Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy X-2!

He stared intently upon the young girl that so ideally dug into the sand. She was so innocent and oblivious to the world around her. He had seen her at the Bikanel camp site and instantly knew she would lead him to what he sought. So many years ago he had seen her with the key to unlock his long awaited power. He had been searching for it for years but the prophecy held him back from taking it. Only one would be able to activate it and somehow he knew she would be the one. He had followed her out into the desert and she was unaware of his presence as he waited and watched for her to find his long awaited prize. This girl was the one that would finally bring him to the power to conquer all!

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Rikku wiped the sweat from her brow as she stared at the raging hot sun. Now that the Gullwings had saved the world and Tidus was reunited with them, Rikku had decided to go back to Bikanel desert and work. Their new Home was almost finished being built and she loved to see the fast process her father, Cid, and the Al Bhed were making with it.

Today, she had taken a hover craft out to the Easter Expanse alone. She hoped she could earn a little money from any machina is found and getting some much needed alone time.

She had tons of stuff to do with the Al Bhed; they never failed to keep her busy but lately she found that something seemed to be lacking in her perfect world. Rikku was sure it had to do with the fact that Tidus was back and Yuna was on cloud nine and she had left Rikku. Rikku was starting to feel left out and she really want to experience the love Yuna and Tidus seemed to share. Even Rikku noticed that Paine and Baralai were getting something going on.

Not that she hadn't been dating. Oh boy, she had. There had been Lucas, a few others that she couldn't remember there names...Evander, whom she had just broken up with two weeks ago but they just didn't make her feel the way Yunie described love to be. Rikku tried to push the thoughts from her mind. Self pity didn't suit her.

Moving to another spot in the white sand, she slowly began digging again. All morning she had had no luck at finding anything and she had been hoping to find something before lunch time.

Her small hands dug into the sand, the gritty specks getting in-between her finger nails.

"Come one, come on; there must be something out in this desert!" she muttered to herself but still found nothing.

Giving up she flopped down into the sand, forgetting everything else and enjoying the sun sneaking down her spine.

"Rikku? Rikku? Are you coming in soon? It's almost time to eat," a voice rang on her communicator. It was Nhadala.

As if on cue, her stomach rumbled.

Rikku licked her lips. Food sounded really good at the moment.

"Be there soon." She replied.

Heaving herself up and out of the sand, she brushed herself off and began walking to her hover craft. Humming to herself and wondering what they would have for lunch, she noticed the slight change in the air.

As her feet pushed through the sand, her right foot made contact with metal.

"Owie!" Rikku cried, grabbing her foot and jumping up and down. What had she hit?

Glancing down, she spotted a tip of shiny metal sticking out of the sand.

Oh! Something shiny! What kind of machina had she finally been lucky enough to find?

Hastily and excitedly she began digging the object out of the sand to find it was a small rectangular silver box. It had a strange looking indent on the front that looked like a cross but Rikku found that it had circular gadgets all around the box.

Curious as always she rotated one. She jumped a little as the other gears began clicking and rotating. Suddenly it stopped and nothing happened. She shook it but heard nothing. Was there anything valuable in this box?

"Pouie," Rikku muttered in disappointment. "Maybe it needs a key to go with it."

Placing her new box to the side she began to shovel around in the sand, but didn't find anything else.

"Rikku? Are you coming? What's taking you so long?" she heard Nhadala voice asked.

"Sorry! I found something really cool!" Rikku informed her.

"Well then," Nhadala voice said, somewhat annoyed. "Come back then and we'll look at it."

"Someone's touchie," Rikku muttered.

"I heard that!" Nhadala said and Rikku flinched but managed to giggle. "I don't know who let you but you shouldn't be out there alone."

"She's not." A dark voice said and a shadow loomed behind her.

Rikku whimpered but before she could turn around to see who it was, something made contact with her head and her world went black.

(A/N: I was bored and my sister pulled me into the world of fanfic so here you go. This is my first fanfic so I really hoped you enjoyed it as much as I did writing it. I really hope I kept Rikku IC with the spunky attitude I found that I loved in the game) The creepy guy in the beginning is kind of lame but I think it'll get better later. Gippal will come in the next chapter I promise! I'll update as soon as I can (hopefully tomorrow) and please review! Thanks!)