DISCLAIMER: These characters do not belong to me, they belong to Square-Soft. This story has only been posted on If you see it duplicated elsewhere, please inform me.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Thank you for your kind comments and I'm sorry that this took so long. I rewrote this chapter and got a little inspiration somewhere. I may decide to rewrite this chapter again, but as it is…enjoy.

Chapter 5

It had been an exhausting day. The sun had never been so hot in the Sarubia desert and it had caused a series of machina breakdowns. The Al-Bhed had been run ragged trying to fix up the equipment. Gippal stretched his neck from side to side as he made his way towards the tent. His mind was on a certain blonde green-eyed Al-Bhed female. The smile that she had on today as she encouraged and help her people, the intense look of concentration on her face as she works on the repairs and the bouncy movement that was trademark of Rikku.

Gippal had watched her as she grew up. From a grubby little girl mucking in the sand and trotting after her brother to this mature, beautiful lady who had taken the mantle of the leadership of her people with great determination. She had indeed grown well. The sight of her never failed to elicit a smile from him and he loved to tease her, to watch as her cheeks puffed up in indignation and her voice as she squeals at him in their language. The carefree air that she carried around with her, her light-hearted banter and her smile. He desperately wished for those old days to return.

Stepping into his tent, Gippal was surprised to find her there. A slow, cocky grin starts to cross his lips though wisely he kept his words to himself as he moved to take her into his arms. His strong arms wrapped around her slim body as his lips bend down to take hers. It was a while before they surfaced, their breathing significantly deepened and his hand was caressing her forearm gently as he held her close to him. He loved the feel of her against his skin as his chin nuzzles the back of her neck.

"Can't resist me, eh?" Those words were finally released from his mouth as the cocky grin crosses his lips.

"Your dreams get a little more elaborate each day." The reply was given as a slight smile crosses her lips.

"You wound me and I had such fantastic dreams too." Gippal feigns a hurt tone as he tightens his arms around her waist.

"I'm sure they were, seeing that they come from you, and you have an impressive imagination." She sounds amused now.

"Hey. I've been thinking." Gippal's words grow a little more serious.

"Such a dangerous task for a little mind." She mocks him softly as her fingers move to curl around his wrist, the pad of her thumb gently stroking his flesh.

"You are a cruel lady, but I am serious this time. I don't want to continue this façade." His hands moved to touch her hair, pushing it behind her ear as he stroked her cheek.

"She needs you." The curt answer was given as her thumb stops its movement.

"She needs the truth." The words were spoken firmly as Gippal stared at her with his remaining eye.

"And what's the truth?" The question was asked in a soft velvety voice as somber eyes turned up to meet his sole one.

"That she's still in love with him and she never felt anything for me, despite my efforts. You know, I'm wounded. I'm a consummate ladies' man and charming to boot and yet, no effect on the women that I care about." He chuckles softly to himself as he rests his chin on her back.

"You seriously overestimate your charm, lover boy." The snipe was returned with thinly veiled amusement.

"Well, I got you." Gippal perks up with those words.

"You got me in my weak moment. I think I left my brain behind that day." She said dryly as she pokes at his arm lightly.

"Hey! That's not nice." Gippal pouts before leaning in to kiss her firmly on her cheek and saying softly, "I've missed you."

"When was I ever nice?" She replied as a wry smile crosses her lips before she leans back against him and says, "Ditto." She would never say those words outright. This was enough for her.

Gippal looked down at her and his arms tightened around her. He knew that she had the toughest time, she was always at the forefront of their physical battles and she was the one leading the assault most of the time. She was capable at her job. She was the best that they could find, and she belonged to him.

"Let's get some sleep, Dr. P"

Small hands tugged insistently at his clothes. He did not want to wake, he wanted to continue sleeping. It seemed as though he had not slept in days. When a small finger proceeded to poke him, he forced his eyes opened.

The sunlight was streaming into his tent, sending little dust particles dancing in their rays. His mouth felt as though there was a coating of tissue paper in it and there was a dull pounding in his head. Strangely, he felt invigorated and his thoughts were clearer and more coherent than before. Baralai struggled to sit up in his cot with his bindings. The rope had rubbed sore the skin around his wrists and he was still trussed up like a celebratory turkey.

"Awake already?" That familiar voice called to him and he turned towards it. Illuminated against the sunlight was Rikku. The sunlight accentuated the golden tan of her skin and created an aura around the honey-blonde of her hair. She was wearing her usual garb of that yellow bikini and skirt and she never looked more beautiful to him. Her eyes were the part that he loved most about her, bright and luminous and always filled with mirth and laughter.

"Oh come on! I've cancelled your meetings for the ENTIRE day!" She tells him as she tugs at his wrist, trying to drag him out of his chair.

He sputters and goes, "What? You can't do that, Lady Rikku. I mean those are important meetings with the Priests of Yevon to discuss religious ceremonies and code of conduct. We're trying to establish a new set of rules right now.

She rolled her eyes upwards, "That's what you have been telling me everyday! I'm bored!" Rikku declared as she places her hands on her hips right now, "And I'm your guest! So you have to entertain me!"

She was right in so many ways and that day he was coerced to have a day of fun. They went out to the city to visit his followers, a task that he had sadly neglected in his absorption with his work. He had soon learnt the importance of it. They went shopping and to his dismay, he was forced to buy something for himself and not for his job. She was darting to and fro in the market that day, poking at him, making sure that he relaxed, making him forget about his work.

When it was time to return back to the Temple, she was exhausted and had literally collapsed on his lap on the boat ride back. Using his lap as a pillow, she had dozed off from exhaustion. The smile was still on her face and his heart felt lighter as he watched her sleep. He had enjoyed himself and the melancholy that had always plagued him had strangely disappeared.

He had carried her up to her room and settled her into her bed, smoothing the blanket around her, which she would promptly kick away to his dismay. Her eyes opened and Rikku had looked at him with the sweetest look on her face. She had reached out to wrap her arms around his neck before placing a soft kiss on his cheek as she whispered, "Thank you." before collapsing back onto the bed asleep.

He lost a little of his heart to her that night.

Returning back to the present, Baralai shrugged off his past memories as he stared at her, his tone was cold and polite as he spoke, "Yes. When are you going to let me go?"

"Hey! I'm gonna release your bindings, but you have to promise me not to run away, ok? Otherwise if they have to catch you, it's gonna be baaad!" Rikku says with a bright smile, ignoring his question as she sways from side to side. The small boy was already beside him, prepared to untie him as he looks up in anticipation of the man's answer.

Quietly, he contemplates his choices before he glanced from Rikku and the boy before he gives a slight nod. "I promise. Though you shouldn't be so naïve. What makes you think I'll keep my promise?"

"Because you're Baralai, that's who you are! You never break any promises you make!" Rikku responds as she smiles at him.

"People can change throughout the years especially after the extreme hurt." Baralai smirked as he gazed at her.

"Well! You can choose to run away, but if you do! We'll have to catch you and you are one man while we have dozens…and you know. It's just not worth it! You're a smart man and you know that!" Rikku grinned as she bounces on the balls of her heels.

She did know him. He had considered those choices available and it was better than having rope burns on his hand. The little boy had acted upon his agreement and untied the ropes on his wrists and his legs.

"Will you quit bouncing? That's an annoying habit." The censure came from him before he could stop himself. He wanted to hurt her, hurt her as much as she had hurt him.

The bouncing stopped. So did the smile on her face. With a strangely sad tone of voice, she says softly, "Come on, I want to show you around the camp."

"Aren't you afraid that people would lynch me the moment I step out?" The answer came.

"No, they won't. You'll see why." Rikku bobs her head once as she gestures to him to come. The little boy tugged at his hand lightly, causing him to stand. It took a lot of effort for him to stand and when he took his first step, he staggered and would have fallen if it were not for her.

Rikku had run to his side and wrapped an arm around his waist, using her body to support him. His arms had instinctively wound themselves around her waist as he leaned against her. Emotions that he had not felt for two years surfaced and he found his arms tightening around her.

One hand reached out with familiarity to brush back her hair, pushing back the blonde plaits away from her face. He breathed in the scent of her, the sweet intoxicating fragrance of the soap that she used on her hair and her body. His body remembered that. His fingers lightly brushed against the firmness of her skin.

Baralai was weakened by his imprisonment. He had just recovered. That was why he was doing this. All these excuses came into his mind and disappeared as his lips lowered and he kissed her.