Disclaimer: Auron owns me. Therefore, Squaresoft owns me, not the other way about. Damn it.

A/N: Ok, the stories of Lesca and Auron split here seeing as they are no longer together. Just a warning…

Can't sleep in the city, you're far away…

Ash - Sometimes

White. All she could see was chalky, the occasional splash of greens and yellows breaking the monotony of the blinding white. Her eyes widened as the acrid smell hit her nose again and she drew breath deeply, hoping to quell the bile rising in her throat. It was to no avail, the nausea washed over her once more and she retched painfully, her throat burning from the caustic liquid. She released her vice like grip from the side of the toilet, resting her throbbing head against the cool porcelain as she felt the sickness dissipate.

She opened one eye groggily to see a frightened Yuna standing over her, pale faced with fear. She sighed and tried to grin. White! Everything's too white! Her face, the damn toilet

"Hey Yunie, whatcha doing up so early? It's not time for school, go back to bed." Her throat rasped agonisingly.

"What's wrong with you? Why're you so ill?" Yuna was worried. She had watched her sister grow gradually weaker since her father had left little over a month ago. It scared her.

Lesca smiled weakly, "There's a stomach bug going round, go back to bed before I pass it onto you Yu…"

The smile turned to anguish as she heaved the yellow liquid. Yuna sat the rest of the night with her sister, holding the vomit stained locks back from the older girls face and rubbing her back with small hands infused with infinite tenderness. Lesca was never sick, but she had looked after the girl enough that Yuna knew how to comfort her. When Lesca fell into a fatigue induced slumber the little girl padded over to her room, bringing her blanket back to wrap around them both. She huddled next to the prone figure, falling asleep with her sister's arm lying over her heavily.

~*~*~

Lesca felt the now familiar queasiness and groaned, stretching her knotted muscles as she moved to retch quietly into the toilet. She shook her head, noticing an exhausted Yuna under her arm.

"Poor kid." She muttered.

She bundled the sleeping child into her arms and laid her in bed, hastily scribbling a note before she left the room.

Yunie,

Don't worry about getting up, I'll go tell your teacher you're not coming in. Thanks for looking after me last night; I'm sorry if I scared you. I'm going to the healers, be back soon, promise.

Love,

Lesca x

P.S. No boys!

She smiled as she stuck it on her sister's headboard, knowing that at the moment boy's were diseases as far as her sister was concerned. She showered and brushed her teeth, feeling glad to be rid of the acidic taste in her mouth for a while at least. After she dressed, she padded bare foot into her father's room, sitting on the bed heavily. Everything reminded her of the impending loss she was to suffer; the room was infused with his scent. She picked up one of his jumpers, a fond reminder from the days when his mind was preoccupied with his family rather than vengeance, and rubbed the soft wool against her cheek. Folding it carefully, she replaced it in a drawer, Auron's words from little more than a month past haunting her. I will endeavour to find a way to save your father…

"If anyone can, it's you. I pray you all come home safe." She murmured, unaware she was speaking aloud.

She left the house, walking the short distance to Yuna's school gingerly, afraid to reawaken the sickness inside of her. She leaned heavily on the railing leading up to the entrance, catching sight of her carrion like complexion in the polished metal. Her face had a definite green tinge. I look like shit. Great.

Instead of heading directly to Yuna's classroom, she stopped into the washroom and splashed cool water on her face, trying to look at least semi fit to care for the younger girl. Satisfied, she pasted a smile on her face at the entrance to the classroom and knocked. A short, plump woman answered the door.

"Yes?" The woman barked. Lesca tried not to look phased.

"I'm Yuna's sister. She won't be coming in today, she's ill."

The woman closed the door behind her softly. "Ah, yes. The infamous Lesca. I can't say I'm not glad your sister is nothing like what I've heard about you."

Lesca smiled weakly, "Yeah, well. She's a good kid. I was just a little…wilder."

The woman raised an eyebrow; "I believe that is an understatement. Setting the substitute teachers hair on fire because he gave you detention ring any bells?"

Lesca crossed her arms, wincing as she felt the bile rise in her throat. "What is this? I'm a black mage, ok? I couldn't control my magic back then, I didn't mean it. I was just a kid."

"You're nothing but a snivelling coward who runs from her problems, just like your father."

"What did you say?" Lesca's eyes flashed, her fingertips tingled with barely contained magic.

"You heard. We all know about Braska, the man who abandoned his children because he couldn't live without his dead heathen wife." The woman's face contorted into an ugly sneer.

"What the hell is your problem? Take that back!"

"No. The Al Bhed and their machina have no place in this world, you're half Al Bhed, and your father married one. You and your kind deserve no better."

Lesca shook with rage, "And what of Yuna?"

"What of her? That child is a true Yevonite; we have no need to fear her. We know you cherish your Al Bhed heritage, go back to the other heathens."

Lesca shook her head, her soft voice betraying her rage, "How dare you. My father is a summoner! He fights in the name of Yevon to vanquish Sin! If that is not true devotion to a false God then I don't know what is! Yes, I embrace the Al Bhed, they are family and I love them. At least they aren't backstabbing bloodsuckers like you damn Yevonite's! If you ever, ever insult my family again…I'll kill you."

She turned on her heel and made to leave, a taunting voice rooted her to the spot.

"It was a blessing of Yevon that your mother died. I hope you and your father go the same way, and soon. Let that poor child grow in peace."

Lesca walked away, a smirk on her face as she snapped her fingers. A satisfying scream could be heard echoing throughout the halls of the school as the teacher tried to douse the flames licking at her scalp. So I lied…No one ever gave me detention again.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Auron sat in front of the sphere nervously. Checking that Jecht and Braska were at a safe distance, he turned the contraption on. He pulled at his breastplate, feeling broiled in the tropical heat of Besaid. Clearing his throat, he addressed the sphere.

"Hello Lesca. I hope you are well." The formality waned a little and genuine emotion began to show through.

"Lesca, how I miss you! The minutes are an eternity without you by my side to make them fly. I hope everything runs smoothly in Bevelle…Lord Braska has just prayed to the Fayth in Besaid, he has obtained a mighty aeon named Valefor.

He wishes us to come here after the pilgrimage; you would love it here, Lesca. Remember the beaches you said you would love to see again? They are even more beautiful here than you described. The sand is unsullied white, the ocean a sapphire blue." He looked off into the distance before remembering his task.

"It is better than Bevelle on all accounts, there seems to be no hate here. There are children here about Yuna's age, I could join the crusaders…" He sighed.

"Maybe it is just a dream, but it is a dream I want to live with you. I count the minutes, my love, I miss you so…"

A gruff voice interrupted him and a bearded face engulfed his recording, "Come on Auron! We gotta get going, the boat to Kilika leaves soon."

Auron grunted in annoyance, "Two minutes Jecht."

Jecht grinned, leaving Auron alone once more. He turned to the recording, looking at the

Sphere tenderly.

"I will return as soon as I can Lesca. I love you."

He reached over and turned off the tiny device. Walking toward the ship, the youth spotted the small stall he had been told about on the shoreline. Auron handed the sphere to the Al Bhed Braska had introduced as Rin.

"You are sure she will get it? Her name is Lesca, daughter of Lord Braska."

"Of course I am sure Sir Auron, we Al Bhed never betray our word. I travel to Bevelle tonight; she will receive it in a few days. I will be in Djose soon, if she has anything to return and you are there I will gladly relay her message…for a price."

"Ever the trader, Rin."

"Of course, Sir Auron. We have to build Home." His eyes if not his calm voice betrayed Rin's excitement at the prospect of the union of the Al Bhed.

"You will be rewarded handsomely."

Rin caught a glimpse of the band on Auron's finger as he turned to the ship; "You are married to the summoner's daughter?"

Auron narrowed his eyes suspiciously, "I am…what of it?"

Rin shook his head, "Nothing, it is wonderful that love can blossom in the midst of such hate. The Al Bhed smile upon your union, Cid will be pleased."

The strange Al Bhed man walked off, leaving Auron to puzzle over what had just happened. He didn't puzzle long, as Jecht dragged him up the gangplank onto the ship.

"Jeez, Auron! Anyone would think you don't want Braska to defeat Sin!"

I don't.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Lesca?"

She stood sheepishly, discarding the bucket she had been given to stop her running to the toilet every few minutes.

"Um, I'm Lesca." She grinned nervously as she was lead through to the healer's room. The elderly Al Bhed man welcomed the young woman with open arms, his green eyes smiling at her warmly as she entered.

"Lesca, it is good to see you! I'm glad on your behalf it hasn't been sooner, child! Why, I remember when I brought you and little Yuna into this world, kicking and screaming you were…" He laughed softly at his memories, stopping only when he realised Lesca was turning greener by the second.

"My goodness, you're as green as your eyes! Lie down and let's see what the problem is, eh?"

She nodded and sank into the bed gratefully, wincing as he rubbed lotions and ointments into her skin. The smell's, however pleasant, started the nausea bubbling up inside of her and she jumped off of the raised bed, only just making it to the sink. She took a deep breath, rinsing her face and mouth of the vomit before facing the gentle eyes of the healer.

He scanned her quickly, finding that which he was looking for quickly. Years of experience had taught him well. Thank goodness. If there had been no union, her uncle would have killed the one responsible.

"Lesca, sit down my dear. Tell me, has anything interesting happened to you of late?" He trod carefully, choosing his words wisely.

"Yeah, my damn fool father went off to get himself killed by Sin. I set a stupid woman's hair on fire." He watched the mutterings with despair. Perhaps I was wrong?

His heart lifted when he saw her face brighten, her voice take on the familiar energy again. "I met someone. We…were wed last month at the temple. His name's Auron, he was a Warrior Monk. You'd never know it!" She looked at him earnestly before continuing.

"He's a good man, kind and gentle. He was asked to marry the Maester's daughter, but he refused so they threw him out of the order. I swear, vneaht, it must have been fate for us to meet!

I followed my mother's path to the letter, we met, we wooed, and we were married days later, just like her and dad. He left the day after our wedding to guard my father on his pilgrimage. The hope of seeing him is what keeps my heart beating; there has been so much sorrow recently that if it were not for him my heart would have stilled."

"I am happy for you Lesca, and so will Cid be. That his favourite niece will be cared for after her father is gone…that will comfort him greatly."

She hung her head, "I miss Cid and Rikku and the others, but more than anything I want vydran and Auron home."

"Your love will return to you, Lesca. Worry not. Now, how long have you been poorly?"

She frowned, "Just after Auron left. I thought it was because I was upset but when it wouldn't go away after I picked up where I left off…"

The old man grinned, "This ailment doesn't go away Lesca. Your mother had it too."

Her eyes widened in horror, "What? What's wrong? How can I get better?"

The kindly Al Bhed hugged her, whispering in her ear, "You're with child."

Lesca laughed hoarsely while the man watched on in confusion.

You aren't done testing me yet, are you? Fortune, you are a fickle mistress…

Translations:

Friend

Father

A/N: Bear with me on this ok? It'll be an interesting little plot device, you'll see! Mwah hahaha!