A/N: Hey guys. I am an updating fiend I tell you. Well, I speak to soon, seeing is how i have to work the next few days, so not as many updates.
Disclaimer: I don't own FF or the characters...
What Does Your Heart Say?
Rikku decided that she did not like that woman. Yunalesca walked away from the airship and over to a very angry Auron. Braska moved his arms out and lightly pushed Yuna and Belgamine back. Yuna was embraced in Tidus' arms as he began to whisper in her ear frantically. Yuna's eyes widened as she looked from Auron to the strange woman. Even Wakka sensed the potential hostile situation and pulled Lulu closer to him.
Rikku was still standing with Auron and she eyed the woman carefully. She saw a very powerful look on the woman's fierce face. Rikku wondered if she was a woman of power, or it she was a very good actress. She marched over to Auron and Rikku frowned at the lack of clothing on her body. She was wearing a pale bikini and a ornate headdress that was way to big for her. Rikku knew her type immediately. She was one of those woman that thought she held the undivided attention of every male in her path even if the opposite was true. Rikku immediately felt protective of Auron even though she knew it was ridiculous. He can take care of himself Rikku. It's not like he wants you to protect him...
Yunalesca stopped in front of Auron and smiled. It was a very false smile that made Rikku wrinkle her nose. She did not like the predatory look in the woman's cold eyes at all. Rikku glanced up into Auron's face and thankfully saw no trace of warmth there. He was staring ahead blankly and Rikku was caught off guard when he reached out and took her hand and pulled her to his side.
"What do you want here?" Auron asked coldly. Yunalesca sneered down at Rikku, who was now being shielded by his body.
"I came to talk to you Auron. You and Braska left in such a rush, you never gave me an answer." she pouted unattractively. "And you all can stop with the macho act! I'm not going to hurt anyone!"
"Just like you didn't hurt Kimahri?" Auron spat out. Yunalesca waved her hand as if she were trying to shoo his words away from her face.
"Don't be stupid Auron! That wasn't me and you know it! I came here to talk! You at least owe me that!" she said venomously.
Rikku felt Auron's hand grip hers tightly and she looked up to see the muscles in his neck twitching as he glared at the vile woman. Rikku lifted her free hand to his back and rubbed it unsurely. Auron's cold gaze left Yunalesca's face and he bent his head toward Rikku. She felt his hand loosen and he gave a small sigh.
"Fine" he answered indifferently as he dropped Rikku's hand and walked away from the group. Yunalesca shot Rikku a nasty look before following Auron to the beach. Rikku felt a foreboding feeling settle in her stomach as she watched the pair walk away.
"I can't believe she came here!" Tidus said after they were out of earshot.
"Who was that?" Wakka asked, curling his lip up at the woman's retreating figure.
"It's not important" Braska interrupted. "Leave those two alone for a while please. Belgamine and I are going to take a walk. You kids stay here." Braska and Belgamine shared a look and walked to the other end of the village, but everyone knew they were going to loop back and make sure the two people on the beach didn't kill each other.
As soon as her father was gone, Yuna turned to Tidus. "What is going on Tidus?" she asked. Tidus sighed and motioned for everyone to follow him inside. Yuna, Rikku, Wakka, and Lulu sat around Tidus' living room and looked at him expectantly.
"Who exactly is that?" Rikku asked. She had a feeling that everyone knew who that woman was but Rikku never made a habit to remember current leaders in Bevelle.
"That is Lady Yunalesca. She is the appointed High Priestess of New Yevon." Yuna told her cousin. "My dad doesn't speak of her kindly."
"Tidus, what does she want with Auron?" Lulu asked the blonde swordsman.
"It's complicated." Tidus said, thinking back to where he should begin. "I guess it started as far back as Braska's pilgrimage. The temples weren't exactly excited to have Braska on a pilgrimage because of his marriage to an Al-Bhed and his less than acceptable guardians. Yunalesca was a priestess at the time and she was trying to get a higher position in the temples."
"I remember that!" Lulu interrupted. "She was trying to sabotage Braska's pilgrimage so a more acceptable summoner fought Sin. Then when Sin was defeated without the help of the final summoning, Yunalesca did a lot of fast talking to save her position in the temples."
"That's that I've been told." Tidus agreed. "So according to Braska, Yunalesca had a thing for Auron way back in the day."
"It was like eight years ago Tidus" Yuna said, rolling her eyes.
"Whatever. Auron wouldn't have anything to do with her and she took it badly." Tidus smiled. "I know that when I started training with Auron, it was never pretty when those two ran into each other. But now, Yunalesca is asking Auron to help her."
"Why?" Rikku asked harshly.
"Well apparently New Yevon isn't very happy with Yunalesca anymore. She thinks she can win the people over by marrying one of Spira's heroes." Tidus shook his head.
"Huh?" everyone asked.
"Yunalesca thinks that by marrying Auron, who Spira likes, she will fall back into favor with the temples." Tidus shrugged.
"What?!" Yuna and Rikku shrieked. Lulu and Wakka looked at each other disbelievingly.
"That's what I said!" Tidus nodded. "I freaked out when I heard that. Auron hasn't answered her yet either."
"Don't tell me he's thinking about it!" Yuna demanded of Tidus.
"I have no idea what is going on in his head right now Yuna. Braska and Belgamine know, but no one will tell me" Tidus said truthfully. He had been badgering Auron for days about what was going on with no result.
"That's because it's none of your business Tidus" came Braska's voice from the doorway. Everyone turned around to see Braska and Belgamine smiling in at them.
"So I've heard" Tidus sighed.
Braska chuckled slightly. "Yuna? Will you come with me for a moment?"
Yuna nodded and left the house to talk with her father. Tidus and Wakka decided to take the opportunity to talk to Belgamine to find out more about Yunalesca. Rikku watched everyone leave and let out a huge sigh and dropped her head on the back of the couch.
"Everything okay Rikku?" Lulu asked. Rikku lifted her head up to see the mage looking at her in concern. Rikku sighed and shook her head no. Lulu frowned and moved over to the couch Rikku was on and sat next to her.
"I feel weird Lulu" Rikku said softly.
"Are you sick? Is it your wound?" Lulu asked, getting up to get Braska and Yuna. Rikku grabbed Lulu's hand and pulled her back down.
"No, it's nothing like that" she said. "This Yunalesca is giving me a strange feeling"
"You and me both Rikku" Lulu agreed.
"Lulu?"
"Yeah?"
"There's something else" Rikku admitted. Lulu turned to the young girl and studied her. Rikku looked like she was about to say something very serious.
"What is it Rikku?"
Rikku took a deep breath and looked at her friend. "I've been feeling strange about Sir Auron too. Ever since I left Home, I've been kind of nervous and when I saw Sir Auron I felt..." Rikku trailed off not sure how to explain it to Lulu.
Lulu smiled at Rikku and touched her arm. "Rikku? Do you like Sir Auron?" she asked, mildly surprised.
"I don't know Lulu" Rikku answered honestly. "I've never felt this before and never this much. I don't know" Rikku sighed and dropped her head in her arms in frustration. "I don't know why I'm even worried about it. It's not like he would ever like me back. And Uncle Braska would kill me if my dad didn't first."
Lulu laughed at Rikku's words. "It's ok to not know what your feeling Rikku. Take some time to figure it out ok. And don't assume Auron wouldn't feel the same. He's been alone for so long, it's hard to figure out what his type might be."
"Uh, don't give me hope Lulu" Rikku sighed. Lulu smiled and stood up, pulling Rikku up with her.
"Don't worry about it too much Rikku. You feel how you feel and can't change it. Just figure out what it is first and we'll go from there" she offered. Rikku smiled and hugged Lulu tightly.
"Thanks Lulu. You're the best!" Rikku smiled. She followed Lulu outside and decided to take her advice. She was going to relax until she figured out what she felt for Auron.
By the time Lulu and Rikku went outside, Yuna and Braska were coming back from their walk. They were joined immediately by Tidus, Wakka, and Belgamine, who was trying to get away from the two troublemakers. Yuna smiled at her father's new love interest and walked over and gave the woman a hug.
"So are you staying in Besaid long?" Yuna asked.
"I'm not sure Yuna. I just came to make sure Yunalesca didn't wreck my ship" Belgamine smiled.
"That's all you came for?" Braska asked. "The thought of seeing me never crossed your mind?"
Yuna and Belgamine giggled and turned to sooth Braska's wounded ego when Auron came into view. The warrior did not look happy. Yunalesca strode up behind him a few seconds later and they walked over to the group.
Yunalesca looked at Belgamine and rolled her eyes. "Let's go. We'll come back in a few days when Auron removes the stick that's stuck up his ass." she spat. Auron folded his arms and glared at the nearly naked woman.
"Actually, I am going to stay a few days. You go ahead and take the airship, but please be careful!" Belgamine informed her. Yunalesca blinked a few times and a sinister smile crossed her face.
"Well I guess I'll stay also. I'll just go find a room at the inn then." Yunalesca smirked at Auron and swayed her hips as she walked off to find the inn. Auron felt his eye starting to twitch and he felt the need for peace and quiet. His eyes fell on Braska and Belgamine and saw that they wanted to talk. He turned away and found himself looking at Rikku. She was looking up at him curiously and Auron had the strangest desire to hug and comfort her. He had no idea why and didn't want to think about why right now. Auron turned away from her and walked into his house and slammed the door.
Later that day, Rikku decided that she should check in on Auron and make sure he was fine. She walked up to the door and knocked softly. When there was no answer, she let herself in.
"Sir Auron?" she called. No answer. Rikku started to get worried now. What if he was hurt, or Yunalesca was in there. A shiver of cold fear went through her body at the thought of that woman hurting Auron. What if she wasn't hurting him, but Auron wanted her there. Rikku wondered if there was more to the pair than Auron let on. Oh Yevon, what if they were in his room together?
Rikku walked into the house and saw Auron asleep in the living room. A book was falling out of his hands and there was cold tea next to him. Rikku breathed in relief and picked up a blanket from the sofa and put it across the sleeping man. Auron shifted slightly and Rikku started walking out of the room silently. Before she made it two steps, Auron's hand shot out and grabbed Rikku around the wrist.
"Rikku" he said, his voice heavy from just waking. "You startled me"
Rikku turned around sheepishly and looked at him. "I'm sorry Sir Auron. I thought it was best if someone checked on you. We haven't seen you all day."
"Auron" he said. "Please Rikku, just Auron." He sat back in his chair and realized he was still gripping her arm. Auron dropped it quickly and motioned for her to sit down. "My apologies anyway Rikku. I am supposed to be looking out for you, not leaving you outside while I sulk."
"Looking out for me?" Rikku repeated, confused.
Auron chuckled lightly. "Yes. Your uncle sees a potential troublemaker in you."
"Hey! Not true" Rikku said, smiling. Her smile faded when she saw the look in Auron's eyes. It was far off and sad and Rikku wanted to make it go away.
"Auron? Is everything ok? Do you want to tell me about it?" She asked softly. Auron looked over at her. Rikku was somewhat of a mystery to him anymore. She was Braska's little niece that wasn't so little anymore. She would be twenty in a week if he remembered her birthday correctly. She was a skilled fighter and she could customize weapons like nobody's business. In fact, she had mad his favorite sword when she was fifteen. She was always a prodigy and now she was a woman that her father was trying to marry off for the good of his people. Mostly, he was unsure about his growing attraction to her. He knew it was there and it was hard to deny when he was around her. But more so than sexual attraction, Auron was blown away by how much he wanted to open up to her. With the exception of Braska and Tidus, it had been eight years since he really talked to anyone. There was a warmth in Rikku's eyes that pulled at his soul and it was that warmth that scared him more than anything else.
"Yunalesca is my problem Rikku." he said shortly. Rikku nodded, and looked away from Auron. He immediately felt horrible and sighed.
"She wants me to marry her." he admitted, cringing at the look of disgust of Rikku's face. "She seems to think that by marrying me, she will look better to New Yevon. She craves power in the temples and thinks I will help her gain it."
"So why is that a problem? You don't want to marry her do you?" Rikku asked, terrified of the answer.
Auron sat up in his chair. "Rikku, don't ever believe that I want anything to do with that woman. No matter what she tell you, it will be lies. I want her out of my life, out of all of our lives."
"So what's the problem? Auron I don't understand." Rikku said, taking his hands in hers and trying to ignore the sparks that shot down her arms. Auron looked at her tiny hands holding his and looked up into her eyes. He saw a confused innocence there and was hit with a strong desire to kiss her.
"I don't want to marry her. But she knows something about what happened to my friend Kimahri and I want to know what it is." Auron explained.
"So you think if you marry her she'll tell you, or you will have a better chance of finding out, or she'll eventually slip?" Rikku asked, feeling herself fall into his gaze.
"Exactly. I don't know what to do." he admitted. "If I marry her, it will be hell. But I owe my friend that much." Auron sighed. Rikku shook her head firmly and gripped his hands tighter.
"I'm sure there is other ways Auron. I'll help you. We can figure it out together!" Rikku said. Without thinking, she cupped Auron's cheek with her hand. "We can always torture Yunalesca. Al-Bhed technique of making her wear clothes! She'll go crazy quick."
Auron chuckled at the joke and Rikku felt his warm breath on her palm. He smiled and looked into her eyes and it suddenly seemed so simple. Rikku would help him and he wouldn't have to have anything to do with Yunalesca. Auron looked away and Rikku felt his indecision again.
"Auron please don't marry her" she whispered. "Please?"
Auron looked down and saw the fear in Rikku's eyes and felt his heart drop. His face moved closer to hers and his lips were only inches away from hers. Auron's heart was torn in between listening to the completely irrational side and kissing his best friend's niece and the sensible side that said run in the other direction.
Rikku's eyes widened as Auron leaned in a stopped a few inches away. Her heart was crying out for him to kiss her and make her feelings real, but her head was telling her that this was not a good idea. If Auron kissed her, all hell could break loose. If she fell in love with Sir Auron, her father would definitely never speak to her again, and potentially her uncle as well. But as Auron's lips drew closer, she didn't really care.
A/N: OOO...will they kiss...or not? What did Yunalesca do to our Kimahri? Don't worry..she will go down...stay tuned.