Don't die on me, my readers. i know that last chapter wasn't much...er...rush. i mean, i couldn't really think of a way from gippal's entrance to be "exciting" but that. hope you liked the LITTLE rippal. NOW, for this chapter, is getting interesting. wink wink

Oh, and just a note. anything in italics is either something in a dream, or a past event...you'll see what i mean.


Chapter 8

I didn't want to run, since I didn't want the crowd to turn heads and stare at me. I mostly power-walked through the streets without any thought where I was going. All I needed to know was get some distance between me and...him.

Before I knew it, I found a park. It was probably the only open field in the middle of Zanarkand besides the one that leads to Mount Gagazet. Kids were running around playing, young couples were walking on the side walks, older teens were at an empty pool with hoverboards, there was a large playground for toddlers, and at the other end was a mini blitzball pool.

No one was swimming in it.

I walked over to a bench and sat down, staring at the hovering pool. It was so long ago when I traveled back in time by accident, got separated from my mother, and was stuck here for a year. It was this same park that I first came to Zanarkand. And it was the very same blitzball pool that I nearly drowned if it wasn't for that boy who saved me...

Tidus.

"Huh?" I mumbled to myself and wiped another tear.

I've lost him...There was never anything for me to get back in the first place...This had been settle two months ago. What can I do? Just forget and live on? How will I tell who's the father to my child?

"Vun oui bid dra tnays eh so naymedo..." Someone sang. And the one voice I ran away from...

I didn't turn around as he sat down on the bench next to me. I could feel his eyes staring at me, but I kept my head down. If I look at him, I would break down again.

"That was what you sang last night." He said.

"...y-yeah." I stuttered.

"And I know it...somehow." He mumbled. I took a side glance. He was resting his elbows on his knees, looking down at his feet in deep thought.

It nearly made me jump just realizing how close I am to him in two months! Everything about his physical features to his voice is pin point accurate. But I did noticed that he wasn't wearing his usual Zanarkand necklace...

"You do." I said louder, wondering if he decided not to wear his special necklace today.

"Why?" He asked softy. There was a long pause. "Last night...I had a dream."

My heartbeat stopped for a second.

"In my dream, there was this little girl. Then, she grew up to a teenager...but I couldn't see her face. And she was singing that song." He said. Then, he turned to look at me. "I said to her, 'Hey, what's your name?' and she said her name was...Rikku."

I bit my lip and looked at him.

"It was so strange." He continued, suddenly looking deep into my eyes like he never had. "For some reason, I felt like I knew her. But I know I don't have any memory meeting someone by that name. Let alone, heard that song before."

I swallowed.

"So..." He narrowed his eyes. "Who are you?"

Even though I've experience this last night, it still pulled my heartstrings. He looks exactly the same two months ago! How can he just...forget? Did something happened to him when he faded away on the Airship? Had his memories been erased, or are they just buried deep inside? I'll take my chances...

"My name is Rikku." I said. He shook his head in frustration.

"I already now that. I meant, how do you know that song? How come I know it?" Then he looked at me suspiciously. "Did I got drunk at a night club or something?"

"What?!" I said, horrified. He closed his eyes, and rested his head in his hands.

"That must be it." He mumbled to himself. Suddenly, he bolted out off the bench and stared at me with shocked eyes. "Please don't tell me I knocked you up!"

I just stared back at him with my mouth hanging. Then, he sighed as if he was relief.

"Good. I guess not." He said. I jumped to my feet and glared at him.

"You think I'm a whore?!" I yelled.

"You're not?" He said, raising his eyebrows. "Alright...are you from the Southern District?"

"I don't know any Southern District." I said, calming down. Then, his mouth was hanging.

"You don't know?! That's, like, the most getto-iest place in Zanarkand! Not far from the harbor area. They're full of nut cases, and crazy people just because they got to this some temple they worship." He said, rolling his eyes.

There was a long pause.

"A...temple?" I said. He crossed his arms.

"Yeah. Everyone knows the temple in the Southern District. But no one but the people who live there actually believes the mumbo-jumbo they show. Or their 'teachings.'" He said, putting sarcasm on the last word. "Best stay clear from them."

"Have you ever been there?" I asked, curious. He grunted, as if the memory was disgusting.

"Once. On a dare. Those people are weird...and maybe dangerous." He said. Then, his eyes soften. "Don't go there."

I didn't reply since my mind was spinning fast. There's a temple here? In this era?! Maybe there's a way to get Tidus's memories there. Maybe the fayth is still around at this time. I should askYuna for more details.

Suddenly, my stomach growled. And I felt extremely hungry. Tidus raised his eyebrow at me and smirked, which nearly made me melt.

"I know, " he chuckled, "that fast food place doesn't really look appetizing." He started to walk away. "Come on, I'll get us something to eat."

I stood where I was. He realized that I wasn't following, and turned to look back at me.

"Aren't you coming?" He yelled back. I slowly walked up to him, my mouth slightly open in surprise.

"You're gonna let me eat with you?" I asked, sheepishly. He laughed.

It was heavenly.

"I guess so...but not in public where people will see us. Don't want jealous fans, do we?" He winked. I made a weak laugh and followed him to the harbor...


"Welcome to my sanctuary...my home." Tidus annouced.

I couldn't believe it. I was actually in his houseboat. He told he'd bring me here one day, and it was very cozy. The room was circular with the main pillar in the center to hold the roof up. And a stairway that leads to the upper deck. There were numerous of silver and golden trophies and medals. There were also different colors of blitzballs, besides the regular blue and white. On a shelf, there were a bunch of pictures of him and his teammates.

"You can look at them, if you want. I'll make something." He said, and headed up the stairs. But I followed him.

"You're kitchen is up here?" I asked, amazed.

"Yup. That way if I make something nasty, the smell won't fill my home." He explained.

His kitchen was simple. A stove, a fridge, and a counter top. I watched him pull out noodles of some kind and boiled them. Watching him cook made him look so manly...

"Here. Hope you like it." He said, and served a plate of noodles. I sniffed and it smelled great, but I still took a careful bit. It was delicious, and I finished the plate before Tidus did.

"Mmmm. You're a good cook!" I said, helping seconds. He laughed.

"I'm not some dude who lives off of ramen noodles." He said.

"What's ramen noodles?" I asked, my mouth full. He just shook his head.

"Never mind."

"Who taught you how to cook?"

"My mom...and then the rest I learned myself." He said, almost sad.

"You're mom taught you?" I pushed the subject. "Where is she?" I asked, even though I had a feeling what happened.

"She died." He simply said.

"Oh. I'm sorry." I said. "If you don't mind me asking..."

"It's alright. She died because...she just gave up." He said, and started to pick at his food.

"Gave up?"

"It was a long time ago. My father vanished one day. And...well, my mother followed him too." He kept staring at his food. "I was very little, so I didn't understood why she died. And the old lady next door said that when a lovebird dies, the other one just gives up living, so it can join its mate...it was just like that!" He furrowed.

"Oh," I whispered, feeling sympathy for him. "You must've...been so lonely when you were young."

Suddenly, I felt the food coming back up my throat. I quickly dashed to the side of the boat and threw up into the sea. Tidus was walking towards me with cautious steps.

"Are you okay?" He asked. I wiped my mouth, taking in deep breaths.

"I guess it didn't like it..." I mumbled to myself, not really thinking that Tidus was listening.

"Wait...what?!" He said louder. He grabbed my arm and made me turn around. His face was confused and angry. "Are you...pregnant or something?"

I just stared back with my mouth slightly opened. I wanted to say yes, but then I was scared...that he wouldn't want to see me anymore. He took a step back and took a good look at me.

"You are, aren't you?!" He yelled, looking really angry. "So I did met you at some bar. Damn! Why am I so stupid?!"

"I-It's not like that!" I tried to defend myself, but I was scared. He turned his back on me.

"Get out! Just leave! I don't want anything to do with you!" He yelled.

At first, I was frozen where I stood. But then, I quickly ran down the stairs and out the houseboat, crying all the way down the harbor...


I wasn't sure where I was. I just kept running, trying to get some good distance between me and the harbor. If I stop now, I would start to think and realized that Tidus doesn't know me, or remember me, or want anything to do with me!

I stopped running and started walking to catch my breath. Maybe I shouldn't have ran so much. Maybe I shouldn't have come to a weird and dark alleyway. Maybe I shouldn't have thought of traveling back in time to Zanarkand...

That's when I noticed that the sun was setting, and the sky was getter darker. I was walking along the sidewalk, but the streets were completely deserted. The buildings weren't so tall compare to the ones I saw this morning. Smoke was rising from several buildings, causing a thick, gloomy fog over the sky. The windows were boarded up, and neon lights were flashing, as if the light bulbs were about to go out.

I admitted that I was lost.

"Hey, sweetie." Said a deep voice. I whirled around and saw a tall, dark, dirty man with two others following him. "Want some company?"

"No thanks." I said, firmly. I noticed on his shirt was a familiar glyph. It was an old symbol of Yevon. I turned around and walked away quickly as I heard the men laughing in the distance, so I guess they're not following.

I walked deeper into the alleyways, hoping that I would find my way out. But the sky was getting dark, and it was hard to see where I was going, or what was ahead of me. Soon, the dim streetlights went on, and I saw up ahead of me, someone was leaning aganist the pole. I drew myself up and tried to walk without fear, but it was crossing my mind.

When I got closer, the man looked up and smiled at me. It was the same man from earlier. I quickly turned around, but his two followers were right behind me. I was cornered. Who are these guys? If they're going to mug me, it would be pointless since I didn't have any money.

But what if that's not want they want...?

I took a deep breath at the new fear of what these men would do to me. But I took a fighting stance, and they laughed at me. Compare to them, I was small and not as muscular as they are. Not to mention, I was out numbered.

"Come here, sweeite." Said the tall man. He grabbed my arm, but I yacked away and punched into his stomach. He doubled over. "Feisty, are we?"

"Get away from me!" I yelled at them, as the other two came to grab my wrists. I managed to kick one in the face, but then the tall man easily grabbed me around my waist and pulled my arm behind my back.

I started to scream, hoping someone would hear. Anyone...

Tidus!

"Hey! Let her go!" Someone yelled. Before I knew it, the three guys released me, followed by a few nose breaking sounds.

"Let's go." The tall man grumbled, and the three men walked away.

"Gippal!" I gasped, and without thinking, I ran to his arms and cried. He held me, rubbing my back.

"It's okay, Rikku. Those guys won't touch you anymore." He said, softly in my hair. "I'm here."

My face still buried in his shirt, but I wished it wasn't him that came to my rescue. There was a drop of hope in me that Tidus would come out of guilt, but it turns out, Gippal was there. Gippal could never be my Tidus...but I don't have Tidus anymore...Do I? I don't know anymore. My mind tells me that I've lost him somewhere. But my heart screams that Tidus isn't himself. But where can I find the answers...?

"You don't know?! That's, like, the most getto-iest place in Zanarkand! Not far from the harbor area. They're full of nut cases, and crazy people just because they got to this some temple they worship."

That's it!

"Gippal!" I said, sudden really loud.

"What?" He said, also shocked at me sudden change of mood.

"Are we in the Southern District?"

"I think so...why?"

"I...I heard there's a temple here. Let's go there!"


Whoa! that was actually touching and yet sad! Rikku is sad that Tidus didn't came to her rescue, she hoped that he would come. I mean, he was suppose to be...it was his nature, like in the first story! so why is didn't he came? why doesn't tidus remember his precious rikku? and since when was there a temple in zanarkand back then? and why am i asking you these question when i'm the author and only i know what will happen?!

did anyone noticed i got inspiration from the Twlight series? if you don't know what it is it's okay. but lately, writer's block struck me again, so i got back into writing after reading Twlight. great book!

please review.