A/N: So, I know that some people were confused about what was going on with the last chap, and I apologize about that, I really do, but I have reasons to keep you lovely readers confused. :) It makes things MUCH more interesting later on, if you don't know what is going to happen! XD Anyway, this chap isn't very long, but it should HOPEFULLY clear up any questions left over from the last chap, for now. I have a looooong way to go yet on this story, and so many things that haven't even begun to happen yet. I really appreciate you guys who are sticking with my while I write this truly twisted, winding tale ... I love you guys immensely! Enjoy this tiny chap, and I'll have a new one out soon! R&R, as always! Luv, Rhianna :)

Chapter Seventeen
Written in the Stars

Part One

"He didn't even try, you know?" Rikku said quietly sometime later, once again staring into the dancing flames. "It was just … it was like it was so easy for him. To just give up. And that's the part that doesn't make any sense at all."

Auron sat on the other side of the fire, facing the distraught girl. "You're right," he agreed. "It truly doesn't make sense."

"Some legend says that I'm destined for someone else … and he just accepts that? Didn't I mean anything to him at all?" Rikku said, trying her damndest not to cry again. "I would've fought for him. I would've done anything to keep him. If he'd seen the stupid lake with Lulu, I wouldn't have walked away so easily."

Auron heard the determination in her voice, saw the glint in her eyes. "No, you wouldn't have," he said quietly. "But Rikku, Wakka is not as strong as you."

Rikku arched an eyebrow. "Excuse me?" she asked.

"I'm not talking about physical prowess," Auron explained. "I mean, strength of will. Wakka is a good man, I am not going to dispute that fact with you. But his whole life has been based upon the legends and myths that his society has taught him. So while you can sit here and talk about how you would have behaved differently, therein lies the problem. You would do things differently, because you have been raised to believe in options, in free will. Wakka has been raised to believe that if it is written, then it must be obeyed."

Rikku nodded, understanding. But even though she understood what Sir Auron was telling her, it didn't mean that she was ready to accept it. "No offense, Sir Auron, but I love him. I don't … I don't really feel anything for you at all. I just didn't ever think that it would come to this, you know?"

"Nobody ever wishes for things to turn out in such a manner," Auron replied. "And I am not here because I expect anything of you."

Rikku nodded. "Of course not! I mean, it's not as if you feel anything towards me. That's why this whole thing is completely ridiculous, you know? It's like an arranged marriage or something." She smiled in spite of herself.

Auron laughed slightly to himself. "Right," was all he said. "Do you remember that day, on the airship, after your Home was destroyed? Do you remember what I said to you?"

Rikku thought back … she remembered many things about that day, but she was drawing a blank where the Legendary One was concerned. Smiling sadly, she shook her head. "No, I'm sorry, I … I don't."

She looked so genuinely apologetic that Auron was not offended. "I promised you something," he began, and a light shone in her eyes.

"Oh! You said that if I ever needed anyone to talk to, you promised to listen … without interrupting!" She smiled, proud that she had remembered. Shaking her head, she sighed. "I'm sorry … I don't know how I could have forgotten that. It was really nice of you."

"Well, I believe you had other things on your mind that evening," Auron said languidly.

Rikku's eyes darted up to the older man's face. Seeing the faint twinkle of amusement in his eyes, she smiled a little. "Right," she said quietly.

They sat in companionable silence for several long moments before Rikku spoke again. "Sir Auron?" she began timidly.

"Yes, Rikku?" he replied.

"I shouldn't give up, should I?" she asked. "I mean, I should keep trying, right?"

"I believe that you should do whatever your heart tells you to do," Auron said in an uncharacteristic moment of gentleness.

"But … what about Lulu?" Rikku asked hesitantly. "They seem as if they've gotten so close since it all happened." She blinked. "Which is also rather strange."

Auron nodded. "I think that you shouldn't count yourself out of it yet. Lulu and Wakka are, plain and simply, very old friends. They are comfortable together because they have known each other their entire lives. I do not think there is, or ever will be, anything romantic between the two of them. Wakka was there for Lulu when Chappu died, and now, it is Lulu's turn to return the favor."

Rikku nodded, feeling much better. Everything Sir Auron said made perfect sense. Wakka was not a cruel person, and she knew, in her heart of hearts, that he wouldn't do anything to deliberately hurt her. She also knew that he was not so callous as to simply toss her aside and move on to the next available girl. She felt silly and a little guilty for even allowing such a notion to enter her mind.

As she drifted off to sleep that night, she made a vow to speak to Wakka as soon as the next opportunity presented itself.

Auron watched her as she fell asleep, and then rolled onto his back. Braska! What the hell are you doing? I wanted her happy … even if it was with someone else. Now, everyone is miserable. What is the purpose of this?

He received no answer from his friend that night.

Part Two

"I don't understand," Wakka said to Tidus, back at the cave where the other party members were. "You would think that I would want to do something, ya? To fight for her or call the legend a liar."

Tidus nodded, his blue eyes serious as he considered his friend's plight. "Yeah … it did seem a little strange, you know, Wakka. The way you just accepted it, as if it didn't matter."

Wakka blew out a frustrated breath. "Dat's just the thing, ya? A part of me was screaming to say something, do something, ya know? But another part of me just sat there … like I was watching it through someone else's eyes. And I couldn't do anything."

Yuna, who had been sitting next to Tidus, looked at Wakka with concern. "But you do love her," she said softly.

"'Course I do! More than anything in the world. And that's what's killin' me about this, ya? The fact that deep down, in my heart, I always knew that it wasn't meant to last." Wakka hung his head, completely dejected. "Just waitin' for the other shoe to drop, I guess."

"But you were going to marry her," Lulu interjected from her spot across the fire. She hated seeing him in so much pain. Wakka was supposed to be cheerful, and happy, and bright.

"Wishful thinkin', eh?" he said forlornly. "I knew it, even when I was askin' her, and she was sayin' yes … I knew that it would never happen."

"Don't say that, Wakka!" Yuna said forcefully. "You don't know, and … and it isn't over yet! I just cannot accept the fact that two people who are as in love as you and Rikku are would fall apart this easily! She doesn't love Sir Auron, and Sir Auron most certainly does not love her."

Lulu's head rose at that, but she opted not to say anything. She honestly wanted Wakka to explore every option that was available to him. "Wakka, it isn't like you to just back down when you really want something," she said sensibly. "Why on earth would you start now?"

"Maybe because I got an old-as-time legend to contend with, how 'bout that for starters?" Wakka said sadly. "Rikku and I, we're from two different worlds, ya? How could I have expected it to ever work out?"

"It's called faith," Yuna said vehemently. "You used to be so full of it. Don't you have any left?"

Wakka stared outside the mouth of the cave. "I gave it all to her," he muttered, hoping that no one saw the glint of the tears that had started to form in his eyes.

"So get it back," Lulu commanded. "So what if some legend says that she's destined for someone else? What we've all seen, with our own eyes, is that you and she are very much in love. How often do you think love like that comes around? Shouldn't you exhaust everything you've got before you just give up? Honestly, Wakka, I thought more of you."

Suddenly, Wakka stood up and heaved his blitzball at the cave wall, opposite where he was sitting. "You guys don't understand!" he cried. "I got nothin' left! I love her, ya, but it's outta my hands now! I can't spend so much energy worryin' about it, when I've got a damn job to do! I've got to get Yuna to Zanarkand, and deal with all dat first! Rikku and I …" He sighed heavily. "I'm just … tired. Nothin' that perfect is ever meant to last. If it works out, it works out. But I'm not going to force anything."

Tidus looked up at Wakka, confused. No, this was definitely not the Wakka that he knew. This Wakka was defeated, dejected, and without hope. It didn't take an idiot to see what was going on. Wakka was heartbroken, and he just … didn't have the energy to keep on fighting any more.

Tidus knew how it felt, because he had felt it too, when he had learned that Yuna was to sacrifice herself in Zanarkand. He hoped, for everyone's sake, that Wakka wouldn't stop fighting. One way or another, for good or for bad, a conclusion had to be reached before they got to Zanarkand.