A/N: Yeah, this one took a little longer to write too, but what can I say? This is a difficult fic to write! lol I'm glad all of you (well, most of you, lol) enjoyed the gore in the last chapter. ^_~ Not much else to say, except enjoy and please review!

~*Responses to Reviewers*~

Songstress Lenne - Hey cuz! lol Glad to hear this is still addicting. And I'm glad to see that it's your favorite fic! Thanks a lot! Makes me feel special. ^-^ And you're on the right track… this does have to do with major family issues. But I won't say anymore than that!

Baby Rose - Wow… you thought a line I wrote was brilliant? First time that's ever happened. Lol Oh well, thanks girly!

kingster0517 - It's funny you should mention that you think there's something between Tidus and Rikku…

Princess of Mirrors - That review meant a lot to me, because you compare my fic to real life, and how close it is. And that's what I'm going for. So when you say that, it makes me feel like I'm doing a good job. Thanks bunches!

Wednesday, August 15th, 2003

7:12 pm

Luca Apartment Complex; apartment 3A

It had been three days. Three days since Rikku had last been to the asylum. Three days since she last talked to Tidus. Three days since she'd been attacked by Tidus… She tried to block out the incident, tried to put it behind her so she could go talk to him again, but she couldn't. She was starting to think she never would see him again. And right now, that would be just fine with her.

She set down her cup of coffee, feeling a twinge in her neck. She stood up, rubbing it, and proceeded to the bathroom. Flicking on the light, she turned towards the mirror. She sighed at what she saw. Two large bruises were on either side of her throat, made by the grip of Tidus's hands. They were still a dark purple color, no change since the day it had happened.

She put a finger to one of the spots and winced. It still hurt like hell, too. She exited the bathroom to get some ice, when there was a knock on her door.

She sighed out of frustration and spun on her heels. She opened the door a crack, only to see Mitch staring back at her.

"I really don't want to talk to you right now," she spat and attempted to close the door.

He put his hand against it. "Rikku, come on. Where've you been? We haven't seen hide nor tail of you for a while. I just… I have something to tell you, okay?"

She nodded. "Sure, you have something to tell me. More like you wanted to come here and put your nose where it doesn't belong."

He sighed. "You really think that's what this is all about?"

"Yes, as a matter of fact, I do."

"Fine. But this is really important, straight from the people at the asylum…" he said mysteriously.

Rikku's brow furrowed. "What are you talking about?"

"Can I come in?"

She hesitated a moment, then opened the door the rest of the way, motioning for him to enter her apartment. They went over and sat on the couch. "So, what do you have to tell me?"

Mitch sighed. "Well, I don't think you're gonna like this, but…"

Rikku tilted her head forward. "But…?"

"Since there's really no leads, and no mental excuse for him to have done what he did, they're going to execute him."

Rikku's seafoam eyes widened. "What?!"

"Look, calm down. But you haven't been there, and you haven't found any evidence that says he killed those people because he has an illness. This is their only option."

"It is not! What about the stuff he said about his dad?! Isn't that evidence?!" Rikku was outraged. She couldn't believe they'd just kill him like that, when she knew she had been so close to finding out the truth.

Mitch shook his head. "Not good enough. I tried talking to Greg about it. There's nothing he can do."

Rikku covered her face with her hands. "This can't be happening…" she said, her voice muffled. Tears were falling down her face. She was so close to finding out what happened to Tidus, what made him do all those horrible things. Now, she'd never be able to. This was her first case, and she couldn't even find out what happened.

She sniffled and wiped her eyes as she stood.

"Where are you going?" Mitch asked as she crossed the room, heading for the door.

"I'm going to talk to him," she said soullessly. "There has to be something I can do. I'm not just going to let him die."

Mitch crossed his arms and clicked his tongue. Rikku turned back around. "What's that for?"

Mitch smirked. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were in love with that crazy bastard."

Rikku jaw dropped. She stomped over to him and poked him in the chest. "Listen Mitch…" Her voice was low and menacing. "What I do and how I feel when it comes to this case if none of your business, so keep your friggin' comments to yourself, alright?"

Mitch's giddiness left him. "Listen, maybe you should just forget about it. He's a murderer, Rikku. What do you want to save him for? He should be put down like those innocent people he killed so heartlessly!"

"He needs help," she replied coolly. "That's why I want to save him."

Wednesday, August 15th, 2003

8:09 pm

Besaid Criminal Asylum; cell block 8-C

"Tidus!" she called as she jogged down the line of cells. "Tidus!"

She stopped short in front of the familiar cell, seeing he was sitting on the floor with his back against the wall facing out. He didn't respond.

"Tidus, this is no time to play games. I've had enough with them. This is important!"

He lolled his head to the side. His usually clear, bright eyes were dull and cloudy. His shoulders slumped. He was lethargic. And he still hadn't responded.

She took a step closer to the cell, her face covered with worry. "Tidus…?"

"Who are you?" he finally asked. His eyes squinted in the overhead lights, which were quite dim in her opinion.

"Tidus, it's me. Rikku."

He tried to get up, but his legs kept buckling out from under him. He decided to remain on the floor. He shook his head, mumbling things she couldn't understand.

What was wrong with him? He looked awful, sick even. And he couldn't remember who she was. Something definitely wasn't right.

"Tidus, I need to ask you a few questions. Can you do that?"

He stared up at the ceiling, still talking to himself in riddles. "Can I, can I? Can't, I can." Now that she heard it better, his voice sounded raspy and strained.

Even so, she decided to ask him what she needed to ask him. Maybe he'd still be able to answer them. "Tidus, what happened with your father?"

He convulsed once, then shook his head. "I… I don't… My father… He… He died. 29 years ago…"

Rikku shook her head. "That isn't possible, Tidus. You're only 19." She sighed. She wasn't going to be getting any information out of him like this. What in the world happened to him to make him act the way he was? Then, it hit her.

"Tidus, did they give you any shots lately?" she asked, afraid to know the answer.

"I don't know… I mean, I don't remember."

She bolted back down the hall and out of the room. They couldn't have possibly given him phenol barbital… could they?