So I finally like this chapter, I think. Auron is an Onion, too many layers :P But anyways, I love the reviews I got, and I'm always going to beg for more. I'm glad so many people like it!! Mostly AU, maybe some love stricken OOC (it isn't too bad I don't think), and all awesomeness. Thanks for reading, keep the reviews up!!

Note: Like I always say, I never owned FFX, I never will, and I will always want to.

Chapter 2: Bevellian Memories

Auron

I had finally eaten, and it was probably the best meal in my life. Things tasted so much better, smelled phenomenal, and I had a new found fondness for food. Ten years being dead would do that to a person, I suppose. I had gotten it for free, I didn't even have to ask. They wouldn't have let me paid, if I had the money to do so. I would pay them back, once I had gil in my pocket.

I walked down side streets in Bevelle, avoiding busy thoroughfares. No need to announce my arrival, I suppose. The city had always been huge, to me. Zanarkand had been bigger, of course, but the architecture here was rivaled by none in Spira. Ancient spires all of stone rose everywhere, flanked by large buildings and many arches. Just like I remembered. It hadn't changed in all the time I had been here, as I suppose it hadn't in hundreds of years.

The streets narrowed as I approached my destination, a mere three quarters of a mile from where I had eaten. The city always seemed so large, but wasn't nearly as large as I made it to be in my mind. Hundreds of thousands dwelt here once, before the Machina Wars, but now there couldn't be more than a single hundred thousand. Still the most populous city in Spira, without a doubt.

I walked along the chapel walls, looking for the entrance I wanted to use. The chapel took up much of the interior of the city, with all of the barracks, chow halls, classrooms, and quarters of all military personnel and important people in the city within. The largest building in Spira, adorned with towers and shining with brilliance. But with my disregard and hate of Yevon came my unimpressive attitude towards the massive uselessness of this building.

I looked towards the sky, the sun shining brightly every once in a while, but it was usually overcast with clouds and the like. I returned to my search of the door that would let me in, and suddenly found myself upon it. A wooden door, kind of randomly hidden behind a house. The door Kinoc and I exited and entered many nights on our escapades. It had never been guarded, most people acknowledged its existence but very few knew where it could go. I pulled hard, and the door slowly creaked open to reveal a lighted hallway. They hadn't left it to rot, at least.

Maybe it was me being back in Bevelle, but my attitude had soured quickly on my walk to the chapel walls. Too many memories here, most of them pleasant. But the ones that were not pleasant overrode my feelings for the pleasant memories of this forsaken place. None of that mattered, I just needed to use the library and go about what I needed to do. My feelings and memories mattered only in my knowledge of how to get from point A to point B.

My memory guided me through the hallways, a complex maze of long passages and short, that would lead anywhere I needed them to. None led to the library, however, so somebody was bound to see me exit wherever I chose to do so. After around twenty minutes walking the hallways, I found an exit that would suffice, bringing me up into a small square on one side of the chapel. If I remembered right, it had once had a beautiful garden inside of it, and I had often sought the comforts of it. The garden had been my solace, when troubled by Yevon, or to study, and many other times I couldn't remember why.

I opened the door, and the natural light reflected off of the glasses, but I was not blinded by the light. Nobody was within the garden, and my heart panged lightly when I saw that it had faded over the years. I gave it a once over, and the garden was in disarray. Flowers grew where they wanted to, and many vines had started overgrowing the walls that had once kept them in. So sad, to see such a beautiful place in ruins. But that is what happens when power matters so much, I suppose.

I walked a brisk pace towards the inner workings of the Yevon Citadel. Not many were about, and most of the minding their own business to the point they didn't even notice my passing. Not that I wanted to be noticed, of course. I slipped through a side door, and found myself in the monastery. The place I had once lived.

Memories flew into my mind, and as fast as they did I banished them all. No use worrying about any of that, when I needed to get the job done and get back to her. That was all that mattered.

I walked from room to room, the monastery being empty like it usually was during daylight hours. People had other things to do, and no use watching over things that wouldn't be stolen. I strode out of a door on the monasteries other side, and found myself in a large room with too many people in it. The very classroom Kinoc and I had spent many hours in. Not the only classroom, but one of the more used ones. Smaller speeches and things were given here as well, and it was just my luck to have walked in on a day of class.

I closed the door quietly behind me, hoping I hadn't been seen. But of course, that wasn't the case.

"As I was saying before. The militarization of Bevelle was always…Sir Auron?" the voice on the podium said, and with that over a hundred pairs of eyes stared beadily at me. Just what I needed. The voice sounded familiar, a friend of mine from years past.

"Aye, Gerald," I said, recognizing the man. He had been one of the first to join me and Kinoc on our nightly scavenges, and he quickly became a friend. He had always been a good man, and knew as well as I the shortfalls of the Church. But he had thought it was better to help and hope than try to bring that crashing back down to earth. But he had never turned his back on me, even after I had been banished and imprisoned. He visited me regularly, laughing and telling me jokes.

"I haven't seen you in…?" Gerald said, walking towards me gracefully. He always had a sort of…quaint way of walking. It was interesting to watch, and Kinoc and I had made fun of him for it for a long time.

"Ten years, I think," I said, and he laughed. He approached me, and held his hand out. I shook it generously, and the rest of the beady eyes stayed silent.

"Yes, yes it has been. Care to join me? Lecture on the history of the militarization of Bevelle," he said. It had always been a pastime of ours, talking about Bevelle's military history. More interesting than average history, as it had always been to us.

"On my way to St. Bayla, actually," I said, and he laughed. I didn't really know why, but I had neither grin nor frown upon my face. My mood felt like it did when I left this place, sour and unpleasant. It reminded me slightly of how I felt when they had the gall to teach us Yevon's lies.

"Well then…speak for a little bit, then. And I'll go with you," Gerald said, and I finally smiled. It would be nice to speak to the man, for a while. He didn't need to know my plans, but after Kinoc had turned into a man I never knew and passed, I figured talking to an old friend wouldn't hurt.

"I will, address the crowd, I suppose," I said, and the crowd smiled. "What are we talking about, now?" I asked him, and he just smiled. He always smiled, even in the worst of times. An eternal optimist, probably my exact opposite.

"Anything you would like to speak about. These are new cadets, of course. Not warrior monks, any more. Just students, mind you," he said, and I smiled. I had spent many hours in this room learning of the ways to be a warrior monk. Many speeches, from everybody in the entire city, it seemed like.

I strode up the steps to the podium, and cleared my throat. I had never done this, nor did I have any inkling about what to speak about. I thought about the past, and how I had listened religiously to the preachings of then men in power at the time. I never thought I would be the one in this position.

"So…" I started, struggling for something to say. One young woman raised her hand. It was unheard of, back in the day, for a woman to grace these walls. All young men, devoted to giving their lives for the cause attended. Women belonged in the home, or so Yevon had said. But it was refreshing to see some of the changes the last two years had brought.

"Yes?" I asked, and the woman stood.

"Why…why did you get imprisoned?" she asked, and blushed. People had all known that I had been a guardian for Braska, and then for Yuna. But I was in line to be in the Bevellian Court before all of that. The court was a group of one hundred individuals selected to advise and oversee the workings of the city. The only people above them were maesters. It was always rumored that I would have been a maester one day. Looking back on that brought a slightly evil smile to my face.

"Well, it is truthfully a long story, if you wish to hear it," I said, and the crowd voiced their want of the story. It was truly a longer story, but it gave me something to talk about. Less preaching, more just story telling. And I had perfected the art of story-telling in Zanarkand, raising Tidus.

"I was once sitting in the seats you all sit in. Training to be a warrior monk. People had always said I was gifted in the way of Yevon, and in the field of combat. I rose quickly, becoming Commander of this very institute of education you attend. And I was to be married to a noble's daughter. I will not desecrate his name, for he was truly a good man. But…obviously I never did get married," I said, and the class laughed. Another thing that usually didn't happen in this room, laughter.

"Why didn't you get married, then?" a young man called out, and I found this turning into a question and answer session more than a lecture. Fine by me, easier to find something to say. And I could always lie. Yevon had been broken, so my bitter differences to the Church would not be frowned upon.

"I could say it just never worked out, but that really isn't the truth. Truth is, she was beautiful, smart, and could tell the most hilarious jokes. But it was arranged, neither of us wanted it, and we remained friends. When we both voiced our opinion on the marriage, nobody was happy. But I was not sent to prison for it, but I could have been," I said, and the crowd looked content. It was true, she had been all that and more. But she was a good friend, as well.

"So, why did you get sent to prison then?" the woman chimed back in.

"You all know of Braska, right?" I said, and they all nodded. Who didn't?

"I was friends with Braska, for a while before I was imprisoned. He was a higher ranking priest, but was as disheveled as I was with Yevon. He instigated a meeting, between the Bevellian Court, the Al Bhed, and the Guado, wanting peace. He did not necessarily want to spread the religion, of course, but he wanted peace. He always did," I said, remembering the man. He was the most pure hearted individual I had ever met, with the exception of Tidus. But Tidus was pure hearted because of ignorance, not choice. I smiled again while reflecting on the boys' stupidity.

"At this meeting, Braska met his wife. She was an Al Bhed, of course. I guess they had met several times before, but I hadn't known this beforehand. She was Cid's sister, a princess if you will. She looked just like High Summoner Yuna, albeit a bit taller. But the talks didn't go well and the Al Bhed got up to leave. Mika was not impressed, but Braska just strode forward to talk to him and the rest of the court," I said, remembering the incident fondly. He was the one that made me think of the problems in Yevon, and stand up to them. He also forced me through the last ten years of my life, but he was worth it.

"So what did he say?" Gerald asked and smiled. He knew the story as well as I, but he had always had a crazy sense of humor. He had been in attendance, as were many monks, like I was.

"He said, and I quote; The Al Bhed will leave in peace, and you will let them, Mika. And I will be going with them. As the Al Bhed started leaving, Braska took the hand of Bayla, who was Cid's sister, and the two of them were the last to leave. The thought of a high priest of Yevon even holding hands with the Al Bhed was absurd, at the time. And Mika ordered them both to be held," I said, and ran a hand through my hair. I had never been good at talks, even with small amounts of people. But I had these people on my every whim, and that was a good thing, I think.

"The monks overseeing the meeting went to grab the both of them, and I stood up. I strode slowly, everyone watching my every move, into the way of the oncoming Monks. They just looked at me dumbly, as I loosed the sword on my back and stood in their way. I refused to kill any of them, as they were almost my brothers, many I knew by name, but I fought for a long time. Hit them with the flat of the blade, I did. I knocked fifteen or twenty of them unconscious, before Mika ordered me taken instead. I gave up, dropping my sword, and thus, I was sent to prison. My refusal of marriage, and all that had transpired because of Braska, got my sent to the deepest cell they could put me in. I rotted in that cell for almost two years. I read, I ate, I slept. And that was all. Until Braska came back. And now you know the story of why I was imprisoned," I said finally, and the crowd cheered.

"Mika just threw you in jail?"

"What about your position for the Bevellian Court?"

"What happened to the lady you were supposed to marry?"

"What happened to Bayla?"

The questions were like an assault, and I realized I would be here much longer than I should have been. But Gerald just strode forward, and announced to the class.

"Sir Auron has important things to be doing. Class dismissed," he said, and the class just grumbled as they packed their things and left the room. More people than I wanted to know of my arrival in Bevelle. And young adults spread rumors like wildfire. Too much time on their hands like usual. I would have to research quickly.

"To the library," Gerald motioned, and we walked.

"Never thought of you as a teacher, Ger," I said, and he laughed.

"Neither did I, Auron. Never thought of you as a legendary guardian twice over," he said, and we shared a laugh. I wouldn't have believed it either, if I was told that before I was in prison.

"So how is Yevon?" I asked, and he stopped.

"You haven't heard? It's gone, for the most part. Don't really understand the new stuff like I did the old. But the college still teaches, and so I am here. But we aren't training for war anymore either," he said, and I laughed. War history was damn interesting, and had been one of our most frequent topics in classes. All in the training for a religious warrior, though.

"I figured as much, at least. Library still good, though?" I asked, and he nodded.

"One of the few things untouched, really. The secrets of the future are cloaked in the mysteries of the past, or so they say," he said, and I smiled. The library being the same would make things easier. With how much time I had spent there when I was younger, I knew the general vicinity of the books I needed. And I could just take them and leave, be gone as soon as I could.

"Ger, thanks for your help. But I can take it from here," I said, and he just smiled. That smile pissed me off so many times before. Eternal optimism had many faults, but Ger just smiled through it all, and that's what made me angry.

"Always the pragmatist. Always have been. Come back and talk sometime, when you have time, of course. You still owe me a drink," he said, and left me in front of the door to the library. I did owe him a drink. I had forgotten the debt, but obviously he hadn't. For all his visits to me in prison, his only request was a single drink at our favorite bar, called The Heron. And I would pay up this time.

I entered the library, which was surprisingly empty, and worked quickly to acquire the books I needed.

Rikku

"BEVELLE, FIVE MINUTES TO TOUCH DOWN!" the intercom screamed, and I got out of my bed. I changed into some decent clothes, and walked down to the bridge. My energy seemed to have left me, my care was gone. I probably looked like a mess, but I didn't really care. All I had was Auron on my mind. Could he really be back? And why didn't he call the airship if he saw Khimari? Why didn't he come straight back to me?

My thoughts hurt, and I tried hard to forget about them. I only turned them into a dull lull in the back of my mind, and I walked into the bridge. Dad and Brother were carefully lowering the airship to its designated landing point. All the cities in Spira had one now, so Yunie could get from place to place mostly. We were working on finding more airships, to find a quicker route of travel, but had only been mildly successful.

"Don't worry, kiddo. We'll find him if he's back," dad said, and I nodded. The thought gave me a little spring in my step, but not a whole lot. We came to Bevelle to get Yuna and Tidus. Yuna called as soon as Tidus got back, and we came running. It would be good to see him, anyways.

"And…we are docked," Cid said, and wrapped his shoulder around me, dragging me towards the exit ramp. It wasn't far from the bridge, and soon we were walking on pavement again. I saw Yunie standing there, waving and laughing. She hadn't laughed much since Tidus disappeared. She felt like I did, like an empty shell. But her life had come back now, and that thought made me feel even worse. Shoopuf foot after shoopuf foot just started crumpling me up into tiny little Rikku pancakes.

I walked towards her, and she pointed to my left. I turned just in time to see a blond haired punk tackle me and pick me up into the air, spinning me around in his embrace.

"Rikku!" was all Tidus said, and he laughed, glee evident in his voice. It even cheered me up some. I had missed him too, believe it or not. Through all his antics, ignorance, and absolutely horrifying cooking; I still missed him too.

"Tidus! I'm happy you are back!" I said as he set me down, and I hugged him back.

"What's wrong, Rikku? You don't seem so happy," Tidus said, falling into stride with me. Yunie and pops were talking, leaving us two to talk as well.

"It's just…" I started and stopped. Tidus had been my confessor all that time ago, when I didn't know what to do with Auron. Through his, well stupidity I guess, he saw what was happening. He knew more about everything than I did, at the time, but he still listened and gave what little advice he had for me.

"Auron's back too, you know. He is the only reason I am back," Tidus said quietly, and I smiled up at him.

"How do you know?" I asked, really wanting to know the answer.

"Cause I had to listen to him mope about you! It was so annoying," he said, and laughed. My heart caught in my throat, and happiness poured into me. He still cared!

"So how did you get back?" I asked, and he just shook his head and smiled.

"That is Auron's story. I don't really understand it, myself," Tidus said, and ran his hands through his blond locks. He always did that when he was just forgetting something. Nervous habit, I guess. I was so happy, though! He was back, he cared, he…HE WAS BACK!! My face hurt from its contorted smile, and my entire body was doing backflips with happiness. You have no idea, I can't even explain it. I could have flown, and I would have tried. But falling on pavement, hurts, you know?

"Do you know where he is?" I asked excitedly, and he just pointed at Yunie. I ran up to her, pushing pops out of the way. He laughed, and walked back to talk to Tidus. The whole group had become friends with Dad throughout our travels, and he was as happy as I was to see the blond haired freak.

"Oh Rikku," Yunie started, and I just hugged her as tears of joy sprung from her face. She had been so sad, crying herself to sleep for so many nights. She probably still did occasionally, like I did. But she wouldn't anymore, now that Tidus was back.

"Tidus said you know where Auron is?" I asked excitedly, and she nodded with as much excitement.

"See that building over there?" she pointed, to a taller building. I nodded, and she continued, "I guess he's in there. It was a rumor I heard from some students, but if he's here, he's there," she said, but I barely heard that last part. I had taken off in a dead sprint to that building. I ran down the raised causeway I was on, pausing to look over the side to the road below that led to the building. It was only fifteen or so feet, so I jumped, rolled forward, and started sprinting again. I could hear Yunie's and Pops screams for me to slow down, but I couldn't if I had even wanted to.

I ripped open the doors, and looked for him. I ran down the aisles of books, trying to catch a glimpse of him. I passed one, saw the red coat, and kept running. I turned back, and there he was, sitting by himself next to a stack of books. I crept up quietly as I could, but somehow he still heard me.

"Not polite to sneak up on people," he said in a stern voice, full of mystery. Same old Auron voice. But it made me angry, he shouldn't speak to me like that.

"Hey, you big meanie. It's not polite to ignore me either!" I yelled, and he jumped out of his seat, and turned to look at me. He still had his sunglasses on, his red coat, his jug of whatever he kept in there. He pulled the sunglasses off of his face, threw them on the chair, and picked me off the ground in the hug I had always dreamed about.

When he finally let me down, I hugged him back just as hard. Not like I could pick up his beefy butt, but I would have if I could have. He smelled the same as I remembered…no, better than I remembered. I looked up in his eyes, well, eye, and I saw tears his eyes get all teary. Now that wasn't normal Auron material.

"What…how?" Auron croaked, and hugged me tighter. Those strong hands, mine again.

"Yunie and Tidus called us, we came here, Yunie said you were here, so I ran here, and…" I said as fast as I could, but I was instantly quieted by his lips pressing against mine. Those glorious lips that I had dreamed about since the day I had first felt them on mine. The greatest feeling in the world, and I knew now that he was back. I felt giddy, or more than giddy. I can't even think of the word for that!

"Tidus is back? Good to hear," he said, and he pushed me away a bit. He gave me the once over, and hugged me again. Making sure I was real, or something.

"Are you back?" I asked, tears starting to stream down my face. I didn't think I could take it if he left again. I almost didn't the first time.

"Yes, I'm back, Rikku. For good, this time," he said, and my giddiness reached a new level. It was…indescribable, and that's the only way to explain it. Tears wracked my face, but they were of happiness, not of the sadness I had come to know.

"Why didn't…why didn't you come to me first?" I asked through my tears and sniffles.

"Because I came back to do a favor," he said, and stroked my hair softly. His hands were more than magical to me. But if he was back for a favor, how could he stay here?

"I don't…understand," I said, tears flowing unabatedly.

"You don't have to, but I'm not going anywhere once it's done," he said, and I realized I didn't want or care to understand. He wasn't leaving me, again.

"Good," was all I could say, never wanting to leave those arms again.

"Rikku, you were all I could think about, while I was…gone. I love you still," Auron said, and my teary self burst into a million pieces. I blubbered against him, my tears reaching new ends. It was as I had dreamed, every time. Maybe not in a library, I guess. It would have been way more romantic on the beach at sunset, or something. But hey, nobody is perfect!

"I still love you too, Auron" I said, and reached up to kiss him again. My gods those lips were amazing. My lips tingled long after he stopped kissing them, shooting electricity up and down my body.

He grabbed his sunglasses and slipped them into a pocket, reached down to grab an armful of books that looked really old and boring, and wrapped his other arm around my waist. And we walked out, back towards where pops and Yunie and Tidus were. I didn't care about anything anymore, except that he was back, and he wasn't leaving me again. We got closer, and the three of them waived, but dad had a serious grin on his face. The three of us were going to have to sit down and talk, again. And it didn't go over well the first time.

"She is just a girl, Auron. You can't…" pops said, and looked extremely frustrated. Pops could take down anybody when he looked like that, even maybe Auron. Well, maybe not Auron, but he would give him a run for his gil, that's for sure.

They didn't get along really well. I mean, pops didn't know we were actually in love until after Sin, and then he felt bad. But I knew he was gonna be spitting fireballs at Auron, for what he did. For how badly he hurt me. I knew he was gonna be gone, but I didn't want to accept it, and then he was and my fantasy crashed down to the face of Spira. And pops had been there for it all.

Tidus and Yunie talked to Auron for a while, but I didn't really care what they were saying. I was just concentrated on Auron, smelling and feeling him again for the first time in what seemed like ages and ages and ages and ages. And it was good, almost too good.

"So, you comin with us, then?" pops asked him, and Auron looked for a moment, and then shook his head 'no'.

"I came back to do a favor, and then do whatever I wished for the rest of my life here. But I have to finish that, first," he said, and my heart dropped down real low, and then picked up again right back up. I could just go with him. I'm an adult, and there isn't a damn thing anyone can do about it!

"I'm going with!" I exclaimed, and pops looked at me angrily. He was scary when he was angry, so I just kind of hid behind Auron.

"Are you sure, Rikku? It won't be too safe, I can assure you that," Auron said softly, and I looked into his eyes. He looked…afraid. It wasn't something I associated with my known log of 'Auron Looks'.

"Then she ain't goin!" pops said, and pounded his foot.

"She can come with if she wants, Cid. It is her choice. She is an adult, is she not?" Auron said, and smiled wickedly. Another thing I hadn't seen before. So many new emotions, but now I had time to log them all!

"Fine," pops spat, acid in his voice. I hadn't seen him this angry since he found out Yunie was a summoner. "But if she gets hurt, I promise you that I will end you," pops said, and pounded his way up the ship. And I believed that he would. Pops didn't make promises unless he meant it, I knew that.

Yunie, Tidus, and Auron resumed talking, but my conscious was elsewhere. It didn't matter anymore, danger or not, I had Auron back. We walked towards the ship, and Auron stopped as Yunie and Tidus kept walking. I realized I would probably need some stuff, if we were leaving on dangerous scary journey, right?

"I'll go get some stuff quick," I said, and sprinted aboard the ship. I had five minutes, tops, before the ship started moving at least. I could still jump in seven or eight, and live at least. I ran down to my room, pulled out a duffel bag, and began throwing all kinds of stuff in it. Gil, lots of potions and stuff like that, and my claw and targe. Figure I might need it, he did have a sword. The sword!! I quickly grabbed it from its case, breaking the glass instead of fumbling with the locks. I didn't have time for that.

I had two minutes left at the most as I set the sword down on my bed and ran to get clothes. I threw in a few changes of clothing, socks, and…would I need fancy underwear? My face blushed with the thought of being…intimate with Auron. I just closed my eyes and grabbed a handful, and threw them all in the bag. I zipped it up, threw it over my shoulder, threw the sword over my other, and started running out.

The sword was a bit heavier than I thought, and I tripped making a corner towards the walkway down to Bevelle. And a hand was held out to help me up.

"Thanks," I mumbled, and gathered all my stuff up to start running again. I looked up, and Pops was there, the venom and anger gone from his face.

"Sorry I got angry, kiddo," he said, and hugged me. He never had been able to stay angry at me, even if he tried.

"It's okay, pops. I know this is what I want to do, and you know it too," I said, and he just smiled and nodded, a tear in his eye.

"I know, that's why I got so angry. But what I said before is true, if he does one thing bad to you, I will know," pops said, and I smiled and hugged him back. Ever the dramatisizer. Or whatever that word is. I never had a big word…thingy. A big vocabulary, there we go.

"Love ya, pops," I said, and began walking away.

"Love ya too kiddo," he said, and walked the other way. Al Bhed tradition wasn't to say good bye, because saying good bye often meant you wouldn't see each other again. But I knew I would, so I didn't have to say good bye. I quickened my pace back up, and Auron laughed at me as I walked back down to him. He just sat back and laughed at me, the big meanie. Wasn't my fault his damn sword weighed A TON, I mean, it was almost as tall as me!

"Any more room in that bag for some books?" he asked me quietly, and smiled at me. I missed his smile so much, I didn't even know.

"Only if you are carrying it," I said, and he nodded. The bag already weighed a lot, books would just make me feel like a Chocobo.

I put the books in my bag, and zipped it back up. He clipped the masamune onto his back, leaving the old one lie on the pavement. He hefted the bag onto his shoulder, bent down to kiss me on the lips, wrapped a hand around me, and we started the walk out of Bevelle. I had no idea where we were going, what we were doing, or why, but I didn't care. It would all be with him, and he wasn't going anywhere this time. Not without me.

Let me know what you think, pretty pretty pweeeeease. The reviews really help my drive for this, but all my chapters end up being so long :P But I promise to update again before Friday if I get some nice new and shiny reviews :)