Disclaimer: Nope, Final Fantasy X belongs to Squaresoft. sobs However, original characters (my summoner and her party) belong to me.

This is my first FFX fanfic and reviews are greatly appreciated. I've always thought that Auron was a closet romantic (especially when he was younger), but to reveal it would take so much away from his bad ass demeanor.

Working two jobs and schoolwork mean that my time for writing went down the drain, no lie. But I am trying, so I guess that's got to count for something.

Also, this story will roughly follow the game up until Bevelle, but I won't be writing out each and every scene. The story will contain spoilers, so if you've beaten the game and/or don't care to be surprised, please read on.

Read and enjoy!

"Kiss From a Rose" Part Eleven

Copyright 2003-2004 by Amie Martin

Auron--Macalania Woods

The campsite was quiet when I returned from my watch, a few coals all that remained of the center fire. Having sent Kimahri to take my place, I knew what I should be doing—even the unsent required sleep. But the guardian in me remained restless; after Yevon's recent betrayal, I knew we had to be prepared for anything.

Adding another log to the fire, I surveyed the campsite silently, looking for unseen dangers but also acknowledging the changes that had occurred in my absence. Tidus and Yuna slept close to one another; I smiled behind my collar, glad the two of them had at least one moment of happiness. Lulu and Wakka were close together as well, but their relationship was one I could only speculate about. I'd have to ask someone else about what had happened...

Slowly, my eyes drifted to Katralina's sleeping form, curled up on the other side of the fire. I watched her peaceful form for several moments, the flames casting a warm glow over her pale face. I was surprised to note that she lacked a blanket; instead her coat unbuttoned and spread out over her, just like she had that night at the inn at Djose. Scanning over the party, I spotted Rikku next to Yuna, a bright blue blanket laid over her, and I knew Katralina's mark when I saw it.

My steps were quiet as I moved to her side; the last thing I wanted to do was to wake her. I crouched beside her, watching her chest rise and fall in steady, even breaths. Even in sleep, Katralina, my Katra, was beautiful. The years had been kind to her, although I knew how much pain she had seen...

I wanted nothing more than to take her into my arms, holding her as if the past ten years had never happened. But something held me back—the knowledge that I was the one person who had the ability to bring her the greatest happiness, but also the greatest sorrow. For ten years, I had found myself torn between three promises; my promise to Braska, to take care of Yuna; my promise to Jecht, to take care of Tidus; and my promise to Katra herself...

My loyalty to Braska hadn't ended with his death. When Jecht, the Final Aeon, killed Braska after bringing the Calm... I lost it. I let my youth, my anger, and my recklessness get the best of me, and I returned to Zanarkand, determined to avenge Braska's and Jecht's deaths. I promised Katra I would return...

But I broke my promise. I vaguely remembered crawling down Mount Gagazet after Yunalesca had finished me, how Katra had found me... Her tears had broken my heart. I wanted to tell her I was sorry, I wanted to say how much I loved her, but I physically couldn't form the words. It wasn't long before the darkness consumed me.

When I awoke, in an alley in Jecht's Zanarkand, I knew immediately that I was unsent. A note in my pocket told me where to find Jecht's son, but beyond that, there was nothing, nothing from Katralina at all. Ten years later, when Sin attacked Zanarkand and I finally returned to Spira, I knew I could never return to Besaid. I was dead to Katra, and could only hope she had found a way to move on. No matter what, I would not cause her any more pain, not if I could help it.

And yet here she was, still putting her life in danger to see Sin defeated. At least, I thought that was Katra's motive; to be honest, I couldn't really say. I should have seen from the start that Lulu was Katra's niece; the family resemblance alone was enough to give it away. I should have guessed, should have known she'd be here...

Katralina moaned in her sleep, shifting towards the fire and drawing her coat closer to her body. As she moved, something on her hand caught my eye, glittering in the firelight. Curious, I leaned in for a better look, and had to stop myself from gasping when I realized what it was.

It had a large, clear stone in the center with two smaller stones on either side, one stone a bright blue while the other was a deep crimson red. The flames flickered in the stones, glinting off of the silver setting. It looked as perfect now as it did ten years ago... I couldn't believe she still had it, much less actually wear it. After everything I had put her through...

Katra still wore her wedding ring.

She still thought of herself as my wife.

I hung my head, letting the realization sink in. Here I had told her that my heart had never left her side, while secretly I feared what she could and should have done—moved on with her life. She still considered herself bound to me, bound to her promise, choosing to her life as a widow... I should have known this would be her choice.

Once upon a time, my fears about Katra had been similar... but with a drastically different twist...

Flashback

"You should get some sleep, Auron."

Braska's voice, although quiet, echoed in the otherwise silent night. I jumped a little, startled out of my thoughts, and it was a moment before I recovered. "It is you who should be resting, my Lord," I answered.

He smiled as he sat down beside me. "I think I'll manage." He looked out over the campsite; for protection, our party had joined Katralina's for the night, and Jecht and Othello had agreed to keep watch. I followed Braska's gaze, my eyes lingering on Katra, sound asleep between Corone and Ziletto. "What is it that keeps you awake?" Braska asked.

"I was... just thinking."

"I see." Braska glanced over at Katralina and smiled, almost knowingly. "You think about her."

Feeling the blush creep into my cheeks, I simply nodded. I didn't quite trust myself to speak, lest Katra woke and heard us discussing her.

"You should be with her, now, but you are not. Tell me, what is it about her that troubles you?"

I stared down at my clenched fists, thinking back to my earlier conversation with Katra at the spring. While I knew her heart would not leave me, death was an entirely different subject... "She is a summoner."

"Not all summoners succeed, Auron. Only a chosen few make it all the way to Zanarkand."

"But she is determined." I looked over at him. "And so are you."

A few moments passed before Braska answered. "You cannot choose destiny," he said slowly, "it is destiny that chooses you. We both know the sacrifice that will be asked of us, and we are willing to make it."

"But... my Lord, I don't understand." I struggled to find the words, not wishing to sound anguished in front of Braska. "She won't give up her idea of revenge, even though she knows it'll end in her death. Even though--" Stopping short, I couldn't finish my sentence: Even though she knows I will be waiting for her.

"You should support her in her quest, as you have me."

"I am, and I'm trying to." I sighed, staring back at the flames. "No one ever said it would be this difficult."

Braska chuckled softly at this. "Love never is," he said, like a wise man advising a pupil. "It is a little scary, is it not?"

"Yes... but it is not the emotion I fear. I fear... I fear that I've found her too late," I admitted quietly, my eyes searching for Katra, if only to reassure myself that she was still there. "I fear losing her... and forgetting her."

Reaching out, Braska gripped my shoulder tightly. "Trust me, it will be a very long time before you forget a woman like her," he said knowingly, rising to his feet. "Treasure this moment, Auron. Who knows how many more you might have?" With that, Braska turned and headed back towards his tent.

I watched Katra for several more minutes, thinking over what Braska had said. Katra was a summoner, yes, and we both knew what the future held for her. She was not afraid to die, and I shouldn't be afraid of her death either. It was my duty, my responsibility, my promise to make sure whatever time left was filled with happiness.

This had been her gift to me, and so it would be my gift to her.

End Flashback

Shaking my head, I could have laughed at the irony of it all. Ten years ago, I worried about what would happen to my world at the end of Braska's and Katra's pilgrimages, believing I would be the one who survived. If only I could have predicted our future together...

Suddenly, it all started to make sense. I understood why Katra was hesitant to open herself up to me, why she felt the need to protect her heart. There was no way to escape my fate; after the pilgrimage was over, I would be sent. We had been married for so little time—a few weeks, if I remembered correctly—and I had destroyed our chance at forever. We still had a precious few moments in the present—I had to make her see that.

Katralina moaned again, pulling her coat closer, and then I realized that she was shivering. It was a small sign of her fragility, a side of her not many people were allowed to see. Nodding to myself, I went to my bedroll and pulled out my blanket. I draped the crimson fabric over her lithe form, wishing I could hold her instead of watching her from afar.

On a whim, I brushed a kiss against Katra's forehead and left a shimmering blue flower beside her. When she woke in the morning, she would know that I had been there.

It was a subtle sign that I still loved her, and with any luck, Katra and I would be able to recapture at least one piece of the relationship we had lost.

A/N: I always worry about my characterization. Here, I worry about Braska. There's not many scenes to draw on for inspiration... So I'm open to opinions on the subject.

Also, Auron referring to Katralina by his nickname for her is supposed to refer to how intimate they've become, as compared to previous chapters. Let me know if it works in this section, or what you think. It's all good with me.

This part had original been the first half of a longer section, but when I realized it would be better if spilt into two sections, I decided to post this one first. Hope everyone enjoyed it!