Hello all! Yes, I have another story for you all to read, but not alone this time. Drachegirl14 and I have joined forces to bring you this. I wrote the first chapter, and she wrote the second. From there we will be going back and forth with each chapter. It is aurikku, so you no like, you no read. You have been warned!

Disclaimer: Neither Gin nor Drachegirl own any part of the characters or places inside this story.


Bikanel. This was the island where an outcast tribe made their home. They lived together in peace and hard work. They were all led by a man named Cid, he worked hard to keep these people whole. They were happy. As happy as a group could be when shunned by the rest of the world that is.

Cid had one downfall though. He had a daughter. A beautiful seventeen year old daughter to be exact. However, she was as capable a fighter as she was beautiful. Many a man had come in search of her hand only to go home nursing a bruise or two after being rejected.

Rikku had blond hair and tan skin most woman would die for. Many times her friends would come up to her and ask what the secret of her hair was. She would reply with a shrug before laughing and changing the subject.

She enjoyed herself living on this island. The sun on her back as she worked, the sand under her bare feet as she walked. And most of all, the hidden machina out in the desert. It was a rush when you went out digging and came back with something useful. At least it was for Rikku, she assumed it was the same for the others.

Then the biggest rush hit her just a week before she was to turn eighteen. Rikku and her group were out in the desert like normal. She was off by herself inspecting some pieces they had found seeing if any of them could be salvageable. She heard a shout from behind her and came running. Her first thought was that fiends had attacked them. It wouldn't be the first time. Slipping her claw in place, she made it in time to see……a man?

Her hand dropped to her side as her jaw dropped open in shock. How did he get here? Bikanel was an island no one, save for the Al Bhed, knew about. Though she had to admit, he was handsome. Dark hair speckled with bits of silver at the temples. It appeared as if he hadn't shaved in days, but that only served to draw her into his mystery. He wore black armor and pants. Then over top of this all, he on the largest red coat she had ever seen. Even bigger then what her father wore. But the biggest mystery had to be the strange scar that ran down the right side of his face. It began at his temple and ended just above his jaw. She had to suppress the urge to reach out and run her fingers down that scar.

"Secc Rikku? Secc Rikku?" Someone called trying to get her attention. She turned suddenly to come face to with Seiko. (Miss Rikku, Miss Rikku)

"Fryd ec ed?" Rikku mentally cursed at the way her voice cracked when she spoke. (What is it?)

The young girl properly ignored the cracking and answered. "Ra'c cdemm ymeja. Fuimt oui mega vun ic du dyga res pylg du rusa?" (He's still alive. Would you like for us to take him back to home?)

Now back in control, Rikku replied. "Oac. E femm pa pylg crundmo socamv. Ev Cid cyoc yhodrehk, E femm dyga nacbuhcepemedo." (Yes. I will be back shortly myself. If Cid says anything, I will take responsibility.)

"Oac, sy'ys ." Seiko turned and began directing orders on how they should transport the man back. (Yes, ma'am.)

Rikku walked away from them deep in thought. What had come over her? He was an injured man laying in the middle of the desert, and all she wanted to do was touch him? She glanced back to see them now picking him up and slowly making their way back to the complex. He must have been heavier then he appeared, and she had to hold back a giggle as they stumbled on the sand.

Making sure her claw and targe were in place, Rikku ran off in search of a place to relax. She found it on the far side of the island.

--

Rikku came back much later in the evening. She was covered in brown and green goop, as she called it. One of the sand worms she fought had exploded leaving her covered in entrails. All she wanted now was a hot shower then her soft bed. That was not to be. Cid stood outside home waiting for her. He appeared as if he had been there for several hours and looking irate. Nothing new there though.

Making false pleasantries she hoped she could weasel her way out of anything he might say.

"Kuut ajahehk, vydran. " She smiled. (Good evening, Father.)

"Tuh'd oui 'kuut ajahehk' sa! Zicd frana ryja oui paah? Oui ghuf E tuh'd mega oui paehk uid po ouincamv." He shouted at her not caring who may have been able to listen. (Don't you 'good evening' me! Just where have you been? You know I don't like you being out by yourself.)

"E tuh'd caa fryd dra pek taym ec, vydran. E lyh dyga lyna uv socamv zicd veha!" (I don't see what the big deal is, father. I can take care of myself just fine!)

"E ghuf oui lyh, Rikku." Cid said as he rubbed his bald head. "E funno ypuid oui. Drana yna tyhkanc eh dra tacand oui tuh'd ghuf ypuid. Pid ahuikr ypuid dryd. Oui ryja cusauha oui haat du dyga lyna uv." (I know you can, Rikku. I worry about you. There are dangers in the desert you don't know about. But enough about that. You have someone you need to take care of.)

"Ra fyga ib?" Rikku asked excited. Maybe she would be able to find out more about the mystery man. (He wake up?)

"Hu, hud oad. Pid oui untanat res rana, cu oui sicd pa dra uha du lyna vun res. Ihtancdyht? Drah uhla ra ec raymat, ra mayjac. Fa lyh'd necg paehk vuiht." (No, not yet. But you ordered him here, so you must be the one to care for him. Understand? Then once he is healed, he leaves. We can't risk being found.)

"Ihtancdyht, Vydran." She replied as she brushed passed him and inside to the infirmary. (Understand, Father.)

--

She stepped into the infirmary and glanced around at all the machina and medicines used to keep the mystery man alive. It must have been a struggle for him to stay alive long enough for him to reach the place in the desert where they had found him.

Rikku pulled a seat up next to his bed. Her hand reached out to the scar on his face, but stopped short of touching the skin. Hesitantly she pulled it back and placed it in her lap. "Zicd fru yna oui?" She whispered. Not that she expected an answer or anything. The man would be out for some time yet. He was dehydrated and drained of all life for now. Settling for holding his hand for now, she sat next to him keeping vigil through the night. (Just who are you?)

Rikku was awoken the next morning by a hand settling on her shoulder. Her head shot up to see who it was.

"Rikku, ku kad lmayhat. Ra fuh'd pa fygehk ib vun cusa desa." He advised her as he saw she was still covered in fiend gunk. He removed his hand from her shoulder before scowling at it and rubbing it on the side of his pants. (Rikku, go get cleaned. He won't be waking up for some time.)

With a quick nod, Rikku stood and stretched before heading to her room to obey. Cid waited until she was gone before staring down at the man. His coat had been removed allowing the medics access to his arms. A needle was inserted to restore the fluids he had lost.

As he stared something caught his eye from just under the armored shirt the man wore. Reaching down, he pulled out the medallion to have a closer look at what it was. It was gold and about two inches around. The front of it was encrusted with a man in an oversized and over extravagant clothing while the back held a different symbol. It was a black bug looking thing, popular in the main land of Spira. It had a single oval with an eye in the center while under it were two wings in the down position.

Cid held back an agitated growl. The man on the bed in front of him was a monk of Yevon. If he would have been able to, Cid would have killed him on the spot.