Alright seamonkeys! I am not happy with the way the other half of this chapter is going. I dont' know why, but I think I hate it. So, here is the first half, which I think is really good, cause you get to 'see' Rikku's dress. And Gippal's reaction to it. hehe. I'll post the other half when I can fix it. Just not going the way I wanted it to. Please ignore any errors. I have had 3 hours of sleep in 2 days. But since a certain someone needs updates to live, I pushed it to get this for you. Say "Thank you, skatterkat!"

I don't own FFX-2, but I would be rolling in dough if I did!

Please note that Rikku was wearing a sports bra during previous chapters. I don't want people to think I had Rikku running around half naked. :)

Thank you to all my lovely reviewers! hugs I love getting happy reviews, but if something is blatently wrong, let me know! I will fix it! Or try to! Why am I using so many exclamation points! Must be lack of sleep! ok. story time...

Chapter 5:Dining with the Enemy

Evenings in Luca were pleasant, weather-wise at least. A breeze came from the ocean, meandering around the streets and buildings, investigating everything it came in contact with. This included the young Al Bhed lady walking down the avenues of the city. It was just strong enough to ruffle her hair and dress. Rikku laughed at the breeeze, saying "Don't you go ruining Elizza's hard work! I'm going to a nice restaurant, and they won't let me in if I look frumpled." She continued walking, happily taking in the scenery. Luca had grown substantially in the last few months, adding new streets and plazas. The original one was still called 'the Plaza'. The plaza she was heading for was only a few months old, and very up-scale. Expensive shops lined the streets, boasting of all the fabulous goods within. I think a shopping trip is in order! Maybe I can make Gippal carry all my bags. Hehe.

Vinito's was past all the shops, at the end of the avenue. It was surrounded by a beautiful walled garden. The outer walls were low, and covered in night-blooming jasmine, her favorite. Her perfume, when she wore it, was night-blooming jasmine. It was subtle and sensuous, not overpowering like some perfumes the women were wearing. She could smell them several yards away. The high walls encircled the building, except for the entrance. Plain ivy covered the tops of the walls, and grew down the two columns on either side of the ornate doors.

Rikku slowed as she approached the entrance. It was guarded by a polite looking man who stood at attention and opened or closed the doors for the diners. Man, what if Gippal was lying, trying to embarrass me? He's probably hiding in the bushes to watch my humiliation or something. I'll kill him if that's the case. Or seriously maim him. It depends on how hard he laughs. She had stopped a few steps in front of the doors. The door man smiled and opened the doors for her as though she was an important personage. Rikku took a deep breath, returned the door man's smile and walked inside.

The inside was lavishly but tastefully decorated. Aquariums large enough to swim in lined the walls. Beautiful multi-colored fish swam about rock formations and water plants, ignoring their onlookers. They did not care that they had been taken from their homes, only that they had water to live in and food to eat. A serenity hung about them, one that encased observers in peace and calm. It quieted her earlier fears.

She walked up to another man behind a podium, who was studying a notebook with a pen in his hand. He looked up and blinked at her in surprise. I guess not many Al Bhed come here. she thought.

"I'm terribly sorry, miss. I hope you were not waiting long. I did not hear you approach. How may I help you?" he said politely.

"Well, um," she said smartly "I'm meeting someone here, for dinner, at seven."

"Seven, seven...ah yes! Miss Rikku. The gentleman has not yet arrived, would you like to wait in the lounge or the garden perhaps? Both are quite comfortable, though the garden will become a bit cool later on."

Rikku was a little surprised at the way she was being addressed. 'Miss Rikku' was not something people included when refering to her. The man had been sincere in his apology earlier, too. "I'd like to see the garden, if I could." she said, remembering all the manners various tutors had tried to drill in her head.

"Of course." The podium-man turned and curtly called to yet another man, who quickly made his way over to them. "Escort the lady to the gardens." The escort-man nodded and bowed to Rikku, murmuring for her to please follow him. Rikku followed, and the man led her out into a courtyard on the side of the restaurant. He extened an arm, indicating that she could go where she liked.

"Thank you." she said softly. The escort-man bowed again, and left. Rikku wandered about, looking at all the plants and statues. Some of the statues were beyond tawdry in her opinion. Her eyes finally settled on an ornamental pond with a cushioned bench beside it. She made her way over to it, grateful that no one was occupying it. She sat down, and remembering that she was supposed to be a 'lady' changed her position to one a bit more prim than her usual one. The pond was full of large, orange fish. They swam about with out a care, occasionally investigating the surface for some reason known only themselves. Rikku smiled at them. I wish I could be a fish for a day. Just swim and eat. And not wear dresses. She thought the last part with disgust. I really hate dresses. Stupid Gippal, making me wear one. She sighed and let the calm feeling sink over herself again. She stayed that way until a hand lightly touched her shoulder, breaking her out of her reverie. It was escort-man. He murmured something about the gentleman having arrived. Rikku turned to look in the direction of the restaurant, and saw Gippal walking towards her.

He was walking, looking around for her. Gippal was not one to admire fish or plants overmuch, so he had to be looking for her. Once he had arrived at her pond, Gippal looked over her at first, then did a double take. Surprise covered his face, not believing what he was seeing. It took all of her will power not to laugh. Instead she stood up, and smiled slightly at him. She knew what he saw.

Not only was she wearing a dress, but she was wearing heals. The most evil (in Rikku's opinion) invention in women's wardrobes. Her dress was rose colored silk, covered in delicate lace a shade darker than the silk. It was a very modest outfit, at first glance. What looked to be sleeves were only loose fabric, falling in such a way as to look like sleeves until she moved. The shoulders of the dress were set wide apart (themselves being only a few inches wide) and the neck line ended just above the infamous 'cleavage point', leaving most of her upper chest bare. The back was seemingly one piece, but fell away in two loose pieces that were separated by a slit down her spine, going from the base of her neck down to the lower back before rejoining the dress. The top of the slit was joined together by a rose-shaped brooch with delicate gold chains ending with tiny crystals. The dress extended down to just below the knees, making her calves look longer than they really were. The heels helped in that department, too.

Her hair was actually down, not up in its usual ponytail and braids. The braids were still there, but only three on each side of her head, all of them clasped together behind her head with a hair clip that looked exactly like the brooch on her dress. The rest of her hair fell in waves behind her shoulders and half way down her back. (Rikku had objected to this because it covered up the pretty brooch on the back of the dress, but Elizza had overruled her, saying she needed to keep some things a surprise. Her date should find the details on his own.) All in all, she looked nothing like the normal Rikku.

Gippal just stared at her, jaw slightly slack, unbelieving what his eye was showing him. Rikku giggled and walked up in front of him. He was dressed in a classic but relaxed cashmere-gray suit, including a tie that surprisingly complimented her dress. She had to look up at his face, even in those despicable heels. When did Gippal get so tall? Or did I shrink? Why am I thinking about how tall he is? Most of the female eyes were on him, even those with dates or husbands.

Rikku put her hand under his lower jaw and closed his mouth for him.

"So, I take it you like my dress." she said.

"Uh, yeah..." he replied. Then he shook his head slightly and looked at her again. Rikku twirled slowly around, giving him the full effect of her outfit. He still did not say anything so Rikku did.

"Is that all you have to say?" she pouted.

"You, look...nice." was all he said.

"Nice? That's all you can say? You just slipped on a suit and slicked your hair. This took over two hours. And all you can say is 'nice'?" Rikku was getting mad again. Her good mood was spoiled because all she got was 'nice'.

Gippal apparently saw the change in her face and pulled himself together.

"No, no don't get mad. I'm just ...shocked. I've never seen you dressed up before." Now a smile, a real smile appeared on his face, instead of the usual grin. "You look great."

"That's better!" she said, her smile reappearing. She took his arm in hers and turned her smile on Gippal. "Although I was going for 'Wow you look fabulous! Incredible! Wow!', coming from you I guess 'great' is a compliment." Gippal laughed, as she expected.

"Alright. Wow! You look fabulous! Incredible! Wow!" he said as his other arm came to wrap around her, his hand on the small of her back, which happened to bare. That put the shocked look on his face again, but only for an instant. The smile came back as he shook his head. "Come on, Cid's girl. Let's eat. I know you're starving."

Rikku let the 'Cid's girl' pass for now, happy that he had been admiring her. Not that she would forget it, after asking him to call her 'Rikku', but it could it pass.

"Yes! Let's go!" Rikku said, putting the hand that was not occupied on Gippals chest playfully. She noted just how much muscle lay under the suit fabric. It made her shiver and smile warmly up at him.

He led her out of the garden, not trying to remove her from his arm, but actually pulling her closer to him. Gippal looked around him and scowled at something. Rikku looked in the direction he was looking, and saw several males staring at the sky or the grass. She frowned, and turned to Gippal.

"What are you scowling at, Gippal?"

"Hmm? Nothing. Thought I saw something."

"If you say so." Rikku said, not quite believing him. Then she giggled as she lay her head on his shoulder, mirroring the events earlier that morning. "Too bad I'm not all sweaty, like last time." Gippal chuckled.

"Yeah, only this time you're getting make-up all over my favorite suit."

"I am not! I'm not even wearing much, you big meanie." Rikku retorted. She began to slide her arm out of Gippal's when he grabbed her hand and pulled her back.

"This big meanie is buying you an expensive dinner, so be nice."

Rikku rolled her eyes half heartedly. "Ok, you win. I'll be good. So long as I don't wait long for my dinner."

Ok. That was good. So, next half will be the actual dinner. And, gasp the fight scene! dun dun dunnnnn! Pls, r&r! thank you bunches!