Looky! FFnet works again!

There are two endings to this story. You are reading one. The other will be posted on rpclassics (look on my profile for the address)

The two are different, and the second will only appear on that site. Find and read them both. ^_^

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Darkness Falls

Chapter 28: One Last Kiss

Rikku and Auron stared as Yuna twirled around on the roof of the old stadium, dress and ribbons whirling in the air as she performed the final sending Spira would see for a long time.

"Is it over?" she asked, barely daring to believe it.

"It's over," Auron replied softly. He felt Rikku's hand grip his tighter and his heart was almost torn in two.

"What now?" she asked.

Now? You go back to your life. I have nothing to keep me here any longer, except you… "I don't know," he whispered.

Rikku looked up at him. "Are you OK?" she asked, concern in her voice. "You seem a little sad."

Auron lied. "Jecht was a good friend, I regret his death." I should have told you earlier, but I was a coward, and I don't dare.

Rikku hugged him. "I understand. I miss my friends as well."

We have to go Auron.

Auron looked across at Wakka. "What?" he asked.

Wakka looked back and shrugged. "I didn't say anything," he said, puzzled.

Auron frowned, he could have sworn…

Auron, this isn't our place anymore, Jecht's voice whispered through his head.

"But I don't want to go," he whispered to the air fiercely.

"Sir Auron, we have to, we can't be here when Sin is sent," Yuna said.

Auron looked at her and realised that he had spoken the last few words aloud, and the others were moving towards a blue cloud of light at the opposite end of the platform. He looked back at Yuna. "I apologise, my mind was drifting," he said, and walked slowly towards the 'exit', Rikku gripping his hand.

They moved through Sin silently, mesmerised as fiends that had once attacked them from miles away just sat and turned to brightly coloured dust before them. Soon it was as if they were walking amongst some kind of moving and swirling rainbow, the pyreflies floating away to the Farplane, carrying the souls of those killed by Sin as they were finally freed from it's thrall.

"What's wrong?" she asked, as they walked through the maze of mist and lights.

Auron looked down at the look of worry on her face. She knows something is wrong.

How do I explain?

You'll have to sooner or later.

But what if…

It's too late to change anything. The last thing she deserves is to see you leave suddenly, without any warning.

"Rikku?" Auron began.

"Yes?" Rikku asked quickly.

"There's something I need to tell you," he said quietly.

Suddenly Rikku looked ahead and smiled. Auron turned and saw the familiar sight of the airship ahead of them. She smiled at him and ran towards the airship. She turned back and laughed. "Tell me when we're out of this place!" she shouted, and ran onto the ship.

Auron sighed and followed. This was not getting any easier.

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They looked around, shielding their eyes from the glare of the lights, as around them the Aeons dissolved into dust. Rikku wiped tears from her eyes as creatures she remembered fondly helping them in battle and protecting them from their enemies disintegrated in some kind of obscene fireworks show. Although she wasn't too sad to see Shiva go, that woman had always given her the creeps, and Ifrit seemed to be staring at her, roaring, and then they both went, to wherever it is Aeons go to… die? She looked across at Auron.

She looks so happy, what am I supposed to tell her?

The truth.

"What is it you want to tell me?" she asked cheerily. "Auron?" she asked.

Auron just stared at her, not speaking. I can't do it.

"Auron, what is it?" she asked.

Tidus looked at Auron. "We should go," he whispered.

Rikku whirled on him. "Go where?" she asked, puzzled.

Tidus' eyes widened. "You didn't tell her?" he asked. Then he slapped his hand over his mouth. Oops.

"Tell me what?" Rikku asked Auron, panic in her voice, as Yuna danced on.

"Rikku, I-"

"Auron, what's going on?" she asked.

"Rikku, there's something I need to tell you," he said.

"What?" she asked, walking up to him.

Yuna finished her dance, and turned to look behind her. She saw the team talking, and the others looking on, wondering what was happening, and Tidus watching Auron, unsmiling.

She saw Rikku's eyes widen, and the girl turned to look at Tidus, saying something to him. Rikku turned back to Auron, tears in her eyes, and shout something at him. She had a pretty good idea what. The others looked shocked, and Rikku fell to her knees in front of Auron, and started weeping.

"How could you?" she whispered.

Auron knelt down next to her. "I'm sorry," he said. He didn't know what else to say.

Rikku looked up at him. "Let me go with you," she pleaded.

Auron took off his glasses, and for the first time anyone else had seen, he looked at her directly. "Rikku, you have a life here," he said. He took hold of her face and lifted it so their eyes met, wiping the tears from her eyes. "You have all your life ahead of you, you can't leave now.

"But I want to be with you," she said.

"Rikku…"

"No! Auron, you're not going!" she whispered through sobs.

"Rikku, I have to."

"Why? Give me one good reason to leave!" she screamed at him. "You've got at least one good one to stay here!"

"Auron, we have to go now," Tidus whispered. He looked across at Yuna, who was staring back with much the same expression as Rikku. He cringed. At least she had some warning. Rikku had nothing.

"You can't just go! Not now, not after everything!" Rikku shouted, getting up and backing away from Auron.

"I'm sorry," Auron whispered. He began to glow with an inner light, and pyreflies came out of his body. "I can't stay any more."

"Don't leave me like this," she begged.

Auron took one last look at Rikku and turned, closing his eyes. He felt his body weaken, and he felt the now-irresistible tug of the Farplane, and peace.

Suddenly a hand grabbed his shoulder, and he was turned on the spot. Rikku clasped her arms around his waist and kissed him, tears streaming from her eyes. Auron kissed back, wrapping his arms around her, and not letting go.

She disengaged her lips from his for a second. "E muja oui," she whispered softly.

"I love you too," Auron whispered, and pressed his lips back against hers, praying this moment could last forever.

Rikku opened her eyes when Auron's grip suddenly weakened, and she watched as his body suddenly became transparent, and then there was a bright flash of light, and she got one last look at his face before he disappeared, and then all she was holding in her arms were pyreflies heading for the Farplane. She fell to her knees and stared at them as they flew into the sky.

"One day I'll follow you," she whispered to the sky through her tears. "One day…" Why did he have to go? she wondered.

Rikku hardly saw the conversation between Tidus and Yuna, and was only vaguely aware that he had also left. She knew that later the event would come back with full force and demand her attention, but right now she couldn't think about anyone else but him.

The airship began to turn slowly, and began the long flight back to Bevelle, considerably lighter then when they had arrived at the beast.

She felt a hand on her shoulder, and turned to see Yuna smiling softly at her.

"Auron would have wanted to tell you," she said. "He just didn't want to hurt you."

"Nice try," Rikku spat.

"Rikku, he wouldn't want you to spend your life wasting away for him."

"I don't want to live if he isn't here with me," she replied.

"Rikku, if you try and hang onto something, it only slips away faster," Yuna whispered, voice wavering.

Rikku turned to Yuna and smiled when she saw the look on her face. "You look like cred," she whispered.

"I'll assume that isn't good," Yuna said.

Rikku smiled, and then hugged her cousin, crying into her shoulder softly, as Yuna did the same into hers, as they both wept for lost dreams.

Rikku pulled back and stared at Yuna. "Thanks," she whispered.

"You too," the summoner – now ex-summoner – replied.

They turned to look out at the sky as the clouds whipped by beneath then. Rikku took one look back at the cloud of dissipating lights that were the only remaining presence of Sin, the aeons, and her love.

One day, Auron.

She smiled and turned back, seeing the look on the others faces, and knowing what they were thinking; we beat it. She smiled, and said a silent prayer to the cloud of pyreflies as they vanished into the night.

But not yet.

Not yet.

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And that is it.

Before you ask, there is not a direct sequel to this fic, as it runs into my pet universe. A semi-sequel is already out, Echoes of the Past, but it is itself a sequel to Diamond Dust, and so carries on from that. Echoes is then the sequel to both fics. Go read it. ^_-

Thanks to:

Shabaman, even though he insulted Rin once. Don't do I again.

Loki, Harbinger of Death, for helping convince me to keep this going.

An Anonymous Tipster, for the best profile ever, and still reading against better judgement.

Zellfire, for the reminder. ^_-

J.P. Clark, the only one to review chapter 1.

Ater Serpens, confirming my originality. Ahhh… that's better…

fsfa, for a good point.

Psychofoxx, for letting my keep within character boundaries.

Kayko and Amay, for support! Yay!

Blurry, same again. Thanks for the moral help!

unknown_person, for hating Seymour. That bastard.

Rinny Leonhart / Rikku, for staying with me!

M. Stygianstar, for some things I missed. Stupid author me…

PnkPanther9, for feeding my ego!

Vunujan, for going against the world. Lost, but got me thinking. Maybe next time…

Tikiru, making me hesitate. Very hard to do. Maybe Seyku lovers will get their wish.

Dragon Scales, go for the burn! Hehe…

Mana Angel, who put me in favs list! Hooray!

aurons-girl-18, informing me of ffnet's humongous screwup. Damn ffnet…

tuatha danaan, even though ffnet's screwups, still thought it was good.

Jewels 14, more ego-food. I need it. #_#

yunalesca78, stepping up to the plate of our insanity and slapping us in the face. You go!

Evrae Altana, confirming my collness for the day. I'm insecure, and need reassuring often…

Nano, dying, on a caffeine high no less. ^_^

a n g e l . w 1 n g, for loving Aurikkus. If I can convince one, then my job is complete.

CardMistress Sakura, being unable to wait. Well, you no longer have to.

Hana the Wreck, for putting me in fav authors! And admitting it! Yay!

Era Yachi, for resisting the temptations of sleep to read.

Starlight4u, for letting me know my humour worked

Guardian Storm Demon, grammer checking! All good? Woohoo!

Auron's Biggest Fan, for making an Aurikku site! Tell me the address when you do!

Kamela, for nearly crying at one point (maybe). I have that effect on people. ^_-

arcander, for confirming my cuteness credibility.

Tsuki no Tenshi, yet more grist to the mill of my ego. Keep it comin'

Vivi 26, for editing, talking, and his fic.

Artemis-chan, for making me sure I wasn't being very obvious in my surprises.

frodos girl, for loving Tonberries. Maybe a fic one day?

Rocker Baby, being better late than never eh?

Kate, showing my word-making-up skills to the world.

Ruki The Sake Fairy, losing a chunk of her life to this fic.

Corlan Windwatcher, for agreeing with another. I forgot about that bit…

Myeerah, also, better late than never. ^_-

Aqua Phoenix, for clapping!

Special Thanks to:

Rin, for being my Sorceress. Whatever I did to deserve you I must have forgotten it. Love you.

Refugee, for putting up with me and my crazy ideas for fics. Thanks bro ^_-

Alexia, for being here for me the longest, before anyone else. Love you too. *watches for falling sandbags*

Angelus, for the artwork I always forget about. Sorry girl. Kill me if you wish, I won't mind much.

Miss Black Dragon, for feedback, editing, someone to confide in. Loads basically.

Deathalleta, for sticking with this fic from the beginning, and not letting go.

Tears Of Stardust, for being willing to talk.

nakigoe-chan, for being the most consistently kind and sane person here (that includes you Rin) and helping me out in the face of my stupidity.