The next day the three sphere hunters headed into the Farplane and with help from the LeBlanc Syndicate, Nooj and Gippal, they defeated Vegnagun. Not only him, but the ghost of Shuyin was reunited with his love, Lenne, and was finally able to rest. As they were all leaving, Rikku and Paine went on ahead, talking with Nooj, Gippal, and Baralai about what was to happen between their three groups. Nooj suggested holding a conference in Luca like two years ago. Which Gippal and Baralai agreed fully with.
As they all began to head into the Celsius, Gippal held Rikku back. "You alright?" His one hand went to his hip as he looked to the younger Al Bhed.
"I'm great, silly!" She pushed his shoulder with her hand and laughed.
"No, you're not." He frowned and looked at her seriously. "We grew up together and I can tell when you are sincerely happy and when you put on a front. Like when your mom died."
Rikku frowned and turned her head to the side. "It's nothing, really. Nothing I'm wanting to talk about anyway..." With a large sigh, she pushed his arm again and jumped in place. "Hey! Come on! We just defeated Vegnagun! It's a great day!"
Gippal shook his head with a small laugh. "That's true. But, really. If you need to talk, you know where I'm at, ok?" He ruffled her hair and quickly boarded the ship before she had a chance to retaliate.
Rikku sighed as she fixed her hair, thinking. "That's the second person who said that. I guess I should talk about Auron sometime. It might help... But, I don't know if I'm ready..." Frowning, she looked around the before walking up to the sphere, teleporting her onboard.
"Aww! Why can't we go to the party?" Rikku looked over at Paine, hands on her legs as the racing wind flowed across her.
"There will be other parties." Paine half-smiled, causing Rikku to smile back. She could tell her gray-haired friend had broken the cold and hard wall that was once around her after finding out what really happened to the Crimson Squad. She was glad for her, a part of her past was now just where it was supposed to be, and she didn't have to brood over it anymore.
"Hey... What's that?" Yuna called back to the other two who walked over to her, careful not to fall off the speeding airship. They were heading over Besaid when Yuna pointed into the water. Rikku seen it too, a blur of yellow in the bright blue sea. "Could it... BROTHER!" Yuna raced into the ship, and with a glance to one another, Rikku and Paine followed. "Land the ship! Right away!" Yuna wasted no time and headed right for the elevator to take her to the opening.
"Yikes!" Rikku fell onto Paine as the Celsius veered hard to the side before landing. Rikku watched as Yuna jumped out the ship before it even landed. And then she seen why. "Ohh, WOW!" Smiling brightly, Rikku and Paine waited on the ship, watching as Yuna and Tidus held each other on the edge of the ocean. Wakka's loud voice came from the side and Rikku laughed out as the whole isle of Besaid stood on the shore line.
"Hiya!" Waving her arms, she caught his attention and smiled. "Let's go!" She turned to Paine as they ran to the beach where the two reunited lovers were headed. "Guess we'll have that party after all." She laughed back to Paine who gave a smile and ran with her.
There was a huge party in Besaid that day, leading on to the night. Yuna had to share Tidus with the Aurochs who told him about how they started blitzing again, and Wakka who was showing off his new kid. Rikku couldn't stop laughing when he asked Wakka how in the world he managed to get with Lulu. Wakka put him in a headlock and the two wrestled around.
Rikku looked at Yuna who was watching the two "duke" it out, and smiled. "I'm glad you got him back, Yunie."
Yuna turned and smiled brightly, giving her cousin a hug. "Thank you, Rikku." Pulling back, she raised a brow and smiled. "How about you? Are you feeling better?"
"I'm great! Don't need to think about that. You got your maaaan!" Laughing and dragging on the last word in a sing-song voice, Yuna giggled and nodded.
"I do. Ah, I feel like everything is right." Sighing, she looked into the bonfire in front of them and smiled. "Two years ago, this was the very spot when we first talked to each other. Seems like only yesterday - hey!" Laughing, Yuna turned her head when Tidus came up to her side, his arms wrapping around her hips.
"I'm going to throw some ball around with the guys. You wanna come?" He asked as Yuna smirked to Rikku.
"Actually, I've been playing Blitzball myself." She proudly smiled as he gasped and sat back.
"No kidding?" He picked her up and set her on her feet. "Well then, show me what you're made of!"
"You bet!" Laughing, Yuna turned to Rikku and gave a small wave before the other two began to head out.
"Oh, I see how it is now. Don't come to our party to have your own!" Tidus and Yuna stopped and turned at the voice that came from the entrance to Besaid. Gippal stood there, arms crossed over his chest, smiling.
"Heey, what are you doing here?" Rikku jumped up and walked over to him smirking. "Party crashing?"
"Actually, your brother called me out of my party because he's heartbroken or something..." He looked around the island and raised his eyebrows. "Huh, can't say I've been here before, though."
"Hi, Gippal!" Yuna walked over to them with Tidus at her side. "This is Tidus, he helped defeat Sin."
Tidus waved and rubbed the back of his head. "Wasn't nothin'."
Gippal smirked and laughed. "I've head of you, actually. Cid liked you a lot."
"You know Cid?" Tidus turned his head to the side and Rikku laughed.
"Gippal's an Al Bhed too." She explained and waved her hand.
"Ohhh, I see." Tidus nodded and looked down at Yuna who was tugging his arm. "Alright, alright. We're gonna go blitz! See ya!" He waved to the two Al Bheds and ran off with Yuna.
"So that's who she was chasing after, huh?" Gippal placed his hands on his hips as Rikku nodded. "So, uh, actually I lied. Brother did call me out, but I was trying to see how you were doing."
Rikku let out a long sigh. "Why does everyone have to ask me that?" Her hands fell down as her body shook from side to side like a flower caught in a gust of wind. "I mean, really. Just because I'm not all smiles and giggles all the time..."
"Hey, hey. I know something is on your mind, Rikku. Let's just...talk. Alright?" He turned his head to the side to catch a glance at her face. "Come on, I want to see around this place too." He nodded his head and Rikku gave in with a sigh. She had to get it off her chest to someone, right?