A/N: Thanks to all the people who have reviewed! Sorry that it took so long to get this chapter up!

Hope you all enjoy.

Chapter 11: Rainy Days

Rikku shook out her bangs, wiping her brow from the water. "Geez, i-it's really comin' down out there! And you'd think this was a desert, y'know!"

"Guess we're stuck here," Gippal replied, stopping beside her. He stood with a hand on his hip and regarded her with a grin.

They stood underneath a short overhang just inside Home. The sky had turned an ominous gray before a flash of lightning appeared. Before they knew it, it was pouring.

She wrung out her hair a bit and looked outside again. "We could try making a run for it and—" her words were abruptly cut off as she jumped at the crash. Thunder rumbled loudly just outside, a flash of lightning lit up the sky. "Ehehe...nevermind, I guess we can wait it out some more," Rikku said quickly, hugging herself a bit.

"What's the matter? Still scared of a little thunder?" Gippal asked, a grin tugging at his lips. "And here I thought you weren't afraid of anything."

"Ehehe...not with thunder. I...just can't stand it...!" she squealed again as another crash filled the air.

"Hm...well we can't stay here all day. I'm soaked and uh...so are..." Gippal suddenly cleared his throat, his eyes trailing down to her shirt.

"What? What's wrong?" she asked in confusion, seeing his gaze on her chest. Her eyes widened and she suddenly hugged herself in realization.

"D-Don't look...!" Rikku exclaimed in embarrassment, seeing him grin slowly.

He promptly held his hands up in defense, chuckling a bit. "Didn't see a thing." She stopped for a moment, still hugging her chest.

"Though it wouldn't be the first time," Gippal mumbled quietly, smiling as her mouth dropped open. He laughed as she stood up and shoved him. "H-Hey, it's true, you know!" he laughed on, causing her to pout.

"Y-You pervert!" Rikku pointed a finger at him.

"Better me than someone else," he said with a hand on his hip.

She closed her mouth and turned away, sighing. "Y-Yeah..." she said under her breath, hoping Gippal didn't hear.

He grinned, taking a step towards her. "What was that?" he leaned in to look at her.

"I said that you're a meanie."

Her statement caused him to grin wider and he laughed, holding his sides. "You're always great for a laugh."

"Better me than someone else," she said, teasing him. Gippal turned around and he winked.

"I know."

Rikku heard another crash of thunder and she cringed, scooting back underneath the overhang closer to him.

"How 'bout we try makin' a run for it now?" Gippal suggested, changing the subject.

"Now? B-But it's still raining and the thunder's still—" she trailed off, jumping again.

"We'll get sick or something if we stay out here," Gippal said, moving towards her. "Come here."

She looked up and walked over to him.

"Get on. That way, I won't be able to see anything and I can get you to finally move," he chuckled, bending down.

"W-Well um...fine. But only because you're a pervert and you'd look...!" Rikku replied, climbing on his back. She promptly felt the heat from his body as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

Gippal grinned, feeling her pressed against him. He looked back at her. "Hold on."

He quickly darted out from under the overhang and rushed across the plaza toward the house. Rikku held on, feeling her head start to slowly lean forward towards him. Thunder continued to rumble in the distance. In a moment, she gave in to herself and rested her head against him so that her cheek was on his shoulder.

Gippal slowed his steps down a bit as he felt her breath on him coming out in short little puffs. He smiled sideways as they finally reached the front door of Rikku's house.

"Couldn't resist me, hm. Not many can," he laughed up as he stopped before her door.

Her head shot up suddenly and she opened her mouth ready to reply.

The front door flew open and bright light streamed out, a familiar silhouette standing in front of them.

"And where in tarnation have you kids been!" Cid demanded, crossing his arms.

Rikku immediately let go of Gippal and she jumped off him, laughing nervously and scratching the back of her head. "N-Nowhere, Pops! Just for a walk...!" she laughed some more.

Cid raised an eyebrow and eyed the two of them curiously. His daughter was standing a little bit behind Gippal and the boy had a light tinge of pink on his cheeks. Cid frowned. "Hm...is that right. Well, hurry up and get inside. You're more soaked than a Hypello in a hot spring!" he exclaimed, stepping aside as Rikku and Gippal entered.

"U-Uhm, where's Brother?" Rikku asked after her father had shut the door.

Cid walked past them and called out over his shoulder. "He's finishing up at the Moonflow. I came back early to check up on you kids."

Rikku glanced at Gippal and he seemed like he was trying hard not to smile. "Oh, u-um, but Pops! We were alright here. See! We're ok!" she exclaimed, moving her arms for emphasis.

Her father turned around and frowned. "Well at least I'm here now."

"Ehehehe..." she laughed softly, watching Cid go into the back. She let out a sigh and turned to Gippal. "And you didn't even help me explain things to him!" she whispered, pointing a finger.

Gippal grinned and waved a hand through the air. "Seemed like you did a pretty good job talkin' to your dad though."

"Oh, but it was sooo embarrassing. We almost got caught and...!"

"And...what?" he said softly, suddenly very close to her face.

She swallowed and leaned away from him, backing up against the wall. He moved towards her some more.

"Gippal...! What if he sees us? You can't just do things like this right here!" Rikku hissed at him, her eyes darting to see if Cid would come in the room.

"And where would you like me to do these things then?" he smiled, causing her to push him away. He laughed.

She began heading up the stairs, leaning against the railing as she looked down at him.

"Keep on asking and maybe you'll never find out," Rikku winked, climbing the rest of the way up.

Gippal blinked in surprise, making a mental note to take her up on that offer later.

xxx

It was a bit past eight at night by the time Cid announced that he was heading to bed.

"Already? Wow, Pops. You must be really tired or somethin'!" Rikku exclaimed as she sat by the table restocking her item belt. Gippal sat in the chair across from her, tinkering with a piece of machina.

Cid stood up, yawning and stretching his limbs. "Yeeep. Had a long day. I'll see ya tomorrow," he announced, heading out towards the stairs. He suddenly stopped in his tracks. "Oh and uh...Gippal."

He looked up. "Sir?"

"I hear you're interested in the Crusaders."

Gippal put down the machina and sat up a bit, his face lighting up. "Yeah, I am."

Cid stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Come to me tomorrow when you're free and I'll give you more information on where you need to go."

"Alright, I will. Thanks, Cid," Gippal nodded, watching the older man leave.

"The Crusaders?" Rikku asked quietly, seeing Gippal pick up the machina again.

"Yeah, it's a group that wants to fight Sin. I've wanted to be a part of them for a long time," he explained thoughtfully, looking up at her.

"So does that mean you're...leaving?" she asked.

"I don't know," he sighed, leaning back in the chair. "I guess when training starts, I'll have to leave to see if I get in."

"Oh."

He looked up and she was no longer working on her item belt.

"I hope you're able to get in then," Rikku suddenly said, smiling brightly.

Gippal paused, seeing her grin. "It's not like I'm leaving tomorrow or something you know. It'll probably be after this summer is over..." he explained with a wave of his hand. He leaned back a bit in his chair with an arm resting around the back.

"Yeah..." she replied, her voice distant.

"Worried that you'll never see me again or somethin' right?" he joked, standing up from his seat. He walked over to her.

She stuck her tongue out at him. "No. Why would I worry about you?" Rikku was obviously teasing him and he laughed. Gippal stopped behind her chair and gently leaned in.

"You'll miss me, y'know," he said.

She spun around and batted him away. He smirked. "And what if I don't?" she challenged with a grin.

"Oh you will. It's not like you'll meet anyone else who you'll end up liking..." he trailed off, his voice losing its playful tone.

She looked down. "So you really are...leaving."

He came around to stand in front of her, taking both her hands in his and pulling her up. She didn't look at him. "C'mon, you're stronger than that, Cid's Girl," he said.

"But it's not gonna be the same without you, y'know?" Rikku said, looking up.

He smiled weakly. "Yeah..."

"And what if you meet someone else or somethin'?" she continued, knowing that Gippal was sure to meet another person out there. He was just the type that attracted girls, plain and simple. That thought made her tense up.

"Hey, what about you? How will I know that you won't meet someone else while I'm gone or something?" Gippal asked, nudging her.

She spun away and crossed her arms. "Because I just won't."

He laughed, turning her around to face him again. "Promise me one thing then."

She turned her face to him. "Okay."

"Wherever we may be, we gotta stay happy, all right? No sad faces or cryin' alright? ...I uh...I wouldn't be able to live with myself for that..."

Rikku couldn't help but smile. "Sad faces? Crying? Who's gonna cry, Gippal?" she giggled quietly.

"No one will," he answered with a grin. She looked away from him momentarily. "Hey, you know what we should do so we really wouldn't have to worry then?" he asked suddenly.

"Huh? What?"

Gippal's smile widened. "We should get married."

"WHAT!" Rikku demanded in shock. The color drained from her face and she felt her knees wobbling.

He grasped her by the shoulders and gently kept her steady. "Hey, I'm just...kidding. A joke. It was a joke," he laughed.

She rolled her eyes. "That's some joke!"

"You kids still up?" Cid's voice boomed from upstairs.

They jumped at the older man's voice and Rikku shouted back. "Y-Yeah, Pops! But we'll head up in a bit!"

It was silent again, and she turned around to look at Gippal.

"So...you uh...goin' to bed now...?" he began, scratching the back of his neck. She stood just a little in front of him.

"Yeah...um. Aren't you?" Rikku asked.

He walked over to her and she watched as he switched off the light. "Yeah."

She headed up the stairs and stopped right outside her room, her hand on the doorknob. Gippal chuckled softly behind her and she turned around to face him, seeing the outlines of his face in the darkness.

"At least you'll get your real room back again after I leave."

"It doesn't matter to me you know..."

Gippal could sense her sadness by the way she turned her head down, but he chose not to say anything. He knew that he would be leaving soon as well, but he wasn't the type of person who would give up to sadness like that. It just wasn't his style. Instead, he said goodnight and walked past her and towards the end of the hall to his room. His step faltered slightly as he heard Rikku open the door to her own bedroom. He didn't turn around.

She watched his back as she lingered in the hallway some more. He continued walking and Rikku sighed, finally heading inside.

"Rikku."

She paused as Gippal began walking in her direction again. His dark figure leaned in towards her and he kissed her on the cheek.

"Sweet dreams," Gippal said.

"Y-Yeah..." she replied weakly, wanting to reach out to him.

He hovered over her for a few more seconds before stepping away and heading down the hall again.

"Gippal...?"

He stopped and turned around. "Yeah?"

"You'll still be here in the morning, right?" Rikku asked quietly.

Gippal stood with a hand on his hip and smiled sideways at her. "Why...what'll you do if I'm not?" he whispered back, his eyes sparkling under the low light.

She rocked back and forth on her heels. "Nothing. We said no sad faces or crying right?" Rikku gestured with her hands. Gippal raised an eyebrow and began heading back in her direction as she continued to talk. "Besides, it's not like I'll really miss you or anything or think about you all the time y'know..."

He smirked and stopped in front of her, causing Rikku to take a step backwards into her room. "Admit it. You're addicted to me, aren't you?" he grinned.

"What!"

"You are. Or else you wouldn't have asked if I'd still be here in the morning," he whispered. She could see him smiling in the darkness.

Rikku pointed to the door. "Goodnight, Gippal."

"Only if you kiss me goodnight," he said.

She rolled her eyes and waved a finger at him. "We may be together and all, but I'm not that easy to control y'know and—" Her words caught in her mouth as Gippal pulled her towards him in one smooth motion. She gasped as her hands crashed against his chest.

"You were saying?" he asked, a slow smile spreading on his lips.

"Ah...I-I...um," she spoke out in a jumble, feeling his arms tighten around her. Rikku grinned herself and put her arms around his waist. She saw his eye widen in surprise and she began moving both of them, causing Gippal to back up with her still pushing.

"...Yeah?" he smirked.

Rikku continued pushing him as he kept his arms around her. She smiled. "I was saying. that. you. need. to get out." At that point, Gippal saw that she had led them outside and he was standing outside her room. She dropped her arms from around him and giggled.

He leaned against the doorframe casually after letting her go. "Aren't you even a little guilty?" he chuckled.

She crossed her arms. "About what?"

"You know. For kicking me out like this knowing that I might not be here for long."

"Sssh. Gippal, my dad might here you. Keep your voice down," Rikku whispered at him, a finger at her lips.

He grinned and lowered his voice. "Then let's go back into your room then."

She closed the door halfway, seeing him still standing outside with a smirk. "Goodnight, Gippal...!" she whispered again.

"'Night, Cid's Girl," he replied, leaning down to quickly kiss her on the cheek. With that, he headed down the hallway once again.

Rikku turned and closed the door behind her and flopped down on her mattress on the floor. She buried her face in the pillow. "Why do you have to leave..." she mumbled quietly.

End of Chapter 11

Thanks so much for reading, everyone. The final chapter is up next, and I hope to make that the longest chapter if I can. Until then, see you later!