I HOLD NO CLAIM TO ANY OF THE ORIGINAL FINAL FANTASY 10 CHARACTERS! NOTHING! :(

Chapter Twelve

Confessions

The air was still heavy when the group reached their destination. It was literally right on the other side of the strange town so the anger from Charel and the embarrassment of Yuna still hung around them. Tidus, not liking it too much, decided that he wanted to break it.

"Question," He began. "About this Farplane. When somebody dies, a Summoner sends them off to the Farplane, right? So their souls, or whatever they are, go to the Farplane, right? But that's the Farplane that we're going to, right? And Yuna's old man's there too? Do dead people live there or something?"

"The Farplane is a place to visit those lost," Serenity took a seat on one of the stair railing, pulling her cloak around her tightly. "For those not ready to let go."She crossed her arms. "You have your fun. I'll wait out here."

"What, don't you want to see Braig?"Joey asked her. She shot him a look but the man already moved through into the Farplane. The others followed; except Auron.

"I do not belong there," Auron told Tidus simply.

"You're scared." Tidus teased.

"Searching the past to find the future? This is all that is there. I need it not. You'd better be going."

"You're not really going to see the dead," Rikku joined them, no interest of going inside either. "Just your memories of them."

Melanie stared after Charel. She had no doubt that the other woman was going to see her father. She had half a mind to go inside and search for her brother but she knew that it would be pointless. In all reality, Jecht wasn't even dead; not yet.

"Go have fun with the weirdos, Tidus," Melanie smiled at her nephew. "The four of us will wait out here."

"Not you too, Mel," Tidus shook his head. "Whatever. Later, guys."

Melanie watched as her nephew entered the Farplane and then gave a huge sigh. "God, he's such a handful."

"But you love him." Rikku teased.

She laughed. "I kinda have to. I've raised him for the last ten years. I'm probably the reason why he is the way he is." She took a seat beside Rikku and leaned her head back. "So, you and Yuna...you're related, aren't you?"

Rikku froze. "How do you know?"

"Considering that she wanted you to be a guardian and you're a, no offense, Al Bhed, it led me to believe that you know one another. That and your face structure is the same. If you were to cut your hair then you'd look just like her. So, cousins?"

Rikku nodded. "Yeah. Her mother is my father's sister."

Serenity stood slowly, not to disturb Melanie and Rikku's conversation. The two of them didn't even budge. Giving Auron a look, the Summoner moved away from the stairs, leaving the Farplane behind. Knowing what the woman wanted, Auron followed after her. He stayed silent until he was sure they were clear of any listening ears.

"What do you want to talk about?"

"You know what it is," Serenity told him bluntly.

"Are you sure?"

"Auron, you and I both know the truth. We have to find a way to stop all of this. Leading them to Zanarkand-"

Auron closed his eyes. "I know that it's dangerous, but there is nothing else that we can do. This is the only way."

"I know that!" The woman growled. "But still...I...I should have listened to Braig; the moment we got to Zanarkand he wanted to turn around and leave right then and there. I forced him to go further. It's my fault he's dead!"

Auron watched as her shoulders trembled for a moment before asking a long wanted question. "After his death, you could have defeated Sin, but you didn't. I have seen your strength; you could have destroyed it yourself; why didn't you?"

"Did you honestly think that I was going to let them use my brother like that?!" Serenity's cry was loud. Giving a worried glance over her shoulder, she lowered her voice. "As I floated there in that void, I saw him. That's how I know that Sin is Tidus' father; I know that it's Jecht. He asked me...he wanted me to bring his son to him; he wanted his son to be the one to finish him off."

"So that's why you joined us," Auron closed his eyes. "I was quite surprised to see you do that, Serenity."

"At first I wanted to refuse," She admitted crudely. "But Braig asked me to help. Not even the dead know how to keep quiet."

Auron gave a soft laugh. "No, I suppose we don't."

Serenity was silent for a moment. "He just wanted his son. Why bring his sister, too?"

"You know why," Auron's voice was sharp.

"Yes, I know," Serenity sighed. It wasn't hard to see that Melanie loved Auron. It was very apparent that Auron...his feelings were similar. Something was just holding him back. Something that this man wasn't ready to let Melanie know yet."I just…why? It's not fair; to either of you."

"No, it's not. And in doing this…I chose to be selfish. I wanted Melanie and so I brought her."

"You, of all people, have every right to be selfish, Auron. Don't ever think differently."

He gave a smile before frowning again. "And what about you? Don't you deserve to be selfish?"

She didn't even pause. "No, I don't. Why should I indulge on silly pleasures while Braig…suffers for my mistakes? I…I should have been the one to die, Auron, not him."

"I'm sure your brother sees it differently. As your Guardian, he protected you in Zanarkand but it was as a brother that he kept you alive. You also know that he would make the same choice if given the chance."

Serenity glanced away. "I know that he would."

Auron placed a hand on her shoulder. "I know you will never stop blaming yourself but don't let it hinder you completely. Live life fully, if you can, Serenity; for both of you."

"That's easier said than done, Auron."

"It is," He gave her a grin. "But I know a certain blond that would love to help you with that problem."

Serenity flushed. "This is hardly the time to be thinking of something like that."

"Why not? After all, you might not get another chance."

Melanie watched as Auron and Serenity returned. Both of them had smiles on their faces; it made her attitude fall even more. Auron's words, of her being a mistake, still rang in her head. What had the two of them slipped off to talk about? Her not knowing let her imagination run wild and it just made her feel worse.

Yuna and the others re-emerging saved her.

"Thanks for waiting," The Summoner smiled. "I need to go give my answer to Maester Seymour."

They went to go move when something fought its way out of the Farplane, reaching out. It was a Guado; Jyscal, Seymour's father. Auron told Yuna to send him off just moments before he collapsed; the others didn't seem to notice the older man falling. Melanie hurried to him.

"Auron!"She knelt in front of him.

"I'm alright," He grunted. "Just...old age."

She gave him a glare. "You and I both know that's bullshit." She began to press against his shoulders. "What hurts. Is it your back? Or-"

He grasped her hand and held it against his chest. "I'll be alright in a moment. Don't worry."

She felt her face warm up, even though she was still confused. "But. I don't mind worrying about you, Auron. I've always..." She paused at her words. Should she really be talking like this to him? If he regretted...what they had done, then wouldn't talking to him like this just make things worse?

"We'll talk later." Auron gave a silent sigh as she stood back up; the warmth of his land leaving made Melanie extremely cold now. "We need to leave the Farplane now."

"This bodes ill," Serenity sighed as the group moved away from the Farplane. "A lot more that I had originally thought."

"What makes you say that?" Charel asked the woman beside her. Inside the Farplane, Charel had seen her father; spoken to him one last time like she never hand the chance to do in Kilika. Though she knew that it had only been a memory of Zhako, she still felt a peace inside.

"Lord Jyscal was sent when he died, someone like him would have been, but he stayed here; his own free will. He was trying to tell us something."

"About his son?" Charel growled.

"Most likely. We should cut all ties with him but Yuna's going to get involved. Her soul is too kind to leave Jyscal and the Guado to their own problems." Serenity shook her head as Yuna entered Seymour's home again. "This only makes things harder."

"What are you not telling me?" Charel asked her.

"Many things," Serenity shrugged her shoulders. "They'll be revealed to you eventually."

"That's your favorite phrase, isn't it?"

The summoner gave a smile. "It is."

"Auron," Melanie approached the man again; he had moved off to the side by himself after Yuna had walked inside. "Tell me what happened back there."

The man closed his eyes. "It's nothing to worry yourself about right now, Melanie."

"In your opinion," She frowned at him. "You're not going to get me to stop asking. If you're in pain then I want to know. If there's something that I can do-"

"Being here with me is enough," Auron cut her off.

"You sure about that?" She growled. "I'm not just a mistake anymore?"

Auron looked at her in confusion for a moment before his words from the previous day hit him. He gave her a helpless look. "I didn't mean it like that, Melanie."

"Then just how did you mean it?"

Auron took Melanie's hand and led her away from the others. They were in a cluster of trees, alone when he faced her fully and began to speak.

"When I was younger, when I first left the War Monks, I was unreasonable. I used my strength as a mercenary to live and get by and soon became a feared man here in Spira. Never before had anyone ever stopped me." He told her. "I always did things my way until your brother showed up. Jecht…he changed me. Braska did too."

"If this is your nice side that I don't want to see how you were before."

Auron gave a smile and continued. "Through our journey, Jecht told me everything about you."

"About me? But why?"

"He claimed that you were his closest friend. Family, yes, but he said you were more than that. Claimed that if you weren't related he may have even married you."

"Well, that's creepy," Melanie pulled a face. "Really creepy."

He chuckled. "Braska said the same thing." He closed his eyes. "As our journey went on, I found myself longing to meet you. I…admit to myself that by the time I finally did find you…by that time I was already in love with you, Melanie."

Auron's words left her speechless. To hear him say that…to think that her own feelings might have a chance…that the one night back in Zanarkand might have meant something to him too...it filled her with a warmth that could not be contained.

"The way Jecht explained you, your personality, I loved it. He told stories about you all the time. My favorite was the one where he broke his leg while trying to show off for a couple of fans. He told me that you had hurried to the hospital and gave his leg the hardest kick for him being stupid. You then apologized to the doctor for making his job more complicated." Melanie gave a chuckle to herself. She remembered that day. Funny thing was that one of the women he was trying to show off for became his wife nearly half a year later and Tidus was born. "I tried to hold my feelings back after meeting you but you just wouldn't back off. I sustained myself but in the end…I lost."

"You lost?" Melanie choked out. "How? How can you lose when I wanted it too?" She moved closer. "I wanted you more than anything, Auron. I still do!"

"I know you do," He admitted. "I still do too. I want to just grab you and take you away from all of this but I can't. I made a promise to Braska that I...I can't break. But that is the reason why I lose."

"What do you lose, Auron? What?"

He locked eyes with her. "You."

She stared at him. "I don't get it. How do you lose me? How!?"

"I know you don't understand," Auron placed a hand on the back of her head and pulled her forward to where their foreheads touched. "And I can't tell you; I'm too ashamed to tell you just yet. I just want you to know that, no matter what happens, I love you. I always have and always will."

His words struck home. Melanie felt the tears bubble over. To hear him say that...

"I love you too," She told him. Reaching forward she buried her face into his jacket. His hand floated down onto her back, the other arm coming out of his jacket to embrace her tightly. "It's tearing me apart not knowing what's going on with you but I will stop asking. I respect you enough to know that you'll tell me everything soon."

He smiled. "Thank you." As he held her, he felt whole again for the first time in a long time. Back in Zanarkand, when he had left her after their passionate night, he felt like something had been ripped from him. He now had it again. "I'll protect you, Mel. Don't leave my side."

"Never again," She told him. "Wherever you go, I'll follow."

Auron gave a silent sigh and closed his eyes. ~If only you could~

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