You Don't Know The Real Me – Chapter 9

In Love With Lies


After a day or two of rest and relaxation, along with some more healing spells, the four set out to the Travel Agency where the tour hover awaited them. Seeing as there was no way to get there but walk… the four found themselves getting a nice shower in on their way to the Agency. Rikku and Gippal were walking in front, holding hands, and talking softly to each other.

Paine leaned to her right a bit to whisper into Baralai's ear. "Well, I think it's safe to say they like each other, don't you?"

Baralai chuckled. "I'd have to agree. Hey, does this mean we get to tease them for real now? That would be hilarious." He paused, and then spoke again. "That… or we could ask just as love sick as them and see what happens."

Paine snickered. "You are positively mean, toying with a woman's heart like that."

"I'm sorry, I wouldn't even dream of doing such a thing." He told her, eyes twinkling.

"Aw, you couldn't toy with it if you tried!"

"Meaning it's all yours?"

"Would you really toy with a heart you own?" Paine said softly, looking at the ground.

Baralai blinked a few times, not really expecting that to be her response. He stopped and she stopped a step ahead of him, looking at him intently. He put his hands on her shoulders, starring into her crimson eyes. "Never. But, the question is do I own a woman's heart?"

Paine smiled, and kissed him quickly on the cheek. "Maybe." She said, walking off. Baralai grinned, and caught up with her. He slipped an arm around her waist, and she put her hand on his upper back.

"This is going to be fun…" Paine murmured, and Baralai smiled.


When Rikku and Gippal reached the Agency, they turned around to look for Paine and Baralai.

"Hey Gippal, do you see them?" Rikku asked, standing on her tiptoes.

He leaned down. "Rikku, call me Amon, please. No one else knows, and you never know who's listening." He whispered in her ear.

She blushed. "I'm sorry…"

"It's okay." He assured her, and gave her a quick peck on the cheek. He straightened up. "Do you hear that?" He asked. Rikku cocked her head, and nodded.

A woman's laughter cut through the dreary rain and mist of the Thunder Plains. Both of their jaws dropped when they saw Baralai and Paine walk up to the Travel Agency. His arm was around her waist, and she was leaning her head on his shoulder, listening to what he was saying. When she saw the two starring, she smirked and lifted her head. Baralai gave the couple a two-fingered salute and the both of them walked over to the hover. He opened the door, and Paine went in first. Baralai kept his hand on her waist, and followed her into the hover.

When the door closed, Rikku shook her head. "No… way…" she whispered. Gippal busted out laughing.


Paine took off her soaking coat and was about to hang it up, but Baralai took it from her grasp and hung it for her. She smiled up at him just as Gippal and Rikku entered the hover.

"Hey guys." Paine said, nodding to the two of them. Baralai grinned at the couple, and sat down on the couch. Paine followed suit.

'If we're going to out beat them at acting all love-dovey, Paine's gotta put some effort in-' Baralai thought to himself, but his thoughts were cut off when Paine sat down in his lap. He knew he blushed up to his hairline. He wrapped his arms around her waist while Gippal and Rikku just starred at them.

"You're faking it." Rikku said simply. "Because there is NO way Paine would just sit down in your lap."

Paine laughed. "Oh really? And when did you become the expert in this area?"

"Since… uh… oh shut up." Rikku muttered. Gippal laughed and lied down on the remaining couch. She grinned, and bounced over. She plopped herself into his lap, and he grunted.

"Ouch." He said, and she giggled. She leaned back, lying on top of Gippal with her head underneath his chin. "That can't be comfortable." He said, looking down at her.

She laughed. "I'll move later I bet."

"Pity…" he sighed as he wrapped his arms around her.

Baralai and Paine were starring at the couple, trying not to laugh.

"You guys are disgustingly cute." Paine said, covering her smile.

Baralai grinned, "Amon, just kiss her all ready."

He snorted. "I have dignity Blythe. I'm not going to kiss her in front of you."

"Scared?" Rikku taunted, turning over so she was resting on her hands that were flat on his chest.

"No!" he defended himself, "I just don't think that he needs to see anything."

"You're scared." Paine said, smirking.

"I am not!" Gippal retorted, "And I can prove it!"

"Huh?" Rikku said, but all further speech was cut off when he gently kissed her. It wasn't like what they shared on the airship, but just a gentle and chaste kiss. When he pulled away, his eyes were dancing. "See?"

Paine shuddered. "Ugh, why did you make them do that Blythe?"

"Jealous?" he asked raising an eyebrow.

She picked up a nearby pillow, and hit his head with it. "You wish."

The four friends laughed as the hover started heading toward the last city of the tour, Bevelle.


Once the hover reached the hotel, everyone dashed in to escape the pouring rain. The girls had gone to get changed, and Gippal stopped Baralai once they were out of the room.

"I told her." He said, grabbing Baralai by the arm.

He turned to look at his friend, eyes wide. "Are you serious? Why? Gippal…"

"I can't lie to her, so don't ask me too." He said softly, and Baralai nodded sadly.

"I know… I want to tell Paine, but I know she's going to blow when she finds out."

Gippal smiled sadly. "I'm surprised Rikku didn't tear me to shreds like I thought she would. But man, you have to tell her soon before her heart gets crushed."

Baralai ran a now shaking hand through his blonde hair. "See, that's the problem. It's going to break her heart no matter how I tell her. Now that Rikku knows, it's going to hurt her even more because she's going to be confused on why she was the only one that didn't know."

Gippal grimaced. "I can't believe I didn't think of that... 'Lai, I'm so sorry…"

He just waved it off. "I can't ask you to lie to Rikku. I should have known this couldn't end well, but I continued to hope. She's going to find out after the concert."


Rikku had dragged Paine out shopping for their night in the spotlight, and came back an hour later with two bags each. Baralai's eyes widened when he saw them walk into the lobby.

"What all did you guys get?"

Paine smiled. "Stuff we needed."

Gippal patted Baralai's shoulder. "Rule number one: never question why women buy to many things. You never know if you want to hear what the answer is."

The girls busted out laughing. Rikku recovered first, but she was still smiling from ear to ear. "Well, we only have two hours, we need to get busy!" she went up to her room, Paine right behind her.

"Two hours? Dude, that's not enough time for them?"

Baralai laughed. "Apparently not. Come on, I have to figure out what's clean to wear."


The crowd was cheering. Amon and Blythe were waiting by the stage entrance for the girls. Rikku came around the corner first, and Amon practically melted on the spot.

She wore a knee length gold skirt and a baby blue tube top. Her flat shoes were as gold as the skirt, and glinted in the light. Amon now realized how tall she really was. Her head could easily fit underneath his chin, and that's just how he liked it. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail, all curled. A few curly strands framed her face, accenting her beauty and imitating him. Her eyes seemed to be pools of ebony, and her face glowed. He smiled, and took her small hand in his. "Payidevim." ((Beautiful)) He whispered in her ear, and she smiled.

Paine was a step behind her, and Blythe's jaw dropped. Simple, high-heeled shoes clicked against the floor. A strapless crimson dress hugged her hourglass figure. The dress stopped at her knees, and continued down at a graceful diagonal cut to the middle of her shins. Her eyes had been accented with dark charcoal makeup, and her lips seemed to shimmer. Her face was framed with the longest hair Blythe had ever seen. Silver hair cascaded down to her shoulder blades like a waterfall, perfect and smooth.

She spotted Blythe starring at her, and she blushed. He offered her his arm, and smiled down at her.

"If I had to die tonight, I could die happy. You are absolutely the most beautiful woman here tonight. You look stunning."

"Thank you." Paine said softly, and quickly pecked him on the cheek, making him blush faintly. The four of them went on stage.

The crowd roared.


A/N: Since I forgot a chapter, all the reivews are kinda messed up, so, I really don't know who reviewed for the last chapter... I'm sorry? So, I'm taking a guess...

marajade963
Tara
Flame of Bevelle
Angel-Light-Girl
Kitsu Kurasei
for always x
mushimars

Thank you for reviewing! This is almost over! I'm planning TWO fics that will follow this one. Why? I'm paranoid like that and can't keep it to a single fic.

-Vincent's Angel of Chaos-

Disclaimer: Nope... ((sniff))