The New Pilgrimage

Author's Note: Wow.. took me a million years to update.. Gomen nasai, gomen nasai!! * apologizes Yuna style * Well.. we're in Guadosalam now, right? Right!! Time passes by when you're writing.. my gosh.. Umm.. reviews.. NOT FLAMES.. will certainly inspire me.. I NEED MORE REVIEWS!! REVIEWS!!

FLAMES ARE DULY ACCEPTED AT MY E-MAIL ADDRESS.. THANK YOU.

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The New Pilgrimage Chapter VI: The Farplane

Aya sighed in relief as they exited the thunder plains. "No more of those tysh Iron Giants! Yes!!" She paused for a second and thought and continued, "No more thunder striking at every second! No more fiend ambushes!! No more rain!! But sad to say.." she looked at Auron. "No more weird acting Auron.."

Auron scowled. "Why do you people like that so much? It's disturbing and gets me insecure.." Without his emotional walls just a few hours ago, he felt defenseless.

"I'd say you become a nutter when you have injuries, ya? I just realized that when Rin's son healed the guy with Al Bhed potions, he suddenly became grouchy again.." said Datty.

Bivelle giggled, "You're right about that, Datty.."

Auron scowled even more. "Hmph.. so you're all against me now, huh?"

"Let's just say I like it better when you laugh.. I wish you'd do that more often.." Bivelle replied.

"I wish we recorded that in a sphere!! Oh my! How stupid of me!! We should've recorded!!" Aya said, full of regret.

"Yeah!! Why didn't I think of that?!" Datty agreed with her.

Auron sighed and said, "Now you're getting on my nerves.. stop it.. NOW." He had a threatening tone in his voice. He then continued on towards Guadosalam.

"He's more grouchy than ever.. is it because of this Guadosalam?" Aya asked.

"I don't know.. he's never shared anything about Guadosalam.. but he's been here.. and maybe.. he didn't like his visit." Bivelle guessed.

"Who knows.. the guy's mysterious.." Datty said.

Auron closed his eyes and frowned. He just remembered his old visit here. He didn't like it too much.. He traveled for hmm.. a few weeks when he was a child towards here just to see his father and when he got in the Farplane, he just yelled at a non-moving image of his father, crying at the same time, with all the people there staring at him and whispering, "Sir Auron has a son? I didn't know!".

He sighed and decided not to reminisce anymore because it only made him feel worse. He suddenly turned around with panic when he felt someone touch his shoulder. He calmed down when he realized it was just Bivelle. "Bivelle! Don't you go scaring me like that!!" He said in a half-angry tone.

"I'm sorry, Auron. It's just that, I'm worried about you.. and you're my best friend. I want to know what's wrong." Bivelle asked.

"No, there's nothing wrong.." Auron answered quickly. "Now, we must hurry if you want to visit someone in the Farplane.."

"I would like to see my grandfathers.." Bivelle told him. After she said this, she heard a familiar voice.

"Visiting the Farplane, I see?" A blonde haired teen came from the exit of the Guadosalam, going towards them.

At this sudden moment, Bivelle's face turned red and Auron narrowed his eyes. "Barthello.." both of them said, the other one dreamily, the other one stone cold.

"Yes, good afternoon. We will not see anyone in the Farplane, Bivelle.. we will just rest in the inn.." said Barthello.

"Oh, I see.. well.. umm.. uhh.." Bivelle said, quite speechless.

"I will wait for you, Bivelle.. Let us have a.. good chat later. I will see you in the inn.. so long.." said Barthello as he and his guardians proceeded to the inn.

Auron narrowed his eyes as narrow as it could be. He felt like punching the blonde haired guy right now but didn't know why he wanted to.. He just knew he wanted to punch Barthello and that was a good reason.. for him that is. (You remember Tidus' face when Seymour was about to kiss Yuna? Yeah, that's Auron's face right now..) He clenched his fist and glared daggers at Barthello's back.. though he didn't know why he felt that way.

"Say, Auron, you okay?" asked Datty.

"Huh what? Uh yeah.." he said, quite disoriented. He asked himself why Barthello made him steaming mad.. and he didn't know why but he just looked at Bivelle with a look of worry.

"Aurie's acting real weird lately.." whispered Aya to Datty.

"So you've noticed too.. heh.. he acts like that when your cousin's around, you know.. Do you think Bivelle has something to do with it?" Datty whispered back.

"I have the greatest suspicion, Datty.. I have the greatest suspicion that Auron just might be falli-" she didn't continue when she realized Auron was frowning at them. "Might be falling down a.. a bumpy road!! Ahahahaha.. ha.."

Auron looked at Aya with confusion. 'Falling down a bumpy road?' thought he. Or was it.. falling inlo- He stopped and shook his head to clear the thought that suddenly ran through his mind. He can't be!! Or.. can he? He looked at Bivelle and thought for a moment. For a moment, she looked more beautiful than ever.

Oh, how he wanted to scream and get these thoughts out of his head. Oh, how he wanted to bang his head on the nearest wall so that he can forget about this certain feeling in his chest. But that'd make the others suspect about him.. so he resorted to being calm and umm.. clear-minded.. yes that was it. 'Calm and clear-minded..' Auron thought.

"Are you okay, Auron? Yo-you seem to be umm.. red?" This time it was Bivelle who was asking.

Auron just realized he was blushing like mad and kicked himself mentally. He cleared his throat and tried to hide his reddening cheeks from Bivelle. "Yes, I'm fine.."

Datty and Aya smiled at each other as a signal they both figured out what was bothering their fellow guardian lately. They decided not to rub it in for they fear Auron's wrath.

"Well then, if nothing's wrong, let's continue towards the Farplane!" Bivelle said enthusiastically.

Auron had the hint of a smile on his face as he followed Bivelle towards the Farplane.

"I'm going to see my grandfathers at last! Or maybe even my dad!" she said happily.

Auron said nothing more and frowned.. When they reached the steps of the Farplane, Auron stopped mid-way.

"Hey, aren't you going in, brudda?" Datty asked.

"I-I don't want to.." he replied.

"Brudda, I thought you wanted to see your dad, ya?"

Auron just sighed.

"C'mon Aurie!! Or.. unless you're scared.. we won't force you.." Aya told him.

"I am not scared." Auron told her firmly.

"Well, go in, then!!" said Aya.

"Hmph. Fine."

"You really don't have to go in if you don't want to, Auron.." said Bivelle.

"No I will." Said Auron finally.

They passed through the barrier and entered the world of the dead.. (oooooohhhh. spooky..) Aya "wowed" at the wonderful sight..

Each of them stood alone at an edge and thought about someone they loved.

Aya thought about her old Al Bhed best friend and told the image, "Hey, you know what.. I miss you very much, best pal!! You're alive.. you could be the maid-of-honor in my wedding.. but you're not right now.." She fell into tears as she told the image of her best friend her past experiences.

Datty called for his uncle Chappu. "Uncle.. dad always told me about you, ya? Blitz is my forte too, uncle.. And I wanna be as good as you.. and when we finish this pilgrimage.. I'm gonna blitz!!" He told his uncle proudly.

Bivelle called upon her two grandfathers and her father. "Umm.. I finally get to see you.. I've longed for this moment for such a long time.. If only you could hear me now.. I'd be happy.. because.. I don't know if I could do as well as my mother did.. If I'm going to die by the end of this pilgrimage.. I don't know what'll happen to my friends, my mother, Aya, Datty, Barthello and.. Auron.." She stopped and let a tear drop down her cheek. 'If only I was as strong-willed as all of you.. I don't know what to do.."

Auron on the other hand, tried his best on not thinking about his old man. But, anyway.. he couldn't resist. As the image of his father arrived he glared at it. "This is pointless.. trying to talk to you when you couldn't even respond to me.. or even hear me.." He shook his head. "If you were alive, I'd want to ask you about a million things.. but thanks to you, my questions are left unanswered. I just want to know right now.. how you felt when you were with mother.." He thought about his mother but no image came. But realization didn't hit him yet.. he was too busy thinking about his feelings.

He looked at Bivelle, crying as she talked to an image, an illusion of his relatives. "I don't know what to say.. but this girl.. she makes me feel in a.." He paused and continued, "different kind of way.." He paused once again, his face reddening with each word he says. "I just don't know what it is.. is it the feeling they call lo-" He shook his head again and said, "I am guardian and I must fulfill my duty as one.. nothing else.."

He took a few moments to look at his father. "You'll never be alive anyway.. Why am I hoping for answers from a ghostly image of you?" For other people, his father might be a hero, but for him, he was just a father who left him. He didn't loathe him.. he just felt.. alone.

"Hey, you finished talking with Sir Auron, ya? We're leaving." Said Datty.

"I just finished and it was.. pathetic of me to try and talk to some illusion." He replied, frowning, to hide his still red face.

"Well, didn't that make you feel a little bit better? You letting go of all your problems at an image. It's refreshing." Said Bivelle.

"No.. in fact, it made me feel worse.. because I came upon one realization.." he stopped and sighed and said nothing more.

"What?" His three companions asked in unison.

He frowned at them and said, "That's none of your business.."

"Remember that people.. Aurie's hiding something from us!!" said Aya.

"I thought we were about to leave? Why are we still standing at the same place? There is absolutely no time to waste. Let's go." Said Auron grumpily as he led the group outside the Farplane.

"Do you have an idea of what he's hiding from us?" Aya asked her other two companions.

"I don't know.. Auron deserves some privacy, guys." Said Bivelle.

"Naaah.. he wouldn't notice.." said Datty.

"But I still think what we're doing is not right.. Auron.. needs some privacy, right?" Bivelle insisted on doing right.

"But I know you want to know what's been bothering him, right? You've been asking him for a very long time." Aya told her.

"Well, maybe you're right.. but.. but.. oh whatever.. I want to know but I still think it's not right. If Auron finds out I'm not in this one.. you two are the ones who started it." Said Bivelle.

"Oh fine.. at least we know his secret." Datty told her.

"So.. uhh.. what do you think? His secret is what?" Bivelle asked them.

Datty and Aya looked at each other nervously. Auron wouldn't like it if Bivelle knew his secret. So Aya said, "I actually.. have no idea.. cunno (sorry), Bivelle."

"Oh, it's okay.. That's better because at least we can give Auron some privacy, right?" Bivelle said with relief.

Aya and Datty looked at each other once again nervously. Bivelle could be so innocent sometimes.. I mean most of the times..

"Oh my Gosh!!" Bivelle said. "I have to meet Barthello in the inn!!"

Auron stopped on his tracks when he heard the name he loathed so much. He turned around and saw and heard that they were talking about Barthello again. He glared at them all and started to walk away.

"Hey Aurie!! Wait for us!!!" Aya said.

"Hey, Auron!! Don't get mad!!!" Datty said as he went to the guy. Aya followed him.

"Auron? Mad?? But why?" Bivelle asked herself. "Auron!" she cried out.

Auron stopped on his tracks once again as he heard his summoner's voice. He turned around and saw Bivelle nearly in tears. His expression softened and he asked in a worried tone. "Bivelle, what's wrong?"

"You're the one I should ask, Auron! You always change your moods.. and it doesn't even matter to you when I'm worried.. you always try to shake me away!! Why can't you just tell me what's wrong? I thought you were my friend.. but you're keeping something from me.. Don't you see I'm worried about you? You are so insensitive!!" Bivelle said, in tears now. "Don't you ever appreciate the fact that we're trying to help you? You're so selfish.. I HATE YOU!" She ran past Datty and Aya and then through Auron.

"Yeah, Auron.. why can't you just tell her the truth? I thought you.. you loved her.." Aya told him in a disappointed tone.

"Auron.. you shouldn't let her be like that.. she's really sensitive.. but.. but I know what she told you was not true.. She's, she's just confused.. she just doesn't know how you really feel.." Datty added.

Auron then asked them, "What are you two trying to put up? That I'm in love with her or something? Well.. well.. you're.. you're.." He stopped and didn't continue for what he knew was he was about to say.. '..you're absolutely right.'

"Aurie.. if you're mad at her.. please don't be.. she's confused like Datty said.. Please understand.." Aya patted Auron's shoulder.

"I'm not mad at her.. Besides, she's got every right in the world to get mad at me.. Now that I know her feelings about me.. I might as well give up on her before I truly fall for her.." Auron confessed. "Barthello's got every right for her now. I have no right to be jealous of him.."

"So you really are.. in love with Bivie?" Aya asked, shocked about Auron's confession.

"I guess I am or was.. I'm just going to have to stop this foolishness right now and just do my job and not anything else.. because she doesn't seem to appreciate anything I try to do." Auron said, walking away.

Datty can't help but look at his fellow guardian with sympathy. Aya sighed and said in a sad tone, "The guy's heart-broken.."

"Yeah, I guess he is.. Let's go check up on Bivelle." Datty said.

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Bivelle cried and cried on Barthello's lap. "I shouldn't have said all those mean things to Auron.. I didn't mean to say those things.. Why am I so foolish?" She told him.

"Don't cry anymore, Bivelle. It'll be fine."

"And I even told him I hated him.. it must've been truly painful.."

"Bivelle, forget about that matter right now.. I have got something important to tell you.." Barthello hushed the crying girl.

"I feel so guilty.. I want to apologize to him.. I can't leave it this way! I just can't.."

"Bivelle.."

"I even told him he was selfish and insensitive.. but the truth is.. he really isn't.. Why am I acting like this towards him?"

"Bivelle.. you must've been confused.. Sir Auron will understand that.. May I ask just why you said those things to him?"

"Well.. I remembered you wanted to talk to me.. and suddenly he started to act strange again.. he glared at me for having said something that bothered him and that's what I'd like to know.."

"I can sense something here.. but I can't quite get it.. Well.. as for that.. I know you'll settle things with him.. after all.. he's your best friend, right?"

"I guess you're right.." Bivelle smiled and wiped away the tears in her eyes. "What did you want to talk about?"

"What do you think about me, Bivelle?" asked Barthello.

Bivelle reddened and said, "Well, you're a great guy and.. and you're nice to me.."

"Bivelle.. do you have feelings for Auron?"

"What?" Bivelle reddened some more. She certainly didn't think about that.. well she had when they were children.. she wasn't sure now. "N-none.. I think.." She paused for a while and asked, "Why?"

"Because.. I don't want anyone interfering.."

"Interfering with what?"

"Interfering with my feelings for you.." He said quietly and placed his lips on hers.

Bivelle's eyes went wide with shock as Barthello kissed her on the lips. Her whole face reddened and she started to respond to his kiss. And after a while, Barthello pulled away. "B-Barthello.."

"Bivelle.. I've been in love with you ever since I set my eyes on you.. I love you Bivelle.."

Bivelle gulped and responded with an "I love you too.. ever since we were children I've had a crush on you but only now did my dreams come true.."

Barthello hugged her tightly and said, "That's all I wanted to say.. and may you take this with you.." He gave her a small blue box. He smiled at her and said, "If you wish to open it, you may."

Bivelle smiled widely and opened the box excitedly like a child wanting to open her Christmas presents. "Wow.." She said when she stared into a beautiful shiny pair of silver earrings. "They're beautiful, Barthello.. Thank you so much.."

"You're welcome, Bivelle." He said as he gave her a quick peck on the cheek. "Till we meet again, Bivelle.."

"Good bye.." She sat on the bed as she stared at the present some more. She suddenly asked herself, 'Am I really in love with him? I'm not even sure..' But still, she smiled a contented smile and walked out the door and bumped into Datty and Aya.

"Bivelle! We just saw Barthellie, smiling like some lunatic! What did he tell you?" asked Aya.

"He told me.. he loved me.." Bivelle replied with a contented smile. 'And he gave these to me.." She showed them the earrings.

"H-he loves you?" Aya asked, shocked. She looked at Datty worriedly and Datty fully understood.

"Yes.. aren't you happy? I can't believe this thing started as a mere crush.." she replied again.

"Well.. yeah.. we're absolutely happy for you!" Aya said. 'But extremely sad for Aurie.. Poor guy.. he's gonna be devastated..'

"I better check up on him.." Datty said quietly and walked away toward the bar.

"Check up on whom?" Bivelle asked.

"No one in particular. Come on Bivelle! Let's practice some more Al Bhed!" Said Aya.

"Sure!!"

~*~*~*~

Datty walked towards the bar and opened the door, revealing an Auron drinking his third bottle of sake. "Hey, Auron.. you shouldn't be getting drunk. Bivelle's gonna get worried." Datty said, grabbing the bottle from him. "And besides, you're still underage!!"

"Bah! What do you care.. you.. you.. Bivelle ain't gonna get worried she's there sharing some intimate moments with Barthello.." Auron said, his cheeks flushed and he was quite irritated. "And so what if I'm underage? This Guado don't care!! You don't care either!! Now go away and leave me be!"

Datty sighed. "Auron.. I don't want to be the harbinger of bad news but.. Barthello just confessed to.. Bivelle. He beat you to it, man."

"And so what? I'm not in love with her.. she hates me and I understand.. well.. maybe I don't.. whatever.. but I don't care if they go away and get married!"

"Auron, you stop lying."

"I'm not! All I want to do is drown myself in sake.. anything wrong with that?"

"Of course there is.. you'll have a hell of a hangover tomorrow if you don't stop now."

"Well.. that will happen tomorrow not now, so mind your own business." He shoved his hand away when he tried to grab the bottle of sake from him again.

"Well.. fine.. but don't come running to me tomorrow once you've got yourself one helluva headache." Datty walked away and left Auron alone as he had requested.

"I don't run for help to anybody." Said Auron as he stood up and went after Datty.

"Whatever you say.." Datty told him.

"I didn't want to feel like this towards her.. but I let myself fall for her.. and now.. look at me.. I'm a failure.." Auron said, his voice full of regret. "It was such a mistake.."

"No.. falling in love is not a mistake.. it's natural for all the people in the world." Datty comforted his friend.

"I guess.. you're right.." He said and fell unconscious on Datty's arms.

"Hmm.. you better have a rest now, brudda.. cause tomorrow, you won't like your day." He said as he carried him towards the inn and laid him on the bed.

Aya asked him, "What happened?"

"Got too much liquor.. God.. the guy's worse than I thought.. He-he's so.. heart-broken.." Datty replied.

"I'm so sad for him.. but we can't do anything about it, right?" Aya asked.

"Maybe not.. or maybe we can.." Datty said.

Aya smiled. "What's your plan? Even though Barthellie's my cousin.. I'm much closer to Aurie and I'll support him!"

Datty and Aya smiled at each other and talked about their plan.

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Chapter VI is done!! Yessss!!!!! Please read and review!!!!!