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Dream A Little Dream

Chapter 7: Until High Tide.

We were still in D'jose. Yeah, I know, I know, we should have at least made it to somewhere else right?

I guess it's because Gippal had things to do.

Yeah, I know I was supposed to ditch him. But lately I've been tired. All because of that dream. I'll probably feel better later in the day.

It's three o 'clock in the morning right now. I can't sleep. I decided to go wander around.

So I got dressed.

I kinda feel sorry for Gippal. Well, not in a sense sorry for him, just for the fact that he never seems to get a break.

I mean I thought following orders was hard enough, but giving them, and actually being responsible for the consequences it brings? I don't think I could handle that.

I guess that's another trait that Gippal and I share. We come from influential families (At least to the Al Bhed we were influential)

Pops was the leader of the Al Bhed, and Gippal's father was one of the best engineers in Spira. Great even for Al Bhed terms. His dad was good friends with my dad, that's how I knew Gippal so well.

Of course, when they did come back Home (they usually traveled a lot), he'd always go competing with my brothers. Brother (being older and more of a jerk), and Jerale (he was only about a year and a half older then me, more sane then Brother ever could hope to be, he was killed two years ago when Home was being attacked by Sin). I was always the odd one out. It sucked being a girl, being picked on by the boys, forced to sit inside and learn "proper" manners for a lady who was the "big boss' daughter" as the other Al Bhed would call me.

Of course that's when Mama was still alive. I was six and a half. Mama got sick (I think she was attacked by some poisonous fiend when she was digging, Pops said I'm like Mama in a sense that I can't sit still)-- anyway, she got sick, and didn't seem to get better.

She died three months before my seventh birthday. Pops was really upset(what did you expect?) so he buried himself in living Mama's dreams of excavating the best Machina we could find and create to protect Home. My brothers would further try to compete, to try to get they're minds off Mama.

Brother, Jerale, Pops. They all tried to cope with Mama's death in they're own way. Soon even my brothers were for the idea of excavating to find machina. Brother was to search for machina in Zanarkand (he was there when Sin attacked Home, or I think he might have been, I didn't see him during that time), Jerale was charged with keeping Home safe from attackers, and Pops came and went where ever and whenever he pleased. They were all really involved with it. So much so that they kind of forgot everything else existed. Including me.

Where does that leave me, you ask? I'll tell you.

Alone.

Not that I'm saying I blame them or anything. Because I know that they were just trying to cope anyway they could. I guess that's when I got close to Kaijere(Gippal's old man). He kinda took me in and taught me the ways of Machina. It's hard trying to have to fight for the attention of your father with your brothers and knowing that you'll come in third(not that I don't love Pops and all). I guess it's because of the lack of attention that I stopped calling him "daddy", it was either Pops or Old man from that point on.

I guess that's how I got to know Gippal better. When we were ten(He was eleven) Kaijere took us on a trip to desert. My first excavation. I remember Gippal going out to dig ahead of me(since he'd dig 'at least a hundred times before Cid's kid' he said), I was in the tent Kaijere had set up. He was explaining to me the procedures and all the other stuff I'd need to know to become a "damn fine digger". Next thing I know I hear yelling and fantic movements.

And then they brought Gippal in on a stretcher, one of his eyes bleeding.

To this day I don't exactly know how he lost his eye. And that's somewhat a thing of curiosity(but I never mention it).

Anyway never mind memory lane, it was still pitch black outside, and I've known Gippal for a very long time and I know that he doesn't like getting up early in the morning unless he absolutely has to.(He'd get angry at me when I woke him up too early back when we were younger).

I figured this would be the best time for me to ditch him. I know, I know! It's horrible for me to do so when he made me my new companion. An exquisitely made Mechanical bird, named Shiiara(whom I nicknamed Kuppo, don't ask me how I got it, it's a looong story). I stroked Shiiara's head. Spira even the feathers felt real(considering they were made of Diamond).

Something kept telling me that I should go. That every day, every minute I spend here in D'jose is just shortening my time to actually find out the full story, of what I'm up against and what will happen when I beat it.

If I beat it, that is.

So I snuck out. Motioning for Kuppo to keep quiet. Once we were outside, I glanced back at the temple. I don't know why I felt like I was losing a best friend, there was nothing between Gippal and me, right?

I heard someone singing, very softly.

"Something 'bout the way you looked at me, made me think for a moment that maybe we were meant to be, living our lives separately.....and it' strange that things change, but not me wanting you so desperately......"

I looked around. There was no one there. I realized then, It was me singing. I don't know where the words came from, but they just kept pouring out.

"Oh, why can't I ignore it? I keep giving in but I should know better. 'Cause there was something 'bout the way you looked at me, and it's strange that things change, but not me wanting you so desperately. You looked my way and said "you frustrate me"........"

"That's a pretty song, Cid's girl. Who're you singin 'bout?" A husky male voice said behind me.

Damnit! Can't I even sing without him looming over my shoulder?! (I refuse to say anything about how all the blood rushed to my face and they way my heart quickened)

I glared at him "I-it's not any of your business" Shiva, could I get any more embarrassed?

He grinned, his pretty green eye twinkling with amusement.

Huffing as indignant as I could get in such a flustered state I said "Are you stalking me? The Gippal I knew wouldn't get up before ten O'clock. Before then you had to dump sixty gallons of cold water to so much as get him to twitch"

He laughed. That husky, sexy laugh that always had me shivering(internally of course).

"Awww, you remember." He placed a hand over his heart and said "I'm so touched right now I could die."

"Please do. Right now." I snapped at him.

Oooooh!! That-that -ugggh! does he have to look so good so early? What ever god or higher being up there in charge must hate me and is probably laughing his ass off at my distress.

Poor little Rikku.

He laughed again. "Is this any way to show gratitude for my gift?" He motioned over to Shiiara, who was currently perched on a rock, staring at us.

Gratitude he wants, is it? Well then gratitude he'll get.

Without warning I flung myself into his arms, kissed him fast and hard, and then pulled away and ran before he had a chance to react.

Bwahahahahaha! Rikku you are a genius, genius I tell you!

Bam!

I'm getting a sense of da'ja vu here. I stared up at him from my position on the floor and grinned sheepishly.

"Well hello Gippal, fancy seeing you here." I chirped.

He stared at me for a second, shook his head and chuckled. Getting off me, he offered me a hand.

I took it, and as he pulled me up. As he did I asked. "What are you doing up so early"

"I heard something, I decided to check it out. Thought it was some Bevellian assassins or something. I'm a very light sleeper, you know" he grinned at me.

I stared at him and arched my eyebrow. Lightsleeper?

He laughed as if reading my thoughts and said "Shut up"

I widened my eyes innocently and said, without any sarcasm. "I said nothing to imply otherwise."

But then I ruined it by snickering.

"Hey! I'll have you know things changed since we were kids you know!" Gippal cried with mock indignity.

"Riiight, and I suppose you have a better memory now?" I snickered.

He harrumphed and said in a mock serious tone. "I have excellent memory, why I can remember things three years ago, ten years ago-----"

"What did you have for breakfast this morning?"

Gippal blinked. "uhhhh......."

That was it, I couldn't hold it in anymore, I burst out laughing. This is how it was like when we were kids. We always use to joke around like this.

I don't really want to say it out loud, but I missed the fact that I could talk so easily with him.

If I don't feel like I need to murder him, that is.

"Why are you following me?" I asked again, in a little more serious tone.

He shrugged nonchalantly, seemingly appearing as if he was at ease with the entire, but his shoulders were tense, and he had that guarded expression on his face.

"I guess I'm bored, I thought maybe it'd be more interesting with you." he said.

Did he really expect me to believe that? The way he's scratching his head and that sheepish smile on his face?

I don't think so. Lesser women might have gone all goo at the look he was giving me. But not Rikku. Nope. I've known you too long for that too work on me buddy (many, many, many years of practice to become immune to that smile, by the way).

But out of the kindness of my little heart, I gave in.

"Fine," I said. We walked in silence for about twenty minutes, before I said.

"Gippal?" He glanced over at me and arched his eyebrow.

I smiled. "Promise me(I took a deep breath), promise me that when.........before we get to Macalania, in the Thunder Plains, that you'll leave?"

He stared at me. I think I might have imagined it, but I think I saw something akin to either defiance, or concern in his eye.

"Why?" He said.

What was I supposed to tell him? Sorry Gippal, it's been fun, but I have to tell you that I'm a dream and will most likely fade at the end of what I'm trying to accomplish. Yeah, that would bowl over well.

So I said. "Um.....I just have some things to sort out(which isn't a lie, I do have things to sort out) and clear my head on a couple of things, get some answers to some questions I've got." I wouldn't look at him. I don't think I could have looked at him at that point and not told him what was going on.

"What's going on Rikku?" He asked. He used my name. This means he's serious.

"I had a Dream.....and it kind of worried me" Actually, it was more like the Dream had me.

His face visibly relaxed. I guess it's because I usually do spit out things like this. Even as kids.

Like the boogie man, or someone who I thought was stealing my underwear(personally I think that was Brother), I always ran to Gippal. I don't really know why. He always laughed it off anyway.

"Don't worry about it, forget about your dream Rikku, let it fade then pretend that it never existed, that's what I'd do." He said.

I wanted to cry. At that moment all I was thinking about after he said that was:

I'm a dream Gippal. When I fade, will you pretend I didn't exist either?

I guess that's when I closed off any thoughts to actually tell him what was going on. To tell anyone what was going on. I don't think I could handle it if someone else I cared about had an answer like that.

Damnit. I don't want to care about Gippal. It makes things more complicated. It makes things hurt more.

But Damnit. I will be strong for me, I resolved never to let him find out about my feelings towards him. I resolved that a long time ago. I kept thinking he would laugh at me.

The Jerkface.

He probably would laugh at me.

Jerkface. Bastard. Idiot. Jerk. Meanie.

I guess it's too bad I'm in love with him.

If I didn't then I could mean every word I say.