A/N: I'm not dead! :D I never forgot or gave up on this story. ^^ Sorry everyone I haven't uploaded in SO long. Internet was down, plus I've been dealing with college finals and now I'm FREE! Thank you The Sword of Salvation, Eidolon02, yunabesaid, Funsized-killjoy, xXFallenSakuraXx52, and LinariteLavanya. Thank you for everyone who asked if I was alright and sadly things haven't been going well this month...in at least 2 months I've had 5 deaths happen and it's kind of sad...even though I wasn't that close to some.
Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy X or any of the characters/places but I do own my OC's Yue, Her family, Kenta, Jin, Celia, and everyone else who's not in Final Fantasy. And if you haven't checked yet then go to the reviews, click on The Sword of Salvation, and read her story Expect the Unexpected.
"Come again?" I asked turning fully around to face the man before me.
Pyreflies started emitting from his body and as soon as he looked transparent he went back to being solid.
My knees had given out from under me and I fell toward the ground in shock. I started to think back to the beginning...in Guadosalam when Seymour had asked why Auron was still here. When we were in the entrance to the Farplane...why he didn't want to go in and when Yuna was performing the sending and Auron collapsed. When I heard no heart beat in the Thunder Plains...inside I sort of knew...
I looked up to Auron who was now kneeling in front of me, concern playing across his face.
"Yue..." He whispered softly.
I snapped out of my daze and looked up to the man in front of me.
"You're...dead." I stated reaching my hand forward to clutch his coat. "Please tell me you're lying..." I begged looking pass his dark glasses.
He placed his hand upon my own and shook his head.
"I didn't want to straight out tell you...that's why I said I had to leave. What I said was the truth...yet far from it." He said holding my gaze.
I was still in shock from what I've just been told so all I could muster up was a nod.
He sighed and bought me up with him as he stood from his kneeling position.
"I'm sorry Yue..." He apologized averting his eyes from looking into my own.
I tentatively reached up and placed my hand upon his face making him glance back at me.
As our eyes met I leaned in closer and laid my lips upon his own. At first I got no response from him but after a few seconds I felt his lips move with my own.
We pulled apart from each other and I could still see by Auron's posture and the emotions playing in his eyes that he was still pretty upset about the situation we were in. I smiled sadly at him and gave up a tight squeeze around his waist then quickly turned away.
"So...after everything..." I said, my back to him.
"I'll leave." He said blankly.
"Is there anyway...it could be changed?" I asked hopefully turning quickly around to face him.
He shook his head and took long strides toward me and when he was in arms reach he took me in a tight embrace.
"Yue? !" Rikku yelled waving her hands in front of my face.
"Huh?" I asked looking down to the girl in front of me.
"You blanked out for a while...are you alright?" Yuna pipped in from the right side of me.
I looked around and noticed that Yuna and Rikku were on both sides of me. We had reached the path where the frozen blue of Macalania Woods blended into the dirt of The Calm Lands.
"I'm alright." I said simply and smiled to both of them.
"Why aren't you back there with Auron?" Rikku questioned looking behind.
I took a quick glance at Auron and noticed that he was staring right back at me. I turned around immediately and shook my head.
"I just thought I'd stand up here with you two." I smiled and kept on walking. 'We haven't spoken since last night...' I thought sadly and sighed.
We had emerged and walked up the hill and came face to face with the vast planes of The Calm Lands. We stood at the top of the cliff and stared out into the vast open field. It spread out as far as the eyes could see. As I squinted my eyes and spotted where the entrance to Mt. Gagazet.
"The Calm Lands." Lulu stated as we marveled at the scene in front of us. "Long ago, the high summoners fought Sin here. The road ends here." She said crossing her arms across her chest. "Beyond, there're no towns, no villages. Only endless plains."
I stood by Rikku as I stared out, glaring at the very place that I've been left behind.
"Many summoners stray from their path and lose their way." Auron stated.
'Mines included...' I thought shaking my head.
From the corner of my eye I saw Yuna fall backwards onto the green grass, staring up at the blue sky and inhaled deeply.
"I've always known where to go." She said and smiled up to the sky.
Tidus turned to her and offered his hand to her.
"I..." He paused thinking his words through. "I won't let you die. I'll find a way, somehow." He said looking down to her.
Yuna sat up and slowly looked at the offered hand, grabbing a hold of Tidus's hand he lifted her up back onto her feet.
We stood there for quite sometime until I decided to keep on walking when Yuna gave the okay to go. I had been a little apart from them when from the bottom I saw a bunch of dust coming our way.
"Oi!" A voice yelled loudly from the puff of dust.
In a flash I had been tackled hard to the ground having the wind knocked out of me. As I quickly recovered from the blow above me stood Celia, nostrils flaring and teeth bared in anger.
"Celia?" I asked looking up at her.
"Lady Celia!" She yelled stomping her foot. "You took so damn long I have been lost for days, I had to fend for myself because on my way around I lost the two idiots! At one point I went around in circles...this place is huge! What the hell took you so long!" She screamed.
I got up and dusted myself as I glared down at her.
"I had stuff to do." I said walking around her. "I have a feeling I know where the two maybe, shall we head off?" I said looking to her.
Celia and I walked and all she did was nag about me leaving her behind, not protecting her, being a terrible guardian, and all I did was block her out which pissed her off more.
Yuna and her guardians watched the bickering between summoner and guardian.
"I feel sorry for Yue." Rikku said pouting and watching me walk away.
Yuna nodded and watched the two walk away slowly.
As I walked ahead with Celia she kept complaining about the grass stains on her white outfit from the enemies she faced. The little scratches she endured from the hounds running through the Calm Land...how she had no protection and had to fight her own battles. I pinched the bridge of my nose and sighed in irritation which Celia heard and got even more upset.
"Don't you get irritated at me! I should be the one irritated at you! You left me behind to fight my own battles! Recruited lousy guardians and the bruises I had to endure on my own!" She took her staff and swung it close to my face in which I had to dodge countless attempts from her until she dropped her advance and sat on the ground in front of me.
I shook my head and started to walk away when I suddenly felt a tug at the bottom of my outfit which caused me to face plant onto the dirt ground. I got up and glared at her only to see her smile down toward me and walk away.
I got up to dust the dirt off my outfit and followed her close behind.
"So you told me you knew where Kenta and Jin would be..." Celia said glaring back to me.
I nodded my head and pointed toward a small tent that was at the center of the Calm Lands.
"It's just a hunch but I'm guessing they may have taken shelter over there." I said looking behind to see Lady Yuna and her party close by.
"Lady Yuna, there is a resting spot up ahead! I'm gonna stay there for a day and take care of the summoner and we'll catch up with you guys." I yelled back.
I saw Yuna smile and shake her head, mouthing that she'd stay too and I smiled back at her.
When we arrived close to the small little 'inn' from the corner I could see two men sitting down, resting with smiles playing at their lips. I shook my head and approached the resting figures.
"Some guardians you two turned out to be." I said kicking Jin's boot.
From the sound of my voice the eyes of the boys snapped open, when they sat up they stood eyes open and mouth agape and with lightning speed they jumped me to embrace me in a hug.
"Oh Big sis I thought we would never see you again! Do you know how tough it was without you around!" Jin said smiling from ear to ear.
"Big sis?" I asked looking to both of them as we sat on the ground.
"What should we call you?" Kenta asked looking at me with an eyebrow raised. "We look out for each other...isn't that what siblings do?" He said flinging his arm over Jin's shoulder.
"Yeah...guess you're right." I said smiling toward them.
"Hey!" I heard loudly from behind me.
All three of us looked behind and saw Celia glaring daggers at us with her nostrils flared.
"You two," She said pointed to Kenta and Jin furiously. "are in so much trouble for leaving me behind! And you!" She points down to me. "are irritating and selfish for brushing me aside and just going off in your own little carefree world!" She yells in irritation.
I sighed to myself and reached into my pant pocket pulling out a bottle of Hi-Potion and handed it to Celia.
"What is that?" She asked me still pretty angry.
"Well you've been on the Calm Lands on your own so I'm pretty sure you have some cuts and bruises. This will heal them without me using my own white magic." I said blankly waiting for her to take it.
She snatched the bottle out of my hands and chugged it all down without a second thought. As a few minutes went by Celia started swaying left to right with droopy eyes.
"ugh...what's happening to me..." She said sounding woozy.
"Probably a side effect," I said getting up. "your body has taken on too much damage so it's healing it all right up." I said smiling at her.
Celia's eyes start to glaze over and shut, but as she starts to fall I grab a hold of her collar to keep her steady. Before we knew it Celia is snoring like a baby. I dragged her to the far back of the resting spot and laid her there.
"So what was that you sneaked inside the potion?" Jin smiled as he swung his arm around my shoulder.
"What are you talking about?" I asked not looking up to him.
"When you took the potion out of your pocket you sprinkled some white powder inside." Kenta said looking down at Celia.
I smiled and crossed my arm across my chest.
"A little concoction that my friend came up with, makes you fall asleep instantly for a day if mixed with potion." I tapped my finger on my chin. "But I never asked her what it's called."
"At least we can get some peace and quiet for the day." Jin said smiling. "Come one lets go see what Lady Yuna's up to." He said walking away.
Kenta and I both followed behind and we saw that a man in green walk up to the group. I stood between Kenta and Jin as Lulu stepped forward.
"Father Zuke!" She stated looking to him.
"Long time no see." Father Zuke said and then looked down to Yuna. "You are Yuna?" He questioned and then looked thoughtful. "Hmm...you certainly don't look like Maester Kinoc's murderer." He said straight forward.
"What'd you say?" Wakka said stepping forward and shaking his fist infuriated.
"Maester Kinoc is dead?" I heard Kenta whisper in my ear. "What happened while we were apart?" He asked.
"I'll tell you afterward." I whispered back and continued to watch the exchange.
"Please, tell us what has happened!" She begged stepping forward.
"Maester Mika just issued a personal order, you know. It said that you, your guardians," Then Father Zuke turned his attention toward myself. "along with Legendary Guardian Yue murdered Maester Kinoc and fled. We are to kill you on sight, or so it says." Father Zuke stated making Yuna look down with sadness.
I stepped forward gritting my teeth together as Father Zuke's eyes never left my form.
"What of Bevelle?" Auron asked on the far left hand side.
Father Zuke turned to Auron with a slight pause he answered.
"Things are calm on the surface, but the depths are turbulent. After the death of Maester Kinoc, Kelk Ronso left Yevon.
"Convenient." Auron said with content. "Getting around will be easier with Yevon in disarray."
"But be careful, my friends. You have been branded enemies of Yevon. You should avoid temples for the time being." Father Zuke warned.
"Thank you, Father Zuke, for your warning." Yuna said and bowed.
"Father, you came all the way here just to tell us this?" Lulu asked in disbelief.
"To tell the truth, I was a little curious to see...this summoner you are guarding. I hope her pilgrimage goes well. For your sake, too." He said truthfully.
"Thank you, Father." Lulu said nodding her head.
"Ah, there was another." He said turning to look back at me. Father Zuke bowed to me as I returned the gesture and he smiled. "It is a pleasure to meet someone with status such as yourself, I too was curious about the person behind the stories of the Legendary Guardian Yue." He stopped and looked thoughtful. "While on my way here there was someone who said they knew you...a man. Said he heard you'd be headed this way so he wanted to see you. Can't remember what he looked like only that he seemed hopeful."
"Thank you Father Zuke, I will see who this person is." I said smiling at him.
He had turned back to the party and bowed earning the same gesture from Lulu.
"I must be off. I shall pray for all of you." And with that he turned to take his leave back where he came from.
'Hm...a man? Looking for me?' I questioned shaking my head.
"So!" Jin said taking my head under his arm. "Tell us what is going on here!" He said angrily.
So we sat down away from the others and I told them everything, from what happened at Macalania Temple, what we experienced at Bevelle, going about in Via Purifico, the battle with Seymour, the exchange between me and Auron, basically everything that happened EXCEPT what Auron confessed. By the time we knew it, it was nightfall and Lady Yuna and her party had already pitched up their tents.
"Let's pitch up ours and move out tomorrow." Kenta offered already getting his things out.
As we were setting up Jin kept hitting me with his elbow and smirking at me.
"What!" I yelled quietly and glared at him.
"So you and Auron are buddy buddy now." He said with a cheshire grin. "Why don't you go and share a tent with him." He said winking.
I blushed, thankful that the darkness was able to cover it up, and I looked back to where Auron was sitting with their group.
"It's kind of...complicated." I said half truthful and half lie. "Let's just drop it..." I said paying attention to setting up my place to sleep.
Once we were finished we went to bed way before everyone else in Lady Yuna's party.
~Dream~
'Where am I?' I thought opening my eyes and seeing nothing but black.
Suddenly the black scene changed to an open field full of pyreflies.
"The Farplanes?" I asked.
A dark figure appeared a little away from me and as I moved closer color started appearing on the figure giving me more details on who I was seeing.
'Auron?' I questioned in shock.
He stood in front of me, with his cloak blowing in the wind, his head bowed down and brow furrowed. He suddenly looked up to the sky with a frown.
'I love you...' He said sadly. 'I wish you were here.'
I tried to speak out to him but nothing escaped my mouth.
Then suddenly it changed to Auron just standing in front of me.
"Auron..." I said reaching up to him.
He turned his back to me and started walking away.
"I don't love you anymore..." He said coldly.
"What?" I questioned trying to see if I heard correctly.
Then Celia's smirking face popped up in front of mines stopping me in my tracks.
"I told you..." She skipped away to catch up with Auron and linked arms with him.
"I told you he would be mines." Her giggling voice echoing all around me.
"Wait..." I said calling out to them. "Wait!" I yelled louder.
"WAIT!" I jumped out of my resting spot. I looked to the entrance of my tent and noticed the sky was tainted orange. 'It's almost morning...' I thought whipping the sweat from my brow. 'Just a dream.' I thought sadly.
I got up and exited my tent only to find that Auron was standing close to where the fire used to be.
'Ack!' I stopped in my tracks and slowly but quietly started heading back into my tent.
"You've been ignoring me..." I heard Auron's voice cut through the peaceful morning silence.
"No...I haven't." I said looking back to him.
"Ever since Macalania Woods..." He looked back to me and walked close to me."Ever since we woke up we haven't talked, haven't walked together, no exchange of words or greetings." He stopped in front of me and looked down at me sadly. "Does me being what I am...bother you that much?" He asked softly and sadly.
"No..." I looked down and away unable to look into his eyes.
He reached out, grabbed hold of my chin and lifted my head up to look him in his eyes.
"The truth." He said seriously semi glaring.
"I-I don't have a problem with you being what you are...I just thought that this would make things easier when you have to leave..." I said sadly, tears prickling the side of my eyes.
He shook his head and pulled me into a hug.
"If we keep going like this then it will never be easy for us...too many regrets. Let us enjoy our time together..." We broke apart and he looked down at me with hope in his eyes. "Wouldn't you rather live without regrets?" He asked.
I shook my head and held onto Auron as tight as I could.
'It's nice to hold him again.' I thought smiling to myself.
As we pulled away he brushed a stray tear that escaped my eyes and I couldn't help but smile.
"Yue?" I heard someone say from the entrance of the open resting spot.
I turned around and there before me stood a man with silken Yevon robes, midnight black hair, with eyes pure baby blue.
Auron had stood in front of me blocking some part of me from the mysterious man before us.
"Who are you?" Auron questioned glaring at the man.
I stared at the man before us unable to say anything.
"Leo..."
Thank you everyone for being patient...I really appreciate it. Since it's summer break I'll (hopefully) be uploading more. So if you like/love this story then spread the word to those that love Final Fantasy X and Auron and review because I love reviews (good or bad) Thank you everyone! Also forgive the wrong spelling and what not in this chapter...not really a good chapter I feel but I wanted to get something out to you guys. I hope you are still reading and I never disappoint.
-Shay