Standard Disclaimer. I do not own FFX or the characters in it. They are owned by Square-Enix. I do own this story, and my original characters. The title of this chapter is from a song written and performed by Gordon Lightfoot. The song is a love song, but not about new love, as most love songs are, it is about long-time, long-term love, about love fulfilled.

Aboard the airship, everyone stood on the bridge except Kimahri. The Ronso seemed to have already found a place inside the great ship. But now that they had veered off the traditional path, no one seemed to know where to head next. The ship was moving, but the party had lost its way. Even the ship's pilot was totally clueless, frantically asking someone, anyone, to set him a course for the vessel to take.
Auron actually tried to elicit a direction from Tidus, surprising his wife no end, but the young man turned the tables on him, getting Auron to provide the opening clue. "What do we know?" The older man phrased it as a question, but it was a purely rhetorical one. "Sin is Jecht," he continued, finally stating it openly. "Thus, you have a link, a bond with Sin. That may be our key."
"So what do we do?" Tidus asked, trying desperately to get him to keep going.
Auron turned away from the group, and began to walk away. As he left, he almost threw the words over his shoulder. "We think, and we wait."
"Two things I'm bad at," Tidus muttered, half under his breath.
Mercy thought, Honey, you got that right, then watched in utter amazement as Auron exchanged some unspoken 'something' with Yuna, then exited the bridge completely, almost as though he were ceding the field. What the hell?

Yuna moved towards the captain of the airship, and bowed to him respectfully. By the time she had risen, the man had turned his back on her! Yuna walked away dejectedly, and continued out of the command center. Mercy's mind raced. Isn't the captain Yuna's uncle? Why did he treat her that way? Where did Auron go, and more important, why did he leave? Mercy left the bridge in search of him, and found him in the corridor just on the other side of the door, half-sitting on some exposed pipes. Companionably, she propped herself next to him, her shoulder pressed against his arm.

"Would you like to tell me why you left so abruptly?"
"No," he said shortly.
"Do it anyway," she responded equably.

Just then, Tidus burst through the door, and exchanged a few words with Auron, giving the older man a chance to examine his options. Not that I have any, he realized. She will demand an explanation…and simply sit there until she gets one. She has that right. And I felt like a fool at the time when I fought with Cid…she'll be sure to remind me I was one, no doubt. He took a deep breath, and let it out slowly.

After Tidus left the hallway, Mercy found herself studying Auron's profile, while he stared intently at his boots.
"Well," she prompted, nudging her shoulder into his bicep again for emphasis.
"When we were aboard this ship earlier, the Captain and I discussed Yuna's pilgrimage. The Al Bhed oppose the pilgrimages on principle, and Yuna is Cid's niece, so he was also opposed on a personal level. He planned to stop her from journeying, against her will if necessary. We...disagreed." He still seemed to find his boots rather fascinating.
"Where was Yuna when this…discussion…was taking place?" Mercy asked.
"She was in Bevelle, being forced to marry Seymour at gunpoint. We were on our way to rescue her." Auron tried to keep his voice level.
"So you two...gentlemen...were planning to decide her fate, not only in her absence, but at a point where neither of you was in any position to carry out whatever...decision...you reached?" She rolled her eyes up to the ceiling in exasperation.
"Yes."
"I don't suppose you had this little argument on the bridge, by any chance, did you?" she asked sarcastically.
"That would be correct," he replied evenly.
"Let me get this straight," she began quickly. "You got into a fight with the captain of an airship, in mid-flight, on his own bridge? What were you trying to do, Auron, find out if you would go 'splat' or 'squish' if you landed from ten thousand feet in the air?" He sucked in a breath, as though he were going to say something. "Don't even think of answering that. Just don't." She cut him off angrily.
She started shaking her head. Auron thought he heard her say something to herself, but he wasn't sure. She seemed to be muttering something like, "Too much testosterone, too few brains," but he wasn't certain that was what he heard. He almost asked her for clarification, but then he decided that discretion was the better part of valor, and he kept his mouth shut.

Tidus returned, speaking excitedly. "Guys, I've got it, you gotta come back to the bridge so I can tell everyone," he announced. Then he practically jumped through the door.
Auron looked at Mercy. "You'd better see what's going on. I'm not exactly...welcome...on the bridge," he admitted with a slight smile. She shook her head in mild annoyance, but she wasn't completely able to suppress an answering grin, before she turned to follow Tidus to the airship's command center.

Rikku, Wakka and Lulu were still jockeying for position, all eager to tell Tidus something. Lulu achieved ascendancy as the door slid shut behind Mercy. She leaned against the wall next to the door.
"The hymn is the key," Lulu stated. Wakka moaned behind her. Clearly he had wanted to be the one to say it.
Tidus was obviously not getting it, so she continued. "Sir Jecht likes the Hymn of the Fayth, correct?"
"Yeah," Tidus agreed, but clearly, he was still puzzled.
"That's why he was listening to it in Macalania!" Rikku chimed in.
"Sin...violence incarnate, listening peacefully," Lulu continued her explanation.
"I know it's your old man, and I don't mean no disrespect, but..." Wakka broke in.
"No, it's fine. I've gotten used to it." Tidus didn't mind Wakka's comment, but he did hate his continued confusion about what they were trying to tell him. It was driving him crazy.

Lulu saw his bewilderment, and tried to get the others to let her finish without interruptions. "Let me say it. If we attack Sin head-on, we've little chance of winning. However, if he hears the Hymn of the Fayth, he will become docile."
Wakka broke in again enthusiastically. "Yeah, and that's when we make our move! Might be against the rules and all, but who's keeping track, ya? Ya?
Rikku, too, "Yeah! It could really work!"
Tidus finally understood. "Yeah... Yeah, it's worth a try! But first, we need to go to Bevelle to 'talk' to Mika." The expression on his face owed a lot to some of Kimahri's more feral expressions.
Lulu immediately asked, "Why?"
"We need to know more about this Yu Yevon character that Yunalesca mentioned. Kimahri thinks that Mika probably knows a lot. We just need to make him tell us. It was Kimahri's idea, but I think it's a good one. I think we should go to Bevelle." Tidus looked at the rest of them expectantly, waiting for their answers.

"Yeah," Wakka agreed. "I wanna talk to him 'bout the way he treated us the last time. An' all those machina in the temple, ya?"
Rikku was even more enthusiastic. "Let's let Kimahri make him talk. Mika's given orders for lots of terrible things to be done to the Al Bhed. And he helped Seymour. I say, let's go get him."
"Lulu?" Tidus asked politely for the mage's opinion.
"Kimahri is right. Mika should have quite a bit of information that would be useful to know," her voice was cool, considering. "We should definitely talk to him before we proceed further. I agree."

"Good," Tidus replied. "Then it's settled." He turned to Cid; standing in the center of the bridge, beside the large blue sphere filled with electric images that served as a navigation console. "Set a course for Bevelle!" the blond shouted, pumping the air with enthusiasm.
"Sure thing, boy," Cid answered. "You shake all the answers you can outta that damn maester!" he bellowed.
Mercy had been silently watching as the others worked out the decision about their immediate destination. She didn't know a lot about Mika as an individual, but if Kimahri thought that there were still some answers to be extracted from the old bastard, that was good enough for her. But now that they had decided upon a heading, she had more immediate concerns. She spoke up, directing her question to Cid. "Captain, how long until we reach our destination?"

"And just who might you be, little lady?" Cid barked at her from across the bridge. Mercy advanced toward him, a warm smile on her face. She hoped that if she were friendly, he wouldn't throw her off the bridge, along with her husband.
"Cid, isn't it?" she said as she reached him, and offered him her hand to shake. He did, but very quickly, not quite sure how what to make of her. "My name is Mercy. I'm Auron's wife."
"Little lady, you have got to be kidding," Cid answered in surprise. "Lady, you're too pretty to be married to that grim-faced bastard standing out in the hall. There's just no way in hell."
"I'm not exactly sure whether to be flattered or insulted," Mercy laughed, "but I'm not kidding about Auron. We've been married for three years. You can ask Tidus. He was a witness." Whew! What did Auron do last time? What am I thinking? They're both too dominant. This bridge just isn't big enough to hold them both. They must have hated each other on sight. "I'm sorry that you and Auron didn't exactly hit it off when he was aboard your ship the last time."
"Well…" Cid wasn't quite sure what to say to that remark. I'm sure as hell not going to apologize. I was right, damn it!
That's as far as I'm going to go, she decided. Auron certainly isn't going to apologize, and I'm not about to do it for him. I am sorry you two didn't get along better when you met before, she thought at Cid. I'm sorry you were both prize idiots, for that matter. "Back to my earlier question. How long to Bevelle?" Mercy asked again.
"I don't want to burn out the engines like we did last time. What do you say we get there in the morning?" His daughter looked like she could use a good night's sleep. As Cid looked over all his daughter's companions he decided that they all did. And, thankful for the break, they immediately agreed to his idea.

Mercy scooted over to where Rikku had taken up a station on the bridge. "Quarters?" she asked eagerly.
"Already on it" Rikku replied, then, "Deck 5, cabin C," to Mercy, "dee-luxe," the girl giggled, "cabin with bath. I checked."
"I owe you one," Mercy said, as she left the bridge.

She found Auron in the corridor, still resting on the pipes. "Come with me," she beckoned, standing in the center of the corridor with her hands on her hips.
"Why?" he asked cautiously.
"The ship's taking us to Bevelle, but we won't get there until morning. We've been assigned a cabin for the night. I, for one, would like a hot shower, and a night's sleep in a real bed for a change."
That got his attention. One corner of his mouth went up. "Sleep?" he said, clearly questioning her intent.
She looked him over. After five years, she still liked what she saw. "Eventually," she promised slyly.
He stood. " Then let's go," he responded, with a wicked grin.

Mercy had been wondering what Rikku meant by a 'deluxe' cabin. All that was required was a lock on the door, a bed, and a shower with hot running water. Anything after that was a luxury as far as she was concerned. They took the elevator to Deck 5, and located their cabin without difficulty. As soon as the door hissed open, she found out at least one of the reasons why the quarters had been labeled as 'deluxe' accommodations. The bed was positively huge! As her mouth dropped open in shock, Auron slipped into the room behind her, and she heard him click the lock into place. There wasn't much other furniture, just a utilitarian dresser with a mirror over it, and small nightstands built-in on either side of the bed. She spotted two doors on the left hand wall of the room. The first door she opened led to the most decadent bathroom she'd ever seen, including not merely a shower, but a shower that fell into a whirlpool tub big enough for the two of them. She didn't even bother to see what was behind the other door, she just stood outside the bathroom and started peeling off her dirty clothing as fast as her fingers could manage. Auron dropped his pack, propped his sword against the wall, and watched her, still completely fascinated by seeing his wife strip for him, even if she didn't seem to be aware that he was staring at every move she made. Then she looked teasingly at him over her shoulder, just before she disappeared into the bathing room, and he smiled to himself as he started to remove his own garments.

She was luxuriating under the flow of the hot water when he joined her in the shower. She had her back turned to the spray, so when he stepped in, they found themselves facing each other in the harsh light, and able to see, all too clearly, the effects of the battles the day before, and of the past four months. Her touch was gentle, as she explored the changes she found, her hand following her eyes. His hair is grayer, she noticed, combing her fingers through the thick strands, even in just four months. And he's been in so much pain, she thought, as her finger traced the lines beside his mouth, lines that had deepened noticeably since they had been apart. The potions he had taken earlier had completely healed the shallow cuts on his face, but there were still half-healed cuts and deeper contusions on his torso, including one yellowing bruise on his shoulder that she recognized was a memento of their rough love-making the night before. Her eyes skipped over his skin, from one thin white line to another. So many more scars, she noticed. He's not just their tactician, she decided. He's their shield. She looked him over carefully, tracing her hand along his side, skimming past his waist, to rest on his hip. Besides purely enjoying the view, she recalled when he had gotten dressed that morning. He's lost weight, she realized. Fifteen pounds at least, and he was all muscle to begin with. He's been using up his reserves, just getting here.

He studied her, too. But he also felt the need to touch, to caress. She was still, and always would be, the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. He would never love, or want, any other woman for the rest of his existence. But he could tell that the road from her Zanarkand to Spira had not been an easy one for her to travel, and he was sorry for it. Her hair was wet, and showed more silver amidst the deep brown than there had been four months ago. What is there about becoming unsent that causes that, he wondered. She looks so tired, so worn, he thought. Those dark shadows under her eyes, she has not slept well for some time, always on guard. I should have let her sleep more last night. Her cheekbones were more prominent, as well as her collarbones, and even her hipbones showed. She is too thin, he decided. She was not joking about running out of food. I will just have to take better care of her. His hands on her waist, he saw on her flesh the thin white lines that marked the scars of battles that she had survived, if not unscathed, at least intact. Then he noticed the fading bruises around her right breast, and raised his hand, and realized instantly that the distribution of the marks would exactly match the placement of his fingers if he cupped her breast. His face colored, and he started to drop his hand as he muttered, "I apologize, my lady."
She reached for his hand, and placed it against her breast, stepping close to put her arms around him. "Before you feel too sorry, switch places with me and get your back under the water. Then decide," she said, a mysterious smile on her face. Her nipple poked hard into his palm, and she rubbed her whole wet, slick body against his. He bent his head to capture her lips in a long, gentle kiss as they maneuvered around each other in the tub. Then the water hit his back and he hissed at the sting.
"What," he growled in feigned indignation, "did you do to me?" Now that he'd gotten used to it, the hot water actually felt good on his aching muscles, and it seemed to be washing away vast amounts of dirt and grime he was glad to be rid of.
"We were in a hurry this morning; I didn't get a good look. And I don't think it's all my fault, now," she temporized. "The battles we fought today might have something to do with it. But turn around, let me see." He obeyed, but was reluctant to turn his gaze from the dancing mischief in her eyes. As he faced into the spray, she studied his back for several minutes. From his shoulders to his upper thighs, his back was decorated with several sets of four, parallel half-healed scratches. Her own handiwork, she was sure. But the marks from her nails on his back were criss-crossed everywhere by the lashings he had received from Yunalesca's tentacles. The potions had cured everything enough to make him functional, but hadn't cleaned up any of the dried blood left behind. Well, that's what showers are for, she thought, among other things, looking down at the size of the tub.
"Well?" he finally asked impatiently.
"Mmm. Let's just say that anything going up and down is my fault, and anything wrapping around is from the battle. I can't even tell how much damage is left. Auron, your back is a real mess. How did you get your shirt off without noticing?" She came up behind him, wrapped her arms around his waist, pressed her front against his back, holding him. He started to get lost in the sensations, her warm, slippery body against his, her breasts against his back, her hands skating up his abdomen and over his pectoral muscles, sliding over his wet skin.
"Didn't notice," he rasped. "Didn't matter." He noticed everything now. He was just losing the capacity for speech as she touched and teased and tormented him. He was already hard and aching for her, and she'd probably just started. He groaned.
"Let me wash your back," she purred. He nodded, his wet hair sending water flying in all directions. She peeled herself gingerly from his back, and reached for a sponge and some soap, and began to gently wash away the combination of dirt and dried blood that was sticking to his skin. As the muck rinsed away, she saw that the remaining damage was relatively minor, just a lot of partially healed scratches and cuts running in all directions, plus quite a few bruises in various colors. With one hand, she soaped him and rinsed him off with the sponge, but with the other, she continually stroked and caressed, parts of his back that she had already attended to, his side, his hip, his buttocks, his thighs. He leaned forward, his legs braced, his hands flat against the wall, eyes shut tight and practically rolled back into his head. She set the soap and the sponge aside and continued to stroke him, one hand reaching between his legs, the other around his waist, plastering herself tight against his back, pressing kisses, into his back, almost nibbling as she continued to fondle him. Her breath came in short, sharp gasps as she rubbed her breasts against his back. Blindly, he grabbed for her hand. He wanted to be inside her when he came, and he needed it to be soon. They'd nearly lost each other again that day, and they were both on the edge…of everything.
"Let me turn around," he said thickly. "Mercy, I need to see your face," he continued, as he pushed off from the wall.
She let him loose, and he turned, and took her face in his hands. "I love you, my lady," he said against her lips, just before he devoured them with his own. She clung to him, answering with the intensity of her need for him. The water cascaded over them as they wrapped themselves around each other, touching, tasting, feeling, the sensation of wet hands over slick skin further igniting passions that were already fever hot. He broke their kiss and sat down in the middle of the huge bathtub, sliding between her legs and reaching up a hand to her. She stared down into his hungry, expectant face, biting her lower lip for a moment, then she knelt on either side of his thighs, and swiftly impaled herself on his hard shaft. The sensation was blissful torment, especially when she wiggled her hips to get her legs straightened out. Then it was just pure bliss. Sitting up, arms around each other, it was so easy to keep on kissing, and touching. Every time he flicked his thumb over her nipple, her inner walls spasmed around him, pleasure building on pleasure. He was so deep inside her, she felt like he was touching her heart. She used her inner muscles to grip him tightly, in a hot, wet, velvet vise. She began a rhythmic pulsing that caused waves of sensation to rise like a tide through his whole body. He grabbed her under her butt and suddenly shifted them both until she was underneath him, the water still splashing down, now pouring on his back, and her legs were still around his waist except now he could move and he was pumping into her and all at once she was grabbing him with everything she had and the water was a waterfall and she thought she saw a rainbow and she felt like she was riding it, and the tide crested over him and he drowned in the glory of it, throwing his head back and letting the water run down his face.

After a brief time, Auron heaved himself up from the bottom of the tub and helped her to stand. She clung to him; her legs still a little shaky, and stared up into his face. "I love you, Auron," she said simply.
He kissed her gently. "I love you too, my lady." Then he smiled. "Enough that I am willing to wash your back this time."
"You're on," she agreed, and presented her back to him. He swatted her rump, then searched for the sponge.

After they had finally finished removing too many days worth of caked-on dirt and embedded grime from each other's bodies, Auron stepped out of the shower and started to shave, while Mercy washed her hair again. That is the third or the fourth time, he mused, at least. I have lost count. He smiled at himself in the mirror. I hope this ship has plenty of hot water. He was almost done shaving when she finally turned off the water and stepped out of the bath. He watched as she took a towel from the rack and secured it over her breasts. She stood beside him and combed her hair as he finished shaving. Their eyes met in the mirror, and his heart suddenly pounded against his ribs. This is…exactly the same as what I saw in the Calm Lands, he realized, and dropped his razor into the sink with a clatter. His hands shook, and he gripped the edge of the sink to steady them. He closed his eye, counted to ten…and prayed. Then he opened his eye, slowly, to find his wife staring at him, a puzzled frown on her beautiful face. She is…still here. Relief flooded through him. He pulled her roughly into his arms, and buried his face in her hair.

The next morning, after yet another shower, Mercy dragged the last item out of her pack that was even remotely wearable. "Auron, do you think I'll have enough time in Bevelle to do some shopping?"
"No," he roared instantly from across the room.
"What do you mean, no? I wasn't asking you to go with me, so don't get that long-suffering look on your face. Although, come to think of it…" she teased. She heard him moan in pretended anguish. "Wait a minute, you don't have to come, but," her voice dropped, "could you at least lend me some money?" His head shot up at her tone, and he crossed the room to her as soon as he saw the forlorn look on her face. "I don't know what things cost here," she continued morosely, "and I don't have any gil except what I got off the fiends I dispatched back in the ruins. I'm broke."
He brushed his knuckles against her cheek. "I will not 'lend' you any money, my lady." A hurt look crossed her features. He tilted her face up to his and lightly kissed her down-turned lips. "We are married. What is mine is yours." Her face lit in a smile, and he returned it. "But there is a merchant on board this ship. Rin is…quite resourceful. He will probably be able to supply what you need. And I would rather not spend any more time in Bevelle than is necessary." She did not argue with him, but he could tell that she was still concerned. "I must see Rin myself this morning about a new bracer…come with me. If he does not have what you want, we will go to the shops in Bevelle. I promise."
She hugged him tight. "I'm sorry. It feels strange not having my own money. Having to ask. I don't like it," she said her voice muffled against his chest. She lifted her head and spoke up. "I need a bunch of stuff. Potions, I guess. Clothes, for sure. My stuff is about to fall apart. And I found this charm against blindness, but I have to wear it on a string around my neck. I need to find something better. But I'm happy to meet Rin." She closed her eyes for a moment in thought. "Hey, isn't he the one who helped you ten years ago?"
"Yes. But please do not discuss it with him too much. He examined me quite closely then. He knows that I should not have survived with the wounds he treated," he instructed her. She nodded.

Auron located Rin easily, as the merchant seemed to have permanently reserved a section of the corridor on the main level for his airborne Travel Agency. As they approached the Al Bhed, the entrepreneur began greeting them in his usual effusive manner. "Sir Auron, I am pleased to see you this morning. And this must be your wife," he smoothly continued, taking Mercy's hand and bowing over it. "Lady Mercy, I am delighted to meet you. I am Rin, the owner of this establishment. How may I be of assistance to you?"
"Master Rin," Mercy said, drawing her hand away, "I am very glad to meet you as well. Besides the usual sorts of potions and elixirs, what other goods and equipment do you have on hand? What services do you offer?" she asked intently.
"Whatever you need, dear lady," the merchant replied, smiling eagerly, scenting a major sale. "Is there something specific that you require?"
She took a deep breath. "Yes, lots. Do you make clothing to order?"
"But of course. Do you have anything that I can use as a pattern, or shall I call for my assistants to take your measurements?" The corner of her mouth turned up in wry amusement. She didn't even need to see Auron's face to know that he would be impatient with the amount of time it would take for measurements.
She opened a small parcel that she had been carrying. "Take these," she said, handing the worn garments to the merchant. "Use them as patterns. Don't worry; I know they won't survive the process. They probably wouldn't survive a good washing, anyway." He unfolded the two items she had laid on the counter, noting that the tunic and leggings would be relatively simple for his workers to make. "How long will it take you to make me up some new stuff? I'd like at least six sets."
"Two will be ready by this afternoon. The rest by tomorrow morning, dear lady. It will be my pleasure," he finished, bowing slightly to her.

"There's something else," she spoke hesitantly now. "I need something, I don't know, not armor, exactly, but…" she stopped talking, and reached inside the edge of her tunic and drew out a long cord she had knotted around her neck. In the center of the cord, a large, translucent black bead hung suspended from the cord. "This is a charm against blindness," she told the merchant. "Let's just say that its previous owner won't be needing it anymore, but I find it very useful. But this was the only way I could wear it. Do you have something better, more secure? I'd hate to accidentally cut this, or break it."
"Dear lady," Rin began, "I can do much better than that. Please, take a look at these," he continued, opening a locked case and lifting out a tray. The contents gleamed and glittered in the lights overhead.
"They're beautiful," she breathed. Auron, hearing the stunned wonder in her voice, came up close behind her and looked over her shoulder.

The velvet-lined shelf was filled with precious metal, delicate traceries of silver and gold, worked into beautiful chains of varying patterns, lengths, and thickness. He saw her hand reach out, almost touch a silver serpentine chain which already bore a dark green stone, but she pulled her hand back. Auron picked up the pendant she had indicated and draped it around her neck, clasping it at her nape. "Is this what you want?" he asked softly, his hands on her shoulders.
She tilted her head back, and nodded to him, the expression on her face warm and loving. "Why don't you let me…make sure the one I have will fit on here too?" she finally managed to say. He undid the clasp, and handed her the necklace, and she drew the old cord over her head, and untied it. The black bead snuggled up next to the green one with a slight 'click', as Auron refastened the silver chain about her neck. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice low. When their eyes met, she mouthed the words, "I love you" to him. He smiled back at her, looking both happy and extremely pleased with himself.

But after a few seconds, he recalled their surroundings, and turned to the Al Bhed. "What is the stone?" he inquired curtly.
"A ward against poison," the merchant replied equably. "It should prove…useful…as your lady said earlier."

Auron then asked to see some of the armor that Rin had set aside, and Mercy began to wander the shelves of the small shop, searching for any other items that she needed. She ferried several potions to the counter, as she observed her husband select a new bracer, and then begin to haggle with the shop owner over the price he was willing to pay for the goods that they had purchased. She listened to the tone of his voice, and was surprised to hear that he was actually enjoying himself. She thought back to their years in Zanarkand, and how different it was from this. And how much things had changed. I never realized, how much it must have galled him about the money. He arrived with the coins in his pockets, and I already owned the place we lived in. I always made more money, and I never thought anything of it. I knew it bothered him, but I don't think I knew how much, until now. He's so pleased to be taking care of me this time, instead of the other way around. But I'll be happier when I have a few more coins in my pocket that I know are just mine. Then she spotted the last items she needed in the corner of the store, found her size, counted out a dozen pairs of black bikini underwear, and carried them triumphantly to the counter. Auron saw what she was buying, and his face turned beet red. He hastily concluded his bargaining with Rin, letting the merchant win in his haste to get out of the store with what remained of his dignity still intact. The Al Bhed was having some difficult suppressing his amusement at Auron's embarrassment.
As they left, Mercy laughed gaily, "You're the one who didn't want me to go shopping in Bevelle."

As soon as he heard the elevator doors close behind the two guardians, Rin burst into laughter.

End Chapter Twenty-Eight