A/N: WEEEEEE! Thanks everybody! (BIG HUGS) I love reading your reviews! Makes me feel confident in what I'm writing O.o haha

Andrea Christoph/Ryee/(Anyone else wondering): This Part 2 is different from Part 1 because the narration follows the events as they occur, unlike Part 1 where the narration told the events that had occured. Ahha, I like the Part 1 narration better, but it is best if Part 2 is written this way. Part 3 most likely will go back to the old narration.

Flametongue/Skyhopper: LOL. I don't know. HHMMM Should I make Gippal typically jealous?

Do I dare look? Do I dare stare into the eyes that have caused me to lose half of my brain cells and my Rikku dignity?

(Turns back around) You said you wanted to know what happened between us right? Well, this seems like a good time to explain it.

Okay, I admit it. A year ago, I turned into one of them. (Passes tissue) I know, I know. You're disappointed in me, but c'mon, you suspected it all the while you were with Yunie, right? I mean the whole yellow bikini top, thong, skirt, and arm thingys… ugh… (Hides in shame) I'm sorry! I know; I'm such a hypocrite! But I've changed! I went back to my old self, see?

(Points to shirt) I covered up. The yellow bikini top is underneath this yellow-ish T-shirt… Yeah I know; it's kinda big for me. But the sleeves are rolled up and the bottom of the shirt is tied up in a pretty knot – revealing nothing above my belly-button, mind you!

… What? (Looks down shyly) But I like this skirt... It was with me through my adventures with the Gullwings. And well, the thong… makes it look hot... NO! It has absolutely, positively, 100 percentlynothing to do with Gippal.(Sighs, frowns) Shut up.

… What? Oh… yeah... Um… (Sighs)

No, it was meant as a joke. He never meant for it to mean anything. More like a reminder. I still don't understand why he brought it up. It's true we made quite the couple once, but it's all just a fading memory now. That's all it is… (Sigh)

The reason we never hit it off again was because I just wasn't hot enough for him. I mean, what more could I do huh? I was practically smitten over him back when Yunie, Paine, and I visited Djose. You could tell right? Yeah... What a sorry loser I was. And he didn't even respond or get all flirty like he'd used to. That's when I knew he had long gotten over me; if he was over me at all. His type goes for them. He admitted it himself to Zysac, remember?.

No matter what I did or do, in his eyes, I would always just be Cid's Little Girl.

That's okay. It's okay. Don't feel bad for me. It doesn't matter to me now anyway. I get to be myself now, and if he doesn't like this more conservative me then he can go eat poop.

Psttt… I never really liked him anyway. Too cocky. Too arrogant. Too self-centered. Too controlling. Too Gippal.

WHAM-O!

I'll get right back to you, alright? (Turns around, rubs head) "What was that for, jackass?"

He stared at me wide eyed. "Oh my fricken Spira."

I could say the same. Looks like somebody aced puberty big time. (Whines) Calm down, Rikku. Calm down. He's just human. (Whines) No, he's a god. (Whines) No, he's a cocky jackass of a god-like-human. "Why?"

He spread out his arms and looked down at me in astonishment. "Wow, you're, you look - "

Yeah? YEAH?

"Drop dead ugly."

&)$#$)#! "Why don't YOU drop dead, Mr. UGLY?" I narrowed my eyes and resisted the urge to rip that grin off his face. I was sweaty okay? And I was having a bad hair-day! Geezz...

He suddenly grabbed me – Gippal-Style – and pressed his cold hands against my burning back. I gasped upon contact; unintentionally thrusting myself against him, feeling the sensational coolness melt into my skin.

After roasting out in the desert sun, the touch of his hands felt so unbelievably incredible, that I had to grip on to his shoulders and bite my bottom lip to contain myself.

And for that moment in time, he had me once again.

He was smiling to himself, I knew it. He always had the ability to make me fall into his trap. This was his way of feeding his ego; knowing he could make the ladies swoon over him at his touch. And I knew this I did. And I tried to resist it, I did. But it's just….

He's undeniably gorgeous, he is.

AIYEEEEE! Who said that! Me? No, I did not just say that…

ACK! I am forever sickened by Gippalgitus for the rest of my ill-fated life!

(Whines) Warn me next time, please? Like, shout, dance, or wave a flag in my face the next time I give into the dreadful disease! My self-worth is at stake, here! (Gives flag)

Fortunately he released me, feeling satisfied that after all this time, he still could make me cave in. Damn him. Damn him like a dammer!

(Pauses) Pretend that made sense.

He sensed my anger and gently traced my cheekbone to make me suffer again.

I had to control my rapid breathing so he wouldn't hear. My heartbeat was pounding in my ears and I was numb to all but his fingers along my neck. "Go away," I finally managed to murmur. My eyes were closed and my teeth were clenched.

Grrr. Grrr for Gippal.

"Go, where?" he whispered back. His deliberately words came with extra breath to irritate my vulnerable side.

No, I didn't want to fall for that one again. "Go home." So I don't know why I did.

He ran his fingers down my arm. "You know you wanna come with me."

"Gippal…" Oh great, that sounded like a moan.

He chuckled softly. "Yeah?"

I opened my eyes. Reality greeted me. I stepped back. "Why are you here?"

"Rikku?" came a voice outside. "May I come in?"

Chuo.

Gippal frowned. "Who's that?"

"Uh, I'll be right back," I blurted and then ran outside the tent.

Chuo stood patiently waiting, a smile on that cute face of his. The instant he saw me, he fixed his posture and smiled. "Close your eyes," he told me.

I was observing the shiny object in his hands. "Why?"

"Please?"

Well, he said please.

"Alright." I closed my eyes and I soon felt a cool metal around my neck. I opened my eyes in surprise and my hands reached for the object on impulse.

"Rikku!" he exclaimed. "You weren't supposed to look."

I looked at it. Shiny metal necklace with the finest detailed chain I had ever seen. It had a gorgeous, sparkling, green pendant that glistened in the sunlight, resembling a chandelier. It made me feel like a queen. Queen Rikku. I like it. You like it? I like it.

"Oh, Chuo…"

"I saw it in the store window and thought you'd like it." He continued to fasten it around my neck. "I wanted to give it to you later, but now seems appropriate." He finished and then twirled me around to face him. "So, you know, you'll think of me while you're gone."

Aww. Cuuutttee. Cuuutttee for Chuo. I laughed. "Aww, gee, thanks!"

He looked down shyly. "You're welcome."

Chuo was so sweet. I had always known him to be sweet. Well, I had only met him a couple of weeks ago when Pops called our people together to start work on the massive project of rebuilding Home.

He had assigned me to be in charge of a certain area and to help the people if they needed my experience. I didn't help many, since we Al Bheds are all experts with this sorta thing. But there was one guy in particular – yep, Chuo – who kept calling on me for assistance.

I thought it was irritating at first, but now I suspect that he does it on purpose. I've seen him work alone on machines and he's good. Continuously calling me over to help him when he really doesn't need it, I don't know, it's kinda cute. He's kinda cute. He's really cute.

I bit my lip again, realizing that we've been staring at each other for a while now. Gosh… I wonder how his bottom lip feels…

"Yo, Rik..ku...?"

I flinched as if his words had slapped my cheek, and I turned around behind me.

Gippal stood with my apparently packed bag over his shoulder.

He was staring at Chuo. Chuo was staring at Gippal.

I stared at my shoes.

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