Rikku walked into the noisy club excitedly. She jumped up and down and looked around at the others who were there. There were beautiful women in pratically nothing and gorgeous men touching them. She had missed the party scene. When she joined the Gullwings, she had to quit her regular club going. Actually, now that she though about it, she had to quit before even that. She quit when she first went out with Gippal because he wasn't a big fan of clubs. But he took her today. She smiled to herself, maybe he really did care.

"Oh Gippal! Thanks for bringing me here. I really appreciate it." She gave him that innocent smile of hers, the one where her eyes are huge and trusting, and he was sure that he was going to have a heart attack right there, on the floor.

"Uh, no problem." Gippal said, trying to sound cool but his voice was coming out uncomfortably husky. Thank God she didn't seem to notice. Gippal's eye finally started to adjust to the random bright lights and sudden darkness that kept changing. Damn, I could get a seizure if I stay in here for too long. He took a good look around thn and what he saw worried him. Scantily clad women were dancing in cages, on tables and around the dance floor as men greedily watched, touched and cheered them on. That wasn't the worst part, Gippal could not see a bouncer anywhere. "Rikku? This place doesn't look so hot. Maybe we should look else where for fun." Rikku turneed to face him and he got to see that gorgeous smile slip from her pretty face. She gently grasped his arm.

"I'm sorry Gippal. I know you don't like clubs and yet I really wanted to come so I dragged you along. I'm so sorry, please don't be angry." She whispered in his ear, just loud enough for him to hear. Damn, damn, damn! He didn't want her to be upset. After all, he suggested that they come here.

"I was just worried about you is all. I'm not angry or anything, I'm having a great time, see?" He put a huge smile on his face and prayed that it didn't look fake. She laughed out loud and the sound seemed to calm him down and excite him at the same time. He wanted to kiss her desperately but knew that he shouldn't. He gulped down air to try and calm his hormones but the way Rikku was looking at his neck while he gulped really didn't help. Did she know what she did to him?

"Everything's fine Gippal. Want to get a seat?" He nodded and led her to the quietest table in the place, which wasn't saying much. The table was a huge fish tank and it kind of weirded him out. Fish swimming around and looking at him while he drank, weird. Soon, another scantily clad woman came to take their order. Gippal ordered two sodas.

"RIKKU!" Gippal yelled to be heard over the noise. "I NEED TO USE THE BATHROOM. I'LL BE RIGHT BACK!" Gippal quickly got up, wishing he could take her with him so that he could watch her. He wanted to be as quick as possible so he practicaly ran to the closest, empty urinal.

"I heard there's fresh meat today." The man beside Gippal stated.

"Excuse me?"

"You must be a new comer. Certain women come to this club all the time, meaning we've already tried them out and know how far they'll go. Today, someone new has come, someone we have never tried before, so of course, all the men will be flocking to her. You've got to try to the be the one to get her attention. According to my friends, she's a sexy little thing too. She's tiny and curvy." Gippal quickly zipped up and dashed to the sink. Damn it all, it's Rikku and she's alone.

"Thanks for the info." Gippal said as he tried to look casual as he jogged out the door. Maybe it's not Rikku. Maybe it's some tiny brunette the guys are talking about and not my Rikku. But, once he was near the table, there was no more kidding himself. He knew who the fresh meat really was. "RIKKU!" He yelled to their now over crowded table. "Excuse me, I need to get through." He pushed people out of his way until he finally got to the slightly tipsy Rikku.

"You guys are so nice, buying me drinks and all. I'm sure Gippal will appreciate you taking care of me like this." She smiled at all the gys as she took another drink of whatever they had bought her.

"THE HELL I WILL!" Gippal roared as he finally got within touhing distance of Rikku. He gently took her arm and tugged. "She's under age you idiots!"

"This is an all ages club man, I have no idea what you're talking about."

"The alcohol! She's only seventeen."

"Hey man, chill out. We were just having a little fun."

"Yeah Gippal, loosen up." Rikku stretched her arm and tried to pat his shoulder, but due to her alcohol induced state, she completely missed. Herhand slid down his chest instead, making him bite back a groan. He then gently picked her up and started for the door.

"We're leaving." He cradled her against his chest and strode towards the exit.

"No, leave her with us." The guy from the bathroom said. "I told you about her and this is how you repay me. By stealing her away." Gippal quickly lifted one arm from around Rikku and conected his fist with the other guys face. The man fell backwards from the force and blood leaked from his nose. Hoisting Rikku back up in his arms, he turned his back on the group.

"If you come near my girlfriend again, I'll kill you." Gippal said in a deadly voice. He got out the door with no other misshaps, well, except that when Rikku snuggled into his chest, her skirt rose a bit and every guys eyes were suddenly on her. Gippal waved down a shoopuf and brought Rikku aboard. He placed her down on the plush couch and went to give the hypello directions.

"Iz mish ok?" The hypello asked, peeking around Gippal to see her.

"Yeah, she'll be fine." Gippal replied as he went back to the couch and kneeled beside it. He gently brushed a strand of her hair that had fallen in her face away. Her eyes drifted open and his heart sped up at the shy heat that he saw in her bright, green eyes.

"Gippal?" She whispered.

"Yeah."

"I'm sorry." A single tear fell down her cheek. He hated this. He brushed that tears away with his thumb and wished that his smily Rikku would come back. The one that loved to push him when he made fun of her and stuck her tongue out at him when he said something mean.

"It's not your fault. I shouldn't have left you alone in a place like that. I should have known that someone as pretty as you wouldn't be left alone. Those guys know a beauty when they see one."

"You think I'm pretty?" Hope flared in those green eyes, the look she gave him was driving him mad. How could she not know how beautiful he thought she was? When they were a couple, a little while before he had joined the crimson squad, he was always trying to sneak a peak at her changing. Everything about her was perfect. Of course, they broke up when he had joined the crimson squad because he had thought he was going to die. He never told anyone, but he didn't see himself living so he broke it off instead of breaking her heart. And then he acted like everything was fine.

"Of course I do, princess. I always have." He gave into the urge to touch her and let his fingers trail along her jaw. The corners of her mouth lifted into a tiny smile and, unable to resist, Gippal leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to the left corner. "You're much more beautiful then you think." He muttered. Rikku reached up and cupped his soft cheek in her small hand.

"Gippal, I-"

"Your shhtop ish here." The hypello suddenly anounced. Gippal gave her a sad smile then lifted her once again.

"You don't have to carry me, I can walk you know." Rikku said, even as she snuggled deeper into his arms.

"It's fine. Just enjoy it while you can." Which she did. She got comfortable against his warm, muscular chest and fell asleep. Gippal on the other hand, was starting to have trouble breathing. He was rock hard and pressing against her bottom. She was still a little tipsy though, and he would never take advantage of her, so his friend down there was going to have to learn to deal for tonight. He opened the door to his house quietly and carried her to his bed. With the sweep of his arm, all the clothing on top fell to the floor. He then tucked her in gently and watched her. Her blond hair was still up in her braids and ponytail so he quickly undid them and left the mound of hair clips, bead, hair ties and the blue bandana on his night stand. He loved how her hair fanned over his pillow. He pressed a soft kiss to her forehead then forced himself to retreat to the pullout couch. After cleaning it off in the same manner that he cleaned his bed, and pulling it out, he stripped down to his boxers and slid under the covers. Soon he was asleep and in his fantasy world that involved him, Rikku and many different places in his house.