A/N-Sorry about your exams, knivesgirl346! Let's see how I can encourage you to do great on your exams! How about this chapter is dedicated to you, and if you ace your exams or get a high B, I'll update a chapter sooner than usual! Deal? ^_^ Also to the rest of my wonderful reviewers: Thank you for being so supportive and enthusiastic about this story. It really keeps me hooked so I won't stray away from it and start another story, as that's what I tend to do when I don't want to work on anything. Hee-hee! Also, as soon as this story is finished, I will be writing another RikkuxGippel fic called Caprice so I hope you guys will check that out soon. If you guys want to know the summary for that story, scroll down to the bottom, k? Let's get started! *rubs hands together and cackles gleefully* PS-I think you mushy lovers will like this chapter…*wink wink*

♥Every Heart♥

Chapter Thirteen: Treasured Memories

                Perfect. I smiled evilly as the lights dimmed in the temple. Footsteps echoed down the hallways and I realized that Leblanc was checking up on me. Quickly, I dove under the covers of my bed and pulled them all the way up, covering my Black Mage outfit. I squeezed my eyes shut and attempted to make a relaxed face, but I'm pretty sure I ended up looking either sexually pleasured or really constipated. A knock interrupted me from my thoughts and Leblanc poked her blonde head in. She walked over to my side and felt my forehead, sighing.

                "I know you're going to try to get out Rikku." My eyes opened wide and I sat up straight, staring at her, bewildered.

                "What? How?!"

                "You're still wearing your Black Mage hat." I looked up and sure enough, the dark hat was staring back down at me, as if snickering at my stupidity. I cursed the stupid thing and focused my gaze back on Leblanc, who was smiling slightly at me. "I'm sorry, Rikku, but you need to rest. We'll all go look for Gippel tomorrow."

                "No! We can't do that, Leblanc! What if Gippel is dying right now as we speak?! Then it'd be my fault for listening to you." I could feel a lump forming in my throat and I was slightly surprised by the emotion in my voice. Leblanc grabbed my right hand and patted it consolingly like a mother would do to her daughter.

                "Don't worry so much about it, love. Everything will be all right. Now rest, ok?" Inside, I was mentally screaming at her. How could she say that? Nothing would be alright if Gippel wasn't…here with me. I had to find him. NOW.

                "Oh yes, almost forgot. Just in case you do try to break out, I'm locking you in. Sorry, love. Cid's orders." I cursed my dad. Only one thing left to do. Drastic times called for drastic measures. As Leblanc stood up and turned her back to me, ready to leave and with key in hand, I sprang up from the bed and pounced on her.

                She didn't have time to react as I twisted the key out of her hand and slid out into the hallway. She cried out in surprise as I slammed the door shut, winking at her before shoving the key into the hole, twisting it. I gave the knob a firm twist to make sure it was locked and whispered quietly so no one would hear.

                "Sorry, Leblanc! Looks like you're the one locked in, now! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA…" I laughed insanely like a villain, making a mental note to practice it more.

                "Rikku, let me out this instant! I demand that you let me out! I'll scream!" My eyes widened at her threat. Shoot, I hadn't thought about that!

                "Umm…the doors are soundproof so HA!" I yelled triumphantly, covering my mouth as my loud voice echoed throughout the halls.

                "Then how come I can hear you?" came her sarcastic reply. "Hello? Hello?!" As she had pondered that, I made a mad dash towards the front doors, racing out into the night. I could hear her screaming bloody murder from the end of the bridge, and I laughed. As soon as her screams had died down, I looked around me. It was pitch black, and the only light illuminating the path down Mushroom Rock Road was the full moon. Stars twinkled brightly in the sky, some giving off faint hues of red and blue. I sighed, placing my hands behind my head. It brought me back to a memory long ago, back when Gippel and I were dating…

FLASHBACK…

                Twelve year old Rikku giggled as Gippel took her hand, smiling. The two escaped from the party, miraculously without Cid's eyes on them.

                "Where are you taking me?" Rikku whispered, tripping over a stick in the path. Gippel smirked down at her, his black eye patch hidden in the darkness. He placed his right index finger to his smooth lips.

                "Shh…nuh uh, it's a secret." Rikku laughed and picked up her pace. They pushed past tree branches and after a few footfalls, losing each other's grasp for a while, and teasing, the couple arrived at a clearing. Rikku gasped and placed a small hand to her mouth, in awe.

                "You like it? It's my secret place," Gippel whispered, slumping down onto the lush green grass, both hands behind him to keep his balance. Trees surrounded the clearing, hiding it from view. Pyreflies floated around the place, their faint glow illuminating the beautiful scenery. A small pond was in the middle, clear and untouched. Water lilies floated upon the surface, and silver fish darted in and out of the shadows. "It's best at night."

                "Gippel, it's wonderful! How'd you find a place like this?" Rikku asked, plopping down next to her now boyfriend.

                "I like to explore, you know? I found this place when I was bored, and I wanted some time to myself. To think about everything and nothing. Just to be, you know?" The young boy smiled a genuine smile at her, causing her face to flush. He looked out at the pond, sighing softly. "It's just too bad that things like this are never truly appreciated until they're taken away."

                "Things like what?" Rikku piped up, standing up and walking over to the water's edge.

                "Feeling happy for no reason, looking up into the blue sky, seeing birds flying free…sharing a secret place with someone special…" He trailed off quietly, blushing and looking down.

                "Wow, didn't now you were so poetic!" Rikku teased, smiling. "But you know, I'm happy that you decided to share this place with me. It can be our special place!" She faced away from him and stepped into the water, sighing with pleasure as the cold liquid relieved her aching feet. Gippel smiled at the cheery and free-spirited girl and nodded.

                "Yeah…our special place."

               

                A shooting star flashed across the starry night sky and Rikku gasped, jumping up and down. "Did you see that?! Wow, a shooting star!" She pointed to the fleeting flash of light, glancing at Gippel and smiling when she saw him looking up also and smiling faintly. "It's so beautiful…Thanks…for everything, Gippel." She turned away and stared up into the sky once more, a zephyr lifting her long blonde hair up and soothing her.

                "Yeah…beautiful," Gippel whispered, staring at the happy Al Bhed girl.

END FLASHBACK

                I smiled faintly and headed to my right. Yep, I knew exactly where that man was. After a while, I turned left and tumbled through the trees, wincing as the sharp branches grazed my skin. I encountered a few fiends, but easily disposed of them with my powerful magic attacks. A clearing soon came into view and I cautiously entered.

                The place was just as beautiful as I remembered it. I stumbled in, catching my footing before I fell to the ground. I cursed myself for being such a klutz and waltzed up to the pond, smiling. The pyreflies seemed to be greeting me like an old friend and I slowly stepped into the water, squealing as it sent shivers up my spine. It was strange how I could feel totally content right now when so much was going wrong.

                If I listened close enough, I could hear faint childish laughter from the girl I used to be, laughing with Gippel. I smiled and sighed. Those were wonderful memories…treasured ones. I stepped out from the water, captivated by the silver fish.

                "So, you found me." I froze and slowly turned around, half-surprised to find that it was Gippel. He was lying down a few feet away from me, spread eagle on the grass and staring up at the night sky. "How'd you know where to go?" I smiled gently and walked over to him, lying down by his side.

                "I just remembered about our special place." I turned to face him and shared a grin with him.

                "So you remembered, huh? That's nice…" I placed my hands behind my head and removed my hat, tossing it aside.

                "I could never forget this place, Gippel," I whispered, my smile fading slightly. He noticed my slight change of face and propped himself up on his elbows, staring at me.

                "What's wrong?" A heated blush rose to my face and I forced it down, shaking head.

                "Why'd you take off?" He tensed and lay down again, exhaling deeply.

                "It's my fault that all this happened. I'm sorry, Rikku."

                "No! No, it's not, Gippel! If anything, it was my fault. I shouldn't have forced you to wear that patch. But you don't see me blaming myself, so neither should you," I insisted, glaring steadily at him as his eyes glazed over. "C'mon, Gippel. You know I'm not mad at you. Come back to Djose?" He looked over at me then, and I stood up and held my left hand out to him, smiling. "Come with me."

                He looked at my hand, then smiled and accepted the offering, hoisting himself up. "Thanks, Rikku…for everything." My face flushed again and I shook my head vigorously, grinning up at him.

                "No problem, Gippel!" As I bent down to pick up my hat, something flashed across the sky and I quickly turned around, gasping. "No way! A shooting star!!!" I jumped up and down, giddy with excitement. Gippel flashed me a genuine smile and I blushed for the umpteenth time, turning away.

                "Brings back memories, doesn't it?" He whispered, standing behind me and placing his gloved hands on my shoulders.

                "Yeah, it does. It's so beautiful, isn't it?" I whispered, afraid to ruin the moment. I didn't notice him staring at me as he whispered,

                "Yeah…beautiful."

A/N-HA! So what'd you think of that? I hope it was romantic enough for you guys! I had lots of fun writing this chapter, so I hope you guys enjoyed it also! Luckily for ya'll, I don't have anything in Al Bhed to translate because I didn't want you to keep scrolling down and ruin the fluffiness. ^_^ Hope you enjoyed this and remember, knivesgirl346, this one was for you!

Moshi Moshi Mai

(Summary) Caprice:: Gippel's POV At the party celebrating the defeat of Vegnagun, Rikku avoids dancing with a creepy Al Bhed guy by latching onto the nearest person, calling them her boyfriend, who just so happens to be Gippel…*Rippel*

Kind of…ok, REALLY lame summary, but I think you guys get what's gonna happen. How does that sound, though? Do you think you'll want to read it? Do tell! ^_^