Summary: Tidus x Rikku. Yuna x Auron. An alternate take on the story that is Final Fantasy X.
Spoilers: Final Fantasy X
Disclaimer: Square Enix rocks my world. Hopefully, they won't find this or they will...do bad things to me. I'm only playing!
Author's Note: You know that last part I posted? The Tikku? I just realized that I posted that, oh, a scene too early. Ah, well. I'm sure you all will figure it out.
So, this is where I complain about how I'm writing this. I decided to post this way before I was ready, so it's forcing me to handle certain situations differently. I suppose, in a way, that's a good thing. See, I'd intended "Scene 00" to be its own story because I wanted to write about Auron and Braska and their interaction and the introduction of Jecht and Baby!Yuna, etc. Well, I got ahead of myself and started writing the during-FFX stuff. But then I posted and then I wrote more pre-FFX stuff...so now I have to figure out how to post that here without reordering all the parts and pissing off all the readers. I think, flashback. If I can do it right.
Anyway, the reason I wrote that big long paragraph is because it's sort of an explanation. There will be situations and what not that are eluded to in parts to come that won't make sense because...I haven't written them yet in the pre-FFX story. Man, this is getting complicated. Then again, so is the FFX story. *heart*
Also, I feel like I'm rushing through some explanations…but it's mostly because I discovered how freaking difficult it is to come up with original material.
And, I've apparently made Yuna into a weepy girl and Auron into a comforting man. Not that there's anything wrong with that…I just want to get away from it for fear of getting too OOC and, you know, too much repetition.
*
This is My Story by danakate
First Posted: 2004-03-28
Scene 04 – Yuna and Auron's Reunion and Leaving Besaid
Shadows flickered across Yuna's face from the bonfire in the middle of the village. She stood, still clad in her Summoner's dress, hands clasped in front of her, and tried to listen to the village elder as he expounded on how proud he was of Yuna's accomplishments. But her eyes kept drooping. And her thoughts kept drifting.
"Sir Auron is back," she thought as she nodded to something the elder said. "After 10 years, he's come back."
"Yuna."
Lulu's voice broke into Yuna's thoughts and she started. "Y-yes?"
"I apologize for interrupting," Lulu said, addressing the elder. "Yuna, you must rest. We leave tomorrow and you've had a long day."
"Of course, of course," the elder added. "You have a hard journey ahead of you, Lady Yuna. Please rest. I have occupied your time quite enough."
"It was my pleasure," Yuna replied with a smile.
She bowed to the remaining villagers before slowly heading toward her hut. As she approached, a shadow moved from beside it and Yuna stopped.
"Who-?" she began.
The sound of dirt crunching under boots accompanied the appearance of Auron as he moved into the light and nodded at her.
"Sir Auron," she breathed. A small smile graced Yuna's lips.
"You should sleep, Yuna," Auron said.
"I will, but…" Yuna hesitated. "Will you…talk with me a moment?"
"As you wish."
Yuna nodded and headed into her hut with Auron close behind. She stopped in the middle of the room and turned to face him.
"No doubt you have many questions," Auron stated.
Yuna nodded. Auron stepped forward.
"I made a promise to your father 10 years ago," Auron began. His voice was soft, nearly a whisper. He'd never told anyone his story, but he felt Yuna deserved to know. He continued, "to bring you here so you could grow up in this environment. I could not keep that promise, only pass it on to Kimahri."
"Why couldn't you?" Yuna asked, entranced by the sound of his voice.
Auron turned away. "Because on the day your father and Jecht sacrificed themselves to defeat Sin…I, too, died."
He turned at the feel of her hand on his shoulder.
"But, you're here…" Yuna said, confused.
"I am an Unsent."
The statement hung in the air. Auron looked down at the young woman before him. He watched as a myriad of thoughts and emotions crossed his features. It reminded him of the time he spent with her so long ago. Those happy memories seemed a lifetime away from here.
"You speak of the old teachings," Yuna remarked. "The ones that say if a person dies while harboring strong emotions, they remain in the world in physical form."
Auron nodded.
"But…I didn't think the Unsent could remain. The teachings, they're not clear, but they seem to imply that the Unsent roam aimlessly and eventually disappear with their souls having no hope of reaching the Farplane," Yuna stated.
"There are…ways," Auron said. "And, had I stayed in Spira, that most likely would have been the case.
Yuna tilted her head in question. "Where were you?"
"Zanarkand."
Yuna stared.
"Not the Zanarkand you know," Auron explained. "But one disconnected from this world…one with its own time."
"I don't understand…"
"You will," Auron remarked cryptically. "You are not yet ready to hear the complete story."
"Ok…" Yuna said slowly. She was curious for sure, but sensed she would get no further information from Auron. "What…what kept you here?" she asked instead.
"My life ended…prematurely," Auron answered. "I tried to avenge your father and Jecht's passings…and failed. And, as I have mentioned, I had promises to keep."
Yuna nodded slowly. "Um…when, exactly, did you…perish?"
Auron raised an eyebrow. Yuna looked away and started to pace.
"On Mount Gagazet, after I asked Kimahri to bring you here."
"Oh…"
Now Auron was curious. "Why?"
"Hmm?" Yuna said, distracted. "Oh, it's nothing. I just…" Yuna tossed her hands in the air. "I remember something from that day…when I left Bevelle."
Auron's good eye actually widened in surprise. "It couldn't be…" he thought.
"What was it?" he asked aloud.
"I…could have sworn I saw you watching as we left," Yuna said. "Impossible, I know. But I remember it. You were standing there as Kimahri carried me away."
Yuna paced again, wringing her hands.
With each word, Auron became more and more surprised. "And?" He was almost afraid to hear the rest of her story.
"I thought…you looked so sad," Yuna continued.
She stopped in front of Auron and looked at him, searching his face. "I reached out toward you," Yuna continued, unconsciously following her words. Her hand stopped just short of Auron's face.
"And you cried," Auron completed.
It was Yuna's turn to be surprised and she found no words to speak. Tears sprang up to her eyes, as if she were reliving that moment, and spilled down her cheeks.
"You did see me," Auron said, his voice soft. He took Yuna's outstretched hand and pulled her closer. "But you were not meant to."
He wiped away her tears, like he had a dozen years prior, and studied her troubled face. Auron felt as if he was being pulled between timelines. Part of him relived memories before Braska's pilgrimage began. Another part of him recalled watching Yuna leave Bevelle, her little hand reaching toward him. And now he was here.
"Sin was…my transportation to Zanarkand, if you will," Auron tried. "I took a little detour along the way...to see you off. I never realized you knew I was there. I believed you were reaching for your home."
A soft smile tugged at Yuna's lips and she clasped Auron's hand with hers. Auron marveled at how small her hands still were compared to his. Soft and gentle. He wrapped his other arm around the girl and she went to him, still weeping.
"Who do you cry for, Yuna?" Auron asked, perplexed.
"For you," she replied, voice cracking.
Auron raised an eyebrow in question. "Why would you weep for me?"
Yuna started, surprised. "Wh-…because…" Yuna spluttered.
She took a deep breath and tried again.
"I never grieved for my father, Sir Jecht, or you."
"But why would you?" he asked again.
"You served my father," Yuna said. "Isn't that reason enough?"
"I was only doing my duty," Auron replied. "I believe Jecht would say the same."
Yuna searched Auron's face, frustration boiling just under the surface. He was so noble, just like she remembered, that it almost hurt. She didn't really know why she thought he'd change but she felt somewhat disappointed that he hadn't. He was still, after all, Auron.
"For me, you all were my family," Yuna began. Her voice no longer wavered. "But when my family died, I couldn't mourn."
Yuna pulled away and turned, hands clasped to her chest.
"Everyone was so happy," she continued, her voice betraying her and breaking. "It felt wrong…selfish…to feel sad or angry that my family was gone."
She felt Auron step up behind her.
"But now you've returned. And so has Sin." Yuna whirled and stared up at Auron with tears in her eyes. "I don't know what do, now…what to feel."
Before he knew what he was doing, Auron folded Yuna into his arms again and she melted against him, tears flowing freely. Though he didn't feel he deserved it, Auron respected Yuna's choice to honor his and Jecht's failed mission.
He held her tighter and whispered, "I am honored, Yuna. But I still feel the need to apologize to you. I…could not save your father."
Yuna said nothing, but snaked her arms as far around him as she could and cried harder. Auron, not really knowing what to do, just held her. Ten years of grief poured from Yuna's heart and she held onto him for dear life. Her legs gave out but Auron was there to catch her, yet again. Carefully, Auron cradled Yuna in his arms and sat with her as she cried herself out.
*
Yuna awoke early the next morning in a sort of warm haze. She sighed and stretched, snuggling into her covers. Which seemed a little lumpier than she remembered. Yuna frowned in confusion.
"You are awake."
Auron's voice rumbled beneath her ear and Yuna's eyes widened. She looked up quickly...right into Auron's brown eyes that were mere inches from her own.
"Um..." Yuna tried.
She was, for all intents and purposes, lying on top of Auron. Well, half on. They were stretched out on her bed, a position she didn't recall moving to prior to falling asleep the night before.
"I tried to make you as comfortable as possible," Auron explained. "Given the circumstances, it was a little difficult."
Yuna frowned deeper, the furrow between her eyebrows creasing sharply. Auron's gaze flicked down toward his chest. Where Yuna had a death grip on the collar of his robes.
"Oh," she replied, cheeks burning in embarrassment. "I'm so sorry."
"I recall a situation quite similar involving flowers," Auron remarked.
Yuna ducked her head, even more embarrassed. She remembered that summer day so long ago, as well.
She avoided looking at him, choosing to uncurl her hand from the silk of his robes and focusing on smoothing out the wrinkled fabric. Auron let her, watching her in silence, as he recognized she needed a few moments to collect herself.
"You know," Yuna started, "I don't blame you for my father's death."
She stared directly at him.
"You did your duty to the best of your ability and...I knew...that if you could, you would protect him, even if it cost you your life." Yuna's voice was barely above a whisper. "And it did."
Auron wrapped his hand around Yuna's and they stared at each other for long moments.
"I promise you, Yuna, that I will protect you at all costs," Auron vowed. "You will not suffer the same fate Braska did...not while I am around."
Yuna bit down on her lip, touched yet alarmed at the conviction in his voice and eyes. A million thoughts flew through Yuna's mind, followed by a torrent of emotions that left her reeling.
"I should get ready," Yuna managed.
Auron's eyebrow quirked. He was surprised she would drop the subject so quickly.
Yuna gave him a shy smile before turning away and rising.
Auron nodded and stood, watching Yuna carefully.
"Do you need any assistance?" he asked.
"No, thank you," she replied. "Most of my things are ready. I just want to clean up and double-check. I don't know when I'll be back."
"If ever." The words, though unspoken, were in both of their minds.
"An hour, then?" Auron asked.
Yuna nodded.
"I will go inform the others."
She nodded again and turned away from him.
Auron studied Yuna for a moment before shrugging and leaving. Yuna would talk when she was ready.
The flap to her hut fluttered shut and Yuna spun around to make sure Auron was gone. She let out a long breath and massaged the bridge of her nose.
Yuna had wanted to dissuade Auron, somehow, from doing anything reckless, but she didn't think she had the right. She was so frustrated. Although he said he was acting on behalf of her father, Yuna knew he didn't do anything he didn't want to do. The fact that he was already dead, a thought that still made her feel so sad, made it worse because then he would have no qualms in taking drastic measures to try and protect her.
But Yuna didn't want that. She wanted Auron by her side, but she didn't really know why. It went beyond the fact that he was a link to her father, but she didn't yet understand fully. She only hoped she would figure it out before she lost him again.
Yuna shook her head quickly.
"I don't have time for this," she muttered. "Everyone is waiting. Spira is waiting."
*
The morning sun was bright as Yuna dragged the chest of gifts she'd prepared from Besaid's temple.
"You really don't need all that luggage," Lulu mused with a smirk.
"They're not really my things," Yuna explained. "They're gifts for the temples we're to visit."
"This isn't a vacation, Yuna," Wakka said, grimacing.
Yuna looked to Auron, but his expression was blank.
"I guess…I guess you're right," she relented. Abandoning the trunk, she joined her Guardians.
"Okay!" Wakka exclaimed. "Off we go!"
Together, they walked out of the small village, Yuna nodding at those who were waiting there. Yuna led the way, Wakka and Lulu just behind her, with Auron bringing up the rear.
They walked for several moments in silence until they reached the top of the hill just outside the village.
"Take your time," Lulu quietly said to Yuna.
"Are you ready?" Wakka added.
Yuna nodded.
Auron watched for a moment from the side as the trio silently prayed to the ancient statue. He remembered doing the same with Braska so many years before. He looked away, unable to watch. How futile it all seemed now that he knew what he did. But he wouldn't interfere with what Yuna chose to believe. She would have to learn on her own and make her own decision of what to follow.
"That should do it!" Wakka announced.
The group continued, making their way through the old ruins near the waterfall. Auron glanced up sharply a moment before Kimahri joined them…via a gigantic leap off a fallen column.
"Nice entrance, ya?" Wakka murmured.
Kimahri gave Wakka a look.
They finally reached the dock where the S. S. Liki was waiting to take them to Kilika. A group of villagers were there to see her off, some of them young children who cried when the ship departed as Yuna waved to them.
As Besaid faded from view, Yuna walked to the bow of the ship and watched, hands clasped in front of her, as they crossed the open sea. She closed her eyes and smiled as the cool breeze fluttered across her face and rippled through her hair. Yuna heard footsteps approach but she didn't need to look to know who it was.
"The wind," she murmured. "It's nice."
Auron made a non-committal noise.
"Standing here, I feel at peace, like these calm waters as they flow through Spira," Yuna said. "But…I'm a little scared. And a little uncertain. Did you feel this way when you left with my father?"
Auron thought back on those days with Braska and Jecht. Had he been scared? Not especially, he was an experienced warrior, after all.
"Uncertain, yes," he answered. "The path before us, although it seemed straightforward, was not as such. Especially with Jecht in the mix."
Yuna giggled. "Sir Jecht was…an interesting man. I don't remember him well, but I recall he had…a way with words."
"You could say that," Auron replied, nodding his head. Beneath his collar, he smirked.
"Did…did my father…" she didn't quite know what to ask.
"Braska was concerned, yes. For you and for his pilgrimage," Auron answered. "No matter what obstacle we came across, though, he knew that he had to complete the pilgrimage."
"Spira needed him," Yuna remarked. She looked down, a small smile on her face.
Auron said nothing, not wanting to intrude on the young woman's thoughts. But in his own mind, Auron was beginning to see that while Yuna and Braska shared similar traits…they were two different people. Yuna's pilgrimage was for reasons that had nothing to do with herself. Braska…had been more selfish.
He stepped in front of her, waited for her to look at him. Auron studied her face for a long moment. Yuna gazed up at him, a question in her eyes.
"Yuna," Auron started, his voice low so only she would hear. "Remember who you are. Remember why you are taking this path. Do not let anyone sway you. There are those who would use you because you are High Summoner Braska's daughter."
"I know," Yuna nodded, her face turning serious. "And I will remember."
Auron suddenly turned his head to the side, his brow furrowing in sudden concentration.
"Auron?"
"Sin is here."
Yuna started. "What? How do you know?"
And then she felt it: a strong vibration through the deck. And then she saw a massive wave head straight for the S. S. Liki.
"What are you planning?" Auron muttered.
Yuna looked at him in surprise. It sounded as if Auron was talking to Sin…but that couldn't be possible.
"Watch out," Auron said.
But before Yuna could move, Auron wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her to the harpoon that was bolted to the deck.
"Hold on tight," he instructed.
A massive wave crashed over the railing of the S. S. Liki and Yuna was nearly swept away. Her hold on the harpoon's handle broke free, but Auron was there to catch her.
"This way," Auron called to her when the waves receded.
Auron pulled Yuna way from the bow of the ship and closer to the bridge where it was safer. He paid no attention to the crewmen heading in the opposite direction, his main goal being to protect Yuna.
"What do you think you're doing?" Wakka cried out. Auron looked back briefly, but Wakka was addressing the crewmen who had now manned the harpoons. Auron redirected his attention to his task.
"Stick a harpoon in him and we'll get dragged under!" Wakka continued.
"He better not," Auron muttered under his breath.
Yuna looked back in surprise at Auron. Again, it had sounded like the man was talking to Sin…or at least about Sin as if Sin was a specific person.
Another crewman ran past. "Sin is going for Kilika!" he exclaimed. "We gotta distract it! Our families are in Kilika!" The crewman turned toward Yuna's shelter. "Forgive us, Lady Summoner."
"Wait! Oh, boy…" Wakka said, slapping his palm to his forehead.
The harpoons let fly with a deafening sound. Yuna winced as the harpoons struck and attached themselves to Sin's visible fin. She braced herself, hoping the small ship wouldn't be dragged under as Wakka predicted.
Auron, on the other hand, was nearly seething.
"What is he thinking?" he thought. "The boy isn't here, I checked. He must know that."
Sin made several passes by the ship and Yuna thought it almost seemed like it was looking for something. Meanwhile, Wakka and Lulu made use of their long-range attack skills and repeatedly attacked Sin. Any Sinscales that got near, Auron or Kimahri dispatched of and for that, Yuna was grateful. She didn't quite know what she could do to help in this situation, still a little unsure of her summoning abilities.
"I have to learn to fight for myself," she thought.
The S. S. Liki gave a great lurch and the harpoons broke off, trailing after Sin like broken threads.
"Hrmph!" Auron grunted.
"Everybody okay?" Wakka called.
"Y-yes," Yuna answered, emerging from her makeshift shelter.
"It was a futile battle, for sure," Lulu remarked, walking up to Yuna and Auron. "I had hoped we could have dealt some damage, however. Perhaps dissuaded Sin from going toward Kilika, somehow."
Auron said nothing but stared intently in the direction Sin had gone.
"How long until we reach Kilika?" Yuna asked, extremely worried.
"Luckily, the ship did not suffer any significant damage," Lulu said. "A few hours at most."
"I hope we're in time," Yuna said, head down.
The next few hours were filled with tension. It seemed like everyone on board was on the deck and looking toward Kilika. The closer they approached, the more anxious everyone became.
By mid-afternoon, they should have been able to see something of Kilika, but there was…nothing. A deep dread sat like a rock in Yuna's stomach.
And then they saw it.
Driftwood began appearing near the ship. Yuna bit down hard on her lip in frustration and grief. They were too late. Sin had already come and gone from Kilika leaving…who knew what behind. She walked away from the bow of the ship, pacing among the passengers who were just realizing what had happened.
"No, I mustn't hide," Yuna chided herself.
She returned to the very front of the ship and watched as what remained of Kilika came into view. Yuna took a deep breath and let it out slowly. She ignored the sounds of grief that came from the passengers around her. She could feel Lulu, Kimahri, and Wakka watching her, but she ignored them, too.
Auron silently came up beside Yuna and stood a shoulder's width away. He surveyed the damage and then turned his gaze on Yuna. He expected a grief-stricken face or tears. Instead, what he saw was determination, pure and simple. And, perhaps, a little anger.
"I will defeat Sin," Yuna vowed. "I must defeat Sin."
**
TBC