A/N: Second chapter! Longer this time, promise!

Disclaimer: Nothing in this chapter nor the following belongs to me-other than this pathetic disclaimer.

Rikku trudged along the path that led from the temple to the fork. The only reason she was at Djose was because she worked in the Machine Factions for Gippal. Hey, having a boyfriend means responsibilities!

"Stupid Yuna." Rikku muttered, trudging along at a snail's pace. She wouldn't be surprised if Gippal was an old man by the time she reached the Moonflow. "Now I'm as flitty as a newborn Chocobo."

"Good day, Rikku." A passing Al Bhed said, holding two fingers to his forehead in greeting. Rikku gave him a weak smile and a nod. It was nice to know other people than just her cousin and their little posse-working at Djose had given her great opportunities to meet new people.

Vhanat was one of them. For a while there she had been swooning over him-blond, curly hair, laughing eyes, and a wonderful tanned body. But the moment Gippal came back from one excavation, she had complete forgotten about Vhanat and was now only his friend.

Talk about commitment.

A wobbly Hypello passed her with a faraway smile. Rikku shook her head. Hypello's. She had always found them so cute and innocent-until they had tried to take over the Celsius-but that's a different story. One that will probably never be told.

Other Al Bhed ran past, carrying papers and parts and tools, all looking rather concentrated. Except for Vhanat.

She felt a slight pang as she saw him standing guard over the scooters at the fork. He poked at the machine with a wistful expression-it didn't suit his handsome face at all.

But even though Rikku was fully committed to Gippal, there was no harm in helping out a friend-right?

Oh, but there is when you're going to meet your boyfriend for a very important, and SECRET reason.

"Hey Vhanat." She cried, waving at him and smiling. He just looked up sullenly and looked back down.

She frowned at him and stepped forward so she was close. "What's wrong?" All she got was a sigh in reply.

"Get fired from the Machine Faction?" She asked worriedly, hoping Gippal wouldn't do such a stupid thing-Vhanat was handy.

"No." He replied darkly, scratching at an invisible speck on the scooter.

"Break a machine?"

"No."

"Missed supper?" She teased, knowing his large appetite.

"No." Vhanat sullenly hissed. Rikku cocked an eyebrow, glancing at his face.

"Than what's wrong?"

He sighed. "This girl I really like—she's with—someone else. And he-he's doing something really special for her, and even though I thought I might stand a chance someday, it's all down the drain now." He sighed dramatically, and Rikku had a sinking feeling the girl was her.

"Oh-uh-know what the guy is doing?"

"No. But he was really excited about it...and I can't say anything, ya know? Or I'd be stupid to...I mean—yea." Vhanat glanced up at her slightly, his eyebrows rose. "Have you guessed yet?"

Rikku sighed. "Vhanat, I thought we were just friends..."

"But you were interested in me!" Vhanat cried, standing up abruptly. "You showed signs of liking me!" Rikku saw an anxious look in his eyes, an cringed slightly. He seemed almost crazed. Although that was stupid.

"Er-that was because I wanted to be your friend." She spat, looking at him squarely in the eyes. "Is English a foreign language to you?"

That took a moment to sink in. "Er-I mean-augh, that didn't work-it is..."

Vhanat couldn't help but smile as she blushed and flustered around. "I like your new hair." He suddenly spoke up, touching a runaway strand softly and tucking it behind her ear.

Rikku stopped in mid-fluster, her eyes stuck on the ground. "Vhanat..." She murmured looking up. It was time to just tell him to back off-she wanted her space.

But the poor, lonely boy took it the wrong way. Expecting her to burst words of love, he stood up and walked closer. Rikku took a small step back, but he didn't seem to notice.

What was he DOING? He better not-oh no-Rikku was about to turn around and run as fast as her thief legs could carry her, but in mid turn a strong hand caught her arm.

"You don't need to hide it any longer, Rikku." He whispered. She glared at him.

"I'm hiding nothing." She growled, trying to yank her arm out of his grasp. This was getting just a little too uncomfortable.

He took a step closer, and with a scared expression, Rikku realized she couldn't get away from him. Vhanat had always been her friend-when had he become so love sick and needy of someone? And WHY her? There were plenty of other girls-she should introduce him and Lyana sometime, they seemed like they would be a good couple...

Her train of thought was cut off as rough lips brushed past hers. She froze again and struggled out of his grip.

"Vhanat-"She cried, his face WAY too close to hers. "VHANAT LET ME GO!" She yelled, louder this time. He grinned slyly.

"Too bad everyone's off for the day. We're ALL alone, Rikku."

Rikku whimpered, realizing Gippal would FREAK if he came upon them. She had seen his temper over the past two years-it wasn't a pretty sight. No wonder he had made the Crimson Squad—

She realized Vhanat's hot breath was close to her mouth now. She fearfully opened a squeezed-shut eye to see his usual happy eyes full of desire—evil desire, in fact.

This guy was sick.

His hand started to slowly rise up her spine. She struggled, but he held on tighter. "No need to struggle, Cid's Girl."

Cid's Girl? That was GIPPAL'S, chum. She scowled and tried to bite his hand. "Let go of me, you pervert!" She shrieked. But he just held on tighter, her sharp teeth barely making a mark in his leather gloves.

"I'm sorry Rikku..." He breathed, and for a second he seemed like his normal self. Rikku expected him to let her go, but he didn't. She let out another whimper.

"Vhanat—please—"

And with that his lips were against hers, in a rather forceful way. She shrieked and struggled, but he held onto the back of her head, his eyes rolling. Rikku shrieked again, and tried to get away. What was WRONG with him? This was so SICK, and TWISTED, and—

But she was interrupted. In fact, they both were. With a sickening crack she felt Vhanat's hands let go of her and his lips slide off of hers, and his body crumple to the ground. With a relieved gasp, she realized she had been crying silent tears. She looked up to see Gippal standing behind where Vhanat had stood. His eye was blazing with anger, its usual perkiness gone and filled with a fiery anger Rikku would have rather avoided. He didn't seem crazed, but he didn't seem sane-he seemed-scary.

"G-Gippal?" She managed with a sob. He didn't even look up. His heavy, steel toed boot dug into the man's stomach. Vhanat coughed up a little amount of blood. Rikku gasped. "Gippal, don't!" But it was too late. The overprotective boy had started to pummel the twisted Vhanat-his fists didn't even take a break while beating on Vhanat. He sometimes kicked his shins or stomach, just to get his anger out. Rikku ran around and tugged at his arm.

"Gippal! Stop! PLEASE!" She yelled, tears flowing now. She hated seeing him angry like this-it made her feel scared and sad, and as if all his problems were her fault. "Gippal, stop, NOW!" She shrieked, pulling at his arm even more.

But his eye was still burning with rage: and his fighting proved that.

"GIPPAL! STOP!" She shrieked right into his ear as loud and hard as she could. Gippal stood up abruptly, rubbing at his ear carefully. He looked around, confused for a moment. But seeing the crying Rikku and crumpled, bleeding, coughing Vhanat reminded him of what had happened.

"Rikku?" He asked, glancing down at her. She was dressed all pretty, and her hair was down. He brushed at it with his fingers. Rikku sniffed and ran into his open arms.

"Don't do that ever again." Rikku scolded, gripping onto the cloth of clothes tightly. Gippal sighed.

"I'm sorry-I guess I'm just overprotective-"

"He wouldn't let me go!" She finally sobbed, her tears staining his shirt. "He's always been my friend, and suddenly he was all over me, and I couldn't escape, and I was just going to the Moonflow to see you—"She hiccupped, and Gippal shushed her and combed his fingers through her hair soothingly.

"It's alright-I'll definitely look into that. He's just a sick, twisted, bastard, he is-"

"Gippal!"

"Alright, alright, he has some mental problems."

Rikku grinned. "Better."

"Always ready to please you."

"How late was I?"

"Uh-20 minutes, I think. I got worried and came down the path to see-"He shuddered and just hugged her closer. "Want me to kill him some more?"

Rikku just chuckled. "As much as I would appreciate it, I think we should at least take him to a white mage-he doesn't deserve to be just left here."

"I beg to differ." Gippal growled, looking behind him at the man. Rikku just pushed at his arm lightly.

"Sorry to ruin the night-he just looked so sad, and I asked what was wrong-"

"It's alright-it can wait." Gippal said quietly, still brushing at her hair. "I like your new hair." He finally added.

Rikku grinned, blushing madly. "Thanks."

"Look, I had-"He hesitated "different plans for tonight, but since it's a bit too late, what do you say we go star-gazing?"

Rikku cuddled into his arms more. "Perfect." She mumbled. "Let's just get that guy to a white mage."

Gippal sighed and scratched at the back of his head. "So we can't leave him here?" He asked with a bit of a whine.

"Gippal!"

"It's just a joke, Cid's Girl, take it easy."

"I. Have. A. Name!" She cried, pulling at one of his spikes. He winced.

"Ouch!"

"Serves you right for not calling me by my name."

"Sorry, Ki-Ru."

Rikku sighed. "You're HOPELESS."

"But that's why you love me, right?"

Rikku nodded. "SOMEONE needs to fill that empty head of yours with thoughts of me." She added with a grin and giggled. Gippal quickly ruffled her hair.

"Get a life, Cid's Girl."

"Only of YOU get a better comeback!" Rikku giggled back. Gippal shrugged.

"Fair enough."

"Okay. I'll start my new life tonight-while we star-gaze."

"Sounds like a plan." Gippal said, wrapping his arm around Rikku's shoulders. "Sounds like a great plan."

A/N: No, no, NO that's NOT what I meant when she said she'd get a new life.

God, I hope this isn't going to go on forever by accident. Next chapter will be last-I'll make sure of that. R&R please!