Rikku let out a big sigh. That was the most she ever lied to one person and got away with it. Hm, maybe she was growing up a little bit. Did that make adults dishonest? She shook her head and rubbed her temple. She was getting old.

With a sigh, she looked at the other work she had to do. The construction wasn't for nothing, so with all the buildings going up, there needed to be people living in them – living in the city in the first place. So, she had another job – realistate. It wasn't that hard, some people even asked her if they could live there.

Quite a few people asked for large mansions to be built for them as well; even Rin asked if she could do something. The wealthy loved to get things that were nice and hard to get. And that's what she sold. Of course, then she had to ask them what kind of floor plan they wanted, what they wanted installed, and so on and so forth.

She really needed a day off. Sighing again, she went through a stack of papers on the desk and realized something – her date book was gone. Where in Spira had it disappeared to now? She always kept it on her desk to schedule her appointments. Lately, Elhana did most of that, but since she had engagements of her own, it was crucial she wrote them down. She knew she had a day off in there somewhere, if only she could find it.

When she tore up the top of the desk and found nothing, she started going through the drawers. In each one, there were more things, but absolutely no date book. How hard was it to find a small book that was bright yellow with chocobos on it? Finally, she stood up and bent over to look under the thing. Maybe it fell to the floor and she didn't notice.

She finally spotted a small book, the size of a sphere, maybe, she clasped onto it under the desk with a smile. She felt the texture and knew it was her date-book. By this time, she was on her knees with her head still underneath the desk. Not really caring, she flipped open the pages and found the date she was on. The rest of that day was full, but then she saw that the next day was entirely clear – except for the little note that she was going to Bevelle with Yunie and Paine.

She guessed she could wait it out a little longer.

"Now, I know you're avoiding me."

The voice startled her so much, she jumped up and hit her head on the underside of the desk. "Owie," she muttered, coming out from underneath rubbing her head where it hurt.

She was just about to yell at the person responsible for scaring her, when she realized who it was. Her eyes widened. Not again.

Rikku stood up straight and looked at Gippal with an innocent expression. He sat on her desk, playing with one of the little ornaments that decorated it. He never could sit still. But, then he gave her one of his trademark grins and set the thing down.

"Avoiding you?" she asked. "Never."

His eyebrow raised and his look said it all. 'Yeah, right.'

She looked down instantly, but didn't make herself appear nervous. "You wanted something?" she asked, going through her date book, but not looking for anything in particular. She just wanted to seem as though she was busy.

"Come now, Rikku, lying to my sister?" he asked. "That's stooping to a new low."

She gave him a look of disgust. "Excuse me, I lied to Nhadala, when?"

"You didn't think I didn't hear that conversation?"

"What conversation?"

"Tu hud bmyo fedr sa, bnuhlacc," he said, switching tongues. (Do not play with me, Princess)

She decided to go along with him. Maybe she could confuse him more than she was herself. "Sa? Bmyo? Yht fedr oui, uv ymm baubma? Ruhacdmo, E tu hud cduub du dryd majam," she replied, leaning forward to give him a sneer. (Me? Play? And with you, of all people? Honestly, I do not stoop to that level.)

He grinned, looking her up and down. "Now, princess, who said that's what I was talking about?"

She stood up straight and snorted out of her nose in frustration. "Ev oui tu bmyo yhodrehk, drah kad uid!" (If you do not need anything, then get out!) She pointed to the door in frustration and slammed a book on the desk near his hand.

He grabbed his hand away and gave her a look. "You don't have to yell," he pointed out. "But I do need something."

"That would be?" she asked, eyes narrowed.

"I need you to answer my question."

At this, she gave him a confused look. "What are you—?"

"It was right before Yuna walked in last night, remember?

At this, she paused. "I answered that, didn't I?" she asked. Before he could answer, she turned and went over to put a few things on the one shelf. While doing so, she reached up and went through a few files that were up there as well—the ones that she needed in a few days.

"Not honestly."

"Who says I didn't?"

She heard movement behind her, but didn't think of it as much. "I asked you if you knew why the old man was keeping me here," Gippal went on. "And you said you didn't know. That, princess, was a lie."

"No it wasn't—what are you doing!"

Before she could even finish what she was going to say, she felt a pair of arms wrap around her waist and breath on her neck and ear. "What's it look like?" he purred into her ear.

A shiver ran down her spine, her hands on his arms, in an effort to make him let go, but for some odd reason she really wasn't trying too hard. Though, her eyes were wide and millions of thoughts ran through her head.

Her breath caught when she felt something warm and moist on the back of her ear. He licked her! Her throat became dry and the only thing she thought of was how to get out of there as quickly as possible. But for some odd reason she

But then, something weird happened, Gippal just held her affectionately and inhaled the scent of her hair. For a moment she was bewildered, but that was all she needed to snap out of her daze.

Rikku struggled a little bit, making him turn, but that only resulted in them facing the door. "Gippal, let me go," she said, demandingly.

"If I don't?" he asked, still holding onto her tightly.

"Gippal!"

"No; I like holding you," he said into her ear.

She struggled a little bit more, but then she heard someone clear their throat and it wasn't him. Both Gippal and she froze and looked over to where it came from. There, in the doorway, was none other than Cid himself.