Disclaimer: Not mine (songs, characters, translations, etc...). Applicable to all past and future chapters.
Note: Skip all the Al Bhed and go straight to the translation. It'll help.
I walked quickly towards the main campsite on Bikanel Island. Today was the Al Bhed festival of "Cuhkc uv dra Tacand (Songs of the Desert)." I loved it because it was just so much fun! All the Al Bhed would gather round a large bonfire and sing old Al Bhed songs that conveyed more emotion than any of the other Spiran songs that I had heard on my journeys around Spira. They were just so...strong...
Picking up speed, I quickly waved to a few of the Machine Faction men who walking towards the bonfire as well, only more slowly. Along the way, I passed a few of the ruins that the Al Bhed were collectively excavating. The ruins of Home were going to be incorporated into the new Home. My daddy, Cid, headed the excavation, of course.
Yunie had been confused to why we would want to rebuild Home. She told us that with Yevon's teachings proven false, there would be no need for the Al Bhed to fear the spite of Yevonites. But there was more to it than that.
I remembered the happiness I had felt when my father and Gippal both announced that they were going to rebuild Home. It was a home (duh). The Ronso had Mt. Gagezet, the Guado were now sharing Guadosalem with the Leblanc Syndicate and the Spirans had Spira.
It was the first time I'd actually been mad with Yunie. It was teeny-weeny but it was still there. She didn't understand because she'd always been loved. The Al Bhed, however, needed a place to gather.
So now, we Al Bhed are rebuilding our Home!
Anyways, this festival is one of the oldest in the Al Bhed tradition and was probably one of the most ...sacred...so to speak. All the songs hide some deeper meaning which require you to undergo what they spoke of...blah blah blah. I have my favorites, of course, and they were the ones that I didn't understand. Gotta be up to a challenge, right?
As I scurried towards the main square where the festival was to be held, I felt a sharp tug on my neck which caused me to be pulled back to the ground, landing, not very gracefully, on my rear.
"Owwie..." I muttered, rubbing my butt. "Meanie!" It wasn't exactly a nice thing to say but it wasn't nice for that person to make me fall like that! I could've broken my neck!
"Can't come up with any better comebacks, Cid's girl?"
Ugh. The dreaded nickname with the dreaded man who always seemed to come with it...like one of those "buy one and get another free" thingamajiggers. I felt my tummy do a little dance before standing up and turning sharply, forgetting that the scarf was still in Gippal's hand. That meant that I was currently choking and trying desperately to unwind the scarf from around my neck. So I'm not exactly the most poised girl ever. I have my faults.
Sighing, Gippal undid the scarf from around my neck and then used it to pull me in the direction of a small shop...away from the festivities.
"Gippal! What about the festival?" This was a landmark event! And as the daughter of Cid, I couldn't abandon it! And I couldn't be dragged anywhere with a man of such hotness!
"It starts an hour after sundown. We have a ton of time. Come help me look for a good instrument." I righted myself so that I was no longer walking backwards and started walking alongside Gippal.
"You really think that Dad's gonna ask you to sing?"
"Absi-posi-you better believe it. We came of age when we were fighting Sin. I'm guessin' that he's gonna be askin' all the people like us to sing. The kids will be there, just like we were but they won't be asked to sing. I mean, we never had any festivals when Sin was around so..." He trailed, leaving me to finish the sentence in my mind. I knew what he was talking about. But then we entered the packed instrument store, specially opened by Rin for this occasion. It was crammed with both people and instruments from throughout Spira.
Gippal walked over to guitar section, looking at the variations on the instruments, each having their own distinct sound. I wandered off after a few minutes, convinced that there was nothing of any interest to me there. I personally preferred the Al Bhed violin but I knew my father wouldn't make me play it, if he wanted me to stay and help with Home.
After about half an hour of doing absolutely nothing, I ambled back towards where I'd left Gippal, squeezing my lithe form (because I know I'm ever so skinny) through the crowds of last minute instrument buyers. All Al Bhed's loved music, and because of that they were all trained to an instrument when they were children. The Al Bhed usually didn't pursue a musical career because of the still-lurking fear of die-hard Yevonites and what they would do.
Gippal seemed to be deciding between to types of guitars, one not even remotely close to resembling a guitar, and the other like the one I had seen in Luca when Leblanc pretended to be Yunie. He kept of fingering the strings of both. I personally thought the odd one better because it sounded so much more...capable?
I wiggled my arms in irritation as Gippal couldn't seem to make up his mind. Men are so indecisive!
"Gippal! Syga ib ouin seht! (Make up your mind!)"
"Which one do you think sounds better? I think this one sounds better," He pointed to the one I liked, "but this one looks more like me, ya know? Sexy." He kept on going, complaining how one sounded to girly while the other looked like it would ruin his manly pride when I finally decided I'd had enough. The festival was due to start any minute now, judging by how empty the store was.
"Get over yourself. Take this one." I reached out from underneath his arm and plucked the strange one off the stand. Gippal nodded appraisingly. He took it from me and played a bit of my favorite song as I began to walk away. I stopped walking, forcing myself not to turn and start humming. He knew this was my favorite songs. The one I couldn't resist. Poopie head.
That's the thing with Gippal. He knows me so well that its scary. I know that I have some feelings for him (don't ask what they are...even I'm confused about them) but I don't want to confront them...at least not yet...And this song...I supposed the only part I understand, right now, could describe how I feel about him...He's my reason to live...
Sorry...I'm going all Leblanc on you.
As for the song...
I understood the literal meaning but I didn't get the underlying meaning. All my dad would tell me when I asked is that it had to do with love. Shaking my head slightly I walked up to the counter. Gippal came up alongside me and paid however much the guitar cost.
The two of us set out for the bonfire, our way lit by miniature machine lights. We were in the company of a whole legion of Al Bhed, all chattering excitedly about the festival. This was the first festival of that was to be held ever since the defeat of Sin. My father hadn't held it in the two years between the defeat of Sin and the return of Tidus because he said that the Al Bhed had no place to hold the festival. No Home. So he'd held it off until the rebuilding of Home had begun. And now, here it was.
I soon ran ahead of Gippal who was talking with a few of his Machine Faction workers, guitar slung over his shoulder. We had been holding hands...how I don't remember but it felt comfortable...and now I'm blushing...
Buts that's our relationship...More than friends...But not there yet...Not fiancée or anything...I could only dream...
The bonfire was huge, and long seats were set out, seating at least twenty on one. They were all arranged around the bonfire, making an octagon. I waved to my father and Brother, while hugging Shinra and smiling at Buddy. They were all here.
I made her way to where my Al Bhed friends sat, in the front row. They were guaranteed good seats, seeing as they were my friends. I usually wasn't one to advertise to I was, ya know? I mean sometimes publicity is a bad thing. But not now.
"Rao kioc! (Hey guys!)" They all turned to look at me. Some of them grumbled that I was late. I began to laugh nervously, doing my little dance thing.
"Famm, oui caa, E ryja y kuut naycuh! Naymmo! (Well, you see, I have a good reason! Really!)" Hands were placed on hips and glares were given. I felt my smile become uneasy, much like at Leblanc's concert when the guard had questioned me. I knew that they weren't going to like this. They were going to be jealous. Extremely jealous.
I knew of the effect that Gippal had on all my friends. He was the Al Bhed to get. He had everything...everything that the girls wanted.
"Cu frana fana oui? (So where were you?)" One of my friends Nekko asked.
"Famm...E fyc gehty...famm...EfycfedrGippal...( Well...I was kinda...well...IwaswithGippal...)" The girls looked at me strangely. I, as a general rule, was never nervous. However, one of my friends seemed to have caught on.
"Oui fana fedr res? (You were with him?)" She hissed, her anger at me and desire for a certain man very evident.
"Res? (Him?)" My other friends asked. Hopelessly, I looked to my father to see if he was ready to start the festival. However, as I swept my eyes about the place, I knew from the lack of seated figures that it would be a long time until the started. Darkness had fallen but order had yet to come.
"Heetna! Fru fyc Rikku fedr? (Who was Rikku with?)" Heetna threw a glare towards the still cowering figure of me before answering the other girls.
"Gippal."
The reaction that one name could garner was amazing. Screams of outrage were heard from all the present females, all of their rage directed at a blushing me. I was sure that my death was guaranteed when I was saved by none other than my father. Sometimes the old man is okay...
"Vammuf Al Bhed, E't mega du famlusa oui ymm pylg Home. Yc oui ghuf drec ec dra vencd vacdejym du pa ramt ajan cehla dra tavayd uv Sin. Caaeh' yc drana yna y mud uv ouihk uhac fru fana hud ymmufat ducehk eh dra vacdejym dra mycd desa fa ramt ed. Ymm uv oui femm pa cehkehk vun ic dutyo, rubavimmo kyehehk dra taaban ihtancdyhtehk uv dra cuhkc. (Fellow Al Bhed, I'd like to welcome you all back Home. As you know this is the first festival to be held ever since the defeat of Sin. Seein' as there are a lot of young ones who were not allowed to sing in the festival the last time we held it, all of you will be singing for us today, hopefully gaining the deeper understanding of the songs.)" At this, all of the younger people, including me and Gippal, broke out into a series of cheers and whoops, showing our pride in not being wrinkled and flaky.
Cid waited for us to quiet down before continuing. "Fa'ja paah drnuikr cusa nuikr desac cu meja meva nekrd huf. Cbaleym dryhgc du dra Machine Faction yht draen maytan, Gippal, vun ymm rec ramb. Yht uv luinca, du so tyikrdan yht cuh, Rikku yht Anikki, vun rambehk tavayd Sin yht Vegnagun. (We've been through some rough times so live life right now. Special thanks to the Machine Faction and their leader, Gippal, for all his help. And of course to my daughter and son, Rikku and Anikki, for helping defeat Sin and Vegnagun.)" When Gippal was thanked, a huge roar of female support drowned out the rest of the sentence. Gippal stood up, guitar still in hand and waved to the crowd, giving them a wave, roguish smile and the rest of the girls' winks. How many swooned, I still wondered.
When both Brother and I were announced, another roar of approval was heard. I jumped up and waved to everyone. Before I sat down, I playfully stuck my tongue out at Brother, much to the delight of the other Al Bhed. Brother muttered a few things in Al Bhed, something I couldn't hear but, for once, I didn't mind.
My father cleared his throat, garnering the attention of the Al Bhed. He continued with his speech. "Famm, huf du cdynd uvv dra vacdejedac, E'mm ryja Blappa dyga dra vencd cuhk. Yvdan dryd, ed femm pa Heetna, yht drah Nhadala, druikr cra fyc bnacahd vun dra mycd vacdejym. Yvdan dryd, ed femm pa dra nacd uv dra Al Bhed Psyches eh dra untan uv Eigaar, Nimrook, Berrik, Lakkam yht vehymmo, Judda. (Well, now to start off the festivities, I'll have Blappa take the first song. After that, it will be Heetna, and then Nhadala, though she was present for the last festival. After that, it will be the rest of the Al Bhed Psyches in the order of Eigaar, Nimrook, Berrik, Lakkam and finally, Judda.)"
A huge amount of applause and whistling burst out this point and Dad couldn't help but laugh at the rambunctious bunch of blitzball supporters and fans. I let a goofy grin come over my face as I listened to my peers have so much fun. Unconsciously, my eyes trailed back to Gippal who was poking fun at Blappa who seemed to be blushing and sneaking glances at Heetna.
"Pavuna dra haqd knuib, E'mm ryja Gippal lruuca aekrd saspanc uv dra Machine Faction dryd ryja du cehk vun ic. Rufajan, Gippal, oui lyh'd lruuca ouincamv. (Before the next group, I'll have Gippal choose eight members of the Machine Faction that have to sing for us. However, Gippal, you can't choose yourself.)" An audible groan was heard from the females and Gippal just grinned, saluted to Dad and then quickly chose the eight members.
"Yvdan dryd, E'mm pa ryjehk oui vasymac ujan drana cehk. Dryd sayhc Nekka, Jeeya, Crytt yht Loppev femm pa cehkehk, vummufat po so cuh yht Buddy.Eh lmucehk, E'mm pa lruucehk dra ihmilgo luibma fru femm ryja du mayt ic eh dra vacdejedeac dryd vummuf drec cehkehk. (After that, I'll be having you females over there sing. That means Nekka, Jeeya, Crytt and Loppev will be singing, followed by my son and Buddy. In closing, I'll be choosing the unlucky couple who will have to lead us in the festivities that follow this singing.)" There was a great deal of laughter and guessing at who would be the ill-fated couple this year.
It was apart of the festival that at the end, two people be chosen, one male, one female, who would have to sing the two songs saved for the end of the festival. No one could sing those songs. Nothing extremely funny about this tradition except that now the two were bound to each other. During the festival, they couldn't dance with anyone else, they had to sit with each other, eat with each other, and sometimes, to cause embarrassment, feed each other.
The leader usually chose the two people who hated each other most, making them stay together throughout it all. It was really funny to watch them shove food in the other person's face, trip the while dancing or other such pranks as this. Sometimes the leader would even choose married people who obviously weren't married to each other!
And I got the sinking feeling in my stomach that I was going to be one of the chosen ones. Just the way my father and brother were staring at me made me want to cringe. I didn't mind the singing part...It was just the person I might be stuck with...
And I just knew that if they chose me, they would choose Gippal.
Neither of us had been chosen to sing beforehand and so we were still eligible for the part of the wretched couple.
"Aw poopie..." I muttered, as I watched Blappa get ready to sing.
"Fryd'c fnuhk? (What's wrong?)" Heetna leaned over and whispered.
"E sekrd pa cdilg fedr Gippal frah ed lusac du dra luibma drehk. E zicd ghuf ed! (I might be stuck with Gippal when it comes to the couple thing. I just know it!)" I whispered back. Heetna threw me another look.
"Oui ryja ymm dra milg. (You have all the luck.)" She said hotly, before turning back and watching Blappa sing.
'Maybe I do.' I thought. 'I mean, it's not a bad thing to be stuck with Gippal...I know that I like him...' I continued along that line of thought as Blappa finished his song and I applauded.
Heetna began to sing a very melancholy song next. Something about a lost lover...I understood this song. Many of the meanings were clear and so most of the people figured out the deeper meaning before they reached the age where they were allowed to take part in the celebration.
I shifted my attention back to Heetna and her song. It was a lovely song and I let it wash over myself. And as I remembered the deeper meaning behind the song, I felt my heart lurch and my eyes swiftly go to where Gippal sat, watching Heetna. The song...it was about living life and not worrying... to love. Love the person who knows you best, who helped you most and who protects you the most.
And I knew that the answer to every part of that song was Gippal. Another goofy Rikku-smile crossed my lips and I let my revelation sink in.
He'd been there when my mother died, when I'd received the news Yunie was to be a summoner, when the rogue machina had attacked me after it had broken my leg and knocked out his eye, when I came back from the pilgrimage to the funeral of my brother and when I fought Vegnagun.
Gippal was there...
I couldn't help but let my smile widen.
Why had it been so simple? Had it really just taken a song to make me realize what I felt?
I feel like an idiot...I don't think its written like this in the fairytales...
Shaking my head, I let out a sigh and waited for other songs to pass by. They all passed pleasantly and I came to the conclusion that my love may be pure but it wasn't returned. Did I even know if Gippal loved me? No. Or even felt anything for me? No.
"Poopie...I should've just shakey-shaked my way to Besaid..." I muttered to myself. No one heard me, thankfully, for they were all soaked up in a rambunctious song about the joys of letting go. Brother was singing and sounded like a vulture with a frog stuck in its throat but no one seemed to mind. He was dancing wildly around the fire and as I watched him, I couldn't help the way my body began to move. This was such a merry song...Why not enjoy it with a dance?
So, me being the extremely spontaneous and fun-lovin' person I am, grabbed the hands of my bewildered friends and pulled them to their feet. After letting go, I began to dance in a circle around the bonfire in a fast paced traditional Al Bhed folk dance. My friends soon caught on and were following me.
Brother joined in the dance, with his weird flapping and jumping mania. A few other males joined in, including Buddy, excluding Gippal. He seemed to think that dancing was below him.
The song soon ended so the sweaty dancers sat down, hooting with amusement and elation, their blood pumping. I couldn't stop smiling. But then I remembered something which I wished I hadn't. The choosing of the couple.
And even though I discovered I liked Gippal, I didn't want to be the one singing a love song with him...for him...Buddy began his song, an old parody of the Machina War. Mirth filled the air as everyone broke out into chuckles, giggles and sniggers at the rude innuendos and insinuations the song made. The song ended splendidly as I fell to the ground clutching my stomach at the way Buddy had sung the last verse. Many other Al Bhed were in the same position I was, including Gippal, Brother and a few of the Al Bhed Psyches.
During the laughter, no one noticed Dad stand up and open his mouth to reveal the couple. He'd probably wanted it this way, in hindsight, and had probably requested that Buddy sing this song.
Idiot...
"Rikku yht Gippal." Dad boomed.
All the laughter suddenly ceased and people looked confused. Slowly it sank in and the men began jostling the stunned Gippal at his lucky catch. The females all congratulated me on my other half.
I knew this was my end.
"Rikku, oui ku vencd. (Rikku, you go first.)"
I thought that it was a good time to send my father to an early grave. He knew-or at least he thought-that I hated Gippal. And he himself had never approved of my more-than-friends-but-not-dating thing with Gippal after Gippal and I had broken up.
So I was just one confused pineapple.
I stood up hesitantly, letting out a nervous laugh. The crowd laughed a little. At that point I didn't know what to think. Were they laughing at me or with me? Though I wasn't laughing so that means that they were probably laughing at me...That wasn't very comforting along with the fact that I'm singing in front of them next...Would they laugh some more at me?
Yes.
I waited for the background girls to start singing their part. It was soft and absolutely enchanting but I was too busy trying to keep myself from fainting to think about the beauty of it all. My part came in five...four...three...two...crap...
"Krihze ce rye cyne vewy zyeca pyzde ru crarhyeoyyh. Maranyde rye sarge ryfy kihkihyde ryeh dyhryeoyyh.Ccyp kyyda ryeh cyp ce sytrucr ryeh. Ris dis goih rysucr ryeh. Cyyw -a- tem lratu hy lrib ru goih kyyjuh hy. Yyu hy.. yu hy... yyu hy... yyu hy... (The whole atmosphere is ringing, as if a shehnai is playing. The scented wind twists around me; the solitude hums to me. Everything sings; everything is intoxicated! Why then are you and I silent? Sing the tune of your heart! Why are you silent? Sing! Come to me...)"
I flinched when my voice first came out. It sounded like I had just swallowed a frog...like Brother...Oh tysh (damn)!
"Dyh syh saeh goih yeca parde rioe. Dryhte ce eg yyk rye. Cyycuh saeh rye gyece oar nykehe. Trytgyh saeh goy nyyk rye. (Why does it feel like a cool fire is rippling through my body and soul? What kind of melody is this, what kind of rhythm, in my breath and my heartbeat? What has happened to me? Explain it, won't you?)"
I avoided looking at Gippal as if he were the plague. I couldn't afford a mass spectacle at my own expense. I knew that if I looked at him, I would either laugh, cry or both...Not good options so that's why I stayed away...
My voice was finally evening out...At least it souned good to me. No one was throwing apples or anything yet and even Shinra wasn't shaking his head in disappointment. I wasn't the greatest singer. In fact, I was a crow compared to Ms. Yunie Nightingale.
"Oar riy goy risaeh ris gu cyszryuu hy... cyp kyyda ryeh ...grysucr ryeh tem saeh zu pyydaeh rye. Rtduh ba myuu hy. Yyu hy...yyu hy... (Everything sings; everything is intoxicated! Why then are you and I silent? Whatever's in your heart, bring it to your lips! Come to me...)"
So I was done for now...but now it was Gippal's turn. The musicians kept on going for a while and I was suddenly afraid that Gippal might miss his cue...but thankfully he didn't...And I almost swooned...And I never ever "swoon"...
"Yp gue tine hy imzyh gue. Pyc ag egnyn rye. Yp hy gyreh ris hy dis rt gyreh pyc boyyn re boyyn rye. (Now there are no complications and no distances between us, only a sweet understanding. Now there's neither a "you" nor an "I," only love upon love.)"
Stupid Gippal. Did he just have to be such a good singer? And I knew from the way his voice curled that he was either smiling out of love or he was just taunting me...I'm going to go with taunting and continue to avoid him...
"Cih cygu trytgyha edha byyc yyu hy...(Come close enough to hear my heart beat...)"
My turn once again...Just sing one more time...alone...and then we'll sing a few lines together and then it'll be his turn...
"Cyp kyydaeh ...grysucr ryeh. Yp sana cybhu ba dis re dis lryruu hy. Yyu hy... yyu hy... yyu hy... Krihze ce rye ...kihkihyde ryeh dyhryeoyyh ...yyu hy yyu hy.....( Everything sings; everything is intoxicated! Why then are you and I silent? Spread through my dreams, you and you alone. Come...Sing the tune of your heart! Why are you silent? Sing! Come to me...)"
We finished off to silence, except for the straining ebbs of the musicians instruments. Then there was the applause. I wouldn't say it was smattering and I definitely wouldn't say it was thunderous...I would call it awed...
Ignore that...that was my ego speaking...
My father said a few things that washed right over my head but I got the gist of it...Gippal was supposed to do his great singing thingamajig...Aw fudgers...
He cleared his through before beginning, strumming his madcap guitar as well.
"Gilr gricrpioah. Oyytuh ga zihkym ca par lryme. Gilr gretgeoyh mysruh ga tycdyg ba grim kyoe. Gilr kaadr binyha nygra dra cenryyha. Gilr cin gyreh gruoa dra pyhtecr sem kyoa. (Some fragrances, conjure up old memories that have been stowed away. Some flowers, in the dusky evening, opened up. Some songs that have to be finished keep the feeling. Some lost melody somewhere gives the meaning back.)
This was my song. This was the song I lived for, breathed for and frankly, wanted to know the meaning of. It is a lovely song and I'm not usually one to get all weepy over a simple song but sometimes...you just gotta? Ya know?
"Zaaha ga ecryna sem kyoa. Pelrta dra gehyna sem kyoa. (I have found my reason to live. I have found my will to breathe.)"
I did my little "repeat-after-Gippal" thing, though I was starting to feel squeamish. Gippal was looking at a lot of people while he sang but mostly...it was me...I know that I have these weird kinda-love-kinda-hate feelings for Gippal but does he too?
And a little part of my heart was saying 'hopefully, yes' with all its might.
"Sane wehtyke syeh dane pyynecr goy rie? Sana nycda tynoy pyha parha myka. Sane gynjyduh gu diha yyga goy lrriy? Gyreh grfyp haahtuh ge kyme narha myka. (In my life, what has your rain done to me? My oceanic road causes me to sit down. My rest comes, but what have you stolen from my eyes? Somewhere, the sleeping soul's smile will live.)"
I felt it. The knowledge. I didn't think that one song could change feelings, or at least mold them to fit the meaning of the lyrics. I just felt...enriched? I don't know. This whole introspective thing isn't working for me. All I know is that I found out something about myself then.
I loved Gippal.
"Zaaha ga...gehyna sem kyoa. (I have found my reason to live. I have found my will to breathe.)"
And I think he loved me too.
"Sane mur ryjyyuh ca rykytgyn maa idre. Sana ryn yhtrana gu izyma baa kyoa. Diha hycgah sizrca sicginyha gu gyry. Sana syh ga syicys kimsuryn ca ru kyoa. (My every breath seems to wake me. My every blindness seems to have left me. When you smile you tell me to smile. My every desire has been fulfilled.)"
And I couldn't stop smiling. It was like understanding this song and its double meanings had been so simple...yet it just clicked. And it felt so good.
"Zaaha ga...Gehyna sem kyoa. (I have found my reason to live. I have found my will to breathe.)"
I really couldn't help it. I started smiling when the girls are supposed to frown, and I couldn't keep my eyes off of Gippal. A few people seemed to notice they did that 'nudge-nudge-look-at-them' thing but did I care? Nope...
I was in love...
This is sickening...
"Gilr gricrpioah, cyyhcu ca cyyhcu sa krim kyoe. Gilr gretegoyh, yyhgruh re yyhgruh sa grim kyoe. Gilr boyyc ytrine. Gilr croys cehtruune. Gilr nacrse kihyruh. Syeh nyda trym kyoa. Zaaha ga ecryna sem kyoa. Pelrta dra gehyna sem kyoa. (Some fragrances have opened up my soul of souls. Some flowers have opened my eye of eyes. Some blind thirst. Some dusk's sindhoori. Some air is singing. My nights have been mixed because I have found my reason to live. I have found my will to breathe.)"
I just realized I missed my cue...
Poopie!
Everyone was going on and on with the chorus and Gippal displayed his guitar skills and whatnot while I just glared in annoyance. Stupid poopie head made me miss my cue!
...Okay...So maybe I wasn't that angry, but you gotta get into this whole role of a bickering couple as soon as possible, you know?
After a few moments, my dad stood up, so every one shut their mouths and listened up.
"Famm, dryd fyc ehdanacdehk. Yhofyoc, ymm drec cehkehk ryc syta sa rihkno. Fryd tu oui ymm cyo du cusa vuut? (Well, that was interesting. Anyways, all this singing has made me hungry. What do you all say to some food?)"
A bit of laughter here and there, pointed mainly at me and Gippal. I tried to shrug it off and laugh with them but it was kind of hard considering that I had just had an un-mind-blowing experience in love.
And then there was that arm around my shoulder.
Now, I'm not a person who gets offended when someone touches me. In fact, I'd say I'm pretty low on the modesty meter but even then, there is a point where anyone can become embarrassed...And I had just hit it...Why?
It. Was. Gippal's. Arm.
I had been extremely surprised when he got up and sat down next to me, his arm swinging like a windmill and attaching itself to my shoulders...firmly.
I had tried shrugging it off with a smile. It didn't work. Needless to say, I was getting quite a few jealous glares but then as we got up to move to the courtyard for food, he made it worse.
He leaned down to my ear and stopped me by adding pressure to my arm. "Do you think we could be more?"
Now THAT came out of nowhere!
Okay. So maybe not 'nowhere' since it had been on my mind ALL NIGHT, but Gippal...?
I tried to organize a coherent reply but all I could come up with was looking at his eye and smiling...just a tad bit...so he knew how I felt. It was a combination of a yes, no and maybe...So it was a yenaybe.
Unfortunately (or not), Gippal took it the wrong way...
Gippal smacked a quick one on my lips, smiled and steered me to the courtyard where dinner was being served.
I'll get back to you on the amount of heart attacks by sadness occurred.
But even with Gippal being a jokester, I knew that it was no joke.
Heh. I felt special.
So the night wore on.
I know that this is strange. A whole day/evening of introspection on my relationship with a certain man and within moments we're practically engaged...
But that's how it is. Both Gippal and I are spontaneous and that's why no one really took offense to the fact that we were now it...Our relationship hadn't changed much (yet) and I don't think it should've. Imagine how weird we would've been had we changed our outlook on our bond...all that kissing, romancing and serenading? Me and Gippal? No thanks.
I think we'll stick with the deprecating comments and whining. It worked before...and I'm sure it'll work now.
During dinner we had fun, kinda smearing any type of food all over each other. A sheepish Blappa proposed to a blushing Heetna while Shinra seemed to have taken an interest in an eleven year old named Mittee.
All the while, me and Gippal just had fun.
And we sang a lot too now that I think about it...I love this festival, and Gippal and Yunie and Gippal and Home and Cid and Gippal and Brother and Buddy and Shinra and---
I'll shut up now...
Sindhoori is that red line you see on the hairline of the married woman of India. Usually it's the red dot, the sindhoori (made of a red powder) and a black necklace around the neck that signify marriage. Sindhoori is used a lot in Indian songs because its mystic and strong at the same time and presents a force in lyrics.
Okay...So I said that I wouldn't write anymore of these but with the reviews what can you do? It was still just as hard as the last time and I think I relied on my OWN personality too much so it kinda leaked in there.
I apologize for the sketchy translations on the song Gippal sang. I speak a different dialect so I can't be sure. But Rikku's song is fine. I chose Indian songs because usually, the whole song is a metaphor and there is usually a double meaning...deeper...So I used those and translated the Hindi to Al Bhed...Phew...
For the next ones I'll have:
A funeral
A wedding (Not R and G's)
That's all I have now...Any ideas?
Master Thief: I know you! Ahhh!! I feel so privileged to have YOU of all people review on of my stories!! AHH!!
Lttlwings: Aww! So sweet! I'm glad you liked my outlook on things. Here, I deviate a lot from what Rikku is like...
Angel Taisha: You're one of the people who influenced me to write more...Thanks so much!
xxmoonlight-angelxx: Thanks so much!! I'm glad you liked it!
iridescentwings: How's this? A series of one-shots, all on Rikku and Gippal? I liked the idea...What do you think?
Back of Beyond: That's so sweet of you to add me to your favorites list! I feel so loved ::sniff sniff::
Master and Chief: Aww...Thanks! I think RG rocks to!! It's so coolio!!
kingleby: Love your penname and review! So sweet!! I'm gonna be on a review high for a few days...
