Disclaimer: No, I don't own FF10 or FF 10-2….-sniffle-

Hum….me being sadistic and all I might make this a…..hum……Kimahri/Rikku? No that would be evil….So it is an Aurikku.

Dream of me

Hearts will mend, time will lend….

Chapter 2

Rikku towed her hover bike through the fragile looking crystal shards. She had firmly dismissed the dream from her thoughts and was valiantly trying to think of other things. The silent atmosphere of the forest unfortunately made these thoughts melancholy. So she began to think of the people she had known and lost. The tragedy at Home had taken many Al-Bhed, that had been hard to cope with.

And there was Auron. The lonely and always stoic man who the word 'enigma' was invented for. Still she had liked him; he had been a pillar of strength for the group. In difficult situations he had been the guide when the other guardians had not known which way to turn. Also, a powerful warrior who delivered death blows, cutting through the enemy with a scything arc of his katana.

Auron, nobody had missed him as the man he was. Most had mourned the loss of the 'legendary guardian'. Rikku was sorry for the fact she hadn't tried to get to know him better. It must have been so hard for him, she thought sadly. First the deaths of his two best friends, then his own. Then ten more years bound to Earth by promises unfulfilled.

Shaking her head Rikku determinedly thought of Yuna's upcoming wedding and the visit to Eleni. Suddenly the thought struck her. Her next destination.

Was the Thunder plains. Now the Lightening towers had been calibrated to work so no lightening would strike travelers but occasionally she felt slightly afraid of the flash of light and rumbling of thunder. That week there had been scary but she had mostly got over her fear.

Resolutely she carried on until the forest floor thinned and began to turn into the brown dirt of the Thunder plains. She stood on the crest of the hill, and surveyed the scene before her with pursed lips. If she kept moving on her hover bike and the towers stopped it, so it wouldn't strike? Would it?

She valiantly mounted the bike and zoomed off, cowering occasionally when lightning struck the towers. Without Yuna and Paine there she felt a little less brave. She wished she could reach the Rin travel agency quicker. Then suddenly, lightning struck her. She screamed and everything swirled into black. But before she totally lost it she fancied she heard a voice say, "Make ready for the past."

~*~

She awoke feeling groggy. She sat up groaning and rubbing her head. "How did that happen?" she wondered. The towers must have not been calibrated again, she thought sourly. Her bike was nowhere to be seen. She cursed and got up, flicking the mud of her clothes. She had worn her usual outfit and snorted in disgust at its quite filthy state. She checked her bag, she still had her twin daggers. She probably would have to fight now she didn't have her bike. She clasped the handles of the daggers and checked she had enough items such as grenades and guns. Rikku felt thankful for the fact it was her habit it carry this stuff around when she went on a journey. It was time she got some fighting practice in she thought positively. Shivering slightly, as her outfit wasn't the warmest of clothes, she struck in the general direction of Rin's agency.

After ten minutes of spasmodic walking and wincing she was attacked by fiends. Joy, and they were lightning fiends, more joy. She sighed in a world-weary fashion and stood in battle stance. The grinning demonic looking thingy flung up its hands and brought them sharply down. She screamed as the lightning shot through her. It was the first time she had battled fiends on the Thunder plains by herself. Oh how she hated lightning.

Meanwhile, a short walk away a grumpy Auron was filming Jecht. Braska stood silently holding back his mirth at Jecht's pissed off look. "Hold it steady!!!" shouted Jecht as Auron filmed with the sphere. "Why am I doing this?" said Auron in a testy voice then switched it off. "Hey!" spoke Jecht indignantly as he dodged a bolt of lightning and made his way over to Auron. Suddenly a woman's scream ripped through the air. Wordlessly Auron gathered up his katana and ran in the general direction. Braska and Jecht nodded to one another and followed quickly. Jecht only stopping to pick up his sword.

Auron ran toward the young woman as she threw a grenade at the creature. Momentarily he was shocked. An Al-bhed? Alone? He abruptly dismissed his misgivings and ran to join her. She ran forward and slashed the lightning element with her claw. Pyreflies gathered as it died and she turned her attention to the 'demonic thingy' as she had dubbed it. He ran forward slashed at the pupa and it joined the other fiend. She appeared not to notice him as she picked up a gun from her hip and shot at the 'demonic thingy'. He glanced in shock at the gun. The 'demonic thingy' fell down and died. She grinned widely with satisfaction then looked at where should have been pupa. Realising it wasn't there she turned around slowly and looked at him.

Rikku blinked at him for a few moments. 'Auron?' she thought confusedly. She turned away "I am so hallucinating, damn lightning…" she muttered and slapped a hand to her head. Auron looked at her concernedly "Are you alright?"

Jecht and Braska arrived at the scene breathlessly. Braska inquired in his calm voice "Auron, is everything okay?" Rikku's head snapped up and she pinched herself. She gulped, feeling the pain and trying to fight down the rising panic. She had gone into the past. Rikku sighed philosophically, thinking of the words she heard just after being struck. They, whoever they are, are so going to die…. She thought, now, no use in panicking.

While she was thinking Auron had replied " Yes, everything is fine." Rikku, having collected her scattered wits from various locations tuned into the conversation. "Er….thanks, I guess…." She spoke to Auron. He in turn said, " You are an Al-Bhed, using forbidden machina?" He said this more as a statement than a question. Her not being quite herself a stray thought floated across her mind, ooh, hottie. He was wearing his black leather vest and scarlet coat and his hair was a raven black and his eyes were intense. Rikku quashed that line of thought hastily. "I can explain…."

Braska laughed, "Don't worry, we're not Al-Bhed haters. In fact my late wife was Al-Bhed…" he smiled sadly. " S'okay, I don't mind!" added Jecht. He elbowed Auron who then nodded curtly. Rikku could tell he disapproved of her but that wasn't her most immediate concern. More the fact she had appeared to have gone back in time. Her instinct was to run in small circles making panicked noises. She knew she had to be careful, very careful.

"Hello?" said Jecht waving a hand in front of her face. "You okay?" She shook her head and "Well, I was struck by lightning so a bit shocked….sort of….kind of…..maybe…heheheh…" she smiled uneasily. She wished fervently that she was a better liar.

But they seemed to accept it, well they probably aren't thinking I'm from the future she thought. Auron had turned away and was looking at the rest of the Thunder plains silently. "So, what's your name?" asked Jecht casually. Her eyes widened as her mind cast around for a name. "Lerina."

Suddenly the thunder, which had been suspiciously quiet until then, let out a huge rumble. It sounded smug, she thought angrily. Rikku whimpered slightly "I. Hate. Lightning."

Braska looked at her sympathetically "It can be frightening." Rikku smiled at him gratefully "Childhood fear…." She replied. Auron turned back around "There's an agency over there." She nodded wearily "Thanks again." She set off towards it, hoping they would not follow.

Unfortunately, they did. Rikku heard Braska say from behind her "I could do with a rest."

Jecht then echoed this sentiment, Auron grunted. "Lerina! Wait up!" Jecht caught up with her and grinned roguishly. "We are to be your escorts!" Braska and Auron caught up also and Jecht began to tell her enthusiastically of his wife and kid after saying cheerfully "Guess you don't care about Yevon and that!"

After a few minutes of walking they reached the agency. "Er…bye!" she dashed inside.

"What's up with her?" Jecht observed. Braska raised an eyebrow "She's afraid of the lightning, remember?" Jecht grinned foolishly and scratched the back of his head. Braska turned to Auron "Maybe you should go apologise to her, you were rather short." Auron shook his head obstinately "She uses the forbidden machina."

"Auron, remember that it is the person who wields the gun that makes the decision, not the machina itself. She seems a good person."

"Is Auron afraid of the pretty lady?" teased Jecht. This really annoyed Auron "Fine, I will go and talk to her." With that he turned and strode into the agency.

End of chapter 2

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