A/N: Yaay! Thanks for ALL the reviews, I feel loved. D And for the self-esteem boost—very appreciated.

Anyhoo, for this story, it goes into X-2. (Finally). Buut, I'm gonna be changing a few things along the way to go more with Rikku and Gippal.

And, since I don't know how to make those nifty line things for separation—use your imagination where this story begins.

PS: Okay, I decided to incorporate some Al Bhed into these chapters because some conversations seem more appropriate for that. If you don't know what a word means, just scroll down to the bottom and see, because I have them listed down there! Have fun!

So, the years passed, two, in fact. Yunie was depressed near the beginning, but later on when we were Gullwings, she seemed okay. But I could tell she was masking sadness, just like me.

No offense to my cousin, but I think I did it better.

Everything was fine and dandy, you know, searching for spheres, ripping Brother off Yunie; the usual. (But really, it's creepy. I mean, Yunie's HIS cousin too)!

But then, we got news of digging in Bikanel. Well, that's where I was from! But no more going to Home for me...depressing, really.

And when I heard "to Djose to register", from Brother, my mind started to wander.

Was Gippal there? I had changed, A LOT, and I wonder if he had too...and thinking about him made me angry, because I was supposed to be over him! Over!

Yuna, Rikku, and Paine walked down the path to Djose, Paine, as usual, in the back with a grim expression. Yuna was ahead, and Rikku stuck between the two. But as they got closer, she stopped walking so fast and slowed down so she was even behind Paine.

"Rikku?" Paine asked, turning around with one eyebrow raised.

The girl looked around nervously. "Oh? You mean me!" She said with a nervous giggle. Paine just rolled her eyes.

"Whatever."

Yuna was more concerned. "What's wrong Rikku?" She asked, a worried look in her eyes. "You seem nervous."

"ME?" Rikku said in a voice shriller than normal. "HAH! Why would I be nervous? It's not like-like I might see someone there I haven't seen for over 3 years!"

She gasped. "Ehe...ehe..."

'Stupid girl! You're so STUPID!' Her mind drilled over the next footsteps to Djose. 'Stupid, stupid, stupid!'

"But what if he is there?" Rikku muttered, tugging on one of her braids anxiously. "And what if he hates me? What if he doesn't even remember me, even after spending practically our whole lives togeth-"

She stopped talking. Yuna and Paine, who had been quite a ways ahead of her before, were now standing still, watching her with wondering eyes.

"Why are you talking to yourself?" Paine asked. Rikku just grinned.

"No reason!" She said, bouncing up and down. 'Here we go with masking it up'. She thought.

"Come on you guys! Pick up the pace! I wanna go digging!"

Yuna just chuckled and grabbed her arm. "Then come on!" The two ran the rest of the way, with Paine smiling...even just a little.

At Djose Temple

There it was...the place where Rikku would see if Gippal was here or not. Why hadn't she thought this hard about it anywhere else? Because this had been his first destination...where he wanted to go first. And, well, she expected that Crimson junk was done, and if it was, he would have headed here.

Yuna groaned. "Look at that LINE!"

As she yelled the last words, a group of people turned their heads. "High Summoner Yuna!"

"It's the High Summoner!"
"Lady Yuna!"

Yuna grimaced. "Oh no...here it comes..." With that a wave of people overtook her, asking her questions and tugging at her arms, thanking her and practically worshipping her.

Paine just chuckled...rather darkly. Rikku took this chance to scan the area—no man looking like Gippal. Though, oddly, there WAS a lot of Al Bhed. That might mean he was still here.

The minutes passed, and soon the crowd dispersed. Yuna walked out, a tired expression on her face. "My goodness, they're like wild animals—"

Rikku giggled. "You're just popular, that's all!"

Yuna rubbed at her forehead. "I guess I better go wait in line." She winked. "They just might let me up ahead." She gave them a winning smile and then walked off.

Rikku pulled at one of her braids again. "So..." She said, balancing on the balls of her feet. She had never often been alone with Paine, and—she was kind of creepy, to tell you the truth.

"Lots of Al Bhed here." She said, looking around. Rikku thought for a moment it looked like she was searching for someone too...but that look in her eyes was gone in a flash.

But Rikku wouldn't give up so easily. "Wanna go wait inside the temple? It's chilly!" She cried, rubbing at her arms.

"That's what you get for wearing practically nothing." Paine said with a smirk. She started to walk towards the doors.

"Hey! I wouldn't be talking!" Rikku called after her. She sighed then started off on a jog, soon reaching the doors.

But she stopped running the moment her eyes rested on the door. Her heart started to beat much more fast then she would have preferred and was that...yes! It was! She was nervous—and terribly. But she had her reasons.

Right there, standing in the doorway, talking to another Al Bhed—was Gippal.

Rikku gasped. Paine raised her eyebrows. "Know anyone?"

Rikku was shocked into silence. She couldn't answer her. She didn't know why, but she just—couldn't.

It was him. Standing in that doorway. She knew it was Gippal, she could tell, but he looked different. Now that she got a good look at him, and not just a fleeting glimpse like in Luca, it was—odd. His hair was now gelled into thick spikes—longer too. He had gotten a snazzy eye patch for his eye. He used to have just an old cloth one. He wore lots of armor around his shoulders and chest, and just different kinds of clothes altogether. Even the way he stood and talked was different.

And she could hear his voice. Oh, his sweet voice she had longed to hear for so many years. It had changed too, no doubt. Much deeper, and more masculine. This sent shivers up her spine. Even though she couldn't hear what he was saying, she felt like she was up beside him once more, giving him the biggest bear hug in the world.

"Rikku, are you going to answer me?" Paine snapped. But Rikku still wasn't listening. Because Gippal had just waved to the retreating Al Bhed, a huge smile on his face. And his eyes slowly, oh so slowly, turned her way.

And he saw her. Their eyes locked for only a brief second, but it seemed like eternity. Rikku nearly exploded with longing. They weren't even 10 feet apart, but she still felt oceans away from him.

"Gippal?! Ec ed naymmo oui?!?" Rikku cried in Al Bhed. She hadn't even known she was speaking, but out of pure excitement it had come out that way.

Paine just watched, a hint of confusion written all over her face.

Gippal stood, frozen on the spot. Rikku's eyebrows furrowed a bit. Why wasn't he running up to her, arms outstretched, calling out his undying love for her? Why wasn't he even SMILING?

She opened her mouth to say something again, but she stopped. There was a sadness in his eye—one she had hoped never to see in it.

With one long, sad look, Gippal turned around and entered the temple. The echo of the closing door seemed to last in Rikku's head forever.

"ANG!" She cried after him, even though she knew he couldn't hear her.

"ANG, ANG, ANG!" And with tears unknowingly spilling out of her eyes, Rikku slumped to the ground in defeat.

A/N:

Ec ed naymma oui?—Is it really you?

Ang--Jerk