To all of you who've been reading this, I'm sorry it's taken me so long to update. I've been busy with other things, and don't worry, I will be working on this more often. I know this doesn't really have that much in it and is a little boring, but like I've said before, all great stories have their bad, sad, boring and awful parts. chuckles Not that my story is great.

"Malady, you really don't look too well," Elhana said, coming into the office.

It was morning and Rikku had just gotten into the office. Her assistant walked in with a cup of coffee for her to find her looking like she'd been run over by a chocobo. She came over with her clipboard and a few folders, but her boss didn't move.

Rikku had her head on her desk, face down. Her hair didn't look like it had been combed and she didn't have as much clothes on as usual. All she had on was shorts, boots, a tank top and some gloves.

"Um..." Elhana started, edging over carefully. "Princess, are you alright?"

The older girl let out a sigh, though muffled by the desk. "I'll be fine," she said, sitting up with a groan. She leaned back in her chair. "What's up for today?"

"Well, the registration office needs to be set up before the interviews start. I already had a few workers set up the tent, you just have to put someone in charge. Then, when they start, you just have to fill out these forms for each person," she said, giving her a folder. "It's a basic checklist, like the things you need and just an overall profile of them."

Rikku blinked. "You did this?" she asked, looking through the papers.

For a minute Elhana looked a little uncomfortable. "Well, it's just that you do too much and I thought I should help by doing that. I am here to assist you."

She smiled. "Thanks, Elhana," she said. "Remind me to hire someone to help you with your job."

Elhana blinked, then jotted it down on her clipboard obediently. "We'll also need someone to show the new workers around, so they know what to do and then you need someone to help that person that will help them settle into their rooms..."

"So, in other words, we need like five people?"

"About that many, yes."

She got up and took a sip of her coffee. "Come on, let's find those who wanna help," she said, collecting the things she'd need.

"Really? You'd do that?" Rikku asked. "Okay, that would be a big help."

She stood near the construction site with Elhana. The worker that would be helping them was named Vech. He offered to help with telling new employees what to do. Rikku thanked him tenfold before sending him off with instruction.

"All right," she said to her assistant. "Let's get going. We have to make sure that other shipment from Bikanel arrived."

The girl nodded and followed her as they walked down the path towards the temple. There was a large space there that was unoccupied, so she used it as a docking bay. Only when she approached, she stopped dead in her tracks.

"Malady?" Elhana asked, trying to look at her face.

She stood with wide eyes and buckled knees. The one person that she absolutely did not want to see that day was greeting the ship that had arrived. Things were already being unloaded and things moving along, but Gippal just stood there, talking to his sister.

Wait, Nhadala? What was she doing here? Wasn't she supposed to be on Bikanel?

Rikku shook her head and simply took a deep breath. She could do this. She could do this. It was her job; she had to do it. She...couldn't do it.

Without another thought, she simply turned on her heel and started walking the other way. Elhana blinked, looking back and forth from her boss's retreating form, to the ship. Finally she followed Rikku. "Malady, where are you going!" she called. "We aren't even there yet."

Rikku grabbed her and covered her mouth, pulling her behind a ruin. "Sh! He'll hear us." She let go of her and peaked behind the pillar that they were hiding behind.

Elhana blinked and looked to where she was looking, then to her face. "Who?"

"Sh!"

For a moment, the younger girl just looked at the scenery. There were two ships, one she recognized as the one both their brothers piloted. The other was a different one – she noticed it as one that usually came in from Bikanel with shipments. In the middle of both of them were a few people. Gippal was there, as was Nhadala. There was also another person who she recognized instantly with a bright smile.

"Buddy!"

Without a second thought, she ran out from their hiding spot and rushed down to the bay. The three standing there looked up as she came over and her older brother welcomed her into a hug after she practically jumped on him.

He let go and smiled. "What are you doing here?" he asked. "I thought you had a desk job?"

She cocked her head to the side. "I do," Elhana replied. "But I have a few errands to run with Lady Rikku sometimes..." She looked behind her. "Hm, that's odd."

"What?" Nhadala asked, looking around. "What's wrong?"

"Princess Rikku was just with me one moment ago," she replied, frowning with confusion. "I don't know where she went."

There was a laugh and all eyes went over to the source. Gippal had his arms crossed with a smirk on his face. There was something in his eye that wasn't usually there. "Hiding, is she?" he asked mischievously.

Elhana thought for a moment. "I don't think so," she said. "Why would she be hiding?"

Nhadala looked from the girl to her younger brother. "Yes, brother dear, why would she?" she asked, suspicion in her expression.

With innocence, he shrugged. "I have the faintest idea."

"Of course," she went on sarcastically, then turned to Elhana. "Where is Rikku? I have to discuss a few things with her."

"Well, maybe she's back in her office," she replied brightly. "This way – I'll take you."

Elhana opened the door to the office with the three following her. She put her clipboard down on her desk before knocking on her employer's door. There was a 'come in' and she opened the door. "Malady?" she asked, poking her head in the door. "Nhadala is here to see you."

Rikku was sitting at her desk. She was going through some papers and it looked like she was paying bills. It was like she hadn't even left a few moments ago. How she got back so quickly was beyond her. Rikku only looked up with a smile. "Send her in."

She looked around like someone was playing a practical joke on her and went back outside. With her confused look gone, she turned to Nhadala. "Go ahead," she replied, stepping aside to let her in.

When she disappeared, Elhana faced the two still there. "Well," she started. "I've got a little time, does anyone want a tour?"

The moment Elhana had rushed to her brother, was the moment when she turned and bolted for her office. She really only walked really fast, not to draw any attention, but didn't stop or talk to anyone. She went all the way back to her desk and went to work right away.

The only other person that knew about what happened that last night was Yuna and she really planned on keeping it that way. She didn't want her workers gossiping about her. Elhana was a good girl, but she rambled on a bit sometimes. She didn't want to risk anything.

So, when her assistant opened the door, she looked up with innocence. Of course she was suspicious. Elhana wasn't stupid or blind, and she'd seen her down in the dumps that morning. All the sudden she's hiding from people and disappearing? Then winding up back in her office with a bright smile like nothing happened? Anyone would be suspicious.

But she just smiled when Elhana gave her a concerning look before allowing Nhadala to come in.

Nhadala, the one that always got Gippal and her out of trouble when they were little. She had saved their necks a few times back. It was no wonder she'd be in charge of a big operation as well. Being in charge of all the digging was harder than construction. Especially with her location, she had it tough.

But, when she stepped inside, she merely look off her goggles and took a seat. "Nice set up you have," she commented, looking around.

Looking at her, she was actually a very nice looking woman without her goggles. She was only a few years older than her, around Buddy and Brother's age. But the thing that made her arch an eyebrow was the fact that she looked like she had another purpose than business.

So, she just kept her thoughts on track. "Thank you," she said. "Did you need something? You could have asked for a comm-sphere meeting."

"Oh, I wanted to come in person," she replied. "You've been doing so much up here that I wanted to come take a look. I should be seeing what will be happening."

Rikku smiled again. "How nice. how long will you be staying?" she asked, going through a file. "I'll arrange a room for you."

"Thanks, but it'll only be a few days. Not too long," she replied. "So...Gippal says that Cid is making him stay?"

She nodded casually, looking through a few things. "That's what I've been told," she said, not looking her in the eyes.

"Would you have any reason why?" she asked brightly.

"Nope," she replied. "I have no idea. I'd ask him...he's around here somewhere." She looked up. "Why?"

Nhadala shrugged. "I don't know," she said. "My brother's just been acting...strangely."

Her eyebrows went up. "More than usual?" she asked. "What, has he discovered he can't flirt with my workers?"

Again, she shrugged. "That's what I wanted to know," she replied.

She frowned. "I have absolutely no clue," Rikku went on, an apologetic look in her eyes.

Nhadala stood. "Alright," she said, looking around. "I'll be in my room if anyone needs me."

Rikku smiled. "I'll tell people if they do," she stated.

The older woman nodded before turning to leave. But she made a face – Rikku was lying. She hadn't known her that long and not read her expressions. And she was determined to find out what.