Author's Note: Again, FFX belongs to Square and "Volcano" belongs to Damien Rice. Hope you enjoy.
"And what I am to you
Is not real
And what I am to you
You do not need
And what I am to you
Is not what you mean to me
You give me miles and miles of mountains
And I ask for the sea"
Damien Rice "Volcano"
Chapter Two:
"Were you able to find the answers to some of your questions?" she asked.
Again, Auron was taken in by the woman's question. Some of your questions she said. As in just some of his questions were answerable. Unfortunately for Auron, it was not the questions that were most important to him. He straightened up and walked over to the chair opposite of Kaeli's and sat down.
"I was able to get some answers. Such as the when but I still don't know the how."
Kaeli nodded but did not comment. Auron watched her with his one good eye and saw the seriousness in her dark brown eyes, as though she understood what he meant by the when but not the how. Hell, he himself didn't fully understand it so perhaps...
"Do you know how it happened?" Auron asked her bluntly. The question surprised Auron the moment he asked it. He didn't know anything about this mysterious woman who snuck into his room and was now sitting across from him. Nor did he thought the woman knew the answer anymore than the old man did. But, he knew that she knew that his presence here in Spira was unnatural. And for that, he asked. He watched her face, a mirror that reflected her soul. He could see her pondering over his question. He could also see her wrestled with something, something deep within her, that finally defeated her.
She sighed before replying, "I don't know why you are brought back. But I do know you're alive as opposed to not." She got up and walked towards the window. She stared out at the streets and Auron could imagined what she saw. The people walking to and thro. Perhaps the news of his "appearance" had reached the people. Kaeli turned from the window and stared at him.
"Perhaps you should convince yourself that you are really here first. Since there are doubts..." She left it hanging, waiting for his confirmation. Auron nodded, again surprised by the honesty she elicited from him and also by the simple fact that he still wasn't completely sure that he really was in Spira.
Kaeli continued on, "The only way to know for sure is to go to Farplane. There, I believe, you'll be able to find some answer." She turned back to the window and stared down at the town. From that position, she said, "People will surely know by know. And with that, your friends and family will come. She might be able to tell you."
"Who?" Auron asked.
Kaeli waved her hand, dismissing his question and interruption. She turned from the window and faced him, again Auron was struck by the seriousness that simply emitted from her.
"You'll know, " Kaeli said, and then she smiled. A gentle smile, a sad smile. "When you know, your instinct will tell you. And you always trusted..."
At that moment, she was interrupted by a knock on the door. Auron looked at her and then at the door. He walked over to it and asked sharply, "Who is it?"
"It's me!" a squeaky voice said from behind the door. "I've brought food for Sir Auron. It's from Sian, the owner of this inn." Auron looked at Kaeli, but her attention was already back towards the streets. He shook his head and focused back to the person behind the door. He was about to dismissed the person politely when he realized he was hungry. He opened the door and standing in front of him was a young man. He have a tray of food and just looking at made Auron even more hungry.
"Thank you," Auron said, he was waiting for the young man to leave but he just stood there and stared at Auron in awe. Auron had had enough and said "thank you" again and told the young man to thank Sian for him and with that, he closed the door to the young man's face. Auron took the tray of food to the table and set it down. He then proceeded to seat down. He looked up from the delicious plates of chumbo and marslow. Kaeli was still standing by the window, but instead of looking down at the streets, she was looking up towards the sky. Her eyes were closed and there was a glow. The sunlight shone on her face and gone was the weariness and seriousness. Replaced was a young woman, a young woman feeling the sensations of the warm light brushing against her cheeks. Auron was taken aback by a feeling so foreign to him that he was somewhat paralyzed by it. He couldn't breathe. He looked down at the plate and saw nothing. He picked up the fork and speared a piece of chumbo and just stared at it. He was still somewhat in a daze when Kaeli's voice brought him back to reality.
"You should eat that before it gets cold," she said. She walked back towards him and stopped by the table.
"You'll want to rest up. Tomorrow, you'll be seeing your friends and family."
Auron looked at her in surprise, an expression he detested but some how kept repeating when he was around her. Kaeli acknowledges the surprise expression and laughed. The laugh must have taken her by surprise because Auron saw her raise her hand to her mouth, as though seeking and confirming that it was she who made that whimsical sound.
Kaeli smiled from behind her hand but when her hand dropped back down to her side, she only said, "No. It's only reasonable to guess that. The town is a buzzed with your "arrival." No doubt your friends will hear it soon. Once they do, they'll come here as fast as they can to see for themselves."
Auron looked at his fork and took the bite of chumbo. His tongue perked up by the hot spice and he chewed with relish. How long has it been? According to Sian, it had been two years, yet it didn't feel like two years had passed while he was at the Farplane. He took another bite and then another. He simply enjoyed the sensations. He was about to ask Kaeli to join him and he saw her shaking her head.
"No. I'm going to go back to my room. Perhaps I'll see you later, perhaps not. I promise I'll see you before you go."
With that, she walked to the doors, opened it and left. Auron continued to eat his meal. He should go and thank Sian himself. It was a very good meal. He also thought about Kaeli's refusal to stay. He should have said something, persuaded her somehow, but he knew just as she knew he was about to invite her to join, that she would've said "no" anyways. His instinct told him so.