Seraphim

Nng, this chapter was late, wasn't it? I really hope that this doesn't become a recurring problem… I still blame it on my Gundam Wing obsession (Again- if you're interested, see my fiction for it under the name one-hep-cat). This chapter is a bit shorter than usual, but I hope you all continue to enjoy it!

Chapter 6:

Rikku blinked and shook her head, as though she couldn't believe what she was seeing. Well, that was because she couldn't. There stood Gippal as if he had intended to attend Yuna's wedding the entire time.

"What are you doing here?" she asked stupidly.

"Reciting poetry. Come on, Highness. What does it look like?"

"But… you said you weren't coming." She arched a brow slightly.

"Well, you know me. Can't resist a good party. And High Summoner Yuna's wedding is probably going to be one hell of a party."

She frowned deeply. "But you told me you weren't coming. You even yelled at me for wanting to come."

Gippal sighed. "Would you believe I was having a bad day? Forgive me?" He fluttered his lashes endearingly.

"Oh fine," she said, rolling her eyes slightly. "But you'll have to find somewhere else to sit. Zanno took your seat." She gestured to the blond beside her.

It was Gippal's turn to frown. He eyed Zanno. "Oh… really? I though you were supposed to be resting, man," he said in a clipped manner.

"He is. Sitting is resting. It's not like he's dancing on the tables or racing around with the Fiend Fighters Association."

Gippal grunted.

She gave him a pointed look. Suddenly, a slow grin crept onto her face. Was he…? 'Cripes, I think he is! I think he's jealous!'

"What? What's so funny?" he demanded grouchily.

She gave him a gleeful look. "Oh nothing," was her singsong reply.

He gave her a skeptical look before flickering a glare at Zanno again.

He was, he was, he was!

Music sounded loudly. Rikku squeaked and waved at Gippal. "Go. Go sit down. The wedding is about to start!"

To her surprise he didn't walk away. Instead, with a grunt, he plopped into the vacant seat next to her.

"Gippal! That's someone else's seat!" she hissed, astounded by his gall.

He shrugged. "First come first serve, right Zanno?"

Zanno looked vaguely put off.

Rikku stared at Gippal, unable to believe what she was seeing. Or hearing! She grinned. "Well, try using that excuse on the person who reserved that seat and see how far it gets you."

He smirked, relaxing further in the chair. "I'm sure there will be no problems. After all, I doubt any of these people want to be remembered as the clods who started a fight at the esteemed High Summoner's wedding."

She gasped. "You're terrible!" Then she whacked him hard to silence him as the wedding procession emerged. The crowd ooh'ed and ahh'ed as one unit as Yuna stepped into view. Rikku squeaked and gripped the edge of her chair excitedly.

The wedding was positively wonderful. Yuna looked beautiful and she had to admit that Tidus didn't look half bad either. The couple was blessed, vows were exchanged, and kisses were shared. The guests gave a tumultuous cheer when Tidus scooped Yuna in his arms and carried her back down the aisle. She laughed lightly and flung her bouquet over his shoulder. Dozens of girls lunged for it. Rikku, who was too busy whistling and cheering for her cousin to care about any bouquet was struck dumb when it bopped her on the head. It showered her with petals and leaves and rolled off her head to land smartly in her arms. She blinked in surprise. Gippal and Zanno hooted and hollered and the unlucky girls jealously glared at her.

After her initial surprise wore away, Rikku stood on her chair and did a little dance of joy. "Hey Yunie! I caught the bouquet!" she shouted to the retreating couple. She laughed at the sight of Yuna giving her the victory sign over Tidus' head.

"It's time to party!" Gippal roared over the noise and the guests bellowed enthusiastically in agreement.

Rikku gave a shriek of laughter when he lifted her onto one shoulder and started bopping his way through the crowd.

And what a party it was. There was singing and dancing and plenty of drinking deep into the night. Rikku could've sworn she saw even the hardhearted Beclem dancing with three girls at one time. She herself had long since discarded her shoes and took her turns dancing with Wakka, Gippal, Zanno, and even Kimhari- though she knew after he flung her over his head that she'd never dance with him again until he learned that human girls didn't land on all fours, like the Ronso. Still, she had to admit it was the most fun she'd truly had in years.

"Hey your Highness , aren't you a little young for that?" Gippal teased, taking a glass of a fruity mixed drink from her hands and spinning her into his arms.

"Oh, you're my father now?" But she was grinning. He was so funny sometimes! "Hi, Pops."

"You must be drunk if you mistake me for being that bald and slightly overweight. Anyway, I assure you that dancing with me will be far more entertaining."

She giggled. "Pops would kill you if he heard you call him overweight."

"Well, sometimes the truth hurts."

She giggled again as he dipped her back. "Ain't that the truth."

"Have I mentioned you look fabulous tonight?"

She snickered. "And you call me durnk- hee hee I mean drunk?"

"I've only had as much to drink as you have, shorty." Gippal dipped her again. "And I can hold my liquor better than –ahem- some."

"So I'm not a chronic alcoholic, like some."

"That's reiteration," he pointed out, feigning seriousness.

"Is it?" she asked, tilting her head.

"No clue." He grinned and spun her around. "Just thought I'd sound smart if I said it. Did I?"

"Your genius astounds me," she teased.

"I thought it might."

They were quite close by this time. Without notice, Rikku was overcome by the sensation of Gippal's mouth on hers. She sank into his warm embrace, senses reeling. Gippal certainly knew what he was doing. She doubted Zanno could even hope to compete.

That thought brought Rikku's senses crashing to the ground. She jerked back with a startled squeak.

"Rikku, I-" Gippal began, looking flustered.

"Zanno!" she squawked.

"I… huh?"

"Zanno! I invited Zanno with me and I've totally ignored him." The heavy weight of guilt pressed down in her chest.

"But-"

"Sorry Gippal. See you later!" And she dashed off.

"But Rikku!" All he saw was her retreating form and a hand that flashed a brief wave as she disappeared into the crowd. With a growl of frustration, he kicked the sand beneath his feet and stalked off sulkily.

Rikku elbowed her way through the crowd in her search for Zanno. It took nearly ten minutes, but she finally found him sitting before the huge, celebratory bonfire with his chin propped on his hand.

"There you are!" She picked here way across the sand towards him. "I've been looking everywhere for you."

"I've been sitting her for the past hour," he replied in a sulky way that was reminiscent of a certain Machine Faction Leader.

She grimaced and plopped gracelessly next to him. "Sorry," she murmured, shaking sand from her dress.

"Have fun with Gippal?" he grumbled.

"Well, yeah, surprisingly. I-" She stopped and looked at him curiously. Turning bodily towards him, she looked straight at his face.

"What?"

"Are you… are you jealous?" she asked, flabbergasted.

"What!"

"Are. You. Jealous? Though I can't understand why…" She was truly puzzled.

"Rikku, you're totally plastered."

She gave a loud, angry snort. "So I've had a few drinks and suddenly I'm incapable of knowing what I'm asking!"

"Rikku-"

"No! You know what- I don't care anymore. No, don't even try it bucko. I'm going home- to Wuwu… whatever! Goodnight!" Standing abruptly, she whirled on her heel and stalked off towards Wakka and Lulu's hut.

Men were so… "Argh!" Rikku shrieked, storming into the hut.

Lulu looked up with a start, hand poised to burp baby Vidina. "What's wrong?"

"Men! They're such buttheads!" she muttered, storming past her. "I'm going to bed. Goodnight!" The door slammed violently behind her.

Still seething, she thrashed about the guest room for a while. She didn't know why she was so mad. Zanno was just being stupid.

"He could've answered my question," she said, yanking her dress over her head and throwing it in a ball in the corner. "But nooo. He had to think it was… something inspired by booze. I mean cripes!" She wrestled into her nightshirt. In the small mirror on the wall across from her, she saw her eyes were bloodshot and strands of her hair stood on end in a halo of static electricity.

She scoffed, combing her hands through her hair hastily. Then, despite the fact that the party outdoors was still going strong, she went to bed.

''''

"I want to do this. This madness has to end."

A familiar face looked at her, wrought with concern. "I'm not sure of the results. This has never been done before. This could fail…" His green eyes were bright. "You could… die."

"I know. I … I accept that." She smiled, though she felt it waver. "Besides, you never know until you try."

"I… I love you." He sounded desperate. Fearful.

"You're a great inventor. I know it will work."

He sighed. "The finest weapon to our people."

There was a sharp cry and Rikku awoke with a start. She sat up, groggy and disoriented, with an intense headache that threatened to split her head in two. It wasn't until she registered an infant's squalling that she realized she was still in Besaid.

"No one has the lungs to belt out that a scream like that like Vidina," she muttered, staggering out of bed.

"Did he wake you?" Lulu asked when she stumbled out into the main room. Vidina was whimpering fitfully.

"Nng," was her reply and she shrugged, plopping into a chair beside the woman.

"Not hung over, are you?"

She held her hand up, spacing her thumb and forefinger just centimeters apart.

Lulu chuckled, propping her baby on her hip. "I'll fix you Wakka's hangover remedy. He claims it scares the hangover out of you."

"I'm not so sure that will be safe."

"What? You don't trust me?" asked the man in question.

"Exactly."

He harrumphed. "Well, you go lie down, ya? I'll brink it to you when it's done."

She grunted and shuffled back to bed. Or so she had every intention of doing. But, riddled with a hangover or not, she was not one to keep still. Reaching over the side of the bed, she seized her knapsack and began to rifle through it. Moments later, she pulled out the strange, reconstructed sphere she discovered in her investigation. Despite every intention to take a mini vacation while attending Yuna's wedding, she couldn't stifle the driving need to know what the sphere was about. She felt she was on the verge of unlocking its mysteries but had no idea what to do to achieve that goal. It was maddening.

Absently, she ran her hand over the smooth, gray surface.

"…ikku… up… come on…."

Rikku felt as though her brain was rattling around inside her skull. Her skin felt tender, as if she had a serious sunburn. What was going on?

"Come on… don't die on me now."

"Nng… who's dying?" she asked thickly, forcing her eyes open. Standing over her was Zanno, Yuna, Tidus, Lulu, and Wakka (with Vidina). Gippal was the one causing her brain to rattle. He stopped shaking her long enough to hug her tightly.

"Ow… What's going on?" she asked as her mental fog cleared. "Why is everyone here? Come on guys, I only had a hangover."

The entire group exchanged serious glances.

"What?"

Gippal made a face. "It… wasn't just a hangover."

It was then she noticed a long cut on his face. The other's sported similar wounds. She nearly spoke again when another surprise caught her gaze. She was no longer in Wakka and Lulu's hut. She was surrounded by fragments of it.

"Gippal… what happened?" she asked, trying (and failing) to keep the panic out of her voice.

"It… well, I…" He cleared his throat awkwardly. "It seems like you transformed. Again."