A/N: I never thought I'd ever continue writing this. I was actually in the process of finishing this Cloud x Yuffie fic I'm writing but for some reason, I ended up doing this instead. Wow. Gipryus are so popular now, huh? 8 months ago there were only 2 Rikku x Gippel fanfics here in . Both were mine. Very few people paid attention to them. But now… Wow. It's so nice to see that I'm not the only one who thinks Rikku and Gippel belong together. ^_^

Pardon my use of the Japanese names. I've gotten used to them already. I haven't played the English version yet, you see. Still waiting for FFX-2 International + Last Mission. -_-

Anyway, on with the fic!

Chapter 3 : Dreamland

It was way past my bedtime but still I was awake. How in the world can one sleep when a thousand questions and thoughts are shooting from all directions inside her angry mind? I was so pissed. I couldn't believe you told everyone back at home that we were dating… I couldn't believe you were still alive.

Do you still remember when we were kids? We were the best of enemies back then. You would always play practical jokes on me and tease me like crazy! I'd end up crying and you'd stick your tongue out and call me Cid's little brat. There was this one time I couldn't take your banter anymore. I fought the urge to cry. I punched you instead. I punched you so hard that you ended up having a black eye. That was the first time I saw you cry. It was also the last time I saw both of your green pools. After that little incident, you started wearing your black eye patch. You would always say that it was a sign of bad-ass-ness, that it was the in-thing, yada-yada-yada. But deep inside, I knew you were just embarrassed of your little black eye courtesy of yours truly. I just can't help but wonder why you never took it off.

I cannot forget the second and last time I saw you cry either. It was also the last time I saw you— exactly two years ago. Something was wrong with you that day. You were so quiet and motionless. You didn't talk nor did you work with your machina. Such was a rare occurrence for you, the loudmouth machina freak. Of course I was bothered by your weird behavior but I didn't bother finding out what was up with you. It could've been one of your gazillion practical jokes. You never did grow up.

The day passed by without us bumping into each other. Then, night came. I was about to go to bed when I heard a knock on my door. Grumbling, I staggered towards it and to my surprise, it was you.

"What in the world is up with you?" I cried. "It's almost midnight. What do you want?"

"I just… I just wanted to see you. That's all."

"Haha. Rrright. Do you actually believe I'd fall for this practical joke of yours?"

"No— it's true! I just wanted to see you and… and give you this." You quickly handed me a little box.

"Wha? What's this for?"

"Nothing. Just open it when you wake up, alright? Good b— good night, Rikku." You surprised me by giving me a quick peck on the lips. I was totally caught off guard. The normal me would have pushed you away (Heck, the normal you wouldn't even dare kiss me!). But I didn't. I just stood there and smiled. As much as I hate to admit it, it felt nice.

Suddenly shy, I stared at the ground, quietly giggling in my thoughts. Just when I was ready to face you again, you looked away. The darkness could conceal our blushed cheeks but not the crystals on your face. You were crying.

"Gippel…" Your name escaped my lips like a soft sigh. "What's wrong?"

You forced a smile on your face and shook your head. You rested your head on top of mine and whispered, "Take good care of yourself, Rikku".

My eyes were beginning to water as I felt an explosion of mixed emotions inside my heart. My golden lashes met and a single tear stained my cheek.

"Tell me what's wrong, Gippel."

"Nothing," you assured me. You placed a light kiss on my forehead and started to walk away.

"Where are you going?" I cried, causing you to stop in your tracks.

"Dreamland." The word escaped your lips together with a sigh. "I'll see you there".

Thinking you were talking about getting some sleep, I nodded, threw you a small smile, and watched you walk away. I told myself that nothing was wrong— that you prolly just wanted to say sorry for our crazy past. I even laughed at myself for almost crying. I laughed even harder as my mind wandered over your surprising yet sweet gestures. How ironic it was that the first kiss I would receive was from you of all people. I couldn't really describe how it felt. But one thing was for sure; it really made my heart soar and smile. Such a weird but lovely night, it was indeed.

Sleepiness had finally cast my thoughts away. Next thing I knew, the sun was already up. Rubbing my eyes and releasing a yawn, I got up from my bed and started to walk towards my bathroom. A little box on my bedside table caught my attention. It was the package you gave me last night. Curiosity begged me to open it and so I did. Inside was a feather earring in my favorite colors, orange and yellow. It was so cute! I rushed outside to look for you and thank you but you were nowhere to be found. I asked everyone where you were but they just shook their head.

"Perhaps he's in his room." I told myself. I hurried to your room and excitedly shouted your name. An empty room greeted me.

You didn't only leave Home that day… You also left me.

I tried to convince myself that it was just another one of your jokes. I tried hard not to cry. But I couldn't. The tears just kept on flowing. I couldn't deceive myself with poor excuses and lies. You were gone. The late night visit, the earring, those tears, and those kisses— they were all making sense now. You wanted to say goodbye before you left.

That day we last saw each other— it was also the day of my first heartbreak.

I didn't want anyone to know about my sorrow so I sheathed myself with thick walls of sunshine. I was the effervescent Rikku, right? Rikku is always optimistic. Rikku is always smiling. Rikku never cries— especially over a nincompoop named Gippel!

But sadly, she does. She does so every night. See? She's crying right now.

I angrily wiped my tears away with the back of my palm. Two years have passed and still I'm crying over you. You're too selfish. You left me scarred and broken-hearted and still you want my tears. I closed my eyes tightly releasing a flood of tears… hoping to see you in dreamland.