shouldn't tell that to Brother."
"Haha. Yeah, he kinda creeps me out. Sometimes I think I'm the only one who thinks he's a little obsessed with me."
"Don't worry, Paine and I have thought that too." We suddenly heard a groaning cry of anguish outside the room that sounded suspiciously like Brother's before a panicked squeak sounded and someone trotted off. Yunie and I exchanged a roll of our eyes, giggling.
"Thanks." I felt a little better. Yunie yawned quietly, covering her mouth politely.
"Well, I'm gonna turn in for the night. 'Night, Rikku." Picking up the empty plates, she stumbled out of the room, tripping over stuff that I had lain all over the floor.
"Good night, Yunie." I turned away from the door and walked over to the window, looking out. The storm had definitely decided to grow stronger during our heart-to-heart. This time, I didn't squelch a scream as a huge bolt of lightning cracked against the ground right in front of the temple. My scream rang throughout the temple, high and shrill, but I didn't care if I had woken anyone up. I was frightened, ok?! So what if I had stayed a week in the Thunder Plains and braved it out?! My oldest fears always came back to haunt me, even if I thought I had conquered them. I jumped under the haven of my comforters and curled into a shivering ball, whimpering. After a few seconds had passed, the thunder ensued, shaking the temple. The lights in my room flickered for a second and then blacked out.
I went rigid. Like stone rigid. Believe it or not, I am afraid of the dark! It's all those superstitions and ghost stories that Paine used to tell during our journey to find Tidus. My whimpering got louder and I squeezed my eyes shut, waiting for the cold hand of a dead man to strangle me, or to see cat eyes staring back at me, whatever! The rain continued to pound against the beaten ground outside as I waited for the worst. I tensed as I heard the creaking of a door.
Oh my Yevon!!! Is that my door?! I'm a goner! Wahh! Footsteps echoed gently and ominously in my room. The footsteps stopped right in front of my now shaking form. Silence stretched on for a minute or so.
"Boo."
"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH—hey, what?!" I ripped off the comforters, still shaking, and eyed my intruder. Well, what do ya know? "Gippel! That was mean!!!" I punched him on the shoulders as he laughed hysterically. I pouted, sitting back on the bed and crossing my arms.
"What are you doing here anyway?" Gippel smirked down at me.
"Well, I know how you're scared of storms, and Yuna told me that you'd like my company." I turned red. How many times have I turned red?! Yunie was gonna get it tomorrow! I scowled for a second, but that was quickly replaced with a panicked expression as a huge boom of thunder sent the temple trembling violently. I yelped again and grabbed the comforters as a blanket to hug, but laughed when I saw Gippel losing his balance and falling down. He hit the ground face first, two hands on the edge of my bed to sort of soften his fall. He hoisted himself up, laying down across from me and groaning. I giggled.
"That's what you get for being such a big meanie!" He playfully scowled back at me. We stayed in a comfortable silence for about a few minutes until I decided to speak up. "You know, now that you're here, I'd like a few answers."
"Oh? What about?" He propped up his elbows, attention focused on me. I shifted uncomfortably, and took a deep breath. How should I word this? I started playing with my hair, a habit I had when I started to get nervous.
"Um…"
"Hey, there's a start."
"Shhh!! I'm trying to think here!" Seconds passed and Gippel rolled his eye, sighing impatiently.
"Yho tyo huf." I scowled, and took another deep breath.
"Ok, I just want to ask you about this whole marriage thing." Gippel sat up, looking serious. "Well, I just want to know exactly when you're thinking of getting…um…you know." I looked anywhere but him, feeling awkward.
"Hey, Rikku, don't sweat it. I told Cid that we're getting married—"I shifted,"—when we're both ready. For now, I just want you to be comfortable around me, just like old times." He smirked and I smiled back, nodding.
"Dryhgc." Another round of thunder decided to come around and I yelped again, hugging the nearest thing. Which so happened to be Gippel. Who would've thought? I continued to squeeze him tightly, whimpering in fright. I buried my face in his chest as he chuckled deeply, his throaty laugh making me smile.
"It's not funny!" My futile attempt to defend myself only made him laugh harder. I hugged him tightly. His laughing dissolved as he started to suffocate from my frightened grasp.
"O-ok! It's not funny! Geez! Let go of me--!!" I giggled evilly as my dear fiancé gasped for air. Deciding that he had had enough, I backed off and grinned up at him.
After he had regained control of breathing, he playfully glared at me. In a blink of an eye, he was tickling my tummy as I giggled insanely, begging him to stop in an otiose attempt. I felt like my lungs would burst from lack of oxygen. Gasping, I kicked him away from me, breathing in deeply.
"Ow. Hey, that hurt," he feigned a hurt expression, rubbing his wounded chest. I stuck my tongue out at him, smiling. The rain continued to patter outside, the sound now comforting and light.
"The rain's stopping," I whispered, smiling.
"So it is." The lights flickered back on, shining brightly on my eyes. I squinted, groaning at the sudden impact. I looked over at Gippel, who was looking intently back at me. I swallowed down a blush and smiled at him.
"Thanks for staying with me, Gippel. I think I can handle it from here." He smirked and shook his head, standing up.
"You sure about that?" He laughed as I threw a pillow at him, his hands catching the object easily. "Ok then. Goodnight."
"I have a name, you know," I muttered, annoyed. He smiled faintly, tossing the pillow back in my face.
"You're so picky, you know that?" I raised the pillow threateningly, "Alright, alright. Goodnight, RIKKU." I smiled and nodded.
"Nightey night, Gippel!" He chuckled and closed the door behind him quietly. After a while, I changed into my pajamas consisting of a long sleeve cotton shirt and pants decorated with rubber duckies. I turned off the lights and slipped under the warm covers. I breathed in deeply, smelling Gippel's distinct scent. I decided that I liked it. Annnnnd I turned red when I realized that I was thinking about him again. Shrugging off the thought, I closed my eyes and fell asleep as the rain outside pounded gently against the windowpane.
A/N-How's that for a little Gippel/Rikku moment? Hee-hee! I was gonna have them almost kiss and then someone intrude on them, but that was too cliché, you know? Tell me what you think!
Moshi Moshi Mai
Translations:
Yho tyo huf. : Any day now.
Dryhgc. : Thanks.
