Disclaimer: No own nada.

Okay, thank you for letting me know about the frickin' repeating part - I fixed it. That pissed me off. And I added a little bit more to the chapter near the end to make up for the mistake. So, I apologize.

Heya, mi amigos! Sorry about me, like, uh.. disappearing for roughly a month... Sick, end of school, vaca me sleeping and playing FFVII.

But really, thank you for all of the wonderful reviews! Those always make my day. It's what finally got me to get off my lazy ass and write the next chapter. There's probably going to be roughly three chapters more, depending on which ending I go with. Umm.. if it's the second one.. then maybe more like six more chapters... Or I could have two endings and that would make... Nine! wOOt!

Dunno. But read and review, please!

Rikku stepped out from under the pavilion, taking a quick breather before heading out further into the garden. The dark sky shown overhead, overshadowing the flowers throughout Bevelle's backyard. A slight breeze flew through, rustling her hair, but the overall silence was deafening.

Impatience was starting to wear her down. "Where could he..."

There he was, by the spring, by the bridge, just like she thought. A lone figure backed up by a thousand twinkling stars.

"...Be," Rikku tread lightly over towards the figure. "..Leije?" She called out hesitantly.

His form looked startled as her voice rang out, and he turned to face her. Leije visably relaxed when he realized it was just Rikku.

"Hey," he replied, worry lines etched into his face. "What are you doing up at this hour, Ri?"

Rikku took a sharp breath. "I could ask you the same thing. It's almost four in the morning. Have you even slept?"

". . ." He made no move to reply.

She edged closer to Leije, who abruptly turned away from her. His back facing her, Rikku nervously started to speak.

"Leije, I think we need to talk."

"Last night, I.. Well, this night, I guess. I mean, just now, before I came, I-" Rikku gave a deep sigh, mentally criticizing herself for stuttering. "I had a dream about my mother, Maia. She was.. about my age. It was like I was there."

"Anyway, that one isn't important. After... I had a dream about my mom's death. Her funeral, when I was six. Her friend was there... Celisse." She gave Leije a curious look. "Celisse was your mother, wasn't she?"

"Leije!"

"...Maybe she was." He finally answer her.

Behind her a little boy poked out, messy brown hair sticking out everywhere. A yawn escaped his lips before his own brown eyes caught the little Al Bhed's green ones.

"You were that little boy, weren't you? At the funeral?"

She stepped closer, poking her head into his line of vision. "Do you... remember me?"

". . ." He turned his head the other direction.

Rikku clenched her fists, scowling at his back. Silently fuming, she stomped up to his back and roughly pushed him.

Leije stumbled, but managed to keep most of his balance and not face her.

"You know what? I saw that sphere in your room, and-"

"What were you doing in my room?" Leije turned to face her, eyes flashing.

"Looking for you, that's what!" Rikku glared right back. "I know that your mother wasn't the only one who was in that fire. There was a boy..."

'..Dare live amongst Yevonites.. think you're worthy?'

Leije clutched his head, overcome with a sudden, fierce headache.

"...In the building, he was hit..."

...He fell limp, body slamming against the ground... blood was gushing from beneath his chin...

Leije fell to the ground, landing on his knees, still clutching his head.

...He didn't look like he was breathing. . .

"Hey, Leije, are you alright?" Rikku's worried voice rang out.

'..Al Bhed scum..'

Rikku anxiously leaned down, worried that she had struck a cord. She didn't know it would distress him that much... The Al Bhed reached a hand out to calm him down.

Pyreflies burst out from Leije's body.

Rikku's hand froze midair. Her mouth dropped open, words stuck in her throat but unable to rush out.

"What's .. going on..." Leije breathed, pyreflies swarming around him as he kneeled down. "I don't..."

"You..." Rikku's eyes widened. She knew, she had known, it had just been a theory, she hadn't dared to utter it aloud. But now... "You... You're... Leije..."

He didn't dare look up at her. ". . .Rikku. ." Leije's figure started to flicker. In, out. In, out. "In denial, heh..."

"Wait! Leije!" Rikku fell to the floor, knees covered in dirt. She tried to grasp onto him, but her efforts were in vain. "Who did this to you? Who?"

Leije gave a roguish smile that vanished almost as quick as it had appeared. "Abrem... He's apart of the Yevonite temple..." A harsh cough escaped his lips. "Hey Rikku..."

"What, what is it? Leije? Leije!"

"Calm down, Ri..." Another fleeting smile. "That guy, in Bevelle..."

"That was him?" Her voice was panicky. Angry.

"..Yeah.. There are two others. I've been lookin' for them.." His body ceased to flicker - now the whole of him was translucent. "They've got something of mine..."

"What do they have?" Rikku's teeth had started to chatter. Was it really that cold outside? Or was she just letting out nervous energy?

An elongated face... tight features... shrewd eyes...

"I'll get it back for you Leije. From him. If you'll just tell me what..."

He opened his mouth to reply. "It..."

"Yes? What is it?"

Leije's body went from translucent to transparent in a matter of seconds. Then, he was gone - along with the remnants of the pyreflies.

Rikku stood still for a moment, unable to comprehend what had just transpired between them. Nor could she comprehend the fact that Leije was no longer kneeling in front of her.

Leije. Dead.

Just like his father.

Just like Auron.

The beginnings of tears stung at her eyes, but Rikku numbly brushed them aside. She was going to find the men responsible for this, and they were going to pay.

In between her dull, angry thoughts, a yawn escaped her lips. Yes, they would pay - in the morning, that is.

Onto the next chapter! I'm going to try and write it as soon as possible so leave everyone hanging. A fight scene... Wheee! I've been wanting to write one of those forever, it's gonna be my first so don't get your hopes up... I think anyway. XD