Words left unspoken

Hello people! It's enrolment for college tomorrow so I thought I better post this up. The updates will probably less frequent after this cause I'm starting college and the work will be coming. But I will try to keep updates up. I have decided to put my other fic on hold until I finish this one.

Okay just one more thing. There's this really really good fic that for some reason hasn't got many reviews. It has an ace storyline and some cute Rikku/Gippal moments so please do read! Its called The secret of star diamonds by Crazy Katy and is on my favourites list.

Okay here's the next chapter!

Connected with a kiss

I remember our first kiss, the first kiss I ever had. We had been going out secretly for over a year already. I had opportunities before when but I'd been too scared to act on them. Hey, what can I say? I was nervous that you wouldn't like it, that I wouldn't be able to do it properly. I was nine years old!

I bet you've been trying to forget it as much as me, but I never can. We were so innocent, back then it was kind of cute. Yes, Gippal just described our past relationship as cute. Good job you never realised that I agreed with you.

Anyway, what was I saying? Oh yes, the kiss. Looking back I can't believe I was so nervous. I mean, it wasn't like we tongue wrestled when you were eight. Your father would have killed me! I guess it was what your reaction would be that scared me. After all, I did act like an ass most of the time. But then when you were cuddling up to me and said that thing about my heartbeat, I just couldn't resist.

"Your heart is beating really fast." You'd said smiling knowingly at me. "Is Gippy nervous?" That nickname was my worse nightmare, but coming from you it was just too adorable. Not that I'd ever tell you that.

"From what? You?" I'd said with my cocky grin. "You wish. Anyway, your heart is beating fast too."

"It's cause we're connected, it shows we care about each other." That was the most adorable thing I've heard to describe our attraction. Gee, I'm saying adorable a lot aren't I? See what you do to me Rikku? Anyway, after that how could I let the moment pass? I kissed you. It was soft and only for a few seconds but it was enough. That was the day that you became my girl, Gippal's girl, properly. That's the day Cid's girl became connected to me through our heartbeats, the day I knew I loved you for certain.

I always get nervous around you because of how you make me feel. I have always been able to feel that connection since that day. I guess I always will. Except it's weaker then before. Luckily for me otherwise I would have gone crazy by now. I've only once felt it strongly again since our break up and that's when you shoved me for saying we used to make quite the couple. I guess it was the contact and how your heart was racing from embarrassment. But I felt it for a moment again, wishing it could last like it used to before everything changed.

I have to stop thinking like this! It's embarrassing for someone with my reputation. Stop it stop it stop it! You see what you do to me? It's making me crazy! I just knew if you ever touched me again I would be able to feel the connection. I knew I would get nervous like I used to every time we kissed. Being physically close had always made me see how much I need you, how much I love. I can't go on like this while still being sane!

So when you made me touch your cheek I was bound to feel it again. Feel everything again. Let's say a final goodbye to Gippal's sanity.

Paine was sat on the beach next to Baralai while gazing at where the machina parts had once been. She sighed and looked around making sure no one else was watching before cuddling up to the praetor.

"Do you think he'll be alright?" She asked while trying to sound tough. Baralai, who she decided knew her too well, kissed the top of her head as comfort before wrapping his arms round her.

"You and me both know that Gippal is just too stubborn to die." He told her causing a much needed laugh to escape. Baralai smiled. "He'll be fine as long as Rikku is near by."

"True, do you think they'll actually give in to their feelings any time soon?" Paine asked now staring at the ocean.

"Well, if they are anything like you when it comes to being stubborn this could go on for a while." Baralai told her with a teasing smile.

"Whatever." Paine said not letting herself being manipulated. The praetor sighed and turned her head giving her a soft kiss. Paine smiled, a smile she'd only let him see. "They could take a while." She admitted.

"That's what I thought." Baralai laughed. "Maybe we should help them out a bit along the way."

Her cheek was so soft and satisfying to touch. The first thing he felt was such an overwhelming longing he thought his heart might burst. Then everything else came to him. All he could manage was a gasp before he withdrew his hand and curled himself up in a ball. The pain just began to increase beyond any bearable point as he gritted his teeth against everything. He didn't know which was worse, the physical or the mental pain.

"Gippal." Rikku said gently while messing with his hair. "I'm here for you okay?" Gippal gave her a smile and ignored the pain enough to gently grab her hand that as ruffling his hair and just hold onto it. That simple contact was enough for him to feel that connection again, enough for him to live through any torture as long as Rikku was there at the end of it all.

"Don't get your hopes up Cid's girl." Gippal began with a cocky grin. "I'll live through this and continue to pursue my mission to annoy you for years to come."

"Good." She told him grinning, she looked so beautiful. She quickly changed to a different dress sphere with a white robe making her look like an angel.

"So yhkam." (My angel) He muttered softly kissing her hand. "Now you owe me just one more kiss." He told her as a white light enclosed him and his pain lessened. Gippal could feel his body begin to shut down as a protest for more sleep, it needed more energy after the shock it had been through. He smiled up at her and closed his eye without complaint. Everything was fine now.

He had almost completely drifted off when he felt something press lightly against his lips. Something sweet and so satisfying to him.

"Now I owe you none." He heard Rikku whisper before drifting completely into sleep. Now he was never going to get the taste out of his mind.

Yuna waited anxiously for Rikku to come out. Would the Al Bhed man be okay? What would happen to her cousin if he wasn't? She felt a grip on her shoulder and turned to see Tidus back from the beach. She smiled happily at him giving him a kiss for being there when she needed him most.

"Did you get bored of practicing?" She asked lightly.

"I got too worried to practice anymore. Wakka said Gippal had woken up but was acting odd. Plus Paine and Baralai were having a 'moment' so I thought I'd better leave before she killed me." Yuna giggled happily and gave him another kiss on the cheek. "So how is he?"

"Well Lulu said he's in shock, but Rikku is in there trying to help him."

"He'll be fine then." Tidus observed receiving another giggle from his fiancée. "It's amazing how powerful certain emotions can be." He told her hugging her close to him.

"So you've noticed that too?" Yuna asked teasingly allowing him to give her a full kiss. This was interrupted when they heard someone clearing their throat loudly.

"Gippal will be fine if you're wondering." Rikku told them with a playful scold.

"We knew he would." Tidus said through his blush but not letting go of Yuna. "He power of love conquers all."

"Hey!" Rikku complained playfully punching him. "Me and Gippal aren't like that!"

"Can't fool me Rikku." He said slyly.

"Well you must be stupider than you look cause Gippal is nothing but a cocky, ignorant, giant egoed son of a…"

"Yeah whatever." Tidus said laughing. "And that's why your face is the shade of Paine's eyes."

"Oui'na cilr y sayhea!" (You're such a meanie!)

Gippal didn't dream often, and he had long ago decided this was a very good thing. However he couldn't avoid his subconscious images this time. His body was too exhausted to escape back into the waking world.

He had been running for what seemed like hours. Away from the attack, away from the life he had known for almost six years. He stumbled and fell on his knees gazing at his hands that were covered with cuts and dried blood. How had it come to this? Why did it have to end this way? Everywhere he turned people hated him, cursed his very existence. Why? Why was he was different just because what race he was?

The five year old sobbed with despair curling up in a tight ball and rocking gently, trying to find some small comfort in his life, something to live for. Nothing. Was there really nothing to hope for anymore? His mother was dead, he was alone, everyone hated him even though they didn't know him…

"That's because you are just filth!" Came a harsh voice Gippal immediately recognised. He whimpered slightly and hid his head between his legs, willing the man to go away, to end the suffering he'd endured for so long.

"What do you want?" He whimpered between sobs as the man came closer, a blunt knife clasped tightly in his right hand.

"I want to see you die, I want to see every Al Bhed die!"

"But you're…"

"Don't speak!" The man screamed slashing out with the knife and cutting the young boy's arm deeply. "Don't you ever speak!"

Gippal muttered darkly in his sleep, tossing and turning and whimpering slightly. Lulu frowned at the young Al Bhed while feeding Vidina. She carefully balanced her baby on one hip before stepping outside the tent in search of Rikku. She saw her wrestling Tidus with an angry blush on her face. Lulu smiled slightly before calling out to her.

"Rikku! You better come in here." Lulu said before heading back inside. Five seconds later Rikku burst in and ran to Gippal's side.

"What's wrong with him? Why's he whimpering? Is he in pain?" She asked frantically causing Lulu to chuckle.

"Well I'm no expert but I would guess he was having a nightmare." Rikku blushed then.

"Oh yeah, of course."

"I figured you might be able to calm him down like you did before. He really needs to rest right now, both mentally and physically."

"Okay!" Rikku said cheerfully back to her normal self. Lulu smiled at her and left the tent to go find Wakka.

"Gippal! Run!" His mother called before the sound of gunshots and an animal roar silenced her. Gippal choked back tears as he began running…

"Rikku!" He yelled overwhelmed with terror as he saw the Zuu swooping down on her. Anger rose in him and he ran to them only to feel a sharp pain in his right eye…

"Why are they killing each other?" He asked sitting down with defeat. He felt so confused, so scared, just like he used to when…

Light above him but unable to reach it, his lungs were burning with the need for oxygen, the need for life…

Pain flooded through him and he whimpered slightly, Lance gripped his hand and muttered comforting words while Rikku sat there crying…

A gunshot fired behind him and he turned to see Nooj, his friend, aim at him and fire…

"You're not my girl anymore! You're just Cid's girl!" He yelled feeling his heart break as tears appeared on Rikku's beautiful face.

"It's cause we're connected, it shows we care about each other." Rikku said grinning, Gippal smiled at her and leaned in for a kiss…

Gippal crawled over to Rikku's still form, clinging to her arm and feeling his heart ache…

"Rikku." He muttered trying to escape the memories.

"Shush, I'm right here Gippal." He heard a beautiful voice say, he looked around but didn't see anyone. He could feel someone touching his cheek but couldn't see the fingers.

"Rikku?"

"It's okay, I'm here. I won't let anything happen to you." He smiled within the darkness and felt that connection so strongly again. This girl was going to drive him insane one day.

"What are we going to do Gippal?" The ten year old Rikku asked. "Brother is sure to tell father about what he saw! We'll never be able to stay together!" She said unhappily tears in her eyes.

"Don't worry Ree, I'm not scared of Cid, I'll just tell him I love you and I refuse to give you up!"

"Really? You'd do that?"

"Of course silly! You mean a lot to me."

Gippal smiled at the memory and allowed himself to fade into it, enjoying the happy moments he'd forever cherish.