Author's note: This chapter is rated PG-13!!! Don't get mad at me if you get in trouble for reading this chapter.

Disclaimers: *looks at her long list of things she owns* My bed . . . my mp3 player . . . this story . . . *eyes narrow* What's this? Why isn't Squaresoft on here? What about Final Fantasy? What's going on?!?! WHY DON'T I OWN SQUARESOFT OR FINAL FANTASY? _

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"But what you miss is love

In everything below and up above

And could she bring it all

A miracle."

~Miracle

Verticle Horizon

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Yuna was running back to where Auron said he'd stay if they'd found anything. When she got there, she was already out of breath and she had an unreadable expression on her face. She tapped Auron's shoulder and he whirled around, his aqua eyes dimmed with stress.

"I saw Rikku . . . walking with Ryo . . ."

Auron smiled and stood up, dusting off his legs. "Where'd she go?"

Yuna shook her head. "Auron, there's more. Rikku didn't look pleased. And she had a bruise on her leg right below the hem of her shorts. I know she didn't have that when she left Luca."

"What are you saying, Yuna?" Auron whispered, searching her eyes.

"I think something happened on the ship and he hurt her. It's not easy to bruise yourself on your upper thigh. And it was so dark . . . dark purple and blue."

"He . . . he hurt her?"

"I'm not sure. I might be wrong, so don't get all upset just yet. But we need to find her quick. I wasn't lying when I said he easily gets jealous."

The sound of footsteps reverberated on the dock as Tidus jogged over to them, taking his glasses off as he approached them. "Thank Yevon I found you two. Listen, I happened to be walking back when I overheard to girls talking about Ryo. They said something about him staying at the Bevelle Grand Hotel with his fiancée who we can only assume is Rikku."

"Do we know where that is?" the Summoner thought aloud. Auron nodded and pointed to the large building not too far in the distance.

"Bevelle Grand Hotel. It's kind of hard not to miss. But it's about five miles from here, so we'd better get going. No rests this time," instructed Auron as he, once again, took the lead and directed them through the large city in hopes of retrieving Rikku.

~*~*~

Ryo stalked toward the Al-Bhed, his eyes narrowed with fury. "I'm sorry. I must have misheard you. Did you . . . did you just say you were in love with . . . Auron?" he hissed.

Rikku was already off the bed and trying desperately to figure out how to get out of the situation. "No . . . that's not what I meant," she replied weakly. Damn, she wished she had her smoke bombs right about now.

"You bitch! I totally devote myself to you! Even go as far as give you the world, and this is how you repay me?!" he shouted, slapping her across the face. Rikku screamed but Ryo quickly covered her mouth and rammed her into the wall. He had her arm gripped so hard that it was losing circulation.

Despite the fact that her mouth was covered, Rikku continued to scream, though she knew no one would save her. She tried to dig her nails into his arm and managed to get her mouth free for about three seconds to yell for help. Ryo replaced his hand over her mouth and smirked. "You're not as weak as I thought you were. Look, you managed to draw some blood. I'm impressed."

Tears sprung to her eyes and this time she scratched at his face. Howling in pain, Ryo released her and covered his face with his hands, still screaming. Rikku tried to run but fell to the ground as he grasped her around the ankles and tripped her. Without warning, she felt Ryo's fists punching her small being continuously and could faintly hear him yelling at her. "I can't believe you! You should be grateful that I'm doing this to you or you'd have probably gone back to that low-life guardian by now! I'm the only person in your life now! Me, you hear?"

Rikku could feel the tears running like little rivers down her cheeks and tried to avoid his attacks by rolling away from them yet was always pulled back for more. He rolled her over on her back and leaned close to her while grinning menacingly. The Al-Bhed was shaking now in fear and was aching all over. "Ryo, stop. Please, don't hit me anymore . . . stop . . ." she whispered.

He laughed and sat up. "Or what, baby? You going to get your friends to hurt me? They're back in Luca and have no clue we're here. It's you and me," he ridiculed.

"So that's why we're here! You didn't want them to interfere with our relationship!" Rikku accused boldly.

She felt his fist connect with her face and immediately felt blood from her nose run down her upper lip. Ryo straddled her and pinned her arms under his knees. He leered over her and gripped her chin roughly, forcing her to look into his eyes. She wasn't crying as much anymore yet tears still escaped her eyes and she could taste the awful flavor of blood inside her mouth.

He pounded the ground next to her and kissed her roughly with almost no feeling whatsoever. Rikku tried to pry away but the man was too strong. She felt him move his hand up her chest and grip her around her neck. Her friends couldn't save her. They were in Luca while she was here, being kissed and touched by a man she thought she loved.

After what seemed like forever to Rikku, Ryo pulled away yet still ran his hand around her body. "Look at you. You look horrible. Maybe a few new bruises can change that," he chortled and slapped her across the face. "Now, kiss me. And this time, I want you to mean it."

As he leaned down again to kiss her, Rikku caught sight of her nails and didn't spare a second as she dug them into Ryo's neck. He jumped off of her and kicked her. Rikku rolled out of his way and scurried to the door. Ryo was still shocked by her sudden attack and was still on the ground, muttering a long string of curse words. She stood up and flung the door open, running out into the hallway. When she reached the elevators, she frantically pressed the down button.

One of the elevator doors opened and she rushed inside, pressing the door close button as quickly as she possibly could. When the doors closed, she pressed the button for the lobby and backed away into the corner.

Rikku caught sight of herself in one of the silver walls. Her hair was disheveled, her mascara was running down her face due to her tears and her nose was still bleeding. Cuts and bruises littered her body and she just looked absolutely horrible. The Al-Bhed walked over to the wall and touched it gingerly, scared of her reflection.

The dam inside broke and she cried once more, pounding and punching the wall furiously. How could she have been so stupid? Why hadn't she defended herself when she had the chance? No, she had to continue to be with Ryo and let him always have his way. Why hadn't she seen it coming?

The elevator slowed to a halt and dinged when the doors opened. She turned and stuck her head out the elevator, making sure Ryo wasn't waiting for her. Rikku knew she only had a limited amount of time before he'd chase after her so she made haste and ran out of the lobby with people staring after her. She kept her head down and continued to push people out of the way.

She reached out to push someone else out of the way but was stopped by his large frame. Hesitantly, she looked up and saw her three friends standing before her. They all looked at her, shocked and scared of her appearance.

'Tidus' stepped forward and brushed a strand of blonde hair from her face. His aqua eyes pierced hers and he grabbed her arm, examining the bruises. When he looked back at her, his face was nothing short of anger. "Rikku . . . who did this to you?"

The girl shook her head, words failing her. She continued to look at the pendant he wore around his neck, refusing eye contact.

"Who?!" he asked again, his voice louder.

Rikku looked at him and said, just as her voice cracked, "Ryo got mad at me and gave me what I deserved." She felt his arms envelope her being and she went weak, crying and whimpering into his exposed chest. Yuna and the real Tidus watched, both upset and ready to attack Ryo.

Auron looked up at the hotel and scowled. "I'm going after him," he announced. He turned to the two behind him and lowered his head. "Go get the police. Take Rikku with you."

The Al-Bhed girl appeared alarmed. "Please don't! He'll come back after me. Don't go."

The older guardian let go of her and smiled. "You know, you sound just like the time you asked me to stay with you at the Thunder Plains. You haven't changed a bit."

"What're you talk-."

"Tidus and Yuna will explain everything as they go to the police station. Now go. I've got some business to take care of with a man named Ryo."

And with that, Auron pulled away from Rikku, walking ever so calmly towards the hotel, smirking that his chance to wring Ryo's neck had come so soon.

~*~*~

Author's note: Aw yeah!! Time for something I like to call revenge. Man, if I could draw, I'd stop this Author's note right now and draw the picture of Tidus walking towards the hotel with Rikku, Yuna and Auron in the background. Only a few more chapters and the story's done. I estimate at two more chapters and an epilogue. Yes, the end draws near. *scary music*

BTW, do you wanna know how angry I was while writing this chapter? I wanted to take my laptop and throw it on the ground as I was writing it. Well, the next chapter is one you won't wanna miss.

Review Replies:

AFTERMATH: Chaotic Wind: Wow, you guessed correct. ^_^ I kinda got the idea for a flashback chapter from a FFVIII story I read. Can't remember what the name of it was, though. *Takes away her torch* We can't let you have that just yet. Wait until the end. Auron gets first dibs. ^.^

Black Jackal: The thing is about my writers block, I know where I want my 2 stories to go, I just can't get them there. It always sounds so . . . blah . . . I'm a perfectionist. BTW, I loved your little Matrix skit. I saw the second movie and, while I thoroughly enjoyed it, I wished it would have ended a bit sooner. -_-' The first one was much better. ^_^

Rinny Leonheart / Rikku: Hi hi! You're back. Now that Auron found Rikku, it's only a matter of how he's gonna deal with the situation. ^_^

Masta Ace: Ummm, please don't explode. That means I have one less reviewer . . . and you've gotta read the next chapter. ^.^ Ryo must die, I agree!

Ruki the Sake Fairy: I hate cliffhangers, too. I'm always going off on my favorite stories w/ cliffhangers. But I'm glad you're enjoying the story.

Auron's Biggest Fan: Yup! Rikku's still in love with Auron. IT'S ABOUT TIME SHE CAME TO HER SENSES!! But she's just a bit late, dontcha think?

Jay: Wanna know the funny thing? Well, after I had written the flashback with the Thunder Plains, I had to go online and figure out where they went to next. I haven't played the game in forever and I forgot basically where they went. ^.^

Aidrianna: *hides all the bats and weaponry* No attacking Ryo just yet! I said you can have first dibs, but you've gotta wait until Auron's had his turn. Ahhh . . . I can't wait . . .

NO ATTACKING RYO AS I'VE REPEATED IN MANY REVIEWS!!! AURON GETS TO HURT HIM FIRST AND THEN IT'S FREE GAME!!! *runs from all the reviewers who are yelling obscenities at her for not letting them attack Ryo* AHHH!!!! DON'T ATTACK ME EITHER!!! I'VE GOTTA FINISH THE STORY!!