A/N: Hey everyone! Sorry about the delay. Thanks to Cute-kitty2, kingleby, and Tamelia for the feedback. I love you guys! On another note, I had to change my system of translating Al Bhed by using double parenthesis instead of the brackets. Anyone have an idea as to why this damn document editor won't let us use brackets?

Chapter Seven

Gippal felt uncomfortable in the formal dress robe that he'd been forced to wear for the wedding. Baralai had had it made for him, as he'd known his Al Bhed's friend's lack of skills in the fashion area. He knew he looked good in it; the appreciative looks he was getting from several women was enough to prove that. Still, he was not used to wearing the thick, woven layers. As an Al Bhed, his mind and body were to be attuned to lighter clothing that agreed to the harsh conditions of the desert climate.

Baralai noticed his discomfort and smirked at him in amusement. "Something wrong, Gippal?"

"As if you need to ask," Gippal answered, lightly scratching his arm where the fabric was raising hell on his skin. He'd probably have an unattractive rash on his arm if he didn't stop pawing at it like he was. "How on Spira can you wear these things so much?"

The young Praetor simply smiled and continued to watch the couples on the dance floor as they waltzed. Yuna had asked the three musicians that came from Macalania Woods to play at her wedding. They had agreed immediately, honored that Lady Yuna was allowing them to participate in such a great event. It seemed like a good idea too; the crowd really seemed to be enjoying the whimsical music that Bayra, Pukutak, and Donga created.

Rin had really outdone himself with this reception. The ballroom of his hotel was huge and decadently built, easily superior in both comfort and architecture than the rest of Spira. The floor was tiled in a glass-like material that reflected whatever filtered through the clear, crystal dome overhead; it gave the place a mystical, floaty feeling. The white and black swirled marble walls where lined on both sides by tall windows that ran from floor to ceiling. Rich, wine red curtains framed each of these monstrous windows and gold banisters ran around the railings of the stairs, which lead to the second story. Crystal chandeliers lit the room with their soft light. It was beyond beautiful.

"Hey, look at that," Gippal laughed. "I didn't know the Noojmeister could dance!"

It was dancing...if you wanted to call it that. Really, it was Leblanc manhandling him across the dance floor as the tall, silent Youth League leader tried to escape, only to be dragged back in again. Those two...Gippal grinned. He wouldn't be surprised if the next wedding he attended was theirs, despite Nooj's indifference.

"Excuse me," Baralai said and walked away. Gippal's eyes followed him across the elegant ballroom to Paine, who was standing by herself beside one of the tall marble pillars. Baralai said something to her and was stared at for a moment by the sharp ruby eyes. Then, to Gippal's astonishment, Baralai held out a hand. And Paine actually took it! They drifted out into the dance floor together and joined the various couples in the catchy tune that filled the massive room.

Okay, now I know something is wrong with this picture. Nooj is out there. Baralai is out there. Even Paine is out there. And I'm still standing here? Gippal thought ruefully as he uncrossed his arms and smirked to himself. Time to mingle. He glanced around, catching a few eyes here and there of girls who'd quickly blush and avert their eyes or giggle self-consciously with a wave in his direction.

Not interesting enough. He'd had enough girlfriends in his lifetime and a fair share of mindless worshippers of his good looks to know them when he saw them. So he kept looking for a while. Then he saw her.

Whoa now...who is that? Gippal thought when he caught a brief glimpse of someone in the center of the dance floor. It'd been a fleeting look, quickly blocked by the other waltzing guests. Her back had been turned to him, but the river of gold curls flowing down the slight frame and curvy figure had been enough to spark his interest. He hadn't noticed her before throughout the wedding and he never let a cute girl pass by. She did, however, look vaguely familiar. Who was she?

Determined to find out, Gippal pushed away from the wall where he had been standing and weaved his way through the dancers. She was standing near the center of the dance floor. It was a bit difficult to reach her, as he kept getting bumped into and accidentally cutting into the waltzing pairs. One time the couples surged by in a great dense pack as the rhythm of the music picked up. Gippal lost sight of the mystery girl completely for a few seconds as the dancing pairs roughly jostled him.

When they passed, the girl was gone. He glanced around wildly to find her but she was nowhere in sight. He frowned disappointedly.

"Whacha doing?"

He jumped at the sudden question and sharply looked over to identify the speaker. Rikku was watching him curiously. He relaxed and gave her his trademark smirk. "Hey Cid's girl. Shouldn't you be with the kids instead of out here with the adults?"

She made a face at him but smiled. "This coming from the guy with one eye standing in the middle of the ballroom looking lost."

"For your information, I'm not lost," Gippal answered, shoving her playfully. "I was looking for someone."

"Hey!" Rikku protested at the pushing and straightened her dress. "Who?"

"I'm not sure, actually...I saw her and followed her out here. But I lost her."

Rikku stared at him. "...Okay...so you're standing here looking around for someone you don't even know. That's not, like, stalkerish at all."

"Ah, you wouldn't understand. It's adult stuff," Gippal teased her affectionately.

"Meanie," She stuck her tongue out at him.

He grinned and offered his hand. "Wanna' dance? Might as well since we're both out here."

"Let's boogie!" She enthusiastically answered. She eagerly grabbed his hand and curtsied like he was a gentleman and she a lady. He grinned and played along, kissing her hand; he was rewarded by her cheeks turning a rosy pink. A flustered look flashed across her face for a just a few seconds before it melted again into the smile he was used to seeing on her face since they'd been kids.

Their bodies melded together perfectly. Gippal slid a hand to Rikku's waist as his other laced his fingers with hers. It felt awkward for a moment and he was very much aware of the mere centimeters that separated them. Other couples glided past them while the Macalania musicians changed tunes to a more orchestra-oriented song.

She smirked up at him, "Fryd? Lumt vaad?" ((What? Cold feet?))

"Hyr. Zicd funneat dryd oui'mm lnicr so vaad," He teased. ((Nah. Just worried that you'll crush my feet.))

"Sayhea." ((Meanie.))

The two Al Bhed moved out onto the floor together. After a beat, they began waltzing along to the festive music. Gippal prided himself in his dancing skills. His mother had taught him at a young age and he'd swiftly taken to it, despite how unlikely it seemed that he would. Besides, what better way to woo the ladies than to be hot on the dance floor? This tactic had worked wonders for him at every festival that was held at Home in his years of growing up there. In fact, it was how he and Rikku had hooked up in their silly, puppy-love days.

"Gil."

Gippal blinked down at his dancing partner. "What?"

"Gil for your thoughts?" Rikku asked as she easily followed his lead in a raunchy salsa that was now starting up.

"Ah, it's nothing. Hey, remember when we used to dance like this back at Home when we were kids?" Gippal chuckled, giving her a playful squeeze around the waist as he pulled her closer. "Always come running back to me, don't ya', Cid's girl?"

Rikku waved a hand nonchalantly. "The thanks I get for pitying a lonely guy on the dance floor. Geez!"

He laughed. "Okay, fair enough. Denial is not healthy. I understand."

She just rolled her eyes. "Yes, keep telling yourself that."

He twirled her in a circle and she seductively rolled her hips in tune with the music. The hem of the shimmery white dress she had on billowed out and fell loosely around her small frame. He heard the heels of her slippers click-clack against the tiled floor while the two of them waltzed across the floor in a wide circle. He could smell a faint whiff of cinnamon and apples from whatever it was she washed her hair with as it bounced in a heap of blond coils from a tight pony-tail, laced with small white flowers. Her sweet, joyful green eyes blazed into his while their bodies were swept up in the jive of the music.

"You got a perm," Gippal noted, fingering a loose tress that was on her shoulder.

He could have sworn that she blushed but she looked down to fast for him to see. "Yeah. Gotta' look the part for Yunie's wedding, you know? Besides, it's only a one day thing. It'll be back to normal by tomorrow."

"Hmph. Imagine that. Playing dress up? Never took you for the girly type," He said. In all the yeas that he'd known her, Rikku had in no way been one of the girls he'd known that were constantly yakking on and on about stupid things like make-up and clothes. She was always with the boys, working on machina or scavenging the dessert sands for its numerous hidden treasures. He'd never admitted it to her but this vein of rebellious tomboyishness had been what attracted him when they'd been younger, which resulted in their short-lived 'relationship' when he was fourteen and she thirteen.

The green eyes suddenly flashed in defiance. "What, am I not capable of being 'girly'?"

"Huh? No, I didn't say that. Not at all. Relax, Cid's girl. You look great," Gippal said, surprised at the sudden burst of vehemence on her part. He hadn't meant to tell her the last part but it slipped out. Thankfully, it was enough to make the sudden anger change into another rosy coloring of her cheeks and she muttered a shy 'thanks'. They continued dancing in silence.

Okay, it was kind of awkward again. This was odd, Gippal mused. This wasn't a normal occurrence for him at all. Girls were usually easy to woo to a melting puddle of goo for him. Not that that was what he was trying to do. Come on, this was Rikku! Rikku: Cid's hyperactive, loud, far too cheerful little girl. They'd known each other since they were toddlers. Why would it be awkward? There was no reason for it to be. Yet it was.

Yuna saved him from the awkward silence. The bride had decided that it was time to throw the bouquet. Rikku squealed in delight and with a bright smile, ran off to join the girls that had scrambled over to where the High Summoner was standing on a chair, her new husband gripping one of her hands to keep her from falling.

"Hey Gippal."

Gippal turned. Baralai.

The New Yevon Praetor was standing beside Nooj and Paine, who had escaped from the madness of the bouquet toss. He joined his friends. "What's up? Our little present ready for the lovebirds?"

Paine nodded. "Mako is taking care of it as we speak. And seeing as a speech is appropriate in this case, we thought it was nice of you to volunteer."

"Volunteer?" Gippal stared at them as they grinned, nodding in unison. He raised an eyebrow, understanding what she was saying, "You mean you volunteered me."

Nooj waved a hand, "Same thing. The point is, you're giving the speech since you, ah, have a way with words."

"Funny," Gippal grumbled as Paine and Baralai laughed to his expense. Truthfully, he didn't mind. He didn't have a problem giving speeches being the Machine Faction Leader and all. Baralai and Nooj just weren't comfortable giving 'friendly' speeches and it would be a cold day in hell before Paine went up there to give some sappy speech even to close friends.

On cue, a shadow encased the area suddenly. Gippal glanced up at the airship now hovering over the wedding site, its metallic steel blue glinting in the morning sunlight. It wasn't as large or luxurious as the Celsius but far more advanced technology-wise, thanks to the efforts of the Machine Faction. Gippal grinned proudly. In fact, this airship had been one his greatest endeavors in his career of working with machina.

"Who...Who is that?" Gippal heard Tidus ask in bewilderment as he hovered protectively near his wife. The guests, equally startled, were staring up at it and looking as if they were on the verge of fleeing should any danger come to them from the unexpected arrival.

"Hey! Stop that!" Yuna called as the wind from the turbines were causing a mess down below.

Gippal chuckled. He made his way to the podium and cleared his throat. "It's okay everyone. Sorry if we scared you."

"What are you talking about?" Yuna demanded. Behind her, Lulu, Wakka, and Kimahri stood smiling knowingly.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you the Valiant. This airship is one of the fastest, most advanced models ever built on Spira..." Gippal gave a little summary on what its capabilities were but he doubted that most of them knew remotely what he was talking about.

"Um..." Tidus spoke up when he was finished. "Okay, but why is it here?"

Gippal rolled his eyes. Wasn't it obvious why it was here after everything he'd just told them? The High Summoner really knew how to pick her men, it seemed. "Because it's present to you and your wife."

At least they like it. Gippal thought with a grin when Yuna gave a touching thank you to them for the gift. The party resumed for a bit after that. In the end, Yuna and Tidus boarded the Valiant hand in hand as the guests cheered and threw dyed rice in the air. Gippal had hired a young Al Bhed named Araith to be their pilot for the duration of the honeymoon so the lovebirds didn't have to worry about learning how to fly the airship until later.

"Nice speech there, Gippal. That part about how the Machine Faction ingeniously engineered the anti-gravity engine from scratch brought tears to my eyes," Rikku teased him after they watched the Valiant lift off and shoot off into the sky in an impressive burst of power.

He shoved her playfully aside. "Whatever you say, little girl."

She gave him a cheeky grin. "Fine. I come all the way over here to say goodbye to you and THIS is the appreciation I get."

"Goodbye? You leaving now?"

Rikku nodded. "Yup. Might as well. Nothing else to do now that Yunie and Tidus are gone and the wedding's over. It's back to traveling for me!"

He couldn't help but to feel a pang of envy. He longed to be rid of his responsibilities for just a little while and to be able to travel around carefree too. Not a day went by when he wasn't thinking of just throwing caution to the wind and taking off on some childish adventure. To his surprise, her wiry arms wrapped around him and squeezed gently.

"I'll see you around, okay? Try not to work too hard, O great Machine Faction Leader!" She purred into his ear. Before he could reply, she had pulled away and was walking away.

His eye widened as he stared after her retreating form, watching the golden curls bounce across her shoulders and down her back. The curve of her hips moved languidly with each step as she glided across the floor towards the door. Without a doubt, it was the pretty girl he'd seen earlier. He couldn't believe it. She had been right in front of him the whole time and he hadn't even realized it. It'd been Rikku!