Disclaimer: FFX/X-2 doesn't belong to me. That's the end of my story.

Notes: Written because I believe Gippal isn't the right one for Rikku, and that the "missing right eye" is a hidden clue as to who Rikku's real love should be; yes, I'm reading far too much into it. But that was my first thought when I saw Gippal for the first time, and I was rather dismayed/horrified to discover Gippal was supposed to be Rikku's love interest. Written in 20 minutes because when the plot bunny hits and I have access to a word processor, the words just flow out of the fingers.

Summary: Because I'm not Cid's girl anymore. But I'm not yours, either.

You always greet me with a sardonic yet somehow hopeful smile and a, "Hey, it's Cid's girl."

There was a time my heart would get all a-flutter and I'd blush and say some inane sentence. And as much as I'd like to deny it to Yunie and Paine, we did go out once upon a time, when we were young and thought that love was something fun and new with which to experiment.

But then I went on Yunie's pilgrimage. And I learned what love really is.

Love isn't a machina to tinker on or kisses that were only utilized to frustrate one another or even boys pushing girls to the ground and girls playing hard to get for the boys.

Love is what you do when someone you care for is about to die and you vow not to let them sacrifice their life needlessly and keep your word. Love is the tear you shed when your loved one jumps off the ship and disappears.

Love is what shreds your heart to pieces when your loved one vanishes into pyreflies at the end of the ultimate battle.

Now when I see you, and you say, "Hey, it's Cid's girl," my sighs and my frustrated fidgeting and my accusations are real, not silly-playing.

I've matured. Maybe some people can't see it. I know you don't.

But Yunie does. And Kimahri. And Lulu and Wakka. Even Brother, Buddy, Shinra, hell even Cid sees it. The pilgrimage changes people, makes them . . . I don't know how else to put it without sounding supremist, but better than the average person. Hardier. That's the word, hardier.

You wouldn't know, though. You never will. And guess what, supposed leader of the Machina Faction? O glorious leader who thinks he's all that? You have Yunie, the celebrity you have so little regard for, to thank.

And you have me to thank. And you have Wakka, Lulu, and Kimahri to thank. You have Tidus to thank.

You have Auron to thank, too, though he isn't here to accept it and never will be, because he sacrificed so much for Spira and, by extension, you. You may have a patch over your right eye to cover up a "scar" like Auron's, but I know that there's nothing but a perfectly functioning eye under there. And it irks me to no end that you do that, because somehow it feels like you're mocking Auron, and no one mocks Auron. Not while I'm around. Because Auron was a great man, far better than you ever will be, and there is nothing you can do about it.

Because I'm not Cid's girl anymore.

But I'm not yours, either.

I'm Auron's girl.