A/N: Wow, I still can't believe how well this fic is doing! Glad to hear you all like psycho Tidus, hehe. I'm also glad to hear this fic sounds realistic and everything. That means a lot to me. Another thing I'm glad about (yeah, I know, there's a lot) is that this fic is different. A lot of you said this, and I didn't realize it until now. I'm glad to have done something original instead of the cliché FFX fics. Oh, and to The Jack of Spades: Glad you feel the same way I do about Tikkus. There really should be more! And I'll be sure to keep the cast in character. Well, all but Tidus of course, hehe. I haven't thought about the other characters making an appearance, but that isn't a bad idea! Thank you all so much for the great reviews! I look forward to seeing more for this chapter, okay? And for those of you waiting for Rikku's appearance, here it is!
Thursday, August 2nd, 2003
12:25 pm
Luca College Campus; cafeteria
Rikku tossed her long blonde hair aside as she laughed along with her two best friends, Sabrina and Tara. The nineteen year old was a freshman in college, studying criminal psychology. She was one of the few females in the class. Rikku knew that particular career was dominated by males, but her interest in the field outweighed all of the obstacles. Besides, she was intuitive and good at reading people. In fact, her professor, Mr. Reid, told her once she had "criminal psychology in her blood."
"Oh my God, you didn't actually tell her that, did you?!" Rikku shrieked, her laughter echoing throughout the crowded cafeteria.
Sabrina nodded, a wild look in her dark eyes. "Yes! What was I supposed to do? Let her walk around with a dead animal on her head?"
Tara put a hand on Sabrina's shoulder. "You smile and nod, Sab, smile and nod."
Sabrina rolled her eyes and took a bite out of her sandwich. "I didn't wanna be rude. If I didn't tell her she would've been twice as mad."
Rikku's mirth slowly dissipated as she continued to eat her lunch, listening to Sabrina and Tara's verbal abuse from across the table. Rikku always played referee with the two, always the good Samaritan of the group. Not necessarily a goody-two-shoes, but she was closer to the title than she wanted to be.
After a few rounds back and forth, the two girls' attention turned back to Rikku. "So how's that class going?" Sabrina asked, turning to Tara. "What's it called?"
"Criminal psychology," Rikku told her.
"Hey, are you gonna be like Clarice from Hannibal?" Tara asked with a grin.
Rikku gave her a glare. "It isn't like that Tara. It's really hard. There's so many different scenarios and patterns to remember, and a different way to go about each of them."
"Shoot, sounds tough," Sabrina commented.
"But you're really good at it," Tara told her, trying to make amends for the somewhat rude comment she'd made before. "I'm sure you'll be fine."
Rikku smiled again. "Thanks. As long as it doesn't get any harder, I think I'll be alright. I can keep up with this pace, with some work."
"Don't say that," Sabrina said, "You're really smart, Rik. You can get into any crazy lunatic's head with ease." She winked to show good nature was in the remark. Rikku smiled.
"Well I sure hope so," Rikku said as she stood. "But I have to go over to Mr. Reid's room now."
Tara and Sabrina looked confused. "But you don't have any class today. You said so yesterday," Tara said.
"I know, I'm sorry, but he asked me to meet with him this afternoon. He said he wants to talk about something with me."
Tara and Sabrina glanced at each other evilly. "Ooh, think he's gonna pop the question?" Sabrina said with a giggle.
Rikku rolled her eyes and had to laugh. "Give me a break! The guy's at least fifty!"
"Hey, you never know. Maybe he's the type to rob the cradle," Tara told her.
Rikku shook her head. "Look, I gotta fly. But I'll see you both later. Maybe we can go see a movie?"
They nodded. "Sounds like a plan!" Tara said.
Thursday, August 2nd, 2003
1:03 pm
Luca College Campus; Mr. Frederick Reid's Criminal Psychology classroom
"Rikku! Glad you could make it!" Mr. Reid bellowed cheerfully as Rikku came in through the door.
"Hey Mr. Reid, how are you?" Rikku asked as she crossed the room and stood before his desk.
"Fine, fine. And you?"
"Pretty good. Just had lunch with some of my friends."
"Ooh, think he's gonna pop the question?"
"Hey, you never know. Maybe he's the type to rob the cradle."
She had a hard time stifling her laughter as the words of her friends replayed in her head, but she did a pretty good job, considering the fact that Mr. Reid didn't say anything.
"That sounds nice. But I have something to discuss with you. Something rather important."
Rikku cocked her head to one side. "What's that?"
He folded his hands in front of him and continued. "Well, it's no secret that you are the best student in this class Rikku. You get A's on every test and quiz, give insight like I've never heard, and just come across as a person who knows what she's doing."
Rikku blushed. "Well, thank you Mr. Reid. That's very nice of you."
He smiled. "I only say it because it's true. But, I didn't call you here just to compliment you. I called you here because there's a job opening for you."
"A… job opening? I don't understand…"
"Over at the Besaid Criminal Asylum, they have someone in there that no one can get through to. No one can get him to answer their questions with anything but riddles; he speaks in circles. After finding this out, I called them and asked if they would give one more criminal psychologist a shot. And, they said yes."
Rikku's eyes widened and a grin appeared on her face. "I'm going to talk to a real criminal?! Oh my God, Mr. Reid, thank you so much! This is the best opportunity I've had all year!"
Mr. Reid beamed as well, happy to see his star pupil so happy, and getting the chance of a lifetime. "Well I'm glad you're happy about it. Most people wouldn't look forward to talking with a crazed, psychotic murderer."
Rikku winked at him as she turned to leave. "Well I'm not most people Mr. Reid, remember that."
