Water was always something used to heal, for whatever purpose. Rikku knew why, as she lay in that water, leaning back in the bubbles and letting her limbs numb. Her eyes were closed, her hair back in a towel. If only she could stay in the water forever. But soon the bubbles were going to dissolve, and the water was getting colder.

Taking a deep breath, she sat up and reached for a towel. Up and about, she wrapped it around her body, and unplugged the drain. She had no idea how long she'd been in that bathroom, just soaking. But, washing off in the shower, she looked around, seeing that her sister-in-law had disappeared.

"Astrah?" she called. At first there was no answer, so she called again, "Astrah!" She grabbed a towel to cover herself while leaning over to see in the door.

"I'm here!" called a reassuring voice. "Be right there."

Tying the towel under her arm, she went over to the door and into the bedroom. But just as she got there, the door opened and Astrah came in, fully dressed, with bags in her arms. "I took the liberty of going into your place and got some of your clothes," she said, putting a few things on the bed that she'd been using—formally being Elhana's.

"I also picked up a few things that we'll need," she continued. "You don't think that they'll mind if I use some of their things?"

She shook her head. "I don't think so. I am Adedrea and Elhana's boss."

The older girl shrugged. "Alright," she replied. "Let's get you fixed up."

"Okay, the whole not sleeping with her when she was drunk was the only smart thing you did," Nhadala, confessed with blunt honesty, leaning back in the chair that she had 'found' amongst the clutter.

Her brother gave her a look. "And?"

"Everything else was just plain stupid."

"You know, that makes me feel so much better," he sad, sarcasm dripping from his voice. Gippal was leaning forward in his chair, against his desk with his arms. "Now, what your prescription?"

She rolled her eye, and inhaled deeply. Standing, she got up and went around the desk to face him. "Right now, you are to do nothing," she said. "Leave her alone, and let her be the one to come to you."

"After what happened, she's probably a little embarrassed, not to mention angry and hurt that you read her diary. On top of that, you dropped the big news on her." She tilted her head to the side and bit her lip. "She's reacting like most women. Astrah has her in my place upstairs, and has promised to take care of her."

But then, she grabbed him by the arms, and started pushing him to the door. "Now, go home, take a shower and get some sleep," she said persistently. "Move, get out of here. I don't want to see you working anymore. Once you've slept, then think it over—but don't you dare go to see her!"

He jumped away from her. "Okay, okay!" he said, waving his hands in the air to his defense.

Shaking her head, Nhadala watched as he left. Sighing, she glanced at her watch. "I have got to get out of here," she said.

"You have very pretty skin," Astrah commented as she dusted her sister-in-law's eyes. With a kit of makeup to her side, and eye shadow in her hand, she used a large brush to apply what was needed.

Rikku sat in front of her as they sat on the bedroom floor, eyes closed lightly. She wore a light nightdress, and her hair was dried, swept back from her face with clips. It was completely loose too, no braids, nor beads. After she had bathed, it had been blown dry and Astrah insisted upon doing her makeup as well. Her nails were due next, as she had been warned.

"And the shape of your eyes is lovely," she continued, mixing colors on the skin right under her thumb on the back of her hand. She changed brushes, and used something darker to line it.

As soon as she stopped, she leaned back to look at her, and Rikku opened her eyes slowly. With a sigh, the older woman smiled. "You're a very pretty woman," she said, calmness in her tone. "Very pretty."

Looking away, Rikku made a face. "Why are you doing this?" she asked.

"Because when you feel bad on the inside, it helps to look nice on the outside," she said, then grinned and took out a tube of mascara. The younger girl obediently closed her eyes; Astrah leaned forward to apply it. "Both looking and feeling bad aren't ways to recover," she sighed.

Rikku didn't nod, but then looked up when her friend changed from eyes to lips. She washed off her hand and worked to mix a few things, but still spoke. "I know what your feeling." She didn't let her talk as she lined her lips with a color she didn't see. "Hurt, confused, and just frustrated." She paused, but then smiled. "Right?"

She nodded, not looking her in the eye.

"Do you want to tell me what happened?" she asked, concern in her eyes.

Looking up to her, she look about ready to cry again, but stopped. "Gippal…Nhadala's brother?"

Astrah nodded. "Your roommate, I know," she said, finishing up her makeup. "I just know details, not the entire story. I won't be able to help you unless you tell me what went on. You seemed fine the other day."

"I was," she said, throwing her hands up in exasperation. She stood and walked to the other side of the room. "At least I thought I was."

"So… you've known him since you were kids?"

She nodded and turned to her. "Since I was five and he was six. I still remember the first day we met," she replied, hugging her arms.

"You were friends?"

For a moment she made a face, then nodded. "If you called constant teasing and bickering friendship, I guess."

Astrah made a face as though she was thinking. "He told you that he loves you, didn't he?"

She turned around. "He just came out and said it!" she exclaimed. "Out of the blue! I didn't have time to think about it, he just said it!"

It looked as though the older woman was chewing her tongue. "He read your diary, right?"

Her tone was annoyed, as she started walking around with arms crossed over her chest. "Yes."

"His excuse?"

She laughed out loud, and clicked her tongue. "It was the only way he could get the truth," she snarled. "I mean, where did he get that?"

Astrah leaned back on her hands, pouted a little bit with consideration. "I don't know, maybe he was telling the truth."

Rikku whipped around to looked at her. "Whose side are you on?"

She smiled knowingly. "No one's," she said. "I'm merely giving both you and him the benefit of the doubt."

Looking away with a pout, Astrah sat up. "Oh, come on Rikku," she said, crossing her arms. "We already know he's head over heels for you. And we know that what he did was wrong, and that you don't think he regrets it. Now, what I want to know is, why did he think he couldn't get the truth from you?"

Sighing, she looked away and bit her lip. "I got drunk the other night," she confessed. "And I attacked him."

Slowly, but surely, realization came to her sister-in-law's face. First her eyes widened and she smiled with joy, but then it faded into a smug smirk, her eyes mischievous. "Well, that changes things."

Rikku's eyes narrowed with a growl, but then Astrah just threw her head back with a laugh. "What's so funny?" she snapped, brow wrinkled.

She put a hand to her stomach to stop her giggling as she looked up to her with joy. "Oh, you're so full of surprises. This changes things," she said.

"What?"

The older woman stood and sat on the bed, tucking her leg under her as she did. She patted the spot next to her. "Come on, sit with me," she said.

Obeying, she came over, and Astrah put her legs in her lap, patting them comfortingly. "Okay, I take it, you're attracted to him right?"

She laughed. "Who isn't?" When she was given a look, she pouted. "Shutting up."

"Well, did you know that a physical attraction may come after your mind realizes something deeper?" she asked.

"Like what?"

She sighed. "Yes, I know, everyone asks, 'Why the heck did this beautiful woman marry someone like Brother?'" Rikku couldn't help but laugh. "I know about all that, believe it or not. I'm not stupid." She sighed, looking at the rings on her finger. "But, he makes me happy. I know that he can be a little eccentric, and loud. But he has a good heart, with a kind and gentle way about him."

Astrah looked up to her. "That brought the physical attraction. That love I have for him—and I do love Brother, believe it or not—made me think of him in a more…" She paused with a smile, mischievously looking at her. "Sensual way."

Rikku's jaw dropped almost playfully. "That's awful!"

"It's the truth!" she announced, proudly.

"But what does that have to do with this?"

Her smiled dimmed to a confident one. "You said that you hated him," she replied. "Wouldn't touch him with a stick. And yet you did that." She nodded. "I can see why he's confused."

"Not to mention, you're attracted to him. And yet, you don't like him?"

"No."

She blinked, almost disbelievingly. "Are you sure?"

For one moment, Rikku just looked at her with a wrinkled brow. "What do you mean?"

"Well, what happens when you're near him?" she asked. "When he looks at you? What do you feel?"

She bit her lip. "My heart swells and my stomach is jittery," she replied, innocently.

Astrah kept her smug grin. "Mind races?" Rikku nodded. "Can't seem to concentrate, and he can drive you insane with a glance?"

Again, she nodded. "Yes," she said, insistently.

Her eyes narrowed. "You can go weak in the knees and you lust for the feel of his skin?"

"Yes," she said. "What does that mean? I know I'm attracted to him."

She sighed. "If I told you what I thought, you promise not to flip out?"

Rikku nodded. "Yes."

"Well, to me, it sounds a little bit like a case of…"

It couldn't be, just couldn't be. What Astrah said might have been just a misunderstanding. She couldn't…be in love with Gippal, she just couldn't. She hadn't been able to stand him since they were kids. How was it even possible for her to love him?

As she walked down the hall, she didn't care that she was wearing a nightdress. She even left before Astrah was able to do her hair. She was so confused, so completely confused. She just had to sort this out, had to talk to the source of all this mess.

Her heart pounded in her ears as her feet made their way across the carpet. In her stomach, she felt the knots and the butterflies coming, but ignored them. Every possibility that could happen when she got there went through her head. She had to keep going, had to speak to him.

She just didn't know anything anymore.

Swallowing, she made it to the door, and shakily reached for the handle. Taking a deep breath, she clutched it with a sweaty palm. Inhaling, she closed her eyes. This was it; she had to do this.

Swallowing his pride, Gippal listened to what his sister told him to do. He went home, showered, cleaned himself up, shaved, and went to bed. After a few hours, he had gotten up, and wandered into the living room, just reclining on the couch as he stared at the ceiling. Think it over, was what she said, and think it over was what he did.

Okay, he did do some stupid things. That didn't mean that he had bad intentions. He just wanted to know what he wasn't told. Now he didn't even know if she'd ever talk to him again.

And he really did love her.

Everything about her he loved, from her clumsiness to her addition to coffee. To the way she stuck her tongue out when she thought to when she ran around like a five year old, he loved. There was even the way that she held herself, and talked, moved; all of it he adored.

It was nothing if she didn't feel the same way.

But what made him jump and sit up was when the door suddenly opened. A small form came inside and shut it instantly. Facing the door, she put her head to the wood and took a deep breath.

At first, he didn't recognize her. It was a she, after all; she had breasts and a waist. Her petite form didn't face him, but she wore what looked to be a silk nightdress. Her long blond hair was loose from everything, and tumbled down her shoulders nicely. Her practically bare shoulders were trembling.

"Rikku?" he asked.

She flinched at his voice, and turned around slowly, looking at him with almost a fear in her eyes. Seeing her was almost a blow to the stomach. Obviously someone had done her makeup, because she looked different. Yet, she looked so natural that it was beautiful. Truthfully, he didn't care if she was dressed up or not—still it was different. And her hair; it was so long, so earthy, and she looked just perfect standing there.

His roommate hugged her body as she looked at him. Swallowing, she choked out a word. "I need to talk to you," she whispered.

Gippal stood, not saying anything as he looked at her. She only came up to him slowly, looking at the ground. "I'm sorry," she said. "I—."

He put a finger to her lips. "You don't have to apologize," he said, shrugging. "I went too far and it was my fault. I'm the one who should be sorry."

She looked up to him and he almost died seeing the tears well up in her eyes. His hand twitched to touch her, comfort her, but he didn't do anything. Her lip trembled and she looked down with a sob. "What is the matter with you!" she exclaimed. "Why can't you be mad at me? I'm the one that's causing all this pain."

He shook his head and took a step forward, a hand to his chest. "Rikku, I'm fine—."

"Not you!" Her head whipped up to him. "Me."

He searched her eyes for an answer. "What hurts?" he asked.

Lip trembling, she opened her mouth. "My heart."

His brow wrinkled, but she continued and cut him off. "I have no idea what I feel for you," she said, holding her head. "My head is screaming something and my heart is screaming another. I can't think when I'm with you!" she yelled. Then her voice settled. "I can't even breathe."

Gippal tried to find the words to say to her, but there was nothing that he could say at all. "You said you loved me," she said suddenly. "Why?"

"Why did I say it or—?"

"Why do you love me?"

For a minute, he just looked into her eyes. She was so hurt, so confused. He searched for the answer he wanted to give her to make her feel better, but he had to tell the truth. He shook his head, a sorry expression on his face. "I don't have a reason. I just do," he answered truthfully.

She sniffled and took a deep breath, reaching up to wipe her face off from the tears. "Then that's it," she said. "You really do love me."

Her words surprised him, but she didn't look him in the eye. Then he looked disappointed. "Was there any doubt in your mind?"

"I don't know what to think!" she yelled up at him. Then, slowly, she turned away, rubbing her upper arms. "Nothing makes sense anymore."

Almost growling, he stepped forward and came up from behind, and wrapped her arms around her waist. She stiffened as he tightly hugged her, and his chin rested on her shoulder. "Does your heart hurt now?" he asked, almost blankly.

Shaking from the sobs, he saw her nod. "Yes," she said. "Yes it does."

He closed his eyes, and his fists tightened. He could feel the pain she was feeling, a sharp blow in the chest that ached. If she didn't want him, then she didn't have to worry about it. "I'm sorry."

With another squeeze, he slowly let her slip from his hands and turned from her. He heard her turn. "What…?"

"If I cause you that much pain," he started, then looked over his shoulder with a cold glare, "then I should leave."

Rikku's heart wrenched from her stomach to her throat as he started walking away. He headed for the bedroom, and the next thing she knew that she was following him. "Wait!" she exclaimed.

She made it inside the room as he went over to his side of the room. "Please, don't leave," she begged.

Gippal whipped around to her, expression as scary as it was the previous night. Only this time, he had the deep look of pain in his eyes. She almost gasped. "I have done nothing but care for you," he said. "And if what you want is for me to leave, then I will."

Eyes wide, she gasped. He couldn't leave. It would kill her. She ran over to his side and pulled on his hand. "Wait, just listen to me," she said, hugging his arm. "Just please listen to what I have to say."

"What more do should I hear!"

The second he turned on her, it was the scariest thing she'd ever seen. Lighting in his eyes, he backed her into the wall, arms on either side of her with his hand firmly against the wall. His face was to the ground as she looked to him with fear, but she calmed as she saw his form shaking.

"What else do you want from me?" he sobbed. Her eyes widened as she saw the tears that fell to the floor. "What's wrong with me?"

Like a child, he was, standing right there in front of him. His shoulders shook and he looked as if he was throwing a tantrum. She really did hurt him. Suddenly, the heart that was in her throat dropped to her gut, and there was a pang of another kind of pain in her chest.

And then she did something that she never really had a reason for. She reached out for him, and put her hands on either side of his neck, making him look up to her. "I don't want you to leave," she said. "That's not what I want at all. My heart hurts…because I'm falling in love with you."

She saw his eyes widen, but she didn't wait. For she only pulled him to her and kissed him the hardest she could.

Just say it. Yes, I'm evil. I am the evilest writer ever! Ha ha ha! But, for the next chapter, before I begin to write it, I need feedback from all of you. If you want a mature seen, just say the word. It won't be a full out lemon, but something. I have to know, or else I might not do it...might not. Review!