Like I said, that wasn't the end. Things have to be weird for this type of story to work, but it's all coming together soon. And It'll all be ending soon.
Chapter 10:
Let Her In
It couldn't be her. Standing in front of him was a young girl with reddish-blonde hair, her eyes squeezed tightly shut. Could this be the girl that had stood before Yunalesca, frail-looking yet strong in words and spirit? Could she be the one he was to 'let in?' He decided that only time could tell him the truth.
"Open your eyes."
***
Al Bhed. The name meant only a differing belief. What should belief matter to the heart? I knew that Auron was the only man I could ever love, whether I was Al Bhed or not. He had told me that very thing; that belief did not matter to the heart. But that story is for another time. I did not know if Lulu could return us to our own time when we went. I left on impulse. With history changed she could not. So I went to Bikanel Island, and there searched out a six year-old girl who cried for her lost mother. I could remember it too well, the day I ran away.
We had just moved in to our new home. Mother had died on the trip there, killed by an Al Bhed hater on the road. Nothing was done about it. Nothing. It hurt so bad that I did not want to live. I ran into the middle of the desert and was attacked by a Zu. Brother saved me with a Thunder spell, but I was scarred by the event. I stayed in a shelter that night. That was where I went to find myself. I was crying when I got there. Gods that sounds so strange. Because of course when I say I, I mean my six-year-old self, but I also mean the person that found her. I'll just call her by both my names, Rikku-Anne.
When I reached the shelter, Rikku-Anne was crying. I knelt beside her and dropped my hand into the familiar sand. "You will get sick in the After Dark cold. Take my jacket." She looked up at me, sniffling, and took my jacket.
"Thank you. Who are you?" her voice was so tiny, I was sure it could not have been mine.
"A friend. I wanted to talk to you."
"What 'bout?"
"The future, your life, love. A lot of things."
"Okay. Let's start." I smiled at her innocent acceptance. I never really lost that.
"You know, you've got a lot ahead of you. You'll live a full life."
"Mm-hm."
"There will be a man in your life. You will be very special to him. Your cousin, Yuna, will ensure that you meet this man." She frowned at Yuna's mention.
"Yunie's daddy died, didn't he? Is he with my mommy, now?"
"Yes, they are like brother and sister, you know. They take care of each other, and Braska will take care of your daddy's sister."
"Then who will take care of Yunie?"
"Actually, it will be a friend of the man I've mentioned. Don't worry, Yuna is safe." I smiled as she scrunched up her nose. I remember Dad telling me it would get stuck like that. "Never quit scrunching up your nose. Your dad may be annoyed by it, but it will get you a lot of places. I'll leave you now. Remember what I've told you."
"Okay. Bye-bye!"
I left my jacket with her. I didn't need it where I was going. Suddenly a realization hit me: I couldn't remember not having that jacket. Now that I think about it, I got it when I was six. A young woman brought it to me in the desert…then disappeared into the dunes.
***
Sorry, author's note. Ooh…Freaky….
***
I watched her follow the group toward Guadosalam. I still wasn't entirely sure if the thing ten years ago was a dream or not. It was all getting too confusing. She certainly looked like the woman from Zanarkand. Walking to catch up, I matched my pace to hers at the back of the group. She seemed content to look at me for the majority of the walk, and I just kept my focus on the trail. Finally she spoke.
"What happened to your eye? Lulu and Yunie said you were legendary, but I've never heard of you." It figures that the girl I was destined to be with would have a big mouth.
"I got it in a battle of revenge with Yunalesca."
"Oh." And she shut up. It was as if the mention of Yunalesca scared the girl. "You know," Then again, maybe not. "I kind of hope Yunie quits the pilgrimage." I turned to her sharply, instinctively pulling my hand back to strike. This must have scared her as she fell backwards to the ground and threw her hands up in defense. I looked down at her and then at my raised hand. I dropped it quickly and sat down by her.
"My God is this what I've become?" I set my head in my hands, but I did not cry. Before I knew what was happening I felt her wrap her small arms around me.
"Shhhh…..It's okay. It's okay."
We sat there for what seemed an eternity. I felt so weak it was unsettling. I wanted to cry in her arms, but then, I also wanted to strike her for putting me in this condition. Yevon, is this what it's always going to be like?
***
I couldn't believe what was happening. Here I was, a lowly Al Bhed thief, holding a 34 year old legendary guardian in my lap. Does that strike anyone else as creepy? Because it is TOTALLY freaking me out. I mean, seriously. Yunie told me that Auron kept to himself; that he was a stoic and didn't like people to get too close. If that's the case, what in Yevon's name is going on?
You know what's even weirder?
I think I may be getting a crush on him.
Me.
I may have a CRUSH on AURON.
That's it. Somebody slap me. This is just too wrong.
***
Okay, chapter ten ish done. I know you've been waiting for it! ^.~ And, peops, I just thought I'd tell ya that if you wanna chat with me, I have MSN messenger under the e-mail in my profile, and I can usually be found on the sailormoon.com chat as sailor_mars_meilan. Later!