Disclaimer: FFX, FFX-2 – neither of them belong to me, I'm just a poor, starving fan : )
A/N: Wow … I don't know what to say. I have never had such an amazing response for a single chapter – especially considering it was a really short prologue. Thanks doesn't really cover it but … well, I don't really know what else to say.
UPDATED 27/03/08: As I'm going through and re-uploading each chapter to replace the chapter breaks, please note that I am also removing my review responses. This is simply due to this website's policy and is not a reflection on how about feel about receiving them. As anyone who writes for this website knows, reviews are what makes it all worth while :)
x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x
Rikku's Story
By: JoeyStar
Timeframe: Set a month or so after the 'happy' ending of FFX-2
x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x
Chapter 1
It's been a month since we returned from the Fareplane Glen and nothing has changed.
Well – I suppose you could count the fact that Spira is no longer being threatened by Vegnagun as an element of change, but aside from that, my life is quickly becoming a rather monotonous circle.
I blame it on Yuna. She's the one that keeps dragging me to these cdibet (stupid) functions. You see, I'm at a party to celebrate the fact that we saved the world. Maybe if this was the first party, or the second then my enthusiasm might be greater but I've actually lost count of how many times Yunie has informed me that we simply have to go and 'meet the people.'
Perhaps I should explain a little more.
Since Vegnagun was destroyed, the leader of our world, namely Yuna - although she vehemently denies it if you tell her that -, decided that it would be a good idea to reassure the people of Spira that all the fighting between the Youth League and New Yevon was finally over and that unity was the direction of Spira's future.
Consequently, all of us who had been involved in either defeating Sin or Vegnagun were invited on a progress that wound its steady way through Spira, following the traditional Summoner's path.
And so I thought – "hey, it's just like another pilgrimage! Except this time, all my friends are gonna be with us. This is going to be so much fun!"
How wrong I was.
The first party in Besaid was great – it was wonderful to have everyone I care about in the same place for once.
The second one in Kilika was fun – Dona and Barthello were there and their relationship is an endless source of amusement for me.
But then came the third one, and the fourth one, and the fifth – and we hadn't even left Luca at that point! The novelty was wearing off, you know?
Even now, when we've finally reached Bevelle, I can't relax. Knowing how large the city is, well let's just say that I could turn twenty before we leave.
"Hey Rikku!"
I looked away from my drink to see that Yuna was heading determinedly across the floor towards me, Tidus following closely. She looked worried and I know why. It's because I'm sitting here, in the corner and out of the way, while everyone else enjoys the party. But you know what? Sometimes I get so tired of having to be the upbeat, excited member of our little group and though I can't exactly explain why, it's getting harder and harder to maintain my happy persona.
Especially in front of Yuna. My cousin seems to have a sixth-sense for this sort of thing. And though I love her and would follow her anywhere – as I think my past actions prove – sometimes I just want to order her to leave me alone and let me wallow in this emotion that's two parts self-pity and one part longing.
And you know what's even more annoying? The fact that I'm feeling self-pity over the longing and I don't even know what I'm longing for.
"Hi Yunie," I replied, flashing her and Tidus a bright smile as they stopped before my table. Tidus grinned back, as carefree as ever, but Yuna frowned in that concerned way that meant she wanted to have a 'talk' with me. No matter that this was a rather inappropriate place; no one stopped my cousin when her mind was set. I decided to try and change the subject. "You look nice."
Yuna looked down at her clothes – they were similar in style to those she had worn while facing Vegnagun, but a little more modest and formal due to the setting. She smoothed imaginary creases out with her hands and twisted a little, surveying herself.
"Doesn't she?" From the appreciation in his voice, Tidus obviously agreed with me. He was dressed in yet another one of the outfits that Yuna had picked out for him. Having observed that he really only had one set of clothes and that they weren't appropriate for the progress, Yuna had dragged the reluctant Blitzball player out shopping. I'd been lucky enough to accompany them one day … and once had been enough.
"What about me?" I asked playfully, tossing my long golden braids back over my shoulder.
Tidus grinned. "You look as lovely as ever."
Yuna sighed mournfully. "I wish you'd wear something else though Rikku. Honestly … " she waved a hand at my outfit. "It's not exactly formal wear."
"I'm comfortable," I said stubbornly, looking down at the green bikini top, shorts and low boots I was wearing. It wasn't the first time that we'd had this conversation and it wouldn't be the last. In my mind, if these clothes were good enough to defeat Vegnagun in, then they were good enough for the people of Spira.
To appease Yuna, I picked up the jacket that was slung over my chair and pulled it on. "Better?"
Tidus picked up one of my braids and tickled my face with it, making me sneeze and push his hand away. Yuna just shook her head at our antics.
"I apologise for interrupting," a cultured voice said and we turned as one to see that Baralai had approached us.
"You're not interrupting anything important," I declared, ignoring another of Yuna's concerned frowns.
Baralai bowed his head slightly. "Lady Yuna, there are some representatives of New Yevon who have requested to speak with you."
Yuna straightened, recognising that her duty was calling her. "Of course. Tidus? Rikku?"
"We'll be fine here," Tidus assured her, drawing out an empty chair beside me and dropping bonelessly into it.
"I won't be long," she promised, eyes alighting on his for one lingering moment before she let Baralai lead her away.
Once Yuna was out of earshot, Tidus turned to me. "So," he said in that blunt way of his, "what's up?"
"What do you mean?"
He gave me a wide-eyed look. "You're not your normal, bubbly self."
That was one of the things I appreciated about Tidus – like me, he was direct and had a tendency to blurt out what he was thinking. It made for short conversations but was a welcome change to Yuna who usually skirted around the subject so much that I would be left to raise the problem myself.
I laughed. "How do you know what I'm like anymore? You've been gone for two years!"
The laughter softened the comment but Tidus's gaze still immediately swung over to Yuna, who was standing on the other side of the ballroom, politely greeting a number of Baralai's New Yevon companions. "You could be right. Yuna sometimes seems like a stranger to me now."
I stared at him, surprised, and he waved his hands to negate the comment. "In a positive way," he hastened to add.
I nodded slowly. "She certainly … blossomed when she became a Gullwing."
"And you? What happened to Rikku?"
The question was innocent enough and I don't think Tidus had intended it to be taken seriously but it tugged a chord inside of me. What had happened to Rikku? Rikku was a fun-loving person – someone who lived life to the full and never wasted a moment. She encouraged others with her boundless energy and even when everything seemed dark, she championed the light of hope. She certainly wasn't anything to do with the quiet, discontented girl who sat nursing a glass of wine.
I realised, with a clarity that was both startled and frightened me, that I no longer knew who I was. And perhaps worse, I didn't understand what was wrong with me, or know how to find my way back.
"Tidus?" We both looked up to see Yuna, waving at him from across the room. I sensed the changed in him immediately and I knew he wanted to leap up and join her. So I pushed my concerns aside – I didn't want to talk about them anyway.
"Go on," I told him, "you don't want to keep her waiting, you know?"
He flashed me a brilliant smile. "Thanks Rikku," and bounded across the room to my cousin, with all the energy of a fledgling Chocobo. Several guests had to jump backwards to avoid his destructive path but Yuna just laughed when he joined her, and led him onto the dance floor.
Yuna and Tidus.
Aside from Paine – who is currently entertaining Lulu and Wakka's son Vidina and looking quite out of place – Yuna and Tidus are probably my best friends in the whole of Spira. During Yunie's pilgrimage, Tidus was the only one who seemed to understand that her throwing her life away was not going to solve Spira's problems. Perhaps it was because he was technically from another time or perhaps it was because he was in love with her, whatever it was, it certainly made him the perfect ally. And Yunie, well she's my cousin you know? If you don't love your family then who do you love?
They look so happy together. After everything that's happened, I think they deserve that more than anyone. He lost his existence for her and she went to the ends of the Spira to bring him back again; you don't really get a deeper love than that.
Sitting here and watching them dance … I've just realised something.
I'm jealous.
Jealous of the fact that my two best friends no longer have eyes for anyone but each other. Jealous that they've found that perfect love that we're all supposed to strive for.
Love? The sudden thought startled me out of my reverie and I snorted into my drink. I've never really thought about love before. After all, the last two years of my life have been spent protecting Spira, which isn't exactly a job filled with potential romantic prospects. And I'm only seventeen! That's a little young to be thinking about love isn't it?
I seem to be the only one that thinks so. I had the same argument with my dad a couple of days ago. Since I've been 'endangering my life', as he calls it, on a 'daily basis', he adds, Pops has become a lot more protective. I started off thinking that is was sweet but then it simply became annoying and last week, when he started talking about arranging a marriage for me … I don't think I can repeat the words I shouted back at him. We were in a room full of people at the time and I thought I was being clever by remembering to speak in Al Bhed. Of course, what I had forgotten was that the people in the room were Al Bhed … this particular party came as something as a relief because at least it got my out from under my dad's nose for a while.
I mean, marriage? Come on – I'm only seventeen! Surely he can't be that desperate from grandchildren, after all – he's got Brother.
Suddenly, I uncovered the reason behind my dad's abrupt marriage-urge. Anyone was liable to plunge into despair when they realised Brother was their only heir.
The thought made me snigger and unfortunately, I had just taken a big gulp of my drink. The liquid got caught in my throat and I began to cough, gasping for air.
A strong hand struck my back between my shoulder blades but I was too busy choking to pay attention to where it had come from. It patted my back firmly and I welcomed the help.
Slowly my coughing faded and after swallowing a couple of times, I finally had my breathing back under control. Cheeks burning and trying to hide behind wisps of my blonde hair, I turned around to thank the person who had saved me from an embarrassing death and froze.
Staring down at me with frank amusement in his one-eyed gaze, was Gippal.
The one person I would have been grateful to avoid – that I was sure had been talking to Nooj only seconds before – was smirking at me, a careless smile on his tanned face.
"You might wanna watch how much you drink," he told me lazily, "you're only a kid."
A kid? You're only a year older than me!
"Dryhgc," (Thanks) I muttered grudgingly, bracing myself for the ridicule that was sure to follow.
Gippal surprised me. He stretched and then ruffled my hair with one hand before I could stop him. "This saving your life is getting to be a bit of a habit." He winked at me. "See you around, Cid's girl."
"So hysa ec Rikku!" (My name is Rikku) I snarled at him, but he just laughed at me before sauntering off.
Agh! Of all the people in the room- in Spira – why did it have to be Gippal who witnessed my near-death choking experience? He was just – he was just so … so frustrating! And that crack about having the habit of saving me life – I could have hit him!
The worst thing was, he wasn't lying. You see, Gippal's been the bane of my existence since we were kids. We grew up together on Bikanel Island and there was this one incident with a very angry Sand Worm… and yes, if I am forced to admit it, Gippal did save my life that day. Of course, we wouldn't have even been in that situation if it hadn't been for Gippal's recklessness. He was the leader of our little group and where he went, everyone else followed. I was the youngest, so no one really listened to me. I said it would be a bad idea to go into the Sand Worm's cave …
But that's not what makes me despise Gippal. No, I think my opinion of him changed one day when he told me, with a completely straight face, that because I was the youngest it was only natural that he spent his every waking hour picking on me. It was his right.
I'd like to tell him where he can stick his - uh oh, Yuna's looking over at me again – she must have sensed my vengeful thoughts. Tidus doesn't look too happy at Yuna's constant distraction. Great – now they're both mad at me.
Grabbing the accursed drink that had caused me so many problems, I fixed a bright smile on my face and blinked innocently back at my cousin. It seemed to distract her enough that Tidus was able to pull her back into the dance and I was able to relax again.
At least I didn't have to see Gippal very often anymore. Once this stupid progress was over, that cocky, self-involved guy would go back to his precious Djose temple to tinker with his machina – and I was determined to stay as far away from Djose as possible.
Pushing unwanted thoughts of Gippal aside, I forced myself to concentrate on something else. Sitting as I was, in the corner of the room, I actually had a very good view of everyone else and I decided to entertain myself by watching everyone else.
Lulu and Wakka were sitting at a nearby table, talking to Paine. Paine still held baby Vidina on her lap – but her panicked look was beginning to fade and it warmed me to see three of my friends becoming friends themselves, even if I wouldn't have predicted the strange combination.
Beyond them I could see that Yuna and Tidus had broken away from the dance floor and were now talking to Nooj and Leblanc. I could see the strained look on Yunie's face and my heart went out to her. Leblanc meant well, but she was very hard to cope with in anything less than small doses.
On a table adjoining Lulu's, Buddy and my brother were talking to some people that I didn't recognise. While not strictly part of the team who defeated Vegnagun, Buddy and Brother were members of the Gullwings and besides, the Celsius was being used as transport for the progress, so it was only fair that they got to come to the parties.
In the centre of the large room a small knot of people had grown around Baralai and … I squinted to get a better look at the young Praetor's companion and then jerked away, wrinkling my nose as I recognised Gippal's familiar stance.
Hurriedly looking past them I located the final members of our group. Kimahri, Logos and Ormi, were standing by the room's main entrance, either side of the door. The Ronso was as impassive as ever – I never know what he's thinking – and Logos and Omni were shooting him nervous glances. It never fails to amuse me that people are scared of Kimahri. To me he's always been my cousin's protector and I think my Uncle Braska would be have been proud of how well he looks after Yuna. There's really nothing frightening about him at all.
A flash of colour from beyond the doorway caught my eye and I saw a figure duck out of sight into the corridor outside. I frowned thoughtfully, curiosity tickled. I couldn't say why, but something about that figure had seemed familiar and my inquisitive nature was piqued. It wasn't like I was doing something that couldn't be interrupted anyway.
Pushing my drink aside, I rose and made my quickly around the outskirts of the room before anyone could waylay me. I think Yuna noticed my departure but luck was with me because at that moment, another Bevelle dignitary demanded her attention and she had no choice but to let me go.
After waving at Kimarhi, I ducked into the corridor outside and found that it was deserted. Any sane person would have returned to the party but I was Rikku – and an Al Bhed besides. Subterfuge had been our way of life up until a few years ago and old habits died hard. The figure was probably just someone from the party ... but it never hurt to check.
Grateful that I had worn my old, low boots – they made my passage along the corridor soundless – I poked my nose around the corner. The figure appeared briefly at the end of the hall and then was gone again.
This was beginning to turn into a regular mystery and for the first time in days, I found myself breaking into a genuine smile. I had to resist the urge to rub my hands together with glee as I tracked the stranger along the hall and peeked around the next corner.
The corridor beyond lay empty and I pouted, feeling disappointed before my eyes picked out a splash of colour on the floor, standing out clearly against the cool white of the Bevelle citadel. Spirits lifting, I was about to dart towards it when a hand closed around my shoulder, scaring me half to death.
I spun around in the balls of my feet, feeling for the knives that I habitually kept in sheaths strapped to my wrists and then relaxed when I realised I knew my opponent and he offered no threat. I didn't have to be happy about his intrusion however.
"What are you doing here Gippal?"
He smiled lazily. "Watchin' you sneakin' around an empty hall."
I bristled. "Mayja sa ymuha!" (Leave me alone) I snapped, glaring at him.
He held his hands up in a mock-defensive posture. "Hey I just wanted some fresh air."
His honestly mollified me and I found my scowl slipping away. "Cunno," (Sorry) I apologised with poor grace, looking down at my right foot as I scuffed it back and forth across the floor.
"What were you doin'?"
So there was proof that Gippal and I have at least one thing in common, aside from both being Al Bhed. He's as curious as I am.
And strangely, I found myself telling him. "I was … I saw someone and I wondered what they were doing here."
"So you followed them?"
From his lips my actions sounded completely stupid. "Does it matter?"
His eyebrows rose. "Sheesh – you're really uptight tonight, ain't ya? You know, you really need to relax."
His laidback attitude was so annoying! "Just go away, Gippal."
"Veha," (Fine) he said easily. "Have fun with your sneaking … Cid's girl." He started to walk away from me.
I was about to shout after him the mantra 'I have a name!' that had been played back and forth between us for years but I'd only just opened my mouth when the strange objection on the ground, that I had noticed before Gippal had distracted me, gave off a weird whirring noise.
Gippal stopped in his tracks and looked back at me.
And the party room behind us exploded.
x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x
Well that was just a taster of the beginning of the Rikku/Gippal relationship. Remember that this is an action fic as well as being a romance so you'll be able to see the development of Rikku and Gippal's relationship throughout this fic, rather than just watch them fall in love at first sight (which is WAY too cliche for me)
Oh and sorry if you don't like the 'depressed' Rikku - but the reasons for her negative emotions will be explained in later chapters so please don't shout at me that's she's gone all OOC!
Please read and review!