Disclaimer: I don't own FFX-2 -

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hugs reviewers

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"Hello… Gippal," Rikku said as calmly as she could.

Leije had managed to hide before the newly arrived Machine Faction leader had noticed him. Gippal calmed himself, he hadn't been sure that it really was Rikku. "Oh, it IS you, Cid's girl," He smirked, waiting for her usual reaction to his nick name, 'I have a name, ya know!'. But it never came. 'I was afraid of this…' he thought. 'I was afraid that she had changed…'

Roughly grabbing the girl by the shoulders, Gippal hissed, "You've been here all this time, haven't you? We all thought you were… were… Rikku how could you do this to everyone? To your friends? Why?"

Rikku just stared at him, torn between pushing him away and crying on his shoulder. "I have my reasons," she answered carefully.

Gippal snorted, disbelieving, his grip tightening. "Riiiiight. How can you be like this? Don't you care about anyone else besides yourself?"

"I…" She paused. "What are you doing here?" Rikku asked, avoiding his question.

"Heh," Gippal's grip on her loosened and he strutted a few feet away in his usual cocky manner. "I was sent to bring you back,"

"Pffft," Leije stepped out from behind the trunk of a tree. "I believe that was my job. And that's no way to treat a lady," he smirked.

Shocked, Gipal sent a suspicious and questioning look in the other man's direction. "I think you came of your own accord," Leije added.

While the Machine Faction leader was busy glaring death in Leije's direction, Rikku cleared her throat. "It doesn't matter who was sent to get me. I'm sorry to inform the both of you, but I am not going anywhere."

Gippal just laughed at her, causing Rikku to frown and narrow her eyes. "If you don't come, Yuna will take it personally. And you don't wanna get on a superstar's bad side, do you?"

Something rustled, and Rikku watched Leije take a long off white cloak out of his sack. "Uh, what's that for, exactly?" She asked, curious.

"To cover – that is- uh, your wings, ehm… They're liable to stand out," Leije stuttered. "What an insight," Sarcasm leaked through Gippal's voice.

"Say, Rikku,"

"Hmmm?"

"Those wings are actually petals, right? So, it wouldn't hurt that much if someone were to pull 'em off?"

"No, not very much. But they'd take forever to grow back, considering they only grow while I'm in Macala- Owww! What the fuck ar-

Snap.

Gippal's hand gripped one of her wings, yanking it off completely. Instinctively, Rikku twisted, her fist connecting with his jaw. He went sprawling to the ground, but managed a smile all the same. Waving the petal-wing-thing in the air, he clutched it as he might a trophy.

"What the hell was that for, Gippal? Rikku snarled, grabbing him by the collar of his shirt. "After almost two years, the first thing you do is tear off one of my wings?"

"And the first thing you do is punch me in the face?" Grinning like crazy, Gippal kicked her legs, causing her knees to buckle.

"Ahhh!" Rikku fell forward, sprawling on top of Gippal. Rikku was so completely embarrassed, she didn't even breath. Blushing furiously, she ignored his body heat and breath on her face and attempted to get up. Instead, a hand slid up her back, sending shivers up and down her spine, then –

Gippal snapped off her remaining wing.

"Uurrrgh… Y-you!" Rikku lunged at him again, this time smashing him in the stomach. Gippal crumpled, retreating to a fetal position, while Rikku rose to her feet. Giving him one last good kick, she turned to Leije and took the cloak from him. "I guess I won't be needing this anymore, thanks to a certain someone," She shot a nasty look at Gippal's limp form. "But I'll wear it anyhow. Leije, care to escort me to Bevelle?" She smiled warmly at him, quite forgetting that she originally wasn't leaving with them.

"Of course, milady," Leije smiled back at her and slightly bowed his head, causing Gippal to groan loudly. "What should we do with him?"

"Leave him," Rikku shrugged, carelessly waving her hand. As she walked passed Gippal's body, a familiar grip caught her ankle.

"Whoah, not so fast, Cid's girl," Gippal was instantly back on his feet, like nothing had ever happened. "Like it or not, I'm coming along," He placed an arm around Rikku's bare shoulders.

Gagging in disgust, Leije was bold enough to swipe off Gippal's arm, and swiftly led the way out of Macalania Woods. Rikku giggled and glanced at Gippal, who was pretty pissed off; she left him behind and caught up with Leije.

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Bevelle Guest Chambers

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The group of Spirans had been moved to the Guest Chambers, a rather large room, complete with a wide screen Sphere Viewer, a few couches, and a mini bar. These particular guests had been eagerly awaiting the arrival of their old Al Bhed friend.

"Why are they taking so long?" Yuna paced about the room Tidus laughed from his spot on the couch.

"Chill out, Yuna. You heard Baralai: he said they'd be here any-"

There was a click as the door to the Guest Chambers swung open. Everyone's eyes settled on the newly arrived guests.

The first to enter was the blonde haired, one-eyed Machine Faction leader, Gippal. He managed to look smug and amused and annoyed all at the same time. Well, that was normal enough. The next to enter was the man from the sphere they had viewed, Leije. A tough looking fellow, spiked brown hair, green eyes, and a warm smile. The last to enter was Rikku.

She appeared to be exactly the same as she had in the sphere, save for the cloak and the missing wings, but she was all the more stunning in plain view.

"R-r… Ri..." Yuna stumbled towards the former Al Bhed. She stared at her, a few silent tears trailing down her cheeks. Then, Yuna rose her hand and – smack! – gave Rolli am ear piercing slap across her face. Rikku's head snapped to the side; she was afraid to move it back to its original position, fearing Yuna's reaction. Her cousin – or who Rikku had thought to be her cousin – raised her hand again. But instead of striking her, Yuna embraced Rikku in a large hug, sobbing into her shoulder.

"Sorry I left you, Yuna," Rikku whispered, patting her on the back.

Yuna pulled back from the embrace. "What happened to 'Yunie', Rikku…?"

The blonde just sighed, her facial features filled with a pitying expression and knowledge accumulated beyond her years. "Things change, Yuna. People change." Rikku turned from her cousin and approached the others.

"How have you been, Rikku?" Tidus gave his usual boyish grin and embraced her in a 'manly' hug.

"Fine, thank you," she whispered. The rest of the group stood back smiling, truly joyful, save for Leblanc. She was happy for them, sort of, anyway.

Ruining the moment, Baralai cleared his throat. Earning a heavy glare from Rikku, he spoke: "Rikku, you know why you're here. As for the charges-"

"Couldn't we just address this later, please?" Yuna pleaded with the praetor.

Giving Yuna a disapproving look, he ignored the ex-summoner and continued. "Since you are a friend, or at the very least, a friend of a friend, Nooj and I have concluded to let you off with three hundred hours of community service-"

"Holy Yevon, three hundred hours?" Rikku sputtered. "You serious?" From the solemn look on Baralai's face and the pleased look on Nooj's, Rikku could tell that they, in fact, were not joking.

"Fine," Rikku hissed out after a moment. "Where shall I be of service, oh wise praetor?"

"You know," Gippal came up behind the praetor and placed a hand on his shoulder, grinning ear to ear. "We could use a decent cook up there in Djose Temple."

"Kitchen duty?" Rikku shrieked. "I think not!"

"Actually, that's a grand idea." Nooj limped over to them, egged on by Rikku's reaction. He was certainly not sending Rikku somewhere she actually wanted to be. This was a punishment, after all. "Thank you for suggesting it, Gippal," The Machine Faction leader's face glowed in response.

"Alright, then," Baralai rubbed his hands together. "You start tomorrow, and Gippal will get you situated. Community service will only be counted when you are actually in the kitchen. And as for you, Leije," The praetor turned to the brown haired man. "You will be assigned to supervise Rikku during her stay in Djose Temple. Make sure she doesn't sprout wings and fly off, or something."

"Sprout wings?" Rikku was now seriously offended. "Excuse me, but-" Gippal clamped his hand over her mouth, cutting off Rikku's flow of words.

"Baralai, I was thinking that- Ugh, Rikku!" Gippal gagged, pulling his hand away and wiping it on his pant legs. "She bit me…" He muttered to himself.

"Anyhow, I thought that since I am the head honcho up there in Djose, I could supervise herl I'm sure-"

"Nonsense," Leije interrupted him. "You have work to do, after all. I'm sure you won't have the time to be looking over her shoulder constantly. Leave that to me."

Gippal made no move to reply; he just growled in response, causing Leije's smirk to widen.

"Gippal, why don't you take Leije and Rikku over to Djose Temple. You'll have more time to settle in then; we wouldn't want to leave it all for tomorrow." Baralai suggested, although everyone knew it was more of an order. He also seemed to be completely oblivious to the fact that Gippal and Leije didn't exactly get along. Or at the very least, he was putting on a good show.

"If you don't mind…" Yuna meekly stepped next to her cousin. "I'd like to come along and visit. Maybe for a day or two. I haven't spoken with Rikku for quite awhile, and we have some catching up to do."

"That'd be fine," Leije said cheerfully. "Well, let's get going then. Shall we?" He held his hand out to Rikku, which she gladly accepted.

Leije, Rikku, and Yuna were already out the door before they noticed that Gippal had not followed. This was quite odd, considering he was supposed to be leading the group. The man appeared to be deeply lost in thought, staring ahead at the wall with a curious expression etched onto his face.

"Gippal…" Yuna called out to him. "You alright?"

"Huh?" He snapped back into Spira. "Oh, yes." Gippal gave her a false grin. "Yeah, yeah… Let's get going then," He approached the group and grabbed Rikku's other arm, who immediately became very confused.

Yuna just sighed sympathetically. "Poor girl…"