Disclaimer: I do not own FFX-2!
"…" character's speech
'…' character's thoughts
(…) my rambling
Note: Hello everyone! How are you doing today? Well, I'm pretty busy these couple of days, and so I decided to update the fic earlier, to avoid not updating on Saturday or Sunday. Sorry for not leaving you, lovely readers, individual messages like I usually do. But still, special thanks to: silver-nex, Emmy Miester, Jezzi, Miss Tonks, andFairyIce! Thank you so much, you are all such sweeties :) Now, I have to go, really am late!
Enjoy the chapter :)
The Beginning of Something New
It was a bright sunny day outside of Djose Temple, where the sunlight had streamed through the large windows, making the temple shine brightly inside where the Al Bheds worked on the machinas. A tall blond Al Bhed stood watching his crew, as he gave some of the orders necessary to finish the giant machinas they were constructing for Bevelle. Gippal, the Machine Faction leader, raked back his spiky hair from his swirly emerald eye, as he smiled to see the progress they had done throughout the entire week.
His emerald eye turned away from the busy crew in the temple, to fall upon the large windows. Gippal sighed and wondered what a certain Al Bhed girl was doing in that exact same moment. Since the end of the war against Vegnagun, Gippal hadn't had the chance to talk to Rikku. Both of them seemed to be too busy, or was it that he didn't want to encounter her too soon?
Unintentionally Gippal's hand went toward his neck where he found the necklace she had given him a long time ago. Gippal smiled, the necklace always reminded him of what he truly wanted, but yet he didn't have the time to go after it.
"Gippal." Called an Al Bhed as he approached. "These are for you."
Averting his eye away from the window, his gaze fell upon the Al Bhed guy who handed him a stack of papers, which he knew he had to read and sign later on. Sighing, Gippal headed toward his office, while he read some of the contents written on the paper. Opening the door, he gave up on reading and deposited the papers onto his desk, which were filled with other papers that he hadn'thad the chance to read.
"Hey Gippal, old buddy." Spoke a voice from behind him.
He turned around to find a very familiar figure standing by the doorway with a smile. He smirked back in surprise before he approached his Al Bhed friend and gave him a friendly and welcoming hug.
"I haven't seen you in years!" Gippal declared as he patted the man on the back, known as Matt.
He laughed before gazing around his office and smiling. "Not too bad. You got yourself a great job, and not to mention, a great office too."
Gippal chuckled. "Well I told you one day I would make it."
Matt smiled. "And I always knew you could." Was his truthful reply, he knew Gippal had the potential and energy to fight and gain whatever he wished.
"What about you? How have you been?" Gippal asked curiously, for he hadn't seen his friend since the day he became the leader of the Machine Faction.
"Well, I've been traveling around Spira. To be more exact, collecting rare pieces of machinas hidden in ancient ruins." Matt explained. "It's been a great adventure for me, but a bit dangerous as well."
Gippal smirked. "When did danger ever stop us from doing anything?"
Matt laughed, recalling all the mischief they had both been in together. Despite the dangers and warnings given by others, both Al Bheds had not given up their little adventures for a bit of fun. No matter how much trouble they got themselves into, they always managed to return back home.
"You're right, danger has never stopped us from going anywhere." Spoke Matt.
Gippal nodded his head. "Yeah." Was his distant reply, wondering where his courage had gone all of a sudden.
Courage always took him this far in life. Gippal fought to protect his people, his family, and those he loved. Everything he had gained was because of his courage and the will to proceed. So why did courage suddenly desert him now when he still had one mission left to do? The most important task he needed to accomplish, but yet the courage he needed seemed to be gone. Where was his courage now? Why was he so afraid to go after her?
"Being fearless brought us this far." Matt spoke with pride as he patted Gippal's shoulder, calling the Al Bhed back to reality. "We got everything we wanted."
Gippal looked around his office and smiled, but yet there was still one thing missing. "Not everything though." He silently whispered.
"What's that?" Matt asked confused.
Gippal smirked. "Maybe I've been afraid of telling her everything and be rejected." He concluded as he realized why he hadn't gone after Rikku all these years. "I'm afraid of that amazing goddess."
"Who are you talking about?" Matt inquired, not understanding what his friend was saying.
"Of course, that explains it all!" Gippal exclaimed as the truth finally dawned into him. "I'm afraid of what will happen in the future."
Gippal chuckled as he began to pace around the room, forgetting that Matt was staring at him, and who was beginning to feel worried that something might be wrong with Gippal.
"Tell me again what we are? What I am?" Gippal suddenly asked, as he darted toward his friend and grabbed him by the shoulders.
Matt startled by the sudden movement, staggered back a bit before facing his friend in total confusion. "Are you alright Gippal?" He asked now worried.
"Of course I am!" Gippal replied back with a smirk. "Now tell me." He asked while shacking his friend.
"Tell you what?" Matt inquired, beginning to feel that Gippal might have gone crazy.
He laughed before smiling. "Come on now Matt, don't deprive me of what I'm asking you. Tell me what we are!"
Matt hesitated, but left without any choice, spoke up uncertain of the answer his friend wanted. "Fearless?"
"Yes! Exactly. We are fearless. I am fearless!" Gippal announced as he let go of Matt's shoulders and began to pace around his office once again. "I am fearless, which means I should not be afraid. I should go there now and tell her everything! I have to!"
Matt worried with Gippal, quickly pulled his friend toward a seat. "You must be exhausted Gippal. Rest a bit, cause you're out of your mind."
He chuckled. "Thank you Matt, but I must go now." Gippal then pulled himself up from his seat and grabbed his keys to his airship. "Sorry we didn't get the chance tochat more, but I hope you understand that this is an emergency."
Matt sighed and gave up on understanding his friend's sudden agitation. "No problem Gippal, we can reschedule our chat for another time. Well, good luck on whatever you are going to do."
Gippal gave his friend a last pat before heading toward the door in determination.
...o...
Rikku stood watching the endless horizon with a peaceful smile, as she felt the ocean underneath her, tickle her feet. There in Besade Island, Rikku stood alone in the beach. She slowly closed her eyes, while feeling the soft breeze brush through her body, as her hands stretched out in content. Everything was so peaceful and calm, everything except her heart.
Reopening her emerald eyes, the Al Bhed girl sadly smiled, and wondered if the day she had been waiting for would ever arrive. She wanted to move on, but found out that she couldn't. He promised to come back, but she never knew when he would ever return to her. Didn't Gippal say that she was always in his heart? So why did he torture her by making her wait this long?
Rikku sighed. "I hate waiting."
"I know you do." Came a whisper from behind her.
Recognizing the owner of the voice, Rikku quickly turned around and smiled in surprise to see him standing there with a smirk upon his charming face. She stood there watching, as Gippal slowly approach, while her heart suddenly began to pound faster than before.
"Hey there, beautiful." Gippal greeted as his hands softly brushed her blonde hair back from her face.
Rikku grinned, as her hands settled upon her hips. "What took you so long!" She demanded.
Gippal chuckled before kissing her check, making Rikku softly blush as she watched him pull back and lean his own forehead against her forehead. He then softly gazed at her, leaving his long fingers to caress her soft skin.
"I'm sorry Cid's girl for making you wait, but I'm here now, and I won't let my courage slip away."
"This isn't fair you know." Rikku whispered as she pouted.
Gippal chuckled at how adorable she looked. "What's not fair, Cid's girl?"
"You, making me wait." Rikku replied, trying to sound angry at him, but failing miserably. "I wanted to move on. I wanted to forget you. I wanted to search for someone else."
Gippal slowly brushed his nose against Rikku's nose as he tenderly watched her frowning face. "But you couldn't."
Rikku looked up at him, still frowning. "And you know why?" She demanded.
Gippal only chuckled before he leaned in and kissed her, wiping away the frown as she melted toward his tenderness. He circled his arms around her waste, bringing her closer to him, as her hands settled upon his warm chest. Breaking up for air, Gippal smiled at the beautiful lady in front of him, as she softly smiled back at him.
"Cause I need you, Cid's girl, and you know how much I love you." Gippal whispered into her ears the answer to her question.
Rikku laughed as she playfully punched him on the chest. "That, and because you are the colors that I need in my life." She added with a soft kiss.
Gippalwidely smiledbefore he pulled her into his arms again. "No more waiting. No more mistakes now."
Rikku looked up curiously at him, as Gippal showed her the necklace she had given him, around his neck. Her eyes opened wide as she gasped, not because of the necklace, but because of a golden ring that hung itself upon the necklace. Gippal chuckled as she looked into his emerald eyes in shock and surprise, as he slowly took the ring off from the necklace.
Rikku shook her head in disbelief. "But Gippal it's too-"
Gippal silently interrupted her as he pressed his finger upon her lips. He smiled before kneeling down onto the sand, while the waves slowly swept across his legs. Rikku stood there nervously, as he presented her with the beautiful ring. The place, the ocean, Gippal, everything was so perfect and breathtaking, that Rikku couldn't help but to smile in bliss.
He took her hands and pressed a kiss, before he looked up at her lovingly and asked. "Will you marry me Cid's girl?"
She gazed at his emerald eye that only spoke of love. Rikku now knew that marrying him wasn't too soon, and definitely not a mistake. This was right. They loved each other from the very first day they met. No matter how old they grew or where they were, the love they possessed for one another was always there. It was useless to run, or hide, or lie, they always returned searching for one another. Besides, she had waited too long.
Rikku nodded as she smiled back at him. "Yes."
Gippal put on the ring on her finger, but before he could stand up, Rikku had flung her arms around his neck. Startled, Gippal lost his balance, and the couple fell upon the sand where the ocean swept in. Rikku laughed, while Gippal smirked down at her beautiful face. There they sat, wet, as Rikku's arms were circled around his neck and her body sat in between his legs. Gippal brushed her wet strands of hair back from her face, before he settled his hands upon her waist.
"Hey you." Rikku spoke.
Gippal genuinely smiled back at her. "Hey beautiful." He replied.
Finally he did it. He accomplished the last thing he ever wanted to do. There was no doubt left, both had gotten what they always wished for and more. They smiled at each other lovingly, before locking their lips in for a passionate kiss.