Disclaimer: I don't own FFX-2. v.v -sobs-

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Hola and thank you for the wonderful superb and utterly fantastic reviews. I love reviews. Can't you tell? :) Ahaha.. Anywaysh... Uhhmm..... RIKKU AND GIPPAL FOREVER!
-smiles blankly at the rest of the world- Hmm, if anyone knows any really good RxG fan fiction, recommend it to me! ...Bmayca? :D
...Eh, although I think I've read almost every single Rikku / Gippal piece of fan fiction here... That's really sad. I think it's called being obsessive. -sigh- That's okay. We can all be obsessive together. Go us.

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Rikku POV

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You know, love works in strange ways. Sometimes it can be straightforward, obvious... and other times, so subtle.

Honestly, seeing Leije giving Yuna his full attention really left me feeling strange. It was the most weird thing - I kept thinking to myself, "What in Spira is wrong with me?". And I wasn't jealous! I wasn't, I wasn't, I wasn't. Tidus was right: she's married to him, and there's no way in hell she'd like him. But then, why would I care if she did? Everything's so confusing..

Down to the truth, now. If I can't be truthful with myself, then I can't be truthful to anyone. And I hate lying. I really do. So... here it goes.

I think I am in love with Leije.

So simple to say, but maybe I'm wrong? I've never been in love before. Well, once... but I was young. Impressionable. And then my heart was shattered into a billion pieces. I thought, "To hell with love. I'm going to enjoy my life!". And what do you know... that philosophy of mine worked pretty well for awhile.

Maybe I should ask someone for advice. Someone with experience. Someone like... Yunie. I don't want to make another mistake, I really don't. Yes, that's it. To Yunie I go!

And, while I'm there, maybe I can subtly tell her to back off Leije!

---

Yuna slowly rested her head back against her chocobo feather pillow, sighing in ecstasy. Finally, some peace and quiet! Tidus was out in the common room watching Blitzball with the guys, and she assumed Paine was probably out there too. That left her... alone; she smiled.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Who could that be now, Yuna questioned herself.

"Yunie?" A voice spoke from behind her door. "Are you awake? Can I... come in?"

"Of course, Rikku." Yuna hadn't really had a chance to speak with her lately, anyhow.

Rikku opened her door to Yuna's guest room, smiling slightly, but a somewhat worried expression plastered on her usually cheerful face.

"What's wrong, Rikku? Here, sit."

Rikku did as she was told, sitting next to her on the mattress. "Yunie, can I ask you a question?"

"Sure. What is it?"

"How do you know when you're in love?"

---

"Go, go, go! Pass it to the left, the LEFT!"

"C'mon, C'mon... AWWW!"

"In the name of Yevon, what was he thinking?" Baralai slapped his hand on his knee, rising from his position on the couch angrily.

Seeing Paine raise her eyebrow, Baralai muttered a few incoherent words and sat back down, grabbing a few chips.

"It's one to three now, man. The Aurochs are going to lose again." Tidus snorted and shook his head. "I should be there; I'm on the team now."

"Hey, the Al Bhed Psyches just kick ass, there's nothing to it." Leije grinned.

"Shhhhh!" Baralai and Tidus shouted simultaneously. "The game's startin' again."

"Where's Gippal?" Paine cut in, receiving a few glares from the guys. "Well, where is he? Don't give me that look, Baralai. It doesn't suit you."

Blushing, Baralai murmured, "He's at the bar, in the next room. Been there for the last few hours, actually..."

Leije's attention broke from the game. "Really?" He rose an eyebrow. "I took him for a flirt, not a drunk."

"He's not like that, Leije. In fact, I'm just going to go check on him. Okay?"

"That'd be a good idea, Baralai," Paine faintly smiled. Hastily rising, the praetor strode towards his bar.

Gippal sat on a stool, eyes bleary and downing his seventh glass of Ochu Vodka. "Another, man. Keep 'em comin'.." Gippal mumbled. The barkeeper already had the next three glasses ready; he seemed prepared enough.

"Gippal?" Baralai cautiously took a seat next to his old friend.

"Bara..?"

"Gip, maybe you should stop drinking for little bit, and come out here with the rest of us. This game's going good, the Al Bhed Psyches are winning..."

"Vilg uvv," Gippal took a long gulp of his drink, draining half of the glass. ("Fuck off")

"..Or maybe you should just go rest for a little while." Baralai added, understanding part of what he had said.

"E cyet vilg uvv, 'Lai. Zicd mayja sa dra ramm ymuha yht ku 'Bnyeca Yevon' un frydajan dra ramm ed ec oui Yevonites tu... Uhhhmm..." He hiccuped. "Can't you leave a man alone when he's drinking?" ("I said fuck off, 'Lai. Just leave me the hell alone and go 'Praise Yevon!' or whatever the hell it is you Yevonites do...")

Baralai didn't catch everything out of Gippal's mouth, but he correctly translated the words "fuck" and "Yevon". Maybe it was time for him to be going.

"Uh, okay then, I'm just gonna... go...now," Baralai rather quickly rose from his seat and stumbled out of the bar, leaving Gippal alone with his drinks and the barkeeper.

---

"So that's why you were acting all antsy before. Rikku, we were just talking; you needed to chill out."

"I know, I know. Sorry Yunie," Rikku sighed. "But do you think it is?"

"Well... I'm not really sure. Things take time to develop. And honestly, I really couldn't tell you if you're in love. You have to find that out for yourself."

"Ugh, well thanks for the insight, cous'," Rikku rolled her eyes.

Her cousin's bicolored eyes narrowed mischievously. "Rikku, you'd know if it was really love. Besides, you seem really unsure, and a little distracted. Tell me, what are you thinking about right now?"

"Well, it's just that... I mean, I think, it's not the same as before, when I only had eyes for Gip- Oh, never mind!"

Yunie's eyes widened. "You still like Gippal?"

"No! No way. Never, nuh-uh. That two-timing jerk! That stupid, idiotic sayhea! ...Well, okay, maybe a little. But it's really innocent, and it's just taking time to wear off. I really think that Leije can make it all go away. Yuna, I'm tired of being infatuated with someone who has slept with half of the Machine Faction."

Yuna's eyes got even wider. "Rikku, you don't know that. You shouldn't assume things-"

"Well, he's dated half of them, so who's to say it's wrong to assume anymore?" Rikku countered angrily.

"Calm down, Ri. If I didn't know better, I'd say you were jealous. And I'm not talking about Leije."

"Urgh... Tea!" Rikku chucked a pillow at her cousin, who wasn't quite quick enough to dodge it. ("Die!")

Hurling the pillow back at Rikku, she retorted, "I may just have to tell your darling Gippal about that little slip of the tongue if you keep physically abusing me, Ri." She stuck out her tongue and dashed out of the room.

"Yunie! Oui kat pylg rana nekrd huf!" Rikku pounced off the bed and right after her, slamming the door as she exited. ("You get back here right now!")

Yuna rushed into the common room, interrupting the Blitzball game, with Rikku crashing into her as soon as she stopped. The two toppled in front of the sphere screen, causing a fuss with the rest of the guys.

"Move!" Tidus nearly screamed, but caught himself and changed his tone so he didn't sound too insane.

"Here, let me help you up, Rikku," Leije rose and grabbed Rikku's hand. She instantly forgot about her play quarrel with Yuna, who would never have dreamt of telling Gippal anyhow. That was so un-Yunie-like, you know?

"Eheheh.. Eheh... Whatcha watchin'?" Rikku gave him a confused smile.

"Uh... Blitzball," He gave her a quizzical look in return.

Going unnoticed by everyone including Tidus, whose eyes were totally glued to the screen, Yuna edged towards Baralai.

"Where's Gippal?" she whispered.

"In the bar. Drinking. I would refrain from talking to him, if I were you. He's not exactly in a civil mood."

"I'll be fine," Yuna gave one of her reassuring smiles and pranced towards the direction of the bar.

As Yuna walked in, she immediately located Gippal, who was still sitting at the same stool when Baralai visited him an hour ago. Baralai hadn't lied; Gippal had been drinking, and she really didn't even want to attempt to count the number of glasses.

"Gippal?" Yuna came up beside him, her voice meek. The Machine Faction leader didn't seem to here her; he continued to stare intently at the liquid in his glass, deep in thought. Or as deep in thought as he could get considering the circumstances.

"Gippal?" She repeated, a little more earnestly this time around. He looked at her, hazy eyes staring up at her curiously. Gippal rose from the stool, wavering unsteadily. After a moment of catching his balance, he glanced down at her. "Ri..Ri..Rikku?"

"Uhhhm..." Yuna swiftly rose from her stool as well and started edging away from him, back towards the door. "I'm not Rikku."

Gippal was on her in a flash, desperation evident in his face. "Bmayca, tuh'd ku.." he murmured, pinning her against the wall. Leaning towards her with open lips, Yuna distinctly recognized the scent of alcohol. ("Please, don't go..")

"Gippal, stop." Yuna ducked and slipped through his arms. "You're drunk," she hissed, as if everything would suddenly become clear to him.

It didn't.

"Hu... Rikku... Bmayca tuh'd mayja!" Gippal crumpled in a heap to the ground, sobbing quietly. As compassionate as the great High Summoner Yuna was, she had no idea how to deal with this situation, no idea how to comfort him, and no idea why on earth he thought she was Rikku.

Yuna dashed towards the door, yanked it open and slammed it shut. As she reentered the common room, Baralai and Rikku stared at her curiously while the others continued watching their never ending games of Blitz ball.

"Is something wrong, Yunie?"

"No... It's nothing," She lied, wondering if she should tell Rikku.

---

Gippal groaned, rolling onto his side. His head pounded, his body ached - where was he? Snapping his eyes open, Gippal noticed that he was in the bar, lying on the ground. No wonder his body was aching, he must have passed out. Moaning loudly, he reluctantly braced himself against the wall and stood up.

"Good, you're awake," Baralai entered the bar, right on key. "I thought I'd let you sleep on the floor. Maybe next time you'll watch how much you drink." He glared at his friend, who merely groaned even louder.

"You could have woken me up..." Gippal mirrored his friend's disappointed look. "Besides, I didn't drink that much. In fact, I don't really remember drinking at all." Whoops.

"Gippal, that proves my point exactly. You might as well shut up while you're ahead," pausing, Baralai added, "Oh, and Cid called earlier this morning. He wanted to talk to you; couldn't imagine why."

Gippal grinned ear to ear. Just the person he wanted to talk to. Wouldn't he like to know that is little girl, the future Al Bhed leader, fancied someone who wasn't Al Bhed.

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Tea. The drink of death? o.o
Oh yesh, and in case I forgot to mention it before, please review. XD
I was just curious on your opinions... Is it going okay so far?
Should I continue? I mean I'll probably continue even if you all tell me that it sucks, but yeah... I'd still like to know. (Wouldn't we all x.X)