------Standard Disclaimer applied here-----

A/N Kairi21 here! I'm so sorry I haven't been updating this fic (guess I was too busy with school stuff and my other fic, the Ragna Rockers) Here's the next chappy and please R&R...

Special Thanx to: All the reviewers and the peepz at the Neoforum for inspiring me to continue writing. I owe you guys a lot!

I'm Just a Kid

Chapter IX- The secret of Morroc ruins; City of the burning sun II

Mint's story

It's been hours since the princess had seen any clue of vegetation and she was currently surrounded by nothing but sand. Overhead, the sun continued to burn brightly as if it was determined to melt the lone traveler on the spot.

"Aaaaargh! Where the hell IS Morroc city anyway!!? I think I'm lost..." Poor Mint couldn't take the heat anymore. She felt like she was being cooked alive inside a huge oven. (A/N Trust me Sograt desert is THAT vast )

"Hmmmm...Let's see. Where did I put that map the old geezer at Prontera castle gave me?"

While Mint was busy rummaging through her items, a peculiar squawking sound rose from beyond the horizon over the sand hill Mint was climbing. The sounds grew louder and louder as if the source was coming closer to the princess. Suddenly, a giant yellow bird came into the mage's view. It was the size of an ostrich with feet that looked powerful enough to crush a child's weak body frame.

/Big bird... wait a minute the guy at the castle told me what that is. What was it again, a Paco?/

"Ah! It's a Pecopeco!" Mint let out a small gasp and pointed to the creature.

The Pecopeco, as Mint learned about back in Prontera, lived in the desert areas close to the palm trees. It was one means of transportation for the Knights at the castle and for the traveling merchants.

The princess jumped on the bird's back managing to grab a hold of the feathers around its neck to keep her from falling off. She had no choice but to hold on as the large fowl began charging at any random direction desperately trying to throw off the enemy on it's back. It's clawed feet threw sand into the air blinding the girl momentarily as the Pecopeco ran swiftly through the sandy terrain.

Three hours past before she finally got the bird tired out. The Pecopeco stopped struggling and was now even following the directions it's rider led it to.

Now, with the help of a fast ride, the princess turned to the direction given to her to reach Morroc city and started moving again.

"I guess a bird isn't such a bad ride after all." A smug grin settled on the girls face shortly after she let out a sigh of relief. She sure was glad she no longer had to walk the rest of the way to her destination, what luck!

That's when it happened. An image just flashed through her mind while she was watching the soon setting sun. It appears she had failed to forget him, for memories of him and her past adventures had suddenly plagued her mind.

"Rue..." Mint whispered loud enough to be heard by no one but herself.

She knew very well she couldn't help it. There was nothing around to keep her mind off her current situation. Not even the beauty of the setting sun could push it's way into the girl's thoughts as she rode on.

Rue's story

The quiet boy found himself standing on the deck of the ship for the umpteenth time throughout the whole trip. Somehow he just couldn't believe Mint actually had the decency to leave him alone, even if she made him promise to tag along on her next relic hunt. It just wasn't like her.

Rue was deep in thought as the wind blew by playing with his hat, threatening to blow it away. He was too busy staring at Mint's weapons to even care about hding the gem on his forehead anymore.

/Why would she leave so suddenly without even telling Maya? Could it be because of me? Does Mint hate me?/

Maybe she thinks he didn't see her, but Rue did. He saw her frowning at him and Claire from the corner of his eye. Sadly, he didn't know why but it was almost as if she was jealous. He caught a glimpse of the shrug she made. She seemed mad at him before she left with Maya on that ship back to East Heaven. On that day he and Claire were reunited, when Claire was revived. Sure he did get his wish and she didn't, she clearly stated that to him before leaving, but he did promise to help her on the next relic hunt right?

"Why Mint? Why?"

Rue's thoughts were disturbing him deeply and he would have remained there still thinking if it weren't for a strange rushing noise at the side of the ship.

"Bark! Bark!"

"Johnny Wolf settle down you might fall out!"

/Hey! Wait a minute! I know that voice.../

Rod zoomed past the side of the ship Rue was leaning on riding his PINTO or rather his Pulsar-INferno-Typhoon-Omega...

Mint's story"

The Pecopeco sure was fast. Mint had covered more ground riding the bird for 30 minutes than she did on foot for hours. The girl was definitely glad the creature happened to be passing her way.

She also noticed improvement in her surroundings. There were cacti growing in some areas and palm trees where visible in the horizon. Two tall pillars stood close to those trees and Mint realized these to be the entrance of Morroc city. Civilization at last and just in time too. She made it to the city before the sun set and it was too dark to travel.

For a city, Morroc was small and pretty much inactive. Only archeologists visited the place to explore the Pyramids nearby.

/I wonder if the relic is somewhere in those pyramids?/

Morroc reminded Mint of Carona, and anything that reminded her of that town led her back to happier days of relic hunting with whom else but Rue.

/Wonder where he is now?/

A/N My God peepz I am SO sorry I haven't been updating this fic. I kinda concentrated on the other one, the Ragna Rockers.

Thanx to all the reviewers and please keep reading and reviewing. It gets me motivated to write more.