Chapter 2 is up! Don't forget to REVIEW PLEASE:)

Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy X-2 except for the ideas I get to write my stories. Thank you!

STS: story shifting

"…": speaking

'…': thoughts

FB..: flashback

Chapter 2 –

"Hey Pops," Rikku said as she walked down the steps of the Celsius to meet her father.

"Nice to see you too," Cid said as he noticed her tone was plain and waited for what he already knew was coming.

"Aww, come on Pops! You know that we don't get along with one another and he's so–"

"Rikku! For once you will listen to what it is that I say, got that!" Cid said as he crossed his arms over his chest and glared at his daughter.

"But what's the point in rebuilding home when everyone has already moved on and have made their own ho–"

"Enough!" Cid yelled as he cut her off again and walked past her to get on the Celsius since Brother and Buddy were taking him back to Bikanel Desert.

"Ergh!" Rikku said as she threw her arms up in the air in exasperation and kicked a rock nearby.

"You know, you should really work on that temper of yours, Cid's girl," said a voice from behind her.

"And you should learn by now that I have a name and it's not that," Rikku said as she put her hands on her hips and turned around to come face to face with the leader of the Al Bhed at Djose Temple.

"Right, what was it again? Hildi? Daila? Shera?" Gippal asked as he put a hand to his chin, seeming that he was in deep thought.

"Gippal…" Rikku said as she rolled her hands into fists at her side and glared at him.

"Ah, that's right. How could I forget such a pretty name as Naida," Gippal replied as he smirked down at the girl in front of him.

"I am not any of your ex-girlfriends, Gippal!" Rikku yelled as she tried to punch him in the arm, but he sidestepped, making her loose her balance once again and falling on her butt.

"Ha-ha-ha."

"Owwie," Rikku said as she got up slowly again and rubbed her already sore butt.

"Yup, you really are always good for a laugh, Cid's girl," Gippal said as he laughed one more time and walked away from her.

"You…you big…you big meanie!" Rikku yelled after him as she raised her fist in the air and glared at his back when he didn't even acknowledge her.

"Excuse me, but are you the Al Bhed Princess?" said a voice from behind her.

When Rikku turned around she found herself looking at an Al Bhed young man that was probably no older than herself or Gippal. He had short spiky dark brown hair with clear green eyes and boyish face that made him appear a lot younger than she probably thought he was.

"Yeah, that would be me and please, just call me Rikku," Rikku said as she realized that she was probably staring at him.

"It's nice to meet you, then. My name is Jumal," Jumal said as they both shook each others hand. "So, what are you doing in dump like this anyway?"

"Oh, my Pops thought it would be great if he were to team Gippal and I up to help repair and build new machina that would be of assistance in the process of rebuilding home," Rikku said as she finally took notice of all the machina parts that were scattered all around the area. 'I can only imagine how the temple looks like inside.'

"Well, that's great then considering that we've heard a lot about you and your skills with machina," Jumal said as he smiled at her.

"Thanks," Rikku said as she saw Gippal come back outside and stop short when he noticed that someone else was there with her, she smirked.

"Jumal," Gippal said as he regained his composure and continued his walk towards them.

"Gippal," Jumal said as he glared at him.

"Keppel needs some help inside with one of the machinas that you two are helping to repair," Gippal said in a firm tone that Rikku had never heard before.

"I'll see you around then, Rikku," Jumal said as he smiled warmly at her one more time and glared at Gippal before he left.

"See you later, Jumal!" Rikku said as she waved at him.

"Rikku, I want you to stay away from him and the people he hangs around with here, as well as some of the others," Gippal said as he still held his firm tone and glared at Jumal until he entered the temple and looked back down to Rikku.

"What? Why? He seems nice enough compared to someone else that I know," Rikku said as she folded her arms across her chest and looked up at him.

"I mean it, Rikku," Gippal said, not losing his tone as he looked at her one more time and turned around to go back inside the temple.

"Jerk…"

"And by the way, compared to him, I am nice," Gippal replied over his shoulder just as he entered the temple.

'Whatever,' Rikku thought as she looked around again and decided to just ask around to see if anyone needed help.

STS

'Maybe staying here won't be so bad after all,' Rikku thought as she walked through the halls of the temple, remembering her first and second time being in Djose temple with Yuna.

As she continued to walk down the halls and climb up the stairs that led to the chamber, she got the feeling that someone was following her. She quickly turned around only to be met with nothing and realized that it was probably just her nerves since the temple also brought back sad memories as well.

"Hmm…let's see…it's been about five years since the defeat of Sin and three years since the defeat of Vegnagun. I wonder how everyone is doing, especially Yuna since last I heard she was pregnant. Hehe, I feel so bad for Tidus," Rikku said as she began to laugh a little as she continued on her way towards the chamber. "Haven't really heard much from Paine and Baralai lately, but then again I guess they can't get into too much trouble. I guess though, when Yuna and I found out about those two it wasn't really all that surprising, but in a way it was. Now, what really wasn't surprising is the fact that Nooj and Leblanc got together. Finally, I'm here."

Rikku stopped short as soon as she saw the door that led to the chamber just in front of her. She took two steps forward and was held back by an arm wrapping around her waist, which caused her to reach for her daggers until she realized that they weren't there.

"Easy there, Princess, I'm not gonna hurt you," said the voice that the arm seemed to belong to.

"Jumal?" Rikku asked as she stopped struggling and turned around to see him standing there behind her, with a smile on his face. "What are you doing here?"

"Well, I saw you go up the stairs and hallways that leads up here to the chamber by yourself and I thought that I would go with you in case a fiend should come out since they still do from time to time," Jumal said, not releasing her from his hold.

"Oh, well that's nice of you and all, Jumal, but I can take care of myself," Rikku said as she started to get uncomfortable with his arm being wrapped around her waist.

"Now what kind of gentleman would I be to let the Al Bhed Princess take on a fiend on her own?" Jumal asked as he still held his smile, while wrapping the other arm around her.

"Um…uh…hehe…Jumal, do you think you could let go of me now cause this is getting kind of uncomfortable, please," Rikku said as she brought her hands up to his chest to push him off.

"I know that you don't mean that, Princess," Jumal said as he tightened his grip on her and brought her closer to him.

"Jumal, come on, please let me go," Rikku said as she started to struggle to try to get out of his arms and be a good distance away from him.

"Alright, alright, I was only playing with you," Jumal said as he let her go with his smile still in place.

"Um…I'm gonna go now…and I guess…thanks for coming up here with me," Rikku said as she put her hands behind her back and walked away still facing him until she was a good distance away was when she turned back around and quickly left the chamber.

"Soon, Princess…soon," Jumal said as his smile got wider.

Chapter 2 Complete! Yay! Hopefully I'll have a new chapter posted once every week…depends on my other stories, jobs, school, writer's block, etc. Sigh…so yeah… Please review guys! Thanks!