Here we go, the latest chapter! I was working on this in NY, and I think I like it.

Let's see...Nooj went to Rikku for a fix up, found out about the badness of rape that happened to her, offered advice, made the bad guys bad guys for everyone to know, Gippal found the sphere recording of Rikku being raped, got mad and then went out to find Rikku and talk to her. That's the gist of it. If you really want a more indepth summery, go read the rest of the chapters. I don't have the time or inclination to do more.

I do not own FFX-2 or any character therein. Only the words are my own. All else is property of Sqare Enix.

The torrents of rain never ceased. Spira was slowly drowning in its own waters, and it was putting a damper on the spirits of the inhabitants. Everyone was desperate for a glimpse of the sun, dogs and cats included. A morose mood had settled over the land. One would almost believe that the Eternal Calm had never happened. People were moping about, heads bowed against the rain and wind while slogging through the water logged streets and mud puddles. The chocobo caravans had to be halted all together because the roads were impassible.

The weather suited Nooj perfectly. He seemed to be the only one unaffected by it. He preferred it to the sun filled days Spira was accustomed to. A slate-gray sky was soothing to the eyes and soul. None of the blinding rays accosted him. Nor did any of the people. The over-eager faces of the populace were not inflicted upon him. That alone was worth more than the entire treasury of the Youth League.

Nooj was expecting another quiet day of paper shuffling when he opened the door to his office. People seemed unable to make their own decisions, so they flooded his office with questions and pleas for help in one matter or another. For all that the office was a sanctuary to him, it was not entirely safe from the hoards. It had large windows from floor to ceiling, which he usually kept covered with blinds. An inordinate amount of sunlight came through otherwise. The thought behind their position was that sunlight would cheer him. It had the opposite effect. Today would be the first time they would remain drawn while he was inside.

The only thing he missed about decent weather was the sunrise. He would watch it every morning. Human hands could not affect or change it, so it served as a reminder that there were limits to what any one person could do.

He also watched the dawn because he rarely slept. Sleep was something he avoided at all costs. Sleep brought dreams, which in turn brought hope. Then one would wake and find that the dreams were just that, and consequently get slapped in the face by reality. It was not a pleasant feeling to have one's hopes ripped away upon waking.

Let those who can afford to dream do so. I have no time for dreams.

With a sigh, he stepped inside to begin the day's work. Once the door was closed behind him, Nooj found that he was not alone.

Rikku was inside his locked office, four stories above ground. There was no way to access his office but through the door he had just entered. She was standing near the windows, staring at the falling rain, arms crossed, weight on one leg while the other stood slack. Her breath fogged up the window slightly, making it impossible to see her expression.

"Al Bhed seem to like breaking into my office."

"You told him."

Rikku did not turn to address him, but judging from her posture and tone of voice, she was unhappy and exhausted.

"No. He broke in, probably just as you did, and found that sphere himself. Are all Al Bhed such good thieves?"

"Just a few. The one who trained us died when Home was destroyed."

Silence reigned supreme in the room. Nooj would not be the one to break it. Rikku would do so soon enough. At least she was no longer jumping about or jittering as she had on the first meeting with the Gullwings.

"He asked me, why I never told him. Why I never told anyone."

"Two good questions to ask from his position."

"Huh. I told him the truth. I don't know why. I could've, and Pops would've ripped their bodies limb from limb and used their intestines as ropes to hang the pieces by. And then everyone would know. I'd get all kinds of pity and whispers behind my back. They'd pet my hand and stay away from the subjects of men and sex. No thanks."

"I do believe him, though, about the whole 'I don't give a shit about what happened beyond wanting to kill them again' thing. I just...I cant' accept what I've done, been doing, you know? I'm not worth much of anything because of the way I've been acting."

"So, you believe him, yet you ran away, I take it."

"Yep. I ran away, cause he wouldn't leave. I even asked him nicely. I could've just thrown him out. Instead I ran out of my office."

"I hope you did not bury him under the crane in your workroom."

"HA! Tempting, but no. He's alive and well. Just not knowing where I'm at right now. I'd like to keep it that way, if you don't mind."

Nooj sat down in his chair. His back was to Rikku, who was still facing the windows. He wondered, briefly, why she decided to come to him with this instead of Yuna of Paine. That thought was quickly cut short. Rikku was correct in thinking that Yuna couldn't handle the situation correctly. For all that she saved Spira; Yuna simply did not have the stomach to deal with something so violent and horrifying. Paine would have been a better choice, but still, she cared too much to offer any assistance. He was still thinking when the door opened and Captain Lucil walked in.

"Meyven Nooj, I have the reports you requested-oh! Forgive me; I was not aware you had such an early meeting."

"It's of no consequence. I will take the reports." The woman handed them over, sparing a glance in Rikku's direction before turning to leave. "Wait a moment." Lucil stopped near the door, awaiting orders. "Rikku, when did you last rest?"

"I dunno...two, three days ago I guess. Why?"

"Captain, take her to one of the guest quarters. No disturbances unless by my order."

"Sir." A smart salute followed her acknowledgement. "This way, please."

Rikku sighed quietly, and turned to follow. Lucil gasped at her appearance. She was deathly pale, with eyes that seemed to stare out from a black abyss. The usual gleam was gone from those eyes, replaced by a dull sheen. It seemed to be a zombie standing before them instead of a human being. She didn't shuffle along like one though. Rikku moved with the same speed and economy of movement Nooj had witnessed in Luca.

"Please, follow me." Captain Lucil said, recovering quickly. Rikku just nodded and went after her. Nooj watched them leave, wondering how long it would take Gippal to track Rikku here. Not that he had any intention of stopping him from finding Rikku. The sooner this was taken care of, the sooner he could stop being bothered with other people's issues and focus on his own. Deathseekers were invariably selfish creatures. They only wanted to die. Nothing else mattered.

Yet, Nooj could not figure out why he was concerned with Rikku. Perhaps it was because she stirred something other than lust or depression in him. The anger he had felt when he learned of what had happened was still with him. It engulfed his thoughts if he let his mind wander. He was unaccustomed to being concerned for or about anything but his own demise. Nooj could not decide if it was going to pass or stay with him.

"If you are unhappy with the path you are on, then forge a new one. Nothing holds you back but yourself."

Those words had sealed his fate. What else would those words bind him to?

Reviews would be welcome. Thanks a peach!