so this chapter will have some of that 'meanwhile' scenes. so let's see how it goes.

Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy X or Hana Yori Dango

Beta Read by: Skymia

Chapter 3 - First Day of War

At F4's Private Cafe Lounge...

"This is gonna be rather interesting." Nooj spoke, snacking on sweet cakes.

"How so?" Baralai replied, drinking tea.

Gippal was sitting faraway and reading a book, not being any part of the conversation. Tidus was sitting on a window seat looking out and also just listening to Baralai and Nooj's voices.

"This must be the first time a girl has received the red notice." Nooj simply answered.

"Hmm, it is. I wonder how she'll handle it." Baralai smirked. "I feel kinda sorry for her."

Gippal looked up from his book, staring at Tidus' back. He was still looking at the light gray sky in deep thought. None of the others knew what Tidus was thinking at that moment...

It was an awkward moment. Everyone was staring at me, waiting to see what I would do. I was standing in my classroom with my bag and books at hand. I would've set my things down on my desk, but my desk was missing.

I heard a few snickers. Some of the girls were giggling at me until finally someone came up to me. I didn't know him, but he just smirked at me and gave a cruel smile.

"So it begins." He said.

I just marched out of the classroom and bumped into Shelinda along the way. I didn't say anything to her as I tried to find my desk. I knew they couldn't carry it out too far, so it didn't took me long to find it outside...next to the garbage.

As soon as I approached my desk-

"Yyaaaa!" I squealed as I felt dirty fruits and lettuce dumped on me.

I looked up to find a few students laughing, and they threw the empty trash can at me. I managed to jump out of the way, but they still laughed at me. I smelled like wet, rotten food as I finally managed to bring my desk to class.

The teachers were oblivious to what was happening. During class, when the teacher wasn't looking, everyone at the same time threw paper balls at me. They kept doing that throughout the day until I screamed.

"Stop it already!" I yelled.

"Rikku!" The teacher yelled back. "Please sit down, I'm teaching a class here!"

I was slowly feeling defeated, but I couldn't let this get to me! I can't leave the school now. As I walked down the hall, I saw Shelinda coming the other way. I felt a surge of relief, so I approached her.

"Shelinda," I greeted. But she didn't even look at me.

I watched her run away, as if I was never her friend at all. I was hurt, but I knew why she would ignore me. Suddenly, I heard girls laughing from behind me. Before I could even turn around, I felt cold water splashed at me.

"Ah, I wouldn't be surprised if Shelinda abandoned you." A girl with pink earrings said. I just glared at her.

"You should leave now while you can." A girl with blue earrings said.

"A place like this school doesn't fit a person like you." A girl with green earrings said.

"You're just...dirt poor!" All three said, laughing at me.

I ran away.

I don't want to cry. I don't want to quit. I don't want to be any trouble. I don't want any of this!

"...damn it..." I slowly walked down the stairs of the fire escape. "...damn it...DAMN IT!"

I screamed, but again no one heard me until...

"Stop...please." I heard a male voice.

I was stiff frozen. I thought it was just another guy ready to bombard me with abuse, but I was in for a bigger shock. There, leading down on the next flight of stairs, lay Gippal of F4. He had a book covering his face, but he lift the book away and stared at me.

I couldn't move. I couldn't even speak. And I thought today couldn't get any worse, but now I have to deal abuse from one of F4 too! He stood up and slowly walked closer to me. I was surprised he smelled good with light cologne, and here I was, drenched like a wet dog. I felt embarrassed and humiliated.

"I appreciate it..." Gippal spoke, "if you don't come here to relieve your stress."

"...y-you heard me before?" I asked, feeling even more embarrassed.

"I come here to get away from all the noise." He explained. He looked down at me with a blank face. "This is my area."

It was final. I couldn't tell him to beat it and let me have this spot. His eye was almost cold and heartless. If he wanted something, he can have it and I couldn't compete. I just bowed my head out of reflex and slowly walked my way back up the stairs.

"I understand," he said, "that you have problems too."

I didn't know what to say but just looked back at him. His expression changed, as if he wasn't such a hard person as I thought he was. He climbed up the stairs and left me alone on the fire escape.

I was overwhelmed as I walked back home from school that day. I was still thinking about my encounter with Gippal more than my abuse. He wasn't a jerk like the other F4 members. He might actually be...considerate.

I felt the urge to do a light skip on my way to work. I didn't know what I was wrong with me, but I felt a litte tingle - a little warmth. Maybe because I know that one F4 macho isn't so bad...

At that moment...

Tidus was watching Rikku skipping away. He was stunned and confused. After the first day of war, she looked as if she was unshaken. He sat dumbfounded and frustrated inside his black BMW Chocobo edition.

If he was gonna win, he'd have to do more drastic measures...

"Are you ok?" Yuna nearly screeched after I told her I got a red notice.

"I'm fine, really." I reassured her.

"I knew something was wrong when you came smelling wet." Yuna said. "You sure you're ok? They didn't do anything to hurt you, did they?"

"No no! It's just bullying and stuff. I can handle it just fine." I said and smiled. "I'm Rikku, the tough machina."

"Don't be so over-confident." Someone spoke behind us.

"Oh, LeBlanc." Yuna sighed.

LeBlanc is our boss and the owner of the sweets shop. She was an old lady, and a very spunky old lady at that. She has a sharp tongue and wears extremely bright pink dresses. She always eavesdrops on our conversations and butts in with her advice on our problems. She's hard to get along with, but she's a lovely woman.

"They can be capable of anything." LeBlanc warned me.

"But...it's my classmates." I said, not sure what she meant.

"You know, I had an ex-lover," she started, "and he was dangerously involved with the underworld. He was a item dealer and got deeply in trouble. I had to run away because he told me, 'They will erase you.'"

"She's being over dramatic." Yuna whispered.

"So you too, Rikku." LeBlanc continued. "Don't underestimate your enemy."

I just nodded.

"They too...can erase you." LeBlanc ended and retreated to the back of the store.

Yuna and I just stared at her as if she was crazy, which she is. But there was something about her warning that I couldn't help but feel it was true. I should be on my guard...

ending here. so how's the 'meanwhile' cut scenes? i know they're short, mainly cuz our focus is on rikku, our heroine.

naming this chapter was hard too. i wanted to call it 'little warmth' because of her encounter with gippal, but there was not much of that. this chapter focus more on her first day of bullying. so that's why it's 'first day of war'

random fun quote: "It's bacon cheese burger, not cheese bacon burger. Right? i know i'm right." (i laugh at this everytime!)