Irreplaceable

Chapter seventeen, Bar fight!

The sun had gone down completely by the time Gippal got back to Rikku's house. He was about to knock on the door when he saw the note taped onto it.

'Gippal, I'm sorry for the way I acted earlier. I knew you'd come back, thanks for not giving up on me. That being said, please give up on me. I started this new life to escape everything, and I just can't face my past again. It would be best for everyone if you just moved on. Goodbye -Rikku.

Gippal just sighed. "Riks, you know I can't do that." He muttered to himself. He knocked on the door, but received no answer. With another sigh, Gippal called out. "Riks, I know you're in there! Open up!"

"Are you looking for the girl who lives there?"

Gippal whirled around to see a petite blond woman, who was crossing the street.

"Yes. Have you seen her?" Gippal asked distractedly; he had a strange feeling of Déjà vu as though he'd met this woman before.

"Who are you?" the woman questioned, picking at a loose button on her weather-beaten coat.

"I'm a friend..." Gippal said, not wanting to trust her, but doing it anyway. "She's been shutting me out lately, and I'm worried about her."

The woman narrowed her eyes suspiciously, staring holes into his eye. After a moment she said "You're Gippal, aren't you?" she frowned. "Yeah, I remember you. Anyway, Rikku's at work. She works the night-shift at a bar called Zang's place...or something like that."

Gippal nodded. "Thanks...do you have a pen?" The woman searched her coat pocket and gave him one. He turned around and flipping Rikku's note over he wrote a message to Ruby, in case she decided to meet him there.

Went to 'Zang's place' to find Rikku. We'll be back soon, if you want to come meet us there. -Gippal

With an approving nod he turned back around. "By the way have we ever─" he stopped talking and stared out into the empty street; the woman had left while he was writing the note.

 

....

'Zang's place' turned out to be 'Zang's palace', though it should have been called 'Zang's dingy hole in the wall'. That title would have been far more accurate. The place was almost entirely wooden, or at least was meant to be, because it was all a tacky brown color. The only lighting was a light-bulb hanging in the middle of the room, and though it was bright, over half the room was engulfed in shadow.

As Gippal entered he was met with the sight and smell of drunkards, and could barely think over the loud music that played. He scanned the room, and saw Rikku in the back tending the bar.

With a sigh he walked through the bar, careful to avoid bumping into any drunken weirdos, and approached the counter. "Rikku." He said softly, trying to get her attention.

Despite the loudness of the bar, Rikku stopped talking to a customer who was flirting with her─ a fact that she clearly didn't enjoy, based off of her fake grin and high pitched tone─ and turned to look him in the eyes.

"Riks, can I talk to you for a second?" Gippal asked nervously.

Rikku looked around nervously, as though looking for someone, before slowly nodding.

"Be right back" she chirped to man she had been talking to, and then they stepped a few steps away from the crowd.

Gippal gave her a once over. She was wearing a hot pink dress, that was skin tight, so much so that the straps seemed to be cutting into her shoulders. There was a slit in it that went to her upper thigh. Even though she usually wore less, the way she wore the dress was startling to him. For a moment he didn't know why until it dawned on him, he barely recognized her. With her dress, the ridiculous matching, high heels, all the makeup, she looked like a different person. What made her look the most different however, was her painted on smile, and the look of pure desperation in her eyes. Rikku used to smile with her eyes, now she frowned with them.