So. genius me realized that I can't count to seven. As I wrote the chapters, I mysteriously forgot the number six....so I was a number off. That means that this fic only has 11chapters, but it's quite all right. It wouldn't make any sense if it was longer...and I'm satisfied with the way it is. Okay, I'm off to sleep now for I only slept for two and a half hours last night. (Technically this morning because I fell asleep at 7:30am. Booo.) I also have to drive two and a half hours to go back up to school as well...Great. Another fantastic semester of living in a ten by ten box that is commonly known as a dorm room. Lol, I'm done complaining, I promise! Have a good night everyone!

5. Rikku's Discovery

Rikku was excited to see that Lulu, Wakka, Vidina, Nooj and Leblanc had arrived at the Luca Suites as she was getting ready. She thanked her lucky stars when they were ready to go to dinner immediately because she was starting to get very hungry. Rikku knew that she was happiest when she was able to eat a five-course meal, so she coaxed them to the door as fast as she could after giving hugs.

"Wait, shouldn't we wait for Gippal?" Rikku asked as she stopped in her tracks. Although her stomach alarm was ringing loudly, she was curious to where he was. "I feel kinda bad leaving without him."

"Well, he knows that our reservations are at six, so he'll probably meet us there," Baralai said as he looked at his watch. "We don't want to lose our reservations."

"Gippal's never on time anyway," Nooj said with a chuckle. "Remember, Baralai and Paine, how we were always waiting for him in the Crimson Squad?"

"Something was wrong when he was on time," Paine added as they continued to walk out the door, leaving Rikku in her spot for a second. He was always punctual with me…

"Okay, I guess," she said quietly as she ran to catch up with the others.

They all happily talked as they walked to The Golden Staff. Rikku was overjoyed to be around her closest friends again, knowing that the last time they were all together was about a year ago. Now so much has happened between all of them that kept them busy; Paine teaching warrior classes at the Bevelle Temple, Baralai and his Praetor duties, Nooj and his Meyvn duties, Tidus and Yuna settling in to married life, Wakka and Lulu's stories about Vidina growing up and how Lulu was pregnant again, Rikku helping Cid with Home, etc.

When they arrived, Tidus went up to the greeter to let them know that they were there. After only about a minute and a half, they were led to their table and they all sat down. There were several waiters tending to them, and it made Rikku slightly uneasy. She wasn't used to being treated like this, but she figured that's what it's like when you're the High Summoner, Meyvn of the Youth League, or Praetor of New Yevon.

She sighed as she placed her napkin in her lap and tried to listen to the four conversations that were going on at once; Wakka and Tidus talking about blitz, Lulu and Yuna talking about pregnancies, Leblanc boring Paine by talking about Nooj, and Baralai and Nooj talking about their speech that they were going to give. What's taking Gippal so long? I really hope he didn't forget. I mean, I did remind him about it…Even Baralai said that Gippal knew our reservations were for six o' clock, and it's now quarter after… Rikku thought to herself. She traced her finger along the top of the linen tablecloth as she thought of how out of place she felt.

"Hey, everyone!" Rikku smiled when she heard Gippal's voice. She waited a beat before she looked up at him, and she had to prevent her jaw from becoming slightly ajar when sheplaced her eyes on him. He was dressed up in a nice black suit, and he looked amazing. He's even wearing a tie! Rikku thought with a giggle. She knew how much he hated ties, and she was surprised that he actually knew how to tie his own. Usually he would attempt to do it, but he would botch it up so much that Rikku always had to fix it for him anyway.

"Gippal, you made it!" Yuna said as Gippal walked over to their table. He swallowed when he realized that the only empty seat was between Baralai and Rikku. This is going to be awkward…

"Yeah, sorry I'm late," he apologized as he sat down and looked over at Rikku. She looked absolutely gorgeous in her outfit, Ooooh, and her hair's down…He thought as she warmly smiled at him. "I've been um, dealing with some non-official Faction business."

"Is everything okay?" Baralai asked as Gippal nodded.

"Of course," he stated as he took a sip of water from the glass that was placed in front of his plate. "Couldn't, um, couldn't be better."

"You sure?" Paine asked as he nodded again. "Okay, because you've been acting a little more edgy than usual lately."

"Just nervous for the speech that B, the Noojster, and I are going to make tomorrow," he said as he patted Baralai on the back. "I never was one to speak in front of a whole stadium full of people."

"Yet you can sure shoot your mouth off to us!" Rikku teased as she patted him on the back. Everyone had to laugh and even Gippal let out a quiet chuckle.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, it's the Al Bhed in me," he admitted as he looked at the menu that was placed in front of him. "Well, I don't know about you guys, but I'm starving. Let's see what we have a choice of."

After a few minutes of everyone looking through their menus, the head waiter walked over to Gippal and tapped him on the shoulder. "Sir?"

"Yes?" Gippal asked as he reached for his water glass.

"There is a young woman at the door who is looking for you." Gippal almost spit out his water over everyone in shock. He swallowed and coughed several times, causing everyone stare at him. "Shall I bring her here?"

"No," Gippal choked out, patting his chest. "Tell her I'll be right there."

"Yes, sir." The waiter walked off toward the entrance of the restaurant, everyone's eyes following him. After the waiter was out of sight, they all fixated their eyes on Gippal, who was turning slightly pale.

"A girl, huh?" Rikku said in a teasing manner, trying to stay as chipper as possible as Gippal took another sip of his water. Oh no…a girl? "I didn't know that you had a new girlfriend already!"

"I don't have a new girlfriend, Rikku," he stated as he loosened his tie and stood up. He exhaled and started to walk toward the lobby of the restaurant. "I guess you can just call it an improvement on the last one I had."

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"Now I'm curious," Rikku stated as she watched Gippal's every step. Talk about out with the old and in with the new…She thought as she turned back around and looked at her hands in her lap. I mean, I know I was the one who broke up with him and everything, but I didn't want him to move on so quickly…

"I'm confused," Leblanc stated as she looked over at Rikku.

"There's a new one," Paine whispered to Baralai, loudly enough so everyone could hear.

"That's very cute, Paine," Leblanc said sharply, not taking her eyes off Rikku. "Rikku, why would Gippal have a new girlfriend? I thought that you two were dating, love."

"Um, we broke up last week," Rikku replied simply, not taking her eyes off of her hands. Yuna slightly cleared her throat as she looked back down at her menu.

"Well, everything looks so good on this menu that I can't choose what to order." Rikku looked over at Yuna in silent thanks for changing the subject, but she was still curious. While everyone was engrossed in their menus, Rikku stealthily knocked her knife off the table and onto the ground.

"Whoopsies!" She bent over to grab it and held it in her hand. "I guess I'm going to need a new knife. I'll be right back," she said as she took her napkin off of her lap and placed it on the table in front of her. She stood up and started to walk toward the lobby thinking to herself, I'm not technically spying on him, I'm just getting a new set of silverware. Although, I did knock the knife over on purpose…Okay, I'm spying…

She straightened her hair as she crept behind the row of booths that were next to the lobby. She had been to this restaurant before, so she was fully aware that the booths had windows where she could see what was going on in the lobby. In other words, I can see who Gippal is talking to…

She found an empty booth and knelt down on one of the seats so she could look through the window. The glass was checkered—part frosted and part transparent—so Rikku had to position herself so she could look through a transparent part. Yeah, this doesn't look conspicuous at all…I hope this doesn't take long…She looked around until she found Gippal talking to a girl. Unfortunately, her back was facing Rikku so she couldn't get a clear view of her. Okay, so she's blonde. He must have a thing for blondes. Oooh, I like that shirt! I think I used to have one like that, but I don't know where it went. Now it makes me want to find it again. Arg, I wish I could hear their conversation! It should also be nice if she would turn around and face me so I can see what she looks like! Some people don't have any compassion for the people who are spying on them! Come on, my pretty…face me! Rikku wants to see you!

"Ma'am, can I help you with something?" Rikku jumped as someone tapped her shoulder, resulting in her hitting her head on the molding that was above the glass. If I didn't know any better, I would think that molding was strategically placed so people wouldn't spy on others! She thought as she rubbed her head and looked at the waiter who was speaking to her. She couldn't help but give him a chocobo in hover headlights look as she scrambled for an excuse.

"I just, um, thought that I, uh, saw someone that I knew and I wanted to surprise him," she said as the waiter lifted an eyebrow at her.

"Well, please make your surprise session short, ma'am," he said as a warning. "I have a restaurant to run and I have to seat people."

"It'll only be a few minutes, I promise," Rikku said as the waiter nodded at her. Whew, that was a close one…She thought as she looked at her hand to make sure that her head wasn't bleeding from the impact that her head had with the wood. Thankfully, she was fine, but she knew she would have a hell of a bump there in a few minutes.

She bent back over to look through the glass to make sure that Gippal was still talking to the girl. She slightly panicked when they weren't standing in the same spot, but she saw that Gippal started to walk back toward the table. He only walked about two feet before the mysterious blonde girl grabbed onto his arm, letting Rikku get a good look at her face.

Well, she's Al Bhed…not to mention pretty. Nice happy smile, bright green eyes, cute button nose…Wait a minute!!!

Rikku couldn't help but let out a gasp when she realized that she knew who the girl was.

The girl is me!