Yuna and Tidus uncover the truth of him, meanwhile Auron and Rikku discover a bigger threat that could do great harm in Yuna's attempts to stop the war.

This chapter is a little longer than the others, but with good reason.

Thank you for the follows/reviews.

italics = denotes thought or memory

Not Mine

That which is Timeless

Tents and an open air market greeted them as they walked into the Calm Lands. This area too had changed. Originally Rin, an old friend of theirs had come here to set up shop. When other vendors had gotten word of his ventures and their success the Calm Lands had slowly flourished into a beautiful open air marketplace. The whole area had long been purged of fiends and people milled about chatting and picking among a bevy of different fruits and vegetables. The whole thing was a bit of a novelty for rich people as the market was most easily reached by small airships - all which sat docked at the large cliff face that sloped sharply down into the canon. However Yuna found that she could not be too mad at the whole thing, as the Calm Land was no longer anything but Calm. No Summoner would have passed through this area and thought about giving up their quest. Lulled by the false peace that the Calm Land provided. No she imagined a Summoner coming through this area and being treated to delicious food and warmth and then cheered on as they continued up the deadly mountain pass. A mountain pass that so many were blind to the dangers of. Oh there was always talk of how difficult it was to climb, but as climbs up the mountain became less and less frequent most often forgot about the mass graves that littered the mountain road as you traversed its peak.

But she was the only Summoner left, the last to wield the title and that was for the best. As they traveled downwards a man selling his wares turned and saw them. His eyes lit up - for one of the greatest rumors of the Highlands Market was of how the High Master Summoner would often talk about it, but never visit. And so, although not her final destination, she was here at last. His voice rang out among the people, "Her Ladyship has come to visit us at last!"

As people turned to look at her Yuna realized that she would not travel so easily into the dark cavern that made up Yojimbo's lair. She should have just airshiped in, but with Rikku away she and Tidus had agreed that the walk would do them good. The airship would be empty save just them and Cid after all, and Yuna was not sure if she was in the mood to deal with her excitable uncle, "If you could fetch me a seat, maybe?" she asked of Tidus.

"Of course."

Next to her Tidus disappeared. As people came to stand around her she smiled shaking hands and accepting gifts as they came. Everyone here was so touched by her coming, so happy to see her. Smiles lit up their faces. These were the people she was fighting for she realized staring out at them. These were the people she wished to do good by. And she did want to do good by them. Looking out over the joy and laughter people shared she considered other ways she could help people - ways that went just beyond her title of High Master Summoner. Standing here and contemplating these thoughts she found that she was happy; a feeling that encounters like this had not often dredged up in the past. In her darkest moments of doubting Spira she would keep this moment in her mind always. And she would know that people were truly in their hearts, good.

Tidus returned with the chair and she sat down as a older man came up to her, "My Lady, I just wanted to thank you for what you have given us. My family, for a long time was poor. I ran a market booth in Bevelle that because of the competition did poorly. Now I come here everyday and sell to much more affluent people, and my family is better off. Without the death of Sin this place would not be as it is. You have given us a chance for a better life."

Even though she had just sat down Yuna stood again, "Do you mind if I hug you?"

The man in front of her flustered. His cheeks turning a bright shade of red, "I couldn't ask that of you."

"You are asking me nothing. It is I who is asking if I may hug you." Yuna told him.

After a short period the man eventually nodded, bashful. Yuna stepped forward and took him into a large sweeping hug, "I am glad that what I did gave your family a fighting chance." she told him.

They parted and the man walked off his eyes glazed over, seemingly in a daze. After that hug many more people came up to her and offered stories of how their lives had improved since Sin had been killed for real. For each one she offered a hug or a small handshake and Yuna felt her heart swell with pride. After all the talk of war, and her upcoming speech she had needed this. One person had even come up to her and said that if anyone could stop the rising violence it would be her, and that even if she couldn't he would forgive her because she had done her best. In that moment Yuna had wanted nothing more than to cry into his arms but had refrained. Only Tidus's arm on her shoulder had kept her from breaking down entirely.

Behind her, Tidus watched her talk to each person and was reminded of the conversation the two of them had on the ship to Kilika. About her future and where she might be in the years to come. As she moved from person to person with grace and sincerity he pictured her with Praetor robes. It was too easy for him to see. For him to imagine them on her body as one would imagine Rikku standing on top an airship gazing out into the horizon, or Auron meditating in a quiet room soft incense burning in the corner. As much as it pained him to say it, this was where she belonged. This is where she had always belonged. He hated how much misery it sometimes brought her, but the joy she felt from it counteracted that so heavily that it almost didn't matter.

Yuna turned to look at him and in that moment he felt blinded by the smile on her face. No one was more beautiful than Yuna when she smiled. When Yuna smiled the whole world smiled, when Yuna cried the whole world was crying. There was no greater truth to this - Yuna was Spira's lifeblood. Her mood was reflected by the world like a mirror. Which is why he felt so awful ripping it away from her, "I think it's time we moved on."

"So quickly?"

"It has been over an hour."

"Has it? I lost track of time."

He didn't blame her. With so many people coming up and talking to her of course she had lost track of time. Often times she got so caught up in talking with people that time slipped away. As another person came up to talk to her Tidus steeled himself. It was time to do his job. Clearing his voice loudly the crowd of people looked at him shocked as if they had forgotten he was there, "One more person after this. Then the Lady and I have important matters to attend to."

The whole crowd seemed to pulse with energy, some angry others resigned, "But…"

Yuna smiled at the crowd, "I am sorry. I am on mission. I promise I will return when I get the time, and I will stay for a much longer period."

That seemed to settle the people down, and Tidus was glad that Yuna was better with words than he was. There was a reason he was the muscle and she was the current brains. He didn't really mind being the muscle either, he was good at it, and now that peace time had come to Spira he was happy to step aside and let her actual people heal their land in the way that they felt would best protect their interests. After shaking one more hand Yuna stood up and one of the vendors hurried to remove the chair and return it to their owner. Yuna bowed once and smiled, "Thank you for showing me your wonderful market."

"Thank you for coming High Master Summoner!" one of the people shouted out.

Cheers went up from the crowd as Tidus slowly lead her away to the far corner of the Calm Lands which had yet to be touched by the markets. Here the cliffs cast dark shadows on the ground, and the chill set in. They were close to the mouth of the mountain now and cooler temperatures prevailed above warmer ones. Finally they crossed into the mountain pass and down into the small valley that hosted the cave where Yojimbo lay. As they stared at the cave entrance Yuna wrapped her arms around her body as if hugging herself for warmth, "Are you okay?"

"Last time I was here it was just Lulu and I. We shared in something deeply personal."

Tids remembered that day. How he had accidentally taken over Yuna to strike out at Wakka. How he had felt a bond grow between Lulu and Yuna over Lulu's loss. Something that had felt unshakable and firm. It wasn't the same anymore. Now there was a strain between them, a gulf that Yuna wanted to cross but wasn't sure how. Lulu saw her as as someone to mother, but she wasn't really that anymore either. She wasn't sure where they stood, what their relationship was. She was desperate to find out - to discover how their pieces fit together in this changing world. It was so dumb that they couldn't find common ground. If she were younger she would stamp her foot and throw a fit, "The two of you will be friends again."

"How do you know?"

"It's you and Lulu. I have no doubt that the two of you will work through it."

Yuna's lowered her arms and her hands turned into fists at her side. She clenched them hard and took a deep breath to steady herself, "Alright. Let's go."

"That's the Yuna I know."

Yuna punched his arm lightly and he rubbed the spot her fist had hit. It hadn't hurt of course, but she knew that he liked to humor her. Just a little bit of play between them to normalize them again. This was how they found their rhythm. Playful banter and teasing. After all, did they not deserve it after what they had been though? He had been Sin once, and she had been Yu Yevon. Both of them possessed by terrible demons. Because of their trials and tribulations sometimes it was good to let go and joke around, to allow themselves to be silly.

In the bottom of the cavern the seal glowed, still awake after all the years. The cavern was wholly untouched. A little while after Sin had been defeated a money hungry man had attempted to lead tours of the cave where the Aeon had once rested but his greedy little fingers had been stopped by fiends. After the group had been rescued by Rikku and Auron the tours had stopped. So now the cave rested as it had always been.

Gloomy gas floated just over the surface of the cave and the rocks pressed in on them, oppressive and confining. It was perfect. As much as she loved seeing the Calm Lands grow she was glad that it would never be able to touch this place. Some places deserved to remain as they were, and the small areas where the Aeons lived were some of those. Even though she knew no human could awaken the Aeons, she hadn't wanted anyone interrupting their rest. That no longer mattered anymore, the Aeons had awakened despite her attempts to let them enjoy eternal slumber - but the idea still lingered.

As they rounded the corner into the main chamber a noxious scent entered her nose. A set of three fungus sat in front of them blocking the way to the entrance of the fayth chamber. She coughed and covered her nose, "Not what was I expecting."

"You up for a bit of a fight My Lady?"

Yuna giggled and then coughed, "Yes. Let's."

Having already changed out of her White Mage robes Yuna pulled both guns free and begun a rapid heavy fire upon one of the three fungus. The fungus shuddered and then as it died released a burst of heavy toxins. For a moment Yuna felt fine and then the powder crawled into her veins and she felt their paralytic spores take hold. Tidus stood in front of her as the second fungus let out a giant belch of fire. The fire scorched him and Yuna let out a little gasp as how singed he looked, "I'm okay."

A second blast of fire caught him directly and Yuna closed her eyes tightly. She felt so useless standing prone as she was. Her staff which she carried on her back felt so far away, her fingers helpless to reach out and remove it. As she stood there unable to move she tried desperately to think of something that she could do. Tidus might be the guardian but she was a good fighter too - not this helpless thing that could be made defenseless by a small bit of poison. During this thought she felt herself sink downward as through fast activating quicksand, the ground under her shifting. When she looked up she was standing in the middle of an empty stadium. Everything around her was warped. A figure in purple started to come into view and eventually Yuna recognized her, "Aniaca!"

"The two of you are helpless without me it seems. Move and fight lady Yuna."

"I am paralyzed." Yuna said by way of explanation.

When Yuna said this Aniaca smiled, "Was."

The world shifted again and Yuna found herself holding her staff. Somehow she had found it within herself to remove it from its back holster. Tidus stared at her blankly confused as to what had just taken place and Yuna closed her eyes preforming the staff movements that would call forth the summon. A second later the ground began to shake and chains came down from the ceiling, drilling into the floor and pulling forth the creature that lay dormant there. A scream of pain and the withering form of Anima was pulled from the depths of the rocky ground. The sound of bells heralded the first attack and the first of the last remaining fungus went up in a puff of pyreflies. A second chime and the final fungus followed it. Yuna turned to look at the Aeon that had once been Seymour's mother in awe. She had forgotten just how large and powerful it was, and seeing it again just drove home what was happening. The Aeon shimmered and disappeared as the battle ended, "She's waiting for us inside." Yuna told Tidus.

"I know. I can feel her."

Together they stepped on the platform and together transferred to inside Yojimbo's lair. There Aniaca sat sideways on the dog that made up part of Yojimbo's Aeon. Yojimbo's pay for hire warrior stood next to his actual Aeon, and behind them three lights floated. Yuna could tell just by the color coding that these were the Mangus sisters, "It was a bit crowded so they decided to take up less space." the man said.

"Don't be so grumpy Yuudai." Aniaca chided.

"It is not your home that has been invaded." he countered back.

Staring at the fayth in front of her Yuna was struck with something, "You're not…"

"Off kilter?" Yuudai said, "No. We were woken, but whatever force that bothered those Aeons that have temples left us alone. We remain as we are."

Yuna bit her thumb and looked at them, "Do you know what woke them?"

One of the lights floated about and a small child like voice spoke to them, "We don't. All we know is that whatever it was felt angry and mean."

"Mindy is right. But that's not why we are here." Yuudai said.

A somber mood descended over them. Tidus swallowed, so they were here at last. They were going to tell him why he needed to consume, why being near Aeons made him feel this incessant itch to posses. Why when he dreamed he dreamed of a whole and splendid Zanarkand, despite the fact that he saw Besaid as his home now and did not wish to go back to the world from which he had come. They would tell him what was wrong and then they could work towards a remedy. He would be able to protect Yuna without fear of ruining her life and making a mess of things. In front of him he watched Aniaca take a deep breath as if gathering her wits and then the woman nodded silently, "Shall I rip of the bandage then?"

"Put me out of my misery." Tidus told the woman.

"Alright." she said, and then continued her story, "A long time ago you were Sin, the most powerful Aeon of all time. And then you were killed because Yuna was able to find a courage that most would not be able to."

"And then Paine brought me back." Tidus said, "Everyone knows that part of the story."

Aniaca smiled but it was sad, "Yes, but this is not about the what that brought you back. It's about the how."

"I don't understand" Tidus said.

And honestly, he didn't. How was Paine bringing him back anything other than a good thing? From the way Yuna talked about Paine, this was not a woman who wanted to hurt but a woman who wanted to protect and heal. And so she had, and by doing so given him and Yuna a shot at a real life - a true life. A life unhindered by if he would disappear or not, where he would no longer be a dream but a man made of solid flesh.

In front of him Aniaca continued to look at him sadly, "When Paine died she absorbed all of her father - Yu Yevon. In that moment she was both him and herself, the last fragment of Sin - a complete being. However in order to bring you back she had to sacrifice something - so she did. She poured all of herself, what remained of her soul into you. Sacrificing herself once more. And thus you were reborn. Both as you - and as something completely new."

During Aniaca's full speech Yuna had not spoken one word. However now she stared up her eyes afraid, as if she understood something that Tidus had yet to grasp, "What was he reborn as as?"

"Himself of course - but also as the first joint Fayth and Aeon. He is both Sin and Yu Yevon reborn. A blending that Yu Yevon himself, many years ago could never have imagined and only dreamed of."

If silence could kill Tidus was sure that it would. Him? Yu Yevon and Sin? It was not something he could swallow. How could he be both but also feel totally human? As Sin he had felt monstrous, an abomination. It was impossible. But the truth of what she said rang true. He hadn't wanted to admit it but when he had been Sin this emotion of destruction and consumption had been what he felt from Yu Yevon. Passed down to him and then to Sin, who really had only wanted to die, and to stop dreaming. A cog in Yu Yevon's machine. As Tidus he had finally fulfilled that want in Sin, he dreamed but his dreams always had an end. They were no longer endless things, forced by Yu Yevon to continue. However Yu Yevon's needs, his desire to continue the dream and through Aeons, wipe the world clean of danger - could not be so easily controlled. He had felt this each time he had quieted an Aeon, although it was slowly lessing in it's need, "Will I destroy people as he once did?"

"I suppose that's up to you." Aniaca said.

"Up to Tidus?" Yuna asked.

"While he may be Sin and Yu Yevon combined he is also Tidus, a dream made real by his own desire to be so. You are also kind of heart and good. Tidus only desires one thing - and that is to protect you Lady Yuna to give you a peaceful world. I do not think he will sink to such horrible lows as Yu Yevon once did. His heart is not Yu Yevon's heart, his heart is wholly his own.."

Tidus turned to look at Yuna. She seemed stone faced but slowly ever so slowly her face warmed. He didn't want to admit it, but he was afraid. Yuna was the kindest and most forgiving person he had ever met, but Yu Yevon held nothing but bad memories for her. How she could even stand to look at him after all he had put her through he did not know. He was ashamed of who he was, of Yu Yevon and Sin who rested inside of him, how terrible it must be for Yuna to look at him now. As Yuna's protector how could he even claim to be good for her anymore? He should remove himself he decided - that was what would be best for her. To not have to look at the last reminder of the person who had taken Paine from her. So caught up in these thoughts he didn't feel the arms wrap around him or Yuna's head rest against his chest, "Thank god. I was so worried."

"What?"

"I thought it was going to be awful. I feared Yu Yevon returned to this world. That what I went through, possessed and with no control, you would be put through. But Tidus is still Tidus."

His arms slowly wrapped around her as he processed what she was saying. Not once had she been worried about herself, or afraid for herself. She had been afraid for him. How she could be like this after the great evil he did upon her he didn't understand, how she could go every day still staring at him. But that was the wonder of Yuna - she never did what you thought she would, "We'll get through this." he told her.

"Yeah." she paused, "I love you."

Standing there with her arms around his waist and feeling the warmth and softness of her body - that was the one thing that was not in question. Her love for him was strong, and fierce, and beautiful, "I love you too."

Maybe there was nothing to get through. Maybe it really had been all in his head. Because right now they felt more solid and more real than ever. He dared history to tell him that this, what they had together was wrong. Together they would take on the world, summoner and summoner, summoner and fayth. He would follow Yuna wherever she went, lending his power to hers in whatever way he could. That had been his job before he had become Sin, and now his fayth like nature only amplified this desire. Her protector in all ways. Time would tell what the summoner inside of him would add to this.

Soft hands slowly rubbed Rikku's back, comforting her. The woman stared up confused at the unknown touch, and for a moment it felt like she was looking at Yuna's twin. But this woman was a little older, a little rounder in the face. And her hair, which Yuna usually wore braided, hung down loosely around her frame. It felt like staring at a goddess Rikku thought. She was beautiful and radiant, and the presence she emanated was soothing, "Here."

The woman touched Rikku's chest and Auron's chest and it was as if they were connected by an invisible tether. One moment she was staring at Auron's face and the next she was on a giant brown platform. As she adjusted to where she had somehow found herself she was slowly greeted by a dawning horror. Dead bodies littered the platform in front of her. Too many bodies to count, and they were all her. In the center Auron sat, cross-legged eyes shut tightly as someone who looked like her berated him. Words like abomination, and nothing, and creature, and disgusting came out of the woman's mouth. Rikku felt rage build upside inside of her and she stalked over to where the woman was and tore her away from her husband, "Leave. Him. Alone. You. Big. Jerk."

"Who-" the woman seemed shocked to see her.

"Someone who would never, ever, hurt Auron in this way." Rikku answered.

A sound begun to permeate the air. For a moment it took Rikku a little while to realize what it was, but eventually it hit her that the woman who looked like her was growling. The growl grew into a warning and when it reached its loudest peak the woman leapt at Rikku. Rikku was stunned for a moment but then rolled out of the way. As Rikku righted herself in her roll she pulled out two daggers. Getting into a battle stance she stared down the woman, and readied herself for the fake Rikku to charge. As they looked at each other she heard Auron mumble under his breath, "Not again."

He was staring at her with wide-eyes and her heart broke for her husband. This whole time then he must have watched Rikku after Rikku kill themselves in front of him. This time would be no different then. If she attacked the ghost that was pretending to be her it would only perpetuate his ideas about his ordeal. The ghost leapt at her again and instead of attacking Rikku rolled under the attack, angling her body so that she came right up against where her husband was sitting. She turned to him and took his hands staring at his eyes which were only loosely open now, "Auron. Please, it's me. Wake-up please you're dreaming, I've come to get you."

"It's a trick."

Rikku shook her head, "It's not I promise. It's me, I'm real. Your muja, it's me."

A loud scream rent itself from the fake Rikku across from her, "You shall not take him from us again!"

Rikku curled her body around Auron to form a protective shield as the fake Rikku attacked them. Her fists beat into Rikku's back but she did not let go or move, refusing to let this aberration have any control over her or Auron. The anger and the violence would stop with her. As each fist jabbed into her back Auron's eyes slowly began to widen until they were fully open at last. None of the Rikkus had ever protected him as his one was, and as much as he wanted to trust he wasn't sure. He reached up and touched her face, which wasn't melting or laying detached from her body, or any of the other things he had seen, "Rikku?"

Hearing her name spoken Rikku looked down at her husband. Her mouth was pulled back in a painful grimace but her eyes showed intense determination of which Auron had only seen on her face while she was protecting Yuna, "Hi."

A vicious punch made her cry out, and that was what sealed it for Auron. Twisting their bodies so that his now protected hers he pushed the fake Rikku away. It wasn't just that she was protecting him, it was the way that she looked at him - with eyes that only his wife could have. This woman, this was his Rikku and who he had been searching for in this bleak landscape. The fake Rikku let out one last cry before he drew his sword and cut her through. Her body vanishing like smoke, and the others with it. Having banished his nightmares he turned to the green eyes he knew were real, "Are you okay?"

Rikku's eyes narrowed, "Am I okay? Are you okay!?"

"Rikku."

Of course Rikku knew that voice. And it was true, the punches had hurt, but nothing had hurt more than seeing Auron so distressed like that. Her normally so stoic husband so terrified was not something she wanted to see again. She would bruise she was sure, but overall she was okay, "I'm fine. But you have to wake up. None of this is real."

"And how do you suppose I do that?"

Thinking on it Rikku wasn't sure. She herself didn't know how she had gotten here after all. One second she had been holding Auron and another second she had been witness to his tormented thoughts. And it was good that they were together, and it was good that they were both thinking rationally, but an escape plan hadn't been part of her thought process going in. If Tidus was here she was sure he would find some way to get them out of the jam, that was his specialty - but Tidus was not here and so she was left with a good deal of uncertainty.

While her mind attempted to think of an escape plan the dressphere that Yuna gave her started to faintly glow. Looking down at it Rikku's eyebrows knit together, the dressphere had never done anything like this. Not while Yuna had it and not for the small amount of time she had owned it either. As the glow got stronger she realized that her hands were beginning to fade away, along with the rest of her. Somehow the dressphere was pulling them out of Auron's nightmare, "Grab onto me! Hurry!"

She reached out her hand and felt the warmth of his as he grabbed hold. It was not a moment too soon because a second later she was jerking awake again, and Auron's confused eyes were staring up into hers. They were back in the room where they had first landed she realized. And - now that she was not overcome with worry - she could see how beautiful it really was. Flowers surrounded them, in all shapes and colors. Some pulsed with a gentle glow, while others sparkled under the open sky. A sky that was so alive with pyreflies that they looked like stars. The woman who had sat with them before now sat a little bit away from them, her legs folded to the side. Together she and Auron sat up and she smiled, "You're back. I was worried there for a moment."

"You saved us. Thank you -" Rikku paused, she didn't know this woman's name.

"Lenne. I was drawn here by that dressphere you carry, and I think if you are here for the reasons that I think you are - I also have the answers you seek."

Auron now had his arm around Rikku who sat firmly in his lap, her hand having not let go of his since they had woken up, "And why are we to trust you?"

The woman laughed, and her laugh sounded like a bright melody. Not something classical, but something that reminded him a bit more of the silly pop songs that Yuna and Rikku sometimes listened to on the radio. It was pleasant, and infectious, "He said you might say that."

"He?" Auron questioned.

In that moment a second figure seemed to fade into view and Auron knew that if he had a heart, it would have squeezed within his chest. He stood taking Rikku with him, forcing Lenne to stand as well but he knew that he could do no less. It was as if he was a young man again and no time had passed. The man standing in front of him had not changed since his death so many years ago. The long red robe that was layered to look like leaves, the white and blue headpiece that looked almost like a crown. Even his eyes, their deep blue kindness and wisdom had not been touched by the years, "Braska." he whispered almost reverently.

"Uncle?"

Rikku too was shocked, what little she knew of this man came from pictures of her late aunt that her father carried around. She had only seen the pictures once or twice, but she had seen the statues of him enough that the image of this man was forever seared into her mind, "It is good to see you again old friend, the spirits that come to rest here have told me of how the two of you have protected and kept my daughter safe - and for that I can never repay you."

Finding himself again Auron spoke, "She is every bit your daughter. Kind and reverent, she wants to change the world."

"It does my heart good to hear it." he paused, "But my friends, conversations and reunions must be put aside - Lenne, this woman has a story that she must tell you urgently."

Rikku peered at the woman in front of them, "Oh?"

"Yes. If you will listen to it."

Auron considered Braska's words carefully and then gave a nod of his own agreement, "And we shall hear it."

Upon being given permission to continue with her story Lenne smiled, "Thank you. The story I'm about to tell you is a love story, only it's not. And it is my story. Only it's not." she paused, "A long time ago when Zanarkand still flourished and war knocked powerfully at our door steps I met a man named Shuyin - a man who looked very much like your Tidus, I must say. We fell in love. I was a summoner at the time, and eventually like all summoners I was eventually called to battle. Shuyin could not stand this. As a last ditch effort to save me he attempted to activate a weapon called Vegnagun hidden in Bevelle's depths. I went after him, and stopped him. But we were killed for our trespass in the process. My spirit died in peace and passed - his died angry and could not. However part of me was able to live on in the dressphere you carry with you and soon after the war I felt his anger re-emerge, somewhere in Spira. I believe he wishes to finish the mission that he started, and will attempt to destroy Spira using any means necessary. Be it plunging it into war or activating Vegnagun once more."

She stopped letting them process the information. What she had told them was a lot to take in, it was true but eventually Rikku let out a long whistle, "That sure is a story lady. Where is this weapon right now?"

Braska grimaced, "He brought it here for safekeeping. It's what woke the fayth and has so many spirits gone haywire. He plans to keep it here dormant until he can use it in the most destructive way possible. What that is remains to be seen."

Rikku grinned, and Auron could tell just by looking at her that she had gotten an idea. And, he was not wrong. Thinking about it Rikku had come to a conclusion - if the weapon was here then why not defeat it here? It would solve a great deal of issues for everyone. Then once Yuna gave her speech and calmed the lands things would slowly go back to normal, perfect plan, "Well let's go destroy it then."

"It's not that easy." Lenne said, "the weapon was made to combat the most powerful of Aeons. We cannot defeat it alone. Please take this message to Yuna, and take the part of me that can reside in your world with you. When the time comes, I will come to her aide."

Rikku hesitated but eventually agreed, "Okay."

"You must go back now. Yuna will need you again soon, more than ever." Lenne told them.

That Auron wanted to protest. It had been so long since he had seen his greatest and oldest friend. But he had chosen the world of the living while Braska had chosen the world of the dead. One day he too would pass on, and then they would be reunited for good - but that day would not come for some time yet, and he wouldn't ask for it any other way. As he prepared himself and his heart to leave he heard Braska speak to him once more, "It has been good to see you again friend."

"And you." he replied.

"Tell Yuna I am very proud of her. That I love her, that as a father I could wish for no greater a daugher than the one I was given."

"I will pass the message along."

For a moment Auron thought his friend was done talking but eventually he spoke again, "I am glad that you chose the hard path. Both so that you could protect my daughter and so that you could find love in the same way that I found love, and with the same brilliant family."

Hearing him say this almost caused Auron to become bowed over, but he remained standing upwards. Then before he could even say a word Rikku answered for him, "Thank you."

He looked at Rikku and her flushed face and eyes that shone with everything that he had wanted to say and more. But perhaps her answering was for the best. She was one half of him, and Braska was her family too, "Goodbye old friend." Auron said as they turned to leave.

"Goodbye my friend."

As Braska faded they found themselves stepping into the bright light that shone before them, and back into the world where only the living had true domain. He would miss his friend dearly, but he had so much more for him here and now that he was unwilling to give up. Rikku stared up at him and he found himself just as enamored with her as he had been the day he had seen her washed ashore on the banks of the Moonflow.

A/N: So much information dropped this chapter. And Braska! Deciding to write him into the story, if just for a little bit was so much fun. I hope you were at least moderately surprised. Finally someone who was reading the prequel to this - Shattered Future once asked if Yuna was dating Sin. I couldn't answer you then because it would have spoiled this, but yes the answer is yes.