Chapter Ten: Stage Ten: Mission Complete
Warnings: none
A/N: Here is the moment you've all been waiting for: the completion of the final chapter. Never thought I'd get around to it, did you? Hehe, anyway, it's not too long, but there wasn't much left to do. Good news! Once again, there is very little translating, and it's only at the very end! As per usual, there is a link to an Al Bhed translator in my profile. Thank you so much if you've stayed with me for this whole thing. I really appreciate the support of my readers. So, anyway, I hope you enjoy the last chapter and please R&R and feel free to leave CC! Thanks!

- Rikku

"Oh…my…faith…"

Rikku stirred from her sleep and opened her eyes to find her cousin standing at the end of the bed, her hand covering her mouth and her eyes wide open with shock. The sunlight poured in through the wet windows, casting mini-rainbows upon the audience that now beheld the two Al Bhed.

"Gippal…Gippal…you'll never change will you?" Baralai shook his head.

"You're not that surprised are you?" Nooj added, "It's just unfortunate poor Rikku had to get caught up with him."

"hmph." Paine crossed her arms and glared at Gippal.

"Yunie?" Rikku rubbed her eyes and sat up, disturbing Gippal from his sleep. He turned over drowsily, shaking his bed-hair with his hand, "What are you guys doing here? We said we'd be back."

"When you didn't return by morning, Yuna got worried." Paine was almost growling, "But now I see what you really wanted."

Yuna just kept shaking her head, "Rikku, you didn't…"

"What?" Gippal blinked his eyes, "Oh, this." He gestured to the bed, "Well you see, we got all wet, so we needed to take off our clothes. We needed to stay warm, so we cuddled on the bed…"

"Is that really the best you can come up with?" Baralai snorted.

"Yunie! Nothing happened! I swear!" Rikku was now out of bed, having leapt over to her cousin, "I'd never ever do that! Especially not with Gippal!"

"Gee, thanks." Gippal sat up and started stretching.

"Oh, Rikku, I want to believe you—" Yuna began but was interrupted by Paine, "but you know how suspicious this looks, right?" She walked over to Gippal and gave him an intimidating glare, "I swear, if you took advantage of her…"

Rikku jumped in between her friend and Gippal, who was rightly beginning to become very afraid of the silver-haired warrior. "No, no, no, Paine! Nothing happened! We just fell asleep!"

Baralai looked over to Gippal, "Really?"

Gippal shrugged, "I know, it's weird that she managed to resist me but…nothing happened."

"Oh, thank goodness!" Yuna hugged her cousin, "We were so worried about you!"

"I'm sorry, Yunie." Rikku pleaded, "It won't happen again!"

"Speaking of which," Gippal rolled his legs out of the bed, "where was Paine this whole time? She's the one who got Rikku all worried in the first place."

For the second time in a week, Gippal found Paine's sword at his neck, "Are you blaming this on me?"

"Eheh…no…of course not." Gippal waved his hands dismissively in front of him, "I was just wondering…"

Paine lowered her sword, "I was showing him to the party." She thumbed back towards Tidus, who had stayed back during all this.

The blitzer waved, "So, we should probably head back now, right?"

Nooj turned towards the door and walked steadily out, "I agree. I've had quite enough of this nonsense for now."

Gippal stood and as he did so, heard the ex-meyvn add, "But please don't forget to put some clothes on. No one wants to see that."

Gippal made an immature hand gesture, "I have some ladies who I'm sure would disagree."

Being one of those ladies, Rikku turned away to hide her blush. Yuna blushed and turned too, but only because she was being polite.

"I need to get back to the palace." Baralai commented. "Could we please hurry this along?"

"Sure, sure." Gippal waved him off, "Could you guys just give us a second?" When no one reacted, he added, "Alone."

Baralai gave him a look, but nodded and walked out.

"You sure that's a good idea?" Paine asked, raising an eyebrow, her hand just itching to pull out her sword once more.

Gippal rolled his eyes, "Do you really think so little of me? Wait, don't answer that." He scratched the back of his head, "Look, I just want a chance to talk to Rikku- plus, we both need to get dressed anyway."

Rikku saw the look on his face, "Please Yuna?"

Yuna walked over to Paine, "I think it'll be okay. We'll just wait outside."

Reluctantly Paine nodded, giving Gippal a final look before exiting the room with Yuna and Tidus.

As they walked out, Tidus could be heard asking Yuna, "Why did you think it was such a big deal? You know you and I—"

"Tidus!"

Now alone, Gippal turned back to Rikku, "Crazy, huh?"

Rikku was still blushing from the whole event, and having Gippal standing there like that, looking all hot and stuff, wasn't helping much, "Y-y-yeah."

"Geez, can you believe them? Thinking you and I—"

"Y-y-yeah."

Seeing how nervous she was, Gippal walked over and hugged her tightly, "You know, I'm starting to think Paine was right. About us that is."

Rikku looked up at him quizzically, "What?"

"Yeah, I didn't say this before, but Paine was the reason that I got up the courage to ask you out."

Rikku raised her eyebrows, "Yuna was the one who convinced me to say yes!"

"Huh… Glad to know that we both had to be convinced." Gippal chuckled, missing the look in Rikku's eyes.

"I KNEW they were plotting something!" Rikku shouted, breaking free of Gippal's embrace and throwing her hand dramatically in the air, "Ooooh! I am going to get them for this!"

"Are you really that upset?" Gippal asked, slightly offended.

"Well…no. But it's the principle of the matter!"

"I'm starting to think you just look for excuses to get into trouble…" Gippal shook his head, "Look, let's just get dressed and then we can go "get them" however you want."

"Okie!" Rikku ran into the bathroom, throwing Gippal's clothes out as she closed the door loudly behind her.

Gippal sighed, "I have weird taste in women."

The group now stood on the rooftop of Bevelle palace. Nooj had already left about his business, and Yuna and Tidus were preparing their ship to head back to Besaid.

"Aw, Yunie, I'm going to miss you! Come visit Home soon okay?"

Yuna smiled warmly at her cousin, "Of course, Rikku."

"But no tricking me into any more relationships! Okay?"

"Of course, Rikku."

A soft whistle rang out from the ship and Tidus waved from it at Yuna, "All ready!"

Yuna's smile widened at the sound and waved back, "Okay!" She turned back and went to her other friend, "It was fun plotting with you Paine."

Paine smirked, "Yeah."

"You knoooow." Rikku walked over to her friends, hands clasped behind her back, trying to look innocent. "Now that you two had a mission together, I think it's MY turn to have a two-person mission."

"Oh? What were you thinking?" Paine asked.

"Weeeell," Rikku moved closer to Yuna and looked pointedly at Paine and Baralai, who were standing next to each other, "Since you two had so much fun pairing up me n' Gippal, maybe Yunie and I should have some fun pairing a certain two others. It could be called YR Operation! Paine and Baralai Together At Last!"

"PABTAL? Really, you two come up with the worst names." Paine shook her head, "Besides, I'm pretty sure that isn't a good idea."

Baralai flushed and balked away slowly, "You know…I think I have some business to get to…"

Gippal chuckled, "See ya later Lai!"

"They'll get used to it." Rikku decided in a voice she thought sounded official, "Right, Yunie?"

Yuna laughed, "Maybe later Rikku. I think I've had enough excitement for a while."

"I always knew I could count on you, Yuna." Paine voiced.

"Awwww! Yunie! You're no fun!" Rikku immaturely stamped her feet.

Yuna winked conspicuously, "I said later didn't I?"

"Yay!"

"Maybe I spoke too soon." Paine shook her head, "Well, I'm going to get out of here before Rikku decides to cause any more trouble. The troops have probably gotten out of order in my absence anyway."

Tidus whistled again. "Yeah, I need to go too. Tidus and I promised to help out Wakka and Lulu today by babysitting Vidina." Yuna gave both of her friends a big hug.

"Try not to scare the poor kid too much Yuna."

"Scare him? How would I scare Vidina?" Yuna looked quizzically at Paine.

"Not Vidina, Tidus." Paine chuckled, "I've seen how you have started looking at children."

"Hm, I guess you're right." Yuna smiled, "Tidus isn't quite ready for that step." She audibly sighed, "Oh well, I better head out. Let's not forget to get together again, okay?"

Rikku and Paine both nodded, and Yuna ran to meet Tidus at their ship. Tidus helped her in and then pulled her into a big hug as they both waved goodbye.

Paine started towards her mini-bike that she rode around in while in Bevelle, "See ya Rikku."

Rikku shouted good bye, and as she started waving, she felt strong arms wrap around her waist, "You ready to head out?"

Rikku turned around, giggling, "Are you going to let me drive properly this time."

Gippal appeared to think about it for a second, "I guess. It's is your ship after all. I wouldn't know how to drive a piece of junk that old anyway."

"Hey!" Rikku began to struggle playfully, but was soon stopped as Gippal leaned forward and caught her mouth in his own. Within seconds, she had calmed down and had her arms lightly over his shoulders.

Gippal pulled back with a cocky grin on his face, "E drehg E mega dryd dnelg, Cid's girl."

"Tuh'd bicr ouin milg, Gippy." Rikku smiled and pulled him back to her. Once she finished, she pulled back once more, "Okie! Ready to go now!" She released herself of his grip and began running towards her airship.

Gippal sighed, watching her for a few seconds before jogging after her, "Hey, wait up!"

The End