AN: Thank you, reviewers! Constructive criticism! THANK YOU!!! The rating will go up in a later chapter, but now is not the time. Wait... Thanks for all of the reviews! It's what keeps me writing. Very emotional chapter coming up! Sorry I couldn't update sooner!

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"But you're dead, Sir Auron. Surely you cannot expect a young desert flower such as herself to love you, can you?"

I groaned as my eye fluttered open. Sweat was running down my forehead and my arm was on fire. I blinked, adjusting myself to the darkness just as a flash of lightning lit up the sky, causing me to flinch slightly. I frowned and brought my free arm up to my forehead to find my hair was still drenched with not rain, but sweat.

If it were possible, the sky had grown darker and the rain had become even more unforgiving than the previous day. Silently, I pondered if it were day still, or night. It was hard to keep track of time in the Thunder Plains, as it was dark for eternity. Even during the brightest days.

Suddenly, a jolt of panic sped through my body as I glanced wildly for my katana. I breathed a sigh of relief when my free hand rested upon the familiar hilt of the sword, which lay beside me.

The fire burning within my injured left arm grew considerably as I shifted uncomfortably, desperately trying to move my fingers. I squeezed my eye shut and clenched my teeth as the pain grew intolerable. I wiped the sweat from my brow, not wanting to disturb the Al Bhed that was resting on me. I did not know how she slept on me...but the dark thought of Lady Yuna and the others worrying about me crept upon me.

Suddenly, Rikku shifted and I had to bite my tongue to keep from gasping out as the pressure on my arm grew.

I stole a glance at her and held my breath, my eyes widening in fascination. It was as if all of the pain in my arm had stopped, and all of the rain pouring relentlessly outside had ended, and all I could hear was the shallow rise and fall of her breath and her occasional sigh.

I was staring at an angel.

It was ironic. How a young girl terrified of the storm that now raged even harsher than before was resting and looked so peaceful in her sleep. How her soft cheeks were no longer shining with tears and her once wet ridden hair was dry now, stray wisps of her orange-blonde locks framing her face perfectly.

Hesitantly, I reached out and ran my own rough fingertips over her cheeks and watched in awe as she shivered and drew nearer to me, nuzzling against my shoulder.

"Rikku..." I whispered quietly as I bent my head and rested my chin upon her crown, closing my eyes and inhaling her scent that could not be named.

"I wonder if she has a taste for the dead? Perhaps if she knew you were dead..."

My eyes snapped open and stared down at this girl—no, this angel—who lay in my arms resting peacefully. She...she didn't know. She couldn't know. I couldn't let this happen...

I couldn't let this happen.

No matter how much I wanted it to happen, I could not be near her. It would only hurt her...it would only hurt the both of us.

* * *

Wet....

Something wet was resting on my forehead...

"Auron?"

I opened my eye wearily, a hand reaching up to touch my head.

"Oh, that's just a cloth for you. You were sweating, you know?"

A piercing crack exploded across the skies and suddenly, Rikku was again residing in my lap, shivering. I glanced down at her and arched an eyebrow.

"How long?" I asked hoarsely, my eye still red with sleep.

"I'm...I'm not sure..." she whispered, staring at the skies cautiously. "I woke up...and I hope you don't mind...but I healed your arm. So...it's all better now, you know?"

I noted how shaky her voice was, but ignored it as I stared down at my once throbbing arm and was surprised to see that she had carefully removed my right sleeve off my arm and had cleaned the wound. She had dressed my arm with bandages with a creamy substance residing underneath.

"What...what is this?" I demanded, sitting up as I brought my hand over my arm, touching it tenderly.

"A little trick us Al Bhed know," Rikku said with a sly wink, "You may think Yunie knows some good healing tricks, but us Al Bhed know some stuff too, huh? From what I see, you had a pretty nasty cut there, Sir Auron. I know no grenade could do such damage...what was it?"

"Fiend." I replied quietly.

"Ah...yes...of course..." Rikku said thoughtfully as she stood up and straightened herself up. "Do you know...where we are?"

I shrugged and reached for my hip flask. "They expect us by morning."

Rikku blinked and turned back to the clouds that darkened the sky. "Um...is it morning? Or...night?"

I shrugged again, taking a swig of my flask. "We need to move quickly."

I paused, glancing around at the small thunder bolt-shaped pendant that was strung around a loose belt loop on my cowl. Hesitantly, I closed my gloved hand around it, jerking it off with one simple tug.

"Here." I said quietly, "It will protect you from the lightning."

Rikku tilted her head to the side, examining it with peaked interest. "Are you making fun of me? Or does this really protect me from the lightning?"

I grunted. Skeptical little child...

"Just put it on."

"Thanks..." she said as she secured the chain around her neck, "But what am I supposed to do with the thunder? You got a bracelet for that?"

"Cover your ears." I said drearily, "Now we must go. They expect us soon."

"But...wait..." Rikku said desperately, "Before we go...can I ask you a question?"

I stopped strapping on my hip flask to me belt and looked up at her, letting her know she had my full attention.

"I just...I just wanted to know if you hated me?"

I merely snorted and moved out of the shelter, my strides brisk and quick. I heard the splish as her petite feet danced along the rain puddles. According to my ears, she had stopped.

"So I guess that means you do, huh?"

My heels clicked together as I brought myself to a halt sharply. I brought my hand up to massage my shoulder and closed my eyes and chuckled, reveling in the moment. I brought my sword back up to its resting place again and sighed. She was holding her breath. She was waiting for me to answer...

I dug my heel into the ground and turned slowly, the soil crunching beneath my boots. She was standing barely four feet away, her gaze meeting mine. Her brows were folded in concern and her hands were clasped together behind her back. The rain was pouring on her, and the thunder still boomed across the clouds, but that didn't seem to matter to her right now.

"You...you do hate me...?"

Almost immediately after she spoke, a brilliant flash of lightning blinded me momentarily. On instinct, I dropped my sword to the ground and lunged forward, my hands gripping her shoulders and jerking her downward, away from the bolt of lightning that was so near to her.

She was lying on her back, her frail arms brought up in surprise. I lay on top of her, shielding her from any harm. Our noses brushed against each other in one fleeting moment, both of us gasping for breath.

I wanted to say I had just rescued her. I wanted to tell her that all I was doing was saving her...

But as I lay there, my glasses slowly slipped down the bridge of my nose and she stared into my eyes, my heart racing wildly as she tentatively let her delicate hands settle on my back.

For the second time, I had found myself in another world, gazing into the swirling orbs that had captivated me once before.

"You...don't hate me then?" she breathed, her eyes still lingering on mine.

She blinked as I placed both hands on either side of her and rolled off quickly, now lying on my back, pushing up my glasses and readjusting my cowl.

I had been so close to her...

I had been too close to her...

Rikku sat up, bringing her knees to her chest again. "Are you afraid of storms?"

"Certain ones." I said huskily.

"Maybe you need this more than I do." Rikku smiled as she tugged off the pendant Lulu had given me and clasped it around my hand, twirling it around my wrist multiple times to be sure of it not slipping off.

I couldn't help but chuckle as this child of innocence leaned forward and touched my nose with her pointer finger, beaming.

"I think you're a very nice man. I just think something happened to you and now you're all grumpy and mean. Like my dad."

If only she knew.

* * *

Rikku and I trudged through the storm miserably, the rain growing only harder upon our weary backs. At times, the silence that wavered among to two of us seemed unbearable...so unbearable that I prayed for a fiend to attack. However, no fiend attacked us, and we were spared of any troubles. I had earlier surrendered my coat to her, as her outfit was thoroughly socked and provided no warmth. She shivered despite the heavy coat draped around her thin frame and quickened her pace from behind, colliding into my back after a bolt of lightning brilliantly lit up the sky.

I glanced downward t her and she squeaked an apology, a look of amusement lingering upon her face. I only frowned and leaned closer to her, bending forward slightly and staring into her eyes as my gloved hand reached down to my coat she wore and grasped the hip flask that was tied to the side. I straightened myself up after I had freed the hip flask from my coat, our eyes still locked. The coat was far too big for the girl, as her hands that were brought up to her face as she watched me in fascination were hidden deep under the sleeve, her anxiety growing from within. She was such an easy person to read.

Still gazing at each other, I took a swig of my flask and bent forward once again, so close that I could feel her short breaths upon my nose. Her eyes followed my every movement as I attached my flask back to the coat, cursing her with the added weight. Again, I straightened myself upward and couldn't help but smirk from underneath my cowl, my sheer look of delight hidden beneath it. Her expression of fascination and wonder...it was almost cute.

Suddenly, a piercing cry emitted in the distance as a sudden gust of wind swept across us, causing Rikku's knees to buckle and—upon instinct—her hands reached up and gripped at the material at my chest, holding me for support. Immediately, my head snapped in the direction of the shriek, narrowing my eyes as I looked for any sign of movement.

"A fiend?" I mused softly.

Rikku followed my gaze and shivered as another cry shrieked over the roaring crash of the thunder, her grip upon me tightening.

"Ah," I chuckled, "Lady Yuna sends a search party,"

A multicolored aeon was soaring towards us, its wings stretched out to its full potential, his neck craned forward as he saw us in together in the rain.

"That's...that's...that thing is a—?"

"An aeon." I said quietly as the frigid winds bit at my earlobe, a shiver running down my spine.

"Are you cold?" Rikku asked suddenly, her hand coming up to my face and cupping my cheek, a slender hand absentminded brushing against my scar on my face...

I frowned and pulled away in one swift movement, my eyes glued to the aeon that came near, his head dipping down to nip at me affectionately.

"Valefor." I whispered hoarsely.

Too many times had I seen this beautiful god of the air summoned by Lord Braska. Too many times had I seen Lord Braska smiling broadly as he rested atop a similar creature with his staff in hand. Too many times had I watched this creature fight loyally alongside Lord Braska, the two working together in the heat of battle. Too many times had I fought along with it...with Jecht...

I closed my eyes as the memories suddenly came flooding back into me, my mind filled with flashing images of Jecht, Lord Braska, and myself resting on Mount Gagazet, an eerie silence of dread filling the air. Lord Braska running after Jecht in a desperate attempt to pry him away from the shoopuf while I watched in horror as Jecht pulled out a small dagger and struggled frantically against the large creature. Jecht grinning triumphantly as he tossed a blitzball around late one night while Lord Braska and I watched, applauding politely, even when sleep filled our eyes.

"Auron?"

Rikku's voice brought me back to the Thunder Plains, and I soon realized that my cheeks were stinging with coldness, the wind and water working together to cause the temperatures to dip dangerously. My arms seemed frigid with a wintry wisp hovering over me and my hair damp with raindrops.

I met Rikku's gaze, and was surprised to see that she had her head tilted to the side, watching me with such curiosity. "Are you afraid of me?" she asked innocently, a slender eyebrow arching.

I blinked the cold rainwater out of my eyes and heaved a sigh as Valefor craned his head, inviting us onto his back.

"No." I replied harshly, "I'm not afraid of anything."


* * *

Rikku lay with her head resting against Valefor's shoulder; her eyes squeezed shut in a feeble effort to ignore the thunderous cries of the storm that still raged on. Her legs were wrapped around the aeon's slim waist, her body quaking with fear. I straddled the creature from behind, holding Rikku still as the rhythmic beat of the creature's wings pulsed on through the storm.

Frequently, bolts of lightning struck near, threatening us. The aeon, however, seemed unaffected by the storm's vicious winds. Every time sparks were close enough to strike, Valefor let out a shriek, causing them to dissolve into thin air. I had to admit, the trait was useful.

Rikku's breathing became slow and shallow as she pressed her head into the creature's warmth, her eyes fluttering as she gradually fell into slumber. I brushed a stray wisp of hair out of her face and frowned, my eyes scanning the ground for any sign of Tidus or the others.

It wasn't long until we reached the Inn, however, and I was surprised to see Lady Yuna standing beside the entrance, her eyes closed in concentration. She must've been summoning Valefor back to her with her mind, as her staff was held high into the air.

Valefor touched ground smoothly, the gusts of wind blowing Lady Yuna's hair around her face wildly. I jumped off quickly and offered my hand to Rikku, and the child clung to me, her body still shivering.

"Sir Auron!" Lady Yuna said, relieved, "Oh, I'm so glad to see you are alright!"

"Where are the others?" I asked quietly.

"Inside," She said with a gentle smile, "Please, Lulu insists that she heal you both before we leave,"

"How long have you guys been waiting for us, huh?" Rikku asked, leaning closer.

"Two days," Lady Yuna said gravely, "Tidus and I...we couldn't leave you...and..."

I frowned. We had lost so much time...on my account.

"Awake the others. We leave immediately."

"Oh!" Lady Yuna looked quite flustered, her hands coming up to her face in surprise, "But, Sir Auron...your wounds..."

"It is fine."

Lady Yuna nodded as she turned her attention to Rikku and the aeon, Rikku asking questions excitedly. I placed my palm on the door to the Inn and pushed open. I was...tired...

And yet I had to move on.

My muscles were so sore and raw from pushing through the storm. All I wanted to do was fall upon the bed in the Inn and rest into eternal sleep...

But I couldn't do that. I had responsibilities to carry out.

I stepped into the Inn, immediately greeted with warmth and showering feeling of ease. I leaned against the wall and nodded to the Innkeeper.

"You are with Lady Yuna?"

I nodded grimly my eyes focusing upon the wood paneled floor.

"Your rooms are at the far end of the corridor," The young woman smiled and motioned to the back rooms. "Please, make yourself at home."

That was the last thing I wanted to do. I had to wake the others and tell them we were leaving. I heaved a sigh and willed myself to move to the rooms, but I couldn't find the strength. I got as far as the end of the hallway and turned to the supposedly vacant room. I turned to it, and pressed my head against the door, my hand scratching at the knob for support.

The knob, however, found its way upon itself, and I stumbled in, blinking blankly when I saw Tidus standing in front of me, his hands folded across his chest. He was glaring at me, his eyes narrowed.

"I need to talk to you," Tidus said quietly.

"Now isn't the time. We must move quickly." I said wearily. I didn't want to put up with his pestering questions now...

"No! We need to talk now!" Tidus said angrily. "Seymour...remember when he showed us Zanarkand? That...that was my Zanarkand a thousand years ago, right?"

I nodded, watchful of answering certain questions.

"He said...he said it was the dream of the fayth..." Tidus whispered, "What...what is that?"

Absentmindedly, the limp hand that hung from the inside of my coat twitched, the question sparking a sudden nervousness in me. I wanted to tell him the truth. I wanted to tell him what he didn't understand. I wanted to be rid of the things I knew and just...

I wanted to die. I was tired of cheating at death...I just wanted to give up now...but my will was strong. Jecht...he would have wanted me to see this through. I was going to see Jecht again. I didn't know how, but somehow...I knew that I would be stumbling across Jecht very soon.

"Soon." I murmured, perhaps more to myself than to Tidus, the son of Jecht who stood before me, his heart pounding with the need to understand.

"Auron! You're hiding things from me!" Tidus shouted, "Why must you keep things from me?!"

"In time, you will understand. Do not run to fate." I growled, my temper losing its patience, "Now come. It is not wise to spend too much time on the Thunder Plains."

Tidus opened his mouth to retaliate, but I shot him a dark glance and all the energy from him seemed to disappear in an instant, no words coming out. I frowned, pulling my sword over my shoulder and leaving the room, off to find Wakka, Lulu, and Kimahri.

"Yuna..." Tidus mumbled as he stepped up from behind me, "Yuna found a way to divert the lightning..."

"I know."

"Valefor—"

"Yes."

I turned and faced away from the boy, biting my tongue to keep from snapping. My patience was worn...

"Get the others. I await you outside." I muttered darkly and left the boy, alone and speechless.

* * *

"I don't want to leave!" Rikku cried, clinging to Lady Yuna. "Please, not now..."

Lulu and I exchanged dark looks.

"You're wasting time," I muttered darkly, stepping towards the door with my sword swung over my shoulder carelessly, "We've been stalling. We cannot wait any longer."

"Sir Auron is right," Lulu said quietly as her moogle struggled in her arms, "Our journey has been delayed far too long."

"But—"

Rikku started to protest, but I put up a hand, cutting the girl off. "If you wish to stay, then do so. You're nothing but a hold back."

Lady Yuna gasped, her hands flying up to her face in shock. Rikku stared at me in horror, a moment's silence passing, not a word whispered.

I turned away from her when I saw the hot tears forming in her eyes. I didn't want to see her cry...

"You..." She choked out, her bravery steadily building up again, "You don't...You don't know me! You don't know me, do you?!"

My fingers itched, but instead, I leaned against the door, pushing it open and heading outside, ignoring her silent tears.

The sharp rain began pounding upon me the instant I left the shelter, the weather even harsher than usual. I didn't know how long I stood there alone... I didn't even know what I was thinking.

I stood until the dressings upon my arm grew soggy. I stood until my ears were stinging from the frigid winds. I stood until my legs threaten to buckle. I stood until my gloved hand grew damp.

I stood out there, contemplating nothing, debating nothing, and thinking of nothing in particular. It was as if all of my heart had turned cold, forgetting whether I was even dead of alive still.

When had things gotten so complicated? Since when was this journey so intricate? When was it that I lost my concentration? When was it that I forget that I was supposed to be protecting Tidus and Lady Yuna?

It was then that I was greeted by her picture, a mental image of the child of innocence dancing around cheerfully in the woods. Her smile after she had successfully taken down several fiends with her grenades. Her cheeks a pink hue as she shivered and I held her, protecting her from the storm.

Yes... It was her...

Why was it now? In all my years, love had just been another complication, an obstacle. A barrier I was never able to break through. An obstacle I was never able to successfully complete and avoided at all costs. Even when I was living...I had dedicated my life to being a warrior monk and never had the time to even acknowledge love...

Love...it was a stranger to me. A setback. A nothing.

I had...I had even rejected the hand of a woman who loved me...and I couldn't love her back.

So why was it now? Why was it now that I was cursed in this afterlife to fall in love with a child? A girl? In the grimmest of times...in my death...I had fallen in love...

No...

When I...when I died...

I was nothing but a shadow. A silent shadow respected and known by Spira as the Legendary Guardian. I didn't stay long after I died in Bevelle, for I felt that the respect from the people was nothing more than sympathy...knowing that I had...

I had lost them...

Was this what love was rewarded with? When you love your comrades...and you love your friends... You're rewarded with their death?

I had lost them...

For...for no cause...!!

I swirled around, issuing out a cry of madness as I slammed the sharp end of my blade into a pillar of stone as the tears sprang into my eyes. The pillar crumbled and I shook, dropping my sword and falling to my knees.

"They die for the sake of Spira. They choose to die to bring the calm to us,"

"But in vain? They die only to have Sin come back again?!"

"It is more complicated than it seems...Summoners...they bring hope to the people,"

"Hope for what? What hope are they giving? What kind of hope is it when Yevon are offering people's lives just to bring a calm that will not last? Building up the hope of people just to have it crushed when Sin returns...what kind of hope is that?"

"There is much you have yet to learn,"

Perhaps...perhaps this angel was here to teach me...Perhaps she could help me...understand...

"Auron?"

I froze, my heart stopping. She...my angel was here...

I ignored her, bringing my hands up to my head as I shuddered, blinking away the tears. What was I doing? Am I a fool?

She slowly came up from behind and placed a warm hand upon my back, causing me to tremble beneath her touch.

"You're...You're just afraid of someone caring for you, aren't you?" Rikku said quietly, "What if someone cared for you? Would you push them away?"

Did...did this girl...?

She was facing me now, as she kneeled down to me, pulling me up. I stood over her, my head lowered beneath my cowl in shame.

"What if I cared about you? Would you hate me?"

I stared at her in horror, my mouth slightly agape. I had nothing to say.

Rikku hesitantly grabbed my hand, her warm slender fingers entwining with mine, keeping her eyes glued to my face. "Please. Just tell me if you hate me. I can handle it, you know?"

A moment passed, and I still was debating what I should do next. Finally, I sighed, and glanced out at the storm. Regrets...Regrets...What a word I hate...

I pulled my hand from her grasp and wrapped it around her slim waist, stepping closer and closing that small gap that separated us. Slowly, I leaned forward, staring at her with curiosity, silently asking if this was alright. Her eyes widened, but gradually closed as I brushed my lips across hers and her hand found my chest, scraping against it longingly as I closed my own eyes, the tears seeming to disappear. I stepped away, staring at her face, waiting for something to happen.

"You do hate me..." Rikku breathed, her voice barely a whisper, "And...and that's why... That's why you hate me..."