Words left unspoken
Man I'm so sorry guys! The first week was because of work, which I did warn you about. But then I got sick and couldn't write so that's why I haven't updated in so long. The first part I wrote while I was sick though so it might not be very good, but the last part (the promised fluff) was written with just a cold so I hope its okay! And I hope the chapter has been worth the wait! Its kinda shorter than the others but it just seemed a natural place to stop at.
By the way, I've finally included Marty's and skirty-embroidery's characters in for helping me out with the spelling thing. Hope you like them!
Angel Taisha: Charm bangles, no fair, I never got one in my game! It was a 75 chance they would drop it after the battle and I got the other 25 --. I'm glad you liked it I thought it might be boring. There's a bit more form Pain and Baralai, lol, hope you like! Lol, I couldn't resist with that line, seemed so Gippal.
Torii: -feels guilty- lol yeah hasn't been fun for him –cuddles him too- but it will get better in this chapter! Lol, Rikku sees to that. Fateful encounter? Could be a while yet, sorry, but it will happen.
Kairiyuna14: Your story is ace! I love it to bits! Work is a nuisance but I will always make time for this if I can. How is high school treating you? Hope it's good!
Milkie: not telling, lol. But you'll find out eventually. I liked the letter bit, and I wanted to do it cause I once saw this site that had the definition of Gippal's name on it and it said they would be a good letter writer. The other stuff they said about the name Gippal seemed to match so I wanted to put a letter in. lol, not sure if it was a good one but it was fun to do anyway.
Jezzi: thank you! Here's some more!
Back of Beyond: lol, here's the update. Hope you like it! (sorry it took so long)
Cute-Kitty2: Yep, their relationship is an odd one, lol. But I've tried to clear part of it up in this chapter. As for leaving them again...well, he felt too guilty plus I doubt he would have got the chance anyway.
Violet121: kool is a good word, lol. Glad you liked it! Sorry it took a while to update, I'll try to keep it once a week again from now on.
Tanya Takaisha: ha ha! No mistakes got through that time, lol. Hope I can keep it up. Paine and Baralai have to spill in this chapter, lol, I tried to make it semi-funny. Gippal's mother stayed because usually he only hurt her and left Gippal alone until he ran away, but after that she was so heart broken he'd do that and so sh could no longer care. Not sure if that's likely but its how I did it. Glad you liked her machina stampede, lol, I wanted her to save him seen as he got to save her at the start. As for the game, it kinda explains why he's done that in this chapter. Lol, I will put the plan into action at the Tunder Plains for you! Should be fun!
Rikkufan: lol, here's the update! Sorry it took so long.
TheCalligrapher: Gippal I made so in depth cause I just love exploring his character so I glad you like it. The interrogation is in this chapter, hope you like it!
Wind Maester: lol, thank you! Thank you for reviewing and reading! I'm honoured! Glad you like how I did Gippal, I always thought he's have more or a serious side to him somewhere and I'm glad people agree. And glad to hear Leblanc is in character, lol, she was pretty fun to write. The Gippal intros I couldn't resist, it's a way to see what he's really feeling even when he's the type who wouldn't express it openly. Glad you like the action, sorry it was a little fast, lol, I'll try to slow it down a little in future.
Not sure about her age, I thought she was 15 when she fought sin and most people I know say she's 17, but I'll look into it and change it if I see I'm wrong. I didn't know about Vidina either until I was bored and typed it in the Al bhed translator. Lol, I was doing it for everyone to see how weird it would sound and his came out future. I thought that was pretty cute of Wakka considering he used to hate the Al bhed, bless him. Read the ff9 one? Lol, that could take a while, and its pretty weird too.
Glad you like the background romance story, I'm a sucker for kiddy romances, you'll find out about why in...actually, its in this chapter, lol.
Glad you like Gippal sulking off, I figured he is a teenager and he has the right to it, lol. The dark past does affect him quite a bit, as you'll find out as the story goes on, lol. Thank you for reviewing! You're a star!
Windigo: lol, glad you liked the gift, I thought it would be kind of cute cause he actually thought about it. Glad you like the pairings! They're my fave too!
Mentalsunflower: don't say that your story is just amazing! –sob- I'm gonna miss it so! Can't believe you finished it! –sniff- yours isn't corny! Lol, I love how you write, glad you like my way though, it will make the story better for you. Lol, okay I'll update you, email you or something if I'm allowed.
Crazy Katy: those error things are getting annoying, its happened the last two times I tried to update. Lol, yes, see Baralai, lol. I'm so evil to him. Yeah, poor gippy, I'm so evil to him, but he has more fun in this chapter, lol, trust me on that. And they're getting along VERY well in here, lol. Oh, I just noticed you have an update! I'm gonna go read it after typing this up! Yay!
Spudley: going good, I just recovered from the flu, lol. You first review? Wow, I'm honoured! Thank you! Lol, Rikku is the best! I definitely agree with you, she needs to show her other side to make her more real and less of the predictable sidekick, she's a star herself! Thank you for the Gippal thing, I tried my best with what little info you got on him in the game, glad you like him. And here's the next chapter! Sorry it took a while.
Informal Interrogation
I know I'm an arrogant idiot and I know you'll make me pay always for this. But I can't resist the chance of getting you mad, you look so cute when you're mad! Plus this could prove to be a very positive thing for our growing relationship. I mean I remember you used to kiss me when we dated if you wanted to know something or wanted me to do something. Now that we're older...
Whoa. Don't go there Gippal there is no time for that sort of stuff. Unfortunately...anyway I wouldn't want Brother and Cid after me.
Where was I again? Oh yeah I'm an idiot. Okay you want the truth? I'm not good with the whole open emotional stuff. I blame my upbringing. So if I drop enough hints with this game you can work it out yourself and I won't have to actually go through it again. I just can't do all that again...
But I guess I'll have to do it anyway now that he's alive. There's just no way I can avoid the past if he's the one doing this, which he obviously is with that symbol. But at least you are here with me and I won't be facing it alone. This time I know better than to run from those helping me, I know better than to shut you out of my life.
My mother gave up when I ran, leaving her behind. I'm not going to let that happen with you. You're already become fed up with your present way of life and to be betrayed by the person you count on the most would be too much. I won't let that happen, never again.
So now this mission has given us what we both needed. You have found out you've changed while I have found out my past can't be kept buried. But more important than that we've found what we both need in order to survive, what we need to be the whole of ourselves.
Each other. And I will never risk that ever again.
"Hurry up Paine before they catch us!" Baralai yelled frantically. It was half an hour before they were due to set off and Paine had already begun her matchmaking ideas.
"Give me a break here, I have to do this right or it will give out too soon." Paine told him as she continued to tinker about with the machina.
"How are you going to make sure they take the right two?" Baralai asked while still watching around them nervously.
"I talked with the drivers and they're in on it. They'll make sure." Baralai chuckled and gave her a kiss. "Okay finished, let's get back to breakfast."
Kassy and Madison (or Maddy) sat side by side at breakfast, whispering and giggling together. Gippal was growing suspicious, he'd already been at the other end of their plots before and it hadn't been fun.
"Fryd'c cu calnadeja ujan drana? Oui'na hud bmyhhehk du tneja ic uvv y lmevv yna oui?" (What's so secretive over there? You're not planning to drive us off a cliff are you?) The girls just looked at him, not about to give anything away. Gippal sighed, hoping they weren't planning anything involving a wig and a camera again. He tried his best to ignore the two machina drivers and instead focused on the current situation.
"I want details right now!" Rikku yelled while wearing a huge grin on her face. "I can't believe you didn't tell us before!"
"I didn't want Gippal to feel left out if I told everyone when he wasn't there." Paine said calmly, still trying to reclaim her hand from Rikku as she gawked at her ring.
"Hey don't drag me into this." Gippal protested as he sipped his coffee and scribbled on a bit of paper. Paine glared at him but he just smirked. "I don't want to take any of Rikku's wraith when I haven't actually done anything for a change."
"Cina oui ryjah'd." (Sure you haven't) Rikku grumbled. "Zicd fahd pylg uh y bnuseca, hu pek fnuhk drana." (Just went back on a promise, no big wrong there.)
"No I didn't, I just haven't fulfilled it yet." He said smartly as he continued his work on the paper. Rikku just sighed and turned her full attention back to Paine.
"What's that all about?" Tidus asked.
"Don't you change the subject here! We're focusing on Paine and her secret." Rikku said as seriously as she could get while laughing.
"It's my secret too." Baralai pointed out.
"Yeah but you're a Yevonite and a guy, it's different for you. Now tell me all the details and I might just forgive you!"
"Minus ten respect points."
"Paine! Stop being so mean!" Gippal chuckled silently at the scene and turned his attention back to his design. He'd been working on it since he'd woken up, trying to lay out the structure and figure out all the parts needed before they left Djose. As long as the man was alive he knew the attacks would continue on and he needed the Faction to build the machina he'd explained about to Wakka.
"What' that?" Tidus demanded as he peered over Gippal's shoulder. "Looks like you're trying to make a weapon."
"A defensive weapon." Gippal corrected noting the others were now staring at him. "Relax, I'm not stupid enough to try and attack anyone. I just want to be prepared in case this guy attacks anywhere else." Rikku just smirked then, temporarily ending her interrogation with Paine to turn on him.
"And since when was the attack the work of a single guy? I thought we were all assuming it was a group of people doing this." Gippal just shrugged, he definitely wasn't going to tell her this early on.
"That's not the issue, if you want to know what I'm building just ask, but don't start accusing me of wanting to use it on people. I've worked too hard these past two years so the Al Bhed can be equal people, I won't blow that now."
"Gee Mr. Grumpy, no one would accuse you of that." Rikku said softly. "I mean, you're not that stupid to target yourself and me." She snatched the design quickly away from him and peered at it. "What is this thing anyway? Is that a flamethrower on it!"
"This, dear Cid's girl, is the only weapon Spira will ever need against fiends from now on. Pretty soon your little children will be able to live in a world where fear of fiends is not an everyday thing." Gippal grinned as he saw her blush when he mentioned children, it was causing him to get so many interesting ideas for this Rikku plan of his.
"What do you mean? It's not another Vegnagun is it?" Baralai asked nervously.
"I'm not suicidal Baralai; this is no way as powerful and definitely not as big. This baby is about the size of a two-seater machina, except it only has one back seat that's protected by an automatic shell and Protect spell. The front of the machine will appear to be nothing special, but then it will open up and reveal all the weapons underneath. You see I first got this idea a long time ago but wasn't reminded of it until what happened in Besaid. When I was a kid I was around...injured people a lot of the time." Rikku rolled her eyes at that but didn't say anything. "So I thought about making a machina that could carry injured people to safety but still protect them from fiends at the same time."
"It does sound like a cool idea." Yuna admitted with a warm smile. "But how would the machina know which weapon to use? What if it needed magic?"
"It could use elementary attacks with items easily enough, as for knowing what to use...I wanted to use a scan system, but if the fiend was unclassified it would try a little of everything first before recording what its weakness is."
"So where's your scan system?"
"The one for machina is part of my special dressphere Rikku has. I don't have one for normal fiends, I heard you do."
"Yep!" Rikku yelled and held out her Gun Mage sphere. "You can borrow it if you want, but you'll have to learn all the stuff on your own."
"...Cid's girl, this thing has a skirt and skimpy top. I have some self respect still."
"Can't you alter it?" Paine asked impatiently. "And quickly? We need to get going." Gippal shrugged and inspected the dressphere closely.
"I don't know." He admitted eventually. "I've never tried making one based on an actual original before, I did mine from scratch. But, then again, if I..."
"Yes, very good." Paine interrupted. "Let's just go already; you can play about with it on the way." Gippal just nodded not bothering to argue. At first he'd thought all of them being driven there would be a bad idea, especially when the driver's were amateurs. But it did make some sense, at least this way the machina would be returned to Djose. He just hoped they would arrive to the Shoopuf in one piece when Kassy and Mady were two of the drivers.
Gippal watched as the others headed outside towards where the riders were all waiting. He quickly grabbed a few things from his room and also passed the design to the temporary second in command to look at. From now until he got to the shoopuf all he was prepared to worry about was his tactics involving Rikku.
"Hey I'm Kassy and I'll be driving you Lady Rikku." Rikku grinned happily and climbed into the back seat of the machina. "Better hold on tight, I go fast. Probably the reason I haven't passed my driving test yet."
"That's okay, I like fast." Rikku grinned as she gripped the sides. On her right she saw Gippal climb into one with Maddy, placing a rucksack on his lap and giving her a grin.
"Let the game begin." He said with a wink. Rikku just grinned easily, sticking out her tongue and teasingly licking her lips.
"Bring it on Gippy." She cooed just as Kassy started the engine and they shot off down to the Moonflow Road.
Paine watched the two machinas drive off with a smile. Everyone but her and Baralai were already seated, ready to go.
"Wait!" Paine yelled. "Before you go I have to warn you about something."
"What is it? Should we call Rikku and Gippal back?"
"No, it's about them. You see Baralai and I decided to...make sure they would be stranded together for a while."
"Don't pull me into this matchmaker." The praetor said smiling.
"What did you do? They could get hurt!" Yuna protested beginning to climb to her feet but getting pushed back down by Paine.
"Don't worry they'll be fine, their drivers are in on it. They're strong fighters; they can take care of those fiends up to the bank. I think the alone time will be good for them." Yuna just gawked at her friend not believing her ears.
"It's strange how much she's changed isn't it?" Baralai teased. Yuna just nodded and sat down more comfortably.
"Okay, so we just ride past them and head for Guadosalam. I can do that." Tidus laughed at her words..
"Yuna resisting helping someone in need, Paine's not the only one who's changed."
"Not really. We're helping them by not helping them because that way they'll help each other and find their true place in life." The others just blinked at her.
"....Can we go now?" Tidus asked.
"What's that noise?" Rikku asked nervously, clinging on tighter to the sides. Kassy hadn't been joking about going fast; they had almost hit three trees and a rock already and they were only just past the first bend!
"Sounds like we have engine problems." Kassy said lightly, easing their speed slowly. Beside them she could see Maddy catch up, also having a worried looking passenger. "Better pull over."
"Ur knayd, yhudran buehdmacc tamyo." (Oh great, another pointless delay.) She grumbled while she climbed out of her seat and stretched her legs. She watched as the others rode past, not even bothering to stop and check everything was okay. "Sayheac!" (Meanies!)
Rikku heard Gippal chuckling behind her and she growled slightly.
"Relax Cid's girl, its better that they keep going just in case something does happen in Guadosalam." Rikku sighed and stamped her foot.
"I know but...I don't want to be alone!"
"So am I not real to you?" He joked. "Don't worry, I'll look after the little princess." He told her, ruffling up her hair.
"Sayhea!" (Meanie!) She pouted, trying to keep the smile off her face.
"Look on the bright side, if these things can't be fixed then you still have my gift to avoid pointless violence."
"True, but what if we start trying to kill each other?" Gippal just grinned, giving a small wink.
"Well now, who said that us being violent with each other means we'll be trying to kill each other?"
"Huh?"
"Oh Rikku, so innocent. Never experienced the beauty of role...ouch!"
"Oui'na cu teckicdehk cusadesac!" (You're so disgusting sometimes!) She yelled after reclaiming the 'gift' she'd hit him with.
"E dno." (I try) He laughed.
"Um...sorry to interrupt but this might take a while to get going again." Maddy told them with a knowing smile. "You guys should just relax and enjoy yourselves." Gippal just nodded at that and Rikku grinned, a plan beginning to form in her mind.
"Okay! Just call us when you're done." She told them before grabbing one of Gippal's arms and pulling him further down the road, out of sight from the two drivers. Kassy and Maddy just watched them go, grinning at their successful performance and already started to plot the next phase.
"What's up Cid's girl? I don't think we'll be able to hear them from all the way down here." Gippal pointed out as he leaned against the rock wall, propping one leg on it for balance.
"I know." Rikku said with a grin. "But I needed to talk to you alone and 'come up with an interesting way to make you drop some hints'." Gippal just smirked at that and crossed his arms over his chest expectantly.
"Physical violence won't work." He reminded her. Rikku just shrugged and moved closer, an evil grin crossing her face.
"Who said anything about hitting you? I can cause more pain in other ways." Gippal didn't know what to say to that, so he just tried to look as laid back as he could. Rikku smiled sweetly, slowly moving closer and causing his heart to start speeding up. "Like to your ego when I make you talk." She whispered this part in his ear, tickling his neck with her warm breath and making him long to pull her closer to him. But he wasn't about to give in that easier. He attempted to make a chuckling noise to show his ineffectiveness but it ended more with a cough when she slid her slender arms around his neck.
"You can't break me that easily Cid's little girl." He told her, slightly less confidently then he would have liked. She just continued to smile sweetly, lifting her eyes up to look into his one with a beautiful pleading look. Gippal knew the look well, it was a fatal one, one many could never resist. Thankfully Gippal had found he had built up a little immunity to it over the years...
Who was he kidding? He had lost this game already.
"Now I've already figured out you didn't really kill those people, am I right?" Gippal did pretty good against the fatal look, he reckoned he would have been able to last another ten whole seconds against it if she hadn't started stroking his lips with her thumb.
"Not physically no." He said quickly, half hoping she wouldn't catch it, no such luck. Her smile turned into a victorious one, still making her look every inch her whole gorgeousness. Damn, this wasn't fun, it was just pure torture not being able to grab her and kiss her without loosing.
Luckily for him Rikku decided to take pity on him and rewarded his reluctant cooperation with a brief kiss. Gippal tried to keep her there but she rewarded this idea with a rather painful kick to his shin.
"Dryd'c hud vyen." (That's not fair) He grumbled.
"You have to give me answers first."
"I just did!"
"Nah ah! That was the warm-up question, you have to answer bigger questions in order to get longer rewards." Gippal glared at her slightly, trying to get some sympathy with a sulky look. Unfortunately he wasn't as good at it as Rikku was so it only made her tut and shake her head, pressing her body closer to his. Gippal swallowed loudly, trying to ignore the sudden ideas coming into his head.
"Oui yna ajem." (You are evil.) Rikku smirked and slowly whispered again into his ear, making sure their bodies were now touching.
"Oui cdyndat drec, huf yhcfan sa drec: fro tet oui mea du sa?" (You started this, now answer me this: why did you lie to me?) Gippal sighed, taking a moment to breath in the scent of her hair. He knew she deserved to have this answer.
"Because...I was scared for you. All those who I told the truth to have either hated me or died...I thought I was cursed." She was silent for a moment but Gippal suddenly felt her whole body begin to shake. Was she crying? Was she really that upset he had lied?
"Rikku..." He stopped when he saw her face, tears of laughter streaming down it. She was laughing at him!
"C-cursed!" She burst, clutching her side, now having let go of the annoyed Gippal. This wasn't helping his ego one little bit.
"Ed ech'd dryd vihho." (It isn't that funny) He complained after listening to her laugh for another five minutes.
"Gippal you are so weird! I...cursed! That's such a funny thing to think!"
"It wasn't very funny at the time." He sulked, turning his back to her, a plan forming in his mind. "I really thought you would die if I let you get too close." Rikku stopped laughing at this, feeling guilty most likely. Gippal smiled, knowing she couldn't see it and would be thinking he was upset with off it! I didn't mean it, don't be angry to me!" She whined, stamping her foot impatiently. Gippal refused to turn around, knowing how she hated people being mad at her, and especially when they ignored her. "Since when did you get so emotional over stuff like that?" Gippal still didn't respond, trying his best to keep a smile off his face. "You're just being mean now!" She huffed, walking around in circles to show her reluctance to feel guilty. "Fine! I'm sorry okay? Now would you please stop ignoring me?"
After another thirty seconds of silence Rikku couldn't take it anymore, she growled loudly and grabbed hold of Gippal's arm making him turn to face her. Gippal kept his head down, avoiding her eyes while wearing a blank face.
"Gippal! Stop being so mean! I said I was sorry!" She stomped her foot again on top of his, but with his boots on this hurt her more than him. "Please!" She begged, grabbing hold of his hand.
The next thing she knew Rikku found herself pressed against the rock wall with her arms pinned above her head. Gippal wore a smug look as she tried to wriggle out of his grip and failed.
"You sneak! I thought you were upset!" She yelled with a pout, trying to use her helpless look against him again. Gippal just grinned.
"Just part of the game Rikku; and I think I've won round one." He tried to kiss her but she turned her head away with a 'humph', sulking from his trick.
"I got two answers, I get two points." She said confidently. "You've only tricked me once, so you get one, I'm winning." Gippal chuckled, his lips a few inches from her own.
"Fair enough, but I get another one when you start kissing me back."
"Not gonna..." Rikku started, but was cut off when he started kissing her on the lips. At first she resisted, tried to struggle out of his grip, but part of her didn't want it to end. Her anger vanished and all thoughts of games with it. She kissed back passionately and she heard him moan, releasing her arms and instead sliding them up her bare back, stopping to explore her hair.
Gippal felt her hands wrap around his neck, making their bodies press against each other more tightly. At that moment all he thought about was Rikku, about how he needed her kisses more than oxygen. He couldn't live without her anymore; he couldn't bring himself to think of ever being away from her side again.
He was holding her so tightly that her chest pressed against his. He continued to explore her beautiful hair as they kissed, but had to pull away for the chance to breathe.
Their gaze lingered for a few moments and they smiled, a rare true smile instead of the usual show one they both had. No words were needed between them to know what they had just agreed on. The game was just a cover for everything; both already knew they were a real couple now. Both knew they wanted to stay that way, no matter what the past, present and future held for them.
"Rikku..." Gippal began hesitantly, unsure of whether this was the right thing to do. "I..." He was stopped by her delicate finger on his lips, her beautiful understanding smile.
"You don't have to tell me anything if you're not ready Gippal. I can wait." He nodded, smiling.
"This is something different, you deserve to know it." He stopped and sighed, it was so hard to bring it up after so long of trying to forget about it, trying to convince himself it was for another reason. He gently began kissing her neck, muttering the secret he'd been hiding for so many years, the secret he hated above all others.
"What was that?" Rikku asked softly, moaning as he kissed her neck softly.
"You have to promise not to do anything first." Gippal said, stopping the kisses and looking at her seriously. "He was just concerned for you because of my past; he thought I would just end up hurting you." Rikku narrowed her eyes, already knowing who he was talking about.
"What did pops do? Tell me." Gippal sighed and pulled her into a hug, not daring to look her in the face when he told her.
"Do you remember the night before I left Home?"
"Yeah, when you were going to give me a surprise and instead you broke up with me?" Gippal winced at her tone, but didn't comment on it.
"That's the one. I had never...planned on breaking up with you Rikku, not until a few hours before you showed up."
"What did he say to you?" Rikku demanded, pulling back and giving him a blank stare that scared him. He only saw her like this when she was really angry.
"...Maybe its better I didn't tell you."
"You brought it up so tell me!" She yelled angrily. "He's the reason you did it isn't he? He's the reason you broke up with me and left for the Crimson Squad! E's kuehk du gemm res!" (I'm going to kill him!)
"Rikku don't! It was a long time ago and he thought he was protecting you. I mean...the person I traveled with did try to kill him and he knew I helped him..."
"Gippal, I know you well and I know you wouldn't help him willingly! You were protecting your life and your mothers! If he had thought about it for just a second before making up his stubborn mind about you he would have seen that too!" Despite her mood Gippal smiled, she really did know him after all. "If it wasn't for him we would have been together all these years and I wouldn't..."
"Have gone off to save your cousin? Wouldn't have saved the world twice? Wouldn't have gotten the adventure you wanted?" He put in. Rikku just pouted and crossed her arms. "I know it wasn't the best way to have us take a break, but we both needed it. You were getting bored and I was...well, I was planning ahead too much, not thinking about my career."
"But it hurt so much; if he hadn't done it we could have had a break for a while anyway." Gippal grinned at her, pulling her to him and kissing the top of her head.
"You know that's not true. I was staying remember? I would have ended up going with you on the salvage mission and gotten in the way of your adventure. We started dating too young, before we were ready for the commitment, before we got the chance to live alone and realise how much we would need each other later. If I hadn't broken it off because of his threat then we wouldn't have lasted, and we would have never got back together again." She gave a reluctant smile but let him kiss her for a minute. "So you promise not to say anything? Everything worked out in the end."
"Okay." She said eventually. "But I'm glad you told me, now I finally understand what happened. And...I think I'm more than ready to give up the adventurous life."
"Good." Gippal grinned. "Cause after this adventure I want to settle down myself, maybe get a business partner so I don't have to lead the Mahine Faction all the time."
"Really? Wow, you'd give up machina for me?"
"...well, only partly...ouch, I was kidding! Anyway, you could always be my business partner so we'd always be around each other."
"We'll see, but I want a nice relaxing holiday first after all this." Rikku told him firmly, allowing him to kiss her again softly. "Then we can really become a normal couple."
"Yeah, I'd like that." He whispered. "And I'm glad you're here now through this, it's going to be hard on both of us." Rikku didn't reply to that, just smiled and hugged him close. Finally after so long, he was truly hers...
And she would never let him go again. No matter what.