Disclaimer: I definitely, one hundred percent do NOT own FFX-2.
Okies? Thank you for the reviews, I'm sorry Gippy was outta character - I'll try to make him in charry more often than not.
I don't think this has the making of one of those, "Rikku and Gippal live happily together ever after" fics, so...
Three in the morning.
Rikku was sprawled across the guest bed of her room, having succumbed to the need for sleep. Although the bed was lined with silk sheets and feather pillows, comfort does not necessarily make way for a peaceful night's sleep.
The Al Bhed tossed and turned, her forehead etched with worry marks. Her brow was creased and perspire was dripping down from her forehead, never quite touching her pillow. Incoherent muttering could be heard under her breathe in little shallow gasps. Rikku unconsciously grabbed a handful of sheets, trying to make her dreams leave.
"Hu... hu..." Toss. "Sudran, sudren..." Turn. "..Susso!" (-"No... no..." "Mother, mother..." "..Mommy!"-) A sharp cry was let loose as Rikku slipped further into the world of dreams.
"Mai?" An excited voice called out, her footsteps muffled from outside the room. "I know you're in there - lemme in!"
The lass's foot tapped out impatiently as she waited for the lock to click and the door to open, revealing a somewhat tired Al Bhed woman, her lovely hair swept back in a clip.
"I had a feeling you'd come to visit, if only to question me to death, Celisse," Maia laughed softly, motioning for her friend to come in.
Unlike Maia, Celisse was pretty rather than beautiful. Instead of elegance, Celisse was wrapped up in a cute demeanor. Rather than Mai's responsible, quiet dedication to the world, Celisse took in everything with a laugh, a happy-go-lucky, life's-just-peachy-keen sort of attitude.
They were friends at heart.
"I can't believe - I just - I-" Celisse fumbled for words, excitement taking her almost to the point of hyperventilation. "I can't believe you're engaged! The announcement, the - how long have you known?"
Mai gave a warm smile. "Since I was twelve. A lot of coping time, you know. Time that I used wisely, I think."
Celisse rolled her eyes. "Of course, you use everything wisely, don't you, now?" She gave her friend a gentle push. "But you know... The main reason I came... They announced the engagement, and that a wedding was being scheduled but - ah! You're dad's so aggravating!"
Mai covered her mouth to stifle a giggle. "He is, isn't he?"
"He didn't even say to who! And I'm not waiting a whole two days to find out. You're just going to have to tell me." Celisse gave Mai a look. You know, that look. The one that says, 'You better tell me or I just might have to kill you'.
"So, who is it? Huh, huh? Who?"
Mai broke out into a smile. "Cid."
"Really? He's so cute!"
"Hey!" Mai faked a glare and chucked a pillow in Celisse's general direction, hitting her in the stomach. Celisse suddenly made a convulsive gesture and dropped to the floor, acting out a dramatic death scene.
Mai rose an eyebrow and waited for her friend to come back to reality.
Celisse was still limp on the floor.
"I want a girl," Mai suddenly commented, causing Celisse to lift up her head. "I spunky little blonde, with bright green eyes."
Celisse snorted. "Well of course she'd be blonde." She put her head back down, lapsing into thought.
A comfortable silence filled the room until Mai said, "Celisse?"
"Hmm?"
"Don't you ever get tired of your dad traveling around so much?"
Celisse blinked. "Well, I... I don't know."
"What's it like?" Mai looked sincerely interested.
"Umm... I don't know. There's the ocean, and lots of buildings... And lot's of Yevonites."
"Oh."
"I don't think they like us very much, though. But that's okay, you know? I have enough love for the both of us, I think."
Another giggle escaped Mai's lips.
"I've got a brilliant idea, Mai!" Celisse's head suddenly shot up.
"Huh?" Mai was a bit taken back by Celisse's abrupt shout. But then again, she did tend to do this all of the time.
"Where's that one book?" Celisse crawled over to Mai's dresser, scrimmaging for something (apparently a book).
"Uh, Celi? I have a lot of books, you know..."
"That one. Uh..." Her hand moved something and revealed a nicely decorated book of Al Bhed Time Stories. "Aha! It was always my favorite when I was little.
"Which one?"
"'Dra Baycyhd Bnehlacc'. You know, the one where the two royal families arrange a marriage between their children, but the little girl gets cursed and has to go into hiding with a peasant. So the children never meet each other. But when they're older, the peasant princess is secretly invited to a magnificent ball. When she gets there, everyone looks down on her. Ignoring her, all of them - except for the Prince. He can't stop staring at her. It's love at first sight, you know? And then at the end of the story, she finds out she's really a princess, and that she's been engaged with him since her birth." (-"The Peasant Princess"-)
"I remember that one," Mai sighed thoughtfully.
"Hey, Mai?" Celisse yawned, carefully turning the pages of the book.
"Hmm?"
"We can have our children marry each other! If I have a boy, that is."
Mai's eyes lit up at the suggestion. "Oh! It could be just like in the story!"
"They could even meet each other at a beautiful ball!"
Celisse clapped her hands gleefully. "Oh, I can't wait until I-" Her voice faltered as another thought took her.
"What's the matter?" Mai's concerned voice rang out.
"Nothing... It's just, you know..."
"What is it?"
"Well," she took a deep breath. "Do you think that maybe.. Someone, you know.. not Al Bhed would ever.. marry..."
"You mean a Yevonite?"
"..Yeah."
Mai's brow furrowed. "I'm not sure."
"We will always remember Lady Maia as a responsible, caring Al Bhed, a loving mother, an obedient spouse, and a leader among our people."
Mourning was commonly looked down upon in the Al Bhed culture, but a fairly large number of people were gathered at the funeral of Lady Maia. The woman had been found dead in her garden, a smile on her face, no apparent cause of death. Some Al Bhed were stunned at the sudden end of such a gentle, not to mention famous, woman.
A few feet away from the casket stood Cid, silent tears streaming down his face as he held the hand of his six year old daughter with care. The little girl, Rikku, stood quietly next to her father, concerned that her father was crying but not entirely understanding why or what was happening. Next to the casket was a kneeling Brother, wailing and sobbing his eyes out, not caring who was watching.
Across from the broken family stood another woman, familiar to Cid but unknown to the children. Her eyes held a sense of grief almost deeper than Cid's own, her tear stained face no longer glowing with laughter. Behind her a little boy poked out, messy brown hair sticking out everywhere. A yawn escaped his lips before his own brown eyes caught the little Al Bhed's green ones. They locked for a split second before another yawn protruded from Leije and Rikku focused her attention on her bawling brother.
Rikku's eyes snapped open. Her body shot up and she was in a sitting position within two seconds, covered in dried sweat. It was enthralling how quickly she shifted from unconcious to concious, no in between time.
Her only thought was, that no matter what time it happened to be, she needed to speak with Leije. Right then. Questions needed to be answered, fears needed to be put to rest.
Getting dressed as quickly as she could manage, Rikku nearly tumbled out of her room as she dashed into Leije's, forgetting to knock.
Not that it mattered.
He wasn't there.
What time was it? What, three thirty in the morning?
Biting her lip, Rikku closed her eyes and rubbed her temples with her thumbs, as if that would magically give some sign as to where he could be at this hour of the night.
'Maybe he was uncomfortable and went to the lounge. Or maybe... Maybe he passed out at the bar? Gippal did that once didn't he...? Meh, Gippal's crazy, Leije wouldn't...'
Urrrrgh..!"
'Wait... maybe... he just couldn't sleep. Maybe he went for a walk.'
Ah! Of course! The garden!" Rikku's face lit up as she headed out to the Bevellian Garden.
Thankies a bunch, review please! v.v