Hey! sry it took soooo long to write this chap. too much hwk! but yea, last chap we have the nice romantic thing going on between auron and rikku, but they cant be paried up yet so quicky, cuz there wud be no story to it after right? haha! so yea, I HOPE this chap wont disappoint u, and next chap ill try to make the story progess a little faster, interms of the places they go.. cuz right now its sorta going a bit slow...i think... so next chap ill make them travel faster, like bevelle and calm lands in one chap or something...but plz give me reviews and give suggestions! Tell me what you think!!

Collide - Howie Day

Out of the doubt that fills my mind, I somehow find that you and I collide...


Chapter 7: Lies…

The next morning had somehow seemed the most beautiful morning I've ever encountered in my life. Or perhaps it was just what I've experienced last night, true happiness, I had felt true happiness for the first time in a very long time. I gave a big stretch, quickly tied my hair up into a somewhat messy pony tail but giving it's flexibility to bounce up and down my head. I hopped outside of my tent and my gaze met the one of the russet orbs. I gave a slight smile before switching my gaze to the two other men.

"Good mornin' guyz! What's for breakfast?" I chirped.

"Good morning Rikku, do you feel better to move on today?" Asked Braska.

"Oh yea! Feelin one hundred percent to the top!"

"Ya, we don't want you breakin another bone on the way girl." Jecht commented.

"heh…!" I gave a sign of embrassment.

I walked over to the red guardian that was staring out into the open deep in thought.

"You should get ready for the temple ahead." His low voice rumbled before I even stepped into his zone of territory. He seems to be the mean cold Auron again…and just when I thought I've accomplished the first step and our relationship have gotten closer, he hides himself behind the red shell. The shell where no one ever knows what in Spira is on his mind. I do not want to repeat my steps and start from the beginning again. It was just too painful…and hard.

I tried to shake these thoughts off my mind, and pretends nothing has happened.

"I am as ready as you are!" I replied gleefully.

He looked at me with his ever so firm looks and gave me a nod before leaving me with a "let's go." So next place was the Macalania temple. The first temple I've been to back in Yunnie's pilgrimage. I remembered every step in the cloister of trails. Tidus had made it look so easy, I guess I could give a hand to Braska. I ran up to catch up with my uncle and decided to make a conversation to break the silence in the air.

"Hey Braska, mind if I help you out in the cloister of trails? I am pretty good at figuring out puzzles!" I offered. He had looked at me surprisingly of the fact that I knew what a temple was. Reading his mind quickly I answered,

"We Al Bheds do study a little about Yevon so we know why they're so against us." I said sounding a little sad as I trailed off.

"It's okay, it doesn't matter what race you are, in the end everyone heads for the same goal, defeat Sin and live in the eternal calm." That made a lot of sense to me. I feel like it was only Uncle Braska who understood my race, everyone just thinks of us as heathens.

We've finally reached the entrance of Macalania Temple. It gave me shivers from the coldness that the powerful Shiva summons around the temple. As we walked through the cloister of trails, everything was still in the same place. As Braska pondered about which glyph to move next, I was already on step further. I placed the destruction Sphere into the slot of beside an ice doorway and instantly another ice path was created, leading to a treasure chest. Then I quickly headed up the ramp and replaced all the ice pathways to complete the tunnel. Everything went well, but I was getting weird stares from the three men, but they all became mute. They must've wondered why I was so quick in the trail, and the only way I could explain to them…was through more lies.

"Rikku, thanks for the help earlier, I must pray to the Fayth and obtain the aeon Shiva now, please wait patiently my guardians." He did a Yevon bow before heading into the single door, and it shut behind him instantly.

I seated myself over at a corner to do more thinking on how I should save the men from the final summoning. It was always me thinking, I had to think of a way to save Yunnie back in the pilgrimage too, and it hurts to think about the loved ones being dead. I buried my head into my petite palms and rested them on my knees. There was last night's event, that scene under the shining stars had flashed through my mind many times today. I only wish it could happen once more…before I get sent back into reality…the world of MY time. I could feel anger raging up in me once more, why did he have to be so cold towards me again, didn't it mean anything at all to him last night? Does he even…feel? Tears began to form in my green eyes, but I suppressed them from falling out.

I looked up to see what the two men were doing. Auron was standing a distance from me, not too far, his vision concentrated on the floor. I saw Jecht wandering around the area, but as soon as he locked eye contact with me, he slowly walked over to my direction. As he came closer, I could see his eyes squinting and looking down at my face.

"What, is there something on my face? Or are you admiring my beauty?" I joked at the last sentence, but I caught Aurons attention.

"No Rikku, your eyes are BEAT red! What happened to ya, you okay??" Jecht examined.

No I am not fine, I've been crying because of the stoic red guardian standing right there like a stick.

"Oh yeah, I am fine, don't worry about me." I gave a little wink, as I lied again.

Jecht gave a nod as he was satisfied with my answer and started marching around the room once again.

"Rikku,"

My head snapped up at the call of my name. My green orbs searched around the room to see who has addressed my name, till my orbs met the ones of the russet ones.

"Yeah?" I was surprised at his sudden start up conversation. There was a pause, and I gave him my full attention.

"Hmph never mind." He switched his gaze somewhere, away from mine.

"Argh, just say what you were going to say." I was getting frustrated at is attitude.

He looked back at me and for the first time I felt hesitation in his voice.

"How did you manage to complete the cloister of trails that fast?" So that was what bothered him the whole time. I knew it. He doesn't trust me after all…

"I have my ways." I tried to say with a little pride in my voice.

"Are you hiding something?" He's doubting me.

"Do you think I am?" I was trying to bring the question back to him. I did not want him to find out about the truth.

"Yes and this concerns the pilgrimage." His tone was serious now.

"Gees, do you even trust me? Last night…." I didn't even want to finish the sentence.

"Last night….may be a mistake." He finished for me. I couldn't believe what I just heard. So my thoughts and instincts were right. He didn't care how I felt at all.

"…you..selffish…cold…." Tears welled up at the corner of my eyes and I didn't care if they were spilling this time. I was just too angry…and hurt from those words. I shook my head and walked right passed him and sat down at the corner of the room. I closed my eyes and buried my head into my hands, not wanting to cloud my minds with thoughts again, I drifted off into a deep sleep…. Wondering when I will wake up again.


Okay, so that was it! haha I hope it was okay...sry i havent wrote for a long time, i need to get bak to the writing mood first.. haha! keep up for the next update! CYA!