Author's notes: Hi. i'm uhm, updating. Y'all prolly hate me for taking forever on the story-- Hahh;; i wouldn't blame you. Ah well, sooo sorry about the wait. Please enjoy this like a bowl of ramen when you're hungry; yah.
"Stu..stupid Gippal." Rikku mumbled as she wiped away at her tears. Rikku was starting to calm down, and she tried to regulate her breathing. "Wh...what does he know?" She got up and kicked at her towel in frustration. Rikku was confused, and her heart had felt like it had been pierced. Gippal's words still ran through her head, and she couldn't get over what Gippal had done. Rikku twisted the sink faucet and let the cold water run. She peered into the mirror and wiped away at her nose, which was turning red. Rikku had to stop crying, because this wasn't like her. Optimistic Rikku didn't let anyone or anything bring her down. She'll get over this. After all, they were just fighting, it's not like their relationship was over. This was something Rikku could fix, but forgiving Gippal any time soon wasn't in the picture. Rikku dragged her hands under the water, and began to wash away her tears.
Gippal kept his distance as Rikku said her goodbyes to Yuna and the rest. He stood near the entrance, arms and legs crossed, leaning against a pole. Gippal would glance every now and then at Rikku, who was testing his patience by taking forever to hug everyone and tell them about the opening ceremony, but most of the time, Gippal kept his view up at the clear, blue sky, which was something he didn't see often. Gippal closed his eyes, took a deep breath in, and felt the breeze brush against him; he was enjoying the atmosphere. Still, something inside him wanted to get back to his Machina, and his dark room he'd pace around endlessly in. Good thing the next stop was the Machina Faction; he was looking forward to this. Opening his eye, he saw Rikku coming towards his way. She was finally done saying her goodbyes. Rikku had a smile on her face, nothing out of the usual, and she advoided any eye contact with Gippal. Thinking back earlier to the incident that morning, Gippal suddenly stressed his eyebrows. What is she doing? He questioned in his mind.
"Took yah long enough." Gippal said to Rikku as she was about to pass by. He pushed himself off the pole and started to walk towards the Celsius, steps ahead of Rikku. His voice was teasing, picking up on old habits, yet little emotion was put into his voice, since Rikku had made him feel numb since early morning.
"Hmph! And what do you care?" Rikku barked back, to his back. She was angry, but there was a softness in her voice. "You didn't hafta wait for me, yah know."
Gippal kept silent; he looked back at Rikku and locked eyes with her. After noticing, she quickly turned her head and blushed slighty. Her lips were straight, neither smiling nor frowning, and she showed clear signs of not wanting to look at him in the face. Gippal was still confused over the fact that Rikku was shunning him off. It hurt, but then it also made him angry. What did he do wrong?
Rikku kept her eyes to the side and she continued to walk the pathway back to the Celsius. The road was empty, except for Gippal, who was looking back at her. She knew Gippal was angry, and she didn't want to be in this position. She thought that she would've been able to at least say something to him this morning, but she couldn't even stand looking at him face to face. Just for this time, Rikku was going to keep silent. She childishly shunned off Gippal, who had made her cry, and started to pick up speed. Rikku then sprinted pass Gippal, shoved him aside, and ran at top speed to the Celsius.
"Huh!" Gippal said, as he watched Rikku speed by. Quickly, before Rikku was out of his sight, Gippal shouted, "Rikku! Stop running away from me!" After hearing Gippal, Rikku stopped in her tracks and froze in place. Gippal, relieved to see this, jogged up towards Rikku and stopped behind her. The Celsius was resting just a few feet in front of them. Gippal looked down at Rikku, who was breathing heavily, and reached out his hand and touched her right shoulder. "Rikku... What's wrong?"
"Don't touch me!" Rikku said quickly and turned her back to face Gippal. Gippal, hurt by these words stood confused. Rikku had a frustrated face on, and this time, she looked at Gippal straight in the eye. Her eyes looked vulnerable, and Rikku took a step back.
"What'd I do? Rikku? Tell me!" Gippal said to her. "Why won't you let me touch you?" Gippal had so many unanswered questions bottled up inside him. What did I do to you? What happened? Do you love me... at all? Anymore? "Why! Rikku!" Gippal pushed forward.
"Is... that all, huh, Gippal?" Her high voice rang out at him. "Is that all you want from me? My body?" Rikku pounded her foot and then pounded his chest lightly with her fist. "Since the start?"
"What are you talking about, Rikku?" Gippal asked, confused.
"Well, too bad! You pervert! I won't let you touch me anymore!" Rikku turned her back and started to walk away.
"Rikku! Stop! What did I do to you to make you think that?" Gippal ran after her and stepped in her path, blocking the entrance into the Celsius.
"You wanna know, Gippal?" Rikku questioned, still angry.
"Well, duh!" Gippal pointed out, making it obivious that it was all he has been asking for.
"You did this!" Rikku shouted, grabbed his wrist, and shoved his hand over her breast. "I woke up to this!" Gippal stood, open-mouthed in front of Rikku. He let his hand dangle in her hand; he was confused, shocked, and speechless. "Happy now?" Rikku shoved his hand away and pushed her way into the Celsius, disappearing from his sight.
A flash of light peeked through the door that atomatically opened for Gippal as he stepped onto the bridge. A gust of wind pasted by, and Gippal spotted Rikku laying on the center of the platform, her arms outstretched underneath her head. Gippal walked quietly up to Rikku, who was probably dozing off. Once he reached her head, he bent over and blocked the sunlight from Rikku's eyes. Noticing this, Rikku popped open an eye, gazed up at Gippal, and then closed them again.
"What do you want, Gippal." Rikku said motionlessly. She didn't seem angry, but she wasn't in the mood to pick a fight.
"Hey, hey. I just wanted to say I'm sorry, kay?" Gippal said in his usual tone. He stood above Rikku, who kept still and didn't respond. He stood in silence for almost a minute until he said, "Just look, check it out!"
"Huh?" Rikku opened both of her eyes and lifted herself up. She was curious but still held back.
"See, see?" Gippal turned his back and showed her what was behind him. "I tied my hands, just to prove to you... that I don't need to touch you, Rikku. Unless you want me to."
"Wha..." Rikku was forced to smile. It was funny that he had tied his hands to prove to her his point. Something inside her still felt confused, but at this moment, she felt like she had to forgive him.
"What?" Gippal grinned. He watched Rikku get up from the floor and stand before him. "You said that I touched you the wrong way, right?"
"... Yah." Rikku said, blushing slightly. Her smile dissapeared for a second.
"Well, this way, I won't ever hafta touch you again. Just to make sure." Gippal grinned and kneeled on both knees, bringing himself down to Rikku's height. He felt stupid, but he wanted her to talk to him again. He wanted her smile, her forgiveness, her lovin'. "So?" Gippal added. "Do you think you can forgive me?"
"Uhm..." Rikku eyed Gippal, deciding wheter or not to forgive the bulky blonde in front of her. "Well..."
"'I forgive you Gippal! You strong, sexy beast!'" Gippal blurted out, imitating Rikku in a high voice.
"Huh! You wish, Gippal!" Rikku defensively said. She then scooted back and turned the opposite direction, where Gippal was stuck staring at her back again. Rikku turned her head and rested it on her shoulder. She said to Gippal, "You sure know how to frustrate me sometimes, Gippal." Gippal sensed the softness in her voice and felt the mood turn serious. But then Rikku smiled back at him and added, "But... I guess I just have to forgive you. For now."
"Yah?" Gippal questioned.
"Yah." Rikku replied. She smiled, crawled over to Gippal, and leaned over to give him a kiss on the cheek. She then let out a huge grin. "I kinda like you when your all tied up."
"You know, I won't be doing this again." Gippal said to her. "This is your chance to take advantage of me...'"
"Shut it." Rikku said to him. "Or I'll tape your lips shut too."
"Ooo.. fiesty." Gippal added as Rikku started to walk away. Right when she was about to enter the Celsius, Gippal said to her, "Urh... Rikku?"
"Hm?" Rikku turned around and looked at Gippal. He was still in his kneeling position. "What's up?"
"I'm sorry." Gippal said in a serious tone.
"Me too, Gippal." Rikku then stood behind the exit and smiled back at him. "Good luck trying to untie yourself." Within saying that, the doors shut, leaving Gippal alone on the Celsuis's bridge.
i can't really promise when a new chapter'll come in> ;;. But!summer's closing in and i got more time to do nothing. slap me over the face if i take too long. byebye! R&R