Chapter 2

"Go faster!" Rikku yelled at Brother. She had this strange feeling that time was running out. Well it was, but she was feeling that it would be faster than everyone else thought. Why oh why did they not send for her sooner? Gippal needed her and he needed her NOW! "Dryd'c ed!" She yelled in al bhed, shoving Brother out of the pilot's chair. "SUJA!!!"

"Not so fast!" Buddy cried as Rikku floored the accelerator. "You'll ruin the engine!! It can't take this speed all the way to Djose!" Rikku sent such a poisonous look at him that he shut up immediately.

"I don't care. We can get a new engine but we can't get a new Gippal!" She said, pushing the airship's speed even faster.

"Drec ec so yencreb!" Brother whined from his place on the floor. "E ys dra maytan!"

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As Rikku leaped out of the airship she stared at the Al Bhed around her. They looked so... lost. Having their leader missing was one thing. But to have him dying right there with them, and not being able to do something about it was so cruel. They looked so helpless. For Rikku, it really brought home just how bad things were for Gippal.

"Rikku!" She heard someone call her name and she turned to see a very familiar face racing up to her. "Thank goodness your here!"

"Nhadala?" Rikku asked with surprise. "What are you doing here? Why aren't you on Bikanel?" Nhadala's usual cheerful self was replaced by a very grim woman. She looked worse than when the dig site had been attacked by that huge fiend.

"I'm taking over things here until... until..." She finally broke down. "Ur Rikku! Ed'c cu runnepma. Fro ec drec rybbahehk? Fro?" Rikku put her arms around Nhadala and rubbed her back in a comforting manner.

"Shhhhhhh... Ed'c ymnekrd. Ed'c kuehk du pa ug. Ricr huf." she whispered. Finally she pulled back. "Where is he?" Nhadala nodded back to the temple.

"He's in his room. The one on the left of the cloyster." Rikku thanked her and hurried into the temple.

.............................................

"Gippal?" she whispered as she sat at the edge of his bed. 'Gods, he looks so pale. I can barely see him breathing. His is breathing right?! Wait! He didn't answer!' "GIPPAL!" She shook him violently. Stopped abruptly abd gasped when he moaned.

"Oui ymfyoc tet mega du bmyo nuikr," he wheezed, a small smile on his face.

"Oh Gippal," she choked. He reached out and took her hand. "How did this happen? How could you let htis happen?"

"I told you I was careless. I didn't take good enough care of it and it became infected. And by then there wasn't much we could do. Don't think we haven't tried though." Rikku stared at him incredulously.

"I am sitting at your deathbed because you didn't treat your injuries properly?! Jeez, Buddy suspected poison. You are such an idiot you know that." Gippal winced. "I'm sorry. Are you in any pain?"

"No. All I feel is... numb. And cold. And tired. Typical for one who is dying," he said cynically. He looked at her with a pained expression. "All that hurts is your anger."

"Cunno. Since when do you care when someone is angry with you? I remember when we were kids.... why am I here anyway? I'm sure there are hundreds of people you'd rather see than me right about now," she looked down at him, puzzled, and was suddenly aware of her hand in his. How had she not noticed before.

"Are you so oblivious?" he whispered in disbelief. Suddenly Rikku didn't want to be there. She wanted to be anywhere but there. In that room. With him. Because she knew what he was about to say. "E muja oui. I love you so much." Rikku stood suddenly. Her eyes welled with tears as she slowly backed away towards the door. "Rikku?"

"Why did you have to tell me this now?" she sobbed. "You should have said something when we could have made something of this!" She reached for the doorhandle.

"Rikku wait!" She turned to face him. "Please stay. E tuh'd fyhd du tea ymuha." He sounded so vulnerable. Rikku felt cold inside. She loved him to. She had for so long. But she never dreamed he felt the same way. She had always dismissed his shameless flirting as teasing. They had been friends forever. She should have been happy at this revaltion but all that was left was regret. Cold, bitter regret. With a sad smile she walked back to his side and sat down. She took his hand again.

"Alright. I'll stay," she said. "But no more talking. You need to rest. You keep talking like you're about to die but I've never known you to accept anything like this. Keep fighting. You have to hope."

"Rikku..."

"Fine," she said, frowning. "I'll just hope for the both of us." The sides of Gippal's mouth twitched as he shut his eyes.

"You do that."

AN: I am no good at this romance stuff. I think it's really corny. Oh well. If you think this chapter is bad.... oops. Said to much already. 99 You'll just have to wait. The more reviews I get the sooner I'll update. Don't know how? See the little purple button in the corner? It's a sad button. Everybody feel sorry for the little purple button. If you want to make it happy you'll have to click on it. Then type in a review and click on the new bigger, purple button. Suddenly you'll have a happy purple button. YAY!!!

Al Bhed translations:

Dryd'c ed- that's it

suja- move

Drec ec so yencreb - This is my airship

E ys dra maytan - I am the leader

Ur Rikku! Ed'c cu runnepma. Fro ec drec rybbahehk? Fro? - Oh Rikku! It's so horrible. Why is this happening? Why?

Shhhhhhh... Ed'c ymnekrd. Ed'c kuehk du pa ug. Ricr huf. - Shhhhhhh... It's alright. It's going to be ok. Hush now.

Oui ymfyoc tet mega du bmyo nuikr. -You always did like to play rough.

E tuh'd fyhd du tea ymuha. -I don't want to die alone.