Authors Note: We meet Rikku this chapter, and so I just had to use a few Al Bhed lines. I did a search here on lucked out. I found a story chapter that had a complete English to Al Bhed dictionary. So that's where I got it. Thanks to all for reviewing last chapter!

Oh, and Dill Pickle...you're so insistant I need a good beta-reader. Well, this is me, officially asking you (yes, you) to beta-read for me.

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Standing at the dock, Tidus gripped his suitcase so tightly his knuckles had turned white. He still had no idea where they were going. Auron had lead him confidently among the boats, and there were no signs indicating what was where. Now, as he walked up the ramp, he felt sick to his stomach. He was leaving everything he'd ever known behind. His friends, his school, his team

His team. Did they have a good Blitz team where he was moving to? Was there even a high school nearby? Tidus didn't usually like school, but the thought of not going to one was overwhelming. There was too much Tidus didn't know about Auron, to many places he may have been that he'd never talked about. All he knew about Auron was that he'd been a close friend of his old man's, probably the closest. How that friendship had come to be, Tidus was never sure. Where in Spira they had met, Tidus had never thought to ask.

He was on the boat and instantly headed for the stairs. The rooms were all below the deck, even he knew that about ships, so he descended quickly. Auron wasn't far behind, and caught up in a matter of seconds. "What's the hurry?" The older man asked.

Tidus turned and looked at Auron. Despite practically living with him for the past seven years, Tidus had never quite gotten use to the scar on Aurons' face. It ran from his eyebrow down along his cheek, slicing through his eye. Tidus had never been sure if he could see out of it or not. It was unnerving, to say the least, probably what made it so easy to obey him. "I'm tired." Tidus answered honestly.

Auron nodded, coldly understanding. "It's room 4-A. Get some sleep." Tidus forced a smile, and hurried down the stairs at a speed his blitz coach would kill him for considering even remotely fast, despite the fact that it felt like breakneck speed.

Tidus had no idea how long had passed, but he woke up to a firm hand shaking him.

"Get up. Let's go."

Tidus forced one eye open. The sight of Auron standing over him reminded him of what had happened and what was happened. Suddenly fighting back tears again, Tidus was wide awake. "Hua? We're here?"

In answer, Auron turned around and walked out the door.

How long had he been asleep? It wasn't importantâ€at least he had some energy now, which was a better condition then he'd been in earlier. Throwing his feet over the edge of the bed, Tidus wiped the sleep sands from the corners of his eyes. Sighing heavily, Tidus grabbed his suitcase and mumbled to himself "Well, new life, here I come."

Not nearly as big of a city as Zanakarned, but still a big city. People hurried past all through the docks. Tidus recognized it by reputation and pictures. It was the Blitzball capital of the world, Luca.

So much for worrying if there was a Blitzball team where they were going.

"So...where to now?" Tidus asked, assuming it would be the hotel or an apartment, or, best case scenario, the Blitzball stadium. He wasn't prepared for Auron's answer.

"Dock 3."

"Huh?" Tidus asked, confused. "We're not staying in Luca?"

Auron just shook his head, then he handed Tidus a small bag. Tidus glanced into it, it was filled with gil. "Go get yourself something to eat." Auron ordered. "Our next boat leaves in thirty-five minutes. Don't be late." And with that, the older man strode off, leaving a very confused young Blitzball player standing in the middle of the Luca dockyard.

Instead of getting something to eat, Tidus found the Blitzball stadium instead. It wasn't as good as the one in Zanakarned. Then again, few things in the world could compare with anything found in Zanakarned. Luca's stadium was empty at the moment...no crowds, no fans no nothing.

Tidus found himself sitting in the bleachers, staring out to where, typically, a sphere pool should be. Today it was empty, but it was easy to imagine himself playing out here. Bringing a skill to the Luca sphere pool never seen anywhere outside Zanakarned.

Then he remembered, they weren't staying in Luca.

Suddenly, a voice cut into his thoughts. "Drana'c hu kysa dutyo"

Tidus looked up, startled, and spotted a young blond girl who stood on the footpath in the bleachers, shifting from foot to foot in a motion that proved quite well she had more energy then even she knew what to do with. She wore a sleeveless orange top and shorts, and didn't look half bad in them ether. Still, it wasn't her appearance, or her enegry, that Tidus thought about first. It was her words, which he responded to with a simple "Huh?"

The girl dissolved into peels of laughter and took a seat beside him. Tidus fought the urge to scoot away from her. It wasn't wise to offend insane people. "Cunno." She finally said, through her laughter. "ed'c zicd" the girl let her strange words trail off, then she added "I'm just use to everyone knowing Al Bhed."

"Al Bhed?" Tidus echoed, thoroughly confused.

The girl studied him for a moment, then said "You're not from around here, are you?"

"No." Tidus answered quickly. Too quickly, he realized a moment later. "I'm straight outta Zanakarned."

Her swirling green eyes widened. "Zanakarned?" she echoed, tone slipping into awe. The reaction was just the ego-boost Tidus had been hoping for.

"Yep." He responded, leaning onto the row of seats behind him and stretching his arms out and behind him, resting them on the seats in a movement that hinted flirtation as his arm was only inches away from sliding around the girl's shoulders. Hey, strange town, hot girl, and no one to drag him away. He was entitled. "Zanakarned."

"Wow" Rikku said, her voice an awed whisper. Then she asked "Do you plan to stay in Luca long?"

Tidus shook his head. "Noâ€my legal guardian dragged me here, and told me to meet him and Dock 3 later."

The blond girl squealed and jumped to her feet. "luum!" She exclaimed, and then settled for a moment. "That means"

Suddenly, silence settled in an effect Tidus recognized well. He didn't even have to look behind him to know Auron was there. He tensed only a split-second before Auron spoke. "The boat's about to leave. Let's go."

Tidus jumped to his feet, and started to follow Auron as he strode off. Suddenly remembering, he turned. The girl had already started walking away. Tidus called after her "Hey! I didn't catch your name!"

Turning around, a smile flashed across her face and her unusual eyes twinkled. "Rikku!" she called after him. "It's Rikku!"

Tidus smiled and waved before turning on his heel and following Auron.

Rikku. He'd have to remember that.