"Hey, Cid's girl!"

Braska emerged through the doorway from behind Gippal just in time to see Rikku collapse.

"I'm guessing you haven't told her yet..." Gippal said in a slightly remorseful tone as he helped Braska lift Rikku up and carry her inside.

"I wasn't exactly expecting you to pop up and yell 'surprise'."

"Auron, you insult me! 'Surprise' is so predictable. I tailored my greeting to be worthy of the little princess that she is." He sarcastically pinched her cheek and wiggled it back and forth. "Besides, there's no better time than the present, right?"

"You tell me. Or, rather, tell her. She's awake."

"You expect me to believe that? Did you SEE her go down?? She's going to be out cold for at least...heeeeey! How ya doin'?" Gippal plastered on a nervous grin as he noticed the confused death glares that Rikku was now aiming at him and looked around desperately for support. Much to his dismay, he discovered that both Auron and Braska had left him all alone to explain himself.

"What... is... going... on?!" Rikku managed to gasp out. In any other situation, her expression would have been quite amusing and even humorous. It was an interesting concoction of embarrassment, depression, betrayal, intense anger, and some emotions that Gippal was pretty sure didn't even have names. "I finally start to sort of get used to the fact that I'm stuck in this place for the rest of my li... forever and then you just show up and I have to start all over again! Why are you here? YOU'RE NOT DEAD!!" She paused for air and noticed that her childhood friend had shuddered at her final exclamation. The realization of what could be the only possible explanation for Gippal's presence in the Farplane hit Rikku suddenly and with great force.

"Um, well, uh, it's a funny story, really...you see," Gippal took a deep breath, closed his eyes tightly, and said, barely above a whisper, "I died when you did."

"You what?" Rikku was convinced earlier that she had no tears left to cry, but they seemed to have replenished themselves as they now flowed freely.

"I kind of got mad at Brother when he gave you that little shocker. He tried to tell me it was an accident, but I was just a kid, you know. I refused to listen. I started to hit him and I guess he got scared and accidentally let another spell rip and it sort of... killed me."

"...You died because of me?" If Rikku was upset before, she was on the brink of hysteria now.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Let's not get ahead of ourselves. Nothing killed me except my own arrogance and stupidity. I should've been trying to help you rather than attacking Brother who was clearly just as freaked out as I was if I had bothered to look." Gippal took Rikku's hand as she started to sob uncontrollably. "It's ok, really. Now we can hang out together like we did back home. It'll be like nothing's changed except that we don't have to deal with that damn desert weather! Sure, things are going to take some getting used to, but now neither of us will have to look like an idiot all by our lonesome. We can make asses of ourselves as a pair just like in the good old days! C'mon, Rikku, what do you say?" Gippal looked at her with pleading eyes.

Rikku made an attempt at responsiveness merely because he had actually used her name, a major indicator that Gippal truly did not blame her and wanted to make sure that she didn't either. She lifted her head and gave him a weak smile as their eyes met. Gippal relaxed at her gesture and pulled Rikku into a tight hug. As unexpected as this was to her, she decided it was the best thing that had happened to her since this whole ridiculous debacle had begun.

Their embrace was interrupted by Braska and Auron's reentrance. Auron seemed unfazed for the most part, but Braska was openly delighted with Rikku and Gippal's odd reunion. "Rikku, my beautiful niece!" Braska's happiness and pride caused the normally shy and inconspicuous man to positively radiate his emotions.

"Uncle Braska!" Gippal noticed with relief that Rikku's smile was coming more and more easily as the moments passed. "I finally get to meet you! I've heard all about you from Yunie."

"Oh, yes, yes, I'm sure..." Braska's modesty was being reinstated in his speech with every word. "But, anyway, how are you? Are you feeling better? Can I get you anything?"

Rikku felt herself blushing as she recalled what her reactions must have looked like to a spectator. "I'm fine now. Thanks for your concern. I'm just a little... off lately."

"Well, that's perfectly understandable! Don't fret; you'll become accustomed to life here in no time. It's actually quite nice. The hard part is the psychological acceptance. I've heard that you've already made excellent progress in this area." Braska stepped closer to Rikku and lovingly traced the contours of her face with his eyes. "Your features are remarkably similar to those of Yuna's mother, your aunt. In fact, the resemblance is quite striking."

"I hope that that's a good thing," Rikku said hesitantly. The last thing she wanted to do was bring any fraction of the sorrow she had been through in the past 24 hours upon anyone else, but especially this kind man that she had just been introduced to.

Braska laughed whole-heartedly. "Rikku, you mustn't worry about upsetting me! I've come to terms with my situation, as I know you will in time. Besides, I do believe you've forgotten something of importance: she's here, too."

Rikku giggled lightly at her mistake. "I'm still trying to get used to this whole idea. It's a little overwhelming at first, you know."

"I know what you mean," Gippal agreed.

"Oh, that reminds me!" Braska reached into one of the pockets of his elaborate summoner's robe and pulled out a small envelope. "I got a little something for the two of you."

Rikku and Gippal both looked ponderingly at Braska and then at each other. They could both tell what the other was thinking: he's up to something.

"I purchased tickets for some sort of concert that's going on tomorrow night. I'm not familiar with the group, but I heard that the music is really popular with kids your age and figured it would be something fun for you to do and a way to start to feel more comfortable."

"Wow, thanks!" Rikku gave her uncle an appreciative hug. Gippal gave the man his thanks as well, but opted to express it with a handshake.

"Why don't you guys go out and do some exploring? Come back in a few hours and we can all have dinner together."

"Sounds great!" Rikku, her old personality reawakened by the prospect of an adventure, rushed toward the door. Gippal waved goodbye and ran to catch up before she slammed the door in his face.

As soon as they were gone, Braska turned to Auron, a forlorn frown gracing his otherwise serene physiognomy. "Neither of them know, do they?"

"No, I'm afraid not."

"We should give them some time, but eventually, they must be informed."

"I agree. If we wait too long, it could be our disastrous undoing."

"Not just ours, but all of humanity's as we know it."

"Hey, Braska? Do you remember that phrase about death that we heard over and over again from the villagers of that one particular village right before Mt. Gagazet when we were on your pilgrimage? 'Death is the eternal release and revival'?"

"Yes, what about it?"

"It's bullshit."