Dancing All Around Me : A Rikku x Gippal Fanfiction
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Note : This takes place one year after the Final Fantasy X-2 gameplay, after the defeat of Vegnagun. The Gullwings have gone their separate ways for the time being: Brother, Shinra, and Buddy are traveling around Spira; Rikku is staying with Yuna in Besaid; Paine has "run off" somewhere (though she refuses to disclose her location), but manages to keep in touch with the other girls by sending spheres; Nooj, Gippal, and Baralai have remained leaders of their individual factions, and they have maintained a peace bond between the three groups; Leblanc and her syndicate have stayed in Guadosalam, and have caused no recent trouble. Spira is becoming a better place, and many fiends have been cleared out of the land. The people are looking forward to the future with much hope.
Note #2 : Tidus did not return in this version of the story.
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CHAPTER ONE : Off She Goes
The afternoon sun bathed the citizens of Besaid in radiant light. Sea birds fluttered about restlessly; it was springtime, and the energetic cries of newborn chicks resonated through the cheerful atmosphere.
The island was alive with vibrant activity, both human and animal. As of late, more animals were seen loping around the tents in the settlement. The addition of dogs, cats, birds, and the like made the citizens more involved, and it wasn't long before there was a decision to expand the settlement. People from all over Spira had started to migrate over to Besaid, "to enjoy the country living and peaceful beaches," they remarked. Besaid was growing, undoubtedly, and there wasn't exactly that much space left.
Blitzball was still around, serving as the primary form of entertainment for Spira, and the Besaid Aurochs were constantly training. Wakka, having recently become a father, helped the team train on certain days, and Lulu, clutching a child that had inherited much of his father's looks, would sit and watch with some amusement.
Yuna, the former High Summoner and spherehunter, visited her close friends Wakka and Lulu often. The couple's child had taken a liking to Yuna, and she enjoyed baby-sitting him occasionally, when the two needed time alone together. Rikku, Yuna's Al Bhed cousin, would accompany Yuna, and life had seemed so perfect at those times.
Today, Yuna and Rikku were baby-sitting Vidina while Wakka and Lulu had gone off on a walk together. Instead of going outside like the girls usually did, they stayed in Wakka's tent today. Rarely would the girls engage in any deep conversation, for they had usually been distracted by the baby. Yet Rikku had begun to tire of the silence.
"So, Yunie," Rikku started as she waved a toy in front of little Vidina's face. "Have you heard from Paine lately?"
Yuna, preoccupied with a book of some sort, replied rather bluntly, not breaking her concentration on the contents of the page. "Nope."
Rikku looked up at Yuna, who was sprawled on her stomach on the bed. "Not since the last time she sent us a sphere?"
"No."
The blond Al Bhed girl of a mere eighteen years stood up, the child's toy still in her hand. Upon doing so, the boy had started to cry, and Rikku immediately sat back down, handing the child the toy. Once he had stopped crying, Rikku eyed Yuna, who hadn't reacted or looked up since. "That's weird. Do you think she's in some kinda trouble? She usually sends a sphere every two weeks..."
An awkward moment of silence passed before Yuna, closing the book gently, pushed herself up to a sitting position and faced her cousin. "...I'm sure she's fine. You know Paine... she can take care of herself through any situation."
Rikku silently acquiesced, averting her gaze to the carpet below her. She traced the patterns with her finger before jumping up excitedly. "Yunie! We should go off somewhere! Aren't you bored, staying here in Besaid? I certainly don't want to spend the rest of my life here."
Yuna, who appeared to be deep in thought, looked to Vidina sitting at Rikku's feet, then back to the Al Bhed girl's face. It was true that it had been Rikku who had inspired Yuna to undertake an adventure to find the story behind Shuyin and Lenne, but the journey had caused her much pain and a sense of loss. But this time... perhaps there wouldn't be any negative emotions, and the quest would be positive and happy—
"No, Rikku," Yuna said, breaking her thoughts abruptly. "I can't. I'll stay here, in Besaid."
Rikku, somewhat hurt by such rejection, sighed and nodded, looking down at her feet. "I understand, Yunie. But... I want to do something. I want to go somewhere." She looked at Yuna with a serious expression, something Yuna had never really seen before. "And I don't want to go alone."
"Rikku..." Yuna didn't want to leave. She didn't want to face any more sadness. She only wanted a simple life, here in Besaid, where no one would hurt her.
"But I know. You don't want to leave Besaid. And that's okay. I'll go alone. And don't worry, I'll be fine. It's time I showed everyone that I can do things myself, that I'm stronger than they think. I may only be eighteen, but I'm a woman, no matter what they say. I'll go somewhere, and I'll find something to do, something that will make me better." Rikku smiled sadly, as if in some sort of reminiscence. Yuna, surprised, could only sit there, speechless, thoughts tumbling around in her head.
An awkward silence ensued, the air thick with discomfort. Rikku shifted back and forth on her feet, restless. Vidina continued playing with his toy, apparently oblivious to his surroundings. Finally, Rikku broke the quietude.
"I'll go now... Yunie. I'll keep in touch. And... I'll be back." The Al Bhed girl smiled one last time before turning and stepping out of the tent. Yuna, remaining wordless, fell forward onto the bed, lying there in stunned silence. Rikku... her cousin, her friend, the sister she never had. After a moment, Yuna smiled. She knew Rikku would be able to take care of herself. And she knew that whatever quest Rikku was undertaking would lead the girl to discover herself.
Everything would be fine.
- - x - -
Note : This takes place one year after the Final Fantasy X-2 gameplay, after the defeat of Vegnagun. The Gullwings have gone their separate ways for the time being: Brother, Shinra, and Buddy are traveling around Spira; Rikku is staying with Yuna in Besaid; Paine has "run off" somewhere (though she refuses to disclose her location), but manages to keep in touch with the other girls by sending spheres; Nooj, Gippal, and Baralai have remained leaders of their individual factions, and they have maintained a peace bond between the three groups; Leblanc and her syndicate have stayed in Guadosalam, and have caused no recent trouble. Spira is becoming a better place, and many fiends have been cleared out of the land. The people are looking forward to the future with much hope.
Note #2 : Tidus did not return in this version of the story.
- - x - -
CHAPTER ONE : Off She Goes
The afternoon sun bathed the citizens of Besaid in radiant light. Sea birds fluttered about restlessly; it was springtime, and the energetic cries of newborn chicks resonated through the cheerful atmosphere.
The island was alive with vibrant activity, both human and animal. As of late, more animals were seen loping around the tents in the settlement. The addition of dogs, cats, birds, and the like made the citizens more involved, and it wasn't long before there was a decision to expand the settlement. People from all over Spira had started to migrate over to Besaid, "to enjoy the country living and peaceful beaches," they remarked. Besaid was growing, undoubtedly, and there wasn't exactly that much space left.
Blitzball was still around, serving as the primary form of entertainment for Spira, and the Besaid Aurochs were constantly training. Wakka, having recently become a father, helped the team train on certain days, and Lulu, clutching a child that had inherited much of his father's looks, would sit and watch with some amusement.
Yuna, the former High Summoner and spherehunter, visited her close friends Wakka and Lulu often. The couple's child had taken a liking to Yuna, and she enjoyed baby-sitting him occasionally, when the two needed time alone together. Rikku, Yuna's Al Bhed cousin, would accompany Yuna, and life had seemed so perfect at those times.
Today, Yuna and Rikku were baby-sitting Vidina while Wakka and Lulu had gone off on a walk together. Instead of going outside like the girls usually did, they stayed in Wakka's tent today. Rarely would the girls engage in any deep conversation, for they had usually been distracted by the baby. Yet Rikku had begun to tire of the silence.
"So, Yunie," Rikku started as she waved a toy in front of little Vidina's face. "Have you heard from Paine lately?"
Yuna, preoccupied with a book of some sort, replied rather bluntly, not breaking her concentration on the contents of the page. "Nope."
Rikku looked up at Yuna, who was sprawled on her stomach on the bed. "Not since the last time she sent us a sphere?"
"No."
The blond Al Bhed girl of a mere eighteen years stood up, the child's toy still in her hand. Upon doing so, the boy had started to cry, and Rikku immediately sat back down, handing the child the toy. Once he had stopped crying, Rikku eyed Yuna, who hadn't reacted or looked up since. "That's weird. Do you think she's in some kinda trouble? She usually sends a sphere every two weeks..."
An awkward moment of silence passed before Yuna, closing the book gently, pushed herself up to a sitting position and faced her cousin. "...I'm sure she's fine. You know Paine... she can take care of herself through any situation."
Rikku silently acquiesced, averting her gaze to the carpet below her. She traced the patterns with her finger before jumping up excitedly. "Yunie! We should go off somewhere! Aren't you bored, staying here in Besaid? I certainly don't want to spend the rest of my life here."
Yuna, who appeared to be deep in thought, looked to Vidina sitting at Rikku's feet, then back to the Al Bhed girl's face. It was true that it had been Rikku who had inspired Yuna to undertake an adventure to find the story behind Shuyin and Lenne, but the journey had caused her much pain and a sense of loss. But this time... perhaps there wouldn't be any negative emotions, and the quest would be positive and happy—
"No, Rikku," Yuna said, breaking her thoughts abruptly. "I can't. I'll stay here, in Besaid."
Rikku, somewhat hurt by such rejection, sighed and nodded, looking down at her feet. "I understand, Yunie. But... I want to do something. I want to go somewhere." She looked at Yuna with a serious expression, something Yuna had never really seen before. "And I don't want to go alone."
"Rikku..." Yuna didn't want to leave. She didn't want to face any more sadness. She only wanted a simple life, here in Besaid, where no one would hurt her.
"But I know. You don't want to leave Besaid. And that's okay. I'll go alone. And don't worry, I'll be fine. It's time I showed everyone that I can do things myself, that I'm stronger than they think. I may only be eighteen, but I'm a woman, no matter what they say. I'll go somewhere, and I'll find something to do, something that will make me better." Rikku smiled sadly, as if in some sort of reminiscence. Yuna, surprised, could only sit there, speechless, thoughts tumbling around in her head.
An awkward silence ensued, the air thick with discomfort. Rikku shifted back and forth on her feet, restless. Vidina continued playing with his toy, apparently oblivious to his surroundings. Finally, Rikku broke the quietude.
"I'll go now... Yunie. I'll keep in touch. And... I'll be back." The Al Bhed girl smiled one last time before turning and stepping out of the tent. Yuna, remaining wordless, fell forward onto the bed, lying there in stunned silence. Rikku... her cousin, her friend, the sister she never had. After a moment, Yuna smiled. She knew Rikku would be able to take care of herself. And she knew that whatever quest Rikku was undertaking would lead the girl to discover herself.
Everything would be fine.