A/N: This is the second of my Rikku challenge at the fanfic100 community on LiveJournal. There are 95 prompts that I have to write a fan fiction for. There are five "writer's choice" prompts as well. Over the next few months I will put out 100 one shots about Rikku.
The prompt for this story is Too Much. Enjoy, and review when you're done reading!
Also, thanks to Daniel Wesley Rydell and Luv2Game who are the only two who reviewed out of many more who looked at this page.
Too Much for One Girl to Handle
"The people and the friends that we have lost, or the dreams that have faded... Never forget them."
Yuna is stronger than anyone I have ever met. That's why I have always been so proud of her. And I think that's why my heart sank when she turned around.
The crowd was going absolutely wild. Sin was gone, forever, and Yuna had just finished the most incredible speech ever.
But when she turned around, I sighed inwardly. She smiled, but the glistening tears trailing down her cheeks were hard to miss.
"Great job, yah?" "Good" and "We're proud of you, Yuna" seemed to escape the others mouths quicker than I could think. Lulu wiped a tear from Yuna's cheek, and nodded.
"Thank you," Yuna spoke, her voice wavering slightly.
I didn't know what to say, so I just hugged her. My eyes struggled against tears as I whispered, "You did good."
Yuna hugged me back, probably giving me more support than I was giving her. "It's okay," she said softly.
I pulled away, rubbing my eyes quickly.
"Come on, Rikku. Put on a smile. It's a happy day," Wakka grabbed my arm, leading the way off the balcony.
I did as told, and smiled as we walked down the stairs, waving to the gathering of people. He was right: it was a happy day. Everyone was smiling, including even Yuna and me. Happiness is definitely contagious.
"Rikku!"
I spotted my father in the crowd, and helped lead my friends toward him. We had planned that after Yuna's speech, we'd fly to Besaid and spend time with everyone there. I agreed to stay for a while until things settled a bit.
Pops led us to the ship, hardly saying a word. Yuna gave one last wave to the cheering crowd as she turned her back and boarded the ship. We all climbed onto the bridge, still smiling.
"No Sin." Wakka leaned against a wall, staring in amazement. I think he was still quite astonished at the idea. I know I was.
"Rikku," my father spoke again. He beckoned me toward him, a slight frown on his face.
"What's up Pops?" I asked casually. I wondered what had troubled him. He was being awfully quiet.
He exhaled, and seemed unable to explain what he wanted. "Zicd ku du dra talg."
Just go to the deck.
I raised a puzzled eyebrow. Not only was he speaking Al Bhed in front of Yuna and the others, he was being extremely vague.
"What for?"
"Just go."
I decided not to argue. My smile had faded, and I was becoming worried. I started for the door, my mind coming up with ideas for why he'd want me up there. By the time I had waved to Rin, a few other Al Bhed, and reached the elevator, I still hadn't come up with anything good.
So I stepped on the elevator, and landed on the deck.
Standing near the edge was a tall, blonde man. His arms were crossed over his chest as he looked over the watery horizon of Luca.
"Gippal!" I cried, recognizing the back of the figure. I ran to him quickly, throwing my arms around his waist in a tackle-like hug. My smile had returned.
Gippal could be described as the first (and so far, only true) love interest I ever had. We dated a lot (which now explained my father's troublesome behavior) before my journey with Yuna and the others. We went our separate ways when he signed up for some Crusader-like group that allowed Al Bhed to join.
I had been heart broken for a few months. I feared Gippal would die in battle, but I was still secretly glad he was trying to find a way to help save the suicidal summoners. We wrote back and forth for a while, but it became hard to send and receive letters once I had begun salvaging with my father and Brother.
"E'ja seccat oui cu silr!" I've missed you so much! I laughed, still hugging.
"I've missed you too," he said softly.
I gasped, "You speak Spiran?"
He nodded, turning around. Gippal still appeared the same: spiky blonde hair, black eye patch over his bad eye, rich toned skin, muscular build... Geez, he was still as gorgeous as ever.
"Baralai taught me how."
"Baralai?" I repeated.
Gippal nodded. "He is - was - a young Yevon priest."
"Yevon?" Maybe he didn't know how the Guado and Yevon people had... destroyed Home.
"Yeah, he was all right."
"Well, if you say so," I felt slightly unconvinced, but brushed it away. I smiled brighter, "So what brings you to these parts?"
"Came to see you," Gippal grinned weakly. "I guess tinkering around with machina wasn't enough for you. Had to go and save the world, huh."
I giggled, taking his hands in my own. "I had a lot of fun and we saved Yunie."
"I'm glad."
"But," I sighed, "It wasn't enough for you either."
Gippal shrugged. He was being rather quiet. Brother always told me how loud and arrogant Gippal was before I got to know him. And once I got to know him, I had to agree. This wasn't the Gippal I remembered. He was too calm.
"So, tell me about the Crimson Squad!" I ordered, trying to change the mood. "I'm sorry I couldn't get anymore of your letters."
"It's okay. I stopped writing."
I frowned, "Why?"
"Something came up."
"Like?"
Silence. I repeated myself, thinking he hadn't heard me. "Like what?"
"It doesn't matter."
Well at least he was still being stubborn.
"Then why did you say anything?" I said, frustrated.
"Rikku, I..." he trailed off. He took my hands into his, and pulled me closer. "I know that I promised when I came back I'd always be with you..."
"Who is she?" I interrupted. Tears burned in my eyes.
"No! It's nothing like that," Gippal said firmly, now placing his hands on my shoulders. "Please, you have to understand."
I looked up into his eyes (eye...), trying to stop the tears that were now falling. Random theories popped into my head of other girls and reasons he could be leaving again. I looked down at my feet, watching teardrops sprinkle my shoes.
"I can't explain how... how much I care for you Rikku. You're the most important girl to me in the world," Gippal said quietly. He wiped away a tear with his thumb, and lifted my head. "I have to do something, and I don't want you to get hurt. It could be dangerous."
"I can handle danger!" My voice cracked. "I beat Sin for crying out loud!"
Gippal nodded, a tired smile crossing his face. "You must be the bravest and strongest of all the Al Bhed. But this is a different sort of danger, and I can't risk losing you."
"Are you going to be okay?" I whispered.
He nodded, pressing his forehead against mine. "Will you?"
I moved my eyes back to my shoes, and didn't speak. I was still crying silent tears. In the back of my mind, I noted he still smelled like fuel from the machina he worked with.
"C'mon, Cid's Girl."
I didn't move. He used to irritate me to the high heavens calling me "Cid's Girl" when we were younger. It was probably his best way of showing his feelings. It wasn't going to work anymore.
"I have a name you know." I freed myself from his arms and took a few steps back.
"Rikku?"
My back was turned to the ship, but I knew it was Yuna calling my name.
Her voice was tender. "Are you okay? Cid asked me to come check on you..."
"Y-yeah. I'm all right."
"Okay. I'll, uh, just go back--"
"Wait!" I called, facing her. "I was just saying goodbye," I faced Gippal, "to an old friend."
Gippal sighed, hanging his head. "Goodbye Rikku."
My voice quivered now, and it was hard to speak. "D-don't be like th-that." I wrapped my arms around his shoulders, burying my face into his shoulder. "I'll be waiting for you."
"Keep in touch," he whispered back. "I love you, Cid's girl."
I did some sort of snort-giggle-sob-hiccup and pulled away, quickly wiping my tears. I punched him in the arm. "Goodbye Gippal."
"Goodbye Rikku."
I turned my back on his, more tears streaming down my face. Yuna showed worry on her face, but I knew I couldn't speak. Not yet. I grabbed her arm and we hurried to the sleeping area so not to be questioned by the others.
When I had been seated on a bed, I let out a long wail. And I cried harder than I had ever cried before.
Yuna cried with me as we both tried to comfort each other.
Losing Tidus, defeating Sin, and now losing Gippal within a few days was just too much for one girl like me too handle.
A/N: Review or no more stories for you :P
