~*Chapter 2: Discoveries*~


Rikku stood outside the iron gate door to the Farplane. Her emerald eyes were brimmed with unshed tears. She felt guilty for not coming to see him for the past three years, but she felt as if she couldn't handle it. Then yesterday, she had decided that it was time, that she would visit her love. But now, standing here alone, her heart beating faster than anyone's heart should ever go, she wanted to turn and run away.

She reached out and touched the multi-colored substance that was the door. It was cool, silky. She moved her hands through it, letting it slip through her delicate fingers. I have to do this...

And with that one boost of confidence, she forced herself into the Farplane.
She stopped and gasped. She scene before her was nothing like she had ever imagined. The pyreflies were everywhere, dancing their eternal dance to an unheard song. The water was the bluest she had ever seen. The flowers were colors and hues that she could never have dreamt of. There was no definite source of sunlight that she could see, but it was bright.

Her eyes came down to look at the ledge of the piece of floating rock that she was standing on. She hesitantly walked up to it, looking over the edge. She briefly wondered what would happen if she jumped, but shook the thought from her head, remembering the task at hand.

She looked back out into the Farplane and closed her eyes. She searched her memories and thought of her favorite memory of Auron. The first time they had kissed.

:::flash back:::

Rikku was looking out over the crystal forest in deep thought, the blue hues of the forest making her skin look paler than it really was. Her eyes were a darker shade of their normal emerald. She felt someone come up behind her and immediately knew who it was, the man she had unwillingly fell in love with during the past three weeks of their journey.

"Why do you have to be so cold..." she whispered, eyes brimming with tears. She would not let herself cry in front of him. Sure, he had seen her cry in the Thunder Planes, but this was different. She had to be strong now, to prove her point.

"How am I being 'cold'?" He asked calmly, coming to stand behind her.

"You're letting Yunie keep going with this kamikaze mission!" she yelled. She turned around, angry now, any sign that she was about to cry was gone, replaced with anger.

Auron looked down at her. She was so determined. Much like himself the first time he had gone through the pilgrimage. "If Yuna wants to quit, she will..."

He was right, but she really didn't want him to be. "She looks up to you...if you tell her to quit she will..." she pleaded, fresh tears forming in her eyes.

"It is not my place to do so..." he sighed. He brought his gloved hand to her face and gently brushed it across her cheek. "But you keep trying to think of something to save her..." he whispered, lowering his face to hers. She shivered, trying not to think about his warm breath on her lips.

Then suddenly, without warning, he kissed her. She was shocked at first, her eyes going wide, but she quickly grew accustomed to it and wrapped her arms around his neck, bringing him closer to her.

He wrapped his arms around her slim waist and brought her closer to him. He opened his mouth and ran his tounge over her lips. She hesitantly opened her own mouth, allowing him free access.

His tongue explored every possible corner of her mouth. It was then, right at that moment, that nothing else mattered. The pilgrimage was the furthest thing from his brain right now. All that mattered was her, standing there, pressed against him.

After what seemed like an eternity, they broke the kiss. He looked at her with nothing but compassion in his eyes.

She was breathing heavily. Her lips were slightly puffy from the kiss, and her cheeks flushed. Her eyes had gone from their normal color to about three shades lighter and filled with nothing but love, for him of all people.

She tried to talk, but nothing came out.

He chuckled. "Shhh" He brushed his lips across hers for one last, chaste kiss.
"We should be getting back now. The others will be worried..." Rikku only nodded weakly. Still not trusting her voice to work.

:::end flashback:::

Rikku shivered, her eyes still closed. She wanted to cry even more so now, knowing that she would never again feel his lips, his body pressed against her.

She opened her eyes, expecting to see her love standing before her, but there was nothing.

She looked around her. He wasn't there. She could have sworn that her heart stopped beating. She tried another memory, but still nothing. She was crying now. "Auron, where are you...?" she whispered weakly.

She fell to her knees, hiding her face in her hands, now sobbing. Why wasn't he here? Why didn't he come to her?

Suddenly, she felt someone's hand on her shoulder. She jumped. Rikku looked up at the figure approaching her, hoping with all her heart that it would be him. But it wasn't. It was a Guado woman. She looked down at Rikku with compassion in her eyes.

"It is your aircraft parked outside of Guadosalam, am I right?" Rikku nodded weakly, thanking any higher power that was watching over her that the woman didn't ask her what was wrong. How do you explain to someone that a person who was dead wasn't there in the Farplane?

"There is someone trying to get ahold of you on it..." the woman said simply. She offered a hand to help Rikku up. She gladly accepted it, and stood to her feet, sniffling still. She wiped the moisture from her cheeks.

"Thank you..." Rukki said, heading for the door.

"Oh, Miss?" The Guado woman called after her,

Rikku turned around, still on the brink of tears. "Yes?"

"You will find him," she said confidently.

Rikku turned around and walked through the gate to the Farplane. What does she mean I will find him?
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Mwahahaha, bet you though that it was Auron, didn't you!

Anywhoo, the next chappy should be out by the end of the week.