Disclaimer: FFX, FFX-2 – neither of them belong to me, I'm just a poor, starving fan : )

A/N: Just a short author's note this time – because I'm a little strapped for time at the moment. I just want to say a HUGE thank you to everyone who has reviewed and who continues to review – you give me the incentive that I need to keep writing and you push me to make each chapter as good as I possibly can. I only hope this story is living up to your very high expectations!

This chapter is dedicated to a very good friend of mine, who I owe a really long email ; ) Nad, if you're reading this, I will write to you ASAP!

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Rikku's Story

By: JoeyStar

Timeframe: Set a month or so after the 'perfect' ending of FFX-2

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Chapter 19

"It was Lreav."

Yuna frowned at me. "What was Lreav?"

"The bombing – framing Gippal – everything! Oh Spira, Yunie, it was Lreav!"

Yuna looked uncertain. "Just because he lied about talking to Baralai?"

"Oh Yunie, it's so much more than that!" I rose and began pacing in front of the screen. How could I not have seen this? How could I have been so blind?

"The signs have always been there – always! Spira – how did I miss them?" The words felt like ash in my mouth and I was sick to my stomach. "How could he do this to us?"

"Rikku – "

"And to Gippal! Oh Spira, where are they? I knew that going to Kilika was a bad idea; it was exactly what he wanted!"

"Rikku – calm down." Yuna's voice cut through my panic and I stopped in my tracks. I met her vari-coloured eyes and not for the first time, I wished that she was with me and I wasn't as alone as I thought.

"Tell me everything."

And so I did – and surprising it even helped a little. Yuna has always been good at listening without judgement and she allowed me to ramble without interrupting, even when I continually stumbled over my disbelief at Lreav's betrayal.

Although I finally ran out of words to express my churning feelings, I still felt like a turbulent storm was taking place inside my stomach. In fact, I was so absorbed by my riotous thoughts that I hardly noticed when the door slid open behind me and I no longer became the only person standing on the bridge.

"The cabins are empty – as is the engine room – and I even checked the deck …" Elhandra broke off and her tone became suspicious. "What's going on?" If she recognised my cousin, she didn't make it apparent.

I rose out of my chair and turned to face Elhandra, opening my mouth to tell her about the recent revelations. But as I stared into her green eyes I felt a flash of recollection and for a few terrible seconds, I thought Lreav was standing in front of me.

There was an awkward pause as I continued to stare at her, the words: "It was Lreav," hovering on my lips.

Elhandra was Lreav's sister. Lreav was the terrorist. What did that make Elhandra? And more importantly – could I trust her?

"What's going on?" Elhandra demanded again, her head twisting back and forth between me and Yuna like a referee in a Blitzball match. "Tell me!"

I shot Yuna what I hoped was a surreptitious glance that clearly said: "let me handle this," but my cousin either didn't catch on or she decided to ignore me.

"I've been trying to contact the Melatha for the last couple of hours," the Lady Yuna said in her normal measured tone. "I'd just got through to Rikku when you came in." She narrowed her eyes suddenly and peered at us. "Goodness, whatever happened to your nose?"

Bless my cousin – she'd diverted attention away from me beautifully … and dragged up the one subject I would have quite happily left buried.

Elhandra shot me a poisonous glance. "Why don't you ask your dear cousin about that?"

So she did know who Yuna was then. Typical Elhandra; she would rather die than show deference to anyone.

"Rikku?" Yuna's tone was long suffering and I threw my hands up in the air in exasperation.

"So I hit her! It was a heat-of-the-moment kind of thing, you know?" I knew I was whining but I didn't care. The situation was getting completely out of control and I still didn't know what to do about Elhandra. Could she be implicated in the bombings just because she was Lreav's sister? Were they that close that he would involve her in his plans? And on the other hand, was there anything to say that she was involved?

"Do you have any information about Gippal and my brother?" Elhandra asked Yuna, effectively changing the subject and unconsciously giving me the time I needed to get my thoughts in order.

I didn't like Elhandra certainly, but I wasn't sure whether she'd ever done anything to warrant my suspicion. I had to be careful not to let my own feelings cloud my judgement and after all, Elhandra had been Gippal's staunchest supporter … but then again, apparently so had Lreav. Hadn't they been life-long friends?

Once again I came back to the problem that had been dogging my thought patterns since I'd begun to understand just what had been happening over the last several weeks: the fact that Lreav didn't seem to have any possible reason to want to hurt Gippal.

The conversation flowed on behind me, and not for the first time, I was grateful for my cousin's smooth, diplomatic flair. Elhandra barely seemed to realise that her initial question upon entering the bridge had all but been ignored.

A sudden thought struck me as I watched the other two women converse; maybe Elhandra would know something about Lreav. Maybe, just maybe I should trust her enough to find out if there were any reasons why Lreav would want to hurt Gippal.

After all, the fact that Lreav had attempted to implicate his own sister –

… "Who set all of this up?"

"You mean the sphere and the screen? That was Lhan."…

suggested that she wasn't involved.

I guess I would just have to ask and find out. In any case, if Elhandra was involved and she decided she had to do something about my knowing, well … I was perfectly capable of defending myself, you know?

And so, as Yuna fixed a bright smile on her face in preparation of delivering another empty platitude, I opened my mouth and spoke.

"It was Lreav."

Why was it that those seemed to be the only words capable of coming out my mouth recently?

Elhandra spun around to face me and even Yuna looked at me with surprise, apparently taken aback by my intervention.

"What about Lreav?"

I decided that there was no point trying to learn diplomacy now. Being blunt had always worked for me in the past and besides, Elhandra seemed to appreciate it.

I took a deep breath. "Lreav's behind the bombings and now he's taken Gippal." I kept my tone as flat and level as possible.

Elhandra blinked at me. For the first time since I'd met her, she appeared lost for words.

"I only worked it out when Yuna told me Lreav had lied about meeting Baralai in Guadosalam. Then everything just fell into place." I pushed my braids back behind my ears and this time I was able to meet her piercing emerald gaze without flinching. "I can't believe it took me so long to figure it all out."

Elhandra's expression hardened. "What are you babbling on about? If you know something about where Gippal and my brother are then justtysh well tell me!" (damn)

"I am," I shot back, frustrated with her inability to understand me. "I'm telling you that Lreav is the terrorist and if you'd just listen – "

"No," Elhandra cut me off, shaking her head vehemently. Her hundreds of braids danced with the movement and I was forcibly reminded of the time when I was a child and had taken a tumble into a nest of rather displeased snakes. I scratched my arm – which still bore a faint pair of small puncture wounds – as half remembered pain spasmed through it.

"No, no – you're wrong! What you're saying is crazy – you're crazy!" Elhandra advanced upon me, her expression turning ugly and her mouth contorting into a snarl. "I always told Gippal you were unbalanced and it seems I've finally been proved right!"

Her insult cut through my like a knife by a forced my anger back. "Elhandra, just wait a second – "

"Crid ib!" (Shut up!) she snapped. "I've heard enough!"

"Elhandra – "

She held up her hand and as our eyes locked for a few endless seconds, I thought she was going to hit me. Instead, a look of sudden comprehension dawned over her face and she tapped her fingers against her lips as if she was deep in thought.

I was instantly suspicious.

"I know what this is all about."

My suspicion grew and I watched her cautiously as she drummed her fingers against her chin. I got the distinct feeling that whatever she was about to say wasn't something that I wanted to hear.

"This is about you … and Lreav."

I couldn't hide my surprise and a delighted smile lit Elhandra's face when she noted my expression. "Oh, you didn't think he would have told me about that, did you? Honestly Rikku, who else would he confide in?"

If he's done what I think he's done, then nobody, I thought bleakly. Because either you truly believe Lreav is innocent or you're a damn good actor.

"He told me all about how you were oh-so-friendly and how flirted with him incessantly upon coming to the Melatha. And then, when he finally plucked up the courage to confront his growing feelings for you, you slapped him down without a second thought. You treated him like dirt and now you're accusing him of being behind the bombing as some sick way of trying to appease your own guilt!"

I could tell she was pleased with the conclusions she had reached and though I knew her words to be false, they still hurt. Could there be some truth in what she had said? Had my actions driven Lreav to commit the atrocities of the bombings?

No. The bombings had started before I'd even met him. So while I might have contributed to the problem, whatever had caused Lreav to attack innocent people and try to frame Gippal, I was still yet to uncover.

And so, with this knowledge in mind, I was able to break the silence that had dawned upon the bridge since Elhandra's loud accusation.

"It's a pretty story Elhandra," I said coolly. "But it would be far more interesting if there was even a grain of truth in it." I cocked my head to one side and observed her thoughtfully. "It makes it easier for you, doesn't it, to believe your brother was the 'scorned lover'. It makes my words sound like fanciful lies. But tell me this Elhandra: if Lreav's innocent like you say, then where in Spira are he and Gippal?"

"How should I know? They could have gone anywhere!"

"And why did Lreav lie about meeting Baralai in Guadosalam?"

"How do you know he did?" Elhandra countered. "We only have a single person's word for that!"

Yuna drew herself up but admirably kept her voice mild. "Actually, you have more than just my word. If you'll give me a moment I can summon Baralai in here himself and I'll think you'll agree Elhandra, that neither Lady Yuna of Spira nor Praetor Baralai of New Yevon have any reason to lie about a man neither of us had met."

In the face of Yuna's level words, Elhandra's objections floundered. She alternated between glaring at Yuna and glaring at me; twisting back and forth like a blade of grass in the wind. Finally her angry gaze settled on me and she spat: "You have no proof!"

"No," I admitted, softening my tone slightly. I kept having to remind myself that if someone told me similar news about a member of my family, I would probably be reacting in the same manner as Elhandra. I didn't like the woman, but there was no need to be harder than I already was being. "But there are a great many things that finally make sense. Why the Guadosalam sphere broke. Why Lreav asked to stay behind when we went to rescue Gippal. Why neither Baralai nor Nooj knew anything about the rescue attempt. Each and every one of the problems and difficult situations we have come up against can be linked back to Lreav."

"Or to you," Elhandra muttered darkly, but her words had little conviction and I got the impression she was finally listening to me.

"Maybe," I shrugged, affecting a carelessness I certainly didn't feel. My whole body hummed with tension as I willed her to take me at my word. "But why would I want to hurt Gippal? I'm in love with the guy for Spira's sake."

It was funny, but as those words left my mouth I wasn't even thinking about their implication. I was simply doing everything I could to convince Elhandra that I was telling the truth and the fact that I'd just admitted something so momentous completely passed me by in the heat of the moment.

Elhandra blanched slightly at my choice of words but still refused to leave the situation alone. "Well why would Lreav want to hurt him? They were friends a long time before you came on to the scene."

I sighed and folded my arms across my chest. This was proving to be a great deal harder than I had anticipated. "I don't know," I was forced to admit and winced when I saw Elhandra's triumphant smile.

"Exactly!" she crowed. "Your theories are based on nothing more than conjecture. All you've got are coincidences that could implicate any one of us on the Melatha!"

"I think we've already established it's not me!" I snapped, my temper flaring.

"Oh no? Just because you've finally decided you're in love?"

"Yes!"

"Give it up Rikku. You're not fooling anyone!"

"What are you talking about? You don't know anything about mine and Gippal's relationship!"

"What relationship?"

"Oh stop it, both of you! Just stop it!"

Despite the distance between us, the voice cut through our argument effortlessly and left a ringing silence in its wake. I recognised the tone immediately and knew, even before I turned towards the screen and met the sharp gaze of my angry cousin, that it spelled trouble.

"You're acting like a pair of children," Yuna admonished us with just a touch of acid in her voice. Listening as she dressed us down, I thought – not for the first time – that she'd certainly changed since the shy, innocent girl who's pilgrimage I'd been part of a couple of years before.

"Contrary to both of your opinions, this isn't about you. The situation is so much bigger than the two of you and while you stand here bickering, the terrorist is getting further and further away. At this moment in time, I don't care who it is; I just care about stopping them. I'd hoped you felt that way too, but apparently I was wrong."

"Yunie," I began, about to explain that it was all Elhandra's fault, but my words trailed off when I caught sight of the clear warning in her eyes. Yuna was all business at the moment; she wasn't willing to be pushed any further.

"Now Elhandra, I know you don't want to believe that your brother is capable of such a horrific act – and I'm not saying I believe it either – but we need your help. Is there anything, anything at all, that you can remember from your childhood that would give us a clue as to why Lreav would want to hurt Gippal? Some unperceived slight perhaps?"

"No! Lreav wouldn't have done this," Elhandra maintained stubbornly.

"Please," my cousin coaxed gently, "just try and remember. No matter how small the memory; it could be of vital importance."

Elhandra held Yuna's gaze for several long seconds and then repeated, very deliberately, "Lreav wouldn't have done this."

Now, as I have mentioned, my cousin is an excellent diplomatic. She excels at solving disputes and making sure than everyone in Spira is content with their lot. Her successes are long reaching and many of Spira's citizens have her to thank for their peace of mind. There was no one that she wouldn't – or couldn't – reach out and help.

Saying that, I think she might have met her match in Elhandra. The Al Bhed was completely set in the belief that her brother was innocent and nothing that Yuna said appeared to effect that opinion. I suppose it was only to be expected … after all, wouldn't I object if someone claimedBrother was a worldwide terrorist?

For some reason that thought struck me as particularly amusing and I had to conceal my bubbling laughter behind a choking cough. This was hardly the time for hilarity.

"I respect your loyalty Elhandra."

Apparently, while I had been fighting to control my inappropriate amusement, Yuna had been mentally preparing for another subtle attack at Elhandra. Her words were level and her tone gentle but behind her innocent expression I caught a flash of steel that reassured me. Yuna was well aware of just how much was at stake her; she was going to get every last drop of information out of Elhandra if it killed her.

"And I respect you, Lady Yuna, but that doesn't mean I'm going to believe these ridiculous accusations about my brother!"

"Indeed," Yuna expression remained passive, "but perhaps you respect me another to indulge me for a moment and answer my questions."

Elhandra opened her mouth to object and then closed it again. She was visibly torn and I was amazed that my cousin commanded such respect that she would actually make Elhandra question her beliefs. Finally, after an agony of expectation, Elhandra slumped into the vacant console chair and raised her chin mulishly.

"Ask your questions if you believe them necessary," she said bitterly, "but I want you to know that I still think you're wrong about Lreav."

"Noted."

It was a painstaking process. Although Elhandra had agreed to the questioning, it became blatantly aware that she was going to be as unhelpful as possible throughout the whole procedure. It was up to Yuna to tease every piece of information out of her – which she did admirably – but by the end of the procedure we were barely any closer to finding a possible motive and I was almost dancing with impatience.

So when Elhandra paused for the one-hundredth time, cocking her head to one side as if she was considering Yuna's question carefully, I could contain myself no longer.

"So let me get this straight: after your mother died and when you were seven, your father married Lreav's mother. Nine months later Lreav was born but due to the age difference between you, you weren't particularly close. Aside from that you had an idyllic childhood and hope to live happily ever after. How am I doing so far?"

"Actually, Lreav wasn't born until his parents had been together for over a year," Elhandra shot back, matching my sarcasm without missing a beat. "You should really learn to listen Rikku."

I threw my hands up in the air. "Yuna, this is getting us nowhere!" I complained. "Spira know what's happened to Gippal. We should be trying to find him, not standing around discussing the oh-so-interesting history of Elhandra!"

"Don't forget Lreav – he's missing too!"

"Oh I wonder why that is? Where could Lreav possibly have gone to?" I asked the air mockingly, my growing frustration adding an acidic bite to my voice. "Why don't we check the damn security cameras and find out?"

I braced myself for Elhandra's sharp-tongued retort and blinked in surprise when it didn't come. I looked across at her to find that she was watching me with the most peculiar expression on her face.

"What did you say?"

" 'Where could Lreav have –' "

"No! After that!"

I frowned. "I said we should check the security cameras …?" I repeated uncertainly. That couldn't be what she meant surely? I'd meant it as a joke!

"Security cameras," Elhandra mumbled, half to herself. "Of course!"

I eyed her cautiously, wondering if she'd descended into madness while I hadn't been looking.

"Don't you get it?" she demanded upon seeing my bemused expression. When I didn't respond she rolled her eyes and pointed up at something behind my head. "The security cameras!"

Obediently, I turned and followed the direction of her hand, only to be confronted with the sight of a small camera neatly imbedded in the corner of the room. A camera that I'd never noticed before and could have sworn hadn't been there when I'd entered the room. A camera that was blinking merrily, it's convex lens trained on the CommSphere console.

"They've been recording everything."

"Finally she understands," Elhandra muttered.

"They can show us what happened with Gippal and Lreav!"

"Give the girl a golden Chocobo."

"Stop that," I ordered distractedly, walking over to where the camera was located, and rising up on my tiptoes. I stared into the dull face of the camera and watched as the tiny red light continued to pulse happily. "It seems to still be live."

"The system's always live," Elhandra informed me with the air of someone who is being forced into instructing an inferior being. "Gippal's paranoid about the security of his 'baby'."

Vaguely I thought I should be offended by that ridiculous pet name.

"How can we access the records?"

"Through the ship's main console." Elhandra glanced at the screen. "Lady Yuna – "

"You need to cut the connection. I understand." My cousin smiled wanly. "I'll do anything if it'll mean you two will stop trying to claw each other's eyes out."

Now I know I should have been offended by that.

"Besides, I should update Nooj and Baralai. They deserve to know what's happened."

"Yunie?" I hurried back across to the console. "Could you keep the authorities off our backs?"

"You don't want any help finding Gippal and Lreav?" Despite her question, Yuna didn't seem very surprised.

I shook my head. "It'll just complicate matters. Besides," I shot Elhandra a wiry glance. "I think we can handle this ourselves, don't you?"

"Then just promise me you'll be careful. No heroics Rikku. And if you need backup then you'll call for it."

"I promise," I swore solemnly, my fingers firmly crossed behind my back. As far as I was concerned, the four of us had started this together and we were damn well going to finish it together too.

It was like Gippal had said: this was an Al Bhed problem.

"Then good luck. And contact me as soon as she have any news, okay?"

"I promise," I repeated – and this time I even meant it.

Yuna smiled at me once more and then she leant forward and her image disappeared as the connection was severed and the screen faded to black. The CommSphere connection had only been silent for a few seconds before Elhandra had drawn her chair forward and was typing frantically at the keypad. A confusing plethora of colours and numbers swam across the screen and I felt a sudden inrush of alarm. If Elhandra was in league with Lreav, she could wipe the security camera data before I even knew what was happening!

I was just about to demand Elhandra cease her movements when she froze and stared at the screen with a look of abject horror on her face.

"Oh Spira," she whispered, slumping back in the chair, her hands over her mouth.

I peered over her shoulder at the screen, wondering what had caused her to have such an extreme reaction.

I didn't have to wait long to find out.

The screen showed a recording that, despite it's grainy quality, was surprisingly clear. I could make out the central section of the bridge, where the controls that flew the ship were located. An achingly familiar figure lounged against the guardrail of the platform that rose up behind this area and as I watched, a new figure entered the frame.

It was unmistakeably Lreav … and he was pointing some kind of gun at Gippal.

I understood Elhandra's reaction now; there was no way you could misconstrue what had happened on the bridge at some point during our absence from the Melatha. There was no way of denying the cold truth about her brother.

It seemed that I had been right about Lreav … and yet, as I looked down at Elhandra's stricken face, I felt no pleasure at being proved right; I just felt pity.

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So there you have it – Lreav is the bad guy. And while I was originally going to let you know why in this chapter … you're going to have to wait until a later chapter now to find that out ; )

As always, thanks to everyone who has reviewed and I hope you continue to read, review and enjoy!