Yeah, I know, I'm supposed to finishing my other story. Truth is..I got bored with it. Then I ran out of ideas for the moment. Don't worry, the next chapter of Heavenly War (or whatever I titled it) has been started, but if you have any ideas for me, let me know.

But on top of that, I got back into my original story again. If I keep going at the pace I was, I think I can be done by the new year. But as I was working I got hit with another idea. Think about it. In a world where Al Bhed are thought to be only fairy tales, Rikku must fight and prove she is not crazy. Neat, huh? Anyway, may or not have any pairing. I'm working on a believable idea with that. I know, me, the aurikku writer is not making an aurikku. Whatever will I do with myself?

Disclaimer: Gin owns no rights to the characters used within. But I own the game!

--

A young woman curled on the floor of the room she was in. No, it wasn't a room. No one in their right mind would call it that, would they? It was more of a cell, stone walls lined each side, and a window sat high up on the east wall. Across from the wall with the window was a steel door. The top third of it was bars so that those outside could look in and see who the patient was inside.

She herself was too short to look out, but could see them when they looked in. The woman dropped her head as she heard keys being pushed inside the lock. She had learned not to look these men in the face when they transported her. No one liked being stared at by a crazy person, they had told her. But she knew she wasn't crazy. She was Rikku; and she was Al Bhed.

"Come along, miss. We don't want anything more then to run some tests. The doctor wants to know more about you." Strong male arms reached under her and pulled her to her feet.

Rikku grudgingly obeyed and stood on her own. She held her hands out in front of her and waited until they applied the cuffs before being led out. She kept her eyes on the floor as she walked along more stone corridors. It was all the same any more. Most likely she could walk these halls with her eyes closed and still not run into anything. She was the 'good' doctors most prized patient, so he spent a lot of time with her.

"Doctor? We have brought the girl. She is ready for questioning."

A man stepped out of the office and smiled down when he saw Rikku. Her blond hair was loose and fell into her face, but it did nothing to hide the hidden beauty she held. "Good, good. Bring her in." He grinned as he watched her take a seat in front of his desk. Excusing the guards who brought her in, he softly closed the door and sat on the the other side of the desk.

While it seemed like he was ignoring her at first, in fact he was watching everything she did. Her eyes moved around the room taking in every possible thing they could. He changed his office often making sure she knew. But there was one thing that did not change. It was the row of lights above his head that shown down on her where she sat.

"So, Rikku. Tell me. How many lights are above me?" He finally asked after several minutes.

Rikku lifted her face and squinted against the light but managed to count them. "Four." She answered flatly.

"Wrong. There are five lights. Now then, allow us to move on. Who am I?"

"You are Doctor Yu Yevon."

"Good, and you are?"

"Rikku. I am Al Bhed."

Doctor Yevon frowned. Three years and still she persisted. "Wrong. You are simply Rikku. Al Bhed do not and have never existed."

"But I.." She tried to protest, but he cut her off.

"How many lights above me?"

"Four." Yevon scratched something on the paper in front of him. This was an ongoing battle they had everyday.

He set his writing tool down and folded his hands in front of him. "How long have we done this now? Three years? It seems as you do not want to get better. Your cousin comes by once a month to check on your progress, but I am not sure I can give her a positive report any longer. I believe it is time we bring someone new in. Perhaps you simply need a fresh face."

Rikku sat in her chair wondering what he was talking about. She had never knew her cousin came by, no one ever told her when she had guests. She had thought she had been forgotten about.

"I think I will allow you to see her now though. The Lady Yuna is going to be stopping in with an hour. I will have you taken back to your room until she arrives." He raised his left hand and snapped his fingers. The door opened right away and the men who brought her in were back to take her away again.

Each man grabbed one arm and pulled her from the chair. But Rikku had a plan to escape this time. She waited until they were almost out of the room before going limp. At the sudden change of body weight, the men were not prepared. Her arms began to slip from their grasp until they lost her completely. She took advantage of the moment and shot to her feet and down the hall. After walking them everyday for so long, she knew just where to go.

Behind her she could hear the doctor yelling for her capture. Well she wasn't going to make that easy for them. She took off faster then before and turned a corner before they could see. Rikku glanced behind her to make sure they were not closing in, but she ended up bumping into a soft surface before meeting the ground.

"Oof, hey you!" She shouted as she looked up to see who had blocked her escape. "What's the big idea?"

The man reached down and grabbed her by the back of her shirt with one hand. He lifted the arm so that her face was even with his. Rikku noticed a scar that ran down the right side of his face was only partially hidden by the shades he wore. She dropped her gaze and noticed he was dressed in a black suit and red tie.

Footsteps came from around the corner and she could hear Doctor Yevon speak up. "Ah, Doctor Auron. A little early, but given the circumstances, right on time. Thank you for catching her. I want you to meet your charge. This is Rikku."

Rikku's eyes opened wide in shock. This was the man who was going to take over for the doctor? She whimpered once in fear before a stabbing pain shot up her arm. She struggled to stay awake, but the tranquilizer had already begun its work. Her head rolled to the side before she blacked out completely.

--

When she woke up again, it was to find herself sitting on a couch with her cousin sitting next to her and holding her hand. Yuna's beau was sitting on another couch next to them watching. Rikku had only met him twice, but he seemed like a nice person.

"Rikku, about time you woke up. I was starting to worry. They said they gave you something to help you sleep, but I didn't think they worked this well."

"Yunie?" Rikku asked still groggy. She realized her hands were not bound behind her and used one to rub the sleep from her eyes.

"Yes, it's me. Tidus is here too. Doctor Yevon explained you were going to get a new case worker. He said I should talk to you and make sure that you cooperate. Rikku, tell me you do as they ask?" Yuna held tighter to her hand in a silent plea for Rikku to answer correctly.

Rikku sat up and looked around the room. She had never been here before and was amazed at how different it was to her cell. As she looked, her gaze stopped on the man in the dark suit. He was sitting at a table nearby with a briefcase open in front of him. A tablet was on the table and he was writing in it. He stared back at her for a moment before writing some more.

"Yeah," Tidus spoke up for the first time. "They said you tried to run away. I can't imagine why. This place is great!" He leaned back farther into the couch and let out a quiet sigh of contentment.

Yuna glared at him before facing Rikku again. "You have to get better Rikku. I've been waiting to get married so that you can be there. But I can't wait forever."

"But, Yunie. There is nothing wrong with me." Rikku whispered so that the man at the table would not hear. Already she did not like him and she didn't even know him!

"You may think so, but the doctors say different. They are the best at what they do. I think they would know when you are well."

Tidus pulled himself away from his comfy position to reach out for Rikku's free hand. "Look, we love you. It's just we want what is best for you, okay?" He offered gently. "And if they say you are still sick, then we have to believe them. You understand, right?"

Rikku wanted to scream, shout, anything to make them see there was nothing wrong with her. But that may not have been the best course of action. They already thought she was crazy, no point in giving them evidence.

"I understand." She answered sadly. "I'll get better, I promise."

They both sighed in relief before letting go. The man in black had stood from his seat and made his way over. He never said a word, but his mere presence spoke volumes.

"Looks like our time is up. Get better kiddo. We'll come back soon, okay." Tidus told her as he hugged her and left the room. Yuna hugged her as well and was right behind him. Once they were gone, Rikku looked up at the man that was now behind her.

"Back to my room?" She asked. He nodded his head in agreement.

--

It was nighttime now and Rikku lay on her bed staring out the window. She brought her hands up behind her head and stared. The stars looked so bright and free. She wished she could be like them. The sky was so huge and endless, total freedom. But for some reason she was stuck here and she didn't know why. Doctor Yevon said it was something she said.

She closed her eyes to remember. She had been visiting her friends on the tropical island of Besaid. They were having a fun time playing in the sea and sand. Then that night, they sat around the bonfire talking. Rikku fell backwards and stared up at the stars above. She never noticed how everyone had gone silent when she began to point out all the Al Bhed constellations. She had assumed they were listening to her. She found out that wasn't the case when she sat up to look at them.

All of them were staring at her as if what she said couldn't be true. Lulu was the first to compose herself and speak up.

"Rikku, there are no such thing as Al Bhed. Are you sure you aren't making up stories?"

That sentence had stung, but she hid it well. Rikku did wince though as she looked around and saw everyone nod in agreement. She wanted to run and hide, she was so ashamed. But she couldn't hide who she was. Nothing else was said that night, and she thought maybe they had forgotten, but two days later, a hovercraft was pulled up in front of her cousin's place. She had been staying with her during her visit, and never thought anything of the strange vehicle. So when she opened the door and then was roughly dragged outside and to the craft, she was scared.

Rikku fought to get free, but they sedated her before she had the chance. The next time she opened her eyes, it was to see Doctor Yevon standing over her and smiling that goofy smile of his. He seemed a little too happy she was there.

Her eyes snapped open. That was not a pleasant memory at all. While she told herself that's all it was, it still didn't help her out of this place. A single tear rolled down her cheek.

She sat up in bed and took another glance to the window. It was high on the wall, but not so far she could not reach it. With some effort, she managed to stand on the bed and reach the ledge. From there, she pulled herself up and sat down. It was a tight fit, but her body was still small and slim enough that she did not worry about falling. Rikku grasped hold of one of the rails and brought her face closer to look out.

"I just want to go home again." She whispered into the darkness as more tears ran down her cheeks.

--

The door creaked early in the morning, but Rikku was so tired she never noticed. Even though she was still in the sill where the sun shone brightest, her body was tired from crying.

"Umm, sir. We have a problem. I don't see the girl anywhere."

The man who had been spoken to stepped deeper into the room. He looked around once before speaking. "If you had looked closer, you would have seen she did not escape. Notice the shadow on the floor? Now look up."

The men who had been dumbfounded before looked to where he said. There they found Rikku curled up trying to conserve warmth.

"How are we supposed to get her down from there?" One of them complained.

"You don't. Leave her. I will stay here today. Leave the door unlocked for now."

The two guards shrugged before doing as he asked. Knowing Rikku might be sleeping for a while, Auron took a seat on her bed. He pulled out a notebook and began writing some more notes. He was starting to become bored himself and struggled to stay awake while sitting on the bed. Just as he was about to give up for the day, he heard her begin to awaken.

Rikku stretched one arm out. She seemed to know that too much and she would fall. Her other hand grasped tightly to the bar next to her body. She turned her body and allowed her feet to dangle down the wall in front of her. It was at this point her eyes met with the man in her room.

"You again?" She snapped. I'm starting to get the feeling you are nothing more then bad luck. I try and leave, you stop me. My cousin visits, you are there. I wake up, here you are. Are you ever going to leave me alone?"

Auron stared at her before standing. "My apologies. I was unaware I brought any type of luck with me." His voice was rough, yet oddly smooth in an older sort of way.

Though Rikku still did not trust him. Doctor Yevon called him a doctor as well, and he must have known Yevon well for him to call this man in. She pulled her legs back up under her. The stone of the wall scrapped the sensitive skin of her shins, but she ignored the feeling for now. She wanted to remain as far away from the man as possible.

Today he was wearing another black suit, but this time he had on a yellow tie instead of red. Rikku was surprised, she never expected a quiet guy like him to wear such a bright color. She gazed at him in surprise at his next facial expression. It almost looked to be one of fear.

"You should come down from there." He told her simply.

"No, I refuse and you can't make me." She snapped back.

"You're right. I can't. You are younger and faster then I. If I tried to reach up for you, I suppose you would only kick me away. But unless you want your legs to become infected, I advise you to come down."

Rikku shifted herself to see what he was talking about. She gasped as she saw she had done more damage then simply scraping her legs. Blood had begun to make its way over the edge and was starting to run down the wall. Without thinking, she rubbed her hand over it trying to clean out the wound. In contrast, it only served to make it worse.

"Help me?" She begged softly as the crimson liquid was now all over her hand.

Auron moved closer to her and reached up. Using his height he easily pulled her down. But he did not set her on the floor like she was expecting. Instead, he held her close to himself and carried her from the room making sure to grab his briefcase on his way out.

"That was a very foolish thing to do."

"Yeah, well I don't remember asking you for your thoughts." He said nothing in response and carried her to the infirmary. They quickly cleaned and bandaged her up before sending her back out. Auron remained by her side the whole time. When he first met her, she was escaping, he was not about to give her another chance.

He gave her a chance to walk on her own, but since her legs had gone through so much trauma, she was rather unsteady. Without a second thought, he swooped down and picked her up in one arm.

"I can walk on my own, you know." Rikku protested.

"I'm sure you can. You can also fall on your face on your own as well." He responded.

Rikku crossed her arms and pouted from her perch. She wasn't sure where Doctor Auron was going, but she didn't have much of a say in the matter.

Another person rounded the corner just as Auron did, and he had to force himself to remain upright. It was Doctor Yevon.

"Ah, Auron. I was just thinking about you. So glad we could run into one another. Almost literally might I add." He glanced to the person in Auron's arm and grinned. "Were you coming to see me? That is good. I wanted to talk to Rikku myself." He reached out as if to take Rikku, but Auron pulled back.

"She is under my care now. If you desire her attendance, then I must be there as well. I will need to watch her for my report."

"Fair enough I suppose. Very well, if you will come with me." Doctor Yevon led them down several halls before coming to his office door. He opened it and paused before giving Auron room to enter. "Sit her in that chair in front of my desk if you will." He closed the door behind them and then sat behind his desk. "First off, Rikku. How many lights are above me?"

Rikku looked up like she always did. Nothing had changed since the day before. "Four lights."

"No, there are five. Next question. Who am I?"

"You are doctor Yevon."

"Very good. Now, last one. Who is that man?"

"I am Rikku. I...huh?" She stopped in the middle of her answer. For three years Doctor Yevon had always asked the same questions. She didn't know how to respond now. It was as if the routine had been broken.

"As I thought. Tell me, Rikku. Why are you here?" He leaned back in his seat and crossed his arms in front of his chest.

Rikku sat without saying a word. Her mind was still processing the change of questions. "I am here because my friends think I am sick?" She finally answered after some time.

"Do you think you are sick?" He leaned in closer and waited to valuate her reaction.

"No, I am not. I am Rikku, and I am Al Bhed." She spoke with such finality that Auron stiffened from his place against the wall. He had been taught all his life that there were no such thing as Al Bhed. It was merely a child's story tale. It was a shock to hear of someone calling themselves an Al Bhed so willingly.

"You are wrong. Al Bhed do not exist. Tell me again, who are you?"

Rikku hung her head. She wanted out of this place, but to do that she would have to play by their games. "I am Rikku." She answered softly.

"Much better. And how many lights are above me?"

"There are still four."

"Hmm, you may go now. We are done for today." He leaned back in his chair before picking up a folder and looking through it.

Rikku tried to stand on her own, but stumbled in the attempt. She would have fallen to the floor had Auron not caught her in time. "Doctor, when was the last time she ate?" He questioned.

Yevon glanced over the top of the folder before dropping his gaze back to it. "That's not my concern. Feed her if you feel inclined. She's your patient now. I just ask that you bring her to me daily for our little chat."

While Auron considered the man a close acquaintance, the way he just brushed Rikku's needs aside was too far. "I will do that then. Come, Rikku. We leave." He stepped over and carefully picked her up in his arm once again. He said nothing more until he set her down at a table in the cafeteria.

Rikku stayed there and waited until he came back with a tray of food for her. She stared at all the food with such wonder. This was far from what she was used to. After taking her first bite, she had to ask. "Why are you being so nice to me?"

Auron looked up from the papers he was studying. "Eat." He said without pausing.

"I am, but I wanna know. You only met me yesterday. Why are you being so nice?" She took another bite to show she meant no harm and that she did plan on eating.

"You would rather I be mean?" He asked back his voice going harsh for only a moment.

"I didn't mean it like that. It's just that no one has ever been that nice since I came here." She dropped her fork and set her hands in her lap. "I'm not used to it." She confessed quietly.

"Eat." He told her again. She looked up to see him writing away again.

"Is all that about me?" She tried to peer over the top to see what he wrote, but he pulled it back out of her vision.

"Perhaps." He used his pencil to point at her tray. "Eat."

Rikku pouted. "Alright, already." Auron smirked as she slowly took another bite until her food was gone.

He took the tray from in front of her letting her stay by herself once more. It's not as if he was worried, she wasn't about to go anywhere. He made sure of that. As soon as he returned, Rikku let out a huge yawn.

"Odd, why am I so tired all of a sudden?" She yawned again as she tried to keep her eyes open.

"I put dream powder in your food." Auron answered. "I need you asleep for your next series of tests."

"You did what?" She hissed before almost falling back from the bench. Auron easily caught her before she hit the floor and held her in his one arm. "Bastard." She said quietly before she was gone.

Auron chuckled softly as he carried her in one arm and his briefcase in the other. When he arrived in the room he was looking for, he set her down on the bed provided. After making sure she was not going to fall, he turned and opened the briefcase and pulled several folders out. Those he spread out on a table before turning back to Rikku.

Electrodes were hooked up around her head and shoulders. He had to find out of there was something deeper inside her that made her convinced she was Al Bhed. Perhaps it was dreams telling her, and she had confused the dream world with reality. This test would help clear that up.

The testing took over two hours, and his back was sore by the time he finished. Yet he was no closer to understanding then when he had first began. He cursed to himself as he looked up and saw Rikku still sleeping. She would be waking up soon. He should return her back to her room.

--

Rikku blinked several times as she woke up. The sun was still bright so she knew it could not have been too late in the day. She sat up wondering where she was before recognizing her cell.

"That jerk!" She hissed more to herself then anything. "He drugs me then brings me here? Even stupid Doctor Yevon with his stupid questions, and stupid mind games are better then this." She stood from the bed and paced the small room. What was she going to do now? Sitting here was boring as anything, but it didn't look as if she had a choice. With a sigh, she flopped back on the bed. "Just wait until I get out of here. I plan on burning this place down so no one else has to suffer."

The door creaked and she knew someone was attempting to enter. She rolled over so that she faced the wall and away from her guest.

"Rikku?" Auron's deep voice entered the room before he did. Rikku continued to ignore him and heard him sigh as he entered and sat by her feet. "I must apologize. I have just come from a meeting with Doctor Yevon about you. You are a mystery we cannot understand yet."

Rikku moved her head to glance at him before staring at the wall again.

"You are angry? Very well, if that is how you feel, I will not stop you. But right now, I think it would be beneficial for you to come out and we can talk."

"You mean I talk while you write stuff about me." Rikku corrected him smartly

Auron sighed again. She had been right in a way. He did plan on writing about her, but now he could see that perhaps she had a point. This girl was nothing like any of the other patients he had worked with over the years. There was a spark in her that the others did not have. She appeared to be lost and depressed, but he supposed it was due more to a loss in freedom then actual insanity.

"Very well. I will do no writing while we talk. I want to know more about you, Rikku."

For the first time since he entered, Rikku rolled over and faced him completely. Her face shown with hope. "You mean that?"

"Yes I do. We can even go outside if you wish it."

A smile broke out on her face, and Auron had to admit it suit her better then the frown he saw her with before. "Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go!" She jumped from the bed and waited for him to open the door. She hopped on her toes excited.

With only a raised brow, Auron stood and opened the door. "It was open." He noted to her only to watch her pout but follow him anyway. They said nothing while in the halls, and Auron led her out the side doors used only for patients.

The yard was surrounded by stone wall, barbed wire at the top to prevent patients from running away or others to enter from anywhere but the front doors. Rushing water could be heard from one side of the walls making it a useless escape route. Trees were spread out around the yard making scattered shaded places. Benches and tables were spread out, some under trees, others under the sun.

Auron led them over nearest the wall that the water ran by. It was also farthest from the building. Rikku seemed right at home under the sun and she paused a moment to close her eyes and tilt her head back to feel the warmth on her skin. A gentle breeze blew by playing with the strands of her blond hair before going on its way.

Auron rubbed his chin wishing he had his notebook for note taking, but he had promised this would not be recorded like that. He reached into his pocket and fumbled with the recorder there for a moment. If he could not write, then he had a backup plan. He pressed record knowing where it was by memory.

"Rikku, when you are ready, we can begin."

Having enjoyed the sun so much, Rikku had forgotten he was even there. She gasped before rushing over to his side. She giggled as her face went red. "Sorry about that. It's just been so long." She explained.

Putting that information aside for later use, Auron waved a hand indicating he wanted her to sit. Rikku did so before picking up a leaf and playing with it.

"Rikku, how about we begin with something easy? Can you tell me your full name? Even Doctor Yevon could not tell me."

Rikku looked worried. She bit her lip before asking. "You promise not to say anything? It's supposed to be a secret."

Auron nodded once in reply and attempted to cover the recorder in his pocket with his hand. She was trusting him more then he expected, it was only right that he preserve that trust.

Rikku bit her lip again not sure if she really want to say, but soon opened her mouth to speak. "I am Rikku Mizushima. I come from a long line of Al Bhed who remain in hiding. My father told me we have to stay hiding because the world hates us."

"So if you have to stay hidden, then why did you visit so often on the island of Besaid?"

"I wanted to explore the world like my aunt did. She used to tell me stories of what the world was like every time she came to visit. It sounded so wonderful, I just had to see it for myself."

Auron hummed before asking his next question. "And was leaving home worth the risk?"

Rikku smiled again as she gripped the leaf in her hand tight. "You bet it was! If I never left, I would have never met Yunie and Tidus. They are getting married soon you know." She laughed again before falling back on the grass. Her smile fell as if another thought occurred to her. "I wonder what pops is thinking now. I haven't seen him in almost three years, you know. He probably thinks I died like my aunt did."

He gave her a moment to reflect before clearing his throat and asking another question. "Why have you told people about being Al Bhed? Surely you must have known of the consequence?"

Rikku stared at him for a few seconds. "I did, but I guess I forgot. I know what I am, my father told me ever since I was little. But I forgot in the one moment. Then I was taken away days later to come here. I've been here ever since." She dropped the leaf and clasped her hands over her stomach. A single tear ran down her cheek. She brushed it away angrily ashamed to have it be seen.

Silently, Auron turned off the recorder. He had heard enough. This girl did not deserve to be here. Sure she believed herself to be of a race of people found only in fairy tales, but something deep down told him that maybe there was more to her then he thought.