Disclaimer: Do I own final fantasy? Do I hell. Do I want to? Hell yeah.
A/N: Translations at the end!
I miss your warm skin beside me at night,
And I miss your flesh in the dawn light…
Ash – Sometimes
She paced the room frantically, her bare feet slapping noisily against the cooled tiled floor. Coagulated blood was caked on her lips from where she had chewed the skin away, the raw tissue showing through angrily. Her heart pounded within her chest, the panic gripping her chest growing with each passing moment. The roar of the celebrating crowds was tumultuous despite the closed windows, a vain attempt on her part to block out the cries of the rabble. She paused for a moment, willing the door to open, her husband to be in her arms once more. No matter how hard she wished, the door remained firmly closed. Lesca ran a hand over her still-taught stomach absently as she stared out of the window at the dancing lights of the city
Where are they?
She turned at the sound of a pair of smaller feet padding toward her, their owner rubbing her eyes sleepily.
"Lescy? Why you up, are you sick again?" The child yawned, her voice clogged with sleep.
"No, I'm just worried for Auron and the others. I thought they'd have been home by now."
"Daddy's coming home?" Yuna looked up at her hopefully.
Lesca sighed, shaking her head as she watched Yuna's face crumple. "No sweetie. Daddy's with Mommy at the Farplane. We'll go see them soon. You wanna go for a walk?"
Yuna nodded, sniffling. The older girl bent to her level and hugged her. "Come on then Yunie. Remember, no tears. Make him proud."
The sisters walked silently into the centre of Bevelle, away from the celebrating crowds. Yuna watched as her sister's face grew darker with each person who approached to congratulate her on Braska's heroism. Finally, they halted; unconsciously standing at the very place Lesca had watched her father perish. The two stared out over the Calm Lands, the battle site bathed in the silvery moonlight seeming hauntingly beautiful. So lost in their thoughts were they, the stealthy approach of the Ronso eluded their attention.
His voice rumbled lowly, the intrusion making the sister's jump in surprise. "Kimhari seek daughters of Braska."
Lesca scrutinised the blue mountain before deciding he could be trusted. "We're Braska's daughters. Can I help you in any way?"
The Ronso hesitated slightly, "You are Lesca?"
She raised an eyebrow. "I am. What of it?"
Kimhari nodded, satisfied. "Kimhari take Yuna to Besaid. Stubborn Lesca go with Yuna."
Lesca laughed, surprised by the Ronso's choice of words. "Stubborn, huh? Who asked you to come here, Kimhari?"
"Braska wish Yuna in Besaid."
Yuna began to weep softly, realising the simple statement meant her father was truly gone. She ran to her sister for comfort as Lesca looked at Kimhari in confusion.
"My father took a third Guardian?"
Kimhari shook his head, leaving Yuna to her grief as he pulled Lesca aside. The Ronso spoke softly, his eyes full of solicitude.
"Kimhari no Guardian. Kimhari met Auron outside Bevelle."
The Ronso felt his heart sink as Lesca's face lit up with unfettered joy. She let loose with a rash of questions, excitement taking her firmly in its grasp. "He's near Bevelle? Praise be to Yevon! Is he well? How long will he be?"
Kimhari shook his head sadly, the smile fading from Lesca's face, mystification taking residence in her eyes.
"Auron gone. Auron wish Lesca go with Yuna. Words of man facing death."
She shook her head a little, stumbling as she backed away from the news. Her eyes, wide in terror, darted unseeing in her state of shock.
"No…This can't be! He promised…"
Her legs buckled from under her and Kimhari caught her before she hit the concrete, supporting her until she regained use of her faculties. He looked on in distress as she hugged her knees to her chest, rocking slightly in a nugatory effort to still the agony that was her heart breaking. A claw lifted her chin up, forcing green eyes to meet feline yellow.
"Auron love Lesca. Auron sorry, not mean to hurt Lesca. Auron wish Auron stayed."
So do I! Damn you Auron! How do I go on?
She nodded, unable to digest the words of comfort. Her pain was still too fresh.
"I, my husband…I love him." She whispered, thankful for the heavy paw sitting on her shoulder. She was indebted to the numbness that was setting in. She didn't want to feel, not now.
Lesca strengthened her voice, calling out to her sister. "Yuna, go pack sweetie. You're going to Besaid."
Yuna looked up tearfully, running to embrace the last of her family unit. "Why? I wanna stay with you!"
Lesca returned the hug fiercely. "We'll be together soon Yunie. I just need to take care of some things first."
"Lesca stay here?"
She turned to the Ronso, nodding sombrely. "For the time being. Kimhari, please take Yuna to Besaid. Money is no problem."
Kimhari responded by offering his paw to the sniffling Yuna who accepted hesitantly. He bared his teeth in what Lesca correctly assumed to be a smile.
"No pay Kimhari. Kimhari go for Auron, go for Lesca. Kimhari honoured."
"Thank you, Kimhari. Yuna, be good. I'll follow you shortly."
The little girl nodded, gripping tightly to Kimhari as they set off. Lesca watched until they were safely out of sight before opening the to her torment. Her body shook with the effort of releasing the wrenching sobs, her suffering both physical and emotional. Her wedding ring glinted cruelly in the twilight, reminding her of what could have been. The familiar twinge of nausea returned to plague her and she groaned before remembering the reason for the sickness.
You left me a part of you. You left me hope. Though you can't be here, I'll make sure our hope shines brightly in your memory.
A dry sob escaped her, the losses she had suffered magnified tenfold by the death of her love and she railed against the fates.
Why did you have to leave? Haven't I suffered enough? If I thought I had endured hurt before I was wrong; this is torment to my very soul. I'll embrace death when it comes for me; I'll welcome it. Living is by far the greater torture. I'll always love you Auron, beyond eternity.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Auron groaned as he cracked open weary eyes. Eye. One eye. He brought his hand up to the unresponsive ocular, feeling the area tentatively with callused fingers. He encountered a deep line running from forehead to cheek passing over the tender tissue of his eye; the lid sealed permanently. He flexed his muscles experimentally, finding his partial loss of sight to be his only hurt. He grinned, marvelling at his fortune.
How did I survive?
He shook his head, pulling out the glasses to shield the tender wound.
What does it matter? I live; I have a beautiful, loving wife awaiting my return…Why question a miracle when all is well with the world?
He swayed slightly as he stood, grasping a nearby tree to steady himself. The arm in front of him flickered, the limb becoming transparent as his concentration lapsed. His brows furrowed as he tried to make sense of the strange phenomenon. He swatted a fly away in annoyance, yet it remained hovering in front of him. His frown grew deeper as confusion set in as to why it buzzed around him incessantly, despite his effort to ward off the insect. As the remaining burnished ocular focused on the aggravation fully he gasped, realisation finally dawning on him.
A pyrefly? But that means I'm…
"Dead."
He slumped to the ground, his usually busy mind stilled by the revelation.
An unsent at the hands of Yunalesca. I, I cannot go back…It is better that I hurt for an eternity than have Lesca hurt for longer than necessity dictates. She will meet someone new who will ease the pain. Someone who will not hurt her as I have. Someone who will stay. I'm truly sorry, my love, I'll leave you to live your life without me, it is in your best interests. I hope you do not forget the man I was, or what you mean to me. I'll love you far beyond the sands of time have run dry. I miss you…Farewell.
He looked around, at a loss to the direction he should be heading in. He turned, hoping beyond hope that she was at his side, her smile as radiant as it had been when they had watched the sun rise in the few precious days they had spent together. He smiled sadly; remembering her gentle touch, the smell of her skin seemingly infused with sunshine, intoxicating him. A thought struck him.
The boy, Tidus. I can make use of my time by fulfilling my promise. Jecht, I will guard your son to the best of my ability. I would offer my life, but…it is forfeit. She has stolen everything from me. Fuck Yevon.
He laughed bitterly; throwing back his head and letting the pain manifest itself until he was hoarse. Auron racked his brains as to the location of the recovering Sin.
The gorge…the Calm Lands. That is the only place it could grow…
He set off, painfully at first, the movement becoming easier as he progressed. The entrance to Bevelle became increasingly faint and he turned as it disappeared altogether. He swallowed thickly, steeling himself to move onward.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Lescy!" The tiny blond squealed, flinging herself at the visitor. Lesca grinned, ruffling her cousin's hair while looking about.
"Rao, Rikku. Frana'c Brother yht Ihlma Cid?"
Rikku smiled sweetly, dragging Lesca toward the living room of her quarters in Home. She flung open the door, bounding over to her father excitedly as he fiddled with a gadget of some description.
"Rikku, vun dra cyga uv dra Gods fydlr dra tysh tuun!"
Lesca cleared her throat, "Re…"
Cid turned, his face breaking into a huge grin when he saw his favourite niece at the door.
"Lesca? Meddma Lescy?"
She laughed, "Hud cu meddma yhosuna!"
He shook his head in disbelief, "Dryd oui'na hud. Fryd ys E tuehk? Lusa eh, kad lusvundypma. Rikku, ku syga cusa day vun ouin luiceh."
Rikku scurried off dutifully, mischief glinting in her eyes. Lesca shook her head; glad it was as she remembered.
Cid watched as she retreated into her thoughts, knowing it was unlike the lively young woman.
"Oui ghuf E's drnemmat oui'na rana, Lesca, pid E ryja du ycg fryd pnehkc oui rana. Drec ech'd mega oui, zicd crufehk ib uid uv dra pmia fedr y vnufh uh ouin bnaddo meddma vyla. Ev E lyh damm frah drana'c cusadrehk fnuhk fedr so tyikrdan E lyh cina yc ramm damm frah oui'na ibcad. E ymfyoc cyet oui dfu fana duu ymega, dryd ed't lydlr oui uid uha tyo."
A lone tear trickled down her cheek, her face crumpling despite her best efforts. Cid rushed to comfort her, shaking her gently to try and get some answers.
"Fryd'c fnuhk? Fryd'c rybbahat? Ed'c ouin tysh vydran ech'd ed? Fryd dra ramm ryc ra tuha huf? Lesca, damm sa!"
She dried her eyes, her face becoming an emotionless mask. "Ra'c tayt. Ra palysa y Cissuhan, ra jyhxiecrat Sin yht huf ra'c tayt."
Cid sucked in his breathe sharply though his teeth. "Dryd camvecr pycdynt." He looked into her eyes, sensing a fresher pain. "Dryd'c hud ymm druikr, ec ed? Drana'c cusadrehk amca."
"Oui'na duu kuut yd drec. Ihlma, E's synneat. So ricpyht, Auron, yllusbyheat so vydran uh rec bemknesyka. Huf ra'c kuha duu, E's ymm ymuha...E tuh'd ghuf fryd du tu! E lyh'd nyeca y lremt socamv, Cid. E, E's cu clynat..."
Cid's face was a strange mix of emotions, sympathy for his niece, anger at her father and ill will toward Auron. "Ouin vydran duug ouin ricpyht fedr res du tea? Ouin ricpyht fahd femmehkmo, ghufehk oui fana fedr lremt?" He growled.
She shook her head ardently. ""Hu! Ra teth'd ghuf...E teth'd ghuf. Ed'c hud rec vyimd, bmayca tuh'd drehg pytmo uv res! E muja res cu silr; ed vaamc mega so raynd ec pnaygehk. Ed rindc, ihlma. Drec ec ymm E ryja mavd."
The older Al Bhed sighed, encasing her in his arms. "E'mm hud cyo yhudran funt. Ra sicd ryja paah y kuut syh du feh ouin muja yht dryd'c ahuikr vun sa. Oui yht dra pypo lyh cdyo fedr ic, fa'mm dyga lyna uv oui. Drana'c hu haat du pa clynat yhosuna, Lesca. Fa dyga lyna uv uin ufh."
He realised suddenly that his other niece was missing and he panicked. "Frana'c Yuna?"
"Ed fyc so vydran'c fecr cra fahd du Besaid. Auron yht E fana sayhd du zueh ran...E kiacc ed zicd fych'd sayhd du pa."
Cid looked into his nieces eyes, horrified that the sparkle had given way to a dull, dead gaze. He rubbed his temples wearily, inwardly cursing Braska.
""Vyda ryc taymd oui y lniam ryht, heala. Oui'na cdnuhk, oui femm kad druikr drec frana udranc luimt hud. Fa'na ymm rana vun oui. Drehkc femm kad paddan cuuh, E bnuseca."
He looked over to see if she paid any heed to his words, only to find she was curled into a small ball on the worn couch, her pain etched clearly on her fine features in sleep. He covered her gently with a blanket, closing the door quietly behind him as he exited to let his ill-starred niece rest. Cid looked down just in time to avoid colliding with his small, yet energetic daughter.
"Femm Lescy pa ugyo, tytto? Cra muugat cu cyt." Rikku looked up at her father adorably, holding the tea shakily in her small hands.
"Lesca femm pa veha bnehlacc. Ihlma Braska fahd du dra Farplane yht cra'c ibcad, dryd'c ymm."
He thought it best not to mention Auron or his child to the young girl, tact was never any child's strong point in Cid's experience with children, and this was especially true for Rikku. He reasoned that his niece would tell the others when she was ready.
Rikku tugged at his shirt, "Tuh'd oui ku dra Farplane tytto, ug? E't secc oy!"
"E's hud kuehk yhofrana."
Translations:
Hey Rikku, where's Brother and Uncle Cid?
Rikku, for the sake of the Gods watch the damn door!
Hi…
Lesca? Little Lescy?
Not so little anymore!
That you're not. What am I doing? Come in, get comfortable. Rikku, go make some tea for your cousin.
You know I'm thrilled you're here, Lesca, but I have to ask what brings you here. This isn't like you, just showing up out of the blue with a frown on your pretty little face. If I can tell when there's something wrong with my daughter I can sure as hell tell when you're upset. I always said you two were too alike, that it'd catch you out one day.
What's wrong? What's happened? It's your damn father isn't it? What the hell has he done now? Lesca, tell me!
He's dead. He became a Summoner, he vanquished Sin and now he's dead.
That selfish bastard. That's not all though, is it? There's something else.
You're too good at this. Uncle, I'm married. My husband, Auron, accompanied my father on his pilgrimage. Now he's gone too, I'm all alone...I don't know what to do! I can't raise a child myself, Cid. I, I'm so scared..."
Your father took your husband with him to die? Your husband went willingly, knowing you were with child?
"No! He didn't know...I didn't know. It's not his fault, please don't think badly of him! I love him so much; it feels like my heart is breaking. It hurts, uncle. This is all I have left."
I'll not say another word. He must have been a good man to win your love and that's enough for me. You and the baby can stay with us, we'll take care of you. There's no need to be scared anymore, Lesca. We take care of our own.
Where's Yuna?
It was my father's wish she went to Besaid. Auron and I were meant to join her...I guess it just wasn't meant to be.
Fate has dealt you a cruel hand, niece. You're strong, you will get though this where others could not. We're all here for you. Things will get better soon, I promise.
Will Lesca be okay, daddy? She looked so sad.
Lesca will be fine princess. Uncle Braska went to the Farplane and she's upset, that's all.
Don't you go the Farplane, daddy. I'd miss ya!
I'm not going anywhere
A/N: Thanks to all who read, and special thanks to those who review. Shout outs go to The Angel of the Lion, Refugee, Angelheart, Pierson and Guado Glory. Anyone else I've missed, I apologise and I will update. It's 2am and I start work in 8 hrs, please have mercy on the poor author!
