Nine:

Rikku waited until the afternoon to call Yuna and Tidus. She showered and relaxed with the water hitting her back. She had grabbed a muffin and milk from her small refrigerator for breakfast. She wanted to calm herself before seeing anyone; She thought of Auron endlessly. His face. His smile. His smell. Then she remembered his nightmare, and pushed away thoughts of him. If he wanted to tell her, he would. In time. It wasn't like they were an actual couple.

Just around one o'clock, she waited outside the univeristy,right near the front steps of the entrance. At this point students and school officials walked around, enjoying the the sun and nice weather for their Saturday afternoon. Rikku had brought a book with her to keep her mind busy as she waited. It was one of her Geography textbooks; It was the weekens, but she did still need to study. Professor Knight could hit her with a quiz at any time.

"Rikku!" Tidus' voice called her name. She looked up to see him running out of the university to where she sat. He waved his arm in the air, left and right. "I see you, Vneaht." She called back to him.

"I just got Yuna's message." He said as he pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and showed her the text, "So I came running."

Rikku smirked, "Is that why you hair is a mess?" She pointed at his blonde locks pointing in each and every direction.

Tidus rose his eyes up as he attempted to check his own hair but failed. With both of his hands, he used his finger to brush through the mess. It wasn't styled, but it was fixed and presentable. All that mattered really. "Sorry, I just woke up." He laughed.

"Late night?" Rikku asked in a teasing voice. Tidus turned red. He didn't answer, but moved his hands to Rikku so he couldgently scoot her aside on the bench she sat upon to make room for himself. "We just went for a walk," He sat as he made himself comfortable, "And talked."

Rikku smiled as she closed her textbook, "About what?"

"Besaid." He said.

"Awwww," Rikku teased again, "Were you two reminiscing?"

Tidus smiled, "You remember the night we climbed the old ruins and looked at the stars?"

Rikku nodded her head. She did remember. It was only a few years ago. The three of them snuck out of bed late at night, when all the adults were asleep. With Tidus as the main support, he helped Yuna and Rikku climb up the old pillars and followed them just after. They stayed there until morning. No one knew they were missing. "Yuna brought it up." Tidus said.

Rikku raised her eyebrows. "Oh?"

Tidus nodded and looked down at his hands as he turned red again. He locked his fingers together, "She told me she was really scared to climb, and that was the first time she had." He looked over at Rikku with a smirk on his face, "She said I made her feel safe. And she knew she'd always feel safe with me."

Rikku's mouth fell open. She pushed him playfully and laughed, "Ur edc muja!" Oh it's love!

It took Tidus a second, but once he translated the Al Bhed in his head, he turned pink. "You think so?" He said with a nervous smile.

Rikku nodded her head, "I think so." She said.

Tidus smiled. He sat up straight, ran his fingers through his hair and sighed. "Maybe you're right," He said, "But what about you? And the Professor?"

"Me and-"

"What Professor?" Another voice chimed into their conversation. It wasn't Yuna. Rikku turned around to see Zell standing behind the both of them, with his hands balancing his hover board on his shoulders. He smiled at her when she noticed him. Rikku felt awkward. "Hi Zell." She said with a weak smile.

"Z-Zell?" Tidus stuttered quietly so only Rikku could hear, "This is the Zell?"

Rikku looked at Tidus with a face that told him: Yes it is. "Introduce me." he whispered.

"Zell, this is my friend, Tidus. The one I told you about."

"You told him about me?" Tidus whispered excitedly.

"Tidus... name sounds familiar..." Zell whispered to himself as he looked at them both, but after a moment extended his hand, "Oh right. You're friend." He said with a wide smile on his face. "'Sup. I'm Zell. Star player-"

"-of the Balamb Hawks! I know!" Tidus completed Zell's as he reached for his hand. He shook it with more enthusiasm than required. Zell couldn't help but laugh at him, in a kind way. He was used to having fans, but a friend of Rikku was a friend of his - that was for sure. "Nice to meet you, Tidus."

Tidus could only smile. He looked at Rikku with a wow! face. Rikku couldn't help but smile. He officially made another friend, or she hoped so. She knew if he got the opportunity to try out and made the team, he would be the happiest guy on the planet. His chance to be accepted and not judged for being an orphan. It was all Tidus knew. "Well I'm glad... seems like you two can be friends." Rikku smiled.

Zell chuckled, "Yeah we should be," He said with smile, "like us."

A nervous smile covered Rikku's face; Her expression did not match Zell's. "Yes," she said, "Friends. Like us."

Tidus was oblivious to the awkward tension that fell between them. He was too busy on his ohone, texting the people he knew, about who he just met. He didn't see the nervousness on Rikku's face, or the grin on Zell's. "So, Rikku, what are you doing later tonight? "

Rikku looked down at her textbook as Zell moved to sit next to her. He placed his hover board in between his legs so he could lean on it. "Erm..." Rikku bit down on her bottom lip. She wasn't sure exactly. She hadn't had any real plans made, despite possibly spending her night with Yuna and Tidus once again... whenever Yuna decided to finally show up to talk to her she would confirm it. However, truthfully, she wanted to see Auron again. Make sure he was alright. That he wasn't drinking.

"Well?" Zell scooted closer to her.

Rikku's hand gripped the edges of her book. "Why?" She asked.

Zell grinned, "I wanted to, possibly, ask you on a date."

Rikku's eyes went wide. Her face turned pink. Her mind searched for a million different exit strategies yet settled on none. "You know, there's this cool spot on the beach that sells grilled food, does it all night. Thought it would be a good place to get to know each other better."

Rikku's face was numb. She was stuck. She didn't know how to turn him down or run away, but she needed to do something. "I... I..."

"You..." Zell waited after her pause.

"She's spending the night with me." A voice chimed in. Rikku looked up to, finally, be greeted by the smiling face of Yuna. "Yunie!"

Zell looked at the other young woman and smiled, "Hey... you look familiar." He said.

"I'm Yuna Burasuka."

"That's right! The headmaster's kid!" Zell gently shoved Rikku, "Look at you. Friends in high places."

"Cousins." Yuna corrected as she sat next to them.

Zell's mouth fell open, "Woah. You're the headmaster's niece?"

Rikku nodded her head. Things had gotten so awkward around her she had begun to sweat. She wiped the dampness from her forehead, "Yeah. I am."

Zell slapped his knee as he laughed. "Shit, that's great." He said, "Small world, huh?"

"Definitely." Yuna smiled as she grabbed Rikku's hand, "Were you ready to go?" She said to her younger cousin.

Rikku looked at her confused. Yuna widened her eyes a bit, and it became clear: this was her escape! She nodded her head three times and smiled, "Right. We have to go do... the thing."

Zell looked at them curiously, "The thing? You ladies leaving?"

Yuna nodded. She glanced at Tidus, who hadn't even noticed she had finally met up with them, and looked back at Zell, "She was waiting here for me, that's all."

With a tug she pulled Rikku to a stand and guided her back to the university. "Thank you." Rikku whispered when they were out of ears length.

Yuna laughed as she glanced back at Zell, who followed them with his eyes, and Tidus - who still hadn't noticed! "You have all these men swooning over you huh?"

Rikku blushed, "He's just..."

"Yes, yes... a friend." Yuna laughed, "He does not seem to want to stay that way."

"What about Tidus?" Rikku asked as she hugged her book to her cheat and walked into the school lobby.

Yuna puffed out a breath of air, "Oh, I'll deal with him later."

Back outside, Zell watched them enter the school and the doors close behind them. He sighed, defeated. "Yo, uh, Tidus."

Tidus finally looked up from his phone, the blonde locks of his hair falling on his forehead, "Yeah?" He sounded eager.

"Your friends just left."

Tidus jumped up in complete disbelief. He looked towards the front door of the school and was able to see their silhouettes inside. "Man... why did they just leave."

"They needed to, uh, do the thing." Zell said.

Tidus knitted his eyebrows together, confused. "What thing?"

Zell looked at him with curious eyes, and it suddenly hit him. He had forgotten that his original question had remained unanswered. "Not sure. But um..." He stood up and pulled Tidus into him by his shoulder, "What Professor were you guys talking about?"

Tidus looked at Zell with trusting eyes, "Masamune." He said, "The History Professor."

Zell raised his eyebrows, jealousy ringing in his chest, "Oh, Old Man Masamune huh..."

Tidus felt as though he said too much, "Yeah but... it's not what you think."

"No... no, of course not." Zell said with a fake grin, "Of course not."

When Tidus remained silent, Zell patted him on the back, "So, um... try outs are Monday. Let me go sign you up."

And like that, Tidus had forgotten what he had just said. He jumped up and hooted excitedly. "Really?"

Zell nodded, without a smile, "Yeah. No problem. Least I can do for a friend of Rikku..."

Yuna sat on Rikku's bed as she braided her friends blonde hair. She had heard the entire story of Rikku's night, and of the small date she and Auron shared. She was more concerned for her friend, of course. "Are you sure about him?"

Rikku looked back at Yuna with a gentle sigh, "It was only one night... I mean, what if nothung happens."

Yuna smiled at her Al Bhed friend, "But the way you take about him, Rikku... even if it was just one night, I can hear it in your voice."

Rikku's face turned pink, "Hear what?"

"That you want more."

"We agreed to let things just happen, if they so happen." Rikku said as she turned to face her cousin.

Yuna smiled, "Which is smart, and responible. Of both of you."

"Yeah..." Rikku sighed as she looked down at the folds of her blanket. It was smart. They had only just met each other, and knew very little of one another. Not to mention the complications of her being a student and him a teacher, who knows what would happen. What would people say? What would the school say? What would her father say...

"Don't be sad." Yuna said, "Always look towards the bright side. Be happy. Like Tidus used to tell us, remember?"

Rikku smiled. Tidus was always the one to keep them smiling. He always reminded them that life was short, he would know. He told them that he was glad he hadn't given up swimming that day he woke up in the ocean. If he had given up hope and let himself drown, he wouldn't have made it to besaid. He wouldn't have met the best of friends anyone could ever ask for.

There was a knock.

And then a voice. A deep, rough voice. "Rikku."

Rikku's eyes went wide. She knew who it was; It was Auron. She just hadn't expected him. The look on Yuna's face was mutual. Why was he knocking at her door? "Yes?" Rikku said nervously as she moved from her bed to the door.

"Open the door. I need to talk to you."

A mix of fear and happiness bubbled inside of her. She put her hand on the door knob and slowly turned it until the door opened. She was met by the not quite sober gaze of Auron. His breath smelled of alcohol. He wore the same black shirt from the night before, and same pants. His hand still a mess from the morning. "Are you alright?" She asked him.

"I need to talk to you." He said again. "Can I come in?"

Rikku bit down on her lower lip, "I kinda have company, you know?" She scooted aside to let him see into her room. Yuna smiled nervously and waved at Auron, "Evening, Sir." She said.

Auron raised his eyebrows and rubbed the scruff of his beard. It was his fault. He hadn't anticipated Rikku to have someone in her room. He should have guessed as much, it was a Saturday and Saturday meant 'time with friends.' At least that's what I meant to him in his youth. "Um," Rikku bit down on her lip again as she looked up at Auron, "How did you find my room?"

Damn... "School student directory... I am a professor, so I do have access."

"Right, right." Rikku said in a nervous voice.

"I came at a bad time-" Auron started but stopped when Yuna stood from the bed and walked to the door. He looked at her, the daughter of his old friend. She resembled him, just slightly. He assumed the rest was what her mother looked like. Her one green eye had to have been the Al Bhed blood that ran through her veins.

"I can leave." Yuna said with a smile. She looked at Rikku and mouthed the words Call me. Rikku looked at her pleading - Wait, don't leave!

Yuna's eyes said the rest. As she pushed past Auron she looked at Rikku with eyes that told her to be happy. To do whatever it is her heart says. Only Rikku would know what was food for her, Tidus and Yuna could only be there to give advice and a shoulder if need be. They were officially adults. This was all her decision.

With Yuna gone, Rikku and Auron stood at the door frame in silence. She looked at him and his somber face, and felt saddened. What had happened that he needed to find her. "Do you still want to come in?" She asked.

Auron looked down at her, at her pale face and green eyes. His gaze fell on her lips, her neck, the slight exposed skin of her shoulders. "Yes." He said as he walked into her room. Rikku moved away from the door, only to let Auron close it behind him. He stood over her, his warm breath blending with hers in the air. Rikku lost herself in his eyes. "Auron?" She whispered, "Are you alright?"

Auron's hands pulled Rikku close to him by her lower waist. She gasped, startled, as she pressed her hands to his chest. She felt the intense beating of his heart. "Auron?" She said in a breathy voice.

"I'm going to tell you something about me..." Auron pulled her close and spoke against her lips. The smell of the alcohol was intoxicating. It sent shivers through out Rikku's body. Why, why would she like it so much?

"O-okay?" She spoke against his lips in return.

Auron pulled back an inch to look into her eyes, "...And you will decide what happens after I tell you."

Rikku didn't say a word. She looked up at him, and touched his face. She waited for him to start. Her eyes told him... to start. Auron saw it, and he knew he had full permission.

He cleared his throat. I can't believe I'm doing this. Why do I need to tell her? Why does she need to know? "My friend... who had passed." He started, "Do you remember I said that?"

Rikku nodded.

The room fell silent. Not even the sound of the their breaths could be heard.

"I am in the reason why he is dead."