AN: I really love you reviewers! I've been reading some other Aurikku out there, and I must say I feel like such a rookie!! But thank you for the support for this story I've gotten! I've decided to give you all a cheat thingy for Final Fantasy X in case you didn't know... Just something nice for my reviewers! You may already know this cheat code or whatever, but oh well. I just thought it would be something nice for you! ^.^

Secret Place Coordinate
When you have an airship, talk to Cid, and choose the "Search" option in the map menu. The secret places are:

Secret Place #1 X: 34 Y: 58
Secret Place #2 X: 15 Y: 41
Secret Place #3 X: 31 Y: 73
Secret Place #4 X: 16 Y: 57
Secret Place #5 X: 42 Y: 57
Secret Place #6 X: 74 Y: 36

So there you go! Lots of fluff here, lots of confusion, and lots of memories. I hope you all enjoy the chapter. Feedback is appreciated! Oh yes, Measter Seymour will be a vital character in this story, so beware!! I have consistently gone over this chapter touching it up all the time, but I'm just not satisfied with it. It's a tad bit long, and I'm kind of iffy about the last part. Again, review and tell me what you think!

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In Her Eyes – Part 5

I knew there was an intruder in the room. Whether he was trying to be stealthy or not, I could hear his clumsy feet drag across the carpeted floor after he carefully pushed open the door, creaking slightly. I tensed up from my position in the bed, my eyes snapping open.

"GOTCHA!" Someone cried, and in an instant, I was attacked.

Half dazed, my hand shot out from under the sheets and closed firmly around the intruder's neck, squeezing tightly.

"Aur—ah!—Accck!"

I heaved a sigh and released my grasp around Tidus' neck.

"What are you doing here?" I growled, throwing my sheets off of me and sitting at the edge of the bed.

"Are you always this paranoid?" Tidus demanded, a little irritated.

I smirked. "A guardian must be prepared for the worst at all times."

He shook his head and frowned, rubbing his neck tenderly. "A fiend isn't going to just bursting in here and kill us all, you know!"

My mind wandered to my previous meet with Measter Seymour, a dark expression cloaking my face. "You'd be surprised," I muttered.

Tidus didn't respond, instead he unconsciously shifted his weight from one foot to the other.

I took his silence as a step towards ending the conversation and reached for my hip flask which lay on a nearby nightstand, my torn arm coming into sight.

"Auron!" Tidus gasped, staring at my severed flesh with disgust, "What happened to your arm?!"

"No concern of yours." I silently cursed myself for letting my arm out in the open. I hadn't bothered to redress my wounds when I came back from my encounter with Measeter Seymour. Instead, I ran a wet sponge over it to clean it up, but the wound remained. I took a swig from my flask and sighed, looking back up at the boy. "Are the others awake?"

"Yes, but Lady Yuna still rests,"

"She has made up her mind?" I asked, arching an eyebrow.

Tidus nodded with hesitation. "Yes..."

I knew that he spoke not in factuality, but instead spoke to console himself. Truth was, he didn't know for sure, but in some way was trying to convince himself that Lady Yuna would never marry such a man. I decided it would be best and leave my question unanswered and not pursue the matter, as Tidus would certainly object if I said anything other than what he wanted to hear.

"Are you sure your arm is alright?" Tidus asked, moving closer to stare at my arm, "Maybe you should get Lulu to look at it?"

I drew back and placed my hand over my arm, covering it. I didn't like to draw attention to myself, especially due to some minor wound.

But why did you let her touch you? Your scars?

Some voice in me haunted me, pestering me as images of Rikku's hand skating over my skin filled my eyes.

I shook my head grunted as I pushed past Tidus, reaching for my red coat which lay draped over a stray chair.

"What did you want?" I asked, slipping my arm into my coat and buckling the belts around my right wrist tightly.

"I just..."

Tidus let his hands fall to his sides as he seemed to glare at the floor in fury.

I chuckled as the silence filled the room, tension slowly beginning to build in the air around us. Tidus truly was in every way, just like Jecht.

Jecht.

I looked up at Tidus and frowned.

Tidus...he was in all ways like his father. When I came back to Zanarkand to watch over Tidus as Jecht had asked me to, I noted how he cried over anything. I never told him, but there was that one night...

I shook my head and frowned. Perhaps it would've been best if Tidus never knew of the time I had encountered Jecht acting so...so bizarre.

He couldn't say an apology straight faced, he couldn't admit when he was wrong, they got the same look in their eyes when a battle ensued...

The comparisons were endless. Even the way they cried.

"What's so funny?" Tidus demanded, placing a hand on his hip.

Yes, Jecht. He was you. He was a living breathing replica of you.

I took another swig from my flask and smirked, challenging Tidus' will silently as I had done with Jecht ten years ago.

"Well?" Tidus said in annoyance, "Are you gonna tell me or not?"

Break point for me.

"You remind me of your father." I muttered, placing my flask down and reaching for my belt. I wrapped it around my waist securely and made a move for my glove.

"My...my old man?"

Even the two wouldn't admit when they missed each other.

"Yes." I said quietly, pulling my glove on firmly and flexing my hand. "Just like him."

"Auron...what was he like?"

"Some other day, perhaps," I said as I lowered my cowl onto my shoulders. I turned around to reach for my gold shoulder plate, but instead was met by Tidus' eyes.

"Here," Tidus said quietly, handing me my shades, "You're forgetting these things."

Yes. That was exactly what Jecht said to me ten years ago...

* * *

That morning, as I sat outside of the Guadosalam Inn, waiting for Lady Yuna once again, I reflected upon myself and what this journey may hold for me. I would've been lying if I had said I wasn't afraid of reaching Zanarkand. On the contrary, I was terrified.

I cast a weary glance at Tidus and nodded when he waved from where he stood, he and Rikku were chatting animatedly. My lips suddenly tightened when I caught Rikku's eye, who smiled and waved as well.

"Hello, Mr. Meanie!" she giggled.

I frowned and returned to caring to my sword.

On that day, as I was running my hand over my blade with a small rag, I remembered distinct thoughts running through my head. Especially... Get a hold of yourself.

I was disgusted with myself and troubled that I was becoming infatuated with a young girl. A young Al Bhed girl. A beautiful young Al Bhed girl.

My frown deepened.

I needed to focus on Tidus. I needed to guard him with my life. I had to fulfill my promise to Jecht. It was the least I could do...for what he did...

I clenched my jaw when I saw the object of all of my perplexity approaching me. She smiled brightly and waved her hand in front of my face.

I didn't make any movement. Instead, I moved my right hand over my blade inertly, my head seeming to shrink deeper within my cowl.

"Hey, Sir Know-It-All? You wanna tell me where we're going next?" she plopped down beside me and stared at me anxiously. I silently noted how her face was hovering barely 3 inches from me.

"Thunder Plains," I muttered, not making an effort at all to face her. I kept my eye on my sword, and continued the dull movements over the blade, fighting off any urge to show her any warmth. I didn't want this. I didn't want anything to do with her.

"Thunder..." she whispered quietly, propping her elbows upon her knees. She shivered slightly, but I paid no heed.

"You dislike thunder?" I asked quietly.

"Yes."

"Then you are free to leave." I muttered coldly. It was my intention. I wanted to push her away. I wanted her to leave me alone. I wanted to be free of this maddening sense of affection.

She stared at me in horror, and I could tell she was choking back tears. After a moment's silence (which seemed like an eternity for me) she stood up and resumed talking to Tidus.

I pushed my glasses up the bridge of my nose and glanced at her again, this time not catching her eye. I was thankful for that, but as I turned my attention back to my sword, I realized that under normal circumstances, I would find any person with her traits entirely irritating and bothersome. I had encountered people of the sort before and had found each and every one of them frustrating.

She was obviously upset with my comment, as she was now talking to Tidus very quietly, her eyes ridden with such grief.

But then, as I looked up at her again and watched how her body wavered from side to side, swaying gently, I couldn't find it in my heart to find her bothersome. It was her eyes. The goddamn eyes that continued to vex me in my sleep...

Perhaps...perhaps what Measter Seymour had said was true? She...longed for me?

I frowned and ignored the look Tidus was now throwing in my direction.

That was the morning that I made the vow.

The vow in which I would distance myself from any...any distractions and focus more on protecting Lady Yuna and Tidus.

* * *

A bright flash of lightning illuminated the night sky, followed shortly by the cracking sound of thunder rolling across the clouds, the rain falling upon us relentlessly. I walked beside Lady Yuna, wary of any fiends.

I wasn't surprised when the Guado approached us as we neared the entrance to Measter Seymour's home and mumbled something along the lines of "Macalania Temple," In fact, I was very much satisfied. I chuckled when he told us he was not here to be found, and fought the urge to snort when Wakka became so upset.

"Why would the Measter leave, ya?"

"Business, prob'ly," Tidus said, "You know..."

Lady Yuna seemed relieved with his sudden disappearance, as did Tidus.

Again, a crack of thunder split open the clouds, and I watched with sheer amusement as Rikku brought her hands up to her eyes and slammed into Wakka, shivering.

"You okay?" I heard Wakka ask with concern.

Rikku replied with a shaky nod and suddenly began trembling as another clap of thunder roared across the skies, my ears threatening to explode.

I sighed. There had to be something we could do about this damned lightning. If any of us were to be hit....

"Yuna!" I heard Tidus bellow from behind. I turned around to face him, but immediately, something slammed into my right side, sending me plowing into the ground. I gripped my sword and brought it over my head as I shouted out, crushing the fowl creature that had dared to tackle me.

"Ohmigosh!"

I pushed the death ridden creature off of me, the limp body of a stray fiend that had collapsed atop of me after dying. At Rikku's words I jerked up and saw her shivering next to Lulu, who only growled.

"Nothing but an Aerouge," she said quietly, "Keep out of sight and allow me,"

"Need any help, Lu?" Wakka asked, smirking, his ball spinning in his hand.

A spark of annoyance grew within me. He should be watching Lady Yuna instead of this...

"Tidus!" I roared as another fiend began to charge at me, teeth bared.

Tidus quickly joined me at my side and slashed feebly against it, stunning it momentarily. Thankfully, that was all I needed to recover and bring my sword upon the fiend's body.

"Don't worry guys! I can handle this one!"

I swirled around, mud and water flapping at the end tails of my coat and gasped. Rikku's lack of bravery momentarily disappeared as I watched her reach into her pouch for a bomb, surely. The Aerouge hovered over Lady Yuna, who was unconscious in the mud. Apparently, as I was thrown to my side, she too had been attacked.

"Rikku!" Tidus shouted desperately, running after her.

I ran towards Lady Yuna immediately to shield her from the oncoming bomb, but to no avail. I dove for her, but I was too slow, and Rikku had already thrown the weapon into the air, blasting the Aerouge into oblivion, but also smarting both Lady Yuna and I. The force of the bomb made me fly backwards, tumbling through the wet soil. I struggled to me feet, shrugging off my now muddy red coat. I tightened my grip around the hilt of my sword and growled. Tidus was on his knees, cradling Lady Yuna in his lap with the others surrounding him. Rikku strayed off to the side, staring at the young Summoner in horror. I briskly limped past her without as much as a nod.

"Yuna!" Wakka shouted, "Yuna! Oh, blessed temples of Yevon! What happened to her?"

"She's unconscious." I muttered, approaching Wakka from behind.

"We can see that, ya? But...but..."

"Rikku's bomb," Tidus pointed out quickly, "Rikku threw the bomb and it blasted Yuna and Auron,"

I glanced up at the girl, whose sudden courageousness had suddenly dwindled back down to what it once was when we had neared the Thunder Plains. She met my eyes, her figure trembling.

I only frowned and narrowed my eyes, glancing back and Tidus.

"Lady Yuna will be unable to heal herself,"

"I have potions..." Lulu said hastily, rummaging through a small bag she kept tied to her waist, "I have some here..."

"What were you thinking, huh?" Wakka demanded, turning to face Rikku, "Using grenades like that...didn't you think? You coulda hurt Sir Auron too, ya?"

Rikku glanced desperately at Tidus, then me. Suddenly, her eyes froze on a spot on my arm and she gasped, bring her small hands to her face in horror.

I glanced down at my arm and sighed. The wound I had before had once again split open, fresh blood and rain drops dribbling down my arm.

"Sir Auron!" Lulu cried, "What...did Rikku do this?"

I said nothing, but when Lulu gently touched my arm with her hand, the pain seared up my arm and through chest, causing me to fall to my knees. I clutched my forearm and gasped as I watched my glasses fall to the ground. I tightened my grip in hopes of making all of the pains go away. It was like my arm was on...it was on fire.

"Sir Auron!?" Lulu drew back immediately after my reaction and shot back to Rikku.

Rikku didn't make any move to help me. She just stood there in horror, her body wavering hesitantly. I leaned forward, still gasping for breath as I placed my palm on the ground, supporting me. I brought my head up and stared at her intently. I stared into her eyes. No. She had to go away. I had more important things to do than deal with her.

"Sir Auron..." she whispered, "You know...you know I didn't mean that...right?"

I kept my silence and stood up, refusing help from Lulu, who was clutching a small vile of potions. I shook my head vigorously and gripped the hilt of my sword, my injured arm once again resuming its place in my coat.

* * *

The Thunder Plains were just as harsh as they were ten years ago. Or...perhaps the Thunder Plains had grown even more unforgiving...like myself...

I walked alongside Lady Yuna and Tidus, my arm tucked carefully inside my jacket. I refused any aid of any sort, even when Lady Yuna had protested greatly. We had made little progress, and the bolts of lightning grew nearer to us with each strike...

"GET DOWN!"

I swirled around and grabbed Lady Yuna's arm and jerked her downward, shielding her as a flash of lightning lit up the sky. I glance wildly at the Ronso, who was towering over us with his spear raised. I watched in awe as another bolt of lightning collided with his spear.

"Kimahri's spear is a conductor!" Lulu shouted through the stinging winds.

"Kimahri!" Lady Yuna cried, trying to struggle towards him. I held her firmly, however, and looked for the others to make sure none of them had strayed off.

"Tidus?" I bellowed, "Where's the boy?"

"Over here!" Tidus said feebly from underneath Wakka's grasp. Wakka had him around the neck and covered. Lulu and her moogle were not far off...but that left...

Rikku.


"Where's the girl?!" I roared, "Where's Rikku?"

Lulu's eyes snapped up and met mine, and in an instant I knew that Rikku's whereabouts where unknown.

I struggled to my feet, my glasses slipping off my nose due to all the rain on my face. I cursed myself mentally for losing her. Now...I had to go back.

"Stay down! Stay down! Yuna need you!" Kimahri growled.

I glared at him and readjusted the weight of my sword on my shoulder. "Watch her." I barked.


"What do you think you're doing?" Wakka shouted, "You can't go out in the rain! What will you do if lightning strikes you, ya?"

"Lulu," I said darkly, ignoring Wakka completely, "There should be a fork in the road up ahead. Go to the left and stay at the Inn. It shouldn't be that far ahead. We'll be back by morning."

"Wait," she said quickly and grabbed a chain the resided on her neck and snapped it off with one movement, "Take this!" she tossed it to me, and I caught it, glancing at it. "It protects the possessor from lightning," She turned her attention to Kimahri. "Keep your spear up! We move quickly!"

"Auron," Tidus said, "be careful, man,"

With that, I departed, leaving them for the search of Rikku.

* * *

I winced as the rain began to seep through my coat and sink into my ripped flesh. It grew increasingly cold as the rain continued to pound upon me tirelessly. My hair was now thoroughly soaked and the weight of my sword upon my shoulder began to pain me, and I continued to readjust the maddening weight, but to no avail.

"Rikku?!" I had been calling her name for what seemed like hours, but nothing had returned my ears. "Damn..." I cursed quietly. My mind fleeted back to Tidus and Lady Yuna, but that only made my jaw clench in anger. I had left them...when I should've been protecting them. But no...I was wandering through the rain blindly in search of an Al Bhed.

Every few moments, I thought of the night Jecht had run out of the Inn at the Thunder Plains ten years ago, and I had found him hours later, sobbing.

It was then that something inside of me broke.

I fell to me knees, my sword sliding off my shoulder and hitting the wet, soiled ground with a dull thud. I stared up at the sky with clenched fists and bit the inner skin of my cheek tightly to fight the urge to scream. I had lost them...and now Rikku? How could I go back without her?

"Someone...me...please...please...some..."

I jerked my head up and found myself staring at the same exact depression in the rocks where Jecht had long ago cowered in. Instead...this time...Rikku was residing in his place, her thin arms wrapped around her knees which were once again brought to her chest. Her face was hidden behind the mass of wet orange locks that clung to her wet cheeks—whether of tears or of the rain, I didn't know. She was shivering violently, her heavy armor and claw long ago abandoned. She was whispering faintly, her choked sobs emitting little fragments of words every now and then.

"Rikku..." I whispered.

I stood up and moved closer, as she seemed oblivious to my approach. As I stood within three feet of her, I heard her whisper faintly...

"Auron...Yunie...Auron, I'm so...I'm so sorry..."

I drew back at the mention of my name and gazed at her intently. Hesitantly, I squatted down and cautiously reached for her shoulder, resting a gloved hand upon her bare skin.

Alarmed, she looked up and blinked. There was a pause as she stared at me, her eyes wide with fear.

"Auron..." she whispered, "I...I'm so sorry..."

I didn't say a word. Instead, I only tilted my head to the side and examined her face, slowly bringing my hand that rested on her shoulder to the nape of her neck, then upwards to her chin, my forefinger forcing her to look up at me.

"I...I shouldn't be here...Yunie doesn't need me...I...I hurt her...and you..." Her eyes faltered and she looked down, her cheeks shining with fresh tears.

I couldn't stop the words that were about to escape my mouth. It was as if this young girl were casting a spell on me, forcing me to lose all control of my actions. "You have been a big help to us,"

She blinked, wiping a tear from her eye and managed a smile. "You...should I stay?"

I nodded silently as her body hovered near mine. She slowly drew nearer and brought her hands up to my chest, turning her head to the side and resting against my shoulder.

I stared at her in horror. I was sitting down upon my knees with rain pouring down my backside and a shivering girl in my arms. I remember thinking: This isn't real. Or: You can't be doing this. But when I opened my eyes, there she was, her trembling dying down.

"Please...I don't want to go...maybe...maybe when the weather gets better?" She asked hopefully as she looked up, her eyes meeting mine.

I frowned. Could this girl possibly be playing with me? All of these emotions that were running through my mind...could she possibly not realize what she was doing with me? The question was driving me crazy.

"The rain will never stop."

She sighed and stared at the scene before us and I could practically see her heart drop as another flash of lightning filled the sky.

"The others expect us at the Inn soon."

As I stared down at her trembling form, I suddenly remembered where I was. I remembered ten years ago...I remembered Lord Braska. I remember Jecht was here—right here where I was then with Rikku—crying just like she had been...I was thrown into the past suddenly, remembering...

The rain ran down my face as I ran out to find Jecht. I searched frantically, trying to find him. "Jecht?" I called as the brilliant flash of lightning filled the sky. "Jecht?!!" I cried.

It was mid-night on the Thunder Plains, and Jecht had refused to sleep that night at the Inn. Lord Braska and I assumed it was the weather or something along that matter, but when Jecht blew up in Lord Braska's face after some playful comment about his "Zanarkand" and ran outside, Lord Braska had asked me to pursue him. I was uncertain, seeing as Jecht had a temper of his own, but never would I refuse a favor of Lord Braska. So there I was, standing in the clearing clutching a sword and thoroughly pissed.

It took some searching, but I found him crouching in a depression in the side of a rock formation. His face was buried in his hands.

"Jecht?" I approached him slowly, "Jecht?"

"Leave me alone." He hissed, "Just leave me alone..."

Of course, I ignored him and sat down beside him, watching the rain hit the ground from our safe shelter.

"I..." Jecht moved away from me, "...don't look at me..."

I wasn't the type to be consoling, even in my younger years, but something about his attitude was just...atypical. It wasn't right to see Jecht in this solemn tone. It was...in a way, frightening to me. So, hesitantly, I put a hand on his shoulder. Suddenly, Jecht turned, and I saw him.

It could've been raindrops. It could've been sweat. But I swear—with my own eyes—Jecht was crying.

"I said don't look at me!"

"Jecht...?"

"I just want to go home," he sobbed, his breath becoming shallow and deep, "I just want to go home...I never asked for this..."

I kept my silence and watched as he fell into his lap, his cries becoming more violent.

"I want to see my son..."

"Tidus?"

Jecht nodded, his face still covered. "I know I haven't been a great father...but I want to see him more than anything..."

When I looked down at Rikku, I was surprised to find her sleeping against me, her breath slow and shallow. I heaved a weary sigh, unsure of how things could turn out. She shivered in her sleep, so I carefully removed my coat and draped it across her frail form and continued to entangle my fingers in her hair, staring out at the storm pounding outside.

I had my story. I thought bitterly, I had my story. Why must I face these trials again?

This girl...she had made me so confused and bitter...she had made me feel emotions that I did not think possible...

She had made me fall in love.