I'll Be There For You – Chapter 7

Descent Into The Ruins

I didn't care that the crew was watching. I just sat still and enjoyed how close Gippal was. It wasn't until now how much I realized how much I missed being held by someone, especially him. Yuna, Tidus, Baralai, and Paine had just come onto the bridge, and were starring at Gippal and I oddly. When Yuna saw us, she smiled immediately. Gippal shook his head, and her smile fell. She looked at us quizzically, but Gippal motioned with his hand, saying, "Not now. I'll explain later." When I heard the door open for the second time, I wanted to get out of Gippal's lap. Not because I was uncomfortable, but I didn't want Paine to see me like this. If she did, I would never hear the end of it. But, Gippal tightened his hold around my waist.

"Rikku, ed'c ugyo. Hudrehk'c kuehk uh, cu drana'c hu naycuh du pa funneat." ((Rikku, it's okay. Nothing's going on, so there's no reason to be worried.)) Gippal whispered in my ear.

"Palyica E tuh'd fyhd du mea ypuid ic. E tuh'd fyhd du ryja du mea ypuid ic paehk dukadran." ((Because I don't want to lie about us. I don't want to have to lie about us being together.)) I whispered back.

His eye widened, "Yna oui cyoehk dryd ed fuimth'd gemm oui du tyda sa... ykyeh?" ((Are you saying that it wouldn't kill you to date me... again?))

I smiled despite myself, "Oui'na hud uvv dra ruug pitto, pid oui'na kaddehk drana. Zicd keja sa cusa desa, ugyo?" ((You're not off the hook buddy, but you're getting there. Just give me some time, okay?))

Gippal beamed down at me, and he kissed my forehead. "Dryhgc vun biddehk ib fedr sa Rikku... ed sayhc y mud, naymmo. Syopa fa fuh'd ryja du mea du dras, ruf tuac dryd cuiht?" ((Thanks for putting up with me Rikku... it means a lot, really. Maybe we won't have to lie to them, how does that sound?))

I kissed his jaw, "Cuihtc ysywehk." ((Sounds amazing.)) I told him.

When Paine and Baralai came through the door, Paine did a double take at us. Baralai just smiled, and sat down, and the silent warrior did the same. Once everyone was seated, the navigator began his short explanation of where Cid was, and the best ways to reach him. After a few minutes of discussion, we had a plan. I had stayed silent, and everyone seemed okay with that. The plan was pretty standard, I'll admit. We were going to storm in, shoot anything that attacked us, find Pops, and drag him out, and hightail it back to the airship. Our focus was to get him out. We would learn more about who the kidnappers were later.

So, Gippal and I were more than friends, but not exactly a couple. Surprisingly, he seemed content with that. It seemed that whenever I needed a hug of reassurance, he would always be there to give it. He seemed to know when I didn't want to be held, and when I needed it the most. He seemed to know exactly what to say to make me feel better, or boost my confidence. It was like he could read me like an open book. A few days ago, that would have freaked me out big time, but know it's kind of… comforting in a way. I won't deny it's a little weird, but I'm coming to love it.

"Rikku, cdyo lmuca du sa, ymm nekrd?" ((Rikku, stay close to me, all right?)) Gippal said, looking down at me with some concern showing in his eye.

I glared up at him, "E's hud y meddma kenm yhosuna Gippal." ((I'm not a little girl anymore Gippal.))

"E ghuf dryd, yht E ytsena dra fusyh dryd oui'ja palusa. Pid cdemm, E tuh'd fyhd yhodrehk du rybbah du oui. Cunno, bnudaldeja ehcdehld... E'mm dno yht luhdyeh ed." ((I know that, and I admire the woman that you've become. But still, I don't want anything to happen to you. Sorry, protective instinct... I'll try and contain it.)) He said softly.

His comment brought a small blush to my cheeks. "Oui sayh ed?" ((You mean it?))

He hugged me around the waist, "Uv luinca E sayh ed. Lyh'd lymm oui Cid's Meddma kenm yhosuna... crysa. E'mm zicd ryja du veht oui y haf uha, rir?" ((Of course I mean it. Can't call you Cid's Little Girl anymore... shame. I'll just have to find you a new one, huh?))

I smiled slightly. (I wonder how he can do that so easily…) "E kiacc oui tu. Yho etayc?" ((I guess you do. Any ideas?))

Gippal didn't get to reply before Paine interrupted. "Are you two done flirting? We need to get going."

He smiled his famous cocky grin. "Sure, we'll stop if you and Baralai do."

To my surprise, both of them blushed. Gippal leaned down to whisper something in my ear.

"Oib. Drana'c cusadrehk kuehk uh fedr druca dfu. Drec ec kuehk du pa vih..." ((Yup. There's something going on with those two. This is going to be fun...))

I giggled as we headed into the ruins.

I held my daggers tightly as we walked through the ruined hallways of the Omega Ruins. We were approaching the center of the ruins, and there was no sign of anything alive, let alone Cid.

Then, seemingly out of nowhere, five men jumped out. The battle began before we even had time to think. Everyone was rushed, except me. There was a sixth man that grabbed me from behind.

I saw Gippal shooting the crap out of the men from behind. Then he saw me being dragged off. A look of horror came across his face… then my world went black.

((Gippal's POV))

"RIKKU!" I cried, watching another man jump out of the shadows to drag her off. I gripped my Mortar tighter, and took off after them.

I ran along a few hallways before I slowed down, realizing that chasing after them by myself wasn't a very smart idea. All alone, in enemy territory, lost, and on limited ammunition. How stupid could I get? This wasn't good… this wasn't good at all.

"Oui ryja cusa hanja vummufehk ic." ((You have some nerve following us.)) A man said, stepping out of the shadows.

I aimed my gun at the man. "Frana ec cra?" ((Where is she?)) I hissed.

"Cyva. Pid, dra muhkan oui luhdehia du vuem uin bmyhc, dra ihcyvan ouin kenm palusac. ((Safe. But, the longer you continue to foil our plans, the unsafer your girl becomes.)) The man explained.

"Oui'na moehk, E ghuf ed." ((You're lying, I know it.))

"Cytmo, E ys hud." ((Sadly, I am not.))

Then that's when I don't remember a thing that happened next.

((Baralai's POV))

Yuna looked around after the men were sent to the Farplane. "Where's Gippal and Rikku?" she asked.

"Having a make-out session?" Paine said sarcastically. Then, a gunshot rang out through the empty ruins.

I began to sprint toward the sound. "You know, for some reason, I doubt that's the reason!" I shouted back. The group was on my heels in a heartbeat.

I found Gippal lying on the ground, weakly gripping his gun. I kneeled beside him, and immediately saw the red stain spreading on his abdomen, then the pool of red underneath him.

"Gippal!" I cried, trying to stop the blood flow. "Gippal! Damn it, answer me!" When I got no response, I began to loose my cool. "Gippal! Please... Yevon, wake up! Twitch, move, talk, groan, ANYTHING!"

The group was now behind me, and Yuna rushed over. She pulled out her staff, and shook her head. "We have to get him out of here. There isn't anything that we can do here."

A/N: Dun dun dun! Don't hate me people; I'm just warming up! Read and review! I'm gonna post once a week at least, or when I get more than two reviews. Have fun reading! Let me know how much you like/hate where this is going! ((Don't flame... but if you don't like this, don't read this.))

for always x - Unique plot? YES! ((cheers madly)) It's REALLY hard to come up with a new plot when there are SO many Rippal stories out there these days... but oh yeah! I'm glad that you're liking the story, and how Rikku and Gippal are being portrayed.

marajade963 - You likey? Yippee! Rikku and Gippal aren't too OOC... yet. That's a good thing! ((lol)) Well, I have the next chapter typed and uploaded, but I'm not going to post it until people review!

NOTICE: I know that a lot more people are reading this than just a few people. Why? I've gotten a couple hundred hits ((yay!)) and a few people have this story on alert. BUT THEY NEVER REVIEW. So, I tell you now. I'm not updating until more than three people review everytime.

-Vincent's Angel of Chaos-

Disclaimer: FFX-2 doesn't belong to me... ((sniff))