Rikku remembered that Auron had not yet seen what changes were made to Kilika Island since his departure to the Farplane, and when getting of the Celsius she seemed to be the only one paying attention to his reaction.
He turned his head every which way and took in what had become of the place. He remembered Kilika to be just a mass of straw huts built on broken wooden decks, and ruins of them floating in the ocean after Sin's attack unleashed a tsunami, two years ago. Now that the ramps and such were fixed, the whole island civilization was renovated beautifully, with two ramps that held homes that proudly displayed colorful rugs. Boats were docked underneath the overpasses, and merchants and citizens alike chattered on the walkways, walking together in contentment or sitting under the shade of the straw rooftops.
"Yuna has definitely ushered in an era of change," he muttered to himself.
Rikku walked behind him with her hands folded behind her back. "Is it amazing or what? We go shopping here regularly now. And that," she added, pointing out to a large pink building in the distance, "is the new Youth League base they just finished building."
"Looks like an observatory," Auron said with a smile. As the group kept walking, Auron kept the smile on his face when they passed by happy men and women with their children running about. He couldn't help feeling that he played a part in this peace, helping Yuna fight off the force that he had seen bring them great despair. Coming back to see the beauty of this world that he missed out on before was a reward.
"Kilika apples?" offered an elderly woman with a wicker basket filled to its brim with island apples. Her smile was warm and friendly, though she was making little money. She sat with her legs tucked under her, in a bright yellow and green sundress. "I've just gathered them today. Wouldn't you like one, sir?"
And he bought one, and although not really feeling like eating it, kept her smiling.
"They're not really all that great, you know," Tidus said to him from up ahead, hand-in-hand with his bride.
"That doesn't matter," he replied quietly. "Besides, I've never tried one before."
Yuna led Tidus, Rikku, Paine, and Auron up a strong wooden ramp that took them to one particular home that seemed to touch the sky. She smiled amiably and waited outside the bright rug draped over the doorway, leaning and listening to the mild arguing going on inside.
"You can't be serious, Barthello. Company? Now?"
They heard a woman's voice that was only about as soft and euphonic as dry, snapping twigs. The High Summoner jumped as this woman seemed to tear back the red cloth curtain, not very tall and dark-skinned.
"Oh, it's you. Again, congratulations on your engagement. Now, listen, I just might be able to help you arrange things if you'll accept my help," she told Yuna, straightening out her long black braid that was pulled together tightly at the back of her head.
"I'm glad you got my letter, Lady Dona," replied Yuna graciously, standing aside patiently like a little lamb.
"Of course, of course. When Barthello and I got married we realized how messy a job it can be. Have you hired entertainers? A caterer? Anything yet, dear?"
Tidus and Yuna exchanged sheepish looks, and turned their gazes to the treetops in the jungle in the background, to the sky, and to their feet.
Dona only clicked her tongue, shook her head, and placed her cocoa hands on her hips, bringing out her own gaudy yellow outfit that opened up over a black bikini bottom piece, held together by various cords and belts. "Alright then, we've got some work to do. Barthello," she called to her husband inside, "I want you to cancel what we were going to do today. I've been appointed as the High Summoner's wedding planner." With a triumphant chuckle, she took Yuna's arm and led her inside, along with Tidus, who shrugged to the others before following.
"So what are we supposed to do now?" Paine asked herself, crossing her arms in her usual habit and pacing, letting her heavy high-heeled boots clunk across the wooden walkway. "She doesn't really expect us to just wait here, does she?"
"Maybe we should come back later," Rikku suggested, slouching her shoulders and shuffling her feet. "But what are we going to do until then?"
Paine thought for a moment, then the other two watched as she descended to the level below, hung her legs over the deck and grabbed a bamboo fishing pole from the boat in her reach. Her boot stirred up a crystal reflection of her pretty, but pouty and determined face. "You find your entertainment. I'll wait right here until I see them."
"She would have made a good guardian, if we knew her those years ago," Auron told Rikku, glancing at the way Paine immediately submerged herself in thought while maintaining focus on her amateur fishing. "Is the bar still standing? Where's the inn?"
"It's all that way," Rikku replied, pointing around the corner. "You drink a lot."
"Not really. I'll see you later. One of you come and get me when Yuna's ready." And with that, Auron took of before Rikku could see more than the swishing tail of his overcoat and the metal in his boots.
"Whew," she exhaled deeply. Looking around her and shrugging her shoulders, the youth leaned back and flopped down on her bottom, sitting with her legs outstretched like a toddler that had fallen in an attempt to walk. Then she stared off and bobbed her head as if there was a beat playing in her mind, and began humming a somewhat-patriotic tune. "Gullwings, go... la-la-la-la-la... Gullwings, fight... la-la-la-la....." Within a minute she crawled her way toward Paine, and when the older female warrior didn't stir, she leapt over her head and landed in the boat in front of her.
"What gives?" Paine said sharply. "I know I wasn't catching anything, but still...!"
"Sorry!" Rikku giggled and fell onto her back, lying down and floating there with the clouds staring down. Torn and scattered like shredded cotton, they were laid out in strips, not even gathering together, and showing no sign of rain whatsoever. It never rained in Kilika, at least not during all those times she visited. Her lids fell heavy and she began to slip into a dream about warm summer rain massaging her skin and straightening all her long hair down, and dancing in the wet-plant scent from the refreshing shower.......
----------------------------------------
"HA!!!!!!!!!!"
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaa!" Rikku squealed, opening her eyes after cold saltwater stung her body in a quick, cruel slap. Through the blurriness she could see Paine kneeling over her on the deck, a shallow basket of a few fish beside her. Nearly hitting her head on the side of the boat, the Al Bhed pulled herself up and sputtered profusely, spitting out water and unclogging her nose. "What the---?"
"Are you okay?" Paine asked, taking Rikku's wrist and digging in with her heel. "I'm sorry, I really am. I just couldn't resist that."
"Minus fifteen respect points, Paine!!" Rikku stood up and shook her hair out like a wet dog, and poured water out of her new favorite shoes. "Thanks a lot!! What'd you do?"
"I was trying to wake you up, so I jumped onto the boat. I didn't mean to flip it over. I almost lost my balance, but I made it back okay. I'm sorry you didn't." Paine reached over and patted Rikku's soaken little blonde head, then rubbed her shoulders.
"Now I smell like seawater."
"Then come on, let me buy you a drink. It's about time we went to fetch Sir Auron anyway."
A few blue neon lights formed a blinking "Welcome" sign over the bar when they walked in. Auron had barely touched his brandy, it seemed, when the two of them spotted him talking with Tidus and Yuna on similar barstools.
Paine brushed rubber palm tree leaves out of the way and let a dripping Rikku in before her, looking a little guilty while Rikku tried to look like everything was okay. Tidus and Yuna waved but feigned easygoing smiles, and Auron looked the younger girl over with an eyebrow raised.
"What happened to you??" Tidus chuckled. "Did you take a long walk off the short pier?"
Yuna nudged him and fought back a laugh. Auron shook his head but with a comical smile, beginning to slide his famous red overcoat off his broad shoulders, revealing just a little bit of his thick muscular arms, that Rikku had always so badly wanted around her. And wearing the overcoat would have been nice, too.
"Here's a towel, kid." Tidus tossed her a small white terry-cloth towel, much to Rikku's dissatisfaction, although being dry again wouldn't hurt a bit. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Auron nod and pull his coat back on completely, causing her to bite the end of her tongue.
"Tidus? Would you mind getting that slip of paper back from Lady Dona?" Yuna asked, watching over his soda for him.
"And Rikku, I forgot the fish I caught. I wanted to return Lulu the favor for the stew the other day," Paine remembered. "Don't worry, I haven't forgotten the drink I said I would buy you."
The two youthful former guardians grumbled and trudged out of the bar, complaining together in such a way that entertained Yuna and Paine.
"Phew!!!!!!!" Yuna released, slumping down and holding herself up with her elbows resting on the counter. "I was hoping I could get a moment to relax with you guys! Ohhhh... you can't imagine. This is all so much fun, but stressful! You two are my best friends right now. Thanks for standing aside all this time. I haven't forgotten you."
"Don't be silly," Paine said, taking Tidus's seat. "I'm sure that Auron, like me, is enjoying this as much as you are. It's good to have a break from solving everyone's conflicts."
"...I've never been to a wedding before, minus Maester Seymour's stunt in Bevelle." Auron admitted stiffly. "But you can't assume there isn't going to be any kind of hysteria before it. I'm sure yours will be the best I'll ever see."
"Thanks, you guys---"
"Paine, you suck!!" Rikku burst back in emptyhanded. "Where'd the basket go??"
Paine raised an eyebrow. "You lost my fish, Rikku?"
"No!! How could I lose something that wasn't there to begin with???"
"Grrrr.... Never mind!" Paine fumbled with the thin wallet she stored in her back pocket, gathering a few bills and shoving them into the girl's palm. "You buy your drink, and I'll find the fish."
"I should go, too. I hope Dona didn't change any of our plans. She revised that list almost twenty times today!" griped Yuna, chasing Paine's heels and letting her long braid in the back, coming from her pink hood, swish like the tail of a kite.
"So," Rikku said, seating herself onto a barstool and resting her chin in her hands. "Looks like you and me drinking again."
Auron chuckled lightly. "So it appears. What happened to you?"
"I fell asleep and Paine turned my boat over. What a big meanie. But between you and me, I didn't lose her fish. I just hid them behind that old lady's basket of apples."
"You just never quit, do you."
"Nope.... Um... Auron?"
"Hm?"
"What I was trying to say earlier was... we haven't been, um, together... since Yunie's concert, and... want to hang out with me again sometime?" Rikku could barely hear what she was saying, as all the blood rushed into her head and her ears.
Underneath his high collar, Auron's face involuntarily formed a wide smile that would have almost showed his teeth, which didn't happen every day. He didn't know why he often had moments when he felt like he was pushing away whatever kind of chances he had to make this girl truly happy. Nor did he know why he wanted to see her smile so badly. But this friendly offer was a bridge between them, that made him hope he would someday always have some way of being close to her.
"I would like that," he told her uneasily. Before he could say anything else, Rikku threw her slender frame against him, her arms around his shoulders. He could feel her damp scarf against his neck, and although he could taste the ocean coming from her skin, her hair was soft and sleek. The fact that she was all soaken brought back memories of her dancing with him in a long evening gown, her lovely hair hanging down straight like this.
"Thanks, Auron," she half-whispered. "I love it every time you give me a chance."