I'll Be There For You – Chapter 6

The Bad News

After the disastrous encounter Rikku, I tried to act like it didn't happen… but that's hard, really hard. I find myself secretly vying for her attention, or any hint that she doesn't hate me. For the past few days, I haven't even so much as looked at another woman, much to their disappointment. I used to laugh at the women that would throw themselves down at my feet. Now, they just disgust me. Don't they get that I'm not interested? Man, something is wrong with me, and I know what it is.

Rikku.

It's not a bad thing, really. It's… just unnerving. I used to think of her as Cid's Little Girl… then I saw her handle herself with her crew. Oh no, she's not Cid's Little Girl anymore, far from. She's her own woman now, and I've been too dumb to see it. Now, I wish that I didn't mess things up, because if I didn't, maybe I would have a chance. I'm beginning to believe that I won't have one ever again.

I've tried for a couple of days to get Rikku talking to me again, but she's not rising to the bait. All I'll get is a few word responses, and then she'll go off and work with her crew. I'm getting tired of her giving me the cold shoulder, and not because it's annoying. It… hurts, it really does. There, I admitted it. Gippal, the Gippal who hates to show any emotion is being hurt by the cold shoulder treatment. What in Spira happened to me?

What really hits home was yesterday. Yesterday… I confronted Rikku about a few days ago in my office. I got another telling off, although this one was much calmer… and it hurt more.

"What was in the past stays in the past. I had to move on Gippal, you left. I know you did it for a purpose, but that doesn't help the pain that it caused. I've moved on, and I'm staying that way. Don't think that you can't worm your way back into my life, because you can't."

… I don't know what to do. I know now that she hates me, but I don't know if she would just love to kick me out of her life, or if she can still stand me. After that conversation, she wouldn't even stay in the same room as me. Yup, she hates me, and it's going to stay that way for a long time. I… I'll find a way to live with this. It won't be easy, but I don't want to make working here hard for her.

Things were shaky, but at least they weren't chaotic. That changed though. For Rikku, the whole world came crashing down.

The call came from Besaid a few hours ago. It was Yuna, and she was the bearer of bad news… really bad news. I remember the call perfectly.

"Gippal, is Rikku there?"

"Yeah… just a minute. I'll send someone to get her."

"You're not going?"

I laughed hesitantly, "I've been a jerk… and a really big one by her standards. By mine… I've been a jackass."

Yuna's eyes widened. "What did you do?"

"According to her, 'trying to worm her way back into her life'. You know when I said we made quite the couple? I wasn't joking. We were dating before I left for the Crimson Squad."

Yuna was silent. "You still like her?"

I slapped my forehead. "You know, I would love to answer yes to that question, but I can't."

"Why not?"

"If I say I do, it's going to lodge itself into my brain, and it's going to make working with her very hard… harder than it all ready is. She's already ratted me out for putting the moves on her once... and I don't want to ruin what shaky friendship we have right now... if you can call it one really."

"I see."

A knock came at the door. "Come in." I called. Rikku entered the room.

"You wanted me?" She stated cooly.

"Yeah, Yuna's on the Commsphere."

"Yunie!" Rikku cried, a smile coming over her face. It made my heart melt. I haven't seen her smile in so long… I hate myself for ruining the shaky relationship that we had. If I had just kept myself under control…

"Rikku, I have some bad news. Apparently, some group of unknown Al Bhed doesn't like the fact that your father is the leader of the Al Bhed. Rikku… Rikku, they kidnapped him. They want him to sign official documents, saying that he resigns from his position, and hands it over to their leader. We don't know where they are, but we're coming to Djose to pick you up. Will you be ready?"

"Yes, I will." Rikku replied firmly, not letting Yuna see her discomfort. Yuna nodded, then disconnected. The both of you were silent for a while, and then I turned to look at her in the face.

"Rikku…"

"I'm fine." She said calmly.

I frowned, "That's not what I was going to ask."

She looked up at me and blinked. I rubbed the back of my neck. "Actually, I was wondering if it was okay for me to tag along too."

She blinked again. "You want to come?"

"Yeah. Cid may not like me, but no one just goes off and kidnaps him like it's not a problem. I may not like him much, but no one messes with my boss."

Rikku smiled sadly. "I just want to know how they managed to do it…"

"Threatened him probably. That's the only way I can see him doing something that he doesn't want to do."

"Threaten him? With what? Guns?"

"No, I don't think so." I whispered. Rikku looked up at me with a confused look on her face, but I didn't say anything more. I know that Cid would do anything to protect her, and I have a feeling that whoever kidnapped him threatened to hurt Rikku. I'm dead sure about that. "So, is it all right if I come?"

"You don't have to ask my permission to do anything Gippal. You can come if you want." Rikku told me.

"I know… but I would stay here if you didn't want me to come."

"And why wouldn't I want you to come?"

"Cause you hate me, it's easy to tell."

Rikku laughed. "Gippal! I don't hate you!"

I furrowed my brow, "Huh? Then why have you been positively ignoring me for the past few days?"

"I was just… scared."

I blinked. "Scared? Since when are you scared Rikku?"

Rikku smiled, "Hey, you called me by my name for a change."

I smiled back at her. Hey, it wasn't making out, but it was better than her not even looking at me. "I know. You're not Cid's Little Girl anymore, you really aren't. You're your own woman now. And I mean that."

Rikku just starred dumbly at me, and I laughed.

"Rikku, if you could only see your face right now…"

She blushed, "Stop it."

"Yes ma'am. So, I expect that Yuna and the gang will be here in a few minutes, so I suggest you go get ready."

Rikku nodded sadly, and turned to leave. I felt like I needed to say something else, but I didn't know what to say, and I wanted to think things over before I acted. But she was getting so much closer to the door… I didn't think.

"Rikku, wait." I called. She stopped, and turned to look back at me. "Rikku… are you gonna be all right?"

"Yeah, I'm fine… why wouldn't I be?"

"Your father has just been kidnapped, and you're going to be okay?"

Rikku didn't respond, she just turned away from me… yet she didn't leave. I took a few steps toward her, only to realize that her shoulders were shaking.

"Rikku…" I began, and reached a hand out to her, but she left my office before I could say anything.

A few minutes later, Yuna, Tidus, Baralai, and Paine arrived at Djose.

"Are you ready Rikku?" Yuna asked as the both of us walked out to meet them.

"You're coming too?" Paine asked, and I glared at her.

"Is that a problem?"

"Nope, just didn't think that you would, that's all." She replied, and went over to stand next to Baralai. I smiled to myself. Whoo whoo whoo… I can tell that there's something going on there. But, sadly, now isn't the time to give Baralai a hard time about it. Maybe later.

"Everyone, let's go." Yuna said. A sudden thought occurred to me.

"Wait, don't you think that whoever's got Cid would recognize the Celsius?" When everyone just starred at me, I went on with my reasoning. "Well, seeing as it's Brother's airship, and he's Cid's son, the Celsius might be recognizable to them."

Baralai nodded, "Good point. But if we don't take the Celsius, what do we use?"

"Myto uv dra Cyhtc." ((Lady of the Sands.)) I replied cheerfully.

"Huh?" Tidus asked.

I groaned, "MY airship."

Rikku starred at me, "You HAVE one?"

"Well yeah. Haven't had the chance to fly it much, so it's not easily recognizable. Doesn't matter to me which one we fly, just thought I would throw that out there."

"Gippal's got an airship? Oh, I gotta see this…" Paine answered, and everyone else agreed.

I smiled, "All right, this way guys."

Once we were all on board, and I gathered my crew, I took Rikku on a tour of my baby… I mean, my airship. I knew that Rikku was troubled on the inside, but she wasn't letting anyone else know. She was even fooling Paine… that's scary. I don't want to see her hide what she's feeling. I'm beginning to think that I'm the only one that can read her right now. I continued to show her around as I contemplated what wasgoing on in that head of hers.
"Rikku, look at me." I told her softly. We were now standing on the sleek black deck of my airship. When she looked up at me, I stepped a little closer to her, and put a hand on her shoulder. "Are you going to be okay?" She nodded, and I frowned at her. "You know, I'm having a hard time believing that." She was silent, and looked down at her shoes. I sighed, and took a chance.

I wrapped my arms around her waist, and hugged her. "Rikku, don't hide it from me. Are you going to be okay?"

She was silent, and then spoke in a barely audible whisper. "I don't know. I'm so scared… Pops is so tough, nothing gets to him. Then he goes off and gets kidnapped… I knew that some people don't really like Pops, but I didn't know that people hate him enough to do something like this…"

"I know… I know Rikku. I was a shocked. Your dad's tough. And you know what? I've got a feeling that we'll find him in good and kicking condition. Then he'll want to start cursing out the people that-" I stopped. I heard Rikku sniff, and it hit me then that I wasn't helping. I hugged her tighter.

"I'm sorry, I'll shut up now.

She lifted her head from my chest and raised a hand to wipe away a tear, but I beat her too it. "Don't hide your feelings Rikku, it doesn't help at all, trust me." I told her softly. She nodded in understanding, and then abruptly wrapped her arms tightly around my waist. I hugged her tight, and rubbed her back comfortingly. Then I felt her shoulders shake. I looked down to discover that she was crying.

"I always imagined that Pops was invincible… that nothing could touch him. I always knew that he would always come for me when I was in trouble… this shows me that I can't take him for granted. I've been so stupid…"

"Shhh… you're not stupid, and you know it. Cid would wonder if you were sane if he saw you blubbering on like this."

"Yeah, you probably would too, and tease me about it later."

My heart fell. "No, I wouldn't, and I won't." I whispered in her ear.

"Huh?"

"This isn't something funny, Rikku. I would never tease you about something like this. You know, it's okay to cry. I'll ignore the fact that my shirt's going to get wet."

She gave a wet laugh, and buried her head into my shoulder. "Thank you."

"No thanks needed." I told her, then paused, contemplating my next words. "Rikku… I'm going to promise you something, so listen hard, okay?"

"Mmm 'kay."

I took a deep breath, and gave her a gentle squeeze. "Rikku… you may think this sounds stupid, but I mean it, okay?"

"Just get on with it buddy." Rikku chuckled, and I smiled.

"I promise I'll always be there. Whether it's someone to talk to, someone to make you laugh, or a shoulder to cry on, I'll be there. Promise."

"Gippal, zi'hi iqbihuirsurk myli hyokn zurtm, U mokkimd ayo ert Ceta Rikku kid pesg urmuti." ((Gippal, we're experiencing some rough winds, I suggest you and Lady Rikku get back inside.)) My pilot said over the intercom. To prove his point, a stray wind caught the Lady, and made her buck. I braced myself, and held Rikku close to me. When the airship righted itself, I scooped Rikku up in my arms, and quickly carried her back inside.

At first she protested to being carried, but after a while she gave up. She wrapped her arms around my neck, and laid her head on my shoulder, watching the doors that faded behind us as I walked toward the bridge.

When we reached the bridge, I walked over to my captain's chair, and sat down, andI placed Rikku in my lap. To my surprise and joy, she didn't object, or get up. She seemed content to curl up in my lap, and burry her head in my shoulder. I kept my hand around her waist, as my other hand ran through my hair.

"Anything new?" I asked.

"Yup." My navigator said, "We found out where he is, and we're heading there right now."

"Where is he?"

"The Omega Ruins."

I sighed… I really didn't like that place. I squeezed Rikku, and nodded to the navigator. "Let's go."

A/N: Another chapter… yippee! Now! Finally we get some actual plot going! Yes! Go me! I rule! ((cough – just kidding!))

marajade963 - I'm good? Oh geez, you're going to make my head two times bigger than it needs to be... oh dear... You're liking the plot, that's good, cuz it's not going to change even if you didn't... hehe! I'm developing my characters well? YES! ((jumps up and down screaming)) I was hoping that I wasn't making Rikku too weird... or Gippal to thoughtful... oh well, it's all for a good cause!

Angel-Light-Girl - ALL I do during school is write the next chapters, and they NEVER follow the format that I write them in the first time... but that's okay. If you feel like you're involved, that's good... that means I'm drawing you in... SCORE! ((rubs this fact in English teacher's face)) She says my writing isn't engaging... HA! If you like my writing style, you should read one of my essays... you're seriously going to thinkt that we're two different people, it's not funny... ((lmao))

-Vincent's Angel of Chaos-