Dancing All Around Me : A Rikku x Gippal Fanfiction

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A/N : Thank you to those of you who reviewed! :D Sorry I've been a little slow at updating (not that that's anything new ;;), but it's because I started a Lenne x Shuyin fanfic, and I kinda just got into the flow there. XD I'll finish this story though, don't worry! And I might as well stick this disclaimer in, since I'm seeing it everywhere else, too.

Disclaimer : I do not claim ownership of any Final Fantasy X-2 characters, concepts, etc.; those belong to Square-Enix. However, any original characters (including Aure, Teyha, Deorc, the Boss, Desta, etc.) in this work belong to me.

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CHAPTER TEN : Competition

The following day turned out to be beautiful: a sleepy sun slowly ascended to the sky, casting its morning rays over an awakening Spira; songbirds took to the clouds in brilliant, chirping melodies; and colorful flower buds that had previously been dozing greeted the fresh air with lush petals outstretched. This would indeed be a wonderful day.

As Spira woke up to the coming of dawn, so did our group of four travelers. Rikku was the first to awake. After the previous night's disturbing dream, she had had little chance to enjoy her sleep. With a rather weary sigh, the Al Bhed girl arose, pushing herself to her feet and stretching her arms into the cool morning air.

Ahh... that feels better. She pressed the thought of last night's dream into the back of her mind as she gazed around the encampment. Gippal was still asleep, his hands tucked behind his head as he lay sprawled in the dirt. Aure was propped up against the tree's base in a sitting position, her head half-hanging down and half-leaning against the trunk and her dull, brown cloak wrapped around her reposing form. The black mage Teyha was curled up on her side by the extinguished campfire's ashes, her head cradled in her arms.

Well... looks like I'm the only one awake right now. She turned to find her bag. Shuffling through some of its contents, she found and removed a bottle of water from the knapsack. Unscrewing the cap and sipping down some of the refreshing liquid, Rikku looked back to a still sleeping Gippal. Recapping the bottle, she silently made her way over to his motionless body, trying to not make even the slightest sound; she didn't want to disturb anyone from their dreams.

Once she reached him, she squatted down beside his slumbering form. For a few moments, she simply smiled as she eyed his face. He looks so ... adorable when he's asleep... How come I've never noticed...?

Rikku messed with the bottle of water as she watched Gippal sleep. Then she suppressed a laugh. Rikku, you know that it'll never work. It didn't work the first time. It's just... hopeless.

She hated that word so much. Hopeless.

With a sigh and a bit of reluctance, Rikku rose and replaced her bottle of water into her bag. Securing a knot on it, she slung the bag over her shoulder. Biting her lower lip, she looked from Gippal to Aure, then to Teyha. Everyone was still sleeping.

... Okay. This isn't right. Taking in a deep breath and then exhaling, Rikku strutted over to Gippal and stood where she had squatted at earlier. I told myself that I wouldn't disturb anyone, but this is a little ridiculous. Sleepyheads...

Then she gave a somewhat hard kick into the sleeping Gippal's side. Almost immediately, the young man recoiled at being hit, letting out a yelp of pain as he clutched his side. His eyes had popped open, and when he saw who had dealt such a blow to his poor side, he winced. "... Rikku? Damn, what was that for?"

The Al Bhed girl grinned down at him. "For being lazy! It's already mid-morning, and you're still sleeping."

The other two party members were awake by now, having been jolted from their slumber by Gippal's cry of overly-emphasized pain. Aure and Teyha stood to the side and watched Rikku and Gippal.

Gippal groaned in mock-pain, lowering his head to his chest. Rikku laughed in response. "Oh, come on, Gippal! I didn't kick you that hard..."

When he didn't reply and continued groaning and moaning, the Al Bhed girl crossed her arms over her chest. "Hey now..." She dropped her bag to the ground and lowered herself down beside him. "That didn't hurt, Gippal... did it?" It was rather hard to believe; she could've sworn she didn't put all that much force into her kick. She placed a hand on his shoulder, patting him softly. "Gippal...?"

To the side, Aure smirked knowingly. Of course the man was joking... she could tell what he was planning up his sleeve.

Rikku really began worrying now. Resting her hand on his shoulder, she leaned down to try to get a glimpse of his face, which was buried in his gloved hands. "Gippal, stop being a—"

She didn't exactly get to finish because at that moment, the Machine Faction leader tackled the Al Bhed girl and partially pinned her to the ground. He tickled her sides with his hands, a sly expression of one who had achieved what he was aiming for plastered to his face. Rikku burst out laughing, unable to free herself from his assault (not that she was really trying to). Her futile attempts at ordering the man to "get off" came out in nothing more than snippets and stutters, interrupted in fits of giggling. "St-stop—Gippal! ... Get—" And she would break into laughter again.

Aure held a look of amusement as she observed the two lovebirds. Heh, they're really made for each other. Teyha, on the other hand, was trying her "best" to resist showing any signs of jealousy and hatred, though the air around her seemed to sizzle with her temper. Her grip on the staff in her hand tightened until her knuckles grew white; it took all her strength and composure to restrain herself from strutting over to Rikku and whacking her upside the head with the staff. Turning away, the black mage let out a frustrated huff.

The warrior standing beside her had a rather keen sense of hearing, and she caught the soft-hearted woman's sound of exasperation. Glancing over at the black mage, Aure stifled a laugh. Jealousy? That's hardly becoming of a woman like her. The warrior turned back to the two still engaged in their fitful laughter (Rikku had managed to roll around so that she could, in turn, give Gippal a "taste of his own medicine") and shook her head. Her competition's a little too high. Those two are more involved with each other than she'll ever be with him.

Finally, when the Al Bhed girl began to tire of the laughing and tickling, she rolled away from Gippal, further dirtying herself in the grass with stains. Both were still experiencing the after-effects, their breaths coming out in gasps. When Rikku recovered, she bounced up onto her feet, brushing herself off. Likewise, Gippal rose and patted the dirt off his clothes. Grinning at her, he said, "Gotcha there, didn't I? Looks like Cid's little girl still is a little girl."

Rikku propped her hands onto her hips and pouted, sticking her tongue out at him. "That was really unfair, y'know. And it wasn't funny, either."

Gippal's grin broadened. "It 'wasn't funny,' huh? Sure, I believe that, after all the giggling you just did."

The Al Bhed girl gave a "hmph!" and stepped away from him. Gippal laughed then turned to Aure and Teyha. "Sorry 'bout that... we got a little carried away."

The crimson-haired warrior smiled and shrugged. "It's all right."

Teyha suddenly whipped around and stepped up to the Machine Faction leader. "We only have about a week and a half left to get to Bevelle. No more games, okay?" She tried sounding as gentle as she could, though her voice quavered with her uncontrolled emotions. Giving a fake smile, Teyha pivoted on her heel and began walking down the path leading from Mi'ihen to Moonflow. She didn't even bother sparing a glance to Rikku, who was busily fixing her bag and making sure she had everything.

Gippal gave a confused look, turning to Aure for assistance, but the warrior shrugged. The crimson-haired woman looked at Rikku, who still had her back turned some distance away, and leaned closer to Gippal so the Al Bhed girl wouldn't hear. "Just watch out for the black mage... there's a little competition, of you know what I mean." She smiled knowingly at him before following Teyha, her cloak swishing around her lithe figure.

The Machine Faction leader chuckled a little, rubbing the back of his head as he pondered over the whole situation. Rikku finished doing whatever she was doing, and when she walked up to Gippal, she said, "What's so funny?" Her gaze turned to the disappearing forms of Aure, and further down the road, Teyha. She looked back to him. "What did they say?"

"Ah, nothing, Rikku. Don't worry about it." He smiled at her and turned toward the path. The blond Al Bhed girl stared at him, unable to comprehend exactly what had just happened. Gippal halted abruptly before he got too far and turned back. "You coming?"

Rikku shook herself from her thoughts and ran up to him. "Oh... yeah." She figured she'd end up finding out sooner or later.

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The group was trekking through Moonflow, and despite the fact that they needed to get a move-on, the breathtaking scenery and comfortable tranquillity of the place soothed their minds, luring them into a sweet hypnosis fraught with nothing but bliss. They stood by the banks of the lake now, silently absorbing its coral-tinged beauty.

Rikku was squatting at the very edge of the grass, idly swirling her finger in the cool water, stirring the liquid into ripples that disturbed the numerous lily pads drifting about on its surface. Gippal stood a little off to the side, his arms crossed over his chest as he gazed out over the waters.

The warrior Aure, draped in her usual dull-brown cloak, reclusively positioned herself closest to the bordering trees. Her face remained complacent; it was hard to tell whether she was actually thinking about anything.

The black mage Teyha, garbed in her lavender-colored robes, clutched her staff to her chest, her head bowed and her eyes closed. She was in some sort of prayer, but the rest of the party paid little to no attention to her, regardless of whether they had noticed her praying. Mentally, it hurt her that Gippal had given his lavishing and attention to Rikku instead of herself. Personally, she thought that she deserved it more than the blond Al Bhed girl. But, Teyha thought to herself, I'm gonna fight back. No way in hell am I gonna give up that easily... not to her.

Competition. That's all it was. And it wasn't just the ribbon competition, either. Teyha knew that well, and she believed even Rikku realized it.

I'll win. I know I will, she thought resolutely.

She was forced to abandon her thoughts and her prayer as the sound of Gippal's voice struck the silence, breaking not only her own reverie, but those of the rest of the party's, too.

"Let's get going, guys. We still have a long journey from here."

Everyone silently acquiesced, and the group made their way forward to ride the shoopuf across the lake.

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A/N : Wow, Teyha's becoming a real bitch, isn't she? XD Damn, she's evil. cough Excuse my language. ;) But the love triangle's gettin' stronger... Anyway, I hope you guys liked this chapter! Please review!