A/N: Firstly, I would like to thank EVERYONE who reads my story. I appreciate the reviews and would like to thank them. I try my best but it may not always turn out great. After all, I do have other things going on in my life. Any suggestions are ALWAYS welcome.

A/N2: Just wanted to say that I used some FFX/FFX-2 words like Farplane. Farplane would be Heaven.

Chapter 6: What I Never Knew

"When I take a step forward, I take a step back. I fear that something will happen, if I go forward too much." Rikku was singing a song while folding the laundry. She had gotten use to living and never going out. Though she wished to go around, shop, and to play like other people, she loved the current lifestyle a lot more than her former one. Most importantly, she felt that the bond between Gippal and herself was slowly growing.

'Like when he called me angel…'

"I get afraid so I want to be stronger. I hope to only go forward. If I…"

"STOP, my ears! What's that horrible sound!" screamed Gippal. Rikku glared at him straight in the eyes. She was no longer afraid that he might do something bad. There was no need to. She knew that Gippal is a good and reliable person, though he is sometimes a bit to arrogant.

"How rude! I was in a good mood! You don't have to ruin it by criticizing my singing!"

"Then sing better, princess. Otherwise, this house will start crying." Said Gippal with a smirk. Rikku took the shirt she was folding and threw it at him.

"Hey, that's my favorite shirt!"

"Uh-huh. Now, let me fold these clothes in peace." Gippal took a seat next to Rikku and reached for a shirt to fold. Rikku was too embarrassed to look at him, so she just quietly started folding again. However, Gippal didn't reach for another shirt, so she looked at him. Gippal was staring at the shirt like it was a horrible monster…

"Uh…Gippal?" Gippal looked nervously at her. Then he opened his mouth, and then closed it and looked at the ceiling. Then, he looked at Rikku.

"How do I fold this thing?" Rikku felt like a rock hit her on the back of her head.

"You…you don't know how to fold clothes?" Gippal nodded his head.

"Then what do you do with them after you wear it?" Gippal scratched the back of his head.

"Well, I take all the clothes and spread them all over my room. I put the pants on the chairs, the clothes on the bed and floor, and…yeah. I just figured that it would be easier that way."

This time it felt like a 3-ton gold brick fell on her head.

"What in Yevon's name have you been doing your whole life? I'd think you were living with fiends if I didn't know you were HUMAN!" yelled Rikku.

"Now, now Princess! Why would I need to know how to fold clothes when I have you? As long as you're here I'm fine, right? Besides, my shirts are pretty organized! As I said, my pants on the chairs…Rikku?" Rikku was staring hard into his eyes, and it was becoming pretty uncomfortable as she kept a strong grip on one of the towels that her knuckles were turning white.

"Princess? Angel? Chimera?" The chimera got her attention and she sent his boxers flying. Her aim was bad and it went way over Gippal's head and it hit…Jerra's face. Rikku just looked shocked while Gippal burst out laughing.

"Oh man, Jerra! Look at that expression! Priceless!" Jerra had a look of disgust as he threw the boxers into the pile of clothes. He looked at Rikku hard. Rikku didn't know how to react, so she had just shut her mouth and gulped. She turned to look at Gippal for comfort, but he was still laughing and clutching his stomach.

"I'm guessing you were trying to hit the idiot laughing and not me, correct?"

"Ye-yes!" squealed Rikku.

"It might be better to kick him or hit him." When Jerra said this, Gippal stopped laughing and looked at Jerra. Then, he went magically next to Rikku and put his arms around her waist. Rikku turned bright red at contact, but Gippal was smirking.

"Now, Jerra, I know you liked my boxers hitting your face, so don't teach my little Rikku anything horrible. If you were telling her to kiss me though, go ahead!" Gippal emphasized boxers and kiss so loudly that by now Rikku's face couldn't have gotten redder. Jerra just sighed and took out a white envelope with a snake on it. Gippal became serious as soon as he saw it.

"Rikku, stay here. Don't come near my room. Do you understand?" Rikku had a worried expression, but she nodded her head. Gippal saw the worried expression and bent down in front of her. He lightly kissed her forehead and whispered, "Everything's fine, princess." He then stood up and went to his room with Jerra.

By the time that Rikku had finished folding and cleaning all the clothes, several hours had passed. Obviously, laundry was Gippal's worst enemy. She decided that he either gave up because of all the bloodstains, or he didn't know how to fold clothes so he just waited until his room ran out of "space".

"Who am I kidding? He probably gets someone to do his laundry for him. It's not a space issue or bloodstain issue, but a folding clothes and using the laundry machine issue. Ugh! What's taking them so long! STUPID GIPPAL!"

"Princess, why am I stupid?" Gippal was looking at Rikku right in the face.

"Eh hehe…did I say that? I meant…stupid….forget it? Poopies…"

"It's ok Princess. Just say, 'Gippal honey, I meant I love you!' and everything will be fine!"

"Are you crazy? I won't say that!" Gippal smirked at Rikku, and Rikku decided that the smirk was a bad sign and tried to run away. Unfortunately for Rikku, Gippal was fast and grabbed her around the waist.

"Someone's being a bad princess, right Jerra?" Jerra stared at Gippal like he was crazy, but when he looked at Rikku he smiled.

"You two sure make a nice couple. Gippal is a bad prince and Gippal's girl is a bad princess. How perfect."

Gippal dug his head into her hair and Rikku just shifted. She was getting redder as every minute past buy. Gippal was enjoying every minute while Rikku hated every moment. Jerra…he…. well he was just there making sarcastic comments now and then. Rikku was about to tell Gippal to get off when Jerra stood up.

"I'm going home. My wife is waiting, unlike yours, Gippal, who is right next to you." He went straight for the door.

"I'm…" Rikku was cut off by Gippal giving her a peck on the lips.

"I know, Jerra. Go home, 'cause princess and I need some alone time." Rikku would've screamed, but he looked too serious to mess with. When Gippal heard his door closed, he let out a sigh.

"Poor guy." Gippal shook his head, and then he glanced at the direction of the door. He had an expression full of pity.

"Huh?" Rikku was now confused. Gippal looked down at her and smiled.

"Want to know, princess?" Rikku was no longer confused, but curious. What was he getting at?

"Let's go to my room!" Gippal scooped Rikku up and went towards his room. When they were in his room, he threw Rikku to the bed. Rikku was screaming. The distance from the front of the room to the bed must be at least 15 feet! When she stopped and looked around, Rikku knew what Gippal meant. There were piles of clothes all over the place! It was a miracle that he knew where everything was. Gippal saw Rikku's shocked expression and just laughed. Then, as if something hit him, he became serious. He sat on the bed with his back to her, and started speaking.

"Jerra's wife is dead." Rikku let that information register. What was Gippal talking about?

"But…but Jerra said he's going to go home to his wife! Then how can she be dead!"

"Everyone in that group has lost something precious to them. Otherwise, they wouldn't have joined the organization. In fact, if they haven't they couldn't. You don't choose to join the organization for no reason at all. Also, you have to be invited to join this organization. So far, every single person invited to join has joined. Not everyone has to fight. You can do jobs like researching, so you don't have to be out there fighting in the night. This includes Jerra. Jerra's wife was the daughter of our group's leader. Jerra didn't know, but it seems that the group I'm going against somehow found out. They killed her the first chance they got. She was 22 at the time. Well, that's all I'll say."

Rikku was on the verge of tears. It's such a young age to die! She had no idea that while she was spoiled with presents and supporting people, there were people like Jerra that were in so much pain. She thought she had it bad with all that was happening to her, but there was really another side, where people were alone with their loved ones in the Farplane. She had it so easy! She had Yunie, Tidus, and pops. Now she realized that she missed them. She even missed Brother. She clutched Gippal's shirt with teary eyes.

"Ah! I didn't mean for you to cry." Gippal had a worried look. Rikku just shook her head.

"I just realized how spoiled I was. This whole time that I lived in that stupid mansion, I was always complaining, and yet there were people like you and Jerra that lived each day with sadness and grief. I feel so…horrible." Gippal looked at her hard.

"That's not all, is it?" Rikku shook her head no again.

"I miss them. Yunie, Tidus, pops, and even Brother." Gippal sighed.

"I can't let you go so freely. The people I work for will chase you down because they know you've been here with me. I'll think of something to let you go home. We would've had to separate at one point. This life that I lead is too dangerous for you. How about from now on, you stay as far from me as possible. Maybe I can make arrangements for you to lead a life in a different city. I'll take down anyone against my group. Once everything has calmed down, you can go back to your life. Yeah, that should work out." Rikku looked at Gippal. He told her what he would do for her, but he didn't say anything about himself.

"What about you?"

"I can't stay here. I'll go somewhere far. I promise you won't ever have to get tangled up in my business again. Well, you're probably tired. You can go to your room and rest."

Everything was going so fast to Rikku, but she still was able to grasp most of it. She stood up and went in front of Gippal.

"YOU JERK! YOU THINK YOU CAN JUST SUDDENLY DECIDE ALL THIS FOR ME! I FINALLY MET SOMEONE WHO ISN'T TIDUS OR YUNIE THAT WILL LOOK ME IN THE EYE, AND WHAT DO YOU DO? YOU DECIDE TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU NEVER MEET ME AGAIN! ARGH!" Rikku stormed out of the room and went to lie in her bed. Tears were streaming down her face. She wanted to meet Yunie and Tidus again, but she didn't want to be separated from Gippal.

"What do I do? I fell in love with him!" Rikku thought of the things that Gippal said and did.

Flashback

"I don't need your little girl to do anything for me. She's just some girl anyways." Rikku was about to defend herself, but the next thing Rikku knew, Gippal grabbed Jerra by the collar and glared at him. The table was overturned and the gun they were working on was on the ground.

"She isn't just some girl Jerra! Watch your mouth!" said Gippal.

End Flashback

She was very touched when he did that. She didn't mind what he said before that incident either.

"Relax, Jerra! She's mine, and besides, to whom would she tell? Above all that, I trust her."

Though she hated to admit it, she didn't mind being called his one bit.

"I guess I'll just have to make sure that I don't lose Gippal again. We were separated once, and there won't be a second time! Still, what if Gippal wants me to leave? Ugh! I'm going to bed. I'll think more tomorrow."

Gippal was outside of Rikku's door. He heard everything that she said, but he couldn't let her stay with him forever. There was a very likely chance that she would end up dead before she was 20.

"I love you to Rikku, and that's why I can't let anyone kill you."

A/N: Ok, so this took a long time to update, and yet this isn't a great chapter. I know, and I'm sorry! For now, I'm going to edit my chapter from the beginning of the story to here. Well, please review!