Rikku lead Gippal to the beach, fighting off a few wandering fiends along the way. She started talking to him, at first how worried she was about Yuna's pilgrimage. Not only because she didn't think summoners should have to die, but because Yuna was family.

She told him that she had fallen in love with Auron along the way and just being with him made her feel like she could take on Sin herself. She told him how she confessed her love to Auron and how he told her what she was feeling wasn't love. And she told him about how the past two years she's thought about him every waking moment.

They sat down on the beach, the Aurochs plus Yuna and Tidus playing blitzball not too far away.

"I'm started to question if what I'm feeling really is love... Or just some left over emotion what is still around because he's not." She dipped her feet into the water and swished them around, her boots sitting next to her.

Gippal looked out into the ocean thoughtfully and sighed. "You know. I knew something was up when your dad fixed us up and you were so detached. I mean - I'm a great catch!" The two laughed when Rikku nudged his shoulder with hers before he went on in a more serious tone. "But I knew something was there with you, something I couldn't ever break through." Rikku looked up at Gippal, mouth slightly open from shock. "Yeah... ever since we were kids I've had a crush on you, and that crush turned into lusting, wanting, love."

"Oh, Gippal." Rikku turned fully to him, frowning deeply. "I'm so sorry. I never knew."

"Hey, don't be sorry! People can't help their emotions, right? Just like you said about being in love with Auron." He sighed and looked back out into the ocean. "And... I'm telling you this as a friend. Don't think I'm saying this to win you over, because I wouldn't do that. But... you are going to end up hurting yourself if you don't let him go. I don't want to see anything bad happen to you." He turned to look at her and was surprised to see her head down, a stream of tears flowing down her cheek. "Rikku -."

"No. No, you're right." She sniffed and wiped her face with the back of her hand. "I should let him go. He's dead... Has been dead for the past twelve years. But something won't let me." With a small gasp, she looked up into the sky, shaking her head. "I've tried so hard, but when I do I hurt worse. I don't know why, it won't let me."

Gippal wrapped an arm around her shoulder and puller her close to his body. He was surprised when her arms wrapped around him, holding him tightly and sobbing into his chest. "Hey..." He wrapped his other arm around her and held her tightly, letting her get all the frustration and hurt out.

From across the way, Yuna wrung out her hair and looked over to the side. "Ooh! Is that Gippal and Rikku?" She squinted and smiled. "Aw! That's what she was upset about."

Tidus walked up to her side and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "I guess this was the perfect day after all." He kissed the top of her head as she looked up to him.

"How...did you come back?" Her head turned to the side as Tidus scratched the back of his neck.

"Good question. Last thing I remember is seeing everyone... Jecht, Auron, your dad... Then... next thing I knew I was here." He looked down at her with a smile and shrugged. "Honestly, I don't think it matters. I'm here right?"

"Yeah, but..." Yuna frowned and turned to hug him tightly. "I don't want you to go away again. What if... What if one morning I wake up and you're gone?"

"Don't think about that..." Tidus began to pet the back of her head with his hand in smoothing motions. "Just whistle for me." He smiled and looked down as she laughed gently.

"I did for two years." She said pulling back to look up at him. "But, you're right. Let's just have this time no matter what."

Tidus nodded and smiled. "And let's get something to eat. Soooo hungry!" He laughed as she poked him in the stomach with her finger.

"No surprise there." She turned to look at Rikku as a frown tugged her lips. "Weird, something seems wrong."

"Nah, she's fine. Let's let them have some privacy, you pervert." Yuna let out a loud indignant gasp as Tidus began to run tword camp, her running and laughing after him.

Rikku woke up the next morning to find herself nuzzled up with Gippal on the beach. "Oh man..." She rubbed her eyes with her balled up hands and yawned. Her eyes felt dry, burning from all the crying she did. As she opened them, she looked down at the still sleeping Gippal and smiled. She really wish she could have loved Gippal, atleast he was alive. She frowned at the thought and nudged his shoulder. "Hey you, get up." She giggled as his one good eye opened to look up at her.

"Sleeping in the sand... What true Al Bheds we are." He groaned quietly and sat up, brushing sand off his pants. "Good morning." He raised a hand to ruffle her hair, causing her to groan and whap his hand away.

"I'm sorry about last night." She admitted, turning her head down as she fixed her hair. "I didn't mean to lose it like that."

"I'm glad you did," He turned to her, lifting her face up with his thumb and forefinger. "I mean that, too. I just hope by getting it off your chest it will make you feel a little bit better."

"I do feel better. Thank you." She smiled brightly, sincerely, and wrapped her arms around his shoulders in a tight embrace.

"Rikku - Oh!" Paine's voice cut into the hug as Gippal and Rikku turned around to see Paine halt a few yards behind them. "I'm...sorry." Her mouth was slightly open as she looked at them in confusion.

"It's not what it looks like." Gippal waved his hand and stood up, helping Rikku up as well in the process.

"What's up?" Rikku began to pull her boots on, dumping sand out of them first, as she looked up to Paine who began to walk over to them.

"Buddy said he got a sphere wave from Zanarkand Ruins and thought we could check it out. I told Yuna, since she was at camp and she's getting things together... If you need more time." Paine looked between the two with a raised brow, Gippal's last words obviously not having any impact on her suspicion.

"Ohhh, stop it!" Rikku let out a laugh and waved her finger at Paine. "I'll be ready in a minute and we'll head out, ok?"

Paine nodded and turned slowly with a smirk and headed back to the village.

Gippal snorted out a laugh and looked to Rikku. "That was interesting." He dusted off his arms, biting at his lip as to what he was going to say next. "So... a sphere, huh?"

"Since LeBlanc retired from Sphere hunting, we won't have much competition." Rikku looked at him and laughed. "Whaaat?"

"Well, it's just that... Since the Machine Faction is going on without me for the time being... I was wondering..." He looked up at her, a smile tugging his lips up.

"You want to tag along, huh?" She placed her hands on her hips, laughing. "I don't see why not. Come on!" Grabbing his hand, she tugged him over and began to run back to Besaid before stopping him. "Uh, just one thing, though. I haven't told anyone else what I told you last night... I was kinda hoping to keep it between us."

"Sure thing." He patted the top of her head and ran off. "Come on, slow poke!"

Rikku smiled at Gippal's back and shook her head. "Thank you." She whispered to his back before running to catch up. "Hey! Wait for me!"