Dancing All Around Me : A Rikku x Gippal Fanfiction
- - 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.
- - x - -
CHAPTER THREE : The Ribbon Company
The energetic cries of sea birds filled the air, and the lulling splash of ocean water played a cheerful song in the atmosphere. The residents of Kilika Island were up and about, busy at their morning duties. Children ran around the docks, engaged in jubilant games of hide-and-seek. Everyone was alive with action, and the little port-town hummed with life.
Warm sunbeams filtered through the open window, bathing the entire room in radiant morning light. Curled up in her soft bed, amid the crumpled bed sheets and blankets, Rikku rolled over, caught in a dream of sorts. As she rolled off the bed, taking the blankets and pillow with her, she let out a startled cry, landing onto the hard wooden floor of the hut. Jolted awake by such a fall, she sat up immediately, struggling to disentangle the sheets wrapped around her legs. "Ugh," she managed. "What a way to start my day!"
With a deep sigh, she pushed herself up onto her feet. She replaced the blankets and the pillow onto the bed, and straightened her hair. She headed to the bathroom, readied herself, and exited her room, the dull brown knapsack slung over her shoulder.
Before leaving the inn, Rikku headed up to the counter and asked the woman sitting there about the new competition. The brunette answered, "Oh, the new Ribbonhunting competition? It's being hosted by the Ribbon Company. They've gotten quite a few contestants signed up for it already. It's set to start in a couple of weeks."
Rikku made a strange face. "The Ribbon Company?" She had never heard of such a thing... In fact, it sounded rather ridiculous to her ears. She rubbed her right, gloved hand over the bows running down the length of the ivory-colored arm warmer concealing her left arm.
The woman nodded and smiled at Rikku. "Yes. The company's new. It was just formed about a week ago. Their offices are said to be located near Bevelle. But..." The woman winked and leaned forward slightly, holding up a finger. "You never know these days. Even with all the peace, bad things are still around."
Rikku smiled sheepishly in return. "Do you know how I can register for the competition?"
The woman responded, "Oh yes. You can sign up right now, right here!" She shifted through a pile of papers resting on her desk, searching for something. Upon finding what she needed, she thrust an application form and a pen in Rikku's face. "Here you go, sweetie. Just hand it back to me when you're done filling it out."
The blond girl took the paper and pen from the woman and hastily filled in the information needed. After a few minutes, she handed it back to the brunette. The woman typed something on the computer and turned back to Rikku. "There you go. You're registered for it. All you need to know for now is that it'll start in fifteen days; you need to head to Bevelle by then so you won't miss it."
The Al Bhed girl nodded, and thanked the woman before turning and heading toward the door. She muttered, "She's weird," before stepping out of the establishment. "But who am I talking about... I'm just as weird as she is." Rikku paused outside the inn, surveying the busy town with interest. She turned and eyed the poster on the wall of the building she had just stepped out of. "The Ribbon Company. It's not exactly the most attractive name. And something sounds fishy about this." Then, after a moment's hesitation, she turned and began descending down the steps. "Or maybe it's just me."
- - x - -
Back in Besaid, the Besaid Aurochs were training outside Wakka's tent. Wakka and Lulu were both sitting together on the bed. Yuna was situated on the carpet before them. Just the day before, she had related to them what had happened and where Rikku had gone. They did not have the time to discuss it until now.
Lulu, clutching Vidina in her arms, smiled. "Rikku needs this. I don't blame her for taking off like that. She's not the kind of person who would stay in one place, Yuna."
The former High Summoner and spherehunter smiled and nodded, deep in thought. "Yes. I know. Yet I can't help but worry sometimes."
Wakka grinned as he ran his hand through his vibrant orange hair, careful not to brush his blue bandana. "Don't worry, Yuna. She's grown up now, ya? She'll have no problem taking care of herself out there."
Yuna smiled up at one of her most trusted and dearest friends. "You're right. We have to let her go someday, right? And I suppose we can keep in touch with her by spheres..."
She looked away from the couple situated on the bed before her and gazed at the sunset through the open door flap of the tent. The faint call of a sea bird sounded through the air. Silence reigned.
- - x - -
The sun was falling low in the sky. The people of Kilika had started to hide away for the day, leaving the dock areas half-vacant. The monotonous splashing of the ocean waters lulled the town to a gradual state of rest. Everyone was at peace, and life seemed almost perfect.
It was just at this time of day that one lone figure emerged from her secret spot in a secluded part of the town. Short, slightly disheveled streams of crimson cascaded down from her cranium, framing her round face, and ending in smooth curls that gently brushed her shoulders. Large, round eyes of the purest violet peered about furtively from an innocent face, and a charming smirk graced her glossed lips. This enigmatical stranger was donned in battle attire, light leather armor hugging her figure. She wore black shorts made of an unidentifiable cloth, and plain brown boots enveloped her feet. Her palms were concealed in slightly worn-down, fingerless black gloves. Sheathed at a loose belt around her waist was a sword, a blade of some sort hidden in a plain scabbard. Pouches, belts, buckles, and the like were clasped about her body: on her arms, thighs, and waist; there was no doubt that she had another weapon on her form somewhere.
With a soft sigh, she threw a brown cloak around her body, wrapping herself protectively in the rough warmth. Then she proceeded on, leaving her humble little abode. It wasn't long before she halted in her footsteps, amethyst-coloured eyes riveted on an interesting silhouette, wild golden hair topping her lithe figure (which, in and of itself, was not clad in very much clothing), heading toward the ship that traveled to Luca: the S.S. Winno. A small smirk took up residence on her luscious lips. "Ah... and what do we have here? This calls for some investigation."
She fixed her cloak and quickly followed the slowly disappearing girl. For her, life in Kilika was getting boring. Perhaps it was time to start a fresh adventure, something she never really did before. It would definitely be worth it all.
- - 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.
- - x - -
CHAPTER THREE : The Ribbon Company
The energetic cries of sea birds filled the air, and the lulling splash of ocean water played a cheerful song in the atmosphere. The residents of Kilika Island were up and about, busy at their morning duties. Children ran around the docks, engaged in jubilant games of hide-and-seek. Everyone was alive with action, and the little port-town hummed with life.
Warm sunbeams filtered through the open window, bathing the entire room in radiant morning light. Curled up in her soft bed, amid the crumpled bed sheets and blankets, Rikku rolled over, caught in a dream of sorts. As she rolled off the bed, taking the blankets and pillow with her, she let out a startled cry, landing onto the hard wooden floor of the hut. Jolted awake by such a fall, she sat up immediately, struggling to disentangle the sheets wrapped around her legs. "Ugh," she managed. "What a way to start my day!"
With a deep sigh, she pushed herself up onto her feet. She replaced the blankets and the pillow onto the bed, and straightened her hair. She headed to the bathroom, readied herself, and exited her room, the dull brown knapsack slung over her shoulder.
Before leaving the inn, Rikku headed up to the counter and asked the woman sitting there about the new competition. The brunette answered, "Oh, the new Ribbonhunting competition? It's being hosted by the Ribbon Company. They've gotten quite a few contestants signed up for it already. It's set to start in a couple of weeks."
Rikku made a strange face. "The Ribbon Company?" She had never heard of such a thing... In fact, it sounded rather ridiculous to her ears. She rubbed her right, gloved hand over the bows running down the length of the ivory-colored arm warmer concealing her left arm.
The woman nodded and smiled at Rikku. "Yes. The company's new. It was just formed about a week ago. Their offices are said to be located near Bevelle. But..." The woman winked and leaned forward slightly, holding up a finger. "You never know these days. Even with all the peace, bad things are still around."
Rikku smiled sheepishly in return. "Do you know how I can register for the competition?"
The woman responded, "Oh yes. You can sign up right now, right here!" She shifted through a pile of papers resting on her desk, searching for something. Upon finding what she needed, she thrust an application form and a pen in Rikku's face. "Here you go, sweetie. Just hand it back to me when you're done filling it out."
The blond girl took the paper and pen from the woman and hastily filled in the information needed. After a few minutes, she handed it back to the brunette. The woman typed something on the computer and turned back to Rikku. "There you go. You're registered for it. All you need to know for now is that it'll start in fifteen days; you need to head to Bevelle by then so you won't miss it."
The Al Bhed girl nodded, and thanked the woman before turning and heading toward the door. She muttered, "She's weird," before stepping out of the establishment. "But who am I talking about... I'm just as weird as she is." Rikku paused outside the inn, surveying the busy town with interest. She turned and eyed the poster on the wall of the building she had just stepped out of. "The Ribbon Company. It's not exactly the most attractive name. And something sounds fishy about this." Then, after a moment's hesitation, she turned and began descending down the steps. "Or maybe it's just me."
- - x - -
Back in Besaid, the Besaid Aurochs were training outside Wakka's tent. Wakka and Lulu were both sitting together on the bed. Yuna was situated on the carpet before them. Just the day before, she had related to them what had happened and where Rikku had gone. They did not have the time to discuss it until now.
Lulu, clutching Vidina in her arms, smiled. "Rikku needs this. I don't blame her for taking off like that. She's not the kind of person who would stay in one place, Yuna."
The former High Summoner and spherehunter smiled and nodded, deep in thought. "Yes. I know. Yet I can't help but worry sometimes."
Wakka grinned as he ran his hand through his vibrant orange hair, careful not to brush his blue bandana. "Don't worry, Yuna. She's grown up now, ya? She'll have no problem taking care of herself out there."
Yuna smiled up at one of her most trusted and dearest friends. "You're right. We have to let her go someday, right? And I suppose we can keep in touch with her by spheres..."
She looked away from the couple situated on the bed before her and gazed at the sunset through the open door flap of the tent. The faint call of a sea bird sounded through the air. Silence reigned.
- - x - -
The sun was falling low in the sky. The people of Kilika had started to hide away for the day, leaving the dock areas half-vacant. The monotonous splashing of the ocean waters lulled the town to a gradual state of rest. Everyone was at peace, and life seemed almost perfect.
It was just at this time of day that one lone figure emerged from her secret spot in a secluded part of the town. Short, slightly disheveled streams of crimson cascaded down from her cranium, framing her round face, and ending in smooth curls that gently brushed her shoulders. Large, round eyes of the purest violet peered about furtively from an innocent face, and a charming smirk graced her glossed lips. This enigmatical stranger was donned in battle attire, light leather armor hugging her figure. She wore black shorts made of an unidentifiable cloth, and plain brown boots enveloped her feet. Her palms were concealed in slightly worn-down, fingerless black gloves. Sheathed at a loose belt around her waist was a sword, a blade of some sort hidden in a plain scabbard. Pouches, belts, buckles, and the like were clasped about her body: on her arms, thighs, and waist; there was no doubt that she had another weapon on her form somewhere.
With a soft sigh, she threw a brown cloak around her body, wrapping herself protectively in the rough warmth. Then she proceeded on, leaving her humble little abode. It wasn't long before she halted in her footsteps, amethyst-coloured eyes riveted on an interesting silhouette, wild golden hair topping her lithe figure (which, in and of itself, was not clad in very much clothing), heading toward the ship that traveled to Luca: the S.S. Winno. A small smirk took up residence on her luscious lips. "Ah... and what do we have here? This calls for some investigation."
She fixed her cloak and quickly followed the slowly disappearing girl. For her, life in Kilika was getting boring. Perhaps it was time to start a fresh adventure, something she never really did before. It would definitely be worth it all.