Ahoy, mateys! Here be the new chapter ye've all been waitin' for! Thar be adventure, jealousy and humor amid th' waves, lads! Keep yer peg legs on tight!

I don't own FF X-2 or any of her characters. I just use them. Without making money. Not a single cent. Not a one.

Kilika Temple was set deep in the forest. Auron wondered briefly why it was built so far from the village. Surely it made more sense for a temple to be near the towns and villages. More people would be able to go to service and pray. Yet, here it was in the middle of a forest, a journey in and of itself required to get to it.

They had arrived soon after fighting the Elemental, although more of them seemed to appear the closer they got to the temple entrance. Rikku's magic was more than helpful during those fights. The only thing he had to complain about was how every move she made seemed provocative. True, it was partly because he was her lover and found her attractive already, but this new outfit threw him off balance more than he cared to admit. It did not help that the acolytes they encountered at the entrance blatantly stared at Rikku as she walked by. Even the priests were staring at her, albeit in a more discreet manner. Auron once again felt jealousy rise in his heart, but he kept a firm hold on it.

He heard a chorus of disappointed sighs when Rikku laid one hand and her head on his arm. He knew she was tired, but he also knew that she did it to keep the other men at a safe distance. If they knew she was taken then there would be fewer incidents like on the Liki.

"Sir Auron?" One of the priests had approached them, bowing. "I had heard you were Lord Braska's guardian. Welcome." He nodded his answer. "And this must be your wife. You shouldn't have kept such a lovely woman a secret, Sir Auron." The priest bowed to Rikku, who also nodded at him.

"There's no need for the 'Sir' anymore, Father. I was cast from Bevelle and the ranks months ago."

"True, but there are those of us that know the reasons for that were untrue. You will find many of us still hold you in high esteem. But, why would you keep your wife a secret?"

"That was my fault, Father." Rikku said, still keeping her hand on his arm. "My father was against my marrying outside the Al Bhed, and I didn't want to cause Auron any problems. Daddy was prone to dangerous things when angered."

"Was?"

"He disowned me when I left to marry Auron."

"How horrible. I can see why you would be afraid. Especially being a mage. Sir Auron has taken good care of you in lieu of your family, hasn't he?"

"Oh yes. Auron takes great care of me!" Rikku smiled up at Auron, her other hand hugging his arm along with the first one. He absently placed a hand over one of hers for a moment. The priest smiled at them.

"I'm very happy for you, then. Both of you. Accept my congratulations on your marriage, however late they may be."

"Thank you, Father." "Thanks!" He and Rikku said in unison.

"Ah, are you two ready to go in?" Braska asked, walking up to them. The priest bowed deeply to Braska and left them, going to speak with the other priests. "I bet you a mega-potion that they are discussing the two of you."

"I would not doubt it, my Lord."

"Let's go. I hate this humidity with a passion."

"Very well."

Braska led the way inside. Rikku sighed happily upon entering the temple. It was significantly cooler inside than out. The trials were trickier than last time, and Rikku made them try and puzzle their way through on their own before helping them. She did, however, use one of the spheres they found to destroy a wall and get a treasure. She winked at them and walked away.

"Rikku, I think the priests would frown on you blowing up the walls."

"Nah. The walls re-build themselves, Braska. It's something the fayth do I think. It'll be back to normal by the time we leave."

"Interesting. Ah, here we are. Well, you two be good while I'm gone." Rikku giggled, but Auron rubbed his temple with one hand, making Braska laugh. The summoner disappeared into the Chamber of the Fayth, leaving him and Rikku in the ante-chamber.

Rikku was walking around the chamber, twirling her staff and hopping every few steps. It took him a while to realize she was following the floor stones and hopping between them.

"Hey, Auron?"

"Yes?" He looked up at her, seeing her still walking and hopping around. His eyes wandered her body, pausing at the hem of her skirt. He noticed that was where the tights ended, leaving the slimmest line of skin to show.

"Do you like the rain?"

"Yes, but not when I have to travel through it."

"If we get a chance, can we stay at an inn and listen to the rain?" Rikku was staring at the floor as she spoke.

"Yes. I would like that." She looked up then, smiling widely. Auron smiled back, and Rikku came to stand next to him. The staff was held behind her back, hitting the heel of one shoe. "How is it, Rikku, that all of your outfits are provocative?"

"Not ALL of them are. The White Mage one isn't. I'm covered head to toe. Um, and the Trainer isn't either. What's the matter, Auron? Don't you like them? I thought you liked the Mermaid one."

"Oh, I like them. I just wonder what you would wear to a banquet, that's all."

"Hey! I can dress nice! I've never seen you in anything but that red coat and armor. Being naked doesn't count."

"That isn't true at all, Rikku. I've worn a robe around you."

"Oh, big whoop! That doesn't count."

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The hours Braska spent in the Chamber of the Fayth were long but interesting. He and Rikku talked and joked, keeping each other amused. They had a contest on who could tell the dirtiest joke, which ended up with him the winner. Rikku won in thumb wrestling, surprisingly. Auron learned that she could dance beautifully, but got lost easily in the desert she once lived in. He also found out that Rikku could sing. Not just the children's song she sang in Besaid, but all the ballads in the Mother Tongue and Spiran along with the ones in Al Bhed.

Braska had emerged to find Auron teaching Rikku a variation on a dance she already knew. He had been smiling as he watched, laughing when Rikku managed to step on Auron's boots twice in a row. They had looked up then, and parted, coming to his side immediately.

"Don't let me interrupt the lesson." Braska was exhausted, but they insisted on leaving quickly so that he would have time to rest before going back to the village. They were now in one of the side chambers of the temple, drinking cool tea and eating fruit. Braska was quietly listening to Rikku recount Auron's victory in the joke contest, telling him the jokes they had used. He laughed himself to tears at the one he had used to win, involving a man that gets his head caught between two fence posts. Auron was once again rubbing his head, wishing his companions would behave properly, yet happy that they were not. This journey would be tedious if things were 'proper'.

"I think I can make it back, now. It's not too late."

"Lord Braska, are you sure you want to risk traveling by night? The forest is more dangerous at this time." One of the priests said, concern written on his face.

"Hey, thanks for worrying about us, but we'll take good care of him!" Rikku said, patting the priest's arm. "It's a straight shot through the forest and we'll be at the inn with dinner waiting for us."

They left, all the priests and acolytes bowing to them. The long stairs were no problem, seeing as they were patrolled by warrior monks and had torches along the way. It was the forest Auron was worried over. They were a short way in when Rikku asked them to stop for a minute.

"I'll get us a guide to keep the fiends away and light our path."

"Guide?" Auron asked, keeping his eyes trained on the forest.

"Yep. It'll just take a second." She took the end of her staff and pulled off one of the swirls, which turned out to be a whistle. She blew on it once, then put it back. His vision blurred for a split second, then went back to normal. A few seconds later, Auron found a pair of eyes glowing at them through the darkness from the foliage. They were reflective, like a cat's eyes. "There he is! Hi, there!" Rikku held out her hands as she squatted down. Auron could not help but notice that her skirt was barely managing to keep her covered in that position. A red, furry creature ran up to her, embracing her like a lost family member. Rikku returned the hug, and purred at the creature. It purred back, then squeaked, waving a paw in the air. "This is Rhrrr-rr. He's a Moomba."

"A moomba? I thought they were only legend." Braska said, half kneeling to get a better look at it. "It's rather cute, don't you think, Auron?"

"Yes. How will this creature get us safely to the village?"

"Well, Moomba's keep away the fiends somehow, and they can light our way back. His tail will be our lantern. Won't it Rhrrr-rr?" The moomba squeaked in response, and his tail began to glow brightly. It flicked side to side, making the shadows move slightly. Auron looked closer at the creature who was still embracing Rikku. It was looking back at him intelligently while purring at Rikku. She gave him an evil look before standing up. The moomba was holding her hand with one paw, still staring at him.

"Why is he staring at Auron, Rikku?" Braska asked, standing as well.

"I can't really say what he literally told me, cause it's more of an emotional thing when you talk to moombas, but he thinks Auron's cool."

"Auron, my friend, it seems you are to become an idol for a legendary creature."

"We should get going, the village will not get any closer on its own." He was trying to hide his surprise, but Braska chuckled as he turned away. I wonder if I will be the object of humor for this entire trip.

Halfway back to Kilika, Auron found the moomba walking beside him, looking up and trying to walk the same way he was. It even picked up a long stick, for it's body size, to carry around as a sword. Rikku and Braska were having fits of laughter behind his back. They quickly sobered if he looked back at them, but fell into laughter again when he looked away.

Just as he was turning forward again, he heard the moomba squeak loudly and saw it trip over a loose stone on the path. It sat up quickly, but did not offer to stand up. It stared sadly at it's paws, tears forming at the edge of black eyes. Auron sighed, then lifted the creature onto his shoulders. It squeaked in surprise, then buried its paws in his hair, purring madly.

"Not a word." Auron did not even look back, but he could feel his companions smiling, and he heard Rikku make a noise that sounded like 'squeeee' and clap her hands.

"He really likes you, Auron." Rikku said from behind him.

"So it seems."

"And you really like him, too."

"What makes you say that?"

"He's riding on your shoulders like a little kid would and you're letting him mess up your hair." While she was talking, the moomba had removed the tie that kept his hair in a ponytail and began playing with it.

"You are not permitted to braid my hair." The moomba squeaked and smoothed out a section of hair while Rikku giggled. Auron sighed again, feeling the creature's tail swish back and forth against his coat. He could feel a warmth from it, but it was in no way hot.

They walked the rest of the way back like that, Auron trying his best to ignore the furry creature on his shoulder and the laughter from Braska and Rikku. Once they were in sight of the forest edge, the moomba left them. It hugged Rikku tightly, and purred at Braska before running up to Auron and hugging his leg. It then walked into the foliage. Just as it was out of sight, Auron found his vision blurring again before going back to normal.

"Am I the only one that noticed their vision blurring?"

"No, it happened to me as well."

"Nope! Moombas don't live in the same world we do. It sort of overlaps this one. That's why they're a legend, no one really sees them, just shadows or a glimpse of a tail. You see them more with your heart than with your eyes while they're in their world."

"Incredible. Are there any other legendary creatures we will encounter, Rikku?" Braska asked, looking back at the spot the moomba disappeared into.

"I dunno. Moogles are real. But they're a little upset with people in general."

"Why?" Auron found himself asking. He missed the weight of the moomba on his shoulders for some reason.

"People always try to play with their pom-poms, so they stay away generally."

"Sounds like a perfectly good reason to me. If someone were to play with my-" Braska was cut off by Auron quickly starting for the village and speaking.

"We should get to the inn before they lock us out."

Poor Auron! I make him get so embarrassed! I think it's soooooo damn cute to see Auron carrying a moomba around! And I can see it trying to braid his hair and put flowers in it and squeaking all the time! Can't you?

Cap'n Tagg