A/N: Deep thanks to those who took their time to review. It's a little disappointing to compare "hit numbers" with "review numbers" and wonder what you did wrong that's not even worthy of comment lol.

I'm sorry for the confusion in the last chapter, but I normally don't like to openly state things as I feel it ruins the story. But since I understand now that it was quite hard to comprehend everything, this is what you should've got from last chapter: Gippal had/has a 'girlfriend' who was also a worker at the temple, Selyna, whom he was forced to fire a few months ago after he couldn't afford to pay her wages. She sends him letters often, but is unable to bring herself to write anything in them. Tye is a rich business man, selling machine-related items/parts. Gippal had ordered goods from him earlier but Tye refused to give them to Gippal because he didn't have the money. Instead, Tye sold them off in a huge sale which Rikku just coincidently happened to come across. After Rikku's and Gippal's dispute, they didn't see each other for a week – until Gippal's crew found her and brought her back to the temple.

Everything else, I hope you understood lol. I've changed the title of the story as well. Hope you enjoy this chapter.

Djose Days
Ch. 2: Bitty Bit

Rikku

There's no warm comforter this time. But there's a soft blanket over me, fuzzy and cozy. My back is stiff, and my neck feels wrongly bent. My arms feel heavy and my legs are numb and – whoo! What's that smell?

I carefully open an eye – just one – and scan the dark room. There's a shiver of light coming through the curtains, outlining barely enough for me to see. A couple of old leather chairs are by the wall, and a bookshelf is opposite them. A desk is at the far end of the room, and scattered gadgets and gizmos are here and there. Everything seems so familiar.

Then it hits me that this is not a cave in a mountain. In the rain. With nasty, nasty fiends. But that is where I remember last being. And that is where I should be. But I'm not. So where am – oh.

I spot his large all-in-one gun leaning in the corner, and slight relief passes over me. At least it's someone I know and can like, talk to without worrying whether or not he's trying to get me into bed.

I sit up, pushing the blanket off of me and examining myself in the dimness of the room. My legs are chalky with dust – dried mud perhaps – as well as my arms and belly. I climb out of the long chair I'd been sleeping on, feeling the strap of my bikini top suddenly break apart completely. And I realize my clothes are quite damaged, dirty, and whoo… there's the smell.

I try to retie the knot, hoping to at least look a bit more presentable when I go down and have a little chitchat with Gippal. Or maybe I should just slip out; clean myself up and then come back. Ooh! Knowing him, he's probably gone and stolen and used my box of machina parts by now! Dammit.

The door suddenly opens and the lights flash on. I pale in embarrassment, standing a mess in the middle of the room, one hand cupping my breast and the other tangled around the thin yellow strap as he looks at me, and smirks.

- - - - -

Gippal

I snort. "And you're…?"

"It broke," she says flatly, ignoring my gaze and turning around to conceal herself. "How'd you guys find me?" she asks, still trying to tie her top on.

I stare at her bare back for a while before answering. "Found you dying of poison – smart thing to do, Kid. Didn't even have any antidotes on you. My crew had to bring you on board to treat you."

She grunts a bit, shaking her arms at her side to regain some blood flow in them before attempting the knot again. She turns her head just slightly toward me. "Well, please tell them thank you for me."

"They've already left for Zanarkand. They'll be back in a day or two." I push myself off the wall and walk toward her. She's intently concentrated on her bikini strap, not really noticing me. With a grin, I firmly place my hands on her shoulders, feeling her slightly shudder and straighten in surprise. Rubbing them gently, I lean in and whisper with a low voice into her ear, "Take off your clothes."

"What?" she blurts out immediately, ducking out of my grasp and giving me a furious glare. "Are you – what the hell's –"

"–'Cause there might be some traces of the fiends' poison still on them," I explain with a teasing smile. "The antidote's gonna wear off soon, and don't want you gettin' sick again." I chuckle, shoving her playfully as I turn away. "Hah. Y'got a dirty mind, Kid."

She doesn't know how to respond.

"And the bathroom's down the hall on the left. I think there's some detergent under the sink; you can hand-wash your own stuff." I look at her directly, brushing a hand by my nose. "And might as well take a shower, Cid's Girl. You kinda smell."

She frowns, narrowing her eyes. But I've left before she's gotten any words out of her mouth.

- - - - -

Rikku

The icy water pounds weakly against my back – actually, more so trickling down my back. Feeble and cold, and I think Gippal must be pretty cheap to only provide his workers with this pathetic level of sanitation. I finish my shower quickly, not being able to stand the freezing temperature. When I push aside the bath curtain, I find a neatly folded towel placed on top of the sink counter, waiting for me. I'm a bit surprised – and offended – that he managed to slip in without me noticing.

I quickly wrap it around myself, appreciating what little warmth it had to offer, and then open the door, poking my head outside. "G-Gip-p-pal!" I call out, my voice a bit shaky from shivering.

No answer.

I wait a few seconds before calling him again, clearer this time. "Gippal! You have any clothes I can borrow?"

Still no answer.

Taking my newly washed, but still damp garments, I walk slowly out of the bathroom and down the hall, hand tightly grasping my towel. "Gippal!" I call out desperately. The sudden sound of his startled yelp and the clanking of metal leads me downstairs and into one of the temple's large rooms where I see him kneeling on the floor, examining his hand with frustrated grumbles. I hide myself slightly behind the door, before calling to him again.

He turns around, raising his eyebrow at my voice. "Yeah?"

"Can I borrow a shirt or something?" I ask as politely and modestly as possible.

He stands up, pulling off his gloves and goggles and heading towards me. "Sure."

I get nervous when he passes, my grip tightening. I can't help it, especially after his embarrassing comment earlier. And it's not hard for him to make another mean joke when I'm covered like this. But to my surprise, he only takes one quick look at me and my towel, and that's it. Like I was a man. And I'm a bit unsure on whether or not to feel offended.

I follow him back up the stairs where he leads me into his room. He bends down at one of his cabinets and pulls out a large faded green shirt. He hands it to me casually. "But I don't think any of my pants will fit you," he says.

I nod understandingly and thank him despite. I ask him if I can just toss my wet clothes in the dryer – but quickly add in an apologetic tone that I know it's just a few clothes and it seems like a waste of energy. He turns his eye elsewhere and hesitates before telling me that it just recently broke down. He says I can drape it on his chair by his desk if I'd like and wait for it to dry. I do so, and he leaves for me to change.

His shirt smells of a familiar machina smell, burnt and smoke and smothered with springtime laundry detergent. It's comfortable against my still cold skin, and for a second I feel as if I am his nightly mistress, having just woken up and showered and slipped into his shirt without any panties on. And admittedly, it's a fun thought, until I remember what he had said to me earlier and I shut my brain up.

It's a bit airy without any underwear on, but I won't mention it to him, because you just don't talk about your delicates with a guy. After stretching the shirt as far below my bum as possible, I slip on my boots and head back downstairs into the same room where I'd found him. This time, he's underneath a huge, strange looking machina, his legs sticking out from below and wiggling slightly. The temple is oddly quiet. I walk over toward him. "Where is everybody?" I ask.

He hesitates before answering. "Most of them are out excavating."

I twitch my mouth to the side, placing a hand against the frame of the machina and leaning on it. "Yeah but like, no one's here."

He slides out from underneath and looks up at me, a bitty bit pissed, and I move away instantly. "They're out back. Look-" He stands up, brushing off his pants and throwing his wrench into the toolbox. "-my crew found you, treated you, and brought you here to safety. And I think you owe us something, Kid."

I flinch, sinking away at his sudden, selfish attitude. "Well… I'm sorry, but I don't have anything," I say, my mind thinking back to that one single gil coin still in my skirt pocket.

He takes a step toward me, looking dead into my eyes as he speaks. "What happened to that box of machine?"

"You didn't take it?"

"No."

I look away, trying to remember. "It must still be back by the cave. You know, where I was before you guys picked me up. Which, I don't remember asking to be 'saved'… so technically, I don't owe you guys anything!" I tell him confidently.

He completely ignores my outburst. "I want that box."

"Well, you're not gettin' it for free, Mister. I'll charge you 3500 gil."

He scoffs. "No way. You owe us."

"I owe you shit!"

He doesn't care. "I'm getting that box," he says determinedly before leaving the room.

- - - - -

Gippal

"You don't even know where to look!" she shouts after me, and I stop in my tracks, knowing she's right. With my crew in Zanarkand, I can't ask them where they found her, and there's no chance she's gonna tell me.

I turn around, looking at her smug self leaning on one leg, arms crossed and unknowingly lifting the edges of the shirt up. "3500 gil and I'll tell you," she says simply, sounding a lot like Tye.

I can't afford 3500 gil, so I ignore her and head toward the kitchen. I'll wait until my crew comes back, and then I'll go get it. I hear her trotting behind me, throwing offers one after another, but none of them reasonable enough. Finally, when we reach the kitchen, she slips in front of me and stops me from going further.

"Fine, 2500, my last offer," she says with a sickening sweet look in her eye. She bats her eyelashes excessively lifting one of her shoulders up and cocking her head toward it cutely.

"No."

She presses her hands against my chest as soon as I try to move, desperately wanting me to agree. "C'mon, what's 2500 gil to you? I'm giving you a fantastic deal here!"

"Why do you need the money so badly anyway?" I ask, brushing her hands off.

She looks away, pouting. "It's… complicated," she mumbles.

"Complicated?"

"Very."

"Wanna explain?"

"Can't explain."

""Cause?"

"Very complicated."

I absentmindedly brush my thumb against her cheek. "Just tell me, Kid."

It takes a while for her to reply. "I can't go back home," she tells me simply. "Got into a fight with Pops, and I can't go back home or else we're gonna fight again." She looks away, laughing stupidly. "And I left with just one gil in my pocket. And you can't buy much with that, y'know." Her voice is quiet and soft, and I feel a bit stupid for so easily believing her.

"Where have you been staying?" I ask.

She shrugs her shoulders plainly.

"Why didn't you just go to Yuna or Paine, or you know… one of your friends." I flinch a bit when I realize what my words meant I thought of her. "-other friends," I quickly add.

She doesn't answer, twitching her mouth to the side and rubbing her arms anxiously. "You're gonna give me 2500 gil or what?"

I narrow my eye. "How've you been eating?" I ask with a frown, feeling a bit angered and somewhat protective. "You better have stolen, Cid's Girl."

She snorts. "Why's that?"

I walk pass her, squeezing her side slightly. It's a while before she realizes what I mean.

"I'm not like that, Gippal," she says stiffly, balling her fists. "I have my self-respect."

I don't answer, pouring water into a kettle and heating it up on the stove. I fold my arms, leaning against the counter. "So where're you goin' to stay, Kid?"

"I dunno, I'll find an inn when you give me 2500 gil."

"Why don't you stay here?"

She looks up in surprise. "Here?"

"Yeah. I could use some help, and you're not a bad mechanic."

"How much will you pay me?"

"Nothing."

She drops her mouth in shock. "Forget it!"

"Hey, you'll be working to pay off for your stay here. Simple as that." I throw my arms in the air. "If you don't want it, then you can just go live off your one gil in the forest, Kid."

"That's unfair," she grumbles, placing her hands on her hips.

"Life's unfair, Kid."

She's quiet for a couple of minutes after that. The kettle sounds and I turn off the stove, pouring us both a cup of hot water. She's still contemplating when I give her the drink.

"Can I set some rules though?" she suddenly asks.

"Like what?"

"I get my own room."

"Done."

"You don't boss me around."

"Sometimes. You'll still be working for me, remember."

"But I can leave and come back whenever I want, when I'm on break. I don't have to check with you."

"Alright." I pause. "That's it?"

She thinks. "And you give me money for a new wardrobe."

I grimace, looking at her, dressed plainly in my shirt and I understand. But I don't tell her that. "If you give me that box of machine."

She's a bit taken back.

"You'll need clothes, Cid's Girl," I remind her.

"That box is worth a lot. I can sell it to someone else and buy my own clothes, y'know."

"Then why don't you? Go on. Get out."

She bites her lip, giving me a dirty look. "Why're you so mean?"

I laugh. "I'm not mean."

"Yes you are!" She grunts angrily, storming out of the kitchen. "You can have the stupid box, jackass."

- - - - -

Rikku

I didn't realize that it was still early in the morning, a bit past breakfast and a bit before lunch. My stomach is growling in its usual manner – a bit of a sore that spreads throughout my insides, climbing up, and then churning downward. I have to bend over to minimize the ache.

It's a little nippy by the temple entrance, and my hair is still damp. My butt is still bare, and I'm shivering just a little bit. Just a little bit. Because being a little bit cold out here is definitely better than being a lot warm in there.

I glance over my shoulder a bit and wonder if he's followed me, but I don't see him. It's a tiny bit frustrating because I expect that he'd feel a lot guiltier after my outburst and absolutely declare to do anything to make it better. But I don't really know what to expect of him anymore. People change y'know.

A strange whirring erupts from behind me, and I turn around in surprise. A funny looking machina is wobbling around the center of the temple's central room, constantly tripping over its legs and flipping spastically. Suddenly, its head shoots up, and the machina freezes in place, only to be brought down to its knees a few seconds later when its motor dies.

I get up from the temple steps and skip inside, sliding across the floor before coming to rest by the funny machina. I pick it up gently, wondering if it is one of Gippal's creations or he had just found it. After a few minutes of tinkling with it, I' manage to tighten its joints and let it stand properly on its own two feet.

It spontaneously awakes, startling me as it stomps across the temple floor like an angry Chimera Brain toward the entrance. But then its torso begins buckling, and its head begins bobbing and a while later, it has crashed into a corner behind the temple doors, landing a mess on the ground as dozens of envelopes fly through the air like leaves in autumn.

Confused and amused, I jog toward it, pulling it out from underneath the pile of fallen envelopes, and lean it against the wall. I then gather the scattered letters, folding them neatly and then putting them neatly back in their place. Behind me, I hear the sound of approaching footsteps.

Gippal's at the door leading to the kitchen, a long, large, colourful steaming cup in one hand, and a juice box in the other. He looks at me by the pile of unread mail, and immediately anger flashes through his eye.

"I didn't do anything," I blurt out unconsciously, my arms flailing backward and I fall on my bum, staring at him. "T-The machina just started going crazy and I-I was just cleaning up… the mess…"

He looks at the dead machina by the wall, smirks, and then makes his way toward me. The angry expression on his face quickly evolves into an unusually warm smile – just like the cup-of-noodles he hands to me. I take it tentatively.

He places a juice box beside me (orange, my favourite!) and then takes a seat on the ground with me. We're silent for a while as I quietly munch on the first decent meal I've had in a long time, until the strange machina wakes up again and begins wandering throughout the temple – crazy and clumsy and random, just like my thoughts.

- - - - -

Gippal

I feel a little bit guilty for forcing her to work for me – a little bit – and demanding that she turns over the box (which was clearly mine to begin with anyway). But she's in an awkward situation right now (or so she says) and I can't just leave her to be picked up by some creep.

She places the empty cup on the ground, sucking on her juice box, still quietly. Her eyes are fixated on the greyish, bluish, whitish sky and only the soft howling of the wind and Nooj's faint buzzing echoes between our ears.

"So it's a deal?"

She doesn't answer immediately, glancing downward at her worn out boots and smoothing down the edges of the T-shirt before sighing tiredly. "Yeah, whatever…" she mumbles. She scrunches the juice box and tosses it in the cup. "You know, I don't like you very much," she says, a bit seriously and a bit giggly. And I know she's trying to pass it up as a joke, but it isn't.

I lean back on my hands, drumming my fingers against the floor. "Look, I just had the bills paid and so we're a little short on money now," I sorta-kinda lie. "And I need those machine parts, like need."

"I have needs too," she argues easily.

"So I said I'll get you a new wardrobe. And for every day you work here, you can stay here. No charge, Kid." I watch her emotionless face, and I can tell she's thinking that I'm cheap; thinking why can't I pay her like all my other workers, because she actually needs money, and she needs to prove something to her father.

She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear casually before slipping her hands underneath her bare thighs and rocking herself back and forth, shivering slightly as a breeze from outside swirls in. She takes it as a sign, and glances away. "No," she replies. "Forget it."

I'm a bit taken back, because staying in the temple is certainly better than her other alternative of living on the streets. "Why?"

She gives me a weak smile, brushing off her legs and standing up. "I can always stay with Yunie and Tidus for awhile. And tag along with Paine if I run into her." Her smile fades. "You know, people who aren't looking to make a profit off of me."

She walks away with those words, boots heavy against the floor as she makes her way toward my room to get her things and most likely, leave. She trips over Nooj as she climbs the stairs, but just a little bit. Because she catches herself quickly and steadily regains her composure, resuming her proud and graceful walk, like the Al Bhed Princess she is.

- - - - -

Rikku

My hair hasn't dried, and my clothes haven't dried. And wearing them makes me feel like I had just done ten rounds with Sin and am in desperate need of deodorant. But I don't smell as bad as I did before. There's shampoo and soap and a hint of spicy herbs from the noodles that tickles my senses, and I feel quite ready to march out and find myself an adventure!

Except, I certainly don't look the part of an adventurer. My hair is gathered into a bushy ponytail. Clothes tattered and holes from the edge of my bikini top, as well as the borders of my skirt. Thread and fabric is a mess like colourful cobwebs all over my skin. My strap is still ripped, and so I'm fairly exposed. But I can't do anything about it now, and Gippal's not doing anything about it either. So I'm just going to have to find a way of fixing my own problems.

Because I'm growing up. Hah. Take that Pops.

I fold the pale green T-shirt and place it on his bed neatly. I don't need him for shit. I don't need anyone. With a strong determination, I jog over to the door and rip it open. And what a frickin' surprise: there he is. He hears me step out, and turns from leaning over the rail to look at me. There's an unreadable expression on his face as he quickly scans my body in amusement.

I try to walk around him but he blocks me, playing that stupid game of 'not letting you pass by' that kids always play. I go left, he goes left. I go right, he goes right. I go nowhere, and he looms over me, deviously peering down with his one eye. He chuckles a little. "You're seriously gonn' go out in public like that?"

I narrow my eyes. "Well maybe someone nice will offer me some money and I can actually afford to buy my own clothes." I try to sidestep him again, but colloid into his solid frame.

"Someone nice?" There's a bit of anger to his voice and I push him aside equally furious.

"I told you, I'm not like that!" I exclaim, balling my fists and racing toward the stairs. But he catches my arm, and pulls me down hard on the ground. I fall quite harshly, leg bend back and head slamming against the rail. Before I can react, he's pinned my hands on the floor, and is hovering over me, breath on my cheek.

"Don't be stupid, Kid," he spits out. "Staying here is your best choice."

"Yuni-"

"You think they want you to intrude on their love life? They would've welcomed you if they wanted you, and have they?"

"…But Pai-"

"It's obvious she doesn't want to spend every frickin' day with your whinny voice in her ear – again. Hell, I don't even want to. But I'm offering you a place to stay, food to eat, and something to do. And don't be thinkin' that my offer will still stand when you come crawling back a week later, Kid."

His grip on me has weakened because he knows he's put up a good argument. I try to stop the brimming tears from falling – refusing to blink and let the dry temple air evaporate them away instead. But I give up the restraint quickly, pulling my hands out from underneath and shoving him off of me with all my strength. "Then I won't be crawling back!" I shout, scrambling to my feet. I deliberately step on his fingers as I leave, and he doesn't dare follow me.

Thanks for reading. Please Review. (Don't worry, Gippal's a true softie inside lol)