Hi again!

I'm back again! Wow, I missed writing this story! Really! Thanks to everyone who reviewed! And please, review again! I'm always happy to read that people like this story – it makes me write on. smile

Aw, I lost my Al Bhed translation paper so this time I'll write the sentences that are spoken in Al Bhed between § §, OK?

Enough talking for now, I guess. Here it goes:

Chapter 2 : Praetor Baralai

Rikku was amazed at how handsome this man was but shook her head slightly to banish those thoughts.

'Are you crazy, Rikku?!' her mental voice shouted. 'You're something like a prisoner and he's the praetor! Got it?!'

He looked straight into her eyes but didn't say anything.

"What is your name?" he asked friendly.

§As if it's so easy to get an answer from an Al Bhed. § she said, smiling at him and acting like she didn't understand a single word.

"Do you understand what I am saying?"

§Of course but I'm having fun if I can fool you.§

"Great, Baralai†what am I supposed to do with her?" he whispered to himself and even Rikku didn't catch his words.

Years ago, when another man had been the praetor, an Al Bhed had entered the city†he remembered that day well†How old had he been? Almost 10. Well, some people who found out that an Al Bhed was walking around in their city had killed this boy – he hadn't been much older than Baralai.

He looked at the young woman in front of him – no, he wouldn't let people harm her just because she was born as an Al Bhed.

"I'll keep her here in the temple." Baralai finally said and looked at one of the monks.

"As you wish, praetor." The monk bowed slightly. "Is she going to be kept in that cage?"

"No." Baralai said, frowning. I could need some company and she can clean up my rooms."

§Clean up your rooms!? Are you crazy?! I'm not a servant, you know?!§ Rikku whispered, her hands trembling as she stared at the praetor.

"Don't you think she'll just run away as soon as we let her out of that cage?" one of the monks asked.

"That could be true†I don't think you can lock her up anyway. She sneaked into the temple without our notice. We can't watch her every minute so she could run away every minute." Baralai didn't seem to notice that he was talking to himself right now.

He thought about that bracelte someone had given him when he had become the praetor. He remembered what the man who had given it to him had said: "This is not just an ordinary bracelte, praetor, it's full of magic. Who wears this can't go far away from the one who wears the similar one."

He had never thought that he'd ever use those gift but now

Rikku stared at him, waiting for him to decide what to do with her. He didn't seem to be angry but she didn't know him and wasn't sure how deep his hate for the Al Bhed actually was.

"You." He turned to one of the monks standing behind him. "Go to my rooms and bring me the case on the table near the window."

The monk went and returned only a few minutes later, carrying a small case in both hands.

"Thanks." Baralai said, looking at Rikku and smiling. "I promise this won't hurt as long as you don't try to run away, OK?"

It wasn't as if he thought she could understand him but he believed that his calm voice wouldn't scare her.

Rikku stared at him, then at the small box in his hands as he took a bracelte out of it. It was golden.

Baralai reached for her right hand, and she didn't pull it away. He wasn't forcing her to lay her hand into his. His touch was soft, tender and she shouted at herself for the strange feelings this man was causing.

He on the other hand couldn't help but feel happy about the fact that she didn't pull her hand away. Baralai slowly put the bracelte around her wrist before letting her hand go. The feeling of loss was hitting him once her warm hand was gone but he had to put the other bracelet around his own wrist before he could open the cage.

"Let her out." Baralai said and they opened the cage.

Rikku stepped out of it as soon as the door opened, feeling a lot better now that she was free. She was surprised as even the monks let her pass but once she reached the door of the temple she felt a sharp pain running through her whole body.

And again all colours faded away. She didn't even feel that someone caught her before she hit the ground.

1 hour later

Rikku stirred.

§Oh, I had a really strange dream.§

"Ah, you're awake." a strange voice from next to hear said and she turned her head slowly to the side it was coming from.

"Aaaahhhhhhh!" she screamed, jumping out of the bed she had been lying in.

"Calm down! No one's going to hurt you." Baralai said, trying to make her feel safe.

She was trying to breath in slowly, her lungs were screaming for oxygen.

§Oh no! This wasn't a dream at all§

"It's OK. I'm not going to hurt you." Baralai repeated and looked into her eyes again. Those beautiful green eyes that made him feel so strange. He saw confusion, anger and understanding flashing through those eyes as she stared at him.

"Do you want to eat something?" he asked kindly, still forgetting that she "could not understand" him. He pointed at some fruits on the table in the middle of the room. She shook her head and yawned silently.

How could she still be tired? She felt like she had been sleeping for the past few days.

"You must be tired. As much as I know you've been unconscious last night and now. You need sleep."

He beckoned her to follow him into the next room which could be entered through a door in his room. She realized that she must have been sleeping in his bed and blushed slightly.

"I hope you'll have nice dreams." Baralai said before he turned around and returned into his own room.

TBC

Wow, done with chapter 2 and chapter 3 is going to follow soon! I really know what's going to happen. You know what? I won't tell you now. You'll have to wait for the next chapter.

Please, review!