AN: I apologize for not updating sooner… Thank you for the lovely reviews! Oh, and I would love to see the picture you painted of Auron and Rikku! It sounds so cute! Thanks so much for explaining FFX-2 to me, I'll be sure to read once I have time! If you'd like to send me a scanned picture of your art, then you can email me at Airies24@aol.com –OR– japanesetrickygirl@yahoo.com. I really appreciate everyone of you reviewers! I read your reviews and laugh, you guys are so funny! I'm glad to be writing a story for all of you reviewers! It's fun to see your reactions to the story. Again, I apologize for the late update. Please review before you leave this story! I love reviews! Literally! Also, a note about this chapter…you will not find out exactly what happened immediately after Auron kissed Rikku until the next chapter. Also, please reread chapter three, as I have added a little bit more…

In Her Eyes – Part 7

~~~~~~

"We reach Macalania Woods soon," Lulu whispered, her eyes set off in the distance. She had quickened her pace to keep up with me and she didn't hide the concerned look on her face.

I grunted in response and kept my eyes forward, trying my best to ignore the Black Mage beside me. I could feel her eyes on my face, trying desperately to read my expressions. To no avail, however. We were still deep within the trail in the Thunder Plains, with the aeon Valefor flying high above us, a blue dome surrounding us thanks to the creature's white magic. It was protecting us from the lightning, but the thunder and rain, however, were no exception.

"Sir Auron," Lulu said quietly, "if I may be so quick to ask..."

"There is nothing wrong."

Lulu blinked, her eyes wide with astonishment. "But..."

"There is nothing wrong."

Lulu sighed in defeat and kept her silence as we moved on, but I knew better. I knew underneath her long black hair she was contemplating. She was trying to read me...

"What happened yesterday?" Lulu asked, "Why are you...why is Rikku so...sad?"

I snorted. "Sad? That girl?"

Lulu arched a slender eyebrow and placed her hand on her hip as a bolt of lightning struck Kimahri's spear ahead of us, the Ronso howling out triumphantly. "You made her cry."

"She made me cry."

"...What?"

"There is nothing wrong." I repeated, my stony gaze set forward, "Now if you will, I have a Summoner to protect."

Lulu only stared at me in dismay, an expression of puzzlement painted along her lips.

As I walked away, however, I heard her say clearly, "You think I don't see what you're going through."

* * *

I was eyeing her wearily, watching her brow crease in thought as her grip on her staff tightened, her other hand smoothing the wrinkles in her dress absentmindedly. I knew something was wrong. Her mismatched eyes were glued to the ground as we marched around her protectively, her boots tapping the ground with a faint splash. Her hair was soaking, her cheeks aglow with the cold rainwater that pounded down upon us. She sighed every other moment, but not once did she speak up…

"Everyone…"

I smirked, suppressing a chuckle. At least…not until now did she.

I came to a halt, my heels clicking together as the others turned to face her in concern.

"Everyone…" She repeated, her head bent forward, "I have…something to say…"

"Is something wrong?" Wakka asked, his hand resting on her shoulder and he bent his knees a bit to get a clear look into her eyes.

"Nothing is wrong."

Lulu snorted. "You sound like someone I know."

I met her icy glare, and immediately, I turned away in shame.

"We're almost out of here!" Rikku said urgently, her gloved hand fingering her frilled shorts in a nervous fashion, "Please! Can we hurry?"

"Please…" Lady Yuna whispered faintly, "Please…I need to say something. Just…just for a moment?"

I wasted no time in speaking before anyone could interrupt the young girl. "Over there," I motioned towards a stable looking shelter that provided nothing but cover.

Lady Yuna heaved a sigh and stepped off, walking briskly. I had to admit, I was curious as to what she had to say. Somehow, I had a feeling that this concerned Measter Seymour. It had to.

"I've…decided…"

Yes. Of course it was.

I glanced at Tidus and smirked as I watched his eyes light up.

She took a deep breath.

"I've decided to marry." She said without hesitation. It was a big thing for her to say, it seemed. It was as if she had taken a load off of her frail shoulders once she got those words out. It was as if all her troubles had left her.

Until she met Tidus' eyes.

I watched with inquisitiveness as Tidus frowned and gazed at her curiously. I could practically hear his heart pounding.

Lulu bit her lip. "I thought so…"

"Why?" Wakka asked quietly, "Why have you decided that?"

"For Spira's future…and Yevon's unity…" She managed to whisper, her eyes darting nervously to the ground as her fellow guardian's eyes gaped at her.

I grunted.

Lord Braska…you were very right about your daughter. How was it that he could read a child…a child barely even seven years old, even? How was it that Lord Braska could have predicted her personality and heart? Perhaps…perhaps it was a gift that only fathers could have.

An opportunity I would never have.

He had spoken to me years ago on Gagazet Mountain about his daughter. He had told me and Jecht that after we had found a way for him to go home that we were to guard Lady Yuna as we had guarded him.

It was that cold night when our journey was coming to a close…

Jecht was lying on his stomach, clutching a blanket that he had wrapped around his body in a weak effort to keep warm. His eyes were closed, but I knew better. Jecht was as alert as anything, but still, I continued on with my private conversation with Lord Braska.

Lord Braska chuckled as he gazed into the fire, a playful tone in his voice, "Sir Auron, do you find it peculiar that I married an Al Bhed?"

"Not at all," I muttered, my hands running over my blade, weary of any fiends that could decide to attack during the night.

"Don't lie to me,"

I looked up at Lord Braska and met something that somewhat disturbed me. There was no twinkle in his eyes, no hint of a smile on his face. Instead, he was frowning somewhat. The first time I had seen him sad in a very long time.

"It is no concern of mine who you marry, my Lord…."

Lord Braska chortled, his expression softening a bit. "How many times must I ask you to drop the formalities, my friend? I am not 'Lord' Braska to you, Auron."

Jecht coughed loudly in an attempt to stifle a snort.

Lord Braska and I exchanged glances, my Lord grinning broadly.

"I just feel it is…appropriate."

There was another pause of silence, and it seemed Lord Braska was contemplating what to say next. I shifted uncomfortably as the winds grew fierce, snow whipping around us in a furious flurry.

"I know," Lord Braska whispered quietly, "...I know I will not live to see my Yunie marry, Auron, so can I ask you a favor?"

I kept quiet and stared into the fire, my mind drifting. I hadn't heard of him speak of his upcoming death since we first began the pilgrimage, but what frightened me wasn't the fact that he was so aware of it. What frightened me was how he spoke of it with such a carefree tone. Even then, when I looked up at him, he was still half-smiling, gazing into the fire.

"I want you to make sure—"

"That she is always smiling and that she never befalls harm," Jecht said drearily, keeping his position on his side. "How many times have you heard this, Auron?"

I didn't answer, but instead stared at Lord Braska with inquisitiveness. That night, something was different about him. Something about his voice. His tone. His expression.

"If she marries..." Lord Braska murmured, "...if she decides not to become a Summoner and lives a normal life...if she marries..." He sighed, "I want you to make sure that she marries who she wants. I want you to make sure her husband will take care of her as I would. As you would. As Jecht would."

Jecht sat up and stared at Lord Braska, dumbstruck.

"Me?"

My eyes traveled over the snow as Lord Braska continued.

"I know...many people scorned me for marrying an Al Bhed, but I loved her, Auron. I still do." Lord Braska whispered, "And...I just don't want Yuna to make the wrong decision. I don't want her to just to make people happy, Auron. I want her to be happy. Do you understand?"

I nodded.

"It may have upset people that a Summoner and an Al Bhed came to love, but what mattered to me was that she loved me, and I loved her. I know Yuna is a passive girl, and that she will do anything to please people, but I want you to watch her for me. Protect her. Please,"

I looked up at Lady Yuna and frowned.

My memories came flooding back to me. When Jecht had shoved me down a small crevasse in the ground...when Lord Braska broke down shaking after he called upon a newly granted aeon...when I had snapped at Jecht for pushing Lord Braska out into the open at the Thunder Plains and how Lord Braska only laughed.

"Why would you marry someone you don't love?"

"B-because...it would bring the people of Spira happiness and joy..."

I wanted to explain to Lady Yuna right there that her father had gone through difficulties and was scorned for marrying an Al Bhed. I wanted to tell her of the times I had spent with him. I wanted to tell her all of the good things true love could bring…

My mind seemed to break then.

True love? No such thing…no such thing…

"What do you mean there's no such thing as love?" Jecht asked, his pestering reaching a new level.

"There isn't." I stated simply. "It's something people make up."

"So…" Jecht said slowly, his hands settling on his hips, "True love is just a fake thing, eh? So, the love Braska has for his daughter isn't real, then? Is that what you're saying?"

I didn't reply.

"Ah! So I've managed to get Auron to bite his tongue, huh?" Jecht laughed heartily, "You know, for a man who has no experience in love, you shouldn't be the one to talk. Love is something you feel for a person, be it child or spouse, friend or foe. Are you telling me you've never loved a person?"

"…There's no time for love in my life. I'm a busy man."

Jecht snorted.

"That's not good enough."

Lady Yuna's eyes widened as she stared at me in astonishment.

Had I…had I just said that? Had I just repeated what Jecht had said to me years ago in Djose Temple as we waited patiently for Lord Braska to come out from the Chamber of the Fayth with a new aeon?

"Pardon?"

I took one long stride towards the trembling Summoner, my frown deepening as I leaned forward and breathed only for her to hear: "Your father would've wanted better…"

She gasped, her hands cupping her mouth.

However, the other guardians seemed oblivious.

"Is it because of Lord Jyscal?" Lulu said quickly, stepping forward.

I moved back into the shadows, my eyes dropping to the ground.

"Wait!" Tidus said immediately, "That sphere!"

I jerked my head upwards and stared at Lady Yuna, a spark of interest aglow inside. "Show me." I said darkly when I met her nervous eyes, her hands once again fingering a stray piece of fabric that unraveled from her yellow bow.

"I-I can't…" She stammered, "I must first speak to Measter Seymour of it…"

Wakka blinked blankly, the blitzball falling to the ground and hitting a small puddle, water splashing over Lulu's moogle that was clinging longing on the hem of her dress, who then growled and threw itself at the ball in a rage.

I stared at Lady Yuna, my eye scanning over her brilliantly lit ones. Her eyes…they were so unlike Rikku's.

Damn.

I was thinking about her again.

My eyes faltered as I shrugged and retreated back to the shadows to hide. I stole a glance at the young Al Bhed and frowned, biting the inside of my lip, the taste of blood filling my mouth.

"As you wish." I muttered.

"I'm sorry, Sir Auron…"

"Just…"

Lady Yuna stared at me with a new light, determination scrawled all over her face. "I will not quit my pilgrimage."

Lord Braska…you were also right about her will. She was strong…just as strong as you were…

"Then it is…fine." I said quietly as I pressed myself against the jagged wall behind me, my right leg settling over my left.

It didn't take long, however, for Tidus to march up to me, his eyes narrowed in disgust. "What do you mean? You don't care? You're not gonna stop her?" He demanded, his hand closing to a fist. I could see the fire in his eyes. He wanted to hit me. He wanted to pound me into the dirt.

"No, I'm not." I growled, "As long as she is willing to face Sin…all else is her concern. That is a Summoner's privilege. As long as she journeys."

Tidus prepared to lunge at me, but someone placed a small hand on his shoulder, shaking her head, wavy blonde-orange locks shaking.

Rikku.

Wakka and Lulu nodded, and Tidus hesitantly backed down.

Wakka kicked his blitzball up into the air, knocking the now sparking moogle off of it as he caught it swiftly, resting underneath his arm. "Can't you just talk to Measter Seymour? I mean…you got to marry him?"

Lady Yuna only grimaced. "I don't know…it seems like the right thing to do…"

I snorted. Lord Braska would have something to say to that…

Rikku pushed Tidus aside gently, her hands resting on Lady Yuna's shoulders. A deafening clap of thunder blew our ears, but this time—to my surprise—young Rikku did not flinch. Instead, she glared at the sky, her shoulders tensed.

"Quiet!" She shouted back. The storm, however, did not succumb to Rikku, but that didn't seem to matter to her. Rikku turned her attention back to Lady Yuna. "I just wish I could help you…"

Lady Yuna forced a smile and touched Rikku's hand, "You are helping me. You're helping me get through my journey, and for that I'm grateful,"

Rikku nodded and hugged Lady Yuna, her eyes closed. I thought back to the day at the Farplane when Rikku had said something about her being close to Lady Yuna. Suddenly, I realized that Lady Yuna was indeed half Al Bhed, her green eye resembling Rikku's. Could it be? I wouldn't have been surprised if they were related, but…how close were they?

Rikku…she was fifteen, she had said while Lady Yuna was 18. It was possible for the two to be sisters…but no…

I quickly dismissed that idea from my head. Lord Braska surely would've told me…

* * *

The slight delay caused no problems in our schedule, needless to say. We were fast approaching our next destination, Macalania Woods. I kept stealing glances at Lady Yuna, a little disturbed at the fact that her eyes were filled with so much dread. It was odd. An eerie silence hovered in the air, no one daring to speak. Normally, I was used to hearing the familiar laughs and shouts from the back. I was accustomed to hearing concerned whispering from Lulu and Wakka. I was expecting Rikku to skip around happily, considering the Thunder Plains were becoming more distant and the faint glow of the Macalania Woods distance grew nearer and nearer.

I was greeted with no such thing, however. Everyone seemed to keep their silence and their weary concerns within, talking only to ask serious questions if necessary. The occasional shriek from Valefor and the frequent bellows of thunder kept me alert, however, yet concerned.

The person I was most concerned about kept silent, his blue eyes staring into the distance; his hand never loosening its grip on the aqua sword he held in his hand.

"You seem tense." I said quietly as I strode forward, our feet stepping in unison.

Tidus didn't respond. The boy on kept his head down, refusing to acknowledge me.

I frowned, my hand absentmindedly brushing across the stubble across my chin. I suppose he was angry with me once again, but he had to understand that not everything in Spira was as it was made out to be.

Suddenly, someone shrieked.

I jerked my heads up towards the noise and watched in horror as a bolt of lightning lit up the ground, striking upon one of my comrades. Immediately, I threw off the top of my jacket and ran straight towards the bolt on instinct, the dread in my heart pounding in my veins.

Not Rikku…

I was blinded as soon as I reached the others. I recoiled back, my boots slipping on the still muddy dirt beneath me, my knees buckling as I fell into the ground, my sword flying off into a direction unknown. Frantically, I stood up and regained my balance, my eyes desperately searching for my sword.

It wasn't long, however, until a sharp pain tore up from my left side up into my injured arm, the fire that once burned before blazing. I couldn't help but cry out in pain as the fiend continued to pound into me, my vision becoming blurry as it knocked me back into the ground and repeatedly slammed into me.

I was vaguely aware of the mud that was now all over my body, my face. I wasn't conscious enough to realize my glasses were broken in two, off to the side. I didn't know that my sword was thrown into a deep ditch, unreachable.

Again the claws of the creature punctured my side, the sharp nails burying themselves into the open wound and ripping me apart. I writhed helplessly, the loss of blood causing my mind to spin. I closed my eyes, wanting nothing more than to fall into the blissful ignorance of sleep…however, I continued to flinch at the stabs of pain tearing into my ribcage, but the pain was slowly fading away…

I was drifting in an out of consciousness, the quick and painful jabs at me made in a rhythmic fashion. It was funny, however, that only one question lingered in the back of my mind while I continued to take the thrashing, helpless to defend myself…

"Is she alright?"

I appalled at myself for not being concerned for Lady Yuna, but instead the young Al Bhed girl who was determined to stop this pilgrimage.

I cried out as something sharp hit my head, blood blurring my vision. It seemed the rain had grown even more relentless, the once harmless drizzle pouring down upon me without mercy, cold sweat upon my brow. Suddenly, an earsplitting explosion sounded, similar to thunder, but different. It sounded almost like…a grenade.

The sharp pounding stopped, and for that I was thankful. However, the rain now dribbled into my wound, the sting growing.

"Valefor!"

A shrill cry of anguish reached my ears and immediately I recognized the shriek as the aeon's. Hesitantly I opened my eye, turning my head slightly towards the left to catch sight of it all.

The aeon was fighting angrily, his wings flapping in a flurry of feathers, a faint color in his cheeks. Tidus and Wakka were dealing their share of damage to a couple fiends near Lulu, who was being attacked my something that resembled floating marbles…

Ah…was my mind really that damaged? Was I really mistaking a water element for floating marbles?

I chuckled as my head gave in and hit the ground, throbbing. I closed my eye and draped my hand over my abdomen, the cold, gooey substance of blood filling my nerves.

I nearly lurched in disgust, but instead my vision grew even worse. The loss of blood…it was affecting my consciousness…

Rikku…

Was it she who was attacked by the lightning? But…I thought Valefor had provided shelter…the sphere-like dome…wasn't that protecting us? Wasn't that what it was doing?

Who had been struck by the lightning?

"Auron?!"

Someone was calling my name…

"Auron? Please!! Fro! Ur, bmayca tuh'd bycc uid…bmayca! Yuna's lusehk…rumt uh bmayca!! Bmayca!!"

I smirked. Bmayca…the Al Bhed word for "please".

* * *

I remember the steady rhythm of wings flapping, the muscles of an aeon flexing with every thrust as I lay atop it, drifting in and out of consciousness. I remember realizing that I was dry. That the dirt and mud from the previous attack had been washed away, my abdomen wrapped tightly in dressings. I was bare from the waist up, the faint chill of the wind causing me to shiver absentmindedly, unaware of my surroundings. There was no roar of the thunder, no brilliant flash of lighting. There was no shriek or cry from the aeon or any whispers or murmurs among the Guardians. Just the fixed pace of the party moving along.

I didn't know where I was, and I wasn't really in the mood to speak up and ask for myself. What troubled me was the fact that my katana was somewhere unknown, as was most of my gear. My cowl was removed, and my shades were gone. I only grunted as I closed my eye again, gradually slipping into slumber as I listened to the alarmingly loud silence…

~~~~~~

AN: If you have a need to learn Al Bhed, here's a little translator for you guys! I find that little website EXTREMELY helplful, eh? Okay, now it's time for you to click the little button down there where it says "Submit Review" and make my day! Thanks guys, and I promise the next update will be sooner! You are all GREATLY appreciated!! Oh, yes, and if you have any requests for more Auron angst or Rikku and Auron fluff or Seymour bashing, I'll be sure to put in something for you guys! ^_^