More of this story! I'm slowly getting it worked out. Yeah.

I redid some of the conversations here, because I agreed with Ikon about the 'same'ness of the speech. I think I got it fixed. And I wanted this chapter short and sweet because the next one is turning out to be a doozie. Thanks for the feedback, you guys!

I own nothing but the ideas herein. All else is property of Square Enix.

He was finally back at the Youth League Headquarters. The journey from Bevelle had been uneventful and slow due to the downpour or rain Spira was experiencing. If there was rain, everything changed to the pace of a lazy caterpillar, or more accurately, a slug. Nooj had not yet figured out how or why rain should slow things down in such a dramatic way, but one day he would. In any case, the travel was behind him. His office door was waiting to be opened and welcome him into a mock-up of peace. No one bothered him there when the door was shut.

Simply entering the room removed the frustrations of the day. Nooj took a deep breath after the door was closed. He barely had time to register the scents of metal and oil before the lights flickered on. It took a few seconds for his eyes to adjust to the sudden brightness.

After several blinks, his eyes adjusted fully, and Nooj found Gippal sitting in his chair, feet on the top of the desk and arms crossed. One look at the younger man's face put Nooj on alert. A dangerous glint was in Gippal's eye. Gippal was not someone that he wanted to have as an enemy. The man was simply unpredictable when it came to fighting.

"You knew. You knew, and didn't tell me." Gippal made a flash movement with one arm. Nooj caught an object before it hit him, finding the sphere Rikku had given him in his hand. "Why?"

"You watched it, I assume."

"Yeah. I watched it. Made me want to puke and rip their heads off all at the same time. Now tell me why, old friend."

"If she had wanted you or anyone else to know, then she would have told her story herself."

"Damn it, Nooj!" Gippal stood up and practically stalked over to Nooj. "You know damn well how I feel about her. This is why she's avoiding my like I'm a Malboro, isn't it?"

"Yes." Gippal just stared at him, his one good eye blazing. "What would you have me do, Gippal?" Nooj said with a sigh. "It is none of my concern what she does or wants done. And how am I to tell a friend that the girl he is in love with was tortured and raped? That she subsequently ended their lives afterwards? Would you rather I throw that sphere at you, saying 'This is interesting, you ought to watch it, Gippal'?"

"It happened like that anyway, Noojster. You should've just lied about the whole 'evidence sphere' thing. I wouldn't have come here snooping."

"I shall remember that in the future. What other sensitive material did you riffle through here?"

"Just that safe under the desk. Clever little thing, but not good enough. I'll make you a better one once I stop being pissed at you."

"And what will get me back in your good graces quickly? There are things I must do that you can not be in my office for."

"One of those 'things' better not be having a heart-to-heart with my would-be girlfriend." Gippal stated darkly.

"No, as a matter of fact. That is not on the agenda for today. Or anytime for that matter."

"I still don't get why she told you. Why not Paine, or even Lulu? Why the Deathseeker? You're not the 'come to me with your problems' type."

"Perhaps it is because I have seen the darker side of life more than anyone else she knows. I accept the dark things in this world. I do not fear them or disbelieve. What would you have done, honestly, if she had told you?"

"I...I wouldn't have believed her. Not at first. Damn it..."

At this, Gippal closed his eye and blindly walked over to a chair. He sat with his head in his hands, looking as if the world had ended.

"I don't know, Nooj. I just...why didn't she tell me? Tell anyone?"

"Because she is afraid. Afraid that she will be treated differently."

"What? She can't honestly believe I'd follow that crap about not being worthy of marriage! We've been friends since before we could walk!"

"That doesn't mean she is not frightened. You saw that sphere. It must have taken a very long time for her to accept that. The fact that she survived mostly intact is a testament to her strength. But she is still human."

Gippal screwed up his face slightly.

"It's not like I'm some kind of rule follower. I broke more rules than I can remember. I'll be damned if I treat Rikku like some mistress just because of a few old thoughts."

"If you are that adamant about it, go corner her. She might talk to you about it."

"And if she doesn't believe me?"

"Convince her otherwise."

"I still want to know why she told you.."

"Because I am impartial to her and nearly everything else. Whatever her reasons, I am not in her head to know them. Nor do I wish to be. If you really want to know why, then ask her yourself. I am sick unto death of hearing you ask that question."

"Yeah, ask her myself..." Gippal was thinking aloud, something he only did when in deep thought. He walked out without any further words. Nooj sat down in his chair, rubbing at his temples.

How did I manage to get involved in this? Am I to become an Oddwoman? What a horrid thought.