A/N: Chapter One is updated and ready to be read!
If the characters seem to be out of character it is supposed to be like that, although I do my best to have them be in character whilst they sort of ... have to be out of character for the beginning of this story. Hopefully I will make it work out, because I have a plan.

Disclaimer: I don't own FFX or FFX2. These two games belongs to their creators. The lyrics in the beginning is not my own work, I simply translated it from swedish to english. It's originally title is "När du ler" which means "When you smile" and the group who preforms it is called "Vibafemba". It's a wonderfully good group of men singing a-capella in swedish, sometimes in english (sometimes they do covers as-well). I highly recommend that you youtube them or search for them on Spotify or Apple Music/iTunes. "Vibafemba" or "Viba Femba".

As always: Please leave a review either here or my instagram sidaene . starshine !

Thank you! Have a wonderful day!~ xoxo Sid

Part 1

When you look at me
When you look at me
When you look at me,
the sun shines through thee
I want to be near
when you look at me

When you smile for me
When you smile for me
When you smile for me,

I see the spring in thee
I want to be near
when you smile for me

Chapter One

Small, clear raindrops slithered down the window. Some slow, some faster than the other they left shining trail marks just like snails on the pavement. Outside that window, life was just as any other day in Spira. People were running about making their errands to this and that shop, in or out from different taverns, children were laughing as they did their best to not be in somebody's way while playing and chasing each other down the sidewalk. Every once in a while someone of the adults walking by would give in to their inner child and join in, lifting one of the kids high up in the air, spinning round and round with him or her. Others jumped together with them in the puddles so the warm rain of summer splashed all over the pavement.
Yuna sighed and turned her head to look at the sidewalk. She closed her eyes and let her mind wander...
She imagined what would happen if she would walk down the sidewalk, all the way down and then take the turn to the left. She'd be passing by a small café where many spirans visited. Then she would walk by that cute little café and go inside, maybe to order a nice, cup of hot chocolate for this rainy and grey summers' day. She'd meet the eyes of many different people. Couples of all sorts would be sitting in there, chatting and enjoying each other's company over a freshly baked bun with a steaming mug of tea. There'd be sisters, brothers, friends- gays and lesbians, straights- married couples and loners. Any kind of couple she could think of- they're there. They would be there.
And today, if she had chosen to go in, she'd be stepping right into the scene of a proposal.
A great looking guy with brown hair in shoulders length, his eyes deep blue and sparkling with happiness, gratefulness and love for the woman before him. On his right knee with a tiny box in his hand, revealing the most desirable ring a woman could wish for. His voice doesn't whimper nor does he scream out his wish. His voice bares him, deep and warm vibrating just right through his throat as his lips forms the words Will you marry me?
A beautiful woman with flushing cheeks of crimson. Heart beating fast and slow at the same time, holding onto the chair with her left hand as if to stay down onto the ground. She's afraid she would fly away with so much happiness filling her up. Her eyes shining with life, trust and passion, swirling and ever so green. She nods and smiles as her lips forms the word of a yes. Yes, I will marry you.
Everyone around them would step away from their chairs and tables, clap their hands as the two unite in a romantic kiss. The true loves kiss. He'd cup his hands, hold her face to carefully in those cupped hands and look her deep in her eyes to pour all his love into her. She would look back at him, into his eyes and with a breath she'd pour all her love into him as-well.

Yuna shifted in her seat, holding her head up with her palms as her arms rested on the windowsill. It seemed far to perfect to be real, and of cours it wasn't. It was just an imagination of what she wished it would have been like. Her mother and father reuniting after so many years; them becoming a whole family. That way everybody would be happy and Yuna wouldn't have to feel like she was a freak.
How could life out there be just like before when it was so different in here where she was? How could today be just like any other day?

''Young Lady Yuna?''
Yuna turned her head to see who had come in. It was another of those servants who worked here. Time for checks again she assumed. Ever so often someone came in to see how she was doing. She shifted her head and cleared her throat. ''Yes?''
''You have -ehm- a visitor,'' the man said did the prayer salutation before he stepped out through the door. Yuna turned back to the window.
Shortly thereafter another came in. He strode over to the window. She was looking at his reflected face in the window.
''Are you ready, Yuna?''
She lowered her eyes, bit her bottom lip lightly and took a breath. Then she slowly turned, uncomfortable to face him. She knew of how deep of blue his eyes are. She knew she would only see her own reflection in them, the reflection of her mother in herself. He had so many similarities to her. Cheeks, nose and dimples. Same serious and calm voice.
She bent her head backwards a little bit to look up at her father's face, to meet his eyes.
''I am ready.''

Front: Sand, sand, sand. Sand dunes and hills of sand. Mountains of sand. Hrm- a dead tree. A bush. Stone, stone, a pile of stones.
Left: More sand, dunes and hills and mountains. A stone here and there.
Right: MORE SAND.
Back: Camp. And of course, sand.

Rikku stood outside the tent she and Brother shared in the camp that her family shared together with another group of Al Bheds. Quite many in fact. She didn't know them so well yet but Cid knew who they were, and they had a kid around her age so she assumed they were allright. Although they weren't exactly friends yet but still got along pretty well. They were pretty alike each other too, same bouncy and free spirit. Shin was more of a boy-ish girl though, a year older than Rikku and not as stubborn as her. Rikku hoped they'd become friends. She really needed a friend right now.
Rikku gazed over the land of Bikanel- her new home. So far she hadn't seen much besides what she looked at now. If Cid had told her from the beginning that they were moving to the biggest sandbox of all Spira she would have been much more cooperative. Maybe a little bit more cooperative. But no, instead he had just blurted it out over supper one evening that they were all going to leave. Out of the blue- just like that! Rikku didn't care that they would be moving to something 'new' and 'better', they couldn't just leave their home. What kind of stupid idea was that anyway? Leaving the house her mother and pops had built together? No way! It would ruin everything!

Or so she had thought. And she had fought for that thought.

All through the long journey they made with Cid's airship she had been screaming, yelling and crying, kicking anyone that would go near her. The only one she allowed to hold her was Brother, because he didn't really want to leave either. It was a hard change they were facing. As they left their home somewhere on the east cost of the Mi'ihen Highroad they also left Clementine and Yuna. Cid said something about they'd be moving to Bevelle. Rikku didn't even know where Bevelle was or that it actually existed. She hadn't needed any other place in her life before, so why would she now? Her world and universe had been their house in the woods, surrounded by trees in different highs and shapes.
''Doesn't it make ye happy? Spira is bigger than you thought.'' Cid said trying to cheer up his little girl.
''I don't care about Spira!'' screamed Rikku, her voice hoarse from hours of yelling, tears were sprouting from her eyes.
''I thought ye wanted to explore? That's what ye said anyway.''
''But not without Yunie!''

Rikku smiled to herself. She had made the whole journey a disaster. But that didn't matter now. They were on Bikanel, the biggest sandbox ever seen in Spira, and Clementine and Yuna were safe in Bevelle. And- Rikku had to think it just one last time- they were in the biggest box of sand. Bikanel.
She tasted the word, let it lay on her tongue like a caramel.
Bikanel.
She loved it here.
They had been on the island for a mere three days and she was already in love with the place. Day one she had fallen in love with the sun and the wind, both of them so warm and soothing against her skin. The sunset and the sunrise were both much more magical out in the desert than in the woods. Day two she had fallen in love with the animals that lived nearby; there was a rather big colony of sand-ants running about deep underneath the sand. Rikku was so fascinated by this she had Cid tell her all he knew about sand-ants and their little lives; there was also many ruins shattered all over the desert it would seem, and this fascinated Rikku a lot more. She begged and pleaded to hear stories about the city that once was, not knowing how she upset her father and brother by this. It had after-all, been the homes of Al Bhed before the attack. Nevertheless Cid told her many stories of the lost and destroyed Al Bhed city; he couldn't blame her curiosity and was glad to have her -unknowingly- searching for her clan's past.
Oh how she loved it all. Brother seemed to like it too but Rikku wasn't too sure. She couldn't really tell with Brother, if he liked it or not. He was too impulsive- either being for something and then completely against it only after a minute or so. Then again, she was just the same.
Every now and then the two siblings wound go on walks around their camp, sometimes a bit further away but just as long as they could see the red flag that was tied to the rod Cid had sat up in the middle of camp. Brother didn't really like taking his little sister so far away from their base- they were in the middle of the desert after-all, and every time she told him to relax he would say something about a promise to protect her at all costs.

Now she stood there, a couple of feet from the tent, gazing out at the large land of sand before her. A smile spread on her face. Today was going to be so much fun! Cid had told her all about it that morning- his plans and his goal, the very reason for the sudden change in their lives. Rikku had been so amazed by what he told her and Brother. Her old man (ahem not so old really, 28 is no age!) was so smart and intelligent, by far the best man of all Spira! She clapped her hands together, then bumped her fist up in the air, striking a pose for victory. This would beat the crap out of those vyd-cdibet-mucan-syahea Al Bhed-hating spirans! With their new secret base underground they would never be attacked and hurt again. Never ever again.
That is, if the other Al Bheds would agree with Cid and help him build it.
Would they? Yeah, they would. Wouldn't they? Rikku hoped with her whole heart and soul that they would. They had to.

Her blond hair bounded as she ran back to the east side of their camp, eyes scanning for Cid. She sprinted when she spotted him. His bald head shimmered with sweat, making his tattoo on the right side of his head glow and sparkle in the sun. Rikku called his name multiple times but he didn't listen, so she ended up yelling ''POOOPS!'' instead, which caught his attention. He turned around and smiled widely when he saw her running up to him.
''What's the matter, kid?'' Cid said with a laugh in his throat.
''Are they here yet? Please say that they're here!'' Rikku bounced up and down on the spot, clutching her hands together in a plea and peered up at her father. The expression in his face changed. Rikku flinched backwards, he looked so serious. ''Pops?''
''Not yet, but they will be soon.'' he replied and smiled again, although Rikku knew that wasn't a true smile of happiness. It was fake and full of stress. ''Don't worry, kiddo. They'll come.''
''A-are they lost? Have something happened to them? Dad, we have to go out and look for them! Anything could have happened- fiends, bandits, Al Bhed-haters!'' Rikku panted loudly of overload of worry, the adrenaline pumping through her little veins and pulse beating hard in her ears. Cid looked down on her and opened his mouth to say something, but Rikku didn't let him. She continued. ''We can't just wander 'round here and wait, pops! We have to do something- in case they are lost, or kidnapped- or worse!''
''Ye shouldn't worry too much, yer just a kid.''
Rikku pouted and crossed her arms over her chest. ''I'm not just a kid! Sayhea...''
''Allright. Now...'' Cid crunched down to lean on his right knee and looked at his daughter for a moment. Her face with cheeks flushing of heat and adrenaline, and her eyes... He looked into them, searched those green swirling eyes for fear but he found none. Only worry. That's when he knew.
He took her small hands and held them. ''Allright, kid. Tell yer old pops what to do.''

Cid's words had filled her with strength and courage, whilst she had always been brave she really needed it now. After talking to her dad multiple things happened at once- and fast. As Rikku had told him, Cid contacted the other camp-base to tell them that they were going out to search for the group. After about thirty minutes of communication with a bad signal, Cid was ready to put together a search-party. Rikku was very eager to come with him, but he told her to stay.
''Why!'' she stomped with her foot in the sand, pouting really angrily. ''This was my idea! I should be going with you!''
''Sweetie, it's too dangerous for ye. Besides, ye won't be by yerself- Negi and Shin will be here too. And I need someone to look after the camp while we're gone'', Cid winked and ruffled her hair.
Rikku were still pouting. This was so unfair! Too unfair to be real!
He planted a kiss on her forehead before leaving her by the tent, calling to the others to get ready. They were five that was going to go out searching. Bnac with his sister Vota and the brothers Medd and Dunc. Bnac was Shin's father, making Vota her aunt. Medd and Dunc were brother's of Negi, Shin's mother. And Cid with Brother.
Rikku stood by the tent and watched them get their supplies, the wind softly played with her hair as if to sooth and calm her down. She didn't want her father or brother go out in the desert all alone. It wasn't safe. She could lose them both if she wasn't there to look after them. She bit her bottom lip, tugged on it unconsciously until she tasted iron against her tongue.
But they are not alone, a soothing voice told her.
But I want to be there with them! she thought back.
They will be allright.
''They better be...'' Rikku mumbled to herself as she watched Brother put on his goggles, making thumbs-up to Cid.
''Ok, we're leavin'!'' Cid yelled out over the camp. He let his gaze wander over the place and fall on Rikku. He smiled to her and waved. Brother waved too, excited about going out on a mission for the first time.
But Rikku didn't wave back. She turned on her heel walking into the tent where she threw herself on her little mattress-bed and cried. With her face pressed against her thin pillow she cried silently as several ounces of water leaving her body through her eyes as tears. She cried because her pops and her brother had left her at the camp only because she was too little to go with them, she cried because she had been left alone with people she had known for three days and practically were strangers to her. She cried because Cid had taken her away from her house, from all the precious memories she had from that house. She cried because Clementine and Yuna had left her, probably to live with Al Bhed-haters in Bevelle. She cried because her mother was gone and would never come back.
She cried because she was alone. Rikku hated being alone.

Moments later...

Rikku felt something push her side. One time, then two times. Rikku groaned silently, she didn't want to wake up just yet. She had to stay in her sleep, she wanted to keep dreaming. Dreaming that wonderful dream...

A sad piano melody was playing. The tunes floated through the air between the ruins. The ruins were everywhere around her, before her eyes there was a fire burning and around her there was people. People she didn't know but who she called her friends. And around them pyreflies floated. They swam in the air together with the piano tunes. Rikku sighed and closed her eyes.

She stood on the hill, watching down over an island she hadn't seen before but still she knew exactly where it was, she knew exactly where she was. The wind was strong that day, making her long hair flutter over her left shoulder. The sun stood high on the light blue sky, warming up her bare back. Only a few perfectly shaped clouds of white floated by here and there. Behind her stood her friends and amongst them a man. ''Leah'', he said and approached her, taking her hand. He turned his head to look at her and they shared a smile. A smile that said more than a thousands words could. There was a special twinkle in his eyes, mischievous and yet full of compassion and honesty. He gave her hand a warm squeeze and she squeezed his hand back.
Her cheeks flushed with a colour of crimson red and her eyes winded when he stepped closer, letting go of her hand and gently grabbing her shoulders. They looked into each other's eyes for a long time and for the first time in forever she felt safe. She felt so safe and protected thanks to that man; together with him she could do anything, achieve everything she wanted and dreamt of.
He approached with his face in an attempt to kiss her. Leah- er- Rikku, found herself slowly closing her eyes and bulged a little with her lips. Her heart beat hard and fast in her chest, pulse beaming loudly in her eyes. Somewhere a seagull screamed its 'ki-ia!' loudly over the island.
The kiss didn't come.
Instead came a hard push right on her chest forcing the air out from her lunges and knocking her over the edge. There was panic in her eyes, she screamed and grasped for the edge, terrified of what was happening.
''What the heck are you doing?!'' she yelled up at the man as she tried to heave up herself over the cliff-edge. It was hard, small stones cut into her skin and for some reason she didn't feel as strong as she usually was. It was as if the strength was leaving her.
The man chuckled, crouched down in front her. ''Don't worry'', he said with a soothing voice that could make any woman fall madly in love with him. ''I'll catch you.''
''WHAT?''
He grabbed her hands, forced them off the edge and pushed her away again.
The sound of her own terrified scream filled her, together with the wind blowing howling in her ears. She saw the man still crouched waving at her, disappearing with quick speed as she fell.
She closed her eyes and prepared herself for what would come next: her death.

Two days had passed since Yuna reached Bevelle and now on the third day she found herself on the move again, onboard on an airship to an far off island called Besaid. She sat on one of the beds looking out through the window in the room where the passengers can rest. Thousands of clouds floated by, a pair of seagulls too. She placed her bare feet on the floor but didn't feel that is was cold, walked up to the window and touched the glass but didn't feel it against her fingertips. Yuna didn't feel anything, she was numb.
In just a day she had lost so much. Her home, her cousins and uncle Cid. Her mother.
And in just a single day she had reunited with her father, only to be separated from him.
She tried to come up with a solution, a reason for why it had happened. She cursed silently in al bhed- something she secretly picked up from Rikku- and leaned her head against the window, closing her eyes. Inside her mind she saw it happen, over and over again. The large, massive, scary creature appearing from nowhere. Screams and terrified shouts from the people around her blurred together with the strangest sound Yuna had ever heard. No words can describe that sound, she thought. In her mind she saw trees and houses being pulled off from the ground, forced to fly in circles in the air. People as-well, too many people... Yuna closed her eyes harder to prevent herself from seeing what came after. She wished to see something better, something nice. A chocobo running freely through a field, a rainbow, anything. The mind doesn't work like that, at least not Yuna's, not today. Run Yuna! Run! she heard her mother's voice inside her head, she saw herself running and behind her Yuna saw the monster. Above the monster she saw everything that it had consumed and destroyed, taken and killed. She saw the dead body of her mother circling around in something that looked like a storm. A storm of bodies and houses and nature.
Yuna fell to the ground and let out a loud sob, a whimper, a scream. ''AAAAAAAAAHHH!'' It hurt her throat to scream so loudly but she didn't stop. She had to scream, had to voice her pain and her loss. She held her face in her hands and cried hard, tears slipping through her fingers. A rush of thoughts flew though her, making her shake her head and shiver. Thoughts of a way to go back to fix it, to prevent it from happening. Nothing seemed to work except for one thing. One thought soothed the panic, just for a tiny bit. It was my fault. Yuna dried her cheeks with her palms and sniffed. She was certain. It was her fault. Her family was being punished because of her, because of what she was.
She had seen in their eyes, her mother's and, in Cid's especially. Rikku and Brother not so much if anything at all.
Yuna opened her eyes and fixed her position to face the window. She forced herself to look into the glass. It gave a vague reflection of herself.
''You are a heathen...'' she whispered to herself. ''A halfling, un pure... n-not natural. So they punish you, they take your family from you and force you to live on with the blame.'' she gulped and bit her bottom lip, surprised by what she just had said to herself- six years old and self-loathing at this level...wow. ''Lord Braska doesn't want to keep you safe, that is just something he said to... to keep you from being even more sad.''
Yuna stared at herself in the window, vague and barely visible. Her heart wanted it to be false and wrong but her mind kept telling her that it was true. She was being punished. Yuna huddled up and wrapped her tiny arms around her tiny legs, head leaning against her arms and knees as she cried again. She couldn't believe how her life had come to be like this. A child without her family, send off to an island she had never been on to live with people she had never met. It frightened her to the deep of her core. She didn't want that, she wanted her home. The big house in the woods with all the machina.
There was a knock on the door and Yuna looked up from where she sat. A big creature came in, a blue and furry. It looked a bit like a mix between a very muscular man and some cat-animal. On its forehead was a horn that missed its pointy tip. It was a Ronso, but Yuna didn't know that.
Her eyes winded when he slowly made his way to her. She crawled backwards as he came closer, suddenly she hit the window. She let out a yelp and hid her face with her hands.
''Don't eat me, please! I-I taste so bad!''
The creature sat down beside her and took his large, furry and strong hand to gently moved her right hand away, revealing her green eye. Then he took her left hand revealing her blue eye. A small smile spread on his cat-like face.
''Yuna'', he said.
''Y-yes'', Yuna nodded and looked from his left to his right eye. His head was so large she didn't know which eye to focus on and she didn't want to stare at his broken horn. ''That's me, I-I'm Yuna.''
''Kimahri'', he said. ''Protector of Yuna.''
Yuna's eyes widened again in surprise and shock. She had a protector? Maybe this was a joke and soon she would be kidnapped, or killed. She watched as he patted his big lap, motoring for her to sit on it. Or maybe he really is my protector? Yuna thought, tugging on her bottom lip. Eventually she rose from her seat on the floor and sat down on his lap. She squeaked a little when he embraced her with his big hand and large arm, holding her ever so gently.
She felt the warmth from his body spreading over her, heating her up and relaxing her. She let out a loud sigh and took a deep breath, inhaling. Kimahri smelled like jungle and wet cats.
''Kimahri?''
The Ronso slightly tilted his head to look at her.
''Thank you...''
Again, a small smile spread over his cat-like face.

Rikku sat up straight. Her breathing was quick and short and her hair was a mess. Almost like a bird-nest. She eyed the place she was in with big, wide eyes, turning her head in each and every angle she was capable of to really see where she was. She had to make sure that she wasn't... that she wasn't... That she was alive. This is the tent, my tent, the thoughts in her head quickly began to hyperventilate when she wasn't able to register where she was. She was still in shock from what she just had gone though, but that thought seemed to make sense to her, so she decided to trust it. I'm alive-I'm alive. I'm five years old and-and that never happened. It didn't happen. I-it was just a dream.
She wrapped her arms around her legs and leaned her chin on her knees to relax herself from panicking any further.
''What am I doing? There is no need for panic, silly Rikku. It was a dream. A silly stupid dream. So get up. get up! I'm no baby, am I?'' Rikku took charge and stood up, stretched out her arms above her head and inhaled deeply. Talking to herself helped, like it always did. ''Talking is better than thinking, remember that now.''
Now when she wasn't in panic or shock anymore, Rikku started to whistle a cheerful tune she had made up back home in the Steampunky-castle, when her mother still lived. She then made her little bed after sleeping on it, then searched though all her things for a hairbrush when she saw herself in the mirror. She really needed to get that bird-nest of hair down! When she found it her bed looked like a mess again, but it didn't really matter. It would only get messy again when she'd sleep on it tonight, so she didn't bother to do it again.
''Rikku, are you okay in there?'' asked the voice of Shin.
''Mhm!'' Rikku replied cheerfully as she brushed her hair. ''Come in, Shin! What did you want?''
''Mum wanted me to get you'', the girl entered Rikku's side of the tent and grimaced when she saw how messy it was. ''Gee, if my mother saw my space looking like that I'd be in big-big trouble.''
Rikku excused herself with a shrug. ''Pops doesn't really bother I think, besides I am going to clean up. Well... later anyways.''
''Speaking of that... They're back.''
Rikku's eyes widened. She turned around to face Shin, her face glowing of happiness. The brush was stuck to her hair. ''Why didn't you say so right away? Come on, let's goo!''
''I tried, okay! I came here to tell you before but you where sleeping and wouldn't wake up. And that was an hour ago!'' Shin said with a smile. ''You sleep so deep.''
''Yeah yeah, whatevs', let's go already'', Rikku said waving her hand in front of her face as it wasn't important.
''Not like that, you're not'', Shin pointed at the brush hanging in Rikku's hair. The both girls giggled. ''Here, I'll help you.''
The two sat down on the ground, Shin behind Rikku as she as gently she could she removed the brush and began brushing her hair. Every now and then Rikku would flinch of pain stinging to her scalp as the brush pulled her messy hair, and every time Shin would whisper 'cunno'. Other than that they were silent.
''There... all done'', Shin said and placed the brushed on the mattress.
Rikku turned around and smiled at Shin. ''Thank you, Shin'', she said happily and hugged the girl who hugged her back and smiled.
Shin stood up and walked towards the entrance. She motored for Rikku to follow. ''Come now, let's introduce you to everyone.''

Later that day everyone at the campsite were gathered around a large cracking fire, sitting on either stones or logs. The sun had not yet set but the air was slowly getting chillier, making the Al Bheds relaxed and calm. It had been a long day, for everyone. Cid had to tell Rikku at least four times how it was outside camp and out in the wild desert, how they found the group and how they defeated the fiends they ran into on their way there and back home. She was so fascinated and amazed by her father's- and Brother's- bravery. She sighed happily, longing for her turn to come. She also wanted to go on adventures, missions, and help people. Explore lands. Defeat evil.
People around her talked and laughed as they drank their booze and smoked their cigarettes. Some had food they cooked over the fire; meat and vegetables and something white and fluffy that looked like square-clouds. Rikku wondered what it was but didn't bother to ask Negi, who was sat beside her on her right, about it. She was too busy with waiting for her turn to come. So busy in fact, she didn't register when someone called to her.
''Rikku? He's trying to speak with you'', said Negi with her calm voice, a bit like Clementine's.
Rikku raised her eyebrows in surprise, her lips took the form of a silent 'oh?' and then turned her head to see a boy stand before her. His hair was blond and curly, freckles spread across his cheeks and on his nose. Rikku instantly thought he was cute and smiled at him.
''Hiya'', she said and held out her hand to greet him. ''I'm Rikku.''
He took her hand and shook it formally with a smile spreading on his lips. ''I know. I mean- er- I'm Himal.''
''Himal? What kind of funny name is that?'' Rikku giggled and caused the boy that was called Himal to laugh as-well.
''I don't know actually. Dad says it's after some mountain in a storybook he read when he was a kid. Can I sit here?'' he pointed with his whole hand at the empty space to Rikku's left, to which she nodded and he sat down beside her. ''What kind of name is Rikku then?'' he said with a smirk.
''It's the best name! Can't you tell?''
Himal didn't look convinced, he just laughed again. ''You are something allright. Your dad talked a lot about you, you know? Said you and I ought to be really good friends.''
''I don't know if I can be friends with someone named after a mountain that doesn't exist'', Rikku said playfully and giggled when Himal actually looked offended. ''I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you. ... Himaaaal, cunnooo, really! Don't be sad, please...?'' she pouted when Himal wouldn't look at her. Some friend she was now, huh.
She placed her hand on his shoulder and leant over to look at him. ''Eh? Ar-are you... SMILING?''
He nodded, pressing his lips together in a firm line to prevent himself from laughing. But his laughter showed anyway. He laughed though his eyes. They were full of pure playfulness.
Rikku couldn't help herself, she burst out in laughter herself. It was a bubbly, tickling laugh that travelled all the way from her toes up through her legs, her tummy and arms, chest and at last her throat before escaping her smiling lips. Soon Himal was laughing too.
Their laughter spread through the whole gathering. It didn't take long until everyone was laughing; for what reason no one knew. Only Rikku knew. And she would keep that reason to herself, a special secret that she would treasure forever.
''I got you there allright, Rik!'' he exhaled when they finally stopped laughing.
''You sure did, mountain-boy'', she exclaimed and smiled at him. She stretched out her arms behind her, now sitting in the sand with her legs spread in a v, her gaze wandered over the campsite.
It didn't really look like her home yet but she admitted that it really started to feel like it. Especially now that a lot more people had come to join them and live at their camp. Things would be even a lot more fun now that Himal was there, Rikku was sure of it. He could play with her and Shin all day long and together they would explore the Bikanel Desert as three musketeers, whatever that now was. She remembered her mother telling a story about three brave musketeers once, they protected some kind of priest or ruler or something and they were very brave. More than that she didn't recall remembering, but she had liked the story. At least she thought so.
Rikku's gaze slowly stopped at the horizon where she saw the golden sun slowly lowering behind a large mountain of sand. She let out a sigh of relaxation as she watched how the dim light kissed the sand. The sky was in a beautiful mix of light orange, pink-red and purple.
''Grilled pineapple?'' Negi suddenly asked Rikku, holding a plate with newly grilled pineapple amongst chicken and mushrooms.
Rikku nodded, said 'yes, please' and grabbed as many pieces her hands could hold. The woman smiled warmly and offered Himal the same. He thanked her in al bhed and took, a part from Rikku, only two pieces of grilled pineapple.
''What?'' she said with her mouth full.
He shook his head, smiling. ''Nothing.''
''I happen to like pineapple, okay?''
''I can see that'', he left the stone he was sitting on to place himself beside her in the sand. ''Hey, what's that plan you dad has? He's gonna build something...?''
Rikku nodded and swallowed down a small piece of juicy, warm pineapple. ''Pop's gonna build up a Home for all Al Bhed underground, so we won't be attacked or hurt again.''
''Fuf, luum!'' Himal cried. ''My dad's gonna participate in building it. My brother too.''
Rikku smiled. ''I'm so glad that so many came to help, I can't wait to start working.''
''You're gonna help building it?''
''Of course'', Rikku said obviously but Himal didn't look convinced this time either.
He raised an eyebrow, questioning her. ''But... you're so small.''
''HEY! I ain't small, allright! I'm a five year' old- big girl now!'' Rikku cried and aimed a piece of pineapple at him, ready to throw it. Himal chuckled and raised his hands to show he didn't mean to mean. Rikku put the piece in her mouth instead and of course, spoke while chewing on it. ''How old are you then, mountain-boy?''
''Seven'', he replied with pride in his voice. He was big now.
Rikku just rolled with her eyes at his figure. ''I bet I'm stronger than you anyways.''
''Oh yeah? Wanna bet?''
''That's what I said, duh'', Rikku said and met his gaze. He smiled widely at her. His hair looked golden in the light from the fire and there was a certain twinkle in his eyes. They spoke of playfulness. Rikku felt the bubbly and ticklish laughter come to life again down in her toes. She bit her tongue to keep it together. If she laughed now with her mouth full of delicious pineapple she would most certainly choke and die.
''Tomorrow then'', Himal decided.
She nodded. ''I bet you'll chicken out because you don't want to be humiliated because you're weaker than a girl'', she stuck her tongue out and squinted with her eyes, giggling playfully.
''Why you-!'' he charged at her and pushed her down to the ground, straddling her and holding her arms. Rikku had to spit out the tasty pineapple to prevent herself from choking on it; Himal tickled her on her most ticklish places causing her to squeal of laughter.
''Cduuub! B-bmayca, ouuui sayhea-mountain! I can't breeaathee!''
Eventually Himal stopped tickling her and rolled off her to lay on his back. He laughed and scrubbed his face with the palms of his hands. ''Aaah, Rik... you are funny to tease!''
Rikku sat up. There was sand in her hair and in her clothes, probably in her shoes too but she didn't bother. A little sand here and there wouldn't kill her. She lived in the Bikanel Desert now, sand would be her life. Her new life.
She pulled up her knees to her chest, wrapped her arms around them and rested her head on them, watching Himal as he played with his bangs. The light from the fire flickered over his face. Rikku could see that a few stars from the night sky were reflected in his now dark green eyes. In the corner of his mouth hid a smile in the form of a tiny dimple.
''Himal...''
''Mmmh.''
''E drehg fa'mm pa pacd vneahtc.''
He peered up at her, whilst holding a lock of his hair between his fingers. ''How can you know that? We've just met.''
Rikku shrugged. ''I just know.''
Himal smiled.
Maybe they were going to be best friends forever. He didn't know, he couldn't know. After-all, forever is a very long time.