Author's note: Hello! My birthday is in less than two weeks! And as an early birthday present, I got Final Fantasy VII. Unfortunately, I don't have the PS1 memory card, so I've gotta wait until my birthday to play it. Is the game really as great as everyone says? Because the graphics are horrible. Anyway! Time for the story!

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"Can't believe, you are here.

It seems just like a dream.

But when you look, in my eyes.

Your love becomes so clear to me."

~Love Again Tonight

Dance Dance Revolution Max

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Tidus looked at himself in the mirror, examining every aspect on his new face. What bothered him most was the vicious scar that ran from his upper-brow to his lower cheek. He ran a single finger down it, tracing its path slowly. Enclosed somewhere in the sealed lid was another russet eye possibly damaged from the attack.

Tidus shuddered at thoughts of how his guardian could have possibly sustained such a wound. The pain it must have caused. Plus, the blitzball star thought, the scar weakened his eyesight dramatically. He looked down at the glasses on the rim of the sink and the collar of his outfit and stared at them. True he couldn't exactly say that he was grateful for the two items, only because he didn't know how awful it must feel to be stared at because of your appearance; in Auron's case, his scar. Yet, he knew that they helped to lessen the sudden sickness in just glancing at it, if that's what you want to say.

Braska and Jecht appeared in the doorway, both out of breath. "We searched all of the Farplane and couldn't find Auron . . . or your body . . . or something like that." Braska said.

Tidus tore himself away from the mirror, but still kept touching the scar on his eye. Jecht crossed his arms and leaned against the wall. "How could this have happened?"

"Oh, I know," Auron's body started sarcastically, "maybe our spirits got so sick of being in our regular bodies that they decided to switch!" he said, motioning wildly with his hands. This got some snickers from Braska and Jecht who usually weren't used to seeing their friend act like so.

Braska lowered his head and brought a more serious tone back within the group. "Well, let's think logically. Auron would usually be by the cliff if anything. He's not, though. So, if he's not there, where would he be?"

Tidus' face lit up immediately. "I know! I know where Auron is! Auron's back in Spira! He's in Spira, looking for Rikku." When he spoke these words, a horrific expression took over. "He's looking for Rikku . . . in my body!!"

~*~*~

The sun was poised high above the land of Spira. Auron stood on the steps of the ruins of Besaid's temple. Gathering from gossip, he pieced together that, after the destruction of Yu Yevon, his followers abandoned the teachings and destroyed the temples. The only thing that remained was the statue of High Summoner Braska, vanquisher of Sin only ten years ago.

His eyes fluttered close in thought. He remembered that day, ten years ago after Sin was defeated, how everyone stood in the streets and cheered victory, thinking this might be the time Sin may never come back. Everyone was so busy cheering, though, that no one noticed the struggling man as he desperately made his way to Bevelle to rely a message. Midway he collapsed, taking in short, shallow breaths. He reminisced how the blood created small rivers on his already scarred body, pooling around him and seeping into the grass beside him.

A bulky, blue Ronso approached him. Kneeling down beside the man, he picked him up and brought him to a place where one could get medical treatment. The wounds were so great that the man never pulled through. He told the Ronso to go to Besaid and find the daughter of High Summoner Braska and take care of her. He thanked the Ronso with his final breath and went limp, never to awake again. Or so that's how it was supposed to be.

Auron reopened his eyes and discovered he was knelt on the stone steps, shaking slightly. The memories of that day still haunted him. He recalled how a summoner was brought in to perform the sending after his death. Due to the promises made, Auron remained on Spira, refusing the call of the Farplane for ten years.

A hand on his shoulder caused him to jump at the contact. He jerked his head up to find Yuna's face staring down on him. "You look sad." She spoke softly. Auron held the back of his hand to his mouth and smirked. He stood up and towered a head over Yuna.

"I'm not sad. I'm just thinking. About everything." He responded while walking away.

Yuna pulled him back by the hand and stared him in the eyes. "Tidus, I don't understand. What's wrong?"

"You wouldn't understand."

"Tidus . . ." she faded, her hand loosening its grip until it was easy to pull away.

Auron sighed. "When I get everything settled, you'll see. I've just got to see where I stand in this world."

Yuna observed as the man whom had become so cold and sullen to her meander away. Out of the corner of her eyes she saw the statue of her father standing tall over the rubble of the former temple. She bowed her head and brushed a piece of auburn hair behind her ear. "Was it something I did?"

Auron stopped, his eyes narrowed. "Don't do this to me. I just . . . I . . . I'm sorry." He continued on, upset that things weren't going as he planned.

All I wanted was to come back and find Rikku. Not have this body and break Yuna's heart. Why can't anything I have planned be easy?

~*~*~

The normally red-clad guardian found himself standing at the water's edge on Besaid Island. His shoes were steadily becoming wet with salty ocean water as they lapped continuously at them. Dark clouds were forming in the distance, threatening rain. For about an hour now, Auron could smell the rain approaching the island and felt the wind pick up in speed.

It felt like the first time he'd ever taken in the scenery around him. In fact, it practically was the first time he'd even noticed the beauty of the world by his side. He'd been so focused on his duties as a guardian; he never paused to marvel at what life really had to offer.

I guess there are some advantages to this body switching deal.

"Think again, Auron!" a voice reverberated in his mind. Auron whipped around, his eyes darting back and forth across the area. Did he just imagine that voice? It resounded again through his head. "Don't be so dense! It's me, Tidus! You know; the guy who inhabits your body as we speak?"

"How the he-."

"What are you doing?! What happened? I mean, one minute, I'm sleeping. The next minute I'm freaking out because I'm almost twenty years older than I should be!"

"Wait! First, where are you?" Auron yelled, attracting stares from some Besaid villagers whom were near the dock. He grinned sheepishly and turned away. "Where are you?" he hissed under his breath.

"I'm still in the Farplane. But Braska, my dad, and I figured that maybe we can talk telepathically. I don't know how it worked. Probably because you're still tied here. But that's not the point! What happened?"

"I jumped from the cliff." He replied simply.

"What? Did you expect to kill yourself again?"

Auron inhaled sharply. Up until now, he really hadn't considered why he had jumped from the cliff in the first place. But now that Tidus had brought it up, it actually made sense in a weird sort of way. Not to kill himself, no. But something along those lines. "I don't know . . ."

"Well you better know in two seconds or I'll come down there and-."

"Tidus, respect your elders." Braska's voice scolded. Auron chuckled to himself.

"How do we switch back, Auron? C'mon, you should know." Tidus importuned, desperation hinted slightly in his tone.

"I don't know. Why can't you figure this out yourself? Why is it I'm always the one who should know? I'm always the advice-man. For once, I'm able to think for myself. I'm able to do what I want. I don't have to follow any rules or guidelines. This is about me. This is my problem!" chided Auron.

Tidus was quiet for a moment. "Do you have any ideas yet?"

Auron screamed. "Shut up! Just shut up!"

"Hey, I think Auron's spazzing out." Jecht bellowed. Tidus and Jecht laughed while Braska snickered to himself.

"You know what? You guys can figure this one out on your own. Call me back when you have something." The guardian seethed, walking away from the beach and deep into the woods.

At long last, he was alone in both mind and body. While the three still could talk to him at any given time, they knew well that Auron wanted nothing to do with them for now.

Thunder roared overhead. He looked through the canopy of trees to the dark clouds above him. It wasn't long before rain tumbled down the leaves and branches like balls in a pinball machine. They poured down on Auron and dampening his clothes and being. To anyone else, the rain might have put a bigger damper in their mood; To Auron, it felt kind of nice. Almost like how he felt right then.

With his hair clinging to his skull and an occasional shiver through his body, he slowly made his way back to the village. He made sure to take his time and sort out his feelings, which was something he really didn't do often. When he finally arrived, he didn't feel like trekking back to his own hut. Instead he came up upon Yuna's hut. Knocking on the siding, he pulled the curtain back to reveal Yuna chatting sullenly with Rikku and another man.

When Yuna noticed Tidus' soaked body, she gasped. "What are you doing out in the rain? You should be inside, you'll get sick!" she reprimanded, pulling him inside by the arm. She sat him down opposite of the other two and left to retrieve a towel. Up until now, he really took no notice that he was actually quite cold. So he was grateful when Yuna wrapped the towel around his shoulders, embracing the warmth it released.

"Auron, what were you doing outside?" Rikku prodded. Everyone stared at her, mystified. She raised one eyebrow. "What?"

The man next to Rikku frowned. "Who's Auron?"

By now, Auron's heart was racing. Was he really that transparent?

Rikku brought a hand to her mouth which was already a large O. "Omigosh! Did I say Auron? Oh no, I don't know what I was thinking. I'm sorry, Tidus!" she apologized profusely, shaking her head at her mistake. She faced the man next to her. "Auron was a fellow guardian with me to Yunie." She gave no other information regarding their relationship.

Auron cleared his throat and pulled the towel closer to his body. "I'm sorry, Rikku. But, I don't believe I've met your friend."

Rikku smacked herself with the palm of her hand on her forehead. "Where are my manners? Again, sorry Tidus. Kyo, this is Tidus. Tidus, this is Kyo."

Auron accepted the hot drink that was offered to him by Yuna. "So, are you two related or something? How do you two know each other?" he asked.

The Al-Bhed smiled and snuggled closer to Ryo. "We met in Luca a few months after the Pilgrimage at a blitzball game."

"Oh, so you're just friends?" he sipped his drink quietly.

"No, Ryo's my boyfriend."

The mug crashed to the floor and Auron's eyes bugged out. "YOUR BOYFRIEND?!"

~*~*~

Author's note: Sheesh, this is really getting hard to write! But, I shall continue because of my faithful reviewers! *cough cough* Hey, if you guys like manga-like fiction, you might wanna check out my fiction named 'Bracelet no Chikara' located at Fictionpress.net under 'Starlight4u.' It's about a girl named Malina who, with the help of some newly formed allies, must protect the Bracelet of Matsuko from the King. Kind of complicated. But it's actually interesting! ^_^

Well, I've got one day of school left and its summer break, baby! I'm so excited!