A/N: Hehe, I read the reviews. ;D Thanks guys, glad you like it. I'm evil and left you all in suspense. –chuckles darkly- Yea—not much else to say, other than now you get to find out what the 'sickening thought' was. )

Rikku strode quickly through the narrow streets of Home, ignoring all the Al Bhed whom were fixing the torn down walls.

"I...can't...BELIEVE him!" She cried, anger surging through her body. So that little rat wanted to try this slyly, eh? Well, she'd get the better of him!

"He' such a jerk!" She muttered to herself, gritting her teeth. "I can't believe he'd do this to me!"

After Gippal had walked away, Rikku had sat down mulling over her thoughts for an hour or so. Would he really think of doing such a thing? Had he told her in some kind of discreet way?

Well, this just made her angry, and now she was searching Home for him—but she didn't have far to go.

The boy sat off in an alley, helping an old Al Bhed nail some wood together. Rikku sighed. Always off to do good deeds...probably just to make her feel bad for being angry.

"There you go!" He said, grinning at the man.

"Bless you, Gippal...bless you." Gippal just waved his hand at him. "Aw, it was nothing." He turned around smiling, but that smile fell off as soon as he saw Rikku.

"Oh...hello Rikku." He said, grinning shakily.

Rikku noticed something. Gippal almost seemed—scared. Of her!

Well, she'd prove him right.

"I have a bone to pick with you." She growled. He gave her a questioning look. "A—wishbone maybe?"

Rikku sighed, grabbing his sleeve and dragging him out of the alley and into a more secluded one.

There was silence as she let go of him and stared to pace back and forth. Gippal just stood there, watching her nervously.

"So..." She muttered.

"So..." Gippal answered back.

Rikku turned on him. "Don't try to be funny NOW, Gippal! I know what you're doing!"

Gippal sighed, looking down at the ground. "You do?" "YES!" Rikku answered, exasperated. "How could you DO this, Gippal? Trying to hide it from me? Why? You know it would make me even more angry!"

Gippal rubbed at his temples. "Look, Rikku, you're starting to act like my mother—"
"Well maybe I have to, considering you seem to hide EVERYTHING of IMPORTANCE from me!"

She pushed her bangs out of her eyes, and looked at him with a pleading look. "Gippal...why did you let me take the credit?"

Gippal shrugged. "I don't know—not that big of a deal, right? I mean, it was just fixing the gate-"

"You KNOW that's not what I mean." Rikku said in a serious tone. "You said you owed me something! 'The least you could do', I remember! What did you mean?"

She stared at him angrily, her hands on her hips, face contorted with rage. It wasn't that comforting.

"Well-you see-"His green eyes looked at the ground—he was at a loss for words.

"Tell me, Gippal."

He sighed. "Rikku, you know my birthday's tomorrow..."

"What? You mean you owed me because I'm giving you a present or something? You don't have to pay me back for something like that!" She said, giggling. Gippal rolled his eyes.

"If you'd let me finiiish-"

"Oh. Sorry."

"Anyway, as I was saying, it's my birthday tomorrow, and-well-Cid's leaving for Djose tomorrow to drop off some shipments to Al Bhed there, and, well—I want to go with him."

There was a silence. Not a happy, peaceful one, nor an awkward one. Not even eerie. It was angry—full of emotions that created a large tension between them.

"I see." Rikku said dully.

"Rikku, don't make me feel worse than I already do, please!"

"Feel BAD, do you?" Rikku cried. "I doubt THAT! You WANT to go, you WANT to leave Home, to leave ME!" She turned around, so her back would face him.

"Rikku, I already told him I would. I mean, it'd be a great experience! I get to travel Spira, you know, have fun!"

"So you don't have fun with me?"

"No, that's not what I was saying—"

"Sounds like it!"

"Rikku, you're making this more than it is!" Gippal finally shouted, stopping Rikku's interruptions.

He reached out and grabbed her hands in his, causing Rikku to look up.

"Rikku, I don't want to leave you. I really don't. I wish we could stay together forever-truly. But I can't stay in Home for the rest of my life. When you get my age you'll realize that there's more out there than just sand dunes and machina! There's people and places you'll want to see, and things you'll want to do." He sighed. "You'll understand...some day. Just please, don't be angry at me. I couldn't leave knowing that my girl hates me."

Rikku groaned. How COULD she be mad after a speech like that? "Fine." She answered, a little sharply. "But you'll know I'll miss you."
"Of course."
"And...Gippal?"

"Yea?"
"You won't be gone forever...right?" Gippal grinned shakily.

"Of course not, Goose. What, you'd think I'd forget about you?" He gave her a quick noogie.

"HEY! OW! Gippal thar huuurrts."

"I know." He said, laughing. Gippal let go of her. "Just remember that even though I may be gone...this is gonna sound cheesy, but—I won't REALLY be gone. I'll be here in spirit and heart and yadda yadda."

Rikku laughed, giving him a hug. "Just don't forget me."

Gippal smiled, hugging her back. "That'd be impossible."

Aww...I guess Gippal really did care for me, now that I look back on it. I remember how much I dreaded the moment he left—that every moment I was alive I knew that the time was getting closer—the time Gippal would leave Bikanel...and even though he constantly reminded me he would come back, I was doubtful. He would love leaving and being on his own...I guess I had to be happy for him. But deep down, I knew once he left, it would never be the same. No one to talk to about anything anymore, or to share secret kisses with-the one I needed so bad wanted to leave.

And that's what forced me to believe he didn't feel the way I did. I should have known though. He didn't seem as committed as me. And he still doesn't.

But I realize now, that he told the truth...he never did forget me.