Loud jets sounded in the sky and a red blotch in the horizon became much clearer as the other red airship neared Besaid Island, sweeping up light waves of salty mist up onto the coast. Brother landed gently on the water's surface, straddling the beach, and a figure stepped out as the Celsius opened.
"That can't be Gippal already, can it?" Rikku asked herself as her boots crunched through the hot sand. "Heyyyyy!" she yelled out, waving her arms.
"Hi Rikku!" Yuna's voice resonated, reaching her ears along with a rush of wind. Tidus hopped down from the Celsius and followed close at Yuna's heels.
It was quite picturesque, and it made Rikku smile satisfactorily. Yuna came up running in a strapless white top with a large opening in the front, wide yellow leather armlets laced around her biceps, tiny boyleg shorts, and a belt that carried two pouches containing pistols and ammo. Half a long, denim skirt hung over her left leg and flared out in three sections with white lace. Her boots were the same deep navy as her shorts and reached just a little below her creamy beige knees. Her boyfriend, Tidus, followed with his feathery hair flared out in light spikes and he had on a silver necklace with the same symbol as the black one holding Yuna's tiny white blouse together in the right places. He wore a black punk- style suit that hung rather baggy over his white legs, suggesting he was something of a great athlete.
"How did you like your weekend in Kilika?" Rikku asked him.
Tidus' sky-blue eyes widened. "It was awesome! I didn't think it could change so much in so little time."
"We had fun," Yuna smiled. "We did a lot of shopping."
"So why'd you guys come back early?"
"Tidus was bushed," Yuna said with a light laugh, pulling her boyfriend along. "He wanted to come back to Besaid. He hasn't spent much time with Wakka since he came back. He says he wants to blitz for awhile."
"Yeah," Tidus said. "So if you need me, I'll be looking around for Wakka."
"Look for us around five-thirty!" Yuna yelled, waving her arm at him. Tidus grinned and shot her a thumbs-up gesture.
Yuna turned and faced Rikku. "I think it's great that you and Gippal are back together, at least for Valentine's Day."
"Yeah. But I wish he wasn't so busy with politics. He's been doing a lot as a go-between for Nooj and Baralai lately." Although Yuna had convinced the people under New Yevon and the Youth League to merge together in working toward a better Spira despite their differences, Nooj and Baralai still came to a few minor disagreements here and there.
"I'm sure he hasn't forgotten you. How could he?"
"Sometimes Gippal's... I dunno. Every now and then I keep re- discovering the reasons why he and I broke up so many times." Rikku sighed and rubbed her forehead.
Yuna's face was amiable and thoughtful. "Aren't there just as many reasons why you two got back together so many times, too?"
"...You're right, Yunie. You're always right." The two cousins smiled at one another, until Yuna's face fell suddenly and her stomach grumbled.
"Man, I'm hungry," Yuna laughed.
"I think Lulu and Wakka still have some stew ready up at their house."
"Thanks! Paine's still on the Celsius. We'll be here for awhile. Maybe you two can spend some quality time together."
"Who? Weren't we just talking about me and Gippal? Or do you mean Paine?"
Yuna rubbed Rikku's blond little head. "Paine, of course, silly!"
"Uh, Yunie... I dunno how well that'll work out."
"It's Valentine's Day! She doesn't look it, but I bet she'd sure like some company."
"Alright then... I guess it's worth a shot. Nothing's happening until 5:30 anyway..."