2 Chapters in one day, go me. Anyway R&R my good readers!


Rikku woke up early the next morning and looked over at Auron, who was still fast asleep. She smiled as she gently squeezed his hand before looking down at Braska. His face was serene as he slept without a care in the world. She thought back to yesterday and the fight with the Earth Eater and replayed the scene where it had hurt her poor little boy. She sighed and gently kissed his arm.

"My poor baby," she whispered, "I'm so sorry you got hurt."

"That makes two of us," Auron's voice said, his voice still filled with sleepiness.

"He's going to be ok right?"

"He shoulder be, we'll see when he wakes up. He just needs for his arm to heal..."

"What is it? You look troubled."

"I am...maybe we shouldn't let him come all the way to Zanarkand with us. It's far too dangerous."

"I know it is, I remember...it only get worse from here on out. But what can we do with him? There isn't exactly anywhere we can leave him behind where it's safe. We're on our own our here."

"I-maybe I could talk to the Ronso about letting him stay there. Maybe they'll give me a favor."

"You think they'll help? Last I checked they were all about all things Yevon and I don't know if you forgot but we're kind of in deep water right now with Yevon. Sir Auron, friend of the Ronsos or no, you're still a fugitive of Yevon and I'm not sure that they'll pull any strings for you."

"I know that but...I just thought it would be worth a try, I know they also value brotherhood."

"But you're not a legitimate brother of the Ronso, isn't it more of an honorary thing?"

"Well...yes it is."

"I don't know...plus I believe I remember they value honor...and being a fugitive of Yevon isn't exactly honorable."

"Alright alright. I get your point."

"And not to mention that Braska is going to throw a fit."

"That's a chance I'm willing to take. I'd rather have him throw a fit and possibly hate my existence for a few months that for him to end up dead because I brought him along."

"I agree...we'll play it by ear ok?"

"Agreed." Auron sight before he heard a knock at the door and got up to answer it.

"Good morning, Sir Auron. Sleep well," Yuna asked.

"As well as I could," he replied.

"I understand. Would you mind if I come in and check on Braska's arm?"

"Not at all My Lady," he said and side-stepped to let her through. Yuna nodded and walked across the room and gently looked over Braska.

"Everything seems ok, just a few bruises but nothing out of the ordinary. I think his arm will heal nicely as well. He'll be just fine once he wakes up."

"Thanks so much Yunie," Rikku said and hugged her cousin. Yuna smiled and nodded and hugged her cousin back.

"Anything to help. I'll be going now, the others want to know how he's doing."

"They do," Auron asked and Yuna nodded.

"Yes, they're very concerned. Braska's their fellow guardian, friend, and they've all grown to care for your son, myself included. We love him and he's special to us."

"Thank you, that is heart warming." Yuna smiled and left the room, closing the door behind her. Auron laid back on the bed and sighed. "When do you think he'll wake up?"

"I don't know...but I miss the sound of his voice already."

"As do I."

"I hope it's soon." Auron nodded and sighed again. "You seem very restless."

"Maybe a little."

"You like to act all tough and made of steel, but I've seen past your little illusion. You're a big softie at heart, just like Jecht."

"We are SO not the same."

"Sure you are. You just can't see it," Rikku giggled, "Both big , strong guys pretending to be made of steel while inside is the biggest pile of mush I've ever seen." Auron snorted.

"If that's what you think."

"Well there's only one difference."

"Oh," Auron asked, one eyebrow raising. Rikku giggled and looked at him.

"Jecht got the stick removed from his butt and yours is still halfway up." Auron frowned and glared at her which only provoked her into a deeper fit of giggles.

"Poke your fun all you like but I'm ignoring that comment and going to get myself a nice, large plate of food and a big cup of coffee." With that, he got up and left the room.

"Party pooper," Rikku called and sighed, "I'll get some food when he comes back. I want one of us here for when you wake up." She kissed Braska's forehead and smoothed his hair back.


The two of them switched back and fourth between duties. One of them was in the room with Braska while the other was off was elsewhere, there were a few times when both were in the room and they watched together with hushed whispers for any signs that their son was waking up.


It took four days of continual worry before Braska woke up. The last thing he remembered was hearing his parent's yelling his name and the desire to yell for them before blackness over took him and blocking out any pain before he felt it. Darkness held a firm grip over his mind and he only recognized the most basic of things. A soft touch from his parents, their voices, their scents, things engraved into his being since he was a child. The taste of water, nasty fluid meant to give him nutrients, these things were more alien but his body welcomed them for the sake of itself.

When the darkness finally cleared, he heard the soft voices of his parents speaking. He listened, keeping his eyes closed and getting adjusted. His arm felt heavy and he briefly wondered why, he was stiff and more than a little sore. He paused in getting his bearings with the mention of food by his mother.

"I'd love some," he said softly and he opened his eyes and saw both looking at him startled. He grinned, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you guys."

"Give us some warning kid, cough or something," Auron said shaking his head before sitting on the bed. "You hungry?"

"Yes."

"What would you like to eat," Rikku asked sitting on the other side of him.

"Mmmm...toast and eggs!"

"Toast and eggs, you got it," Auron said and ruffled his hair gently. Braska smiled and watched his father leave.

"Are you feeling ok," Rikku asked and kissed Braska's forehead.

"Yeah, my arm just feels a little heavy and I'm sore and kinda stiff."

"Well that fiend hit you pretty hard. Your arm was broken and...your father and I were very worried about you. We thought you were dead..."

"I'm sorry mom I-"

"No, it's ok. I'm just glad you're ok. Believe it or not, I think your father took this worse than I did."

"Really," Braska asked in disbelief.

"Yep, your daddy is a big soft teddy bear. But don't let anyone know." Braska laughed and nodded.

"Secret is safe with me, I wont spoil his reputation." Auron came back to the two of them giggling, a feeling of unease settling over him from past experience.

"And just what is so funny," he asked setting Braska's plate aside and helped him sit up.

"I can't tell you," Braska said grinning.

"Because then we'll have to kill you," Rikku giggled.

"Hmm, fine. Keep your secrets, I don't need to know."

"Don't be such a spoil sport," Rikku said sticking her tongue out and setting the plate on Braska's lap.

"I'm not. You two are just trouble."

"Is that so?" Rikku laced her arms around his neck and kissed his temple, "I remember a young man who had a hidden trouble side."

"Oh? I don't know anyone like that."

"I'm talking about you, you big dummy!"

"Come on, I'm eating! Can't you guys be gross elsewhere?"

"One day Braska, you'll meet a girl that you like and you'll want to marry her and spend the rest of your life with her."

"Yeah, only when I'm old like you," Braska said sticking his tongue out and Auron frowned.

"Still young enough to kick your butt young man."

"I'm just kidding dad."

"You better be young man! I don't want to be old yet! I couldn't bear to see a wrinkle or gray hair for another twenty years," Rikku cried.

"Really? I think I see one right here," Auron said inspecting her hair. Rikku gasped and playfully hit him.

"You, Sir Auron, are sleeping on the floor tonight!"

"Now that's just not fair."

"That's what you get for being a meanie!" Braska watched his parents, their banter familiar to him and he began to wonder. Would he really find a girl he wanted to marry and go through that with?

"Hey dad," Braska said and interrupted his parent's discussion.

"Yes?"

"Am I really going to find a girl I want to be with like you have mom?" Auron shared a look with Rikku.

"Yes Braska, one day you're going to meet a girl and fall in love with her and...um...one day you're going to er-realized that you...uh...want her by your side for life and...you'll...want to marry her."

"Is that what happened to you?"

"Yes."

"You're going to have to have a talk with him one of these days," Rikku whispered to Auron and he sighed.

"Please do not remind me of that. I'm not looking forward to that day." Rikku giggled and gently rubbed his thigh and rested her head on his arm.

"You'll do just fine, I know you will."

"Yeah, yeah." They paused as a knock came on the door just as Braska finished with his breakfast. "Come in." Yuna entered and smiled.

"I'm so glad to see you awake. We've all been very worried about you. How does your arm feel?"

"It doesn't hurt a whole lot."

"That's good, I had hoped that would be the case. Now all we need is for you to get back on your feet."

"I can't wait to get back on the road Lady Yuna. I love seeing all the cool things along the way. We're almost to the mountain right? I can't wait to see more Ronso like Kimarhi! I bet they're all huge and strong like him!" Yuna couldn't help but laugh.

"I'm sure they are!"

"Would you like to stay with the Ronso,"Auron asked.

"As much fun as that sounds like, I want to go with you and see Zanarkand too, dad! I can't wait to see it! I bet it's going to be so cool! Does it look like Sir Jecht and Tidus' Zanarand? Huh? Does it dad?"

"You'll have to find out for yourself."

"I told you he wouldn't want to stay," Rikku whispered and Braska looked between his parents.

"You...you were going to leave me there?"

"Braska, you have to understand-"

"No, I understand dad. You're scared you're going to lose me and I'll get really hurt. But I've proven to you that I can do this, haven't I? I helped you face Maester Seymour and I fought a lot of other fiends and I helped out at Home and everything! I can do this! Please?"

"Braska, I admit you have done exceptionally well but I never expected any less from you and you have proven your point...but...the next part of our journey is on an entirely different level and I don't want to risk losing you son."

"But I don't want to lose either you or mom! Let me go with you! At least...at least if we go down we go down as a family!"

"Definitely your kid," Rikku muttered and Auron shot her a glare.

"Braska, listen to me. You and your mother mean the world to me. I love both of you very much, especially you being my only son. I have loved you since you were an infant and you still have a lot to learn and a lot to live for. I can't take you future away from you, what kind of father would I be then? I can't send you off to your death and live with myself, I can't live with myself if I deprive you of everything ahead of you. Sometimes...parents make very...very difficult decisions for the sake of their children, it might not make sense to everyone around them, but they believe it is the right thing to do. Like your namesake, Lord Braska gave up his life for his daughter, for Yuna. To give her a Sin free world to live in, a world where she doesn't have to fear every day. Not only for her, but for all of Spira. He could have turned around and gone back to her, and believe me when I say that I tried several times to give him that chance, but he wouldn't listen. This was his choice and he was determined to see it through, to give his only child a happier world where she was free to be happy and live every day without fear."

Braska watched his father's face go through several emotions, seriousness turned to sadness and pain as he spoke of his friend. He understand what his father was saying.

"That's your decision though dad...this is mine. I understand what your saying but I want to go with you. I'm not afraid and I don't to lose you...I...I'm more afraid to lose you or mom and being left alone than I am dying. Please dad...daddy, don't leave me behind."

Auron watched his thought and let his words sink in, he was brave without a doubt but he was still a child at heart, a child afraid of losing his parents and would rather walk into harm's way than lose them. He gently hugged his son and felt his small arms wrap around him.

"I love you son, don't forget that ok?"

"I won't daddy...I love you too."

"You're sure that you want this?"

"Yes!" Auron sighed and nodded and then relented.

"Very well." Braska smiled and hugged his father tighter.

"Thank you." Rikku smiled as she watched them and felt a tear slip down her cheek. He might be a tough man but he was a good man with a tender heart. She smiled and wrapped her arms around her family and joined in a group hug.


The party left after a few days of Braska getting back on his feet, Auron had taken him out fiend hunting with Tidus and Kimarhi. The four of them savagely attacking fiends but letting Braska do most of the work. He was back up to speed on day four and it took the party another week to cross the Calm Lands. Fiends were abundant but that was no trouble. They used the fights to grow stronger and plus with every defeat that was a new fiend for their monster arena friend like they had promised. They ran into little trouble until they came across Guado sentry at the bridge to Gagazet.

"What are they doing here," Tidus growled and Yuna placed a gentle hand on his arm.

"Easy, let's go see," she said softly.

"I doubt it's good news if it's anything like Father Zuke said," Auron said and the rest nodded. They walked up to the edge of the wooden bridge that crossed a large gorge and the Guado stared them down.

"Halt," the first Guado declared while the other glared.

"Summons from Lord Seymour. Come with us," the second ordered more than said.

"We have nothing to discuss with Maester Seymour," Yuna said frowning.

"Yeah, so out of our way," Tidus said.

"Lord Seymour's commands must be obeyed. You will come," the first Guado replied looking at his partner.

"I warn you, the maester doesn't need you alive," the second Guado said, they shared a grin as a the earth begins shaking underneath them.

"W-What is that," Tidus asked, his legs wobbling as the ground continued to shake.

"I-I d-don't know," Rikku said.

"Is coming f-from below," Kimarhi growled and tried to steady himself on his spear.

"You m-mean the g-gorge,," Lulu asked and crouched below to avoid falling, her high heeled boots not providing the best support for remaining steady. Wakka placed a gentle hand on her shoulder and she nodded that she was ok.

"Here it comes," Auron said using his sword as a crutch to keep himself upright and steady as the ground shook, only the unpleasant vibrations that coursed up through his sword and into his hands and arms made him uneasy.

A large, hulking machina lumbered up the hill, the ground shaking with each step it took, it's arms swinging from side to side in front of it as it stopped behind the Guado and they grinned.

"Say hello to our friend, Defender X."

"He's been waiting to play with all of you all day."

"Hiya big and ugly," Tidus grinned.

"Wanna play," Braska asked and the machina roared.

"Don't antagonize the thing son," Auron said and shouldered his sword, "Use your head unless you want another broken arm."

"Daaaaad," Braska whined.

"Oh this is rich."

"The big boss brought his entire family along."

"Are you mocking me," Auron asked.

"And if we are?" Auron smiled.

"It doesn't really matter, you're both dead anyway." The two Guado looked confused for a moment but it didn't last long before their expression turned to shock as Auron and Tidus drove their blades through their abdomen and gutted them, their innards spilling out before they burst into pyreflies and the two guardians retreated with Tidus yelling at the sky.

"Take that to Seymour!"

"Hey guys! We could really use your help," Wakka yelled and launched a Dark Attack, making the hulking machina fiend roar.

"It's not completely machina," Lulu said attacking with a Flare, "It's made of stone but it functions like machina."

"That explains the earthquake inducing footsteps," Auron said and readied a Power Break and charged, his sword chipping the fiend's exterior. "And in other words, it won't react like other machina so-"

"You got it honey, I can't pick it apart," Rikku said swiping her claw against the fiend. It swatted at her and she nimbly dodged and got a few swipes at the fiend's fingers. It withdrew its hand and grabbed it's wrist.

"Rikku watch out," Wakka yelled and tackled Rikku down as the fiend's fist ejected off it's wrist and embedded itself in the ground on top of Wakka's foot. He howled as the fist was pulled back and reattached onto the fiend.

"Wakka," Tidus yelled and ran to him, "you ok?"

"Ya, I'm ok."

"Don't be a fool Wakka, that fiend just crushed your foot," Lulu said and fired round after round of magic at the fiend. It staggered back as Auron and Kimarhi launched a tag team, keeping the fiend busy from each side. It roared and swiped for either of them but never made contact. Rikku and Braska switched in to give them a break.

"I've almost got it healed," Yuna said, "there. Good as new. Now everyone get back! I'm going to summon!"

The party cleared out the area and Yuna summoned Bahamut. Bahamut roared and sent a barrage of attacks on the fiend. It roared and tried to block to no avail. Yuna was relentless and Bahamut equally. The fiend fell backwards from heavy damage and it's limbs began to clank and creak before it burst into pyreflies.

"That was...ow...that thing hits hard," Tidus whined.

"Yeah," Braska winced.

"Ouchie," Rikku cried and cradled her head.

"Let's find a place to camp," Auron said cringing slightly.

"Wait, isn't the hidden aeon around here," Yuna asked.

"It is," Auron and Lulu said simultaneously.

"But we are in no condition to tackle the cavern," Lulu said.

"What do you mean," Yuna asked.

"They're full of powerful fiends and some nasty things," Auron said. Yuna pondered this and nodded.

"Ok, but we're heading in tomorrow morning," she said smiling and he guardians nodded.

"Agreed, but for now, that cave over there looks promising," Auron nodding and the party made their way over to the cave and set up camp before settling in and nursing wounds for the night.