Hmm, well I didn't really intend for Shuyin's tree hut to have that much comical value, but he is a pauper, and like Aladdin, lives in a crappy little shoebox, both few in in furnishings and, however, beautiful views and surroundings.

Disclaimer: Don't own, don't sue.

2. Endings and Beginnings part 2 -

"But why don't you have parents?" "You live in a tree?" "This is your first time at school?" "Why?"

"Why?" "Why are you so different?"

Shuyin awoke to the soft forest noises and a sharp ray of light hitting him squarely in the eyes as he opened them. When light managed to sneak into the calm woods it was magnified a dozen times worse due to the reflective plants and trails littering the woods.

He glanced over at a peacefully sleeping Jub Jub, snoring slightly. Checking they had enough food to last them for at least breakfast and lunch, he discarded any plans for a food raid till at least after noon.

Perhaps I could go check out if I can get a job at the stalls in the Calm Lands… Or maybe even something full time in Bevelle..

Yawning, he stretched widely, his arms cracking slightly as he stretched them high over his head. He tilted his head towards his armpit and wrinkled his nose somewhat. Yep, time for a dip.

He grabbed a bar of soap, toothbrush and toothpaste, curtesy of a rather dim and blind shop owner in Bevelle.

He slid down the thick trunk on the side of his hut and landed on the damp earth, rising he brushed off the loose dirt and began walking to the spring, pushing aside memories that kept trying to surface, but which he, easily, stamped into nothingness, just like he did every time his past brought itself up.

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Lenne slowly sat up, her covers strewn all around the bed. Gosh it had turned so hot..

She pulled open the dark curtains surrounding her wooden extravagance of a bed and rolled out of it. The light that hit her was so bright she was momentarily blinded. Someone had already been in her room and opened the curtains ..and left a note on her dresser.

Lenne, we must discuss the ball. I know it's hard, but you are nearing of age and well, you know the rules.

Love, father.

Lenne's face fell as she skimmed over the lines. In 6 months it was her birthday.. And it meant.. She would have to marry.. It was the only way to keep the royalty alive in Spira and there was naught she could do about it. The contenders were all snobby princes from distant lands, or those of the highest social class.. They were all the same, interested only in the stature Lenne would inevitably bring them, they didn't care for her at all.

She lay back down on her bed and heard the sound of her door opening. She hadn't even given permission for the person to enter, all the maids and servants always knocked.. All her "normal" friends never took that from their parents or siblings, she thought about taking a note out of their books and slamming it in the person's face.. But she was too well mannered and had gone through so many etiquette 101 classes that the thought trickled through her brain like sand in a sifter.

" Lenne, the king wishes you to accompany him after breakfast. He says he will meet you at the orchard. He has gone hunting and will meet you there at noon." The voice belonged to her father's vizier, Tromell, an ancient, yet sleazy Guado.

She nodded and turned around to make her bed, Tromell lingered and Lenne had the suspicion he was staring at her butt, whipping around, she saw him hastily exit and shut the door.

Sighing, she pulled on a singlet and jeans.. A bit understated for one of the few remaining royalty children in Spira, but whatever, she didn't care. She brushed her long brown hair a few times and yanked open her door, walking down the corridor in "her section", walking aimlessly past doors containing bathrooms, studies, pools, various technological crap.. Lately, as her birthday approached like death on a nearing horizon, she had lost her appetite, activities she had once enjoyed were more like a duty, she rarely had fun or found anything amusing, she had become a shell of a person, in desperate need of a saviour, like the heroes riding silver chocobos which saved all the princesses in Spiraian folklore, but once her d-day came, there would be princes on silver chocobos, but none of which where there to save her. They would break her, take away her youth. Lenne was a hopeless romantic and once upon a time could fall head over heels for random classmates but she knew she could never learn to love another that loved her for her power and her power only.

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"Nhadala thank you so much!" Rikku cried, bouncing up and down, throwing her arms around Gippal's neck.

"Wait a minute.. Yes?! You're sure?"

Nhadala smiled at the couple. "Yeah I'm sure. There are million machina parts all around Spira.. And well, you never know what you might find. Now, you would have to travel with Brother and Shinra, they do similar work to what you'd be doing, on the Celsius."

Rikku bit her lip.

"Poopie.. The Celsius.. Pops! I didn't think of that… You think pops would even let me leave Bikanel?"

"Wait a minute.. You want to go with Gippal?!" Nhadala asked, surprised.

Gippal snorted. "Cid? Let his little girl fly around Spira with him? While I'm there?"

Nhadala shook her head. "No, actually Cid wouldn't be on the ship. He's been grounded on an island close to Bikanel, researching some new machina that has been discovered. He'll be there for a while."

"Huh? Why didn't he tell me?" Rikku asked, exasperated.

Gippal shrugged.

"He only left this morning, he got the call very early… I thought you'd have found out by now.. Anyway, Cid doesn't have to know you'd be going with Gippal.."

"Nhadala?!" Gippal yelled, bewildered. "Are you suggesting we lie to Cid? He'll kill me! He glares at me every time he sees me and Rik together and if he finds out we're flying around Spira on his precious ship…"

"Yep, he'd slit him ear to ear!" Rikku yelped, nodding furiously.

Nhadala stared from Rikku to Gippal. "You're both scared of Cid? But he's such a gentleman, and I'm sure if he found out, I could talk to him.."

"Gentleman?!" Gippal said with a shriek, but Rikku was thinking. "You mean you could try talking to him?" She asked, one eyebrow arched higher than the other.

"Yeah sure, er you may not know this.. But uh, me and Cid have been having dinner together a few times lately.." Nhadala answered, blushing feverishly.

"Wow you're beet red.. Who knows about this anyway?" Rikku asked, amused.

Nhadala looked down. "Er, no one.. Till now. You can't say anything! It'll damage his reputation of a cantankerous grump!"

Rikku nodded and Gippal did the same, with surprise written all over his face.

"Looks like we can go after all, Gip!"

Gippal turned to Rikku and smiled.

"Ready for the ride of your life?"

Rikku laughed and after waving goodbye to Nhadala, they ran off to pack everything as fast as they could.

They were going on the adventure they had dreamed of..