Chapter 5

Tidus smiled as he watched Gippal and Rikku dancing near the bonfire. It was high time that girl had a real boyfriend. Why it had taken this long as pretty as she was was beyond the Blitzer. But it seemed like the two of them really loved each other. Tidus didn't know Gippal very well. Scratch that, he didn't really know the guy at all. But there was something about Gippal that just radiated trustworthiness. That and all his friends seemed to like him. Yuna was suddenly sitting next to him, her head on his shoulder. "They look so good together don't they?" she said witha content sigh.

"Yeah," he agreed resting his head on hers. "Hey, wasn't this what we were doing before we were so rudely interrupted that time? Just being together."

"Yeah," Yuna giggled. "But I'm glad we were." She snuggled closer and shut her eyes. Her breathing soon slowed, signifying that she was asleep. Soon poor Tidus' arm was all tingly and asleep. He wanted so desperately to move it but Yuna looked so much like an angel that he didn't want to wake her up. Just then he saw Wakka marching towards the Al Bhed couple with a determined look on his face. Tidus had to resist the urge to cackle evilly. He nudged Yuna awake and pointed to the three of them. Yuna grinned and nodded and they went over to watch this would simply be too good to miss.

"You never told me that this was the reason you left the island without a word," Wakka said with a frown. "And here I was thinking it was something important." Rikku and Gippal shared a look, plainy trying to figure out just how much they should tell him.

"Well," Gippal said in a tone that plainly stated he wasn't going to tell the truth. "I was really missing my honey after our big fight with Vegnagun and I don't have an airship sooooo...." He gave a rakish grin and winked at Rikku who looked like she wanted to maul him.

"Listen you, Rikku is like one of us ya? I'm quite protective of her. So don't you got hurting her or you'll have to answer to me!" Wakka drew himself up and attempted to look intimidating. The result was quite comical. Rikku did her best not to giggle like a madwoman as Tidus went to stand next to Wakka and yell "Yeah! Me too!" Of course, he was making fun of Wakka but he obviously didn't notice.

Much to everyone's surprise Gippal actually took the threat at face value and answered it seriously. "That will never happen," he said with quiet conviction. Rikku hugged him tight and muttered something into his shirt that caused him to smile. Suddenly a huge explosion wrent the air. Everyone staggered then looked into the direction of the neighboring island of Kilika. (AN: never did like the place so I have no qualms about what's going to happen there. ;P Blame it on Dona.) A huge portal had opened over the island that reminded the sphere hunters a lot of the ones they had seen on the farplane. Fiends, at least they looked like fiends, were pouring out of the hole. You could almost hear the screams of the countless innocents which were being slaughtered all the way in Besaid.

Paine ran up, she was already in her Dark Knight garment and had her sword out. "Time for a little hurt fest!" she yelled as she ran up. "Hurry, we gotta get on the airship and help those people!" Tidus grabbed his sword and the ran onto the airship. Rikku spherechanged into her alchemist garment and Yuna went all out with her Mascot Garment. (AN: This is one of my fav combos to use in the game! XD) Gippal had that big bazooka thing strapped to his shoulder as he walked onto the bridge. Paine looked at him with a searchful (yes that is a word! I say so so NYAH!) stare. "Are you sure you're up to fighting? I mean, you just died from injuries in battle. Do you really want to puch your luck?" Gippal knew that his old friend was not trying to get him to back out but simply letting him see both sides. Paine had always had a talent for that.

"Yes. I cannot let you guys face whatever those are alone. I'm a skilled fighter. You know that," he replied looking down at his friend. He had to admit, she looked pretty scary in that garment. And he was afraid of the upcoming battle. But he had to protect his friends. And girlfriend. The battle was coming up pretty quick too, as Brother was putting the hammer down on the Celsius.

All too soon they had arrived at their destination and everyone practically jumped off the airship in their haste to help the islanders. Gippal stared at the carnage around him. It was a massacre. As he and his comrades began to battle he got a look at him opponents Gippal got a good look at what they were facing. These were not like any fiends he had ever faced, even on the farplane. They were huge and ferocious. They seemed more like demons. There was no more time for thought as he through himself completely into the battle. It took several shots to bring down a single monster and after a few minutes it became apparent that the Gullwings were outmatched and outnumbered and Gippal roared (AN: Now isn't that a nice mental image? ;P Quite kawaii when you think about it) for everyone to get back onto the ship. He ran to where Tidus had fallen and threw him over his shoulder and ran back to where the Celsius was practically already taking off and leapt aboard.

Gippal laid Tidus down on one of the beds in the cabin and Yuna ran up to him. She used Moogle Lifeja and Tidus sat up. "Ooooooooooh that hurt," he moaned, his face in his hands as he sat up. He looked around at Gippal and Yuna. "What happened? Did we win?" Yuna and Gippal exchanged glances.

"No," Gippal said with a sigh. "We had to retreat. You were injured and they were just too powerful for us. WE all probably would have died if we hadn't got our butts back here."

"So you left all those innocent people on that island to die?!" Tidus cried leaping out of the bed. Gippal met his furious gaze steadily.

"I don't know if you noticed but there wasn't really anyone left to save. I don't like it any better than you do. It makes me sick. But what can we do. At least on Kilika those things are contained for now. Think of what would have happened if we had all died and those things had gotten a hold of the airship huh?" Tidus simply glared at him in seething silence.

"But what were those things?" Yuna asked, hoping to prevent another arguement. "They didn't look like any fiends I've ever seen."

"Shinra says that's because they weren't fiends," Paine said as she climbed up followed by a rather pale looking Rikku. "He says that they don't give off the same energy signatures as fiends, or anything else from this world for that matter."

"Hey where were you guys?" Yuna asked turning to the other members of YRP. Paine looked at Rikku before answering.

"Someone got sick," she stated, deadpan. Rikku blushed. Gippal looked at her with concern before taking her in his arms.

"Are you alright so muja?" he asked giving her a comforting squeeze. Much to everyone's surprise Rikky burst into dry, wracking sobs. "Rikku? Rikku what's wrong? Why are you crying?"

"It- it was so horrible. So much like Home and - and - all those poor people!" Gippal rubbed her back in small, comforting circles and whispered to her softly in Al Bhed. He looked at the others. What were they going to do now?

AN: Me likey this chappie for some reason. Bad evil things, crashing the party like that! ;P Just letting you know that this is probably the last update of this story until I finish Tenth Ring-Wraith. Sorry, but I never should have started this one until I finished that one in the first place. Don't worry. There's only four chapters left to do in Tenth RingWraith. And then I will be completely devoted to this one! Sooo sorry to leave you guys at a place like this but I figure that a good cliff hanger would keep you guys interested enough to actually wait for an update. Read and review!!! Keep my muses fed! They are starving artists and suffer too much for their work! Support the muses!