Practice Makes Perfect
Chapter One
By RingPrincess

Disclaimer: Final Fantasy X and X-2 are owned by Square Enix and not by me. (Though I really wish I could have a real life version of Gippal. Hot!)

A/N: So, I haven't been around in a long long time FF wise. And I know I promised a much longer story. Well, three epics later, here is the start of my much longer story. One more thing, for those who love rippal I've created a livejournal community for it. It's community(dot)livejournal(dot)come(slash)rippal(underscore)shippers, please come join and feel free to post your old works there. I'd love to see a place where we can all get together and share. Ringy-P

Gippal

Let it never be said that I don't like girls. I like girls just fine, okay, correction. I like women better. Women are one of the reasons for my existence. I don't claim to understand them, but I like them. I don't have one though. It's not that they don 't throw themselves at me. I'm a sexy, handsome, charming, jackass here, so they do, often and repeatedly. I just haven't ever been able to make a decision between any of them. Not one woman seems better than the other. If one did, I'm sure I'd say or do something about it, really. Besides, once you have a girlfriend then comes the main problem. What do you do with her?

That part has always baffled me. I get the basics of dating, going places, holding hands, kissing, flowers, candy, cuddling whatever. I get those, not that I have had a chance to practice them but I get them. They are simple physical things that a man and woman can do for and with each other. I might not know when you're supposed to start to do these different things but at least I know what they are. What confuse me are the women themselves. They all seem to have strange expectations that only make sense to their, I believe, deranged minds. This is the part of the whole not understanding thing. Women think different, talk different and even feel different. Women don't come out and say things but expect me to know whatever it is on their minds anyways. It makes for fascinating study but boggles the mind on how to have a working relationship with a woman. Consequently, I've never taken a girl out more than once. Anymore than that I'm out of my depth and that actually scares me.

"Gippal," a woman said in front of me.

I blinked slowly, she and the rest of the world coming back into focus. "What?" I asked over the clanging of metal and screech of everyday life at Djose, I don't know if you could really call the place a temple anymore. Sure the statues were still there but no one was here to worship.

She peered at me through the thick lenses of her goggles. "You seem distracted."

The truth was that, yes, for some strange reason, I had been. But it had nothing to do with her. Sure, she was pretty with lovely honey blonde hair that barely touched her shoulders and mint green eyes. She was Al Bhed. Of course she was pretty. But she wasn't my type and older than I as well. I've dated both humans and Al Bhed and much prefer Al Bhed. So if she were my type or young enough I'd take her out to dinner. At least we wouldn't run out of topics for conversation. Human girls, sometimes we ended up with the weather, not very exciting. Perhaps I should take her out just for kicks. It certainly couldn't be worse than some evenings I've had. I waved a hand brushing her concern away and didn't ask her out. "Nah, I'm fine," I said instead.

I narrowed my eye as she went back to report, determined to pay attention this time. She didn't get more than a few sentences before I was once again distracted despite my good intentions. Fortunately I wasn't the only one.

The whole main floor of the temple went silent, as it always seemed to when High Summoner Yuna entered the room. For some odd reason, because of this you'd think she'd have more presence. She doesn't. Yuna's actually quite reserved, but still rooms stop and people stare wherever she goes.

"Oh," Rikku said, "Then what happened?" Cid's girl leaned towards Yuna, bright eyes wide and sparkling behind her bangs. She looked up into Yuna's flushed face, which wasn't hard. Cid's girl had to look up at everyone.

"That's not for you to know," Yuna said, her hands fluttering, unsure of what to do as her face turned more scarlet.

Rikku straightened, crossed her arms and turned her head away. "Fine, leave out the juicy bits. I'll just have to invent them myself."

"I'd just tell her Yuna," Yuna's other companion, Paine, said. I'm sure a few onlookers blinked as they just noticed her. Paine was good at not being noticed until exactly when she wanted to be. She shook her head, but she was smiling. "Spare yourself some grief."

"See," Rikku looked back at Yuna. "Paine wants to know too." She pouted.

Rikku was one of the few girls I hadn't taken out of my old friends. All right, I hadn't ever taken Yuna or Paine out to dinner or blitzball or any of the other things I did with girls either. Not that I would mind you. Yuna had a man and he might take offense and Paine clearly wasn't interested. But, Rikku on the other hand was available and friendly. So why hadn't I ever done something with her?

Perhaps the friendly bit was my clue. Couple remark to Yuna notwithstanding, Rikku and I were friends and had been for quite some time. If I thought about it, Rikku was the rare girl who was one of the guys, even in Al Bhed culture where guy things predominate. She was that way in my head and had been that way for so long that the idea of taking her out to dinner would've never cross my mind, at least not before now. If dinner were with a group, there'd be no problem. But one on one, I don't think so.

The other reason was more simplistic. Rikku was a girl I'd never seen like a man interested in the opposite sex would. My eye wandered down her body and I tried. She had lovely curves that her yellow bikini top and tan miniskirt showed off nicely. My brain stuttered to a halt, unable to make the transition between girl and woman. Looking at her called up memories that reminded me she was obnoxious and at times felt like a slightly younger sibling that stuck their nose in everything and you just couldn't get rid of. There was no way I'd date anyone like that.

Paine sighed. "I do not. Don't listen to her Yuna."

Yuna stopped and placed her hands on her hips. "First it's listen to her, now it's not. Make up your mind."

Rikku and Paine stopped as well, Paine crossing her arms and assuming her characteristic pose. "I say we do what we came for," she said.

"I always miss the good parts," Rikku shook her head, rocking from her heels to her toes.

Paine leaned past Yuna to Rikku. "Maybe if you experienced them yourself, you wouldn't need to hear others."

Rikku's face fell, the light left her eyes and mouth. She stopped bouncing and blinked hard. "That's low," she said voice trembling as if she was valiantly holding back tears.

I stared, taken aback. Rikku'd just gone from merry to hurt in less than thirty seconds. She'd never been able to hide her feelings but she wasn't this moody unless the hurt had been hiding just below her teasing, hurt coming out because what Paine had said truly bothered her. Rikku always seemed happy. It was her self defense mechanism, pushing pain away with smiles. It didn't always work, but she'd never abandon it.

I expected her to leave or add on her equivalent of an insult. She didn't, which rocked me back on my heels. Those had been her favorite reactions to verbal confrontation in the past. Would she actually stick around for the fight rather than running away as she normally did? And what were they talking about anyways?

Paine frowned. "I didn't mean it like that."

They both seemed to know what that meant, even if the rest of us were confused as hell.

"Yes, you did." Rikku stomped her foot.

Yuna looked between them, her eyes widening. I wouldn't have blamed her if she stepped back. I wouldn't want to be in the middle of a brewing fight either. I hoped she knew what this was about.

"I did not," Paine shifted her weight to her other hip.

"How else can you mean it?" Rikku threw up her hands, all energy to Paine's conservatism. "You say things that hurt in the form of teasing and then say that they weren't meant to hurt when those things you say can only be taken that way. It's unfair and rude. Especially when there seems to be nothing I can ever say back that can hurt you. Since as we all know, Paine's perfect." Her hands gesturing, her voice mocked, "Perfectly emotionless."

That wasn't true and I know Rikku must know it. But she didn't care. She was just trying to strike back the best way she knew how. She might regret it, later.

Yuna opened her mouth.

Paine brushed her bangs from her eyes. "All I said was that-"

"I know what you said and I'm saying you were being mean." Rikku interrupted.

"I wasn't. Why must you take innocent comments and make all out war with them?" She sighed.

"Because it hurts," Rikku said like there was no other answer, her voice breaking.

"It's always a contest with you Rikku and I'm getting sick of it."

Yuna's head whipped back and forth, she seemed unsure of what to do. Hell, I wasn't sure what to do. We seemed to be having two different fights here. Yuna didn't speak. I wondered if they went at it if she'd be able to keep them apart. I don't think Rikku or Paine had noticed the audience they'd walked into or if they had noticed they'd entered the building in the first place. So involved they had been in girl conversation. Rikku might not care, but Paine's dignity wouldn't allow such an open and public forum for a fight of such personal nature.

I watched Rikku carefully. She clenched her fists and appeared to bite her tongue. Her eyes closed as she fought something, visibly trembling. I started to sweat. The last time I'd seen Rikku trembling like that, fists clenched, she hadn't been fighting it. She'd been throwing herself at another person, eyes wide open and potent with rage. I resisted the urge to step back and I knew I should step forward and stop this madness before Rikku did go mad, but I couldn't move. Paine stood there so calmly, arms crossed waiting for Rikku to say something and Rikku seemed to be controlling the urge. Yuna looked worried but not as much as she should've been. Her bottom lip was between her teeth as her eyes kept flicking between her friends. The silence thickened in the room coating everything like grease and Rikku said nothing all her concentration taken it seemed in controlling her anger, shaking her muscles into knots, teeth pressed so tightly they should've been breaking.

"Rikku, Paine," Yuna's voice made me jump. She placed a hand on each girl's shoulder. Rikku twitched and took a step away breaking that tentative contact. Hurt flashed across Yuna's face. Paine's eyebrows flew to her hairline. I inhaled sharply, Yuna should've been unconscious on the floor after touching her like that. But it appeared to break some sort of tension inside Rikku.

"That's not what this is about," Rikku's voice was dull and heavy. The matter now closed. "Go ahead, do what you came here for." The anger wasn't leeched out of her but she was no longer poised to strike Paine down.

We would be all right or I hoped we would. I'd never seen Rikku actually control her rage before and I couldn't be certain. Violent wasn't the word I would use to describe Rikku when angered, slaughter or carnage, maybe massacre was a more apt description. It was her dark side, the one she didn't like or want to admit to, the one when I knew her she couldn't control and didn't understand. The fact she was controlling it meant perhaps she wasn't beyond all reason. Paine and Yuna, no matter how great of fighters they were or how long they'd worked with her and knew her style, would be bloody maybe non-living messes if she had been.

She was my friend. I knew her well and I understood how these rages worked. Once her notoriously long fuse was spent. It was over, dead voice, physically violent, unseeing rage. Rikku was hurt by what Paine had said and Paine's responses had enraged her. Yuna didn't seem to know what to do and that left things up to me.

Hadn't they learned how to manipulate Rikku yet? Irritation made me move. I strode the distance between us, and grabbed Rikku's shoulders. I turned her towards the door before she knew that I was there, let alone what I was doing. I shoved her gently. "Go, Djose High Road travelers have been complaining of a large number of fiends."

The push forced her to take a step and she took a second before she realized what I'd done. She looked over her shoulder with narrowed eyes, glaring. But committed she left, managing through brute strength alone to actually slam one of the temple doors. I winced as the force shuddered through the walls, shaking loose dust. Air rushed out of my lungs between my lips. Our escape had been slim and I doubt Paine or Yuna realized it. None of us in the room had been safe. Rikku never noticed the collateral damage she wrought once rage overtook reason. Let her take it out on the fiends, no one would mind if a few of them ended up broken and dead. Rikku hadn't killed anybody that I knew of, yet. But there could always be a first time.

I went cold and shivered slightly. I couldn't imagine Rikku if she'd ever killed anyone in her rage, especially if it was someone she loved. It would devastate her. She'd no longer be the same Rikku, but it hadn't happened this time and I had others to deal with. I pushed the worry away and turned to Yuna and Paine, a smile slowly stretching my lips. "So, you ladies wanted something." A quick glance around the room made everyone jump back to industriousness. The noise made Paine wince.

Yuna didn't appear to notice as she nodded. Her eyes looked past me over her shoulder to the direction Rikku had gone. "How'd you do that?"

It wasn't something I wanted to discuss. "Simple process of manipulation." I smiled again, hoping that would the end of it. Part of me wanted to rub in their faces how close their call had been. I wanted to shake Paine so hard her teeth rattled. Normally, she was a block of good sense. Why didn't she see provoking Rikku was a bad idea? Could this be the first fight they'd had? Sure there was a shaky peace now and more time for misunderstandings, but surely not one fight? I kept my smile in place. Or had Rikku changed that much so she could control her anger more and had never told or warned them about it?

"Manipulation?" Paine tilted her head.

"A matter of knowing what to do, when to get the desired response." I shrugged. Let them think it was a major deal. As if it hadn't taken me years to figure out the ground rules. They were around her more often than I had been. They lived, worked and played together. They should've figured out something by now, even the easiest rule. My smile stayed put. I'd be damned before I gave them any hints. She didn't deserve to be taken advantage of.

Paine snorted. "You two are close."

I shrugged again. It would be better to remain neutral. Let Yuna and Paine think what they liked. It didn't make it true. I was going to stay out of this fight. I wasn't even sure what it was about. Sure, from what I'd seen Paine was at fault but hey I'd missed most of the conversation and all preceding ones as well. And being Rikku's friend I knew how she could be. I just hoped though that I wouldn't be left to clean up the mess. I waved my hand. "Business ladies, what brings you to the Machine Faction?"

--

Rikku

I was muddy, sweaty, drenched in blood but I was whistling. Utterly filthy, friends mad and Gippal's manipulation, aside, I was happy, downright cheery. Admittedly, it was partly because of Gippal's manipulation. It was to know he knew what I needed, even when I didn't. It'd been so long, you'd think he'd have forgotten. In some twisted way it showed he cared. Should I care what my friends thought? Absolutely. Could I? Later.

My whistle echoed down the hall towards the cabin and the door opened. Tidus straightened by the bar, looking over as I strode through. My whistle faltered at his obvious appraisal of my current state of dirtiness.

"What did you do, roll in it?" He asked.

I grinned. "A garuda fell on me," I paused and blinked. "I think or it might have been the basilisk I beheaded or both."

He brushed blonde hair from his eyes. "Right."

I scratched the back of my neck and drying dirt mixed with blood flaked off into my palm and onto the floor. I swear dirt caked under my clothes, my fingernails, in my hair, everywhere. It itched. "I need a shower," I muttered and grimaced, heading past him. Way to state the obvious. I paused at the bathroom door, "Tidus?"

"What?" He blinked large blue eyes.

I bit the inside of my lip, having second thoughts about what I was going to ask. The back of my eyes tickled, "Never mind."

"No, really, what?" He was sincere. Tidus was always sincere. That's what made it worse.

I wanted to ask him about today. About what Paine had said and what Gippal had did? About why did one anger me and the other make me happy? What did it mean? But as I stood there, hand on the doorjamb I could see Paine's disapproving face in my head. My heart stopped and second thoughts became third and I turned away. "Nothing," I mumbled and shut the door, blocking him out.

Insides really can ache. I stripped and turned on the water as hot as I could stand, stepping under the stream. My arms wrapped around my torso, I leaned my head against the wall and watched the water dilute the dirt and blood carrying it in small streams down my skin, creating waterfalls off my breasts. A sob caught in the back of my throat and the emotional high crashed completely. Tears spilled from my eyes joining the flows of water, Sobs racked my body and I hugged myself tighter, not wanting to lose that touch even to support myself. Waves of loneliness and longing assaulted me. I hadn't been touched meaningfully for months if not years. Not since I got too old to cuddle on Pop's lap, just as I hadn't been that close to losing my temper for years.

I don't remember sitting, I was, face in my knees water pounding on my back, a combination of heartache and shock. I needed to be touched, I craved it, meaningful contact with another person, preferably a male. The little touches from my friends couldn't compare. Gods, I'd been that close to killing one of my best friends. She didn't know my temper, didn't understand, was only trying to tease me. Tears ran faster. When had my judgment got so clouded? Gippal shouldn't have had to step in. Thank the sands he had. Things had gotten out of hand so quickly, even though I tried. I could've killed her and I wouldn't have known until it was too late. I rocked back and forth, shivering despite the hot water and steam. Hate, hate, hate, I hate my anger. I hate what it does to me, hate, hate, hate. Fear ate at me. I thought it'd been gone. I'd won, my temper would no longer control me. The hottest water would feel like ice. I was wrong. I stopped sobbing, tears running away with the water. Could I control it? Handle with care should be tattooed on my forehead in every language Spira possessed. Did I have a choice but to do so or at least try? Not really.

I reached for the soap and scrub brush, my skin already bright pink and fingertips pruny. My body kicked into automatic from there. Lungs sucking in great gulps of steamy air as they worked to stop the occasional sob. But strangely I felt better. Even so I was getting out long before I was ready.

I dressed in a spare outfit and stared at my face surrounded by fog in the mirror. As I did my hair, my gut churned and my fingers shook, having a hard time getting the beads set and braids tight enough. I didn't want to face them. I wasn't sure of their reaction. I could take fiends with a smile on my face, but my friends had me shaking. But I couldn't hide in the bathroom for the rest of my life. I squared my shoulders and nodded at my reflection. Clean clothes, clean body, I was ready as I would ever be.

The cabin was empty of human and Al Bhed. Barkeep and Darling puttered behind the bar, paying no attention to me or the roil of steam spilling out the door around me. Damn, another grand entrance ruined. I sighed and headed to the bridge. It was the most reasonable place for everybody to be. The bridge was our gathering place. Each crewmember seemed to have a special spot. Even if it was a section of the floor to wear thin. I vaulted over the rail and looked at Yuna.

"Gippal's willing to be cooperative," she said, drawing her words out, taking her time with them while she looked me up and down. Well that answered any questions I had and made me wonder what conversation I'd interrupted.

"Great," I said and flashed a smile. I wouldn't let this bother me, I swore. I rocked on my feet, back and forth, bouncing. The silence lengthened and I stopped. "Umm, yeah," I muttered and started to my seat up front. "Great."

"You're cheerful," Paine said. I froze. I wished it had been Yuna. Yuna I could smile and nod, not having her say anymore about it after that. That's what I loved about Yunie, she was so accepting of things.

"Happy, gory, cheerful," Tidus chuckled.

I winced. Tidus wasn't going to be helpful and I'm sure he thought I was cheerful for all the wrong reasons. He knew how much I liked fighting fiends, but this time that wasn't it. Okay, it was it in a way. I was happy that I'd fought fiends, not people. It was kind of like performing a public service and still getting to do what I wanted to do very badly, beat shit up. Did that even make sense? I knew that it'd come out all bungled if I tried to verbalize it, so I didn't bother. I stood mute.

"Quite the mood swing," Paine added.

Must she comment? I took another step to my station and bit my tongue, literally. Brother sat sideways on the pilot's seat watching me, shoulders tense, gaze wary. I tried to smile, to show I was okay and all right. It came out rather shaky. I stopped and tried to convey the hurt and helplessness I felt without words. His fingers dug into the seat and I knew at that moment he wanted to run.

My eyes closed as I fought the tears just seeing his reaction brought. Why hadn't I known this would happen? Brother and I had been doing good. He had no longer feared me. The fear had left and now this. Someone had been telling stories while I'd been out. I'd controlled it. Damn them. My eyes snapped open. Tears pushed back by the warmth of anger. I checked Buddy, he sat on the back of his seat leaning, alert, ready for anything. Just like the old days and he'd been relaxing around me too. I tried not to take it personally, but it hurt.

"You were angry earlier." Yuna said. Evidently tired of waiting for me to fill the silence. I looked over at Shinra. He knelt in his chair.

"Yeah," I took another step, distance might help. Brother stiffened more. Buddy looked more and more like a coiled spring. I stopped. Insides aching harder just watching them, I couldn't go closer. "I had every right to be, Paine hurt me." I said, chest tight.

"You seem happy enough now," Tidus said, his tone trying to tell the others to drop it. I was fine now, that's what mattered to him. Unfortunately, it also sounded like a question, one the silence said I had to answer. I was stuck between them and my seat where I could ignore them with the excuse of work. Stuck by their uncomfortable conversation and by Buddy and Brother's reactions. This had been a mistake. I shouldn't have come to the bridge. I was only digging deeper.

"I've got better ways to work out my anger." I said, trying to tell them to drop it without coming out and saying it. All the work with Brother and Buddy, gone in an instant, where was the trust?

"I didn't mean to hurt you." Paine said.

Not this again, didn't she know when to stop pushing and shut up? I turned around, unable to bear Brother's gaze. It burned into my back as Paine's scarlet gaze burned into my face as I looked at her. "It doesn't matter what you intended to do. You did, all right." I said, now let's move on.

"Well," She shifted her weight, arms crossed. "You should be off with the guy you love instead of pestering Tidus and Yuna."

All the hurt rushed back and it fueled the anger boiling in my veins. The causes warred within me. I can't be with the man I love. He doesn't know. Do you know how hard it was to get Buddy and Brother to trust me? The work it took for fear and distrust to go away. I should have been the one to tell them about today! This shouldn't be happening. Why can't you pretend to understand and shut up? My thoughts swirled and screamed.

Through the roaring in my ears I heard Tidus say something. I wasn't listening. Paine filled my vision and no one else mattered.

I closed the distance between Paine and I, locked onto those red irises and invading her carefully maintained personal space. I stared up at her. I was only going to say this once. I enunciated every human word carefully so hopefully someone with her obviously limited intelligence could understand, my voice absolutely flat. "Just because I love him, doesn't mean that he loves me." Then I punched her, a beautiful right hook and hell, it felt good.

--

Thanks for reading and please, please come join me at my new community. Shout outs for those who review! -Ringy-P