Hiya, I used to write The Sphere Chronicles. Lately having read through it once more I'm a little ashamed of my own writing, it seemed very childish. SO I have sort of abandoned it for a little while, and have started up this new Aurikku.

It begins in the Calm Lands and will follow the game storyline, but not as much to a tee as my other story did.

"Heyyy wait!!"

It had been three days since the group arrived in the Calm Lands, and they had yet to pass through them completely.
Whilst Auron appreciated the sights, they weren't anything new to him, nor anything beautiful, not really. He'd seen them all before, the giant craters in the earth, the cracks in the land - and whilst the cliffs and fields had inspired awe in him ten years ago, now, now they just reminded him of what lay ahead.

Until this point, the guardians - all six of them - and their summoner, had hiked, climbed, strolled and ran through sea, sand and snow - areas full of gorgeous scenery - golden sands, sparkling seas, lush grass and crisp icicles.
But he HAD seen them all before. And there was some terrible reminder of Sin in each area. The Fayth's forest of ice in Macalania - created by Shiva, another aeon dreaming for a world without devastation.
The empty plains of Bikanel Island - lonely dust fields covering abandoned towns, destroyed by Sin spawn years ago.

And now, the green grass spiking through cracks in the land - cracks created as Sin fell to Summoners over the years.
And as the Summoner destroyed Spira's enemy, they themselves collapsed - atop of the Zanarkand ruins, their strength and life consumed by the power they had exerted on Sin. Then, dying alone there, having lost their Guardians to Sin - they faced a future life as a fiend themselves, if they had no more strength to send themselves.

Auron shuddered. Even having sacrificed themselves for Spira, no one came to give them a proper burial. No one came to mourn the summoner, or their guardians. Too wrapped up in their own pleasure, their parties and celebrations. "The Eternal Calm has come!" - Yes, but at what price?
And this was why he couldn't appreciate the "Calm" Lands - why should a place for Sin Fall be bestowed with such a name? He shook his head. After all this, all that he had seen, he would still bring Yuna to Zanarkand. But why? To protect her? But he wouldn't be...she would die. To free Jecht? But he couldn't...he would have to watch him die once more. Maybe it was because he didn't know what else to do. He didn't know what to live for.

He lived for them, his summoner, his fellow guardians. They were all younger than him, too old to be his children but even then, two of them were the children of his friends. And that was why he journeyed. Because he had promised.
He wouldn't let Braska and Jecht down. Not now.
Living and travelling with the group had led Auron throughout Spira once more. He saw all the things he had before. But, he supposed, he was seeing them through different eyes, with different people.
And those people were his newest friends.

"HEYYY!"

She was so pretty. He frowned, this journey was for Spira, for Yuna and Braska, Tidus and Jecht. Not himself. But...it was for her. She wasn't to be guarded. She was a guardian herself. But he couldn't help but find himself protecting her, always. Whether it was grabbing her by the wrist and dragging her behind him when they were confronted by Bevellian knights...or diving in front of her in battle, taking the enemy's blow himself. And they had become quite the team. When he protected her from such blows, she would concuct him a special potion, healing his wounds instantly. She would always ask why he jumped to take the blow, but he could never explain it. He had tried, once, explaining that he wouldn't want her to end up scarred. She seemed awkward with her reply to it. He guessed that she had taken one look at his eye and had been scared to offend him. He just...didn't want to see her beautiful skin broken, and he didn't want her to be hurt. When Yuna had been captured and taken from the group, their "resident healer" was missing, and so the group shared what knowledge of cure magic that they knew, along with bandages and potions. As they were so often paired, Auron became the little guardian's healer, and she his. She giggled through the pain, calling him "quite the nurse". He chuckled too, when she produced small neon-orange plasters from her hip-bag and placed one tenderly on his cheek. Way back on the Moonflow, just after she had joined the group, they camped over night. It was their first evening together, and began the start of their awkward partnership. They were designated as "Camp Watch", which she then happily renamed the impossibly long - "Supermazing Uber Camp Fire Watching Guardians!" She had then fallen asleep in a matter of moments. This would have been fine - had she not collapsed in a heap on his lap.
And thus began their nights of "super fire watch..." - "NOO Aurie! It's Supermazing Uber Camp Fire Watching Guardians" time.

"Oi! You!! You big meanie! Wait!!"

She was bright and clever. Strong. She had been so brave. Back in the Thunder Plains was when he had first realised how truly courageous this small woman was. It had been a struggle to cross half of the plains. It had possibly been the most running Auron had done in around ten years. However, when she caught sight of the Agency, all movement seemed to grind to a halt. And eventually, he conceded to a night in the Travel Agency. After all, he couldn't say "no" to her gleaming bright eyes. As everyone went to bed, Auron agreed to Yuna's requests that he stay up and wait for the scared guardian. After all, "he was the last to join the Guardians before her, and they did seem close." He had grunted in response to this. Perhaps his soft spot for the little lady was a little too obvious. It was around midnight when she popped her head up from under the bedroom desk, rubbing her eyes furiously. At first, Auron thought she was tired. However, on closer inspection, he discovered she had been crying as well. Sighing - but smiling wearily, he gathered the cushions from the waiting area, and put them around her. Kneeling down, he took her hands in his, and smiled. Resting underneath the desk, he asked her questions, hoping it would both distract her and keep his eye from falling shut. She told him why she was afraid of thunder, and why she refused to go into the Farplane. He had asked previously, but now - now she had told him everything. How her mother had died, how her race had been punished, how she had been so alone. He had held her in his arms, and she had fallen asleep.

Would she be brave now? He had so much to tell her. Could she handle it? Would it be cruel to tell her it all?

"HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY!!"

He had to tell her. At the end of this journey, they would be seperated for good. He felt too much for her for her not to know...He was in love with her. And he was unsent. He was dead and he would die again at the end of this journey. He had to be sent. He couldn't risk ending up like the many fiends they had encountered across Spira. He was meant to protect her, not hurt her. Even though telling her would be painful enough. He shook his head, it had to be done. Maybe she might even let him down gently, he didn't suppose she would be greatful of his love whatever happened. But...it was love. He did love her, maybe even since the day they met. The first night they guarded the fire, all the time they spent together alone in Guadosalam, the night in the Thunder Plains...everytime they spoke he realised how special she was. She was so young, she was so positive...she was everything he knew he wasn't. But maybe in ways, they shared a lot. And he knew he had to share his feelings with her.

"YOU BIG RED MEANIE! WHY WOULD YOU JUST IGNORE ME?! HEY!!!"

Auron turned around suddenly. He'd been walking toward the Calm Lands exit for the past half hour, lost in thought. And all the while, she had been calling him. He felt ashamed instantly. He had never been an ignorant man.

"Hey! All I wanted was for you to wait! What's up with you? You look really thinky all of a sudden!!"

"Rikku..."

She was scratching her cheek, thoughtfully, gazing up at him - spirals squinting as they tried to decipher what was wrong.

"I'm sorry. We need to talk."

"Okay Aurie! Talk away!"

Auron shook his head, pushing his glasses up higher, hoping to banish the feelings from his face.

"It can wait. We need to climb Mount Gagazet. I will tell you at the summit."

I hope you liked it Aurikku fans :)