2

Gippal chuckled under his breath, dropping his bag onto the floor of his room that was off the main hall of Djose temple. He stretched, bending backwards slightly until is back cracked. He hated making speeches, no matter how much he loved all the attention. Speeches were boring, long, and lost his attention. Why should he put people through the hell that he hated?

He was happy to be home, well, if he wanted to call Djose home. After he lost his home at Bikanel Island, he moved to the temple. No one else was using it after all.

Gippal walked over to the oversized bed placed towards the middle of the back wall. He fell onto it, turning in mid-air to land on his back. The 18 year old sighed, looking up at the ceiling. Thoughts came to his mind about celebrating this newfound peace between the rival factions. A smile spread across his face.

"But how?" He thought aloud, a laugh in his voice.

He already knew though, he longed to see Rikku again. She'd come and he knew it. He wasn't one that was turned down often, especially by his dearest Rikku. She always did give in rather easily. Gippal sat up quickly, becoming light headed. He put a hand to his head to keep from falling over. He stood after recovering from his dizziness and started for a phone. He stopped though, suddenly realizing how tired he was.

"Damn…" Gippal whispered.

He pushed his blonde hair from his eye, sighing. He walked over to his bed, and sat, pulling his boots from his feet. He lay back, pulling his shirt from him and throwing it across the room. He held his hands in the air for a moment, staring at them, then let them fall onto a well-defined stomach. Gippal yawned, then moved to where his pillows were. He laid his head upon them. He closed his eyes, falling asleep within moments.

Gippal awoke the next day, sometime near dusk. He was a lot more tired then he thought he was. He looked over at a clock on the wall, his eyebrows rising. He grinned, sitting up. He stood, walking over to the phone; his hand reached for it, though then let it drop. He rethought if he should call her. Why was there any regret? Gippal's eyes narrowed, and then he shook his head. There would be no reason to regret calling her. It was HER decision to come over and it would be some of her actions that would reach the outcome. He smiled, now completely reassured that nothing would happen. Picking up the phone, he stared at it.

"What the hell is her number now?" He thought aloud, his eyes narrowing. It had been quite some time since he called her. He shrugged, dialing up the last number he knew. It ringed… ringed again… and then once more.

"Hi?" Rikku's voice said from the other side of the line.

Gippal's heart skipped a beat; she still had the same number. A grin spread across his face as he stopped breathing for a second. She hadn't had this affect on him for sometime, at least not the last time he spoke to her.

"Hello?" Rikku said once more, snapping Gippal back into reality.

"Cid's girl," Gippal said, his voice smooth, and as cool as always, "How are you?"

He heard Rikku gasp as she tried to hide it with a giggle. He could tell she was blushing, "Gippal," She said, sounding almost embarrassed, "What are you calling for?"

Gippal shrugged, not replying for a moment. He walked across the room in silence and then over to the bed. There, he sat. He put his head on his palm, staring blankly at the door. He took in a deep breath.

"You want to come over or something?" He asked, seemingly out of the blue.

She giggled, "Walk out of your room."

"What?" He replied, that caught him off guard, "Why?"

"Gippal, don't ask questions," Rikku said, with mock sternness, "Just walk out of the room."

"Fine, whatever," Gippal said, standing up with a sigh. He walked to the door, touching the handle, but not opening the door. A smile spread across his face and he opened the door, hoping to see Rikku standing there. She wasn't. He frowned, looking around the main hall of Djose Temple, his eyebrows furrowing, "Rikku," He paused, walking from his room and standing a few feet from his door, "What the hell?"

He heard Rikku stifle a giggle, "I didn't say how far to walk, keep walking silly," From the tone of her voice he could tell she was grinning.

Gippal growled under his breath, though he was enjoying this fully. He kept walking with Rikku telling him to keep walking in his ear. He reached the door to the temple and touched the door handle. He sighed.

"Damn it, Rikku," He said, "How far do you want me to walk?"

Rikku didn't reply, all he heard was her giggling. Gippal sighed and opened the door to the temple. He walked from the temple, one of his hands held out; the other had the phone to his ear. He stopped, turning around.

"Well, Rikku," He said, sighing as he started to turn back around, "You've just sent me on a wild- FUCK!"

Rikku jumped on him, wrapping her legs around his waist. She grinned down at his shocked face, kissing his cheek. He blinked, and then felt Rikku starting to slip. He quickly put his arms under her behind, grinning up at her.

"Gippal!" Rikku said loudly and playfully smacked him on the cheek, "Jeeze, keep your hands to yourself."

"Fine," Gippal said, completely moving his hands and throwing them in the air above his head. Rikku dropped, though caught herself around his neck. He coughed, pulling her back up so he could breathe again, "Shall we?" He asked, and started for the door.

"I believe we shall," Rikku replied mockingly.

Gippal carried her back to his room, have looks shot at him as he walked through the main hall. Too many times have the Al Bhed of the Djose temple seen him bring a girl to his room. Too many times have the over heard him. They learned to get over it, no matter how much the hated it.

"Look," Gippal said, dropping her on the bed, "I have to take a shower, I'll be back in a bit," He grinned, "Unless you want to join me…" He was joking of course.

Rikku shook her head, "No thanks."

He sighed sadly, shaking his head. He turned, unbuckling the black belt strapped around him. He pulled on one side of it, sliding it smoothly from around him. He dropped it to the side, and started to unbutton his pants as he walked to the bathroom. Gippal heard Rikku gasp, causing him to look over his shoulder. He grinned, and walked the rest of the way to the bathroom holding his pants above his hips.

Gippal stood under the showerhead, water pounding against his face and body. He smiled, pushing his bangs out of is face. He closed his eye, moving his head so that his face was directly in the water spray. Rikku was back, making him happier then ever. They always did make quite a couple. He stood like that for a few minutes before deciding that he was rather clean. He turned, letting the water hit his bare back for a moment before turning once more. Gippal turned off the water, stepping from the shower. He looked at the fogged mirror before moving to defog part of it with his hand. He started at his face in the reflection for a moment before turning, and walking from the bathroom with a long black towel wrapped around his waist.

He looked at Rikku, who was stretched out on his bed, staring blankly at a wall. She moved her gaze to the half naked Gippal, an eyebrow rising. She shook her head, though a smile was formed at the corners of her lips. She looked away from him.

"Get some pants on," Rikku said, her voce quivering with laughter.

Gippal shrugged, walking over to his dresser, pulling out a pair of baggy black jeans. He pulled them on and walked over to the bed, standing behind Rikku. He held his hand out to touch her hair, but let it drop. He shook his head, walking away from her. Rikku turned, looking at the bare back of Gippal.

"Come back," She said, holding a hand out, "Please."

Gippal turned, looking down at Rikku. He nodded, and with out a word, moved to the bed she was sitting on. He sat next to her, running a hand down her arm. Rikku smiled, moving closer to him. He put his arms around her, pulling her closer to him. He put his chin in her hair, smiling to himself.

"I missed you Gippal," Rikku whispered, "I may not have acted like it, but I did…"

Gippal nodded, saying nothing in return. He turned Rikku, pressing his lips against hers. He pulled her against him, pulling his head away from her. He looked away for a moment, then back at her. He kissed her once more, with a bit more force behind it that time…