Chapter One


Just a note. This takes place after the battle with Yunalesca, so
A. everybody knows Auron is unsent.
B. They are looking for the ultimate weapons, why you ask, plot device my dear, plot device. Although I can't decide how many people will get there's, although I didn't get it in the game we will of course be trying to get Lulu's because as I said earlier, although it may be slightly over done, it's a wonderful plot device.
C. This may seem a little out of character for everyone but I promise I'll try real hard not to.
D. Oh and there is a back story sort of a coming to terms thing where Auron and Rikku grow a little closer, it falls under the up until Zanarkand thing. No real romance, just a little pre-romance. After I finish writing this, I will start on that. I don't know why this is all coming now, I finished the game so long ago, but the little Auron and Rikku plot bunnies are attacking me, ahhhhh......
E. I think that's about it, I hope. Oh and I don't own anything, nada, zilch, nothing. And it's Aurikku so if that squicks you, hit that lovely little back button.

And now on with the show.........

Auron didn't want to look up, he didn't want to see their faces. So he leaned against the wall head down, grunting when people walked past on the ship. He knew he shouldn't have lied to them, but he knew Yuna would have sent him if she thought he would become a fiend, and besides it would have distracted them from their goal. Of course plenty had distracted him already, if he allowed himself to be honest. And when, but when everyone else is reveling in the newly revealed truth to start to admit things to himself. Like how that thoroughly annoying little girl had gotten to him.

Truth be told the only one he really didn't want to look in the eye was her. He could stare the rest of them down, Lulu and Kimhari he was sure had already knew. Tidus had some inclination of the truth and he could handle Yuna and Wakka, but Rikku that damn girl had him behaving like some new bearded youth. Hmpf!

Hmpf! fully embraced the situation for him, yep Hmpf. Auron was in his Hmpf mind frame, which varied slightly from his intimidating silence mind frame. But as he exhaled quickly from his nose, which he cynically thought even his breath was agreeing with the Hmpf! mind frame, his mind went back to the mission and of course back to her. But he could not ponder on her too long, for he needed to speak with everyone, they needed to have a team meeting. To discuss their next course of action, Auron was under the opinion that they needed to go get the remaining Aeons, Yojimbo, Anima and the Magus sisters had proved invaluable to Braska, Jecht and himself the last time he did this, but this decision was up to his summoner, the one he should be worrying about most of the time, Yuna.

Kimhari walked by him and told him that a meeting was going on, well in less words than that of course, Kimhari was more taciturn than Auron and that was quite a feat and ever since his people had been destroyed he spoke even less. The only one he had left was Yuna. This pilgrimage had been hard on everyone, so many losing the ones they love, so many questioning everything they had come to believe, and it wasn't over yet, oh no Auron knew that hurt and pain lay ahead.

Tidus and Yuna may look at each other with love now, but it wouldn't be long before they were separated again, Tidus was part of the dream, Sin was the link, how could Tidus stay if the link was gone? Auron knew this, but refused to bring it up lest it distract his summoner, oh she would call him cruel if she knew, but they were all living so far in denial that they would see it too if they left that beloved state. Although he really wasn't the one to be talking about denial, after all whose name had been on his lips as he awoke.

They all gathered on the observatory on the upper deck. When Auron and Kimhari arrived, Yuna and Tidus were there, Lulu, Wakka and Rikku weren't far behind. Yuna's ever polite and cautious voice ventured,

Sir Auron, we have heard of these legendary amazing weapons, but I have also heard of other summons, dark summons? Tell me Sir, what do you know about them? Yuna and the rest of the group turned to listen to his response.

You speak of Yojimbo, Anima and the Magus Sisters.

Where would we go to find them?

It will not be hard to find Yojimbo, he is located outside the calm lands, but he requires money.

Wakka interjected A fayth that requires money? Why in the name of Yevon does he need that ya.

They say that he was a miser in life, stolen from his temple he now seeks money to compensate his ungrounded nature, Auron drily remarked.

Yuna softly spoke, That's why you have been so careful with our money, you knew this was coming all along, didn't you.

You should have told us man, that was of course Tidus, the only one of the group familiar enough with him to call him anything other than Sir or Auron...well except that little sprite that was strangely quiet. Auron wondered why and then cursed himself for doing so, nothing showed on his as always impassive face. Auron wondered if Tidus was referring to just his deception about Yojimbo or if he was referring to everything Auron had hid.

We can visit and retrieve Yojimbo quickly, and to himself he added and retrieve what when formed can create my Masamune. Additionally we need many other things to form these ultimate weapons. Luckily we have some of the raw components, but we will need the celestial mirror to fully form them.

And then Auron spoke for what seemed to be hours, the rest of the party was in shock as he outlined what they needed to do to receive everyone's ultimate. They laid their course for the Calm Lands and decided to rest up. Auron didn't want to run after her, he didn't run after anyone anyway, but she had avoided his eye the whole time.

He didn't know why she mattered so much to him. They were just friends. They had shared night watch a couple times. But there was something about her, something that made him want to protect her, something that made him want to keep her safe. She was really the only friend he had on this trip, Tidus and Yuna seemed too much like his children, since he was protecting them. Yevon knows that he should feel that way about Rikku, she was younger than them, but somehow she had become a friend. He hoped that all was not lost with her. The ten years in Zanarkand had been lonely, but he had dealt with now. Now that he knew friendship again, he didn't want to give it up. Well, guess it was time for their favorite game hide and seek.

At this Kimhari looked up.

Meeting over, Rikku gone. Auron glared at him, as if to suggest why would he be looking for Rikku?



Talk to her about Godhand.

But with that last noise he soundlessly billowed away. Off in his search for that little sprite.

She was, surprisingly sitting all alone. Sitting in one of the smaller compartments. He glided up to her. She looked up.

Why didn't you tell me, I thought we were friends, sayhea she said this last part without much conviction though.

It would have delayed things.

And now you have completed your quest, you got us to Zanarkand. And we found out the bitterness sounded odd coming from her, and his stomach turned a little sour at the sound.

I did not know how to tell you, I apologize

You can string words together, how hard could it have been. She was pouting now. You had so much time to tell me. Why didn't you? Didn't you trust me!

Auron thought to himself, so that was what she was worried about, hmpf.

I let you stand watch, of course I trust you With that statement she looked up at him, shaking her head. Well it had made sense to him, she could have easily killed him then that was trust. But that didn't seem to be getting through to her.

Rikku, I would have told you but I was afraid.

Ha, big legendary guardians don't get scared.

You should know better than that, I was afraid of this...of this fallout. There he had said it, words never were his forte.

Was she happy that he was afraid? Sometimes he never thought he would figure it out.

he said dryly.

Of course it doesn't matter to me that you're unsent, you big dummie. We just have to make sure we don't let any summoners near you, except Yunie. She won't send you.

You weren't upset that I was unsent? What int he world was the girl upset about then. Honestly this girl was so confusing.

No, silly.


Back to normal I see, so tell me about this Godhand, I think it sounds nifty.

A/N: as you can obviously see I am horrible at dialogue, yep, intractably horrible at it. Grr....