Hello again. Sorry for the delay. I kind of had lots of homework the past few days and I was basically booked. But now I'm not. So here's another chapter.

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Dream A Little Dream

Chapter 8: Wait for me...

You know, sometimes life really sucks. Gippal and I were walking, on our way to the Moonflow. I was just trying desperately to forget my feelings for Gippal.

I don't think I'm in love with him. I know I'm not in love with him.

Yeah, Rikku. If you could believe that, then you're stupid.

Sigh. I won't tell him. I mean if he ever returned my feelings (which he won't) and if I disappeared (which I might), I might hurt him, and he'd end up grieving, he might do something drastic like try to bring me back (which he can't), so I'll just keep my lip zipped and not confess my undying love to him (okay, maybe "undying" is a little much), at least not to his face.

I programmed Kuppo to be my camera bird,(kind of like Paine was with Gippal, Nooj, and Baralai, only with wings) so she could document my travels, so that if I disappeared, and no body knows, they'll get the entire story.

Since I will loose Gippal and set out on my own eventually.

"You, okay kid?" Gippal asked.

I nearly jumped three feet into the air. Damn, I was zoning out again.

My heart was going a mile a minute when I answered him. My hand was over my heart and I said "Geez Gippal! What are you trying to do?! Give me a heart attack?"

He blinked, then grinned. Oh how I wanted to slap that grin off his face.

I might love him, but that doesn't make him any less of a pompous ass. The jerk.

I huffed, turned around and ignored him, and kept walking towards the Moonflow, I heard him chuckle behind me and I wanted to kill him.

Is that normal? To be in love with someone one moment and the next moment you're thinking about the most creative and painful ways to kill that same person?

It's normal? Oh, good.

Because I'm currently entertaining a dismemberment fantasy of a certain someone. Not naming any names or anything.

coughGippalcough

Anyways, skip that part and fast forward to the Moonflow. Don't worry, nothing much really happens before we get to the Moonflow.

Well, when we got there, I felt I had to get even with him somehow for scaring the be-jebbers out of me. So when we were standing near the shore, admiring the pireflies and the lilies that had bloomed , I did the only thing I could do at that time.

I shoved him. As hard as I could. Into the Moonflow.

And then I ran, as fast and as far as I could, laughing like a maniac.

Then I had a light bulb. Ping! just like that.

This was it. This is where I could lose him. I know it sounds bad, but I just know that he had no intention of leaving, even when we did get to the Thunder plains. He was like that, he thinks he needs to be "oh mighty protector" to every girl he sees. He's always been like that. So I'll leave him here, he'll probably forget about me anyway. I mean, there's a pretty red-head right over there. One look in those pretty blue eyes she's got, and he won't even remember my name.

It's true. But, I can't help but wonder, is stating his faults another way to try and get me to change my feelings for him?

Maybe. Maybe not. Something's just telling me that this is my story, and that whatever happens, I gotta take this thing down on my own. What ever happens, happens, you can't change that. So I made up my mind to follow my destiny, whether I disappear, or whether I die. I part of me has to know if I'm even worthy enough to have a story to tell. Something aside from the little meaningless adventures little Rikku is known to have.

This is my test.

So I ran. As fast as I could. I ran to the Driver of the Shoopuf and practically hurled him on to the ride. I guess I wasn't very nice. I threatened him and his family(and his shoopuf) very painful deaths if he didn't get my across that Moonflow, pronto.

I was across in two minutes flat. It was kind of comical really. Seeing the shoopuf going across at extra, super, special shoopuf speed. It was pretty funny, and it was a great ride.

Of course, I felt very bad for the poor driver and his shoopuf, so as soon as we were on the other side I apologized for my actions and kissed the driver on the forehead.

Then I ran to Guadosalam.

Gippal was probably enamored with the red-head already. I was at a cross between thrill that I'd finally lost him, and disappointment that I succeeded

Oh well. I'm sure he has different things to do (being the leader of the Machina Faction and all) and that might keep him busy.

................Guadosalam sure is.....interesting. The musicians from Macalania are still here, playing that beautiful song. Every time I hear it, it never seems to get old, although now, it seems like a memory.

The music that is, something that I'd heard of a long time ago. Stupid right? I was shuffling my feet, and thinking when all of a sudden I heard someone say my name.

"Rikku?" A male voice said. I looked up, looked around frantically, panic setting in.

Oh dear Spira, had Gippal found me already?

Then my eyes landed on blond hair, blue eyes.....yellow clothing.

I nearly fainted in relief. It was only Tidus.

......And then I panicked again. Tidus?! Oh no, Oh no, oh no nonononononononono! Damnit! why do things like this always happen to me? What in Spira have I done to deserve this?

I glanced around, trying to look casual, (And trying not to hyperventilate).

"Eh heh heh heh heh heh........uh, Hiya?" smart Rikku, very smart.

Tidus grinned. "What are you doing here?"

Damn. What do I say to that? "uhhhhh....well-" I saw Paine come out of Leblanc headquarters, followed by Baralai, Nooj, My cousin (Help!!) and Leblanc herself, as well as other officials and representatives representing the races still working out their differences. (Ronso and Guado)

So I did the only thing I think of at a moment like this. I bent over, placed my hands on my stomach and cried "Ohhhh.....ugh.....you better get away from me, Tidus, my stomach is just killing me I might puke all over you....uuuuuugh"

So sue me. It was the best I could come up with on such short notice. I don't work well under pressure.

And yes, I did feel guilty about tricking Tidus. Especially after I saw the spark of concern in his eyes.

He nodded "Right, stay here, I'll get Yuna" an turned to walk away.

Beep! Beep! Beeeep!! Code red, code red! Abort mission, I repeat, Abort Mission!

I bolted upright and said very fast "Well what do you know, stomach's all better, gotta go, tell Yuna I love her, give my regards to Paine, Bye!!"

I ran like Sin himself was after me.

By the time I got to the Thunder Plains, I was ready to die.

Yeah, really. Just roll over and die.

But then that would be and anti-climactic end to my story, right?

Right.

So I'll be strong and live, even though I'll probably regret it tomorrow.

And then I heard someone call my name, again.

"Riiiiiikkuuu!!" female this time. Sounded like Yuna.

I heard her ask, "Are you sure you saw her, Tidus?"

Ooooh, Tidus ratted on me. Traitor.

"I'm positive" Was the reply my traitorous friend said.

Negative, Negative! I'm just a figment of your imagination!!

"Do you know where she went?" Paine's voice this time.

"I think she went that way" Tidus said, I couldn't see where he was pointing(it was getting me paranoid).

"Hey guys" A new voice said. Wait. I know that voice, it was Gippal. Damn, I really should have killed him when I got the chance.

"What happened to you? Why are you all wet?" Yuna asked.

I had to press my hand on my mouth to prevent myself from laughing.

"You look horrible." Paine said, I heard amusement in her voice.

"What are you guys doing?" Gippal asked.

"Looking for Rikku, Tidus said he saw her come this way." Yuna this time.

"She did, I just don't know which direction" Tidus said.

"Don't worry about it, I know where she's going" said the one eyed love of my life.

I willed him to suffer a momentary seizure and lapse into memory loss. I really did.

"Well, don't keep us in suspense, love, tell us where she's going" Leblanc. Spira, everyone is just interested in my life now, aren't they?

"Macalania" Gippal said.

There was silence.

Then, "But that place is disappearing, it's unstable" Baralai. Drat, just my luck to run into another tri-counsel meeting isn't it?

Blend in with your surroundings Rikku. Think like.....umm

I looked around. A rock. Think like a rock. Think Rock thoughts. I huddled down, crouching behind a large boulder.

Do rocks think?

I would simply have to wait until they got to Macalania first. Then send Kuppo to give me the optic specs on their position.

Great, new plan established.

What could go wrong?

....Don't answer that.